The other Shrike

I have been waiting to spot the Brown Shrike ever since I saw the Tiger Shrike.  And finally it was there, ever so skittish.  This meant then that I had to pursue it as stealthily as possible as it was flying from undergrowth to tree branch, and back and forth to escape focus.

And there it was sitting quietly until spotted and thus began the chase to get closer to it.
7/2019

Shooting between broad leaves and hoping it'll appear in the open, which it finally did simply because I was hidden from sight, behind a tree.

It finally spotted me and fled.

Migrant Kingfisher

Having seen it for more than a couple of weeks, I was itching to acquire at least an image of this recent arrival to firmly establish its presence in the taman, the much sought after Common Kingfisher.  Attempting to do so can be extremely frustrating in view of how skittish this tiny bird is.  
And finally all I managed was a blind shot into a dense foliage into which I tracked its flight.  At best these are only record shots but nevertheless so essential to have as it reaffirms the cleanliness of the river water which is supporting the abundance of fish meal that has kept the bird here for weeks already.
6/2019

Rare flycatcher

The taman is most privileged to receive this rare visitor, the Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher.  This a bird that is on transit to the south and does not remain in any area for more than a couple of days, thus to sight it is rare.  It's known as a passage migrant through the Peninsular.
A report went as follows:

“They breed in the mountainous broadleaved forests of southern and central China (ie. Hunan, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guizhou). Brown-chested Jungle Flycatchers head south from August onwards, briefly passing through northern Vietnam. By mid-September, they would have reached Central Thailand, as confirmed by regular sightings around Bangkok. Thus sightings in Peninsula to Singapore are sighted from the last few days of September to early November and there are very few records of birds staying through winter.  

Their last stop is supposedly in Sumatera. Some like this one may stop and stay in Johor and/or cross the causeway or Malacca Straits.”

This rare visitor has certainly made it into the list of bird species sighted in the taman, a proud no 97, and I hope I will not stop counting.
5/2019

A Falconet descends

This is the closest ever I've come to the Black-thighed Falconet.  When I first spotted it I had thought that it was already unusually low down on the thin tree.
This was how tiny it was compared to the dove that flew up the same branch.

Then to my astonishment it flew right to where I was standing chatting to a couple I met on their walk, simply couple of feet away, unfazed by our presence.

Going by its manner, it looked like something in the pond attracted its attention as it gazed constantly at the water, and also expectantly as if to be joined by another, but it was not to be.

Despite noticing my presence and my aiming at it with my lens, it continued to hang on there.

Meanwhile it also eye-balled the couple who was trying to shoot it with a handphone.

Given the proximity to the bird, it was an excellent opportunity to observe its jagged, pointed and hooked beak, typical of a raptor, so one can imagine how easily it can tear a prey even of its own size.

And then it's all over as it flew off suddenly.

And there it was in the distance, where one can also spot a coppersmith barbet.

As I was passing by

Thanks for the pose!

Warbler visitor

The Artic Warbler has arrived promptly. This could be one of the easiest birds to spot because it always gives away its presence by its incessant foraging movement.  It's also one bird that will remain in the taman till it flies home next year.

4/2019

Abundance for the Munias

I so welcomed the fast growing wild grass for the seed food of the Scaly-breasted Munias.  And this taman is blessed with these grasses that grow in profusion even as these are constantly cut flat.  The Munias are certainly one of the most gorgeous birds around.

It was also great when these birds always appeared in flocks.  Photographing these birds feeding on the grass seeds may be a challenge because of the wiry stringy nature of these grasses but in the big picture, one does get wholesome gratifying images of liveliness and abundance.

Perhaps dazed Heron

It must be a consequence of the haze for the very sensitive Striated Heron to fly in right in front of me, striding the length of the branch as if it was alone.  This is one bird that takes off even at the slightest perceived human presence.  So it's a bonus to have it so close by, and off from its usual river bank haunt.

Finally it was ready to take off.

Skittish Shrike

When this is all you can get at first sighting, it makes the pursuit all the more challenging.
The Tiger Shrike had been teasing me with its sudden appearances and flights, even once zooming past inches by me, and pervasive calls throughout the taman.  It stubbornly kept out of sight and I had to be contented with these flashes of sighting.
3/2019

Migrant Drongo-cuckoo

It was sitting so quietly, and distant, that I almost missed it.  No matter in this dry season, it's a thrill to come across another migrant, the Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo.  This bird could be an uncommon resident in any park or area but because it's only seen here during the migratory period it could only be a winter visitor, from perhaps India or southern China.
2/2019

Hornbill gone pensive

Indecisive?  Disturbed?  ... the reaction of the Oriental Pied Hornbill as the adjacent temple bell clanged steadily.

What would I give to peek into the thoughts of this winged one as it looked contemplative?!

Oriole for mellow

The current persistent haze that shows no absolute sign of dispersing does cast a gloom over man and creatures.  It is disheartening to walk the taman and see how eerily smoky and quiet it is.  My only consolation is this Black-naped Oriole, even then it failed to totally uplift my mood and three shots, that's all it offered before it fled.

Whatever, this is truly one gorgeous bird, absolutely refreshingly yellow.