Scarlet-Backed Flowerpecker: fire in the bush

22nd  November 2009, Kemensah, Selangor

Photographing a  tiny, quick moving Flowerpecker  is always a challenge and  this one is no exception. He was constantly  flying  from one branch to another which made waiting for a clean shot  not good for your blood pressure! .   This is a male   Scarlet-Backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum) local name: Sepah Puteri Merah

Flowerpeckers love this hairy and succulent fruit

Ferrari always comes to mind whenever the word scarlet is mentioned . Well, they may not be loud and quick  as the ‘prancing horse’ but to me they  are in a category of their own in terms of beauty.

Blue-Throated Bee-Eater

22nd  November 2009, Kemensah, Selangor

I haven’t seen  Blue-Throated Bee-Eaters in Kemensah for a couple of months so today’s encounter was a pleasant surprise. This is a female.

Little Spiderhunter, Yellow-Bellied Warbler

21st November 2009, Kemensah, Selangor

This Yellow-Bellied Warbler (Abroscopus superciliaris) was on the same Bamboo tree as the Spiderhunter. Maybe I’ll get a better shot next time round.

A Little Spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostra) cleaning her beak after  her rounds of collecting nectar. Maintenance has to be tip-top.

Crimson-Winged Woodpecker

21st November 2009, Kemensah, Selangor

Last Saturday and Sunday were spent birding at Taman Rimba Ampang so this week I’m back at the local turf, Kemensah. This is our prized catch from Saturday. 3 Crimson-Winged Woodpeckers (Picus puniceus)  local name : Belatuk Dusun, were foraging for food along a tree trunk . This  is a male with the red  patch on the cheek.

The colours are  so intense that he doesn’t look real. Believe me it’s not a stuffed toy, he‘s real!

Grey Wagtail: clean shots!

15th November 2009, Taman Rimba Ampang, Selangor

 

At last, these are photos of the Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) in a cleaner surrounding. The ones taken in Kemensah had too much rubbish,  which was rather distracting.

Verditer Flycatchers

15th November 2009, Taman Rimba Ampang, Selangor

The female

A  pair of Verditer Flycatchers (Eumyias thalassinus)  The male

Japanese Sparrowhawk

15th November 2009, Taman Rimba Ampang, Selangor Lifer: A lone Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis)  . I was concentrating on the Common Kingfisher at the time and  was lucky to spot her. She could be a juvenile judging by the pronounced eyebrow.