Avian sighting April 2019 - Rufous-browed Flycatcher in the mood for romance

A beautiful couple posed for me in Fraser Hill. It's population has flourish somewhat as it can be seen at several ports from the Gap road (3rd milestone), Paddock port;  ravine side off the Hermants Trail and Golf course road port to name a few.  Fellow birders mentioned that mating & nesting is already quite active. Apparently, they build their cuplike nest at earth embankment inside the undergrowth which I think is unique rather on shrub branches.

 Above one sighted at the Gap road 4th Milestone

This  one sighted on Langgak Golf  stream port while the bottom one was shot at Hermant's port

Warbler 8/15 - Rusty-rumped Warbler (aka Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler) Lifer 524

The Rusty-rumped is a passage migrant and most often seen in the northern part of Peninsula. As they are skulking birds of wetland bushes in freshwater marshland and padi field they are difficult to be photographed. They are much easier to see than its other cousin  Lanceolated Warbler as they do come out in the open to feed on the wet bed. Also, they are quite responsive to call back.

My encounter was in end of March 2019.  I was back for QingMing in Ipoh with the family so took time off in the wee morning to hunt for this bird which was sighted earlier 2 weeks back. Reaching the port it was not what I expected as the low shrub vegetation along the stream is just too thick. So finding a spot which is generally open was the only chance to see this bird. It was calling in the bushes as I  keep my finger crossed that it comes out in the open. And then suddenly it popped out and I only managed to snap 3 pictures in succession and that was it. I packed up after waiting another half an hour as I had to be back to Ipoh by 10 am or so.

 The bird is about 6 inches long and have white tipped tail but not obvious here as the tail looked tattered. Its crown is streaked and dark compared to  Lanceolated. Its chest and belly are unstreaked and rufescent.

Thanks, Q for the intel..............

Avian Photo Gear - Promising rumor 36mp APS-C sensor on the way from FujiRumor

Is this April Fool Joke!!!!

by FujiRumors

Reading on  I will definitely consider a Fuji X-T4 if  the rumor becomes a reality in 2020. I have skipped the XT-3 of last year because the improvement to a 26mp sensor is no big deal for my liking.

Avian Call - Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher

Usually visiting birds to Malaysia are rather quiet in nature and they preferred to be discreet in an uncommon territory. I was surprised this Fc was very vocal.  Its call is rather faint with a few syllable chitting sound. Earlier thought it was a bulbul or babbler with its large bill. Its chit-chit call is a giveaway of a flycatcher/

Jungle Flycatcher (1/5) - Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher (lifer 523)

Brown-chested  Jungle Flycatcher is a passage migrant passing thru Peninsula Malaysia. We chance on a beautiful specimen here in Johor.  It is seldom sighted up north or central peninsula as they do not stop for long period but continue moving south. So chances are better here down south nearer Singapore which is one of their last stops.

The bird has a yellowish lower mandible. Coming in at 16 cm;  it is one large flycatcher and it has the largest of a hooked tipped beak. I mistakenly id it as a babbler at first because of its beak but why is it so quiet. Then notice its "chit-chitting" call like many Fc. Will post it vocalizing later.  The throat is mottling/speckle white as compared to the resident Grey-chested Jungle Flycatcher which has a distinct white throat. 





They breed in the mountainous broadleaved forests of southern and central China (ie. Hunan, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guizhou). Brown-chested Jungle Flycatchers head south from August onwards, briefly passing through northern Vietnam. By mid-September, they would have reached Central Thailand, as confirmed by regular sightings around Bangkok. Thus sightings in Peninsula to Singapore are sighted from the last few days of September to early November and there are very few records of birds staying through winter.  

Their last stop is supposedly in Sumatera. Some like this one may stop and stay in Johor and/or cross the causeway or Malacca Straits.

Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher is rarely seen because it has forest dweller in dense patches of undergrowth in woodlands and forests, perching motionless on a low twig while watching the ground for grub and insect.  Many birdwatchers are thus likely to have walked past the flycatcher without realizing that it is there, just meters away in the bushes. 

Secondly, the brownish color tones of the Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher is well blended well with the background. See la pictures. It is usually a loner and to do not follow bird wave, unlike APFc.

Thirdly, not many people know the calls the Brown-chested Jungle-Flycatcher makes. Post later.








This bird should be on its way back to its breeding ground up north but I wonder as it is way past Spring now......maybe it has decided stay on until next year. 

Avian Video - A family of Mountain Peacock Pheasant

Old video of 2018 I took with my Canon 7D.

Avian they are not- Giant Green Scorpion road killed

Rest in Peace.... Amithaba

Sad to see such a beautiful creature been quashed on a road trail while birding in Johor. It is also known as the Giant Forest Scorpion which can reach a length of 5 inches. The metallic greenish-blue exoskeleton is very conspicuous of the black ones. The Malaysian Forest Scorpion is quite defensive and will readily sting when it feels cornered or in danger. It is similar to Emperor Scorpion only in looks and not in behavior. They are very aggressive and unlike the Emperor Scorpion, this species is not as likely to settle down in captivity. It can be distinguished from the Emperor in that it is slightly more elongated and its pedipalps and claws are larger and more elongated.

Description
H. spinifer can reach a length around 10–12 cm (3.9–4.7 in).[3] The body is shiny black with gray-green reflections. The pincers are highly developed. It feeds primarily on insects, mainly cockroaches, crickets, and locusts.[4] Its venom can cause very severe pain, disorders of vision, and mild numbness in the affected area, but it is not typically lethal to humans.[4] These scorpions tend to be skittish and defensive, using their large pedipalps (pincers) to attack, more than their tails.

Distribution and habitat
This species can be found in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Generally, these terrestrial scorpions live in moist forests in the dark undergrowth under logs or other debris, and they burrow into the ground where they hide during the day.