Asian Brown Flycatcher

 Regularity, predictability may be the middle name of the Asian Brown Flycatcher, but to see one again every year is to be not presumptuous.

It's one that had braved the elements to arrive here, indeed always an extraordinary feat, and lastly to outlast territorial challenges from local avians, and finally to return home safely.

Yellow-rumped Flycatcher

No apologies, merely my way - and one naturally, the other philosophically, separate ways.

Always, when a visitor cometh, literally flies down to you, impeded or not, one does not simply turn away!

 

Yellow-rumped Flycatcher

 There couldn't be one too many posturings!

And only ones such as a Yellow-rumped Flycatcher could perform, especially when there were two - which was which?!

Yellow-rumped Flycatcher

 Could certain sites be favoured only by male Yellow-rumped Flycatchers, and others only by female?

Perhaps, as over the years, somehow, only females, and always more than one, seem to be spotted in this particular location, albeit briefly.

Amur Paradise-Flycatcher

 A flash of brown, a flow of adrenaline, the season suggests a Paradise-Flycatcher, evoking a familiar emotion year after year when this species is spotted.

Indeed, an Amur Paradis-Flycatcher upon close examination, speeding in, typically in a birdwave comprising a flycatcher-shrike, a warbler, a sunbird, among others.  

As usual the frenzy was infectious for the watcher/photographer trapped delirious trying to capture the best moments.  

Ahhh, but, for now, perhaps the best is yet to come.

Trivia (AI)

Extract

A bird that inspires cultural myths and symbolic folklore across Asia due to its ethereal, flowing tail streamers and fairy-like appearance in flight.

For example, in Chinese folklore, long-tailed paradise-flycatchers represent longevity because their long tails mirror the concept of length and enduring time.

In parts of South Asia, closely related paradise-flycatchers are called Swargiya Pakshi (heavenly birds) because their drifting, ribbon-like tails resemble celestial threads connecting earth to the sky.

Birdwave

A little hope, a little expectation in a season that should be of many.

But just as the current weather has not been kind, birdwaves too have been hardly of any.  Finally, a first after a couple of trips up the bukit, it was highly delightful, challenging as ever, to be caught up in one.

As if the pace was not frenzied enough, the light was equally blinding.

The highly energetic Arctic Warbler was the first challenger, then the continuously melodious Large Woodshrike broke the momentum with its appearance, momentarily.

The Asian Brown Flycatcher was an image of composure, coolly surveying the surrounding.

Even before the 'wave' descended, the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo could be heard noisily in the background, and this one was to be involved in a little drama as soon as the 'wave' moved on (more of this in the next post).

I guessed it's fun to join in the party as this one of a nearby flock of Blue-throated Bee-eaters decided to break away and forage together.

And as I was played like a puppet during the avian mayhem, turning around, I was shocked to see this one right behind me, too too close for comfort, and not given another chance for a reshoot.

And as if to mock me, one Ashy Minivet was as far-off as the Malkoha was as close-by!

 And was I glad when it was all over?  Not a chance, as usual wishing that the minutes could have slowed down, as during any birdwave. 

And further down the bukit, sighting of a resting Brown Shrike rounded off an energetic birding outing.

Asian Brown Flycatcher

 One of a rather passive Asian Brown Flycatcher that I have come across.

Alone, as it's always with any asian brown flycatcher.  

And this one perhaps intimidated by the presence of the yellow-rumped flycatchers, it  promptly left.