Avian Video - Violet Cuckoo

 This is a short clip of my sighting of a pair of Violet Cuckoo of my yesteryears birding in Kemensah or Taman TAR Ampang. It can be seen in lowland forest and suburbs near forest fringes. It does response to birdcall like most cuckoo do. But guys do not play your recording in prolong period but intermittently when you are out there as not to stress the bird if it do come out.  

Kemensah has changed dramatically in the past years and is now not conducive for birding as encroachment and opening up of the forest trails have push all the birdlife away.  

December 2020 - Avian Sighting Zappey's Flycatcher

 It was a good outing to Ampang during the last week of December to shoot this rarely seen migrant. I was inactive for the past months since the Covid-19 MCO restriction. So when news came my way that the Zappey's have been resighted in Ampang, it was sure thing not to miss the opportunity to see it. The place is 15 minutes from my residence.  This would be my first time shooting the male  bird. Zappey's is the recent split subspecies of the Blue and White. The latter has a darker blue  facial head and upper body as compared to the above male Zappey's which is lighter blue. 

The bird is seen frequently in Ampang for the past month now. It would sally to feed on insects amongst the many frugivorous birds feeding on the fruiting ficus trees. It is a rarity to see a mature male up close as it is very confiding and showy even we were 30 photogs strong chasing & shooting it below during that weekend. It was reminiscing the shooting in Penang Botanic Garden when birders all over the peninsula came to shoot the Emerald Cuckoo.

For the information of many;  the Asian Emerald Cuckoo is been seen in Jeram side  in December 2020.

Avian Nesting July 2020 - Common Flameback Woodpecker

 

In the month of July we can still see nesting in progress. For the past weeks many have come to shoot this Common Flameback  Woodie in the vicinity of Ampang Kuala Lumpur. For the first shooting the hatching period is in progress. I hope the feeding activity may start in early August. 

The parents take turns to sit in the nest. Every now and then popping out to scan for threat. We will see how it fair in the next few weeks.

Lurking on the adjoining tree nearby is this monster which I believe is eying the nest. I hope the woodies will be vigilant of the predator. 

Avian sighting August 2020 - Family of Pale Blue Flycatchers

 

This flycatcher is a middle storey dweller of hill forest and is confiding in the human present. The male can be mistaken for the juvenile or female Verditer minus the black lore. The birds came out separately at a fruiting tree. The juvenile drop in most of the time and will flutter its wings when mom was in sight.

The Pale Blue female have entire buff brownish body from the throat as shown below.  Earlier thought it was the female Brown-streaked which have a whiter throat. So to conclude the junvenile is a offspring of the two to end the debate amongst the present that day. 

                        

Juvenile flycatcher like many other species can be hard to id because they look alike

Iora (3/3) August 2020 - Great Iora (Lifer 542)

 

Finally a fluke appearance of a subadult or  a variant male Great Iora made the trip down  Negeri Sembilan worthwhile. Thanks Tokki for the heads up.

The bird pop out from nowhere as I shouted out  "iora" when  we were shooting a pair of Yuhina or rather Erpornis at a fruiting tree. Scrutinising the wings whether it is plain olive grey.  I was hoping it is a Great.  It sat silently for about a minute or so well behind some foliage in the middle story without calling; just looking at me and the gang . Felt  sorry for Richie who did not manage to sight it nor shoot it from a close distance of 40 ft even as I tried pointing out the yellow bird up on tree. Must bring a laser pointer liao.

The past few years I have tried to get it in Grik Perak a few time but no show. Then David got it in Krau Pahang this year at the bridge side where the Malaysian Blue Fc is often seen. Again no luck then.

The Great Iora is not really that big a bird. It is slightly larger than the other 2 subspecies. It has a sizeable beak like a scimitar babbler though and it wings have no white barring but a tinge of yellow. Its yellow eyering is less conspicuous compare to the others. Usually the adult have blackish head and mane. 

News on this birds

Latest new sighting at Sg Perdik UluLangat in March 2021 by Xialim 

Wader (60/70) August 2020 - White-headed Stilt aka Pied Stilt (Lifer 541)

 

The Pied Stilt or White-headed was always in my look out's list during the migratory period which starts as early as August till December in Peninsula. When news came from TK that there is a sighting here in Sg Balang; it was a no wait and see situation but to drive 170km from KL asap just in case the lifer leaves the spot which did happen for the Wooly, and Glossy Ibis.

It looks like the breeding plumage of the BW Stilt except for its pure white head and body and distinct black mane up to the back of its head. I would note that its head is more rounded (maybe because of the mane) and its beak a bit upturn. It would feed amongst the waterbirds here in the plowed section of the padi fields. It supposed to be smaller but I saw its aggressive behavior of chasing away a BW stilt during a feeding session.

It was the first record in pictures  here in Muar or rather Peninsula Malaysia according to the resident birder, Thank to Ang for his assist.

Below  as a comparison of the more common visitor  the Black-winged Stilt which have oblong head and dirtied white head and inconspicious mane. 

Avian sighting August 2020 - Finsch's Bulbul & Streaked Bulbul

 

These  are some of  the  less common seen lowland Bulbuls of Peninsula Malaysia. The Finsch's has this puffy yellow throat and dirty yellow body. The bird was quite approachable that day as there were many birds feeding at a fruiting Macaranga tree. It did ventured  down to eye-level for us to shoot.

The Streaked Bulbul on the other hand is a middle storey bird and we were shooting at a distance of 35-40 ft away.