Birding in Merbok, June 2017

Merbok is a small sleepy town located in a Northern state of Peninsular Malaysia. It was believed that the place was once a site of an ancient civilization or trade centre where its archaeological sites/ruins can be seen just from the roadside. I was there not as "Indiana Jones" but more for the birds which can be seen/found in the area especially the Mangrove Pitta. Here are some of the birds which i have seen although the Mangrove Pitta had decided to stay hidden. 

Jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus)

Jungle Myna are common in the Northern states of Peninsular Malaysia especially from Penang upwards. They can be found mostly around plantation areas, jungle edges and interior villages. There were some discussions out there as to why most photos don't show the bluish base at their bill as described by some field guides. I have actually seen Jungle Myna with their bluish bill base but unfortunately it was in a pet shop. Could the bluish color only appear during courtship, or when they are afraid or perhaps it will only shown if the birds are not hybrids? They are known to cross breed with Common Myna. 

Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum)

I didn't expect to see Oriental Pratincole at this time of the year. Alan J (2012) field guide however mentioned that there are a few resident colonies in the state of Kedah and Perlis. Could this be a resident bird then?

I saw a total 5 birds. They were mainly airborne, thanks / no thanks to Mr Brahminy Kite which was thermalling above them. Most of them were juvenile/sub adult and probably just one adult as shown below.

If you happen to bump into this bird, do come out from your car and watch them fly. Their graceful flight patterns are definitely pleasing to see.

At times they would do some preening in flight.

This swiflet is the master of airborne activities. They could do almost anything in flight, from eating to preening etc.

Oriental White-Eye (Zosterops palpebrosus)

Hardly see them in my birding trips and i think you can see Everett's white-eye (Zosterops everetti) more often than these white-eye.

Pacific Swallow

Photos were taken near some mangrove area hence the pleasing greenish background albeit with some noise texture.

On my way back, i bump into a family of Smooth-coated Otters (Lutrogale perspicillata)

The above photo was taken from inside my car about 60 m away. I decided to stop the car as i sense they are about to cross the road. The first otter probably an alpha male / patriarch was constantly looking at my direction before signaling them to cross the road.

One by one they dashed across the road as fast as they could. The young ones were accompanied closely by their parents as would by any human parents with their children. 

Once everyone were safely across, the adults lead the way into the mangroves.

"No, you go first, i will cover for you" !

Even at this young age, the behavior of "looking out for each other" in this species of otter had already embedded into them. Not sure whether this behavior had emerged thru observation from their parents or perhaps they are already in their genes. Anyway they really cute animals!

HAPPY BIRDING !

Gonocephalus robinsonii (Robinson Anglehead Lizard) - 2017

While looking for birds, i stumble upon this lizard which looks a bit like a baby dino. This is one reptile which would certainly make 'cicak man' proud because it may one day be described as one of those species of lizard which can only be found in Peninsular Malaysia. According to a review from Denzer et. al (2015) they believe that the species found in the highlands of  Peninsular Malaysia is different than other recognised species in the genus Gonocephalus. Based on chromosomal (i.e karyotyping) and molecular (i.e molecular phylogenetics using 16SrRNA sequencing) investigations, Denzer et. al (2015) have named the "new" genus as "Malayodracon robinsonii" !

However like all results from natural sciences, this finding is subject to comments and critique. Raymond T Hoser (2016) in the Australasian Journal of Herpetology (1 August 2016), had refuted the above findings not so much on its methodology but more on ethical issues. Using the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature which governed via the rules of homonym and priority, Hoser (2016) argues that Hoser (2014b) had earlier named this lizard as "Daraminagama robinsonii".

Whatever their differences are, what is more important here is that both researchers have probably found a new agamid genus! While we wait for further clarification, let us enjoy the beauty of this little dino.

Appearing just like a scene from a Hollywood movie !

At first i saw some movements inside a bush near a hill slope at about 1,628 m asl.  Thinking that it may just be a flowerpecker, i did not pay much attention to it until i saw its head. Instead of moving away from me, it inches slowly towards my direction knowing very well of my presence. Your common house lizard would probably run away upon seeing humans but not this one.

Science has described this lizard as an arboreal mountainous form of agamid lizard. From the above photo, you can clearly see its extended dewlap or some literature has described it as a large gular sac. This extended dewlap / gular sac is actually an extended skin that hangs beneath the lower jaw/neck and it is reported to functioned as territorial markers and for males to attract females.

It stopped at a tree just right in front of me.

The following are its morphological description:

                                                          * body triangular in cross-section

                                                          * no pataqia

                                                          * head is large, elongated and pointed

                                                          * bony protuberances on the occipital region

                                                          * sharp canthus rostralis and rounded superciliary edge

                                                          * tympanum exposed

                                                          * antehumeral fold presence

                                                          * transverse gular fold absent

                                                          * large gular sac

                                                          * nuchal and dorsal crest continous

                                                          * no preanal or femoral pore

                                                          source: www.reptile-base.org

Some people has described this lizard as having a beastly appearance but it was actually as accommodating as your domestic cat. In fact it was so accommodating that you can take its photos with any handphones available in the market. This docile character will makes it potentially vulnerable to poachers and collectors alike. I could have brought it back home but i believe it belongs more to the wild.

I think some days one of my photos might just appear inside this bright yellow square !

ENJOY YOUR ADVENTURES !