Birds of Bukit Kutu, Selangor

Bukit Kutu is well famous amongst the trail blazers and hill climbers. As far as birding activities are concern little have been reported in the area. I decided to visit the place today and see for myself what it has to offer in terms of birding.

These birds look like Asian Brown Flycatchers.

A Black-Headed Bulbul singing its heart's out.

A view of a lake created by the Selangor Dam. This place actually has many more birds than it appears here. The birds here were however either too fast or well hidden for my camera to zoom in on them.

Birds of Serendah - Nov 2011

Today I went to Serendah and this time i bumped into an "orang asli" (aborigines) who is kind enough to show me a new place which he said has a lot of big "burung bangau" (Herons).  He told me he has seen these birds quite often and at times locals could pick up its chicks which have dropped down from the trees.

From afar i could see a colony of herons but could not quite establish their type except for the Grey Heron in the middle. So I asked the guy whether we could get a bit closer and he told me no problem.

When we reached there i could see fresh wild boar tracks - possibly 5 -6 six of them. He led the way through thick shrubs and weeds but somehow he could still lead me right below the tree where the herons were located.

Here is a Purple Heron. Saw about - 6-7 of them flying around as they have spotted us below them. The roost area consisted mainly of Purple Herons and one lone Grey Heron.

You could see the Purple Heron attending to its nest. We saw close to 4 -5 nests but no chicks. Not to disturb their nest building activities, we spent only a few minutes there.

Then we saw this Chestnut-Bellied Malkoha flying in silently. Initially i thought it was a Black-bellied  Malkoha but field guides say that the former is much larger.

These are Common Iora. The middle one looks like a female by the drab color of its plumage. 

This is a male Ruby-Cheeked Sunbird.

...and this one is probably its mate. They are close by.

We saw this lone raptor perched nearby - a Crested Serpent Eagle.

We saw many of these Scaly-Breasted Munias - close to 8-9 of them. The top is probably a juvenile while the one below it could be a sub adult. They can be found almost every where at this place - near the weeds and even at the road sides.

...so as this fellow - A White Breasted Waterhen.

Could this be a Dusky Warbler?

(Note: The experts say its an Arctic Warbler)

Is this Richard's or Paddy Field Pipit?

(Note: The experts say its a Paddy Field Pipit)

I concluded the trip with this Blue-Tailed Bee-Eater. This is probably their season cause i could see them almost everwhere as well.

Waders at Teluk Air Tawar, Penang - 24 Oct 2011

I have now realise that the best times to see/photograph waders and waterbirds are in the morning since most photos i have seen are during that hours between 8.00am - 9.45am. Not satisfied with the earlier day's catch, I went to watch the waders again on the following day (24 Oct 2011). The second day did not yield more birds but it certainly offers a more diversified / varieties of waders and waterbirds. Here are some of them including the common ones:

This is a more common Striated/Little Heron. Saw two of them today.

We did not see this Bar-Tailed Godwit on the first day.

A Cattle Egret in flight.

So as this Pond Heron - not sure which type.

A Cattle Egret looking for fishes to eat before roosting.

This is a one legged Curlew Sandpiper.

A Common Greenshank wondering what has happened to its worms.

A lone Whimbrel marching across the mudflat.

A group of Whimbrels.

This is a Common Greenshank - also looks like a marsh sandpiper to an untrained eyes.

Another unidentified Pond Heron.

This looks like a Greater Sand Plover to me.

This looks like another Common Greenshank.

A Common Redshank getting its feet dirty.

This is a Common Greenshank - differentiated from the Marsh Sandpiper by its slightly more upturned bill.

A Brahminy Kite circling around - this is the only raptor we saw for the entire two days.

A handsome Collared Kingfisher.

Not sure why there is a black spot on the wings of this Common Greenshank.

(Note: just found out that the black spot on this bird means its an adult breeding bird)

This looks like a Red-Necked Stint.

A Lesser Sand Plover been watched by another of its friend.

This is a Greater Sand Plover according to Dave Bakewell.

So as this bird, i guess.

We saw lots of sand plovers and redshanks today.