Birding at UNISZA and UMT

Recently i went back to Kuala Terengganu to see my mother-in-law who was very ill on X'mas day. I took the opportunity to visit two universities which are located nearby to each other at a place called "Gong Badak" i.e. Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UNISZA) and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). A local birder (Mr Annuar McAffee) has written and published a book on birding at UNISZA alone, listing close to 135 birds seen around its campus. I must say that the guards at both the universities were friendly and allowed us (me and my kids) in without much questioning.

Although Mr Annuar McAffee was in KL during my visit, we did not have any problems locating the birding area as the guards are kind enough to show us the lake area in UNISZA. Here are some of the birds seen along the way:

The first bird we saw was this White-Throated Kingfisher.

Then we saw this lone Yellow-Bellied Prinia.

My kids spotted this juvenile Purple Heron across the lake.

We saw plenty of this Pond Heron, not only around the campus area but in most places in KT. We also saw a juvenile Yellow Bittern, about 15 Scally-Breasted Munias, lots of swallows flying around and a Common Sandpiper near the lake area.

Since the birds were probably having a X'mas holiday, we decided to visit UMT which is just 5 minutes drive away from UNISZA. Its signage can be seen here from the boundaries of UNISZA.

The first bird we saw at UMT was this Asian Brown Flycatcher. 

Then we also saw a Common Sandpiper along the banks of a man-made canal which was built on a mangrove area.

We saw close to 15 of these Ashy Minivets. They seem to enjoy the strong wind blowing from the sea front.

At a glance this bird could have been a white wagtail but after further observation this was just an Ashy Minivet - probably an adult male.

Amongst the minivets, we saw this Olive-Backed Sunbird.

As i was crossing the bridge near the mangrove area i saw this kingfisher. Before i could raise my camera again, it flew away @3#$%%&^&*@

God must have been kind to me as it flew back and allowed me to take a few shots before it flew away again. This is an uncommon Common Kingfisher !

The following day i went around the neighbourhood to look for more birds and here are some of them:

This Pond Heron was shot from the car.

Then came this Brown Shrike trying its best to hide himself.

These pipits actually was hovering before it landed just like a richard's pipit description but i think these birds were just Paddyfield Pipits.

This could be a Black-Bellied Malkoha.

This is a Dollar Bird perched high up on a tree trunk. Back-light was the order of the day through out my stay.

Finally a clear shot of a Pied Fantail - the MNS SBBG's mascot!

 ...and this Ashy Tailorbird concludes my birding trip in Terengganu.

Bird Watching at Bukit Rengit, Lanchang, Krau Forest Reserve

Bukit Rengit is famous as a tourist attraction for its deerland park and an elephant sanctuary. It is also famous among birders for its variety of birds. It takes about an hour and 45 minutes drive as well as 3 tolls (about RM10.00 per way) to reach the place from KL. The landscape of Bukit Rengit is quite similar to Merapoh where there is a long track of tar road flanked by pristine jungle on both sides of the road. Although Merapoh in Pahang is much more quiet but Bukit Rengit has its own unique profile of birds. For example there were calls of Great Argus in three locations along the road as compared to zero heard in Merapoh. I reached the place close to 8.00 am and started birding as i turned in to the road leading to the Deerland. As i turned in, suddenly a Red Jungle fowl flew across the road to the opposite side. There were also many birds calls along the trail leading to a bridge eg Garnet Pittas, Hill Mynas, Sooty-capped Babbler, Stripped-Tit Babblers and a host of other calls which i am still in the process of identifying them with the help of experts. Have also sighted a few birds which i did not manage to photograph them such as Rhinoceros Hornbills, Greater Coucal, Red-bearded Bee Eater, White-Rumped Sharma etc.

Here are some which i managed to take:

A lone Drongo perched on a misty morning.

This is a noisy Maroon Woodpecker, drumming and probing at a tree branch while calling out loud!

As the sun came out, so did this woodie. I think woodie looks more like an Olive-backed woodie.

There were woodpeckers galore at this place...saw at least a few of this Checker-Throated Woodpecker along the trail.

Then this Crimson-Breasted Flowerpecker flew in and say come and snap me ! - it stayed on the branch for several minutes staring curiously at me.

This could be a Lesser-Racket Tail Drongo.

A male Chestnut-Breasted Malkoha collecting nesting materials.

This is a rather confusing Warbler. Note: according to experts, the bar markings on the wings may not be a good indicator for an eastern crown as some were observed not having any white bar markings. Now that was interesting ! So according to the experts one also has to look at the colour of its vent. But this bird's vent has no yellow like what an eastern crown usually has. At the same time its face has no speckles like an artic warbler. But the more i look at this picture, the more i would say that this bird is an Eastern Crown Warbler ! 

I turned back after this sign board.

As i headed for home i came across this Red-billed malkoha along the trail.

It was close to noon and this fellow is still busy looking for insects to eat.

All these photos certaintly do not do justice for the numerous birds which can be seen at this place. Perhaps with a bit more luck, i could take more pictures the next time. Conclusion: this place is certaintly worth going for the second time and with this i conclude my birding trips for year 2011. Certaintly look forward for more birding trips next year - 2012!! Until then wish you birders and visitors a Merry X'mas and Happy New Year !

