My 20 Most Memorable Avian Photos (1st Half of 2019)

When i was a kid, i used to have many hobbies. Since my house was just a bicycle ride away from rubber estates, paddyfields and jungle streams, catching spiders & bugs, jungle trekking, and catching fish (puyu & sepat benua) were the norms. As we grow older some hobbies will just fade away but one hobby has remained till todate i.e bird watching. Although birders come and go just like the mist at dawn, i guess bird watching is a sustainable hobby. This is due to the fact that we can find birds in every continents.  One can find birds even in Antarctica (penguins are considered as birds too) or in the deserts (road runners, some hawks, owls, sand larks etc).

Here are my twenty (20) most memorable avian photos taken in the 1st half of 2019. Enjoy the feast:

Pacific Swallow

Hirundo tahitica

A friendly bird. Photo was taken at a river jetty.

According to the American Birding Association and i believe most birding rules too, a bird must be "Alive, Wild and Unrestrained" in order to be officially considered in a birder's list of sightings. Apparently hybrids don't count either ! This starling seen below was described by some literature as a possible escapee in this region (M'sia) but i reckoned its not.

Black-Collared Starling

Gracula nigricollis

Since the above starling was spotted near the border of a neighbouring country, there is a chance that it could be a wild and unrestrained bird. This starling was my first lifer for this year and its a monotypic species, endemic to this region. It was silent throughout but appears weary of its surroundings. It only gave me two photos before flying further away. Some of its photos (in the Web) show a darker plumage at the back and mantle areas while some were more brownish like the one above. Bird experts should be able to explain the reasons. 

Ashy Drongo

This drongo has a few sub species but the most prominent ones over here are the Dicrurus nigrescens which is reported to be darker and D. leucogenis - pale grey (Robson, 2017).

Note: the blotchy black patches on its body. I believe the feathers could have molted from black to grey and not the other way round since the grey color is more dominant here. Note: some may  argue that the above drongo could also be D. nigrescens.

Jungle myna

A. fuscus

The one in the foreground (more brownish) is most likely an eclipse adult which had just experienced some molting to its feathers. A full grown adult Jungle Myna is shown below:

Jungle myna

From afar i thought the above bird could have been a grass bird.

But as it flew across the long and tall grasses of Chuping, i realise that it was just a Lesser Coucal in non-breeding colors.

Lesser Coucal (Centropus bengalensis)

According to some experts here, stonechats in this region are represented mainly by the Ssp S. maurus. But after careful readings, i believe there are two established Ssp of Stonechats in this region which is S. maurus and S. stejneger's where some books have refered them as "Eastern Stonechats". To differentiate between a maurus and stejneger, it would require some careful and detail observations. But both can be differentiated from the "Common/European Stonechat" (S. torquatus) by their larger white patch at the neck area and a smaller orange patch on its chest.

Siberian or Stejneger's Stonechat?

Plain-backed Sparrow

Passer flaveolus

Many authors have painted this sparrow as a small and stocky bird just like the common tree sparrow but in actual fact their body is slimmer and its tail is much more longer as shown by the above photo. This species of sparrow is monotypic and they can only be found in this region.

Purple-backed Starling / Daurian Starling

Sturnus sturninus / Agropsar sturninus

Another monotypic starling but unlike the above starling, this Daurian starling (as they are commonly known now) are more abundant. Sometimes you can see a flock close to 50 birds congregating on a single fig tree. Fortunately both of them can't sing well otherwise they too are destined for the bird trade.

Baya Weaver

Ploceus philippinus (Male)

Its intense colors show that he is in full breeding mood. In some countryside, you can still see their nests although their numbers are reducing rapidly.

Cinnamon Bittern

I. cinnamomeus

Another monotypic species and a paddyfield specialist. You can only see it when it makes short flights among the paddyfields otherwise it will remained cryptic throughout the day.

Grey-headed Lapwing

Vanellus cinereus

A common winter visitor in this region.

A Grey-headed Lapwing with an Apple Snail

This was the first time i have seen this species carrying an apple snail. Each time i approached this bird it would fly further away. Otherwise it would be interesting to see how it prise the hard shell of the snail with its bills.

Asian Openbill in flight

Its favourite dish is apple snails served raw.

Here are three different types of egrets flying in unison.

Have you ever seen a lady with some long legs and black stockings strolling along the beach?

Great Egret

Another lady competing nearby but with a slightly shorter legs 

Little Egret

Mangrove Pitta

Nowadays this pitta is getting bolder as he would just skip a few feet away from you on its way back to its mangrove residence.

