Birding trip to Sungai Perdik - July 2014.

My birding sweep of Ulu Langat forest area was concluded with a trip back to the forest of Sungai Perdik. As lightning never struck twice at the same location, there were no lifers in this trip. The good news was that there were a number of young/sub-adult birds sighted and also some familiar common winter birds were back. Weather was cloudy through out the day but the haze did not manage to penetrate these jungles.

Black-and-Red Broadbill

I think this was a pair and they seem to be discussing some family planning matters.

Rusty-Breasted Cuckoo

This cuckoo was probably a sub-adult bird.

Bar-Winged Flycatcher Shrike

The brown patch on its breast suggest that this was a female. 

Greater Green Leafbird - Male

Greater Green Leafbird - Female

Scarlet Minivet - Female

She was heard calling out for the male bird.

Scarlet Minivet - Male

Here is the male looking down at his female companion from the top of the canopy. Took me awhile to determine which species this couple belong to as it has been a long time since i last saw a Scarlet.

Spectacle Spiderhunter

What did you say?

Grey-Breasted Spiderhunter

I said "don't pee on my head" !

Grey and Buff Woodpecker - male

This was probably a sub-adult bird. For comparison purposes, below is a  photo of an adult male Grey & Buff Woodpecker which was taken at the base of Gunung Nuang a week earlier.

Grey & Buff Woodpecker - adult male

This record probably shows that breeding of this species of woodpecker has occurred at this forest region.

Drongo Cuckoo with a prey

I believe this was also a sub-adult bird.

Barn Swallow - Sub adult

A rather confiding young adult bird.

Exploring the Jungle Trails of Ulu Langat Forest - July 2014

It was believed that the world is currently surrounded by about 31% of rain forest. In Malaysia the percentage is about 56.4% as of year 2011 (source: Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia). Forest has been with earth since the era of dinosaurs, sustaining the existence of modern homo sapiens until today. Scientist, biologist, entomologist, herpetologist and even anthropologist have been treating the forest as their second home. If you are not too much of a birding person, you could actually see many things in the jungle example plants, flowers, insects, bugs, butterflies, fruits etc. With this view in mind i went for a short exploratory stroll along the jungle trails of Ulu Langat forest.

Here is a trail leading to Gunung Nuang. Hikers and Trekkers used this place as their endurance training ground. Quite a safe place to watch wildlife and insects.

Flowers of Wild Ginger Plant in full bloom

Rufous Piculet

Here is a bug

Note: This could be a common "Leaf Beetle" from the family "Chrysomelidae". Apparently it has been a food source for some people who called: "Entomorphagist"

This is not your ordinary grapes. An orang asli once told me that if there are no animals eating a fruit, don't waste your time looking at it. It is probably poisonous!

White-Tailed Flycatcher

It perched silently inside a densely shaded tree. My lifer for this year !

(note: White-Tailed Flycatcher is a species of flycatchers from the genus "Cyornis" in the "muscicapinae" family  which is the subfamily group from the old world flycatchers family "Muscicapidae". IUCN has rated this flycatcher as "least concern" but it is certainly not a common bird down here).

Sooty Barbet (Calorhamphus hayii)

Ha ! Ha ! Ha ! you must be joking !

Note: In the latest 9th edition (2014) of the Clements checklist/checklist 6.9, brown barbet has now been split into two species i.e Calorhamphus hayii (which was said to be widely distributed in Southeast Asia) and Calorhamphus fuliginosusas (which was said to only occur in Borneo). 

It was encouraging to know that there are clear streams around.

An Oriental Magpie Robin was trying to figure out how to eat a cicada which it has found on the roadside.

Rufous-Tailed Tailorbird

Grey-Headed Canary Flycatcher

Another bug - a BIG one that is ! Could it belong to the beetle family "Chrysomelidae"?

Astictopterus jama jama aka Forest Hopper

This is a forest dwelling skipper. It was reported that there were about 1,200 types of butterflies in Malaysia of which 1,180 are in Peninsular Malaysia (latest figure (2014): 1,967 butterfly sp in Malaysia). For bugs or other insects, you may triple the figure mentioned. So the chances of you discovering a new insect or butterfly and have them named after you is much higher then say birds. In Malaysia  we do have our own scientist been named after insects or animals for example Prof Yong HS (Topomyia yongi - a type of mosquito), Rhacophorus norhayati (a type of flying frog), Phobaticus chani (the world longest stick insect) to name you a few.

Could this be a "Vestalis smaragdina" or is it "Vestialis gracilis" ? But it is a damselfly for sure.

(Note: according to Professor Norma, who is currently the Head, Institute of  Biological Science, University of Malaya, this is a female Vestalis which makes it a bit difficult to differentiate between V. amethystina or V. amoena)

Tickell's Blue Flycatcher perched on a tree branch and on a dead tree stump.

Wallace's Hawk Eagle

My second lifer within a week. It was silent and was taking short flights from one tree canopy to another.  Subject to unreported sightings and based on current records, the sighting of this raptor was the first of its kind at this location.  IUCN status:  "Vulnerable" !

(note: It looks like an adult bird and the size of its "crop" may suggest that it has just taken some hefty meal)

Blogging and Nature Trekking - July 2014

I have just discovered recently that my blog has been translated into a Russian blog - "ron-nature-adventures.ru" ! So if you have a Russian knocking at your door don't blame me. I have tried using wordpress but it was too depressing that i could not even post anything from there. Don't they have any better things to do!

I have some spare time recently and went for a short birding cum nature walk at this new location. In the jungle you can actually see, feel, hear and smell so many things. You can see things as small as a bug like this one:

or some nice flowers like the ones below:

or a colorful butterfly like the one here.

Danaus melanippus hegesippus

Family: Nymphalidae

Subfamily : Danainae

Genus: Danaus

Species: melanippus

Subspecies: hegesippus

Common Name: "Black Veined Tiger"

Note: Butterfly Circle Group reported that this butterfly can be found near coastal/mangrove areas but this location was certainly far from it.

Amazingly, i have heard squirrels at this location making calls like birds. Unfortunately can't download their calls here.  I have wanted to play the recording from a  rail babbler but decided against it for fear that "benda lain yang keluar nanti" - zombie, pontianak, hantu raya etc !

I have also realised that in order for you to have many "hits" or "likes", you will need  to post nice and sharp photos but unfortunately i can't do that with the birds i have seen here. Reached the location as early as 7am and it was pitch dark. Only the sound of crickets and a dozen of pin-stripped-tit babblers greeted me at this ghostly hour. 

  This owl was the first bird i have spotted. I believed it was a "Collared Owlet"

Black-Browed Barbet

Golden-Throated Barbet

Barbets featured quite prominently at this place, probably due to the abundant of berries which were just about to ripe.

Note: experts were equally surprised to learnt that Golden-Throated Barbet can be seen at this location as they are often associated with upper mountain regions. I guess birds do fly around when their habitat is threatened or when there are abundance of food in a particular area.

Checker-Throated Woodpecker - Male

Little Cuckoo Dove

Long-Tailed Sibia

Took me awhile to id this bird but finally settled for a "Little Pied Flycatcher" - Juvenile

Blyth's Hawk Eagle

On my way out i came across this feather which i believed is a "tail feather" of some large bird - most likely from an eagle or an owl. Any suggestions?

While i am completing this post there were about 298 lives whom have perished for nothing.  Its a pity and a tragedy of an epic proportion.  RiP passengers and crew of MH17 !

LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST, PEOPLE !
AND OH YES DON'T FORGET TO PRAY HARD AS WELL!