16.09.2020 - Chasing Waders with Buddies!

It was sudden plan with my buddy Terence along with his wife, Eileen to have a family birding , to visit the waders at the mudflats of Selangor. We invited another friend, Jason, who actually had a plan to visit another spot for migrants. It was rather early for us still at the area, since the tide was too low and less birds, except for some Lesser Sand Plovers and distant Lesser Adjutants. 

Lesser Sand Plover

Lesser Adjutants

Collared Kingfisher

We then moved to a nearby jetty, to have a look on the herons and egrets. This is place is populated by herons and egrets. We managed to get some nice shots here. In between a Black Crowned Night Heron displayed, what I call rather unusual hunting behavior (to me), since I have only seens them taking their prey while wading along shallow waters. What happened was this heron, took a fish direct from the surface of water in flight...that odd. The ladies were on the boat, managed to see some shorebirds as well.

Black Crowned Night Heron

Pacific Swallow

Pacific Swallow

Grey Heron

After that we head to one more jetty nearby. This jetty is nicknamed as "Rainbow Jetty" due to its colourful painting. There is a heronry here, shared by night herons, cattle egrets and little egrets. It was not heavily populated yet since its off season for the herons and egrets now.

Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker

House Crow

Black Crowned Night Heron

We had out lunch here and then proceed again to the mudflats. The tide was just nice, managed to click on some waders and terns.

Common Redshank

Ruddy Turnstone

Little Tern with Lesser Sand Plovers

Bar Tailed Godwit in flight.

Red Necked Stint

A very productive day I would say, since I managed to bag some lifers; Little Terns, Red Necked Stints and Bar Tailed Godwits. Thanks for my buddy Terence for helping me out with the IDs.

13.09.2020 Testing My New Lens at TBNSA

I had upgraded my gear (finally 😄), from Nikon AF-P DX 70-300mm lens to Nikon AF-S 200-500mm ED VR, which was my dream lens. The next day itself, I went to my favourite birding spot, Taman Botani Negara of Shah Alam. 

Since I can access more distant birds now, I just give a try on the birds which perching quite high, such as the Spotted Dove, which was busy coo-ing.

Eastern Spotted Dove

Baya Weaver (Female)

The park seems to be kinda quiet, not much of bird calls actually. I took my usual route, from the paddy field all the way to the animal park. I went to the orchard which is adjacent to the paddy field, and there were some common birds busy with their breakfast.

Common Flameback Woodpeckers

Javan Myna / White Vented Myna

Blue Crowned Hanging Parrot (Male)

Blue Crowned Hanging Parrot (Male)

I passed by a bamboo patch on my way to the animal park. I heard a jerking, alarming sound coming out from the bamboos. At first I thought its could be an Oriental Magpie Robin since the sound was very much similar. I'm wrong. It was a White Rumped Shama, doing a repeated drops to the ground as if getting my attention. I took a shot and to my disappointment, the camera setting was not adjusted for under-shade shots. The picture was dark. (After post processing was done, it turn out to be a little better)

White Rumped Shama

White Rumped Shama

Crested Serpent Eagle

I continued my walk to the animal park, looking for the same fig I saw few interesting birds last year. The fruits are still unripe. I proceed to the amphitheater, and there was one fig tree with ripe fruits. Sooty Barbets were there, having those ripe figs.

Sooty Barbet

Sooty Barbet

Little Spiderhunter

Pacific Swallow

Hill Myna

I walked out to the paddy field again and entered into the Camar Rimba tracks hoping to see the pitta, but no sign of it. As I decided to walk back, I saw a wild pig crossing the track, just about 30 meters away from me. After few seconds, I saw something small was moving at the same location. Wild piglets! Since the "mom" could be nearby, I decided to take the opposite route to reach the exit of the park.

Juvenile Banded Pigs

I walked a total distance of 5.5km with my heavier gear, left arm sored a little. However had a good time again here.

