Sg Gabai and Sg Lepuh, Hulu Langat - Aug 2012

Today me and Mr CY Tan went to check-out a birding site at Hutan Lipur Sungai Gabai. The road leading to the area goes through a Malay kampung with many chempedak and other fruits trees along the way and ends at the entrance to a waterfall recreational area. We started very early and reached the location at about 7.30am. We started to "bird" at the junction which turns to an "orang asli" settlement. The first bird we saw in a misty morning was a great surprise.

Purple Heron

Although there is a man-made pond nearby you won't expect this purple heron to travel so far inland.(Note: it was reported that these herons will likely frequent marshlands rather than tidal mudflats. So that explains its existence here).

  These pigeons will certaintly go to my little file called "Mystery Birds"

Here are some of the birds seen inside the waterfall area:

Chestnut-Breasted Malkoha (female)

We saw this Red-Eyed Bulbul trying a piece of these partially destroyed "Chempedak"

Whiskered TreeSwift

Black-and-Red Broadbill

After seeing this broadbill we drove out and stopped at some locations which we have passed thru in the morning.

Grey-Rumped TreeSwift

Although said to be fairly common, you won't find this swift every where.

Greater-Racket-Tailed Drongo

Gold-Whiskered Barbet

This barbet perched just right above our heads.

Since we still have time, we decided to drive to Sg Lepuh which was not too far away. Although we reached the place at about 10.30am the birds were still there. Some of them which was seen by myself two weeks ago can still be located.

Drongo Cuckoo

This cuckoo bird which was seen by me previously was still there.

We saw a number of Asian Glossy Starlings grabbing these fruits. Wonder whether the Netherlands people would like to have this as their national fruit.

Black-Capped Babbler

This babbler was seen at exactly the same location previously. It was seen flicking some leaves and then managed to grab a cricket.

Bamboo Woodpecker (female)

This woodpecker was an interesting find at Lepuh. I have seen a male at Gg Nuang a few years ago. So this sighting completes my series.

Grey-Headed Canary Flycatcher

Yellow-Eared Spiderhunter

This spiderhunter was seen together with a few of its own kind on this rambutan tree

White-rumped Munia

This munia concludes our adventure for today.

Black-and-White Bulbul (Pycnonotus melanoleucos)

On 29 July 2012, i decided to drive down to Sg Tekala Forest Reserve, Semenyih for some birding. I have no particular birds to see but it was more for the reason that i have not been to this place for many years.  As i have been birding in the jungle for ages, I was given a great incentive to continue this hobby with the sighting of the Black-and-White Bulbul.

Background

Black-and-White Bulbul or its scientific name: Pycnonotus melanoleucos is about 18cm (7in) which is just about the size of a black-headed bulbul.  Here is what an expert has to say:

"The species is nomadic and rather uncommon but most frequently seen in Panti, Johore and Taman Negara (both Sungai Relau and Kuala Tahan) but even then is not that often recorded"

Location and time

On 29 July 2012 (Sun) i spotted a male and its fledged young from the main road away from the Sg Tekala Waterfall area. The first image recorded in my dslr was at 11.31am and the total observation time was probably between 10 - 15 minutes. The area was surrounded by broadleave trees as well as other mix lowland forest trees on both side of the road. There was also a pond nearby. There was a fruiting tree at the location which has some small round berry-like fruits hanging on its branches. That was the fruits which the B&W Bulbul has fed on. The trees around the area were not high though. The distance between where i stood and the birds was about 30 feet away. The road was quite quiet with occasionaly some cars and motorcycles as well as cylist zooming past.

Weather condition
It was a bright and sunny day.

Calls
Occasionaly an audible short "Pit" was heard - mainly from the adult bird.

