Ubiquitous warbler

 There was a time I found it challenging to sight either the Arctic or the Eastern Crowned Warbler in the bukit for the infrequent presence.  But during this migratory season these warblers seem to be practically everywhere, so much so that I sight them more often than the ubiquitous Asian Brown Flycatcher, not that I'm complaining!

In fact the difference here is that I tend to see these warblers foraging together more often too than before when it was normally seen singly, and at upper canopy level.

The fastest and surest way to identify the Arctic Warbler is via the black tip at its lower bill ...

... as for the Eastern Crowned is the median stripe down the middle of its crown, or its clean bright orange lower mandible.

Not really pathway for raptors

 I had thought it was the resident Changeable Hawk-Eagle calling and did not pay much attention until the piercing calls persisted long and louder.  Curiosity piqued, I raced to find an open space where I could trace the calls, and there up high already was a flock of four thermal circling.

As this went on for a while, and one still calling, I managed to capture each one thermalling alone. 

And one suddenly appeared from elsewhere to join these four, and together the flock soared away.

BK or TRK do not really like in the pathway of any raptors, ie, that one can see scores of them passing through during their migration.  However the occasional sightings do cause some excitement.

The most interesting was this one that had a stiff leg up which reminded me of a ballerina.

It looked like the call was for this one who seemed to have strayed momentarily, and finally heeded the call to return to the rest.

However, it's interesting to note that this one looked different from the others, perhaps, a much younger hawk-eagle.  All in all it was simply heartening to learn that birds do look out for one another too.

 

The juvy kingfisher's lesson continues, Part III/III

 I believed I was privy to another lesson of the juvy White-throated Kingfisher who is more than two months old now.

The usual avian commotion alerted me to a happening and I rushed in time to look into a window, literally, of activity.  The adult kingfisher was busy slamming its catch against the branch.  And it went on and on that it even enabled me to video it, which I thought was strange as the fish was probably lifeless by now.

And then it kept looking to its right, and soon enough a shadow of a beak emerged.

Was the parent doing it to lure the juvy out?  And it or she as this one looked like the female continued to flip and toss and slam the fish.

And then the sound of a plantain squirrel was heard and time seemed to halt to a standstill, and both pair froze.

With the squirrel gone, the parent resumed her act, which had me raking my brain again.  Meanwhile it got curiouser as junior slid up and down along the branch, to and away from the parent.

The reappearance of the squirrel had the parent in defensive stance and flight, and I thought I'd never get to the bottom of this, or perhaps it's simply another feeding session interrupted.

Fortunately I managed to race and track the parent to where she had landed, and it looked like the whole process was re-enacted, even as the poor fish looked absolutely lifeless.

As the line in 'Hamlet' goes 'Though this be madness, yet there is method in 't', so is there a 'method' in this display'?!

It went on till the juvy flew in, and the parent immediately took off.

This time it was to a spot that challenged me to focus, and failed, but fortunately it was only for seconds as the parent took off again!

It touched down and when the juvy appeared it was a touch and go moment as the juvy left for good, leaving the parent to fly off into a shaded spot.

And I thought that the juvy was going to appear again or the parent was going to go after it with the catch.  But nope, she feasted, or rather attempted to swallow her catch, which by the second attempt had me started counting.

1st attempt

2nd attempt

3rd attempt

4th attempt

And success

And so too ended my discomfort watching it!

No doubt this meal would keep her going for a while but was her lesson effective?  

I hope I would be privy to see the juvy hunting successfully on its own one of these days.

Oh kingfishers!

 I reckon there are probably three pairs of White-throated Kingfishers in the taman.

And going by recent events, it looks like there will constantly be new generations of kingfishers here.

This 'shy' pair took a relatively long time perching and gazing around that I thought they were perhaps on guard for a stash hidden somewhere.  It took me by surprise when the one on the left suddenly decided to get amorous, and on an open stark bare branch!

It was all over in no time, and then, hmmm, why did she look so angry!!

The Mugimakis

 It's double happiness as the female Mugimaki Flycatcher (Ficedula mugimaki) made its appearance shortly after the prized paradise flycatcher did.

And I thought that's it even though it did not provide ideal poses, and then the male appeared too to seal the fortuitous moment, couldn't have asked for more (although I did, wishing the male would afford better images, so much for always after the next best shot!!)

These birds are found from eastern Siberia, Russia Far East and Sakhalin, to northeastern China including Mongolia and would regularly spend their winter in this country at mainly sub-montane areas. 

14/2021

I was more than happy when the male flew in suddenly, and started to flap slightly as if agitated.

And that was the lowest it came down which was a pity because to get its side profile would be lovely to show off the vibrant orange throat and breast against the stunning black upper-parts, and white belly, supercilium plus wing patches.

But to my delight the female made another show, down to almost eye-level and would have stayed if not for the sudden appearance of a park worker on motorbike.