Fit for a King

24th April 2010, Kemensah, Selangor. I  was  waiting for the Blue Banded Kingfisher, trying very hard not to be seen. Somehow I was spotted by two guys from the Paintball operator who politely asked me to leave the area for fear of being hit by stray bullets. Apparently they were about to have  a guerilla-style shootout inside the jungle where I was having my stakeout. Packed my gear and started walking out from the clearing  towards the trail leading to the fish pond. My eyes suddenly caught a glimpse of  something blue on a bamboo over the stream- a juvenile female Blue-Eared  .  So far I’ve shot her  perched on  ropes and drainage pipes, this time it’s in a natural setting fit for the King. I had to be quick before the bullets started flying!

Chirpy: Grey-Headed Canary-Flycatcher

24th April 2010, Kemensah, Selangor.

Well , It taught me  never to go into Kemensah on a Sunday afternoon. There were people everywhere, it’s like a big fiesta. The place where I’ve  been birding for the last couple of months were crawling with ‘picnickers’, anglers and paintballers. I thought no bird would survive the onslaught, surely they would have gone to a more peaceful place, but I was wrong. She was there to save me from Birder’s depression!

Hens of Bidor

21st April 2010, Bidor, Perak.

It was very late in the afternoon and it was drizzling. Not many Black Backed Swamphens were out feeding in the open.  This one was the closest to the car –the obvious choice to shoot. The Ruak-Ruak , White Breasted Waterhen were very active Saw two Common Moorhens scooting away .

Zebra Dove

21st April 2010, Bidor, Perak.

A common bird but I just like the setting.

Yellow Bittern

21st April 2010, Bidor, Perak.

Went looking for the Cinnamon Bittern but  no luck.  Only the Yellow Bitterns were there- they gave  me  opportunity to obtain some improvement shots. It  was drizzling and these were shot  handheld from the car.

Blue Throated Bee-eater

21st April 2010, Bidor, Perak.

A  male Blue Throated Bee-Eater  scanning the area before  beginning his  hunting sweeps.

Chestnut-Winged Babblers

17th April 2010, Kemensah, Selangor.

There are so many of these Babblers here. Caught this couple resting, away from the heat after foraging in the ferns.

Go ‘Green’ : Iora

18th April 2010, Kemensah, Selangor.

The Green Ioras are the less commonly seen species of Ioras in Kemensah. Restless and hyperactive most of the time  remaining between the leaves, they are difficult  to shoot. This is a male.

Jambu Fruit Doves

18th April 2010, Kemensah, Selangor.

The last time I saw the Jambu Fruit Dove ( Ptilinopus jambu)  in Kemensah was about two years ago. Jambu in malay  means ‘guava’. There were two, picking fruits on the lower tier of the canopy on Sunday. The male has a beautiful crimson face and a pink breast patch.      Hadn’t realized that I had actually shot the female.

Spider…man: Velvet Fronted Nuthatch Again

17th April 2010, Kemensah, Selangor.

Feeding shots of the Velvet-fronted Nuthatch. This the second time I’ve shot this species hunting spiders. This is a female            I’m not sure what’s in her mouth, doesn’t look like a spider. These two are males with the black post-ocular lines.

Have a Break, Have a …….

Kemensah, Selangor. There’s so much that the jungle can give………. peace, tranquility, clean air, but there’s one additional thing that the Kemensah jungle has to offer.

Roti Aiskrim  (Ice cream bun) for RM2.00!  Good for overheated hypoglycemic birders.

Mountain Bulbul

11th April 2010, Fraser’s Hill, Pahang.

A trip to this Hill station wouldn’t be  complete without a picture of the Mountain Bulbul.

Fiery Minivets

11th April 2010, Fraser’s Hill, Pahang.

Another new Minivet for me, the Fiery Minivet. The male in orange-red and the female in yellow.

Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo

11th April 2010, Fraser’s Hill, Pahang.

A  startled Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo  flew  across our path onto this tree. The narrow penultimate tail band  differentiates  it from the Malaysian Hawk-Cuckoo. A lifer.

Mountain Imperial-Pigeon

11th April 2010, Fraser’s Hill, Pahang.

A grand looking Mountain Imperial-Pigeon ( Ducula badia).  A Lifer

New IDs: Laughingthrushes

11th April 2010, Fraser’s Hill, Pahang.

Used to be known as the Chestnut Crowned Laughingthrush, it is now called the Malayan Laughingthrush The Chestnut-Capped Laughingthrush is now called the Spectacled Laughingthrush * refer to Craig Robson, Field Guide to the birds of South-East Asia.

Silver-Eared Mesia

11th April 2010, Fraser’s Hill, Pahang.

Only saw a pair of Silver-Eared Mesia  during the whole time we were there, which was rather strange. They are quite common in Fraser’s Hill.

Safety First: Long-Tailed Broadbill

11th April 2010, Fraser’s Hill, Pahang.

Record shots of a Long-Tailed Broadbill, my primary target for this trip. She was just too far for a good shot and a white background didn’t help. Looks like she’s wearing a crash helmet, I wonder if it’s SIRIM approved. A lifer.

Black-Browed Barbet

11th April 2010, Fraser’s Hill, Pahang.

This Black-Browed Barbet (Megalaima oorti) was on the same tree as the Fire-Tufted Barbets. There were plenty of fruits to go round. Caught her taking flight, probably she’s had enough to eat.

Aren’t They Black & White?: Green Magpie

11th April 2010, Fraser’s Hill, Pahang.

Glad we didn’t miss her as she flew across the road. It was already 6.00pm and we were supposed to be heading back down towards the Gap but she kept us hanging on for  more pictures. A beautiful Green Magpie (Cissa chinensis), she’s one of my target birds for the trip.  A Lifer