Ron-Nature-Adventures

Tuesday 8 January 2013

Birding in JB - Jan 2013

For the brand new year i went to a new birding spot which is located at Janda Baik (JB) :-). Although there were no lifers but a few interesting birds did appear at this place.

Red-Eyed Bulbul (Pycnonotus brunneus)

Stripped Throated Bulbul (Pycnonotus finlaysoni)

Red-eyed bulbuls and Stripped throated bulbuls were the most common bulbuls spoted here.

Black Hornbill (Anthracoceros malayanus)

According to Robson (2007) field guide, black hornbills are quite rare while Allen J & Pearson (2012) reported that it belongs to a Near Threatened category. This could be a female as most guide books described females as having smaller and blackish bill/casque. However do note that it has a broad white supercilium which usually points to a male bird ! So could this be a juvenile male bird then?

Bamboo Woodpecker (Male)

Bamboo Woodpecker (female)

Mountain Imperial Pigeon

Scarlet Minivets (male & female) were presence here as well.

Its only early January however this White-rumped munia (Lonchura striata) is already in the midst of building a nest.

Rufescent Prinia (Prinia rufescent)

Although its a common bird but it is more often heard than seen. This fellow seems to be in a breeding mood as illustrated by its greyish color head.

According to an old folks tale a righteous person could see fairies flying or dancing around lily flowers like this one in a moonlit night.

Monday 31 December 2012

Year-end Birding at Hutan Lipur Perdik - Dec 2012

I have been bitten by the birding bugs real hard lately. I have no choice but to get rid of them as soon as possible before i go bonkers. Perdik Forest Reserve was the easiest choice as it was near and provides many unexpected encounters.

Yellow-Vented Flowerpecker

Saw two of them. They were rather small at 10cm but certaintly beautiful birds.

Greater Green Leafbird (Male)

Asian Brown Flycatcher

Another one of the many small birds seen here.

Buff-vented Bulbul

A forked bill Sunbird

Plain Sunbird

Ashy Minivets

Saw 5 of them in a bird wave.

Asian Paradise Flycatcher

Tiger Shrike

This fellow was rather silent.

Eyebrowed Thrush

Thanks to Dave Bakewell who confirmed the bird's id. Reported to be a common passage migrant from Siberia which can be found right down to Indonesia. Although this picture could not show its orangy flanks and chest but its diagnostic white supercilium and whitish belly/vent areas points to the bird. Another diagnostic features which can be seen here is the white stripe under its eye and chin areas. It was seen together with other birds in a bird wave. A lifer indeed.

There is nothing better to end another exciting birding year with a lifer !

Tuesday 25 December 2012

Black-Winged Flycatcher Shrike (Hemipus hirundinaceus)

Black-Winged Flycatcher Shrike (Hemipus hirundinaceus)

This bird is reported to be a locally common resident of lower elevations. Can be found near forest edges of countries in South East Asia right down to Bali.

All the above pictures show a male bird.

Tuesday 11 December 2012

Flying Terns and Fighting Crabs - Part 2

Continuing from the first part......the waders such as Bar Tailed Godwits were noticeably missing so were the Sand Plovers and Common Redshanks.

Brown Shrike

White-Winged Tern

White winged terns continued their presence through out the morning.

Marsh Sandpipers made up the most waders counted this time.

Here's a group of them swimming like ducks with a lone common redshank.

Another group of Marsh Sandpipers which prefer not to swim.

Common Redshank

This is the one of the only 2 redshanks spotted today.

Another Marsh Sandpiper

A Great Egret alright

Whimbrel

Collared Kingfisher

Terek Sandpiper

Looks like it still has a bit of its summer plumage. Just like the Wimbrels, it was seen chasing after small crabs to eat.

A Crested Little Heron?

Unidentified Pond Heron
(Note: an expert says this could be an Indian Pond Heron)

David versus Goliath.

These fighting crabs provided some entertainment in the absence of the waders.

I believe this is a Common Fence Lizard

Here is a summary of some of the birds seen:
Date: 11 December 2012
Time: 7.15am - 11.00am

Eurasian Curlews (Numenius arquata) = 10
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) = 15
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) = 6 (with two hatchlings)
Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) = 5
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis) = 30
Common Redshank (Tringa Totanus) = 2
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus) = 25
White-Winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) = 15
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) = 5
Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus) = 3
Lesser Sandplover (Charadrius momgolus) = 2
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) = 2
Great Egret (Casmerodius albus) = 1
Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris) = 5
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) = 1
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) = 1
Blue-Tailed Bee Eater (Merops philippinus) = 5
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) = 1
Paddy-Field Pipit (Anthus rufulus) = 1
Red junglefowl (Gallus gallus) = 1 (heard call only)
Unidentified Pond Heron = 3

Hope all these info will be of some use to the Asian Waterbird Census which would usually be held in the month of January each year.

Flying Terns and Fighting Crabs - Part 1

Its amazing how things can change so fast. I was at the Kapar mudflats just a few months back and saw thousands of waders but now there were only pockets of them. Wonder where have they all gone? Scientific as well non-scientific theories quickly mushroomed. One theory states that since it is a migratory bird, they could have gone elsewhere while the other theory says they were probably spooked by the machines doing some extensive earthworks around the ashpond area.

A flock of Eurasian Curlews heading out to sea. Despite reaching the area at 7.15am, the waders were already on their way out to search for food.

At the same time a group of "White-Winged Terns" have make their way inland. It was nice to see them hovering above a canal and then dive down in tandem to pick their food. White-Winged Terns and Whiskered Terns featured quite prominently today.