Birds of Kuala Selangor

21st & 25th December 2012, Kuala Selangor, Selangor

Equipment: Nikon D7000 & , Nikkor 400mm f2.8 + TC20EIII                  Nikon 1 V1  + Nikkor 400mm f2.8 It is the rainy season now  and from my experience jungle birds tend to be  a little quiet and hard to find so it was Kuala Selangor again for some coastal birds   A pair of Asian Dollarbirds A Little Heron preening                                   The Chestnut-winged Cuckoo was  a pleasant surprise. A Collared kingfisher regurgitating something from her throat.   25th December 2012: A Grey heron A Black-capped KIngfisher Crested Serpent Eagle This catfish may be too big for the Black-crowned Night-heron to handle Sunda pygmy Woodpecker

Reaching Out To Shore Birds: Nikon V1

4th November 2012, Pantai Remis, Jeram and Kuala Selangor , Selangor

Equipment: Nikon V1+FT1 adapter, , Nikkor AFS 400mm f2.8ED VR+TC20EIII When it comes to shore birds I ‘m always wishing for longer reach as far as the camera setup is concerned This time the objective  was to test the newly acquired Nikon V1, a relatively cheap camera (less than half its original price with the new Nikon V2 looming on the horizon)  but packs quite a punch with its 2.7x crop factor. Coupled  with my current 400mm lens and 2X teleconverter (via the FT1 adapter) I would be shooting with an effective focal length of 2160mm  and complete with autofocus!. My only concern about this  little camera is the small sensor and how much detail it would be able to capture. The day started at Pantai Remis……. A Little Heron and Whiskered Terns basking  in the early morning sun Time to get rid of the itch As the sun rose higher the  temperature and humidity soared, things began to get a little uncomfortable, A Collared Kingfisher getting some respite from the blazing  hot sun. A lone Little Egret amongst a group of Common Redshanks and Terek Sandpipers   Curlew sandpipers A few Red-necked stints were busy on the mud flat A Little heron catching small fish in the pools of water left by the receeding tide We drove to Kuala Selangor with the hope of finding some  migrant Kingfishers to photograph. We were greeted by the sight of a  hunting Grey Heron. At last, a  migrant Kingfisher! A Black-capped Kingfisher would select a  hidden perch and would disappear into the thicker mangrove upon the slightest movement that you make. Hiding behind some very tall grass I was able to get quite close to this extremely shy Kingfisher We drove to Jeram  on our last leg of the trip. We found a pair of Common Kingfishers taking a rest after its hunting spree. Equipment: Nikon D7000, , Nikkor AFS 400mm f2.8ED VR+TC20EIII Looks like a young Kingfisher judging by the  pale orange underpart   A Lesser Adjutant taking its afternoon constitutional along the waters edge. Equipment: Nikon V1+FT1 adapter, , Nikkor AFS 400mm f2.8ED VR+TC20EIII This trip turned out better than expected in terms of bird species and I was more than happy with the results from the Nikon V1, not bad for a camera with a tiny sensor. After all the driving and staying out in the hot sun……………..it was time for a TOP-UP of  CHOLESTEROL and lots of  cold coconut drink ! My 3 brothers. Left: Rosly Hassan, middle: Rosdeen Hassan, right: Rosman Hassan (arm only)

Collared Kingfisher

15th March 2012, Tok Kassim, Sabak, Kelantan

Local Name: Pekaka Sungai Scientific Name: Halcyon chloris A Collared Kingfisher enjoying her early morning  reptilio-breakfast.

Balik Kampung: Sabak revisited

5th February 2011, Kampung Sabak , Kelantan

I was in Kota Bharu during the recent Chinese New Year  holidays,visiting  friends and families. It also provided the opportunity to check out Kampung Sabak’s birdlife. The water level had risen  considerably  since my last visit and the place looks  very different. Lush green grass covered  most of the exposed mudflats and tall reeds had grown along  most parts of the river bank. (shot with a Nokia N900) It is now rainy season  and most of  the mudflats were under water. Intermediate Egrets flying in only to land on the opposite bank, too far  any usable shots. Collared Kingfisher waiting patiently for an opportunity to dive in for fish. Resting after  the morning hunt. I’m not sure whether these are Greater or Lesser Sand Plovers. The one on the right seems bigger than the other two, could this be a Greater SP. A  lone  Pacific Golden Plover hanging around with the Sand Plovers A beautiful multi-coloured crab caught my attention while shooting the Plovers. A dead tree instead of the water for a change! A Yellow-Bittern hiding among the reed.   A White-Browed Crake  feeding cautiously, never  venturing too far from the safety of the reeds An Intermediate Egret Plenty of  Chinese Pond-Herons in the area A Black-Shouldered Kite came to perch on a dead tree by the river bank This female Asian Koel was in a real  hurry to get as far away from the Kite which was on the branch above her. Common Sandpipers I moved  to check out the nearby ponds during the later part of the morning, they used to be paddy fields  but  farming had stopped ever since they were flooded by seawater. (shot with a Nokia N900) I was able to drive around in my car.  As usual the birds were more tolerant to  motor vehicles and I was able to get very close. This White-Throated Kingfisher drying off after an intensive diving session. A  busy Paddy field Pipit  making its way along the sandy ground. White Browed Crake Time to get awa…y Another White Throated Kingfisher. A pair of Blue-Tailed Bee-Eaters My only shot of this beauty, the Common Kingfisher.