Note: After having obtained confirmation from a local bird calls expert - Mr Choo Jiin Hwa, here are the few bird calls which were identified later:

i) White-Rumped Sharma

ii) Rufous-Crowned Babbler

iii) Grey-Cheeked Bulbul

iv) Scarlet-Rumped Trogon

v) Diard's Trogon (possible)

An Afternoon Birding at Sungai Lepoh, Ulu Langat

Sungai Lepoh is yet another site in Ulu Langat where mountain bikers, trail blazers, waterfall trackers, and common people would be keen to explore. So do birders like me! I started on the left of the car park and saw plenty of common birds such as:

Peaceful Doves

Spotted Doves

A line of Barn Swallows with a lone swallow....

According to Seng, the bird on the left is now called a Rufous-Bellied Swallow !

Here is an extract of his explanation: "the swallows in question have gone through many taxonomic changes through the years. I believe the bird in your picture is listed as Rufous-bellied Swallow or Striated Swallow in BIW. In the checklist, it is listed as Striated Swallow or Hirundo striolata, a resident in Pen Msia (sub-species badia). I believe most people use Rufous-bellied following the latest Robson (2008). Robson has now split badia (Rufous-bellied) from striolata (Striated). The other name in question is Red-rumped Swallow or Hirundo daurica, which is a migrant. Robson (2008) has even changed the genus from Hirundo to Cecropis. In short, here's my take....Rufous-bellied or Striated for our resident with very rufous-chestnut unders (species striolata, subspecies badia). And Red-rumped for the migrant daurica which has a streaked breast".

On a nearby cable, there was also a pair of Pacific Swallows. A point to note is that these swallows don't mix with the earlier swallows - barn and rufous-bellied !

Further down the line is a Blue-Tailed Bee Eater.

Saw this Ashy Minivet in the open area as well.

This is a little Munia - just learning how to fly!

As you go further in you will come across this signboard to your left. The trail will then forked into two directions:

I took the one of the left first after hopping across a small stream. The trail on the left will lead you thru an orchard of durian trees, jack-fruits, bananas etc with a combination of low land forest plants. It was very quiet as i could only hear my foot steps and the running water. Something tells me that this could be a worst birding site ever....so i started to snap pictures of its flora instead.

No this is not autumn or maple leaves but a large patch of ferns on the ground.

This looks like a strawberry flavored ais kacang!

This looks like "jambu air" - a kind of fruit.

These are wild palm fruits enjoyed by variety of mammals.

The first bird i encountered was this Brown Shrike sitting quietly on a branch.

Then as i was resting by a large rock i spotted this Gray Wagtail taking its bath.

Then i came across more Brown Shrikes and they are not shy birds like this fellow which allows me to be as close as just 5 meters.

As you reached the 300 plus mark on bird count it gets a bit harder to see more lifers. To see more lifers, i guess you could either travel further away from your comfort zone or you need a bit of luck. Today as i went deeper into the orchard, suddenly this Malaysian Hawk Cuckoo flew silently and perched right in front of me. I consider this my lucky day. I just wonder how those birders who have reached the 500 mark would feel when they go birding?

I came across this pair of Orange-Backed Woodpeckers high up on a dead tree. The fellow at the bottom was swinging and noding its head which i believe its a kind of courtship display. These are the only woodpeckers in this region which have a distinguish white feathers along its back.

This picture shows you the white patch of feathers behind its back.

As i was turning back and heading to the second trail, i heard a call which akin to a woodpecker. I was looking high and low at tree trunks and branches searching for the source of the sound. Lo and behold high up on a dead tree trunk there was this lone Black-Thighed Falconet (Malay calls it "Burung Rajawali")!

The initial part of second trail was just as quiet and dull so i just snap away its lovely flora.The second trail setup is completely different than the first one. Its looks more like a lowland forest with steep trails and loads of bamboo outcrops.

This looks like a coral or seaweed plant of some kind.

These flowers look more familiar and common - spider lily ?

Another type of wild ginger flower?

As i was going deeper into the trail suddenly there was a mini bird wave. Out came this Little Spiderhunter.

Then i saw this lovely Bronze Drongo without its metalic sound. There were many other birds which i saw but was not able to get a good photo shot of them eg a female Dark-Throated Oriole, Chestnut-Breasted Malkoha, Red-Eyed Bulbul and tailor birds. Conclusion: this place certaintly has the potential to produce some surpise lifers!

Afternoon Birding at Sungai Perdik, Hulu Langat

I have wanted to try out for once an afternoon birding trip to Sg Perdik, Hulu Langat to see how was the  birding activities during that time. So a trip was made on 4 Dec 2011 from 2.30pm to 5.00pm. Although there were not many birds and no lifers but the trip did gave me quite a variety of birds to see. There was also a mini bird wave to top it up.

First birds i saw was this pair of Hairy-Backed Bulbul.

Then came along this male Crimson-winged Woodpecker.

This is an Ashy Minivet - same bird with three different poses.

Then came along this warbler. I think this could be another Arctic Warbler but i would just record it as an unidentified warbler - don't want to be a hero!

Amongst the bird wave, out came this Asian Paradise Flycatcher.

I also saw a number of Lesser Green Leafbirds like this one.

Also in the bird wave was this Black-Winged Flycatcher Shrike.

As i was walking back to my car i saw a plant at the road side with this amazingly huge flower.