Saturday 12 May 2018

Birding Trip - Awana - 11 May 2018

During the Renaissance era, explorers watched birds basically to discover new species of birds. Today watching birds means many things to many people. It could be a science, an art, a hobby or a combination of any of those. To me, birding is a time for me to chill out with the birds. They can also be your best friend forever to help you to distress.  Here are some of the endemic birds i have seen today.  Most of them were common though. 



I started birding at 7.00am and along the way i saw this not so happy looking bird. 
Rufescent Prinia

This Prina probably didn't slept well because it rained overnight.


As i entered the trail at 7.20am the scene was slightly different.  It was quite dark as compared to the path before the entrance of the trail.
I thought this could be a new bird for me. So i tried to increased the ISO but still can't really nailed it. The two tone colors on its chest and belly had me flipping furiously at the field guide until i took its flight photos (see below).


I believe it was just a juvenile minivet. 


The sun was just rising at the horizon but the birds were already feasting on whatever they can see.


A couple of Grey-Headed Canary Flycatchers were also one of those birds which strongly believed in the proverb that says "the early bird catches the worm". In this case it was insects.

While the birds were busy feasting, this nocturnal Giant Millipede was heading back to its home to have a good sleep.


The feast continued with this Large Woodshrike grabbing what looks like a jungle roach nymph.


Not all birds are insectivorous. Some of them believe in a balance diet like this female Orange-bellied Leafbird.


By just using its bills. it could removed the skin and eat the seeds just like how you would eat your corns. Think of a typewriter.


I believe not many people have seen a blue shoulder patch on a female Orange-bellied leafbird. Have you?

As the sun gets brighter, more and more birds came out.
Yellow-bellied Warbler


At the moment there are close to 13 nominated sub-species. Initially i thought these Grey-throated Babbler could be from the S.n coltarti sub species due to its black crown and a warmer buffish color but i guess they were just the usual S.n davisoni (ref: HBW Alive).


White-bellied Erponis or prevoulsy named as White-bellied Yuhina.


Mountain Fulveta (Acippe peracensis)

It probably undergone some molting process.


Red-bearded Bee eater.

It was calling for awhile before it makes its appearance. Unfortunately my camera always have this back focus problems.


Bar-winged flycatcher shrike.

This little flycatcher which is only at 13 cm is reportedly to be more common than the Black-winged flycatcher shrike.

(note: the little white freckles in the background of the above photo are not snow/rain drops but they were actually remnants of a butterfly undergoing some torturing above it)  


Large Woodshrike 

A sub adult male i think.


There are plenty of them out there right now.



A juvenile female Grey-chinned Minivet


An adult female Grey-chinned Minivet in flight


This is an adult male Grey-chinned Minivet of the montanus subspecies. If you wish to see these montanus Ssp, you will need to fly to Peninsular Malaysia because they only occur here.


Back view of a female Grey-chinned Minivet.

Back view of a male Grey-chinned Minivet (P. s montanus)

(Note its orange tail feather which is probably molting into red)


Bronze drongo
It can mimicked other bird calls too.


Some birds do wake up a bit later than others like this Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush
Sorry mate you probably missed out on some of the juicy caterpillars out there.


Some nice looking tail you have there.


Streaked Spiderhunter
"i am looking to my left"


"Now i am looking to my right"


"Nope there are nothing out there Sir !"


A bird full of character and style. It was always fun to take its photos.


Sometimes in a birding trip you might bumped into some old 'friends'. Here are some of them whom i have not met for sometime.

Sultan Tit

or should we named it as  a "Yellow Crested Tit" instead?


A photo which i would never show to a butterfly watcher.


When a bird show this posture, it was meant to access you further. 


This is probably a sub adult male Sultan Tit which is still depending on the above male to feed it. Saw it been fed a few times by the above male and you can also see the flapping of its wing in the above photo which is a sign of begging for food in the avian world.


Here is another 'friend' which i have not seen for sometime. A Sooty Barbet.


 It has also been a long time that i last saw this pretty looking female Silver Breasted Broadbill.


Note the white patch at its tail which i believe could be a fresh molting tail.


Until we meet again adieus senorita ! 






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