10.06.2020 My DIY Sunbird Feeder

During the lock down (due to Covid 19 spread), I did spend some time to study on birds physiology, how to edit photos in Lightroom CC and also planned on how to make a sunbird feeder. Oilve Backed Sunbirds are one among few common birds that hang around at my house. So having a sunbird feeder can be really cool. I was looking into some examples of such feeder from the Youtube videos. Most are made for hummingbird, however the concept is the same. 

Olive Backed Sunbird (Male)

Olive Backed Sunbird (Female)

I just need a small shallow container, artificial flower with hole in the middle, enough for the Sunbird's bill to reach the honey solution. Along with these, I must have a small woody branch to hold the feeders.

I used plastic milk bottle cap and some small circle shaped plastic cover that I cut from transparent plastic container. The cover is cut at suitable size to fit into the bottle cap. Holes are made to place the artificial flowers and also for fill in the honey solution. Tie the feeders to the woody branch with wire. Then prepare the honey solution.

As for the honey solution, I added 1/2 teaspoon into 1/2 cup of water (no tap water please). A 10mL syringe is used to fill up the feeder. Feeders are tied on a small woody branch and this branch fixed to a support like fence poles or a small tree if you have one. The honey solution might invite ants, which will definitely annoy the sunbirds when they are feeding. Therefore I applied some neem oil at the base of the woody branch. This will get rid of the ants. It is important to make sure the feeder are is free from felines.

03.06.2020 Birding Before MCO

Greetings guys. This time i want to share some of my visits before we were put under Movement Control Order due to the spread of Covid19.

My birding friend Chuan had introduced to me a Sri Lankan expat working here in Kuala Lumpur, Charith Fernando. Our first encounter together was at Ulu Kali submontane forest. I bagged quite a number of lifers here since it was my first time at Ulu Kali. Indeed it was very cold and misty. For the first time in history, a solo Grey Sided Thrush migrated from Manchurian region to Ulu Kali. Its was found on November 2019, but the information was not shared by anyone in any social media, till my buddy Shazlan open up the story. It was a little controversial since crowding is possible on that birding spot since its a rare bird. The spot is near a Radar Station and its kinda prohibited to crowd-up very near to the station due to security issue. However he indeed have a big heart to share to all his rare finding. Thanks to him.

Siberian Thrush - Male

Siberian Thrush - Male (Sub-Adult)

Siberian Thrush - Female

Siberian Thrush - Female

Siberian Blue Robin - Male

Large Niltava - Male

Mountain Leaf Warbler

Black Throated Sunbird - Female

Chestnut Tailed Minla

Grey Sided Thrush

Grey Sided Thrush

This species may started to face some threats at Thailand's montane forests, which was its usual wintering ground. And here too much information can lead the way to poachers or trappers to get the bird for illegal trading. Other species we see here is the tame Siberian Thrushes. Enjoyed watching them, along with the bright blue Siberian Blue Robin. Ulu Kali indeed an excellent place to experience montane birds. The only trouble you will have here is the thick mist which makes you difficult to find birds and photograph it.

The second spot Charith and me visited at Genting Highlands was the "old pump house road". Charith have been to this place before, and he told me that its a nice place to see the Great Hornbill. Unfortunately we went to this spot a bit late, and we only managed to see few birds only. Orange Bellied Leafbird was one of them.

Orange Bellied Leafbird - Male

Orange Bellied Leafbird - Female

Sungai Congkak was another spot that Charith and me ventured after we hard about the Blue Eared Kingfisher. Its a "studio-kinda" place. This place has both Rufous Backed Kingfisher and Blue Eared Kingfisher, along with Orange Headed Thrush, Indo Chinese Flycatcher and some babblers. I bagged some lifers here since this place is not a common place that I visit.

Blue Eared Kingfsher

Indochinese Flycatcher - Male

Orange Headed Thrush

Grey Caped Babbler

White Chested Babbler