Sunda Scops-Owl

 A morning call, and a rescue of a Sunda Scops-owl was underway.

Report was that it was sighted on the ground early that morning on the opposite side, hopped across to where it managed to perch securely on a broken branch, perhaps thinking that it was well camouflaged on the slope.

And many thanks to Dr Jalila Abu of Avian Vet Unit of UPM for her in-situ advice and guidance on how to handle this bird (what will we do without Whatsapp, enabling immediate exchange of information, photographs and advice!)

As it didn't come across as visibly injured, it was decided that it should be moved to higher ground away from intense scrutiny of over-enthusiastic morning park walkers (we humans easily forget how we would feel if we were to have a camera thrust into our face).

Many thanks to Dr Shahridan Faiez for his presence and excellent handling of the Scops-owl, and for the following photo and videos, after its move to an adjacent more secluded location.

On a followup check-in that evening, it still looked fine (for the advice was to send it the next day to the clinic if it still came across as immobile).  In fact it had moved to conceal itself under a leaf from overhead Long-tailed Macaques.

The next morning we were hoping not to see it (how could one wish not to see a Scops-owl again!!!!) for it meant that it was well enough to fly off; indeed it was not there (already much missed!!!!).

To ensure that it was really well and that perhaps it was still around, an inevitable brief 'callout' was undertaken, and to our relief, it flew out from about 5ft away, right in front of us, and off!  Phew!