Regretful act, and hard decision

Was that a dive, or was that a dive!!?  And that's the way with the Narcissus Flycatcher as it usually forages at mid-canopy, constantly on the move, flitting from branch to branch, much to the frustration of the usual badass bird photographers, who have been seen at the site, up to their despicable behaviour of trying to bait the bird down to feed.

I guess this contemptible group is vying for A +++ images that their thick hide is impervious to disapproval of their abominable practice (which they take with them everywhere they go for bird images).

And it is precisely to keep this particular group at bay that I was initially pressured not to share, and now deeply regret sharing the news and location of this key sighting, an action I am sure not to repeat in future.

P/S Feeding to secure photographs seem to be widely practised now but resorting to this act teaches potential poachers how to bait for their catch, and unfortunately this Bukit has its share of poachers.

Parent-young out

 Despite its omnipresence and abundance in the bukit, it's uncommon to spot this parent Pin-stripped Tit-Babbler and its young out up so high, uncharacteristic of its always skulking, rustling and foraging behaviour mainly in undergrowth or low canopy.

As I was waiting

It always seemed that no catch is secured unless it's landed in the belly!

And particularly tiresome for this one that had to work vigorously to secure it and then to incapacitate before swallowing it.

Did it know it was being watched as it suddenly fled with its catch before consuming it in my full view?!

 

Weakness of the vile

 It's always with relief when I encountered the Blue-winged Leafbird (Chloropsis cochinchinensis) in the bukit as it's testament that this species's still around.  It is one of the poacher's targets as cage with a bait has been spotted hung up high to lure this bird.

A stunning looking bird, it usually keeps to higher canopy but I guess even this male would not be able to resist the lure and call of female, and a fruit in sight.

Behind a fan of leaves, its beauty still cannot be under-rated.

Common, also uncommon

 It started off with a wonderful feeling that I've finally got a better shot of the mugimaki flycatcher (or so I thought then) for this migrant season, and so I continued my search for other dawdler migrant visitors.

Migrant 24/2022

After a good encounter with the dark-sided and green-backed flycatchers, and a gorgeous male green leafbird, I descended the hill feeling extremely pleased and grateful.

As soon as I said hello and goodbye to a group of boisterous school kids on their first outing to the hill, I was stopped in my track again, by what I thought was the mugimaki flycatcher again with its gorgeous orange throat and breast until I glimpsed the rich yellow supercilium and rump, unusual I thought.  And the mystery turned into elation as I managed to identify it as a  Narcissus Flycatcher!

I was simply thrilled when it decided to release a melodious whistle.

In the MNS Conservation Publication No 22, A Checklist of the Birds of Malaysia 2020 Edition, the following is on record:

In short, the Narcissus Flycatcher has not been seen in Peninsular Malaysia from 1960 to 2000, but from 2001 to 2020 was sighted in Perak.

What a record for Bukit Kiara, as we are working hard to get this hill recognised as a significant bird area and an essential stopover and refuelling station for migrant birds.  This bird will add to the more than 80 species of migrant birds that have over the years either found a temporary home here during their winter away from their breeding ground, or have transited here for a few days.

The Narcissus Flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina) is a small bird of Least Concern status in the IUCN List as it's considered to have a very large range.  The male is more striking with its black upper-part and rich orange supercilium, throat and breast compared to the female bearing shades of brown all over.

"This bird is native to east Asia, from Sakhalin to the north, through Japan across through Korea, mainland China, and Taiwan, wintering in southeast Asia, including the Phillipines and Borneo.  It is highly migratory, and has been found as a vgrant from Australia in the south to Alaska in the north."

P.S.On a personal note, it's strange that such a mega sighting, which signifies a mega record for Bukit Kiara, for Peninsula Malaysia, should create an equally mega dilemma for me, ie, a mega pressure whether to share or not to share this sighting, the pressure emitting from both external as well as internal sources.

One would think that such a momentous occasion should be celebrated on a mega scale by sharing, but there was also tremendous pressure not to share simply to keep it away from ill-behaved bird photographers who normally exploit such sighting, however, there was also the feeling that it was equally unfair to deprive deserving birders/birdwatchers of this rare sighting.  In the end I decided to err on the side of sharing and hope for the best, that my act of sharing was simply with the pure intent of celebrating a rare sighting.

As I was passing by

 It always seems a privilege to run into the Black-crested Bulbul (Rubigula flaviventris) here because of its irregular visit.  Alerted to its melodius call, it was not difficult to spot it because of striking mustardish upper-part, and distinct black head and crest, only to have it rather skittish this time, and keeping to higher canopy.

Myna's lesson

A parent's indulgence, and no different if in the avian world or elsewhere.

The cries of this young Javan Myna were heard for a good part of the morning, and the parents were no less annoyed or impatient.

From the top of the tree to the ground, this young one that looked old enough to forage for itself continuously begged to be fed.

 Again, and looked like food was abundant as the parent could easily pick up a morsel from the ground as it walked about.

However, this was only one occasion when the parent withheld its catch and walked away with the insect in its beak, the usual training in progress I supposed.