Avian Field Report September 2018 - Flycatcher Galore at Awana

 It was a morning of flycatchers in  the last weekend of September. In the advent of the migration period  of Nov-Jan you can expect  visiting flycatchers to arrive soon to the low montane forest of Awana.  Indeed some have started their journey early maybe because of the  bad and wet weather  in Taiwan, China and Japan recently.

The first fc was the resident chubby looking male Snowy-browed Fc. This  was sighted up at Ulu Kali; not at the old post but instead popped at the Radar station side. It was missing for a good 6 months to a year. We were so happy to see that they are still around. The female was no where around though.

At Awana trail it was devastating to see trees and shrubs been cut down when Genting operator install now power lines and pole leading to their water treatment plant at the end of the trail. Good and bad you can go and see for your self. Bird life have been in the doldrum here for the past months.

However that weekend the flycatcher galore start.  The second fc I capture was the long missing Hill Blue. There was a pair of them. This is also a resident bird. I only wish to see the Pygmy Blue which is the rarest fc to see here. Alagan reminisced the time the thrill of shooting the bird as we walk pass the spot where it usually come out from the ravine. The Blue and White fc  ( Zappey's) can be spotted here during the wintering period up north. But today no such luck.

The Dark-sided

The third flycatcher  was a mature Little Pied. It was at the same side near the last gate. Later another one was seen upfront at the first ravine of the trail. The fourth  and fifth flycatcher is the migrants Asian Brown and a beautiful a juvenile Dark sided with its spotty  chest and crown. It keep us entertained for a good hour in the late morning.



While shooting the 2 birds,  the sixth fc  just popped out at the flowering  tree. It was a female Green-backed. It is probably in transit down to the lowland of klang valley.  It stayed for a few minutes and off it go and never returned.

The Mugimaki fc have yet to show itself maybe in the month of October onwards.

Asian Brown

 The Asian Fairy BlueBird, Long-tailed Sibia, Greater Leafbird and Sultan Tit are the other birds that made cameo appearance that morning in Awana.

Avian sighting September 2018 - Lesser Shortwing (female)

Finally when news from my birding group that the Lesser Shortwings are active again in September 2018 it was day of reckoning for me to nail my target female LS.  This a lifer in a sense that I have never shot the female bird in brown coat during my 12 years of birding.


Arriving at the post about 8 am there were about 8 birders already set up their spot. Squeezing in between Hafiz and Zakir the action starts soon enough for everyone. The LS was coming out in succession with its male companion quite frequent that after pass 10 am I got enough shots and excuse myself from  the gang to recce Awana trail............. now that is another story of flycatchers

The male  in blue coat ,came out 1  of 3 times the female appearance. 

Avian Behavior September 2018 - Crested Goshawk feeding on its prey

Sighted in Malim Nawar Perak ; this common raptor caught a snake and was feeding without much concern of my present. It was about 60 ft away high on the tree. Reptiles and small rodent are their preferred choice as they are easy catch in the open unlike birds and squirrels.

Usually it will attack the head first to kill it and slowly feast on the meat.

Later  I cross over to Kinta Sanctuary side and again sighted another Crested Goshawk which also caught a reptile whether its the same bird I am not sure. It was about 1.5-2 km from the first sighting. Food is abundant here for raptor and owl to hunt. The bird was  at eye level on a horizontal tree trunk about 60-70 ft off the laterite road. I was shooting to the left  of the driver seat without my bean bag. After getting some handheld shots  I started my car to turn around so that I can shoot from the driver seat but  it flew off into the undergrowth with its prey...............sad.

Avian Sighting/ Raptor - Wallace's Hawk Eagle (juvenile)

My buddy says it is a Wallace's Hawk Eagle and he did not bother to shoot. As for me such close encounter would be very rare indeed for a raptor. As I shoot from a close distance of 70-80 ft I was intrigue how it hunt swopping down to grab a  lizard / gecko on a tree trunk which tried to escape by jumping off the tree to the ground. The bird follow in pursuit diving and tumbling amongst the foliage onto the ground. I think it did managed to catch it with its talon. With one bite swallow its catch whole.

I was hoping it was the Jerdon's Baza which have similar looks except it has rufous chest streak

In Rainforest Discovery Centre  RDC this resident raptor is a common find. A pair nested recently here and its nest can be seen from the canopy walk. This bird may be the offspring.

The bird shitted and show  off its backside to me. What a sight LOL

Avian Behaviour - Mating ritual of the Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush

There were these pair of CCL which were picking up the mealworms in the bunch and feeding to its mate. I do not think they are fledgings. Usually the fledglings will flutter their wings and giving out call to their parents to feed them or even chase them around. What I saw is that the mate just wait around patiently  for the male to feed it.............but then this is not period of breeding I wonder. Even the Niltava are not feeding their fledging at the same port and the latter is forced to feed on their own.

Avian Sighting September 2018 - Pacific Golden Plover (breeding plumage)

I was back to Ipoh for the long Malaysia Day weekend. Happy birday to my wifey LaySim. The weather was a bit wet for most of my 3 days stay in my hometown Ipoh.  Only on the last day I drop by Malim Nawar with my family; to chance on any lifer before driving back to KL. I was hoping it was the Grey Plover. I be back......................

There were hundreds of Oriental Pranticole now roosting in the many dry pond and fields.  The Openbill have also   arrived at Malim Nawar too. Hope to see some rare ones soon especially the duckies.....................

The Openbills are already down south to Perak from Penang side. So far the count is about 20-30 birds in 2 different flocks.

Avian Sighting September 2018 - Bornean Crested Partridge (aka Crested Fireback)

The Male with its black bluish coat and distinct blue facial mask

On the way in to Gua Gomantong in Sukau we chance upon a pair of partridges. They were feeding along the roadside open drain. When we stopped our car they were already into the thick undergrowth. Fortunately they were still in sight though not in the open Dennis and Mike manage to shoot them as Ong who was driving who can only watch as it would be a lifer for him. Sorry brother! 

It is subspecies of the peninsula Crested  Fireback but not separated as yet ...........the 

Bornean (Lophura ignita nobilis) have  brownish rufous belly & green paler legs as compared to black and reddish ones of the Peninsula. unfortunately we cannot manage to see the legs  in the thick bush.

ura ignita nobilis

On the way out  we chance on this Crested Serpent Eagle hunting on the roadside It managed to catch it prey probable a gecko and flew to an open brach just 20 ft high. To our surprise the raptor did  not budge from it perch when we just walk fronting it  to a close 30 ft to shoot in  full frame !!!.