Birding in Hazy Conditions - June 2013

This was the first time i go birding in a hazy condition. You can really smell the difference in air quality especially  in the jungle although the index i believe has not breach the critical 200 mark in Selangor. While the Nation and Singapore were engulfed by smoke from our neighbouring country for the past 30 years during this time of the year but  it did not really effect the birds presence.

Female Coutesan (Euripus nyctelius euploeoides)

Thinking that there will be few birds at this time (late afternoon) and in this condition so i decided to take this butterfly's photo. Thanks to the Butterfly Circle Group which assisted in the ID. Apparently this butterfly is rare in Singapore but it can also be found in Thailand.  

Red-Eyed Bulbul

Buff-Vented Bulbul

Also saw other bulbuls namely Grey-bellied and spectacle bulbuls but the above two were more obliging.

Common Flameback

A woodie which i have not seen for quite some time at this place.

Velvet-Fronted Nuthatch

I believe this was a female. Although reported to be common at forest edge and low elevations but the last time i have seen this bird here was back in  2010. It was foraging in a mini bird wave together with other birds namely blue-wing leafbirds, orange-bellied flowerpeckers, pin-stripped tit babblers, and a ruby-cheeked sunbird. 

Blue-winged Leafbird

I think this could be a sub-adult male blue-winged leafbird which was seen in the mini bird wave.

Orange-bellied Flowerpecker

This fellow was also seen in the mini bird wave.

Whiskered Treeswift

According to Yang Chong - the above photos (those in flight) were Grey-Rumped Treeswifts - their numbers are usually higher than Treeswifts and they fly higher.

You can see the effect of the hazy conditions on the above photos.

Although you may have come across most of the birds seen here today except for probably the Velvet-Fronted Nuthatch but overall i am satisfied because i was able to get rid of the birding bug which has been bothering me for the past few days. 

Note: also heard two Indian cuckoos calling.

Birding in the Mountains - May 2013

An additional public holiday announced recently gave me an opportunity to do some bird watching ! I had the mountain all by myself on that day and felt really in peace with all the birds chirping around me. Reached the peak at about 8.00am and it was a sunny and fog free morning.

An early morning in the mountains

Most of the birds which you would like to see at this montane did came out in full force and with some "new" ones as well. Here are some of the "new" ones seen:

Snowy-Browed Flycatcher - male

Snowy-Browed Flycatcher - female

A rather small flycatcher at 11 cm and its range is mainly montane. I have heard only the male calling and you will really need to stretch your ears to hear its calls.

White-Browed Shrike Babbler - male

White-Browed Shrike Babbler - female

Despite lacking a supercilium I believe this is an adult female. Wherever she goes, the male bird will always follow closely behind. Despite its rather dull colours it is quite a pretty bird.

Long-Tailed Sibia

Although a common bird in this mountain but this was the only time I have seen it here. There were about 6-7 of them this time. Very noisy, constantly moving from trees to trees and likes to disturb other birds especially the laughing thrushes.

Stripped-Throated Bulbul

A very common bulbul at lowland areas which has made its way up here.

Oriental Magpie Robin

Another lowland bird which has also  made its appearance in this mountain. I have seen one at Awana but never so high up.

And now for the other common resident birds which you would most likely find at this place:

Orange-Bellied Leafbird - male

Javan Cuckooshrike

Black-Throated Sunbird - male

The bird in the top most photo was seen at the lower end of the mountain while the second one with a shorter tail and looks like a sub-adult bird was seen at the peak.



Large Niltava - Male

Large Niltava - female

This pair were always curious to see what was this human being up to - they would constantly flew and perched in front of me wherever I go.  

Large Niltava - subadult/juvenile

At a glance you may think that this juvenile bird is another bird sp if not for his accompanying  parents.

Mountain Leaf Warbler

This time it has decided to stay in the canopy instead of the shrubs near the roadside which it usually does.

Rufous-Winged Fulvetta

Saw 3 of them but they too decided to stay further down from the roadside.

Chestnut-Tailed Minla

A really cute bird which was involved in a singing competition with other birds.  At times it can be a bit daring too as it landed on my camera lens briefly while chasing an insect. Note: This bird is also known as: "Bar-Throated Minla".

Spectacle Laughingthrush

It was seen constantly squabbling with the Long-Tailed Sibia for food.

Chestnut-Crowned Laughingthrush

Finally i have managed to record its calls which was loud but not as melodious as the Spectacle Laughingthrush

Grey-Throated Babbler

It was constantly playing a peek-a-boo game with me, thinking that the branch could block my views from him.

Mountain Bulbul

They too turned up in full force. Saw at least 5 of them.

Overall all I had a great time. Other birds which I saw but not photograph here was the Pacific Swallows (plenty), a mountain tailor bird and an owl (presumably Mountain Scoops Owl) as i have only heard one "hoot" at a time echoing across the valley. Will be back at this place again sometime next year, for sure.



Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris)

Fancy having a hornbill around your garden or park? In Kuala Terengganu, Oriental Pied Hornbills are quite common in public parks and residential areas.

I have observed a couple of OPH in KT recently which never fails to appear around a residential park between 7.15am - 7.30am for three consecutive days.

Here is the couple with the female on your left and the male bird to your right. 

Oriental Pied Hornbill - Female

Oriental Pied Hornbill - Male

I have to move cautiously in order not to spook the birds which were enjoying their morning feast with the berry like fruits (ficus). You can see some of the fruits from the above photo. 

This is an eclipse male (above) which has also joined his parents to feast on the same fruits.

Once they have feasted on the fruits for about 30 minutes, all three of them would fly away together to other areas - presumably to feast on other fruits.

If you really want to find a friendly hornbill, i supposed OPH should be the ones.