Birds in March 2023 - raptors etc

When you do birding in March, usually you will be looking forward to the spring migration of raptors. Chances of seeing them at this time are usually higher. So in this post you will see some of them. But first of all the local birds first.

This is a male Scarlet Minivet 

The female Scarlet Minivet stayed higher than the male.

This flycatcher together with the Asian Brown were still around in March.

Female Green-backed Flycatcher

Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo

This is a point blank shot as it came out from no where and stood right in front of me - probably less than 5 meters.

Greater Green Leafbird (female)

Blue-throated Bee Eater

I think this is a seasonal bird. Sometimes you can see them everywhere at certain months then they would 'disappear' for sometime before appearing again. 

Here is a different flycatcher.

Ferruginous Flycatcher

This is an uncommon flycatcher - migrant?

Like most of its close relatives, it would sally for insects and returned to the same branch again.

Okay now it's time for the raptors. The local ones first.

Black-thighed Falconet

They are quite common in Ampang area.

The next one is also a resident eagle.

Rufous-bellied Eagle

During their spring migration, they would travel in flocks - high up in the sky.

At first I saw three of them - they were all OHBs (Oriental Honey Buzzards)

Then came a flock of 11 of them. They were mainly males and some juveniles - according to experts.

As I was watching the above raptors, then this raptor flew silently into picture.

Blyth Hawk Eagle.

It supposed to be a resident eagle as well.

Then as I was about to go back I thought I saw a rock pigeon flying above.

It turns out to be a Black Baza. It was almost noon when I saw this Baza.

It's is a long way home for this lone raptor.

THAT'S ALL FOLKS !

Portraits of Lesser Sand Plovers

Lesser Sand Plovers are the commonest migratory wader in this region. Every year without fail, flocks of them will fly into this region for their winter break and very soon they will be flying back again. Here are some of them been photographed during their winter break. All of them are from the Tibetan race.

HAVE A PLEASANT JOURNEY BACK AND HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN !

Some uncommon birds in Feb 2023

A long time ago this region was once connected to the great Sunda archipelago where we shared quite a number of beautiful avifauna including Fruit Doves. When the sea rises and split the region as it is now, we lost some of them to the Sunda islands but retain this fruit dove which I believe the only known species in Peninsular Malaysia.

Jambu Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus jambu)

It is not rare I think but certainly not common. I only had two shots of this fruit dove as I did not anticipate of seeing one here especially a male some more.

Jambu Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus jambu)

Initially I was birding with another birder whom I later found out his name as Din. He called me to his location to see a bird which he said is quite different than the Pink-necked Green Pigeons which were also at the same vicinity at that time. Since Pink-necked Green Pigeons are common here I reluctantly went over to his place and to my surprise he was actually referring to a male Jambu Fruit Dove. This is the first time I am seeing it at the site. A few days after the sighting went viral, the place was swarmed with other birders. 

This Striped Throated Bulbul was with the fruit dove as well.

The next bird is one species which you might just brush off as another sunbird but without realising that it is quite an uncommon one.

Plain Sunbird (Anthreptes simplex)

It is a middle size bird - larger than a tree sparrow for sure.

I believe it can only be seen in the forest regions.

From the many photos I have seen of this species, it seems to like these flowers.

It looks very plain though.

HAPPY BIRDING !