Mangrove Pittas

10th March 2012, Ayer Itam Dalam, Pulau Pinang

Local Name: Burung Pacat Bakau Scientific Name: Pitta megarhynch Mention the word ’Pitta’ and your mind will  be flooded with images  of  strong colours   coming together  on a sleek beautiful body. The Mangrove Pitta is one of a few species of Pittas which can be found in the Peninsular and  as the name suggests they are most at home in the swampy mangrove  habitat , mainly along the west coast of the Malaysian peninsular. I don’t usually travel far for my birding but the lure  of the Pittas were simply irresistable since the oportunity to shoot a rare species  as the Mangrove Pitta is,  doesn’t come everyday. The first day was a big let down when the birds failed to show up. On the second day things began to hot up very early when we heard their repeated calls at about 9.00am. Finally there they were, a pair of Pittas right in front of our eyes in their full glory.

Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo

9th March 2012, Ayer Itam Dalam, Pulau Pinang

Local Name: Scientific Name: Cuculus fugax It was my second sighting of the  migrant Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo and this one appears to be a juvenile.   The narrow  dark penultimate  tail bar can be clearly seen, the feature which differentiates her from the Malaysian Hawk Cuckoo

Mugimaki Flycatcher: Sayonara

4th March 2012, Gunung Ulu Kali, Pahang

Local Name: Sambar Mugimaki Scientific Name: Ficedula mugimaki   This male would probably end up being my only Mugimaki flycatcher  since the migrant birds are already flying back North as the  season is drawing to a close.

Malayan Laughingthrush

4th March 2012, Gunung Ulu Kali, Pahang

Local Name: Scientific Name: Trochalopteron peninsulae They are quite a common sight  in our montane and sub montane forest.  It is quite ironic that for a bird bearing a Malaysian tag I’m quite surprised that there isn’t a local name for her, or maybe I’m  not looking in the right places.

Pygmy Wren-Babbler: Pale Morph

4th March 2012, Genting Highland, Pahang

Local Name: Burung Resam Scientific Name: Pneopyga pusilla A picture of a shrew always comes to mind  everytime I see them making their way through the undergrowth. Almost without a tail and only about the size of a golf ball she looks like a very young bird but make no mistake, this is a fully grown bird.

Plaintive Cuckoo & Tiger Shrike

25th February 2012, Kemensah, Selangor

Common Name: Plaintive Cuckoo Local Name: Sewah Mati Anak Scientific Name: Cocamantis merulinus Plaintive Cuckoo has two different calls, one of them is so similar to the call of the Rusty-breasted Cuckoos that sometimes you do  get surprised when a different bird flies into view while you’re expecting it to to be the other. Common Name: Tiger Shrike Local Name: Tirjup Rimau Scientific Name: Lanius tigrinus   Almost time for her to fly north.

Blue-Eared Kingfisher

25th February 2012, Kemensah, Selangor

Local Name: Pekaka Bintik-bintik Scientific Name: Alcedo meninting To me one of the most beautiful Kingfishers in this region, the intense blue and orange look so surreal.