Saturday 13 February 2021

Common Birds in January 2021

Looks like the common birds reigned during this pandemic lockdown. Here are some of the more photogenic birds seen recently.

Red-Wattled Lapwing 

This bird's calls can be heard from a distance and it's very distinctive and unmistakable. 


According to some birders who are familiar with Javan Myna, its white iris shows that it is still an immature bird. Once it gets older, the iris will turned yellowish.


Large Woodshrike



Dark-necked Tailor bird


I would put the above leafbird as a "Greater Green Leafbird" - from the size of its bill.


So glad to see it after a long absence.


Blue-winged Leafbird (Female)

An equally stunning leafbird !




Blue-winged Leafbird (Male)

At times they can come down quite low to feed.




Gray Wagtail (in breeding colors)



Their early presence usually marks the start of the migrating season in this region. But at this time and with this colors that means they are probably on the way back.




Mynas are quite versatile birds. These Jungle Mynas have decided to use the swifllets house as their home instead.  




They must have found something interesting to laugh at !




An Oriental Honey Buzzard (OHB) with a notched tail.




Sometimes their "fingers" are not necessarily six especially when they are molting.





It is equally fun to take photos of flying swiftlets.



The above swiftlet looks a bit different than the rest.





From afar these Asian Openbills can look like vultures. This small flock was seen thermaling higher than the OHB.




A resident "Blue-throated Bee Eater".




Grey-bellied Bulbul

This bulbul has quite a distinctive call if you are familiar with them.




Black-headed Bulbul

Another bulbul which can be found year round.




Spotted Dove

A very common caged bird in this region.




A pair of Red-collared Dove




Ruby-cheeked Sunbird



"THE RIGHTEOUSNESS IS AN EVERLASTING RIGHTTEOUSNESS AND THY LAW IS THE TRUTH"

"I AM SMALL AND DESPISED: YET DO NOT I FORGET THY PRECEPTS"

Thursday 31 December 2020

My memorable avian photos - 2nd half 2020

This year has been a challenging year for all of us but survive we must ! Here are some of the nice avian photos taken from June to December 2020.
Mangrove Blue Flycatcher 

(oops ! I've just found out from some experts that this one might be a hybrid - i.e a crossed between a Mangrove Blue and a Indochinese Blue Flycatcher (previously called Tickell's Blue FC)

Green-backed Flycatcher

Green-backed Flycatcher

Asian Brown Flycatcher

Red-breasted Parakeet 
 (note: thanks to Dr. Vijay Kumar for the location info)

Javan Sparrow

Blue Rock Thrush (Non breeding)

Rufous-winged Philentoma (Blue morph)

Rufous-bellied Eagle

Oriental Honey Buzzard

Asian Openbill

Gold-Whiskered Barbet

Black-winged Stilts (the one on the right is most likely a female)

A pair of Common Flameback Woodpeckers

Plain-backed Sparrow (female)

Baya Weaver (female)

Black-winged Kite
(look how it turns its head almost like owl like)


Brown-headed Gull

Brown-headed Gull returning with a fish

Germain's Swift

House Swift (apus affinis)

Javan Mynah (with a front folded legs)

Night Heron (Black Crowned)

Asian Koel (female)

Wood Sandpiper

Blue-tailed Bee Eater

It doesn't matter if its a hornet as long it looks like a bee, it can be eaten

Brahminy Kite (juvenile)

Brahminy Kite (adult)

Red Collared Dove

Long-billed Spiderhunter

Brown Shrike

Pond Heron

A Yellow-vented Bulbul doing some "pole" dancing


Birding here and there from February to March 2024

 Not many birds appearing at my local patches. I probably need to travel further to see more birds. Green-back Flycatcher Male Quite a frien...