Birding at Sg Lepoh, Ulu Langat - July 2012

Sg Lepuh or originally called "LOPO" has two birding trails. One trail is where you can get to see all the wannabe star birds but with limited photography opportunities due to the limited access of sunlight. On the other hand the 2nd trail is more expose which allows good photography opportunity but then the birds can be quite common. The choice is yours but today i spent most of the morning in the first trail where i got to see my lifer i.e. the "Rufous-collared Kingfisher" perched on a broken bamboo trunk. Unfortunately it was quite dark at 7.45am and all my efforts in adjusting the knobs on my dslr went in vain. All the 10 shots produced blurry images despite using flash. Before i enter the first trail i have noticed that there were quite a number of people warming up to enter the same trail. Apparently there is a camp here which has adopted a concept quite similar to those summer camps in United States.  Then there were also a large number of people going in and out of the jungle picking up wild durians. Despite all the hive of activities, the birds have kept calling and the woodpeckers have continued pecking on the bamboo trunks to my pleasure.

This sporting pakcik was nice enough to give me a "V" sign. For my effort i was given a wild durian by one of the folks and it tasted just as good as the branded ones. As you can see the headlights are still on although there were some sunlight sipping thru the thick bamboo foliage.

Short-Tailed Babbler

Whenever i managed to get a clear image of a babbler i always felt like a sense of achievement. As you know babblers have sulking habits and you need loads of patience. Same goes with pittas i guess. There were three of them playing along side the trail and at one time they were so near that i needed to back-off to focus. Although some books say that this babbler is common but there are reports which have indicated that it is near threatened due to habitat destructions.

An unmarked jungle trail

One word of caution is that when you go searching for babblers or pittas you will need to be carefull not to sway too far from your main trail. In pursuing these birds they could actually lead you to different trails where you may lost your sense of direction. I was tracking the short-tailed babblers which lead me to the above trail and detouring from the main trail. I was lost for a few minutes but i somehow spotted a familiar marker inside the trail which eventually got me back to the main trail, phew !

Hill Mynah

 I actually saw a flock of this Hill Mynahs (close to 7 - 8 of them). Glad to see them doing well in the wild despite that they are well known pet birds.

In addition to the Rufous-Collared Kingfisher, other birds which was seen but no clear images were available from them are as follows:

i) Chesnut-naped forktail - one

ii) Asian Fairy Bluebird - one male

iii)  Rufous woodpeckers - two of them

iv) Black-Headed Bulbuls
v) Black-capped Babbler - two heard and seen

Red-Eyed Bulbul

As i had enough of the first trail off i went to the 2nd trail. Spent only about an hour at this place. The first common bird seen was this red-eyed bulbul.

Drongo Cuckoo

The next bird was a Drongo Cuckoo which has perched motionlessly on a large branch.

Green Iora

Although it is also a common bird but it is less common than the common iora.

Blue-winged Leafbird

Another common bird which you can find at this place.

It was almost close to noon when i spotted this pair of mynahs. One of them was going in and out of the tree hole, probably it was too hot for both of them in the same hole. The above mynahs certaintly looks like jungle mynahs at a glance but i am sure the experts would disagree with me as they are most likely are Javan Mynahs.

Little Heron (Butorides striata)

Little Herons or some books have named them Striated Herons are said to be quite common near the river mouth, mudflats and mangrove areas. However nowadays one could also see them nesting at  nearby park esp at places near water catchment areas.

At a glance you may think that this is a Black-crowned Night Heron if not for its orangey legs

Little Heron in flight

The bird on the left (the tormentor) is an adult bird while the right one is a juvenile.

At times you can also see them at a jetty.

....or on a boat mast like this fellow.

....or just wandering around like this one.

...or on mudflats foraging. This one is on a full adult "dressing".

Jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus)

Jungle Myna is reported to be a common bird in Peninsular Malaysia particularly in its northern regions (Kedah, Perlis and Perak). Not an easy bird to photograph as it is quite wary of human presence - keeping its distance a fair bit. Certaintly need a long range lens to get good images of them.

This one was looking for ants to eat on a road

This fellow has bright yellow eyes and orangey bill

They do fly up but seldom as high as to the tree canopies

Most of the time they prefer grass lands or paddy fields

Although the blue markings at the base of its bill could not be clearly seen in these images but because they were taken in a northern state of Kedah recently, it is therefore safe to say that they are all Jungle Mynas.

Birding at Kg Siam - June 2012

I had some free time during my short vacation back home recently. So i went to see what its like on the birding scene in Kampung Siam during this time of the year. Well its looks like they have more durians than birds at this time.

Yellow-Vented Bulbul

Some photographers may call this a "lup-sup" bird but if you have a good camera and lens it can give you nice images.

Jungle Mynahs

Lineated Barbet

Saw only two of this Lineated Barbets this time.

Mangrove Whistler @ f5.6

 Initially thought was a babbler but thanks to Mr Choo Jiin Hwa who pointed that it was a Mangrove Whistler based on its calls. The first note was a long and quite melodious one while the second call is shorter and ends with a high "wit". This is the first time i came across a mangrove whistler so far inland. In Allen, J. & Pearson (2012) latest field guide on the birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, it was reported that mangrove whistlers have been seen some 40km inland. So i guess this sighting has some truth to it.

Mangrove Whisler @ f6.3

This was the same bird actually. At f6.3 the bird's wings look more brownish than bright rufous. Sometimes camera can play tricks with its apertures and ISO settings. So i guess that was why birders from the old school would prefer using notes and bins instead.  Didn't know that mangrove whistlers do forage in durian orchards and this orchard is about an hour's drive away from nearest mangrove area.   

Greater Racket-Tailed Drongo

Dark-Necked Tailor Bird

Blue-Throated Beeater

Stripe-Throated Bulbul

Green-Billed Malkoha

Saw this Malkoha flying from a distance and perched on a tree branch. A huge bird with its distinctive long tail. 

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.