April 2019 Avian Behavior - Ferruginous Partridge mating ritual

The female would purposely caress the male belly.

A pair of Ferruginous Partridge can out quite late in the morning then its usual time. Mating is in progress as the female kept cuddly aka  "manja-manja"  to the male and many occasion it will caress the belly of the male. Only one time I witness the male offering food and feeding its partner. It would be another 6-8 weeks before a new brood can be seen here. 

The pair stayed the longest time of more than 20 minutes at the port. Even when the Mountain Peacock came out to harass the pair' they did not budge from the spot. The peacocks are coming out separately and on long duration. I suspect nesting is in progress and within 3-4 weeks I will be happy to see their chicks coming out to feed. Keeping my finger crossed there will be half a dozen of them.

Mating ritual. The only shot for record.

The elder sibling teasing the younger one with food but never giving it 

 No migrant birds were around in the month of April. There are a few post-nesting activities that I sighted. The resident OMR have two fledglings which came out to feed together  at the port in late April 2019.

Meanwhile the resident Shama  also have an offspring which is quite self-dependent but the adult still feed it on one or two occasion during my encounter.

The juvi calling to be feed

The juvi Stripe-throated Bulbul (pinkish beak) with their fluffy coat still expect to be fed as they chase their parent around Bukit Tinggi.

WADER 26/60 - Grey Heron

 Grey Heron

Avian Call - Dusky Eagle Owl territorial call during dusk

T
The above  video was shot using Fuji XT-2 set up - APSc crop factor FHD 29fps. whilst below is by Nikon P1000 cropped FHD 25fps The quality is so different.

Its song is a phrase of resonant, accelerating, croaking notes: kro kro kro-kro-krokrokoikoikokog, with the ending notes given in a rapid staccato sequence, resembling a tremolo. This phrase lasts about 3 seconds. Male and female may be heard duetting during courtship. Whenever it calls the others are warned to keep at bay. It calls in long interval of half an hour or so and some times in response to other bird call.

Avian Field Report April 2019 - Hunting for Lifer Fraser's Hill

A Bronze Drongo in the wee morning along the ClockTower road to Shahzan

The Long-tail Broadbill  was an easy shoot during the nesting period.

Even the Long-tailed Sibia is collecting nesting material....I think in the month of April- May there will be plenty of activity. Even the Rufous-bellied Swallow are collecting mud mixed with fibrous material to build their nest.

Streak Spiderhunter and Fire-breasted Flowerpecker  are more common highland bird

A Juvenile Large Niltava  was sighted along the road to Mager Trail which may have fledged in April.



A single Buff-breasted Babbler will come out to greet you every time at the Paddock port no matter what you play your birdcall. However, the beautiful male White-tailed Robin only may come out once or twice.

Then there was also a pair of Lesser Shortwing in FH at the Paddock port.  I was hoping to see the Eye-browed WrenBabbler or any kind for that matter; instead the former.

The Slaty Forktail was a sudden surprise catch at the entrance gate early in the morning. It was on its own looking for moths and grub on the ground.

I was shooting from my car. Later a female Large Niltava show up and hang around for a while for me to shoot it.









Then there is a pair Common Green Magpie  sighted at the ravine of the abandoned house opposite Shahzan.

Attention!!!

A Black & Maroon Oriole showed up at a tree at the Glasshouse Cafe after a Little Cuckoo Dove came out earlier to feed on fruiting tree.

Anything About Birding - Freelance Bird Guide Fee Rate in Malaysia

Bukit Tinggi Port 2019

Hi sometimes while visiting Malaysia; you may have extended a day to do birding activities. Well you can contact local freelance bird guide to bring you out for birding excursion and to try some local cuisines during lunch. As for me its strictly weekend guiding and can be "kowtim" with a good meal and RM100 for transport to birding ports within 100km from KL city.

PS: For Fellow birders who wants to do freelancing bird-guiding; please do leave your contact and email for listing here

Melaka spread of Baba Nyonya and Jonker  delights is just shy of RM100 for 2-3 pax

Tanjung Tualang River Prawn Mee RM16.00. Lala BeeHoon RM18.00 at Kuala Sepetang. Addiing more sidedishes like Steam Carp fish  RM35.00 is still good 

As a reference here is a fee guideline.               Adapted from Malaysian Birding

Local knowledge of a particular locale would be indispensable for quality birding. For that visitor that have made their own travel, meals and accommodation plans but requires the services of a local bird-guide to plan a day of birding itinerary;  here are some reference of how much it will cost you to hire a full-time bird guide in Malaysia nowadays. Anything cheaper will be a bargain.

Bird-guide Fee for Adhoc Birding 

Full Day (max. 8hours)	1 to 3 birder (per guide, per day)	MYR 500-700
Half Day (max.4hours)	1 to 3 birder (per guide, per day)	MYR 300-400
	Additional pax	MYR 100
Use of guide vehicles	guide's own car upto 3 birders	MYR 100/day  + gas/toll if any

Bird-guide  with driver & van transport rental  (4 to 6 pax)
Full Day (max. 8hours)	per guide, per day	MYR 1000-1200
Half Day (max.4hours)	per guide, per day	MYR   700-900

Note: If you require the guide for overnight trips, there will be extra charges for his accommodation and meals expenses for the duration of the tour.

Now back to Food............yummy




High end Lunching can cost a good RM300 for 3-4 pax in KL like this seafood delights  @ Seafood World Plaza33 Petaling Jaya

Mud Crab in Glutinous Rice and Patin fish is already a good combo dish set meal Bukit Tinggi.








Japanese fair is quite reasonable in KL from RM65-120 ++ per head Buffet style that you can enjoy till your heart content. Outlet like Kampachi, Jogoya  and Saiseki  are  recommended.