Peaceful Doves
Spotted Doves
A line of Barn Swallows with a lone swallow....
According to Seng, the bird on the left is now called a Rufous-Bellied Swallow !
Here is an extract of his explanation: "the swallows in question have gone through many taxonomic changes through the years. I believe the bird in your picture is listed as Rufous-bellied Swallow or Striated Swallow in BIW. In the checklist, it is listed as Striated Swallow or Hirundo striolata, a resident in Pen Msia (sub-species badia). I believe most people use Rufous-bellied following the latest Robson (2008). Robson has now split badia (Rufous-bellied) from striolata (Striated). The other name in question is Red-rumped Swallow or Hirundo daurica, which is a migrant. Robson (2008) has even changed the genus from Hirundo to Cecropis. In short, here's my take....Rufous-bellied or Striated for our resident with very rufous-chestnut unders (species striolata, subspecies badia). And Red-rumped for the migrant daurica which has a streaked breast".
On a nearby cable, there was also a pair of Pacific Swallows. A point to note is that these swallows don't mix with the earlier swallows - barn and rufous-bellied !
Further down the line is a Blue-Tailed Bee Eater.
Saw this Ashy Minivet in the open area as well.
This is a little Munia - just learning how to fly!
As you go further in you will come across this signboard to your left. The trail will then forked into two directions:
I took the one of the left first after hopping across a small stream. The trail on the left will lead you thru an orchard of durian trees, jack-fruits, bananas etc with a combination of low land forest plants. It was very quiet as i could only hear my foot steps and the running water. Something tells me that this could be a worst birding site ever....so i started to snap pictures of its flora instead.
No this is not autumn or maple leaves but a large patch of ferns on the ground.
This looks like a strawberry flavored ais kacang!
This looks like "jambu air" - a kind of fruit.
These are wild palm fruits enjoyed by variety of mammals.
The first bird i encountered was this Brown Shrike sitting quietly on a branch.
Then as i was resting by a large rock i spotted this Gray Wagtail taking its bath.
Then i came across more Brown Shrikes and they are not shy birds like this fellow which allows me to be as close as just 5 meters.
As you reached the 300 plus mark on bird count it gets a bit harder to see more lifers. To see more lifers, i guess you could either travel further away from your comfort zone or you need a bit of luck. Today as i went deeper into the orchard, suddenly this Malaysian Hawk Cuckoo flew silently and perched right in front of me. I consider this my lucky day. I just wonder how those birders who have reached the 500 mark would feel when they go birding?
I came across this pair of Orange-Backed Woodpeckers high up on a dead tree. The fellow at the bottom was swinging and noding its head which i believe its a kind of courtship display. These are the only woodpeckers in this region which have a distinguish white feathers along its back.
This picture shows you the white patch of feathers behind its back.
As i was turning back and heading to the second trail, i heard a call which akin to a woodpecker. I was looking high and low at tree trunks and branches searching for the source of the sound. Lo and behold high up on a dead tree trunk there was this lone Black-Thighed Falconet (Malay calls it "Burung Rajawali")!
The initial part of second trail was just as quiet and dull so i just snap away its lovely flora.The second trail setup is completely different than the first one. Its looks more like a lowland forest with steep trails and loads of bamboo outcrops.
This looks like a coral or seaweed plant of some kind.
These flowers look more familiar and common - spider lily ?
Another type of wild ginger flower?
As i was going deeper into the trail suddenly there was a mini bird wave. Out came this Little Spiderhunter.
Then i saw this lovely Bronze Drongo without its metalic sound. There were many other birds which i saw but was not able to get a good photo shot of them eg a female Dark-Throated Oriole, Chestnut-Breasted Malkoha, Red-Eyed Bulbul and tailor birds. Conclusion: this place certaintly has the potential to produce some surpise lifers!
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