Large Woodshrike of Kemensah

19 July 2009, Kemensah, Selangor

Large Woodshrikes (Tephrodornis gularis) are fairly common in Kemensah. Usually they can be spotted making fast aerobatics in between the trees, chasing other Woodshrikes. I think this could be a female.

Red-Bearded Bee-Eater

19 July 2009, Kemensah, Selangor

Trekking back down the hill we heard the familiar sound of a bee-eater. Looking up we saw the bird but couldn’t make out exactly what it was because of the back light. Took one shot and out popped a blurry image of a Bearded Bee-Eater on the screen. The first few shots were terrible and we were disappointed to see the bird fly away and were left without any decent photo. We decided to wait knowing the behaviour of a bee-eater. We were given a second chance when she came back to the same tree. Phew.. A juvenile Red-Bearded Bee-Eater (Nyctyornis amictus): local name Berek-berek Janggut Merah . She’s almost entirely green and lacks the red colour at the throat.

Blue-Eared Kingfisher- my little blue diamond

19 July 2009, Kemensah, Selangor

We knew from the previous trip that there was a small kingfisher in the area but wasn’t sure of the species. Just as we were approaching the area a dozen or so mountain bikers went past us and stopped to rest next to the pond. We thought ‘there goes our chance of a Kingfisher’. Without pinning any high hopes we scouted along the banks. Then we saw a tiny bird on a dead tree trunk over on the other side of the pond. Yes! A Blue-Eared Kingfisher (Alcedo meninting) local name: Pekaka Bintik-bintik , doing what it does ever so well, hunting for fish. She’s a juvenile. Finally after almost eight months of staring at a blurry picture from my first encounter with this Kingfisher, these are better photos for us to enjoy.

The cheeks and ear coverts of this juvenile haven’t turned blue of the adult bird. This is the only photo showing the blue colour on the back. Based on the colour of the crown bars it could be a male.                   Soaking wet after a series of diving attacks into the disused fish pond.

Observing the fish below.

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.

Male Dark-Necked Tailorbird.

19 July 2009, Kemensah, Selangor

Managed to snap  a few photos of the male Dark-Necked Tailorbird (Orthotomus atrogularis)  today. Compare these to yesterday’s post of the female. The dark grey colour around the throat is more prominent than the female.

Itchy Dark-Necked Tailorbird

18 July 2009, Kemensah, Selangor What would you do if you were in her position? A cute female Dark-Necked Tailorbird ,( local name: Perenjak Pisang) was trying to relieve herself from a terrible itch by rubbing her neck against a branch.

		The fruits of  the wild  fig tree  she was rubbing herself against.

Raffles Malkoha- hahahahaaaaa

Bukit Rengit, Pahang

I was attracted to the call of a pair of Raffles Malkoha (Rhinortha chlorophaeus). They are very shy birds.  Difficult to get a full view of the birds which preferred the security of the dense foliage. Makes me chuckle every time I see these photos. The sound that they make resemble the moaning sound  made by my son  urging me to stop the car in the middle of the Karak Highway. He had a tummy ache that morning and had to go…… . I was doing 180 just to reach the next  Pump station!  Lewis Hamilton, you need Ilyas in your car to win the next Grand Prix.

The female with the greyish head.