Avian sighting (Nov 2022) - Golden-throated Barbet

I was up in Genting highland on the eve of Malaysia 15 General election. Since it was the start of the migration period I was hoping to see some arrival like thrushes or flycatchers  and also to save on the free toll ; but sad to say there was no sighting here. I supposed to go to Bukit Tinggi but the traffic was horrendous on Karak highway Later read the news that at its peak  it was a 7km jam for our east coast voters going home to mainly  Kelantan and Pahang. I have to detour & take the old Gombak road to Awana.

I was at UK for a short session because I was asked to leave by Eddie with Genting Bantuan Polis tagging along. The only migrant bird I saw there  was a Tiger Shrike. 

At another site I get to shoot a pair of Golden-throated which were very vocal calling nonstop. I patiently waited until one of them flew down to eye level and walla got some better shots but partially hidden. It is a submontane bird upto 900m asl and I have not encounter it in lowland forest. 

Barbet 12 - Bornean Brown Barbet ( lifer 500 Bornean )

There is  another split in the Brown Barbet Family. This is now called the Bornean Brown Barbet and the peninsula Malaysia on is called the Sooty. I am not sure if this is a juvenile with it buff colored  beak. It has a lighter  brown throat with some white speck compared to its cousin.

My encounter was short lived I only managed 5 shots and only 2 were sharp as shown. The single bird was tagging in a birdwave. Norazmi did not manage to shoot with its Sony setup.  Anyway it supposed to a common bird in Sepilok.

With this bird lifer I have reach my 500 milestone and the next target is to reach my  600th Malaysian bird in my life time. It is  matter of dedication and perseverance.............

BARBET 11/12 - Blue-throated Barbet

Blue-throated Barbet

The Blue-throated Barbets (Megalaima asiatica) have a wide range and are common from Northeast Pakistan and Nepal, Southwest China, Thailand, central Laos, north Annam and Vietnam. They are widespread residents in the hills of Himalayas. They frequent montane
evergreen forest and deciduous forests, gardens, orchards, teak forests and cities with fruiting trees.In Malaysia there are record sighting in Bukit Tinggi and Bukit Rengit Pahang. See my sifu report -  http://www.malaysianbirds.com/bird-family/barbet.htm & http://www.malaysianbirds.com/my-bird-list.htm . They are medium size barbet  between 9 - 11 inches (23 - 28 cm) long, including tail. Males and females look alike. Young birds have an overall duller plumage. They have a lower ivory whitish beak compared to other barbets of Malaysia.


They are typically seen foraging in the forest canopy, but will visit lower shrubs to feed. Their staple diet consists of fruits (particularly figs), some flowers, figs and insects, such as grubs, crickets, mantises, ants, cicadas, dragonflies, locusts, beetles and moths. (See my photos down up view)

Their breeding season usually starts in March and goes on until July. Courtship behavior consists of mutual feeding, and paired birds will ‘duet’ and display.
Both parents usually excavate a nest hole about 1.5 m to more than 8 m above the ground, often on the underside of a dead branch. They line their nest with grasses, wool or plant materials. 
  




The average clutch consists of 2 to 5 white, oval, slightly glossed and thin-shelled eggs, which are incubated by both parents for about 14 days. Both parents also share in raising the chicks once they have hatched. The young are believed to fledge when they are about 30 to 40 days old.

What a beautiful bunch....what's the name 

BARBET 10/12 - Black-browed Barbet

Black-browed Barbet

 

This is Barbet no 10 and a lifer. It was hanging out with a pair of Fire-tufted Luckily it was not shy and feed on the berries without any concern as I and Lim kept snapping at it for a good 10-15 mins . It got tired of eating or is it our flashing.... and just perched on a branch hidden inconspiciously. We left for Awana trail to try to catch the Trogon

BARBET 9/10 - Blue-eared Barbet

Blue-eared Barbet

A terrible shot from 40ft up. The bunch of them feeding on ficus fruit high up.

Size is terribly small slight 6 inches and commonly found in highlands upto 1500m. The Malaysian one has black eared covert with red patches; black eye band and black collared

May 2019 Bukit Tinggi Pahang 

BARBET 8/12 - Sooty Barbet

Sooty Barbet

Amongst the barbets in my collection this is by far the dullest and plainest .....kind of the ugly duckling. Looks like a crow but brown in color and half the size. It name changed when it splitted form the Borneo Brown Barbet of late.

