RAPTOR ACCIPITER 5/34 - Osprey

Osprey

 

Photo taken at Taman Tasik Ampang Hilir during the weekend at noon. It was circling the lake hunting for fish for a good 30 mins but did not catch any fish Osprey are migrant. Unlike many raptors they are found at low altitude over lakes and coastal areas and wide rivers

Osprey are found worldwide. It has long narrow dark brown wings and its head and underpart white with a dark band at its breast and also distinct dark band through the eyes

 

RAPTOR ACCIPITER 4/34 - Changeable Hawk Eagle

Changeable Hawk Eagle

Penang birdpark holds many raptors in large caging. Some in pittiful sight to which I believed were injured in the outside world and brought to the management for rehab and recuperation.

CHE is a majestic and slender hunter of the rainforest of Peninsula upto 2000m. It size of 2 feet with a wingspan of 6-7 ft as it soar in the sky with stretch out neck The wings are long and parallel-sided, and are held flat in flight, which helps to distinguish this species from the similar Mountain Hawk Eagle. In overhead flight, comparatively rounded wings (upturned at tip), longish tail, white body (spotted with brown) and grey underside of wings (streaked and spotted) are leading pointers.
It is a relatively slender forest eagle which can vary considerably in appearance (hence the name). This, and also a complicated phylogeny further complicates precise identification.

Normally brown above; white below with barring on the undersides of the flight feathers and tail; black longitudinal streaks on throat and chocolate streaks on breast. Some subspecies have a crest of four feathers, but this is all but absent in others. Sexes alike; female larger, and young birds are often whiter-headed and less patterned.

It's call - is a loud, high-pitched ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-kee, beginning short, rising in crescendo and ending in a scream.

RAPTOR ACCIPITER 3/34 - Blyth's Hawk Eagle

 

It has been awhile.......... this accipiter has been absent at Awana for a long time of 2 years. When ever I am birding in Genting Highland I will scout for it at every tall open tree. It can also be sighted in Fraser's and even hills of Langkawi (breeding sighting at hill crop) in Peninsula.

If in silhuoette it can be mistaken as a Wallace's Hawk-eagle or a Black Baza because of its similar long erectiled crest. It breeds in Peninsula Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo. It is a bird of hilly area with open woodland upto 2000m, whilst in island forms it prefer a higher tree density. It builds a stick nest in a tree and lays a single egg.

It is a medium-sized raptor at about 51-58cm in length. Adult has a thick white band on uppertail and undertail, all black above, black spotted breast, barred below. It has a prominent crest like the bazas. Juvenile is dark brown above, and has a light brown head and underparts.

 

Nestling a month old in Awana Genting April 2013

RAPTOR ACCIPITER 2/34 - Wallace's Hawk Eagle

Wallace's Hawk Eagle

Chance on this huge bird on the way out from Awana trail after a poor start at Gohtong Jaya new trail. The Ole Pumphouse trail is still not open when I reached the place at 7.30am.

It was perched on a low branch 30 ft directly over the road path. Luckily I snapped a few shots from the car. Before I can grab my pillow as a beanbag but alas a f@#king van just speed pass and scooted it away. It is definately a Hawk Eagle but which one The probable one is the Changeable HE the other is the Wallace.......................till I get the chance to see it again

Zog says
..........more like Wallace's, the local Changeable lacks a long crest, unlike its Indian races.

  

Latest sighting at Sepilok Sabah year round in 2018. This resident bird is more often seen all over RDC at the middle canopy hunting for small lizard and squirrel amongst other mammal like colugo.
It is not shy and is used to  human surrounding.

WHISTLER 1/1 - Mangrove Whistler

Mangrove Whistler

 

Besides KSNP Kuala Selangor you can see this uncommon Mangrove Whistler in Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve in Kuala Sepetang. Their habitat is coastal forest and mangrove swamp. It can be lured out to the open with a playback of its call . It has several variation whistling calls. Supposedly a crooner but during my encounter it did not call at all . It flew around me ; back and fro over my position on the boardwalk. Strange hor............

Mangrove Whistler is about 6 inches in length and dull grey and brown coated. I caught the bird eyes in the sun and its iris is red le. Its beak is broad and shrike-like. It feeds on crawlies and grub that they find under leaves and branches. I can predict they are potential host for cuckoos like Bronze Cuckoo.

It lives alone unless mating during breeding season in the months of March - June. Their nest is built about 1-4 m from the ground on shrubby trees. Though yet to see it I can imagine it to be like bulbul nest................

 

COUCAL 2/3 - Greater Coucal

Greater Coucal

A bonus lifer in Ipoh whilst chasing the Java Sparrow. Here a shot at 100ft away. Waited for it to come out but no siree ......it saw me and remain hidden. Greater Coucal are elusive but is not uncommon ......... and sometimes can be seen visiting suburban neighborhood garden.

Greater Coucal are related to the Cuckoo/Malkohas in features and sheer size - 50cm odd in length. It gives out this territorial low deep mournful call and if its in distress a hissing sound. Keep in the lower shrubs and hide in tall grass areas where they build their nest.................

COUCAL 1/3 - Lesser Coucal

Lesser Coucal

 

The other one which is very much smaller compared to the Great Coucal (50 cm) by a good 10cm in size. It has a duller grey coat to its chest head and tail. Most of the time it has white speckled chest and throat.