Avian Site Report November 2019 - Awana Genting

In the middle of November 2019 I recce the Awana trail  again with Bubu and friend in tag. This is to gauge the incoming visiting or migrants birds here in Genting. So we rendezvous at the usual entrance at 7.30am sharp and I am glad we started our excursion  as scheduled. PS I hate  waiting for people during my outing as the montane bird are active during the witching hours. 

The best encounter in the early morning session was @ 8.00-8.30am as we sighted this daring Black-tight Falconet. It was feeding on insects at a distance of 80-100 ft away. It has uncanny telescopic eyesight which it can spot insects as far as 100-150ft away. It literally flew over our heads to snare its prey before flying to the same perch. Below picture it was seen feasting on a juicy hopper from one of its  several successful hunt during our encounter. We were lucky it later change its perch under shade and not so harsh background.

A couple Orange-bellied Leafbird was also seen on 2 occasions This was at a close distance of 30-40 ft. They are curious enough to stay for a good 10 minutes for us to capture it as shown here. Beside that the Blue-winged Leafbird was also sighted but no open shot.

The Mugimaki Flycatchers have arrived; not one but 3 birds were sighted. The Male was rather elusive and I only got the female bird high up a barren leave tree about 100-150 ft away 

Later further down the trail, a Darksided Fc was more accommodating sallying for insects at lower storey. 

 Next came the other  highlight of the excursion a family  of 5-6 birds of White-hooded came out for us to shoot. It was a short encounter but it was a delight for my myammar friends. The birds were absent for a time and I guess it was beginners' luck. They are very skittish bird and keep a distance and most of the time perch behind foliage or branches. during my many encounters.

Then another surprise was a sighting of the Pin-tailed Parrotfinch along the track. This was my first encounter here. The birdwave were quite frequently during the time circa 9.00-10.30am as we shoot whatever comes near. Bubu got a bunch of lifers I think.................

The surprises keep coming when we  saw a pair of quietly perching Male Red-bearded Beeeater from afar - 200 ft. I instructed my friend to take shoots every 10 steps as we approach the pair. We managed to reach about 60-70 ft from them before one of them felt we are too close for its liking and left .....followed by the other. Nonetheless, we were blessed to sight them up to that distance.

There are some fruiting fig that as yet to attract the barbets or Hornbills here. The Black-browed  Barbet was the common one here.

The other resident birds that we encounter but many without good photo opportunity. A pair of  Hill Blue was very obliging staying behind the birdwave.

By 1130am we were we retreating back to the entrance; the bird activity has somewhat diminished to solo encounters. We left the place at about 12.30 pm untill the next outing bye bye...................