Pulau Burung during non-birding season

On the way back to KL i decided to detour to Pulau Burung to see what its like during a non peak birding season at this birding site. I just did abt 1.5 hrs of birding as i was with my family. Nevertheless we saw quite a number of its common resident birds and here are some of them.

Crested Serpent Eagle

The first bird we saw was this Crested Serpent Eagle perched at a road side pole. It did not move despite that i parked my car nearby and coming out to take its photos.

Lesser Whistling Duck

Saw and counted a total 7 of these Lesser Whistling Ducks around the area. Most of them was observed just lazing around and preening. As you can see the surrounding water is somewhat dirty and stagnant.

White-Throated Kingfisher

We saw many of this White-throated Kingfishes. Most of them were observed hunting for other things like frogs and grasshoppers in absence of fishes. I guess that's how they could maintain their steady population.

Little Grebe

Little Grebe (Male)

These are Little Grebes. Its another common resident bird at this place. The one with a dark rufous neck could be a breeding colors of a male.

 

Purple Heron

We saw this lone Purple Heron standing on a dead wood. He was quite wary of human presence as the minute i came out of my car it flew away.  

Black-Winged Stilt

This is a Black-Winged Stilt. Saw at least three of them and i think they have make this place their residence.

Red-Wattled Lapwing

 Saw at least 5 of them and i believe they too have make this place their home.

Red-Wattled Lapwing in flight

Changeable Hawk Eagle

This is a Changeable Hawk Eagle. We saw two of them and one of them i believe is guarding a nest.

Paddy Field Pipits

This time we saw a number of these pipits - all i believe should be Paddy-Field Pipits.

White-Breasted Waterhen

On the way out, we saw at least two of this White-breasted Waterhen. This one was a bit more friendly as it was just beside the road.

Birds along the river estuaries

I was curious to know what type of birds which would usually hang-out at river estuaries. So i decided to have a look at a river estaurine near Kuala Muda recently. The timing was just right as the water level was low exposing the mudflats and its wildlife along the river. All photos were taken from a jetty near the estuary.

Family of fishermen just returning with their morning catch.

Little Egret

Spotted this lone Little Egret  foraging at the mudflats early in the morning.

Bird in Flight (BiF) - Striated Heron

Saw quite a number of this Striated Herons criss-crossing along the river.

Spotted Dove in flight

Spotted doves were also abundant at this place.

Collared Kingfisher

Water Monitor Lizard

I spotted this fellow hiding quietly in the mangroves. I guess this is how they ambush their prey.

Striated Heron in the mud

Pink-Necked Green Pigeon (Treron Vernans)

Pied Fantail (sub-adult)

Pied Fantail (adult)

Black-bellied Malkoha

Black-Naped Oriole (juvenile - id from its black bill)

Common Iora (sub-adult)

Abbott's Babbler

It is very seldom that a babbler would sit down for a moment and sing for us but this Abbott's Babbler did just that. Its calls were melodious too.

Great Tit - an intercontinental bird?

Great Tits (or now is called Cinereous Tit) are said to be very common in Europe that it often frequents bird-tables and seed-dispencers. Over here they are reported to be more common in mangroves areas. Although both Great Tits have a bold black line running down from its breast to its vent as well as a white patch on its cheek but the Asian ones have a white colored body as compare to a yellow body on European Great Tits. All these images were taken at a mangrove area.

Cinereous Tit
Parus cinereus

I shot this one at KSNP

Cinereous Tit
Parus cinereus

Cinereous Tit
Parus cinereus

Cinereous Tit
Parus cinereus

Cinereous Tit
Parus cinereus

I believe these birds might have nest in hollow tree trunks

Birding at Lower Nuang - June 2012

Recently i decided to do a bird count at lower Gunung Nuang. Together with Mr CY Tan we saw a total of  26 birds on a half-day birding trip. Most of its trails were dim and dark despite a sunny day. This was perhaps due to the thick foliage of bamboo covering the sunlight. Here are some of the clearer images.

Thick-Billed Green Pigeon

  This Thick-billed Green Pigeon came and flew off within 3 minutes.

White-Rumped Sharma

Rufous Piculet Jr and Sr

Emerald Dove

Rufous Woodpecker

A Pair of Black Headed Bulbul

Looks like a large Chinese Joss Stick

A closer look at the same plant

At a glance you may think these are ripe bananas but its was just another type of jungle fruits. 

Birds of Forest Edge

Malaysia (including Sabah and Sarawak) is blessed with many places to watch birds (both endemic as well as migrant Sp etc). In Peninsular Malaysia there are several birds which you may encounter along the forest edge. Here are some of them.

The bird (above) is a Yellow-bellied Prinia. The calls it makes may not be as what the image suggests but it can certaintly be heard from a 50 meter radius.

You can find this Pied Fantail in your gardens as well as near the forest edge.

These are White-rumped Munias. It seems to have a bi-coloured bill.

This is a Yellow-vented Bulbul - a juvenile.

Some books called this bird a Peaceful Dove while some has named it as Zebra Dove.

This is an Ashy Tailorbird.

Another common bird of forest edge - a Common Iora.

This is a Rufous Piculet. Although said to be a common bird over here but its not easy to be seen. At times they do come out near the forest edge to hunt for food like this one.

These are Grey-bellied Bulbuls. They are not really common but they can be spotted near the forest edge at times.

This is a Spectacle Bulbul - hiding itself in the thickets of a forest edge.

This is a common Olive-backed Sunbird (female).

I did saw this Baya Weaver (male) near a forest edge.

Blue-Winged Leafbird

The most common leafbird which you may find near the forest edge.

Pied Thriller

You may also find this bird in the garden or mangroves or places where there are water flowing like rivers and lakes.