Searching for the Illusive Ones at Air Itam Dalam - Mar 2014

Recent reports by the Penang birders on the sighting of Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo, Ruddy Kingfisher and Blue Winged Pitta among other birds have got my birding hormones reaching to the maximum level. When i finally got my chance, off i went to look for the illusive birds. Reached the location at 7.30am and headed straight to the tree which i thought the spotted wood owl might be roosting on.

After awhile of searching, it was a different bird which appeared from the heaven.

Blue-Winged Pitta

It was close to 8.00am when this pitta appeared. Only one photo turns up "decently" well (which was the above photo). As it was still dark so i decided to watch the bird with just my two little eyes instead. It was seen hopping leisurely around - first it was near the road, then it jumped to the concrete embankment and down to the swampy area. Could also see the two big white patches on its wings when she goes around looking for an early meal. The entire episode was just about 8 - 10 minutes but the joy of looking at my first pitta in the wild was absolutely satisfying. My bogey bird is finally in the bag! With this sighting i have seen almost 70% of the common nomenclature of birds which could be found in Peninsular Malaysia - eagles, babblers, thrushes, hornbills, broadbills, flycatchers, pigeons, sunbirds, owls, malkohas, etc etc except perhaps vultures, cormorants, frigates, boobies and chats.

(note: locally its called: "Burung Pacat Sayap Biru" but its main/favourite diet was reported to be worms. In Thailand this bird is named:  "Nok Taew Laew thammadaa". According to David Wells (2007), autumn migrants would have completely moult by the time they arrive in Malaysia)

Hill Myna

Up next was this Hill Myna which was calling out loud. Not sure whether this was an escapee or from the wild but this was the first time i have seen it here. At this juncture came Wai Mun and his friend. After exchanging some greetings we were off looking for our own targets.

Mangrove Blue Flycatcher - Male

It was just 8.05am when i saw this male mangrove blue. You could see a mosquito on its back trying to get its last pint of blood before the sun comes out.

Blue Glassy Tiger

There was also quite a number of butterfly species at this location.

Also saw a Large-Tailed Nightjar which flew across the path but i think you may find it difficult to identify the above bird. Certainly not a Black Kite as its tail is not forked.

This was certainly a Black Kite (M. migrans). Somehow these kites love to make this location their winter home.

Asian Openbill

The same goes with the Asian Openbills which have strongly make their presence felt here. Saw a few flying towards Kepala Batas. As most of the rice fields were dry and cropped wonder where they would feed on.

Unidentified Pond Heron 

Lineated Barbet

Abbott's Babbler

Heard this Abbott's Babbler calling together with a nearby white-chested babbler.

Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo - H. nisicolor

The presence of the babblers have probably attracted this cuckoo to this area. 

Looking at the above photo you might now know why experts have called it a hawk cuckoo. Its appearance at this angle certainly looks like one. 

Besides this cuckoo i did saw another larger cuckoo nearby but could not really describe it. Nevertheless i was able to identify the above bird as a Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo based on the following reasons:

i) its size was small and compact unlike a Large Hawk Cuckoo.

ii) It does not have a cheek-stripe like a Moustached Hawk Cuckoo.

Now the tricky part is to distinguish it between a "nisicolor" or a "fugax". 

According to Yong Ding Li in his unpublished article titled "Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo - A Birder's Headache", there are three subtle differences which could differentiate between a Hodgson (H.nisicolor) and a Malaysian (H.fugax) - i) songs, ii) morphometrics and iii) plumage. Out of the three and for an average birder like me, only the third (iii) feature i.e. its plumage patterns is the most likely and viable way to determine the differences between the two species. According to Yong Ding Li and most field guides, adults of both species can be easily told apart. However the absence of an orangy rufous wash on the breast of this bird and its brownish color plumage indicates that it was most likely an immature bird which makes it more difficult to identify. To differentiate between the immatures of Hodgson's and the Malaysian Hawk Cuckoo in the field, Yong Ding Li suggested that there are two subtle clues to look out for i.e (i) the lack of white nuchal patch and (ii) the pale to whitish patch on the innermost tertial feathers of an immature Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo. Malaysian Hawk Cuckoo (H.fugax) immatures on the other hand were said to have a small white patch on the nape which is noticeable and consistent in the field and its innermost tertial feathers are much browner. Meanwhile Dave Bakewell also suggested that the relatively narrow subterminal tail bar and a paler upper tertial should indicate a Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo.

