After awhile of searching, it was a different bird which appeared from the heaven.
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| Blue-Winged Pitta |
It was close to 8.00am when this pitta appeared. Only one photo turns up "decently" well (which was the above photo). As it was still dark so i decided to watch the bird with just my two little eyes instead. It was seen hopping leisurely around - first it was near the road, then it jumped to the concrete embankment and down to the swampy area. Could also see the two big white patches on its wings when she goes around looking for an early meal. The entire episode was just about 8 - 10 minutes but the joy of looking at my first pitta in the wild was absolutely satisfying. My bogey bird is finally in the bag! With this sighting i have seen almost 70% of the common nomenclature of birds which could be found in Peninsular Malaysia - eagles, babblers, thrushes, hornbills, broadbills, flycatchers, pigeons, sunbirds, owls, malkohas, etc etc except perhaps vultures, cormorants, frigates, boobies and chats.
(note: locally its called: "Burung Pacat Sayap Biru" but its main/favourite diet was reported to be worms. In Thailand this bird is named: "Nok Taew Laew thammadaa". According to David Wells (2007), autumn migrants would have completely moult by the time they arrive in Malaysia)
(note: locally its called: "Burung Pacat Sayap Biru" but its main/favourite diet was reported to be worms. In Thailand this bird is named: "Nok Taew Laew thammadaa". According to David Wells (2007), autumn migrants would have completely moult by the time they arrive in Malaysia)
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| Hill Myna |
Up next was this Hill Myna which was calling out loud. Not sure whether this was an escapee or from the wild but this was the first time i have seen it here. At this juncture came Wai Mun and his friend. After exchanging some greetings we were off looking for our own targets.
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| Mangrove Blue Flycatcher - Male |
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| Blue Glassy Tiger |
Also saw a Large-Tailed Nightjar which flew across the path but i think you may find it difficult to identify the above bird. Certainly not a Black Kite as its tail is not forked.
This was certainly a Black Kite (M. migrans). Somehow these kites love to make this location their winter home.
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| Asian Openbill |
The same goes with the Asian Openbills which have strongly make their presence felt here. Saw a few flying towards Kepala Batas. As most of the rice fields were dry and cropped wonder where they would feed on.
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| Unidentified Pond Heron |
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| Lineated Barbet |
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| Abbott's Babbler |
Heard this Abbott's Babbler calling together with a nearby white-chested babbler.
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| Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo - H. nisicolor |
The presence of the babblers have probably attracted this cuckoo to this area.
Looking at the above photo you might now know why experts have called it a hawk cuckoo. Its appearance at this angle certainly looks like one.
Besides this cuckoo i did saw another larger cuckoo nearby but could not really describe it. Nevertheless i was able to identify the above bird as a Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo based on the following reasons:
i) its size was small and compact unlike a Large Hawk Cuckoo.
ii) It does not have a cheek-stripe like a Moustached Hawk Cuckoo.
Now the tricky part is to distinguish it between a "nisicolor" or a "fugax".
According to Yong Ding Li in his unpublished article titled "Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo - A Birder's Headache", there are three subtle differences which could differentiate between a Hodgson (H.nisicolor) and a Malaysian (H.fugax) - i) songs, ii) morphometrics and iii) plumage. Out of the three and for an average birder like me, only the third (iii) feature i.e. its plumage patterns is the most likely and viable way to determine the differences between the two species. According to Yong Ding Li and most field guides, adults of both species can be easily told apart. However the absence of an orangy rufous wash on the breast of this bird and its brownish color plumage indicates that it was most likely an immature bird which makes it more difficult to identify. To differentiate between the immatures of Hodgson's and the Malaysian Hawk Cuckoo in the field, Yong Ding Li suggested that there are two subtle clues to look out for i.e (i) the lack of white nuchal patch and (ii) the pale to whitish patch on the innermost tertial feathers of an immature Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo. Malaysian Hawk Cuckoo (H.fugax) immatures on the other hand were said to have a small white patch on the nape which is noticeable and consistent in the field and its innermost tertial feathers are much browner. Meanwhile Dave Bakewell also suggested that the relatively narrow subterminal tail bar and a paler upper tertial should indicate a Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo.
As for me the indicators which points the above cuckoo to a Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo (H.nisicolor) was the absence of the white nuchal patch, and the uneven tail bars.
Here are some of the other birds seen.
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| Asian Brown Flycatcher |
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| Jungle Myna |
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| Cattle Egret |
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| Little Egret |
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| Collared Kingfisher |
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| Asian Dollar Bird |
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| Common Flameback - Male |
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| Common Flameback - Female |
For comparison purposes, here are some photos of a female Greater Flameback. The photos below were taken from a mangrove area near the Kuala Muda river mouth a few days earlier.
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| Greater Flameback - female |
From the above photos, the differences between a Common Flameback and a Greater Flameback can be seen from the white patch at the center of its neck as opposed to an all black hindneck of a Common Flameback. The other feature is from the color of its iris. These are the two very prominent field markings.
No photographer could resist taking the photo of this Plantain Squirrel (C. notatus).
This Little/Striated Heron was at its prime breeding plumage. A look at its long back plumes and you will know why.
It was another great day at this place. Hope the authorities will preserve this place so that the future generations could enjoy it.
"Birding is not about breaking records. It is about appreciating nature and being with nature"
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