Eyeballing with the flycatcher

 The Dark-sided Flycatcher (Muscicapa sibirica) is a bird that normally keeps to the middle or upper canopy, sallying after flying insects and in between, perch on open branch.

However this one kept coming down to the lower branches and eyeballing me from time to time.

And it's also a creature of habits, frequently returning to the same branch.

A very rare occasion when a dark-sided flycatcher comes within metres and at eye level.

Flycatcher treat

 Flycatchers may be the most expected to be seen avian visitors during the migratory season but to encounter a few different species during a round up the bukit is still a treat for me.

First was the not so widely seen Mugimaki Flycatcher (Ficedula mugimaki) that caught my attention.

Then flew in the ubiquitous Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica).

And one could have mistaken this for the ABF at a glance, the Dark-sided Flycatcher (Muscicapa sibirica) until it turned around to display its signature dark smudgy breast and sides.  It has longer wings too, its tips reaching two-thirds of the way down the tail and its bill all totally black.

Lighting can play tricks on its feature as the very same one shows lighter smudging on its side although its darker upperparts are unmistakable.

Unassuming pigeon beauty

 As I made my way up the bukit, I could have simply walked past this beauty if I had not sensed a stir among the leaves.

The Pink-necked Pigeon (Treron vernans) is commonly sighted in the bukit that its presence is taken for granted but pause, and one always takes delight at its beauty.  Although this bird is generally a lowland species, it is now regularly to be seen up the hill too, drawing attention to its presence by its unmistakable flappings.

Sensing that I was just a harmless onlooker, this female ventured slowly to savour the flower.

And a couple of hours later, how appropriate to be greeted by the male as I was about to leave the bukit, a more attractive version with its lightly pinkish head, and orange patch at breast (though not visible here).

Latest cuckoo star

 It certainly has been 'cuckoomania' in the taman for the last couple of weeks, with a total of five different species of migrant cuckoo sighted.

And this include the latest star, the stunning Asian Emerald Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx maculatus).    

When I received a message to identify a bird that has just been spotted, this was the least cuckoo expected.  It was certainly a touch and go appearance for this one on the first day of sighting which left me missing out on her, but fortunately she reappeared the next day.

Hopping and flying from branch to branch, it was non-stop feeding for this one for more than 20 minutes but it did suggest that its favoured food of caterpillars were not that aplenty as she was continuously on the move and scanning.

The Asian Emerald Cuckoo is of Least Concern status in the latest Global IUCN Red List category, measuring only about 17cm but gorgeous looking with glossy emerald-green plumage, the female nonetheless striking with rufous crown to nape, and coppery-green upperparts, both having similar white underparts with barring.

A winter visitor, it could hail from India, southern China or northern Indochina.  It can be spotted in gardens and parks, forest and forest edges but tend to keep to higher canopy of tall trees.

This is another record visitor for the taman as this bird is normally sighted further up north, rarely in this central region, and this brings the species count to 112 for TRK.

20/2021

Upturned and twisted head to scan the underside of leaves.

And got it!

Despite the bird keeping to upper canopy, it was fortunate that I was still able to manage some shots that show off its stunning colours especially when hit on by the sunlight, but these images are rather heavily cropped.

Another hunt out on the bare branches, rather rare during those minutes she was there as she mainly sought among the dense foliage.

Another success albeit a smaller one.

And who would appear suddenly and briefly to add an extra zing but the local Banded Bay Cuckoo (Cacomantis sonneratii).

A 'cuckoo' reckoning

 In view that questions are still raised over the identity of the Himalayan Cuckoo (Cuculus saturatus) vs the Indian Cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus), I've tried to collate the different views given by senior birders todate in favour of the former:

- longer, straighter neck, and longer tail
- absence of wide white bands on under-tail vs dark black band near tail end as present in the latter
- greyish head and upper-part vs greyish head with more contrasting upper-part with brownish tinge including wings and tail in the latter

and from other sources like ebird.org:

- gray above
- dark gray tail
- buffy (not white) under-tail feathers

It is fortunate that the Himalayan Cuckoo has found it quite conducive to spend more than a couple of days here and this has afforded more opportunities for varied profile images:

Straight neck with overall greyish head, upper-part and darker grey tail, absence of wide white bands on under-tail, and buffy under-tail feathers.

And best of all,  there have been occasions for some lovely shots of this cuckoo (though some non-birding contacts have asked what's attractive about this bird?!)

A typical behaviour observed of this cuckoo is that it forages easily and commonly on the ground too.

... and taking flight, providing underwing and belly images.

and what's not adorable about this bird??!!

Manoeuvering, ie literally taking small steps on the branch to turn around instead of hopping... cute

Eye-contact ... always heartwarming moment.

And so far this cuckoo has proven to be rather obliging despite being pursued by photographers round the taman, displaying a dignified command by continuing to forage and ingest its find nonchalantly as and when it sees fit despite the numerous lenses zooming in on it.

This cuckoo sighting will certainly be another avian record for the taman as it's only the second location to date that this cuckoo has been sighted in the country during this migratory season.

When nature has its way

 The two days of continuous rainfall hit the taman and its surrounding areas too, not quite as badly though as elsewhere, with uprooted trees and eroded soil, and swollen rivers and ponds.

The biggest pond in the taman overflowed with water and fishes could be seen to swim right up to the walkway.

And a patch right opposite to the walkway across the river suffered the most.

A huge gaping hole made by uprooted trees, perhaps, easier to spot water birds from across the river now!