Pink Guava: Jambu Fruit Dove

24th October 2010, Kemensah, Selangor

I’ve been quite fortunate, this being the second sighting of this beautiful Dove for the year. It’s a male.

Cycle Treat: Grey-Rumped Treeswifts

17th October 2010, Taman Melawati, Selangor

It was quite a hectic schedule  with two weddings to attend,  last weekend was intended to be a  non-birding weekend. Furthermore, I am without my gimbal head  after sending it in for repairs but somehow things don’t always turn out as planned! I was having a quick cycle around Taman Melawati when I saw a group of  birds on a large leafless tree about 300m from my house.  I could see that they were Treeswifts but  couldn’t immediately identify the exact  species. I knew they couldn’t be the Whiskered Treeswifts since they usually go in pairs, not in a flock of 15-20 birds. In my mind  I knew that this would be a lifer Treeswift for me. Dashed back to the house to pick up my gear ( plus my old velbon tripod)  and returned to the location in a flash!  True enough, they were Grey-rumped Treeswifts ( Hemiprocne longipennis)- a lifer. Luckily I had one bird perching against a green background. This one’s a male with the rufous ear covert .   A female with the blackish ear covert. An adult and a juvenile male.

Tiger Shrike

9th October 2010, Kemensah, Selangor

My first Tiger Shrike since the start of the migratory season. This is a juvenile.

Two Brown Shrikes

9th October 2010, Kemensah, Selangor

Birds were few and far in between, only the Shrikes provided us with some action. Shot the first one thinking that she was a Tiger Shrike. Turned out to be a juvenile Brown Shrike. An adult male Brown Shrike ( Lanius lucionensis ) was in the same area as the juvenile. The scaley patterns on the body become less conspicuous as they mature.

Hakem’s Girl : ‘Bakal Menantu’

9th October 2010, Kemensah, Selangor

I took Ari & Wilma’s suggestion to find a suitable mate for Hakem but it looked like Hakem had found  himself a  pretty, young bird without my help. Just look  at those facial stripes, gorgeous! She must be new to the area because I haven’t seen any juvenile females before this. Been trying to obtain some  info on the age of these birds when they reach sexual maturity but unfortunately there’s none. Hakem was on a different branch a few yards away from his ‘girl’. Translation: Bakal menantu- ‘future daughter in-law’

Chestnut-Breasted Malkoha

26th September 2010, Kemensah, Selangor

My first Chestnut-Breasted Malkoha after the  long break. This one’s a female with yellow eyes.

Striped-Throated Bulbul

26th September 2010, Kemensah, Selangor

They are quite common here in Kemensah but you don’t get to see them on every outing. This one was giving me the eye.