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 !

Appreciating Nature in Cameron Highlands - May 2017

Yup ! there were more strawberries than birds in Cameron Highlands but unlike those i have tried in lower land, these ones tasted really sweet.

It has been 22 years ago since i last set foot in this tourist land. Nothing much has change except that more hillsides were turned into agriculture lands. I stayed near the town called Brinchang which is just 9 km from Tanah Rata. Contrary to what most people have said the place is still cold especially during the night and in the early hours of the morning. The temperature then was between 16 -17 degrees.

While most people were comfortably tug inside their warm bed covers, i did what most birders would do i.e sneaking out in the early morning for birding activities. Weather was cloudy throughout the day and it rained almost every day in the evenings. Birding was done just along the road sides - recall the roadsides along Perdik or the old Gombak Road albeit with much more traffic. I could also hear the calls of Grey-throated Babbler, Stripped-throated Bulbul and Mountain Bulbul from inside this forest patch.

The first bird which i encountered and in numerous numbers were the House Swift (Apus Afinis).

 Despite their substantial numbers it was never easy to photograph them.

Only two species of swiftlets were seen during my stay. The second one as shown above was probably a Black-Nest Swiflet. It was much larger than Apus afinis  but their numbers were fewer.

The next bird seen was a raptor !

If your eyes are better than mine, you could probably see some noticeable field markings which will point it to a Black Eagle. The first feature is the paddle-shape wings and the second one to look for is its yellow legs. Unlike other raptors which often thermal high above the sky, this eagle prefers to hunt while circling silently just above the tree tops. 

The photos were taken from quite a distance and the size of this raptor is almost as huge as an Aquila.

The song uttered by this Oriental Magpie Robin was very much different than its cousins in lower land.

If you are a non-birder, you would probably won't include this myna picture. There were only two official records of its sighting in e-bird (as at this point of time) in this location. Although there are probably more unrecorded sightings of this Javan Myna over here but the more significant thing about this myna was that it has spread towards the east coast ! Although there were plenty of Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) around here but this Javan Myna was the only one seen. 

There were also a number of Pacific Swallow seen here. Here you could see Mommy had just arrived with possibly some early morning snacks.

As the sun light slips through the moody sky, things were a bit more brighter and nicer.

I have waited and waited but yet no butterflies came. So i decided to soaked into the beauty of mother nature.

I believe there was a nest inside this pine tree but i certainly do not carry any scissors or knife unlike some unscrupulous photographers to see what was this Everett White-Eye up to.

This White-Rumped Munia was seen leaving from its nest and its nestlings can be clearly heard calling from inside the nest.

Streaked Spiderhunter - the only spiderhunter which is very common in the highlands.

Did you just mentioned my name?

Enter the Dragon !

Robinson's Angle-Head Lizard

This was only the second time in my life to have encounter this lizard.

A gravity defying stunt, clap ! clap !

Upon seeing me, this squirrel tried its level best to slowly inch its way up the tree trunk by keeping its head as low and parallel as possible with the tree trunk. Well i have pretended not to have seen you as well.

 One of the most difficult bird to photograph in my opinion (IMO) was this Fire-Breasted Flowerpecker.

Despite its continuous presence, i just could not get a clean shot.

While looking for a best shot of the above Fire-breasted flowerpecker, in came this bird (below) which i initially thought it was a flycatcher .

then i thought that this could be a female Fire-Breasted Flowerpecker. Ah ! wrong again !

Field Guides described a female (Fire-breasted Flowerpecker) as having greenish-olive upperparts. This one doesn't ! So i believe it was just a juvenile male.

Although most of the birds seen were common but it was still an exciting trip through out. To wrap things up, here are some parting gifts for all of you !

There were probably enough roses for all the damsels in this town as well as the entire country.

HAPPY BIRDING !

Great Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii)

Photography is mainly about beauty while birding is all about discovery. When you mixed both hobbies together, you might just get some rewarding results ! Great Crested Tern are probably one of those few terns which you do not often see at the mudflats. Despite their widespread and year round resident status as reported by some books and sites, you could just occasionally encounter this magnificent tern when they go hunting for fish near the shoreline. Although they are not really pelagic birds but i do believe they spent most of their lives offshore. Feel free to immerse yourself into some of their stunning profiles below.

Differentiating between a Great Crested Tern and Lesser Crested Tern can be quite difficult if you do not have either photos or information to compare or look at.

Here are some field marks (gathered from various sources) of a Great Crested Tern which might be handy to you.

i) Yellowish bill

ii) Slight down-curved bill

iii) Mantle dark-grey

iv) Shaggy nuchal crest

v) White forecrown

vi) Outer primary tips dark
vii) Size slightly larger than Lesser Crested Tern

Many of us will look at their yellowish bill as a common indicator but i can assure you that most birding experts would probably advise you that none of the above features can be used as an absolute indicator on their own. They should instead be scrutinised as a whole to form an overall picture of a Great Crested Tern.

Apparently they are quite rare in Britain and Europe.

Great Crested Tern also do "plunge diving" for their food but not from great heights like the ones executed by Little Tern (personal observation)

Currently there are just 5 subspecies which are recognised in the literature. They are as follows:

i) T.b bergii 

ii) T.b enigma

iii) T.b cristatus

iv) T.b thalassina

v) T.b velox

The ones which are reportedly common in Malaysia is the Ssp T.b cristasus which are said to have dark grey above and less white on their head while T.b velox is reportedly to be the largest among the 5 Ssp and has the longest bill and far more darker. HBW Alive have added another subspecies i.e T.b gwendolence which is reportedly occur only in Australia. Having known all the above information, you might want to guess which Great Crested Tern species/sub-species do these 2 photos (below) belong to:

Could this be a T.b velox ? - long bill and darker ?

What about this one? or was it a Lesser Crested Tern?

Here are some of their friendly neighbourhood friends which you might also encounter.

Whiskered Tern

Common Tern

Whiskered Tern

A bit of laughter in life will certainly go a long way !

HAPPY BIRDING !