Never one too many 'cuckoos'

There can never be one too many 'cuckoos' in one's bird quest even if they come in succession!

After an exhilarating day of Cuckoo in the morning and Cuckoo in the afternoon, it looked like there was one more to embrace!

This was one that I have for years desperate to have at least a record shot after sighting it on more than a few occasions in both TRK and Bukit Kiara.

The next morning whilst on the hunt again for the previous two, something was glimpsed foraging in the undergrowth, which turned out to be the elusive one!  It was amazing that I was able to even press the shutter with trembling fingers, an occasion I guess only birders experience faced with their dream target (not that I had not shot this star before)!

And that morning the monkey was finally off my back, absolutely thrilled even with these less than ideal images!

And this also brings the bird count to 110 species for the taman.

The Chestnut-Winged Cuckoo (Clamator coromandus) has always been a favourite on my birding watch.

This is such a distinctive looking bird with its gorgeous black crest and long slender tail, rufous-chestnut wings that looks stunning even from afar.

It's of Least Concern status, much sought after bird for its striking looks but one of the most challenging to track and get close too.  And now is the best time to 'get' this one as most are just arrived from either from northern India, southern China, Indochina, Myanmar or even Thailand, and will spend time in our warmer climate till February/March next year.

18/2021

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