Black-Throated Babbler

23rd October 2017,  Bukit Rengit, Selangor

Local Name:  Burung Rimba Bertam

Scientific Name: Stachyris nigricollis

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

White-Chested Babbler

9th August 2017,  Sg. Congkak, Selangor

Local Name:  Burung  Telanjuk

Scientific Name: Trichastoma rostratum

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

Rufous-Fronted Babbler

6th August 2016, Sg. Congkak, Selangor 

Local Name:  Burung  Rimba Api

Scientific Name: stachyridopsis rufifrons

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

Chestnut-Winged Babbler

21st September 2014, Kemensah Selangor

Scientific Name: Stachyris erythroptera Equipment: Nikon 1 V2 + Nikkor AFS-VR 400mm f/2.8G

Pin-Striped Tit-Babbler: Beauty in the Bush

22nd February 2014, Kemensah , Selangor

Species: Pin-Striped Tit-Babbler Local Name: Burung Rimba Berjalur Scientific Name: Macronous gularis Equipment: Nikon 1 V2 + Nikkor AFS-VR 400mm f/2.8G

Ferruginous Babbler

6th April 2013, Taman Negara Sg Relau, Merapoh, Pahang

Species: Ferruginous Babbler Local Name: Burung Rimba Sampah Scientific Name: Trichastoma bicolor Equipment: Nikon 1 V2 + Nikkor AFS-VR 400mm f/2.8G   Photographing Babblers has always been very challenging. They are always on the move and more often prefering to forage in the undergrowth where lighting can be fairly dismal.

Short-Tailed Babbler

6th April 2013, Taman Negara Sg Relau, Merapoh, Pahang

Species: Short-tailed Babbler Local Name: Burung Rimba Ekor Pendek Scientific Name: Malacocincla malaccensis Equipment: Nikon 1 V2 + Nikkor AFS-VR 400mm f/2.8G ( remote shutter release)

Rufous-Crowned Babbler

2nd March 2013, Bukit Rengit, Pahang

Species: Rufous-crowned Babbler Local Name: Burung Rimba Tua Besar Scientific Name: Malacopteron magnum Equipment: Nikon 1 V2 + Nikkor AFS-VR 400mm f/2.8G

Chestnut-Winged Babbler

3rd February 2013, Kemensah, Selangor

Species: Chestnut-winged babbler Local Name: Rimba Merbah Sampah Scientific Name: Stachyris erythroptera Equipment: Nikon 1 V2 + Nikkor AFS-VR 400mm f/2.8G They are more often heard but not seen. Spending most of their time in the scrub they are  tough subjects to photograph well.

Rufous-Fronted Babbler

30th June 2012, , Kemensah, Selangor

Local Name: Rimba Dahi Merah Scientific Name: Stachyridopsis rufifrons They are often heard but not seen, but I was lucky to see three of these Babblers from up close.

Grey-Headed Babbler

9th March 2012, Sedim, Kedah

Local Name: Scientific Name: Stachyris poliocephala A lone Grey headed Babbler flew to the river’s edge to bathe in the cool clear water.

24 Carat: Golden Babbler

30th April 2011, Gunung Ulu Kali, Genting Highlands, Pahang

The birds may not be that rare but to me these are precious! The reason being, they are so difficult to  obtain, like gold dust……. well almost ! Hyperactive these birds would give you a tough time before they surrender their images

Not Legless Creatures: Grey-Throated Babblers

5th March 2011, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang.

The Babblers in the previous series of shots  were  ‘ without legs’ so this time  I made sure they were visible. Not an easy task considering these babblers weren’t exactly  in a cooperative mood.

Grey-Throated Babblers

13th February 2011, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang.

It has been some time since my last trip to Bukit Tinggi.  My objective in particular was  the Siberian Thrush which had  been seen by fellow birders/photographers. Luck was against me when I was told that  the group had not been sighted for the past few days. Anyway, I had a fun time shooting other birds, some would even come to feed at your feet like  a group of these Grey-throated Babblers. They are hyperactive birds and shooting them is  a real test of  patience. Going after the moths in between the flower pots Down the hatch!

Non-Intrusive Photography: Nesting Pin Striped Tit Babblers

20th January 2011,  Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan

For the first time I feel that I have the necessary gear to engage in  more non-flash  photography. The situation   demanded exactly this kind of technique when I stumbled upon a pair of Pin Striped Tit Babblers happily ferrying dry leaves every 1 minute, to build their  nest. It was about 4ft off the ground, slotted in between several dried palm fronds. Lighting along the trail was poor. Upping the ISO to 1250 I managed to obtain some fairly decent shutter speeds of around  1/40-1/80s. I was hardly 20 ft away from the nest but somehow they didn’t show any sign that they had noticed my presence. The D7000 has a QUIET MODE setting on the dial that allows you to reduce the ‘clicking’ sound of the shutter, I think this helped tremendously. I was happy with the outcome, and the birds…………….they simply carried on with what they were doing, uninterrupted.

Grey Throated Babblers

31st  December 2010, Old Gombak Road , Selangor

Decided to try a new location, along the old Gombak road. Spotted  a pair of Grey Throated Babblers  making their way in the bamboo trees (managed to shoot only one)

It’s Irresistible: Grey-Headed Babbler

2nd October 2010, Kemensah, Selangor

It’s been a while since  my last lifer so she’s a much welcomed catch. The aroma  was simply irresistible and it probably lured her out from her usual  dark  haven. She came near the jeep where I was having my very early ‘nasi lemak’  & cold green tea jungle breakfast !