Avian Sighting in October 2017 - Juvenile Indian Cuckoo

Last Sunday saw me showing Leow and his wifey Angie the birding ports in Genting Highland. Leow has just started bird photography a few months back. He have chalk up plenty of lifers in Sg Congkak, Frasers hill , Bukit Tinggi and Lancang but not in Genting Highlands like Bukit Chin Chin aka Ulu Kali .

We got this cute Juvenile visiting Cuckoo at Awana Port down in the valley at the gate end of the Awana  trail. Later they treated me to a sumptuous lunch at my regular restaurant at Genting Sempah - Summer Park. There surprise to see Ken with his in-laws who travelled all the way from Hartamas  to having lunch at the place. 

Avian Video - Fluffy-backed Tit Babbler Duet

MikeBirder@copyright Oct2017

This pair just pop by at the port we were shooting the Chestnut-winged Babbler.  Another bonus lifer for Ken. They would fly the four corners of where we were sitting in the open and on their last appearance they perch on an open branch as we click away for a good 3 minutes or so. What bird luck for us there and then.  So the MO is just sit low so that you not so intimidating and wait & wait for them guys. Never chase after them  and let them come out to you. Good luck.

This video was taken in FHD and converted to  HD MP4. Blogspot only allowed 100mb of content only. I do not have a FHD editing software. Is there any Free software in the internet...........

Avian Sighting in October 2017 - Chestnut-winged Babbler

MikeBirder@copyright Oct2017

 Its been awhile I got   the  chance to shoot  these enticing croonies. When we heard their chattering call across the road so I quickly played its call for the sake of Ken who have yet to get this lifer. We were actual waiting for the Scarlet-rumped Trogon to come out but it was not game. So our attention was diverted to the threesome babbler. Later another bigger babbler the Fluffy-backed Tit Babbler also drop by. So there was a bit of singing  competition in the bush undergrowth  where we were porting. The Rufous-tailed Tailorbird also join in later but it was too skittish.

Though it was a lifer for my birding pal; for me just to get some improve shots with my Fuji  XT-2. We were shooting at about 30 ft away Luckily the birds were very cooperative and slowly come out in the open. 

 I was shooting at 1/30s ISO on Auto the XT-2 put the aperture @ f5.2. There are plenty of blurred shots but you still get a handful of them sharp. counting feathers liao lol!  So it best to shoot in Hi speed as Babbler tends to have more movement when they get excited jumping in and out.

Avian Sighting in October 2017 - Maroon Woodpecker

The first weekend of October 2017 saw me going to Lanchang Pahang again trying to hunt for the Blyth's Frogmouth which I heard calling along a stretch there to Krau -  2 weeks back..Another failed sighting like  what happen at the Gap and  even Merapoh. This bird do not stay  for long at any one place from my encounters. And my sifu says its a much easier bird to see than the Gould's !  Dave I would like to differ.

MikeBirder@copyright Oct2017

So no lifer for the month of October so far. But there  are plenty of opportunities to get improve shots of other lowland birds here in Lanchang like this Woodpecker

While we were shooting some babblers ; this busy body woodpecker just drop by at a nearby tree trunk about 50 away. It was a bit curious by the look of the second picture above lol.

It stay for less than a  minute but Ken and I manage to click some good shots in good lighting.

Avian Sighting in September 2017 - Pale Blue Flycatcher

The bird is a regular visitor to the Sg Congkak port for the past month or two.  It has matured beautifully and its color is now an uniformly blue without any speckles.

Avian Video - An emerald dove come and visit

This  female Emerald Dove drop by the Richmond port gave me some reprieve as I failed to get my lifer in the wee morning at the Gap. This is the best encounter in the open of this avianlicious bird with its glossy emerald green coat. I think it is a subadult as the feathers have yet to mature.

There were 3 immature OMR in different shades accompanying the former.

Dove 5/9 - Emerald Dove

Asian Emerald Dove

Kemensah have been amazing. Jason and I have some lifers here for past 2 weekends. The fruiting fig trees have been the attraction point here.

This a first encounter besides the Little Green Pigeon recently. The dove are found at open tracks feeding on ground especially nearby streams

Almost a footer in length so when its is about 40 ft away a photo like these ones are okay for id. The wings in emerald green and the white forehead and brow is it recognised features. The birds is often trapped by the kampung folks for their meat and this may have caused its population to dwindle......... now it is rarely seen.

                 

Some improve shots of the Emerald Dove in Frasers Hill Pahang taken on 1 October 2017. It was a female bird with its uniform brown head. The male have greyish head do.