BARBET 7/12 - Coppersmith Barbet

Coppersmith Barbet

My Barbet on 4. One of the smallest of barbet; size of a myna but broader. Of cause the tail is short like a woodpecker's. They feed on berries and fruits as well as insects on trees. Seldom come done to the ground. A bird of mangrove forest like in Kuala Selangor Nature Park or Port Klang

Its features are its miniature size witha distinct yellow eye ring, crimson breast with red tufted crown and it has streaked lower breast and body.Both sexes of CB looks alike. CBcan be seen singly or in loose parties on banyan trees. It is arboreal and fly afar where ever there are fruiting trees especially the various species of wild fig.

Its nesting season is from January to June. Its nesting is a hole excavated in a snag ot dead softwood branch such as the drumstick trees at moderate height. they actually peck their own hole like woodpecker with their large beak. Their pecking however are soft,twist and peeling of bark and stem untul a cavity to hold itself and 2-3 eggs. At times the dominant chick will kill its sibling when food is scathe and the parent select the fittest to feed....  Its eggs are non glossy white in colour.

Their courting ritual is usually an offering of fruits to its spouse like hornbill before mounting her. Go to http:/redzlan.blogspot.com/2008/02/coppersmith-barbet-courtship.html for   a photo narration

 

BARBET 6/12 - Fire-tufted Barbet

Fire-tufted Bartbet

 

Two barbet in one Cameron outing......... double wow!!! The haze subsided on Sat the 7th and the Sunday morning was clear. The Fire Fufted are resident in Peninsula and Sumatra Found only in hill above 800m.

The bird is known to follow bird watcher who mimic their cicada like call. That I did not try le It called a fire tufted because of its red whiskers at its forehead

BARBET 5/12 - Golden-throated Barbet

 

The Cameron trip Oct 2006 was capped with this Barbet no 4....... another lifer for me. I must say its a handsome croaker and by far the most colourful amongs the 20 odd species. A loner unlike the Fire-turfed Barbets and I think its also a montane specie. It was feeding on the same fig tree at Tapah-Cameron road down from Camelia apartment. They take their turns among the mesia, bulbul, sibia etc feeding on the small berries.

New photos capture in Genting Highland in November 2022. Food is scarce thus green berries will fill the stomach. The fire-tufted was also seen together on the same tree.  

BARBET 4/12 - Golden-whiskered Barbet

Golden-whiskered Barbet

 

On Sun 100906 woke up late 9am and decided to go to Rimba Ampang to snap the blue banded. Again dissapointed. Met fellow birder Yeoh from MU who is a regular there. He saw a Drongo and rush me to the spot but nope its gone. Tell me to come at 3-5pm upstream amongst the pondage clearance. Good chance it will be there. It need some good light to catch its prey of tadpole and guppies

Very quiet day until I notice a large green bird flew into the nearby palm and I was across the other side still looking for the elusive kingfisher. Came up zilt so waded across shalow stream to the road ..........and then my lifer for the day

It the biggest amongst the 4 green species about 30cm (1 feet). GWB have distinct grey throat grey bluish red flecked crown & large yellow patch cheek. Call a loud repeated Ku-took in repetition often in minutes.

BARBET 3/12 - Lineated Barbet

Lineated Barbet

BARBET 2/12 - Red-throated Barbet

Red-throated  Barbet

 

Finally an encounter with a family of Red-throated Barbet in Bukit Lancang side of the world. There is about five of them. This subspecies is gregarious bird like the Brown and Red Crowned which they flock together. Other Barbets are more or less on their own until mating time.

The Red-throated is medium built coming in at 8 inches or 23cm. They say it is a common bird but I doubt that is true cos this is the first time I am sighting it in low land forest of Peninsula Malaysia. Many sighting up north though............

Latest from Tawau April 2023

BARBET 1/12 - Yellow-crowned Barbet

Yellow-crowned Barbet

Sighting up in the canopy following a dozen or so Brown Barbets They commune?.... I really wonder. Uncommon in Malaysia forest. Got this blue throat IDed by Alagan immediately........he must has seen plenty.

Lousy photos but lifer for me just as well.. Too high in the canopy