Avian Site Report October 2019 - Awana Genting (Large Hawk-cuckoo)

Another weekend visit to  Awana upon request from Den. Later AT and Ken joined us. There were plenty of bird activities here. The highlight of the hike was a confiding Large Hawk-cuckoo that flew out and perched on the tel line for us to shoot. It is a migrant bird  with its horizontal barring to its belly and rufous chest patch. I was wishing for my lifer  Moustached HC to appear though............

Many of the ficus tree and  vines here are full of fruit........meanwhile a Lesser Cuckoo-Shrike showed up

A white morph and brown Asian Paradise Flycatcher was sighted by the gang but no good shot on the first encounter. Later I manage an open sighting . Usually it stays quite high in the middle storey amongst others in a bird wave.

Avian Video October 2019 - Rufous Collared Kingfisher feeding frenzy

Here is a video of the resident Rufous-collared feeding at the Deerland port. Usually it will be there in the wee morning and the first two birds that descend to the log to feed. Lighting then is low and we were shooting below 1/15s at ISO 800-1600.  The most it will come down 2-3 times after that it will be perch 60 ft away watching the activities for an hour or two before leaving the port.

Avian Migrant Sighting October 2019 - Lanchang

After a few weeks of  no serious birding, I guess its time to go birding actively as the migration period is starting.  I was stood up by Den who woke up late on a Sunday. He supposed to join me  in Lanchang. Leaving him behind I reaching Deerland at about 7.30am. Then Norazmi and son in tow arrived on the dot as I was preparing to gear up. Today it was to recce the site on any early migratory bird arrival.

Wallah ! It was nice to see the Siberian Blue is already back. It may the same one from the previous year but now in full mature colors. It uncanny that this place has always been a last stop destination for this bird. I was also wishing that the Hooded Pitta will return soon so that Azmi can get his lifer.

Meanwhile the resident birds are also  coming out in full force as shown below. A immature Black Hornbill (female) also turn up above us. I only managed a record shot.

Lighting was very good without any harsh sunlight until about past 11.30 am as the clouds cleared and the sun rays hit the port site.

 

Avian Migrant Sighting October 2019 - Banded Bay Cuckoo

For the period starting October it is a good time to go out birding  to catch the early migrants from the northern hemisphere. Today I got  to see a Banded Bay Cuckoo in Awana Genting. I do not think it will stay long but maybe in passage to lowland forest of peninsula Malaysia.

This is my second time seeing it here in the submontane locale. My usual sighting is in lowland forests like Lanchang Merapoh and Sg Congkak. It did vocalise a bit when I was playing a babbler call. But when I play its call it was not too fond and flew down the ravine and not to be seen. They are solitary birds and do not mix with others but they are quite curious and wary of other birds and humankind. Many birds actually do not like cuckoos especially during nesting time.................

Avian Sighting October 2019 - Pygmy Blue flycatcher

Glad to re-acquaint with you.

As the name says it  is tiniest of  Flycatcher  which you can see in the submontane forest of Malaysia (1000m asl) . It is the size of a flowerpecker of  about 9-10cm. This would be my only second encounter of this bird. The last time I saw it was in 1996 when I started birding with Jason Tan ...........after that whenever I am there I hope to see it but never until  today. I always tot it has gone extinct in Genting Highland; then in my bird group Teresa says there was a sighting again at the trail. So whenever I am here I have hope to see it again.

Today's encounter was totally unexpected when the bird pop-out for a short period of less than a minute during a bird wave of  Mountain Fulvettas, Black-eared Shrike-babblers, Fantail Yellow-bellied Warbler, and Golden Babbler. Though in harsh lighting, I am happy to manage to get better pictures than the last encounter. Apparently you can see the same bird in Fraser's Hill. Some say at Pines Hill trail in the early hours.

 It usually keeps to the low story. So whenever you encounter such an active bird just shoot and view later. Any slightest movement it will be gone and there is seldom a second chance. So birding alone have its benefit. Good luck guys.

Avian Field Report September 2019 - Ulu Kali aka Bukit Cincin

End September Dennis invited me to go to Genting to try out his newly acquired Canon EF500mm mk2 and 5D mk4 setup after his windfall in the stock market Lucky fellow.  

As for me its migrant hunting in the Banjaran migration route. The place was rather active with many of the common residents. A pair of confiding White-throated  Fantail came out to look-see look-see in the open.  Its been awhile for me  to see & shoot this fantail. 

A pair of Yellow-rumped Flycatcher were also the early arrival here. Usually they will move down to the lowland and suburban ports in Klang valley like Ampang and Congkak side. No Mugimaki as yet to be seen.

There were at least a few grey Wagtails around but as usual, they are always wary of us and kept their distance.

A Tiger Shrike and a Brown Shrike  were sighted  as they sally for moths in the early morning hours. The Shrikes may move on south once they fatten up at this Ulu.Kali stop. It was a sad news to  hear that a migrant jungle flycatcher probably a brown-chested hit the the glass window on the day before and died mentioned by Rosla.

There was at least a pair of Asian Brown Flycatcher that are mindfully sallying for insect.  

Only a male Large Niltava and Snowy Flycatcher were seen at the UK port. The females were missing. The resident Lesser Shortwing was calling but did not show up. Dennis was rather happy with the outing and gave me a treat that afternoon.

So we returned to  Gohtong Jaya for Bakuteh and it cost Dennis a bomb at RM22 per head which is 50% more expensive than in KL. The whole affair with Tea and Veggie came out at RM65.00++ Swear I will not go there anymore I rather go to Bukit Tinggi for a sumptuous meal for  that kind of money!