Saturday 11 May 2013

Birding in the Mountains - May 2013

An additional public holiday announced recently gave me an opportunity to do some bird watching ! I had the mountain all by myself on that day and felt really in peace with all the birds chirping around me. Reached the peak at about 8.00am and it was a sunny and fog free morning.

An early morning in the mountains
Most of the birds which you would like to see at this montane did came out in full force and with some "new" ones as well. Here are some of the "new" ones seen:


Snowy-Browed Flycatcher - male
Snowy-Browed Flycatcher - female
A rather small flycatcher at 11 cm and its range is mainly montane. I have heard only the male calling and you will really need to stretch your ears to hear its calls.

White-Browed Shrike Babbler - male

White-Browed Shrike Babbler - female
Despite lacking a supercilium I believe this is an adult female. Wherever she goes, the male bird will always follow closely behind. Despite its rather dull colours it is quite a pretty bird.

Long-Tailed Sibia
Although a common bird in this mountain but this was the only time I have seen it here. There were about 6-7 of them this time. Very noisy, constantly moving from trees to trees and likes to disturb other birds especially the laughing thrushes.

Stripped-Throated Bulbul

A very common bulbul at lowland areas which has made its way up here.
Oriental Magpie Robin
Another lowland bird which has also  made its appearance in this mountain. I have seen one at Awana but never so high up.


And now for the other common resident birds which you would most likely find at this place:

Orange-Bellied Leafbird - male

Javan Cuckooshrike



Black-Throated Sunbird - male
The bird in the top most photo was seen at the lower end of the mountain while the second one with a shorter tail and looks like a sub-adult bird was seen at the peak.

Large Niltava - Male
Large Niltava - female
This pair were always curious to see what was this human being up to - they would constantly flew and perched in front of me wherever I go.  

Large Niltava - subadult/juvenile
At a glance you may think that this juvenile bird is another bird sp if not for his accompanying  parents.

Mountain Leaf Warbler
This time it has decided to stay in the canopy instead of the shrubs near the roadside which it usually does.

Rufous-Winged Fulvetta
Saw 3 of them but they too decided to stay further down from the roadside.


Chestnut-Tailed Minla
A really cute bird which was involved in a singing competition with other birds.  At times it can be a bit daring too as it landed on my camera lens briefly while chasing an insect. Note: This bird is also known as: "Bar-Throated Minla".

Spectacle Laughingthrush
It was seen constantly squabbling with the Long-Tailed Sibia for food.

Chestnut-Crowned Laughingthrush
Finally i have managed to record its calls which was loud but not as melodious as the Spectacle Laughingthrush


Grey-Throated Babbler
It was constantly playing a peek-a-boo game with me, thinking that the branch could block my views from him.


Mountain Bulbul
They too turned up in full force. Saw at least 5 of them.

Overall all I had a great time. Other birds which I saw but not photograph here was the Pacific Swallows (plenty), a mountain tailor bird and an owl (presumably Mountain Scoops Owl) as i have only heard one "hoot" at a time echoing across the valley. Will be back at this place again sometime next year, for sure.


Sunday 5 May 2013

Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris)

Fancy having a hornbill around your garden or park? In Kuala Terengganu, Oriental Pied Hornbills are quite common in public parks and residential areas.

I have observed a couple of OPH in KT recently which never fails to appear around a residential park between 7.15am - 7.30am for three consecutive days.


Here is the couple with the female on your left and the male bird to your right. 

Oriental Pied Hornbill - Female
Oriental Pied Hornbill - Male
I have to move cautiously in order not to spook the birds which were enjoying their morning feast with the berry like fruits (ficus). You can see some of the fruits from the above photo. 


This is an eclipse male (above) which has also joined his parents to feast on the same fruits.



Once they have feasted on the fruits for about 30 minutes, all three of them would fly away together to other areas - presumably to feast on other fruits.

If you really want to find a friendly hornbill, i supposed OPH should be the ones. 

Saturday 4 May 2013

Birding Kemensah - May 2013

This place can be considered as one of my local patches for birding. Most birds seen were common though.

Tickell's Blue Flycatcher
The clear demarcation of its orange-rufous chest from its white belly separates the bird from "Hill Blue Flycatcher". 

Grey-and-Buff Woodpecker - Female
Grey-and-Buff Woodpecker - Male
There are a few species of woodies at this place and i have seen quite a number of them so far.

Whiskered Treeswift - Male
Little Spiderhunter

Rufescent Prinia

Yellow-Bellied Prinia
Spectacle Bulbul
Buff-Vented Bulbul
Stripped Throated Bulbul
Ruby-Cheeked Sunbird - Male
Ruby-Cheeked Sunbird - Female

Purple-Naped Sunbird - Female


Green Iora
Grey Wagtail
Not sure why he has not gone home yet or perhaps he may has just dropped by en route to his breeding grounds.

Black-and-Red Broadbill

One of the most common broadbill which you can find here. Overall this place can be considered as an average birding spot but nevertheless it could produce some surprises at times. Will go back again to try my luck on the Black-Backed Kingfisher which was seen by some village folks recently.

Common Birds from September to December 2023

 Didn't have much time for birding lately but I still managed to get one / two lifers nevertheless. A majestically looking White-bellied...