Asian Fairy Bluebirds

22nd March 2015, Kemensah, Selangor

Local Name: Murai Gajah Scientific Name: Irena puella Equipment: Nikon 1 V2 + Nikkor AFS-VR 400mm f/2.8G                                             The iridescent blue of the male is really visible against the greens of the forest.

Asian-Fairy Bluebird (female)

3rd February 2015, Kemensah, Selangor

Scientific Name: Irena puella Local Name: Murai Gajah Equipment: Nikon 1 V2 + Nikkor AFS-VR 400mm f/2.8G

One Fruiting Tree

12th February 2011, Kemensah , Selangor

The same tree that attracted the Scaly-breasted Bulbuls  was also a magnet for other birds A pair of Gold-Whiskered Barbet  couldn’t resist the temptation of  the succulent fruits (managed to shoot one) A male Greater Green Leafbird A male Asian Fairy Bluebird  brought the other half A female Asian Fairy Bluebird A Buff-Vented Bulbul Crimson-Breasted Flowerpecker This Little Spiderhunter stopped momentarily on the tree and then flew to a nearby Bamboo, I guess she qualifies!

Asian Fairy Bluebird

14th November 2009, Taman Rimba Ampang, Selangor The male   The female

We counted at least 5 Asian Fairy Bluebirds on one tree. Their striking blue made them stand out from the greens of the forest .

Asian Fairy Bluebirds of Kemensah

18 July 2009, Kemensah, Selangor

A pair of Asian Fairy Bluebirds (Irena puella) were calling loudly. I saw the female lower down by the stream and had mistook her for a Thrush until the more recognizable male landed on a branch above my head.

Forestry Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) , Kepong 23rd May 2009

Regular birders t0 FRIM have been telling me how it is a place full of surprises. We (myself and two elder brothers) went there to see if it’s true. With a constant flow of joggers and a loudspeaker blaring loud music at a nearby Family Day function we were not expecting this to be a good trip. Things began to pick up when we saw a pair of hanging parrot (my first snap of the day which didn’t turn out well). There was a tree in front of the Malay Tea House which was fruiting ( the only one), and it was a magnet for birds as we saw wave after wave of different types of birds flying in. We stationed ourselves beside the tree until it was time to pack up.

We were welcomed by a Black Giant Squirrel

A female Thick-Billed Green-Pigeon (Treron pharei)

We missed the male pigeon while concentrating on the female.
A Brown Barbet (Calorhamphus fuliginosus) joining the feast of delicious fruits
A few noisy Common Hill-Mynas (Gracula religiosa) (local name: Tiong Mas) flew onto a nearby tree.
Asian Fairy Bluebird (Irena puella) on the same fruiting tree.	Gold-Whiskered Barbet (Megalaima chrysopogon)

The call of the Shama was too tempting; I had to go and check out the bird. A male White-Rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus). He surveys the area from a higher perch before swooping down to catch his prey on the forest floor.

 

The female has slightly duller colours and shorter tail than the male.

Beautiful tail feathers of the male.

FRIM, yes there will be other trips there.