WADER (57/60) - Ruff (Lifer 492)

There were a threesome of Ruff  sighted at one of many  fast drying pond in Malim Nawar. The Ruff is a visiting wader to Peninsula.  My hope of the bird reaching further down south from its usual appearance in Seberang Perai up north  came true this 2018 Chinese New Year period. Thanks you Qayyum for the head up. I believe they will be staying for another good month or so if food is still aplenty. It tends to wade in leg deep waters when feeding amongst other birds. It is gregarious in nature and can be seen in small group of 3-5 birds and keeping closeby together.

Ruff is a medium-sized wader  a footer in length. It breeds in wet land & marshes  across northern Euro-Asia. This highly gregarious sandpiper  and winter in  southern and western Europe, Africa, southern Asia and Australia. The ruff has a distinctive gravy boat appearance, with a small head, medium-length bill with a kink, longish neck and pot-bellied body. It has long legs that are variable in colour but usually yellow or orange. In flight, it has a deeper, slower wing stroke than other waders of a similar size, and displays a thin, indistinct white bar on the wing, and white ovals on the sides of the tail.

Male Ruff when breeding will moult into a beautiful ruff  or fluffy neck plummage in  May-June back in the northern hemisphere. We will never see it  here in Peninsula.... sigh.

I and my buddies covered  all ponds but failed to see them. Later while directing the search of savannah nightjar at the sand dune I realise I forgot the key pond adjacent to the main lake. Scouring the pond from afar 300m I notice some waders amongst the big black -shouldered Stilts. I left Ken and Al behind and told them what I saw.... Reaching about 100 m I started shooting in  open sight by them. I call up the guys to come over to shoot. I dare not move nearer as it will scare the birds.
Unfortunately the buffaloes started to move away to the birds direction thus spooking the birds before they reached my post. Sorry guys.

As usual the water buffaloes are every where. They can be quite intimidating as the patriarch stare thru you. Usually it will back off if you are firm and hold your ground even when it charge are you.

 There are three species of terns you can tick up as lifers here in MN the Whiskered, White-winged and Little

 Wish the left one is a  White-headed Stilt with its black mane compared to the cleaner neck of the Black-winged. My sifu ask me to check their call when I am there again. 

Its call is a bit "yap-yap -yap " which defers with the common Black-winged which  sound like "kik kik kik". Below are another pair at a different pond but the black mane are less distinct.

Also in the wish list was the White-shouldered Starling  but we got only the Daurian /Purple-backed.

 What pipit is this ........the common paddyfield. Still waiting for the Richard's to appear.....

 Plenty of close encounter of the Pied Fantail along the track as  courting has begun......

 The beautiful Swamphen  are also active 

 A pair of Garganey ducks was also sighted from afar. No rare duck sighted.

MARTIN (1/3 )- Sand Martin ( Lifer 491)

Sand Martin from China or India continent regularly winters in the Tropics including  Peninsula Malaysia  as one of its destination Every year  without fail they can bes een in Malim Nawar with its many water bodies which serves as food source for swallow species.

It can be seen hanging around together with the other  Barn Swallow and Pacific until month of March or so before returning to their breeding grounds back home. They are active sallying for insects and drop by to rest on  cables lines and fences near the ex mining ponds.

Its brown back with a brown chest band and cleavage, white throat, small size 6 inches  long and quick jerky flight separate it at once from similar swallows. Photo below on the right is the Barn Swallow which you can mistakenly id as the former........

AVIAN CALL - Coppersmith Barbet

 The call of this colorful barbet  is very common in suburb and neighborhood parks and public garden. Its hooting bellow can heard continuously  for minutes a time.

AVIAN CALL - Sultan Tit Vocalising

Avian Field Report January 2018 - Fraser Hill

The female White-tailed Robin was one of the highlight of day trip. It was alone. I managed just a few shots as it post in 2 position at MWT Stream port.  After that it flew upstream never to return. The Large Niltava and another rufous-browed FC was also sighted there.

The Lesser Racquet-tailed Drongo and its offspring  stayed for a while at Hermant's port. The Square-tailed and non stubbed crest is the id features. Meanwhile the RH Trogon has gone awol for the past weeks due to the wet weather.

At the next port the Pygmy Wrenbabbler  was grabbing the offered mealworms for its mating ritual I think.  

The buff-breasted  Babbler was sighted in 2 location diagonally opposite the golf course. One time at the Hermant's port and the other at the stream port

The last port I visited was the Richmond's Port past noon. The Hill partridges did not appear during the hour I was there.

A single visiting female Mugimaki has made its stop at the Hermant's Port. Now and then the Rufous-browed would come out to chase it away.

The second highlight of my outing is the rarity Large Scimitar  Babbler. A fluke find while strolling along the road to Silverpark. Heard the thunderous call of a pair of them in the ravine. The pair of birds were loud & rowdy as usual. Knowing their  skulking  habit; may as well try my luck  and descend the trail following the direction of the call to look for it. After dueting for more than 10 minutes! one of them just pop out from afar as I struggle to focus amongst the foreground of branches. I dare not move from behind the tree trunk I was hiding and manual focus the best that I can.

These were my best shot from a distance of 200ft or so. The Large Scimitar Babbler was my only second encounter with pictures in Bukit Fraser.

Previously I seen it at Telekom loop but this time round it was at Bishop Trail.

Avian Photo Gears - Binoculars Sales

 For those who are starting up birding a good Binocular is an essential gear that you would like to have when you are in the field.

YL Camera have thrown out some good stuff at their PJ33 branch, Jalan Semangat at half their original price. The one that you would like to get is the Nikon Prostaff 7s. There is also a night vision Bino but the body rubber is a bit sticky but can be siliconed as new I think.

Get it while stock last...............


Yes you can refer my name MikeBirder they will give further discount... Cheers

Avian Sighting January 2018 - Yellow-rumped Flycatcher

After the session at Lancang last week, I decided to dropby TAR port after lunch at Bukit Tinggi. Everyone should have already got wind of its arrival there. This has been a regular spot that it stay. You will wonder whether its the same bird year in year out. The bird is expected to stay for another month or two till March

The other common place you can see the bird is in Kiara Park TTDI. Over there you may also bum into a Narcicuss Fc too.

Met my good bird buddy Nikon MingLee and new acquiantaince Olympus Eric Cheong there. The fruiting tree have been devoured of its riped fruits.  With  the expected return of sunshine next week it will bring more birds over to the place as the other green fruits ripen. This weekend will be crowded ...........