Avian Sighting October 2025 - Garnet Pitta post nesting & feeding

We were treated to a spectacle photo shoot by a Garnet Pitta family -feeding in its  post nesting 2-3 weeks. We travelled 3.5 hours to Sg Lembing Pahang to Ricky port. in the port the lighting was on a low side as I was shooting at 1/30s -1/60s ISO1600 with my Fuji XT5. So no point going in before 9.00 AM. 

The details of the scarlet crown of the birds is a tough job for my Fuji camera as the contrast of its dark body keep burning-out the bright head. 

I did not manage to shoot the male pitta which have a stronger whitish blue barring to its wing compared to the female. It did showed up behind the logs which was perturbed  by a Rufous Collared Kingfisher and a persistence wood shrew. 

 

Can you see the nesting of the Garnet Pitta on the tree stump

Avian Nesting December 2021 - Little Cormorant Nesting Colony

The Little Cormorant are  permanent resident in many location in Malaysia They are staying for good and nesting in peninsula Malaysia Here in Kampar - Malim Nawar ponds they are nesting amongst the egrets 

I am shooting front the main road about 150-200 ft away. I was using my Nikon P1000 so the resolution and sharpness is not that good.

 

Avian Sighting December 2021- Black-shouldered Kite mating

 Pathetic shot with my Olympus OM-D Mark3 with Canon  400mm DO L lens. It was about 9.30 am along the main track that we capture the action of the pair copulating unabashly about 120 ft out in the open padifield in Langkap. The event lasted about half a minute before the male leaved her alone

Avian Nesting April 2021 - White-breasted Woodswallow

I was surprise to see a nest being constructed on the metal bracing of a electrical post in the open rather than in a tree. It will collect fibrous husk from the nearby coconut tree besides roots and twigs to make its nest.

Photos taken with Olympus OMD1 mark iii using a EF 400mm DO lens and Viltrox adapter. Shooting in good morning lighting but even stepping down to f7.1/8 I still cannot get much better resolution. I definately have to abandon the idea of the setup and return to a Canon body.

 

Avian Nesting July 2020 - Common Flameback Woodpecker

 

In the month of July we can still see nesting in progress. For the past weeks many have come to shoot this Common Flameback  Woodie in the vicinity of Ampang Kuala Lumpur. For the first shooting the hatching period is in progress. I hope the feeding activity may start in early August. 

The parents take turns to sit in the nest. Every now and then popping out to scan for threat. We will see how it fair in the next few weeks.

Lurking on the adjoining tree nearby is this monster which I believe is eying the nest. I hope the woodies will be vigilant of the predator. 

Post Nesting - Lesser Shortwing Juvenile June 2020

My visit to the montane port in Pahang was happpening as post nesting feeding was as expected everywhere in peninsula. I was lucky the fledgling came out once for me to shoot in the open. The mother was doing the feeding while the male was not in sight for the early morning session. Here you the mum grabbing the mealworm in beakful.

It is my first time  shooting the fledgling which should be  8 weeks old.  So guys better make a queue up  the favorite spot if you have not see it before. Hopefully you can see the change in colors whether its a  male or female..............

Avian Post Nesting - Birding April-May in Bukit Frasers

In the month of April-May is a good time to go out birding as the breeding period is the best time to see some action photo-shoot. Last week we encounter several species in post-nesting activity.

1. This Grey-throated Babbler brood of two came out to feed with its parent in the month of April 2019. The adult have orangy eyes whilst the juvi have pale whites.

2. Meanwhile, at the Gap side,  we manage to shoot the Slaty picking up grubs to feed its hatchlings.

It was more active in the early morning and come out in half-hour interval. Maybe the nest is a distance away up the slope hill.



























3. The Bronze Drongo also have a pair of brood as we were shooting at a close distance of 20-30 ft as they called & waited to be feed by their parents. As usual it will flutter their wings to attract their parents. They still have a dull coat and fluffy feathers.

4. Further away at the Hermant's port. A pair of juvi Buff-breasted Babbler showed up but did not come out to feed but kept in the background chirping non-stop.

Avian Nesting April 2019 - Long-tailed Broadbill Fraser's Hill

Normally I do not blog any active bird nesting unless I think its safe enough. There are at least two active nestings now in Bukit Fraser in  April 2019. For the past years, the Bishop trail has been the favorite spot where a pair have been building their nest high above the trail. This year is the same but a lot higher now. Feeding in progress as you read. 

Then the other nest is at Langgak Golf. It is my first time seeing a nesting here above a ravine but almost eye level to the road. It is about 40-50 off the road so it is quite safe for me to post now for all to visit and shoot the event. So again a gentle reminder - fellow birders please don't start cutting down branches to have a better view as there is enough open and unobstructed space for 20 pax at the port.  

Both the parent are responsible for preparing the nest. One was in charge on the top while the other at the bottom and inside.The nest is hanging precariously from the thorny rattan frond. It looks fragile and can break off during a thunderstorm but I think the birds know how hardy is rattan. 

Avian Nesting -Large Frogmouth Roosting

News of a Large Frogmouth nesting reaches my ears in late February 2019 of all places in Lanchang. By that time many fellow birders were already making a  pilgrimage to see the rare event. I was up early  and  reaching the spot after 6.30am before dawn .  As I was not sure of the spot I wanted to locate bird roosting with my NightVision camera. Took me about half an hour to scout the vicinity and luckily spotted the bird from afar. So as I waited for daylight I decided to drive out to buy breakfast at my favorite nasi lemak stall which open before 7am.

Apparently, nesting started way back in January but it was hushed up. By that  time it was public knowledge the ground has been cleared and devoured of vegetation all around it. Everyone was concerned for its safety and as for me no posting in my blog until it can fend for itself.

Luckily the nest is about 20 feet high from the ground above a slope. I hope it will be safe until the baby fledged in another few weeks time in late March. Amazing you can notice the bird front features cover over the nest and hatchling. At times you can see a white blotch of feathers aka  the baby  poking out underneath.  See picture below.

The nest is made over a 4-way branch of less than an inche thick. The last encounter of a Frogmouth nesting was in 2006 when I started birding That time it was a Javan and the harassment of bird photographers from overseas was the talk of bird fraternity at the peak of the nesting. They even propped up scaffolding to shoot video at night.

Javan and other Frogmouth build their nests on flattish tree horizontal branch of 5-8 inches diameter to which their feathers texture blend to the color of the stump whilst the LFm feathers are like leaves which suite on thinner branches.

In March read from my bird chat group that a bunch of hooligan birders from down under came up to Lanchang to shoot it after gotten news of the nest.  It was reported that they tried shaking the tree to wake the birds which roost and seldom move during the day. An ultimatum warning from our local ornithologist  Dave was sent to the Singapore Chatgroup to be mindful of their endeavor which may land them in trouble from Perhilitan or blacklisted or shamed by MNS  and local bird fraternity.

In the 3-4 weeks semester, I was back to the post to see how is the birds are fairing. By then the chick is  about 20cm in size  and nowhere it can hide beneath its parent. I guess it will be fledging soon by end-March.

Latest news is that as of today 14th March the nest is empty liao. I only hope the bird has successfully fledged. I did not expect it to happen so soon as the wing feathers was not yet developed on my earlier visit.