Behavior
I was at the location looking at some bulbuls (namely red-eyed, hairy backed) as well as about 3-4 blue-winged and lesser green leafbirds foraging amongst the leaves. There was certainly a hype of activity at that time and then came the B&W Bulbul from the corner right of my view. Initially i thought the bird could just be an Asian Glossy Starling due to their similar black plumage body but when i spotted the white patch, my jaw drop down like a bean bag and i knew this could just be "that" bird. Then came the fledged young. Saw the adult bird going around the tree looking for berries to feed the young. Most of the time they kept themself to the mid-storey of the jungle. After awhile of feeding frenzy the young rested on some branches with its parent resting closely below it. The female which is reportedly to be brownish in color was not anywhere nearby. Feeding was done by the adult male with some occasions whereby the fledged young tried to grab some berries by its own. They were mainly confined to themself. Did not see any birds or other bulbuls disturbing them as well. This could mean that they were probably in the area for sometime. After the bulbuls flew to the opposite side of the road, they however did not follow them but instead flew deeper into the forest. The leafbirds were however seen continuing with their foraging activities.

Images
Here are some of its images:

The adult B&W Bulbul (male)

The male bird tends to its fledged young

The male bird with a berry between its bill

Checking whether he is still hungry

There you go.

The young one trying himself with a berry

Resting after filling up their stomach

The sighting of this rather uncommon bulbul in Semenyih certainly light up this place once again. I would not be surprise if they would one day find their way to Perdik which is just about 18 km away. I wish to thank all those people and sifus for their compliments and encouragements. Meanwhile let us all hope that the fledged young B&W Bulbul will grew up quickly to be an adult bird and have many more offsprings for this place and beyond. 

"Sungai Tekala used to be a terrific locality but I guess all is not lost if you can still see this rare Bulbul there" - YC

"BW bulbul was a great find and the fact that it has a fledgling proves that the forest is good enough for this species" - ATiah

HAPPY BIRDING TO ALL !!

Birding in Semenyih - July 2012

Today (Sun) i decided to do some birding at Sungai Tekala Forest Reserve in Semenyih. The last time i came here was a few years back with the MNS bird group. It was a bright sunny day and i was right at the entrance by 8.00am but unfortunately the forest reserve area today was rather quiet. It may be because of the continous firecrackers played by a group of youngsters or probably due to the sound of the leave blower operated by the forest reserve worker. But the birds outside the area was really fantastico ! Found a "lubuk" (or a location) before the waterfall area which was full of star birds. Never have i seen so many star birds congregating in one area in my many years of birding experience. Here are some of its better photos.

Stripped Tit Babbler

This stripped tit babbler did not utter its usual "chuck - chuck" calls. Could not id the bird from the calls until it came out after 10 minutes of waiting for it.

Blue-Throated Bee-Eater

The next bird was this blue-throated bee eater which was seen picking up insects from a nearby pond.

Black-Bellied Malkoha

This malkoha flew in silently and allowed me to take only two shots before it flew deeper into the jungle.

Hairy-Backed Bulbul

Scarlet Minivet

Black-and-Yellow-Broadbill

This is one of the star broadbills which many avian photographers would not mind filling up their SD cards with its photos.

Banded Kingfisher (Female)

Heard it calling above my head and that was how i managed to locate it.

Whiskered Treeswift (in flight)

Black Headed Bulbul

Black-Winged Flycatcher Shrike

Violet Cuckoo (Juvenile?)

This is an uncommon and small size cuckoo (about 17 cm only). You can see a patch of purple colour on its wings which may suggest that it could be a juvenile male as females are browner. Its the only cuckoo in this region with an orange bill. (Note: the expert says it was an immature/sub adult male - yup it looks more like it )

Black-and-White Bulbul

This bulbul has got to be my lifer for this year. Must really count my blessing as there are people who went all the way to Taman Negara or Panti or even East Malaysia  just to get a glimpse of this uncommon / scarce bird. A separate posting just on this unique bird will be up in due course.

Lesser Green Leafbird (female)

This new found place certaintly shows a lot of potential. Birding was easy as it was all done by the road side. Just a word of caution: there are a lot of monkeys (i mean real monkeys) along the road leading to the forest reserve. If you wish to stop your car to see them, just remember not to wind down the car window because these monkeys can jump right up to your window. Yes they are that desperate and aggressive - i guess it is more for food.