Avian Video - Violet Cuckoo

 This is a short clip of my sighting of a pair of Violet Cuckoo of my yesteryears birding in Kemensah or Taman TAR Ampang. It can be seen in lowland forest and suburbs near forest fringes. It does response to birdcall like most cuckoo do. But guys do not play your recording in prolong period but intermittently when you are out there as not to stress the bird if it do come out.  

Kemensah has changed dramatically in the past years and is now not conducive for birding as encroachment and opening up of the forest trails have push all the birdlife away.  

December 2020 - Avian Sighting Zappey's Flycatcher

 It was a good outing to Ampang during the last week of December to shoot this rarely seen migrant. I was inactive for the past months since the Covid-19 MCO restriction. So when news came my way that the Zappey's have been resighted in Ampang, it was sure thing not to miss the opportunity to see it. The place is 15 minutes from my residence.  This would be my first time shooting the male  bird. Zappey's is the recent split subspecies of the Blue and White. The latter has a darker blue  facial head and upper body as compared to the above male Zappey's which is lighter blue. 

The bird is seen frequently in Ampang for the past month now. It would sally to feed on insects amongst the many frugivorous birds feeding on the fruiting ficus trees. It is a rarity to see a mature male up close as it is very confiding and showy even we were 30 photogs strong chasing & shooting it below during that weekend. It was reminiscing the shooting in Penang Botanic Garden when birders all over the peninsula came to shoot the Emerald Cuckoo.

For the information of many;  the Asian Emerald Cuckoo is been seen in Jeram side  in December 2020.