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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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Monday 31 August 2020

Iora (3/3) August 2020 - Great Iora (Lifer 542)

 


Finally a fluke appearance of a subadult or  a variant male Great Iora made the trip down  Negeri Sembilan worthwhile. Thanks Tokki for the heads up.

The bird pop out from nowhere as I shouted out  "iora" when  we were shooting a pair of Yuhina or rather Erpornis at a fruiting tree. Scrutinising the wings whether it is plain olive grey.  I was hoping it is a Great.  It sat silently for about a minute or so well behind some foliage in the middle story without calling; just looking at me and the gang . Felt  sorry for Richie who did not manage to sight it nor shoot it from a close distance of 40 ft even as I tried pointing out the yellow bird up on tree. Must bring a laser pointer liao.


The past few years I have tried to get it in Grik Perak a few time but no show. Then David got it in Krau Pahang this year at the bridge side where the Malaysian Blue Fc is often seen. Again no luck then.

The Great Iora is not really that big a bird. It is slightly larger than the other 2 subspecies. It has a sizeable beak like a scimitar babbler though and it wings have no white barring but a tinge of yellow. Its yellow eyering is less conspicuous compare to the others. Usually the adult have blackish head and mane. 

News on this birds

Latest new sighting at Sg Perdik UluLangat in March 2021 by Xialim 

Wednesday 26 August 2020

Wader (60/70) August 2020 - White-headed Stilt aka Pied Stilt (Lifer 541)

 



The Pied Stilt or White-headed was always in my look out's list during the migratory period which starts as early as August till December in Peninsula. When news came from TK that there is a sighting here in Sg Balang; it was a no wait and see situation but to drive 170km from KL asap just in case the lifer leaves the spot which did happen for the Wooly, and Glossy Ibis.

It looks like the breeding plumage of the BW Stilt except for its pure white head and body and distinct black mane up to the back of its head. I would note that its head is more rounded (maybe because of the mane) and its beak a bit upturn. It would feed amongst the waterbirds here in the plowed section of the padi fields. It supposed to be smaller but I saw its aggressive behavior of chasing away a BW stilt during a feeding session.

It was the first record in pictures  here in Muar or rather Peninsula Malaysia according to the resident birder, Thank to Ang for his assist.



Below  as a comparison of the more common visitor  the Black-winged Stilt which have oblong head and dirtied white head and inconspicious mane. 



Thursday 20 August 2020

Avian sighting August 2020 - Finsch's Bulbul & Streaked Bulbul

 


These  are some of  the  less common seen lowland Bulbuls of Peninsula Malaysia. The Finsch's has this puffy yellow throat and dirty yellow body. The bird was quite approachable that day as there were many birds feeding at a fruiting Macaranga tree. It did ventured  down to eye-level for us to shoot.


The Streaked Bulbul on the other hand is a middle storey bird and we were shooting at a distance of 35-40 ft away. 



Jungle flycatcher (3/5) August 2020 - Grey-chested Jungle Flycatcher (Lifer 540)

In Peninsula Malaysia we can sight 2 subspecies of Jungle Flycatchers. This one here is a resident of Malaysia virgin jungle. whilst the Brown-chested is a winter migrant visitor. The Fulvous Jungle Flycatcher has not being recorded  in  Malaysia as far as I know but in Southern Thailand and Borneo.

We were lucky to  see a pair during our last hour there.


The bird has a pure white triangular throat patch and the chest is buff to grey in color.  Its also has pale lores  with pale brownish eyering. The beak is totally black and they have pale legs.



I will need to go to Borneo Sabah to  see the other two lifers namely the Fulvous and Rufous -tailed .

 

Monday 3 August 2020

Avian Sighting August 2020 - Green-billed Malkoha




A pair of Green-billed  was sighted foraging together with a pair Black-browed Barbet in Awana Genting. You seldom get to shoot them in the open. The former is a regular sighting here whilst the Red-billed is more often seen in Bukit Tinggi. 

News came that the Bukit Cincin gate is now closed from entry................