Wader Tern - Gull-billed Tern (Lifer 583/688)

 Another good lifer from Morib. My Sifu Ang id it as the Gull-billed tern as happily chalk up another lifer for the year. Thought the waders are not that many at Morib but there were quality birds for me rather than the common ones. In the afternoon sun the heatwave cause blurred out photos as we were shooting from a distance of 150-200 feet.

The Gull-billed is rather slender and medium size of about 15 inches. Body is totally whitish from far and its head is white with a superficial black patch back of its eyes. Its bill is heavy and dark.

Photo courtesy of Al T

Sharma 3/3 - Rufous-tailed Sharma (Lifer 582/688)

 At last  my final Sharma was found by my team in Endau Rompin. On entering the river trail I heard its call quite clearly but nothing in sight as the low light condition and heavy undergrowth was not helping. We played its call intermittently for a good stretch  of our walk but no respond and then an hour into our trail it was sighted sitting quietly on low tree branch as my gang managed to shot it abate behind foliage thru a small pocket opening. It was so blessed to encounter this rarity in my case after birding for 20 years.

Photo courtesy of AT

Our encounter of this male  bird here was enlightening. It seldom call out and it would sit quietly on its own for long period until it is spook by people. The male bird has a rufous rump and tail with a broad black tip not as long as the White-rumped It looks a bit rounded rather than slender. It has this quarter white brow and its beak is thick shrike-like. 

This bird like swampy habitat in broadleave forest below 950m ASL. Panti will also be a good location to see this bird and record in Krau forest which never showed up since umpteen years visiting the place.