Oriental praticole

Initially i thought the above bird might be a "Collared Praticole" (elongated body, long wings profile, greenish grey color as opposed to brownish and a more rounded head structure). However without any 'hard' evidence like its thin white trailing edge on its secondaries or its extended tail over wings while stationary, i would not dare to argue with the protagonist of the rare birds record committee.

Purple Swamphen / Grey-headed Swamphen

P.p poliocephalus

According to experts here if its head is darker it would be a juvenile bird

They look like spoilers used by airplanes to control air speed and rolling.

Hill Blue Flycatcher

Cyornis banyumas

Unlike the above monotypic birds, this flycatcher along with many other birds will soon experience massive changes in their taxonomy and English names. Unlike an earthquake, this seismic changes are expected to happen sometime in August 2019. Well at least i have warned you.

Banded Kingfisher

From afar i thought it was a sooty barbet. As i approached nearer and to my surprise it was a female banded kingfisher which i have not seen one for quite awhile. This kingfisher species can be seen in pristine forest as well as up to 1,500 meters asl like the one above.

Like human beings, birds do look at us in many different ways.

Here is a typical side way look

and here is an upside down look.

The guardian of the rainforest. Looking proud and authoritative.

Garden Fence Lizard (male)

We are all the sons and daughters of the soil and one day we shall all return to the soil !

Buddhism teaches us that our suffering has its origins in these three negative elements: Ignorance, Hate and Greed.

Can Geographical Distance influenced the Differences in Birds Features ?

We may all appear different from the outside but deep inside i believe we are all the same - ever compassionate and merciful. In the avian world, geographical distance may have some effect on some birds plumage thus creating more subspecies. This can only be determined / confirmed if the subtle differences occur over a period of time. Recently i came across some birds from different states which show some differences in their outlook despite been from the same species.

I start with Mr Abbott's Babbler (M. abbotti):

The photo below of an Abbott's Babbler was taken in Kedah. Its flank appear more buffy while the orbital ring around its eyes were less prominent as compared with the one i saw in Penang mainland.

Below are those from Penang mainland

Despite the above differences, i would also not discount that they could be from different gender or age group. More observations are required.

Next is the Mangrove Flycatcher (C. rufigastra):

The photo below depicts a Mangrove Flycatcher taken at Penang mainland.

and this one below was taken in Kedah recently

Again although both the above flycatchers were male but the differences (color of its legs, throat and forehead) could be due to age variation or the different timing of moulting (of their feathers).

Here is the very common "White-throated Kingfisher" (H. smyrnensis):

The above photo was taken in KL. It looks like your typical white-throated kingfisher.

This one below was taken in Perlis. It appears darker and with a brighter turquoise above and on wing coverts.

Could it be from a different Ssp?

Science and birds are inextricable just like a lady and her lipstick but when you use Science against humanity its no longer a science !

Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus)

It is probably one of those avians which are often overlook or understudy due to their plain plumage and common presence. You can find them in open countries, farmlands, soccer fields, coastal plains and dry country roads (my personal observation) although i have also seen them at the foot of a mountain in Ulu Langat. Despite been called a paddyfield pipit, it is usually found along the dirt roads surrounding the paddyfields and not in the ricefields itself like those snipes and bitterns would do.

Some places have also named them as oriental pipit probably due to its occurrence in mainly Asia countries but it was reported to be a non-breeding resident bird here in Malaysia. (Birdlife International, 2016). Recently in May 2019, i came across a number of Paddyfield Pipits at a vast marshland in Penang mainland which reminds me of a similar looking site at Chuping. Here are some photos of what should be Paddyfield Pipits at this location although migratory pipits such as Richard's Pipit (A. richardi) and Blyth's Pipit (A. godlewskii) have been seen and reported in Malaysia. 

Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus)

Posed like a Richard's Pipit, looks like one but it ain't one.

I believe the above pipit is an adult bird which has just molted it feathers hence showing very clear and fine markings or perhaps it could be due to its breeding colors.

Currently there are 6 recognised subspecies and the ones found here are thought to be A.r malayensis which is reported to be darker and heavily streaked while the nominate race is much creamy and has a more buffy supercilium (HBW Alive).

The one above appears more like a Paddyfield Pipit - long legs, upright stand, more rufescent and short tail.

The bird above looks a bit duller.

Not sure whether all the birds shown here are the same but all these photos were taken at different locations covering a very large area.

These birds are rarely seen high up in the canopy. At most they perched at eye level.

Some of them do hide inside the long grasses if threats are perceived.

While some do not mind to be out in the open.

Life can be tough and lonely if the entire institution machineries are used against you but the above Paddyfield Pipit with an abnormal leg has shown the tenacity and strong will to survive this far.


Here are some photos of a juvenile Paddyfield Pipit with a grasshopper prey

HAVE SOME FUN WHILE YOU CAN !