Black-Thighed Falconet

21st January 2017, Batu 18, Hulu Langat, Selangor 

Local Name:  Falco Rajawali, Helang Belalang

Scientific Name: Microhierax fringillarius

Equipment: Nikon 1 V3 + Nikkor AFS-VR 400mm f/2.8 ED-VR

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdZJHMzTfbw

Black-Thighed Falconets: Happy Together

7th April 2012, , Kemensah, Selangor

Local Name: Lang Belalang Scientific Name: Microhierax fringillarius I  found a single falconet  preening herself on a tall dead tree. It is a bit unsual since they normally go in pairs.  She flew to another tree, closer to my position. As I was shooting her I was pleasantly surprised  when I could see through the viewfinder another bird joining her on the dead branch. The lighting was great and the models were  fabulous!

2nd Time Lucky: Black-Thighed Falconet

31st October 2010, Old Pump House Road, Genting Highland, Pahang

I looked from my  bedroom  window and saw that  the hills of Genting was very clear, no fog and no signs of possible rain. OK Genting it is for today, It’s been more than a year since my last trip  to this location. Yes it was a bright and clear day when I arrived at the gates around 7.40am,  Pretty quiet, I just hoped that it wouldn’t be a day of many NOs …… No fog No mist No rain No joggers and……. No birds!  About 1 km along the road I  saw her, high up on a dead tree trunk, a lone Black-Thighed Falconet. She’s one of the smallest raptors in the world. Just too high for any good photos. Then proceeded along the track to shoot other birds in a bird wave. I saw her again on my way back, about 150m from the entrance gate. This time I was in luck, she was only about 30 ft away and just slightly above my eye level!  Shot a few frames but I wasn’t too happy , too many obstructions. In case you’re wondering why check out the video! Managed to find a location with cleaner foreground & background.

Black-Thighed Falconet: going solo

21st  November 2009, Kemensah, Selangor

I was surprised to see this lone Black-Thighed Falconet (Microhierax fringillarius) local name: Helang Belalang . Usually they go in pairs. Probably a youngster looking for a mate.

Falco.net.my - not online

           28 June 2009, Old Pump House Road, Gohtong Jaya

They missed me so much that they followed me to Gohtong Jaya, all the way from Kelantan! Here they are again in a more natural setting ( not the telegraph/lamp post this time). A pair of Black-Thighed Falconets (Microhierax fringillarius). Those talons!

Just kidding!, actually these are different birds  from the ones in Pendek, Kelantan.

Black-Thighed Falconet, Pendek, Kelantan 5 June 2009

Went back to my hometown, Kota Bharu (meaning New Castle. Now you know why I support the Magpies!) . I saw a silhouette of a bird on a lamp post. Took a photo of the bird thinking that it was a shrike and what a surprise as it turned out to be a very small raptor which I had not seen before. A Black-Thighed Falconet (Microhierax fringillarius). No bigger than a tiger shrike I was fascinated to see this bird starting out so early on its hunt for prey. From what I could gather, this pair have made the lamp post in font of my brother-in-law’s house their regular perch.
Ruffled feathers	Beginning to dry out
Looking smart and ready to go.	Joined by the other half.