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.

Avian Sighting March 2019 - Rufous-winged Fulvetta

Rufous-winged Fulvetta is a sure see montane bird here in Genting Highland. They are hyperactive when looking for grub especially moths at the station. So to shoot them is quite a chore and any momentarily open perch sighting is a  god given opportunity.  First time seeing a pair coming to the post to feed on the mealworm placed by birders here. Usually, they ignore our free grub and instead keep to the undergrowth popping in and out. Frustrating indeed.

In March the sky was clear and sunny during the late morning.  So lighting was good  and I managed some improved shots of this common bird in Genting.............

Avian Sighting March 2019 - Common Green Magpie

The birds are very much active at Genting in March 2019. The happening bird of the year has awakened the birding fraternity from far and wide.  In the single morning, I got to shoot plenty of species some were winter visitors and the other local residents. The Common Green Magpie is a bird that you can never ignore when it appears. The dilemma is whether you have a chance to shoot it on an open perch and that my friend; depends on your bird luck.

The Common Green Magpie appears active picking up nesting material. It came by several times on the same route as early as 8.00am. I was at the right position to snap a few shots during the 3-5 seconds window when it was on an open perch twice! So it is important to be ever ready. My best pictures so far of this bird.

The CGM is one of the largest bird in the montane forest of Malaysia. It had been seen to feed on anything from squirrels and frogs amongst others bugs. In Sabah, there is a cousin aka Bornean Green Magpie which is now a separated species. The latter is endemic to Mount Kinabalu. You can see my posting https://mikebirder.blogspot.com/2018/10/magpie-bornean-green-magpie-lifer-506.html  Which bird is the more prettier.......?

The second encounter I got it quite close but alias there was some foreground foliage. Well, you win some you lose some.

Avian Sighting March 2019 - Montane Minla

The Barred-throated Minla also known as the Chestnut-tailed is a regularly seen bird in the highlands. The one shot here is a fine specimen with a rather long tail with a roughen up back. The bird usually feeds in a family of two or more. Birders never get bored to shoot this colorful bird whenever it appears. These are my best and sharpest shots so far in the open................

Their ample food is the bountiful half-dead moths that are found dangling or fallen to the ground here. 

Above photo showing the chestnut tail which really not obvious. I would preferred the bar-throated name.

Robin 4/5 - Rufous-headed Robin (Lifer 521)

This will be my best lifer for 2019 as this is a rare vagrant from China Sichuan - probably  Jiuzhaigou National Park. The Rusty-naped lost out here.  It is supposedly the third time sighting in Peninsula Malaysia. The last sighting was in Gunung Brinchang some decades back. It is also called the Red-headed Robin. Hope the migrants keep coming. Yes, a Yellow-browed Warbler was also sighted here in Genting. Wish its the Hume's a split but no record to Malaysia yet.

I posted this earlier but pulled it down on request by MNS and fellow DB to give some privacy to the bird. I actually don't mind sharing the find but the big issue is those unethical bird photogs and bird guide who want perfect shots for themselves or their paying guest who will starts manipulating the natural habitat.

RHR is a plumb robin and it is slightly larger 15cm compared to the slender Siberian Blue 14cm. The latter is shown in comparison. Most of the time the Siberian Blue is the dominant one at the port. But one time saw it chasing away the latter at the port when the Siberian blue stayed too long there.

Immature SBR

Immature RHR 

The weather in March is getting hot in Malaysia. I even saw a Stripe throated bulbul so high up in Genting. There was plenty of action here and birders are gathering in the dozen to tick off this easy lifer. A pair of Siberian Blue Thrush were also feeding regularly at the port.

LATEST NEWS 10th March 2019 : the port has been blocked because somebody posted a photo of birders with the Gate & Radar in the background. This happens previously a few years back when somebody shoot a birding documentary  around the radar station  which eventually got the place fenced up till today. Sorry guys  please be tactful on your posting. Eventually we birders will be the losers. 

Anyway back to this rare visitor. The bird we saw is a 1st winter male with its whitish flaky throat. We hope it will stay long till next year for it to mature to its beautiful plumage. The male has a rufous-chestnut crown, ear-coverts, and nape; black from lores and mid-eye to neck side and across upper breast, enclosing broad white chin and throat.  The female has no bluish tinge coat and its tail is a warm brown over. Some would have identify it as a female SBR if not for the whitish throat.

Breaking News 20th March 2019
I was informed that the bird has moved on and no longer seen at the port.......😌

Avian Sighting February 2019 - Lesser Coucal

There were 2  pair of these large birds in Pulau Indah. For the many time I was there in Jan-Feb I sighted it without fail along the track between the steel  foundry.  It can as closed as 50 feet away

 The tiniest of grassbird Zitting Cisticola with its cheery chirping is a tough bird to shoot here or grassland for the matter. It never let me come close to it even from my car.

A dozen or so Oriental Pranticole have landed here too in February . They are in full breeding plummage.  They do breed here in Malaysia.

Still searching for the Richard's but I only got the common one.....................

 Well I have to wait for next season again.......................

Avian Event 2-3 March 2019 - For Birding Enthusiasts and Freshies

This is a very good opportunity  for startup birders to try out all the camera setup by  Olympus to Fuji amongst the bigger players . So guys you can shoot in real time and then decide to buy in the gear