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MikeBirder - Malaysian Birds

Hi

Welcome to my Malaysian Birding Blog. I migrated to blogspot.com as my blog at multiply.com closed shop in 2012. I wish to showcase all Malaysian birds that I have photographed whether here or overseas. My countdown of lifers started in 2005. Coming to Oct 2022 my countdown of lifers photograph has reached
559/688 species of birds of Malaysia in photos.

My shooting gear was a EF400mm f4 DO lens and Canon 7D body which to me is the ideal setup for mobility and bird chasing at that time. Eventhen the weight over my shoulder is more that 5.5 kg. As of June 2016 I have also acquired a Fuji XF 100-400mm OIS lens to complement my travelling cum birding trip overseas. My Fuji X-T2 went kaput recently and I upgraded to the X-T5 in 2023 ; the weight over my shoulder is much lighter now by 30%. In December 2018 I acquired the Nikon Coolpix P1000 as supplementary camera for distance shooting of 3000mm.
Fuji have finally made available their new XF 200-600mm lens which I yet to decide to spend another RM10,000. As for Fuji body I will stop with X-T5 36megapixel ..........

I am a weekend birder. Do feel free to drop me a line at mikebirding@gmail.com and I see whether you can tag along in my outings. My usual day trip is just an hour ride away to Hulu Langat, Lancang, Kemensah, Krau, Awana, Hulu Kali, Gombak Ole Road, Fraser's Hill , Bukit Tinggi and KSNP & Coastal Sg Janggut Jeram side of the coast . Overnite trip to Merapoh & Cameron, Air Hitam and further north to Kuala Sidim is a seldom affair but for lifer we travel. Panti in Johor is another good birding site that I yet to go. Then there are the Borneo birds of Sabah and Sarawak of Malaysia which I seriously much go to chalk up more lifers. This I did in 2018 to Sepilok Sandakan and Kinabalu Park. Next Danum and LahatDatu.......

WARNING Birding is an addiction once you started its hard to stop. The wifey and children are now birding widow and orphan.

ALL PHOTOS IN THIS BLOG ARE COPYRIGHT OF MIKEBIRDER. KINDLY SEEK PERMISSION FROM THE OWNER IF YOU want to use them for commercial purposes.

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Sunday 20 May 2018

Avian Report May 2018 - Birds of Awana Genting




The black-eared Shrikebabbler  is a good encounter in Ulu Kali.  It is never an easy bird to shoot but this time the female was on a  open perch against the open sky. The first two photos of the Barred-throated Minla aka Chestnut-tailed are the common bird of UluKali Genting. The Lesser Shortwing did not turn out for the past weeks or month at the port. I have yet to shoot the female.............






The mountain babbler  is another active bird you can frequently see in bird wave here. It rarely stay still so to get good shot of this bird is a challenge.


After spending 2.5 hours in UK I decided to venture down to Awana to see what the place can offer.


A surprise sighting at Awana is a threesome Dusky Broadbill at the hill circa 500m asl. Wendy and friend was also enjoying the close encourter of the birds here in Awana The Woodshrike and Blue-winged Leafbird make up common birds here. A Rufous Woodpecker was sighted too but stayed far away from us to get any good photos.



Wednesday 16 May 2018

Avian sighting in May 2018 - Little Cuckoo Dove



In the month of May 2018 I was in Bukit Fraser after Malaysia 14th General Election. Malaysia was granted two days public holiday extended to the weekend. Many fellow birders took the opportunity to bird all over Malaysia. 



This is a juvenile  bird with its black spotted or mottled breast. no barring as yet so its gender is still unsure. It was calling out for a mate and responded to my playback as it flew over from the open tree in the ravine.  It was curious enough to follow my car as I stopped it stide over for me to capture some close up shots as show here.


In other places all over BF you can hear their call as the mating season is happening. If you are lucky you may spot the rarer Barred cuckoo Dove here in BF.




Tuesday 15 May 2018

Avian video - Feeding behaviour of Long-tailed Parakeet



I sighted a threesome of Long-tailed Parakeet feeding on the flower buds of the common tree in open marshland. I usually call it the coffee tree. Anyone know the name of the small tree. I am not sure whether it is feeding its offspring or whether is a mating ritual. I would say it the latter as the male will "geling" its head from left to right  before making beak contact....but then the short tail and grey beak  of the other bird indicate its a juvenile..................

OK my buddy Saravanan reminded me the name of the  plant  is called as "Simpoh Air" in Malay. Scientific name: Dillenia suffruticosa. Its the national flower of Brunei.









Sunday 13 May 2018

Avian Sighting May 2018 - Close encounter of the Painted Snipe


It was a close encounter with this pair of beautiful Painted Snipe at Malim Nawar. The best so far. Thanks to Qayyum for the head up. The only way to shoot this bird is from your car. Any  movement by getting out from your car will scoot the birds away.

I was at MN to look for the Dusky Eagle Owl but the bird was long gone.............too bad. Meanwhile in Wang Kelian Kedah  ChoyMun also recorded a sighting of another same Owl.


It is a game of patience when shooting snipes and you have  wait and wait for them to be active. At all time they are weary of you and once they are confident enough that your present is of no harm they start to move about to feed.  So there are plenty of eye contact.






Tuesday 8 May 2018

Avian Sighting in May 2018 - Fiery Minivet



The Grey-chinned Minivets in comparison with the Fiery Minivet below pictures. My encounter of the latter have always been in Awana. I did not manage to shoot the female fiery Minivet as my XT-2 somewhat focus jammed..... maybe due to battery low.  Wendy was laughing at my fustration as the birds were quite near to us at that time and lost the opportunity for better shots.





















Tuesday 1 May 2018