As for me the indicators which points the above cuckoo to a Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo (H.nisicolor) was the absence of the white nuchal patch, and the uneven tail bars.

Here are some of the other birds seen.

Asian Brown Flycatcher

Jungle Myna

Cattle Egret

Little Egret

Collared Kingfisher

Asian Dollar Bird

Common Flameback - Male

Common Flameback - Female

For comparison purposes, here are some photos of a female Greater Flameback. The photos below were taken from a mangrove area near the Kuala Muda river mouth a few days earlier.

Greater Flameback - female

From the above photos, the differences between a Common Flameback and a Greater Flameback can be seen from the white patch at the center of its neck as opposed to an all black hindneck of a Common Flameback. The other feature is from the color of its iris. These are the two very prominent field markings. 

No photographer could resist taking the photo of this Plantain Squirrel (C. notatus).

This Little/Striated Heron was at its prime breeding plumage. A look at its long back plumes and you will know why.

It was another great day at this place. Hope the authorities will preserve this place so that the future generations could enjoy it.

"Birding is not about breaking records. It is about appreciating nature and being with nature"

Back to the Mudflats - March 2014

The months of March and April are the best times to see waders at full "bloom".  With that reason i was back at the Bagan Belat mudflats again with the hope of catching a glimpse of the waders just before they make their long flight back to their breeding grounds. This time my trips were not plan but just make do of the chances that came along to me. As you may realised by now in any birding trips either in a group or by yourself there are always some stories to tell or report to your friends.

Here is an Eastern Marsh Harrier (a female i believe) which flew above my head as i was walking to the mudflats. It circled a few times before it went off towards the direction of Bukit Mertajam. This was what some birders would termed it as a "chance sighting". 

Barn Swallow

Saw this swallow taking a sip of sea water.

A group of Great Egrets and Little Egrets

Was hoping to see a Chinese Egret but it turns out that they were all just Great Egrets and Little Egrets. From the above photo the bird on the right looks like an Intermediate Egret.

The tide was rising fast and what was left was just a patch of mudflat for the pond herons to share with the egrets.

I have another opportunity to watch the waders a few days later, so off i went again to the place. This time the tide was way down and i could only photographed the waders from a distance.

As you can see there were only pockets of waders left as most of them have probably gone back to their breeding grounds. Here you could also see some of the Bar-Tailed Godwits were in their breeding plumage. Also around in great numbers were the Great Knots - the birds which have a black patch on their breast as described by Dave Bakewell in his recent blog posting.

Javan Pond Heron

Here you can see its long head plumes. Adult males were reported to have more of these plumes than females.

Chinese Pond Heron

This Little Egret was probably mitigating some land ownership dispute between the Javan and Chinese Pond Herons.

Striated/Little Heron

As i was watching the waders out there this little heron was passing slowly in front of me. This must be a young adult as its back plumes have yet to form fully. Nevertheless its plumage colors really blended well with the mudflats.

As usual the Common Greenshanks came quite close instead of wading at the edge of the beach.

A couple of Great Knots in flight with other waders. The waders would often shift their feeding sites as i have observed at this location.

Can you spot a lone Black-Tailed Godwit here?

Here it is !

Waders landing on the other side of the mudflats.

A kettle of Brown Headed Gulls followed the routine.

Saw at least 30 of them this time. Unlike the flight patterns of Plain-Pouched Hornbills or the Canadian Geese (as seen from Nat Geo), in the flight of the Brown-Headed Gulls i have noticed that it was always in straight lines and that there was a bird in front to lead and another bird would fly further behind from the main flock - probably acted as a "sweeper".  Overall it was a wonderful experience to see these gulls in flight.