When it shouldn't be a loss

I almost lost you for we dismiss too easily.

 

Perhaps the only warbler left

 I wonder if this one's planning stay behind?!

It looks like this Eastern Crowned Warbler is about the only warbler left behind in the bukit now, other than a couple of asian brown flycatchers.

If only every warbler could be easily identified by its distinct feature ...

Misplaced excitement

 All it takes is an overdose of excitement and hasty decision and one can easily go wrong with avian identity.

Sighting this one almost led me to think that the bukit was privileged again to host a newcomer.  I guessed it's the lighting and its foraging uncharacteristically low that set my adrenaline overflowing!

On comparison, similarities were established, and it's an Arctic Warbler after all.

It was also fortunate that a couple of days later I managed to come across this moulting warbler which reaffirmed my finding.

An equally heavily moulting Eastern-crowned Warbler was seen foraging in the same bird wave, thus offering an opportune comparison.

Almost fooled by an accidental lighting, again.

The moment of truth.

As I was waiting

It always seemed that no catch is secured unless it's landed in the belly!

And particularly tiresome for this one that had to work vigorously to secure it and then to incapacitate before swallowing it.

Did it know it was being watched as it suddenly fled with its catch before consuming it in my full view?!

 

Return thereforth, visitors

 The Chinese Lunar Calendar records that it's now officially spring as the north enters the Solar Term that is known as The Awakening of Insects, signifying the beginning of warmer weather, farming activities and abundance of food as per the food chain.

Correspondingly, over here, we are already seeing the gradual departures of our avian migrant visitors everywhere, of which some are already showing signs of moulting for their passage home to their breeding ground, like this Asian Brown Flycatcher.

There are others who will return home as more fully grown adults, perhaps will eventually breed too, if they have arrived months ago as first winter adults.  Whatever it is we say Selamat Jalan, Safe Journey Home for the journey back could be as perilous as the earlier journey here, for there are those who did not make it then and there will be those who may not make it back to their breeding ground, and Terima Kasih for the delight and excitement you have always brought as migrant visitors, however comparatively small or common you are.  Jumpa Lagi!

when id is a breeze

 If only a warbler is always this easy to identify ....

... as this one as it turned its back, displaying its signature feature, then it's simply effortless to say ...  an Eastern-crowned Warbler.

In and off, in a blink

 And they came, and ohh, so high and so fast, and they were gone but don't let it be said ... 'we didn't show."

And it's always a local one that showed the way, this time it was the Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike that came to announce their imminent arrival, or rather passing-through.

And the visitors ....

Yellow-rumped Flycatcher

Amur Paradise Flycatcher

Eastern Crowned Warbler

Arctic Warbler 11/2022

The crowned warbler

It would have to suffice for the time being, a record shot of the Eastern Crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus) my first warbler sighting for the season.  A distinct feature, if one is unable to capture its signature median stripe on its crown, that attested to its identity is its clean bill tip.

A regular visitor since I first made it a point to record warbler arrivals in 2017, this is one bird that could be spotted throughout the migrant season in both TRK and BK, the only issue being how close-up a shot one can get given their hyper active movements and keeping to mid and upper tree canopy most of the time.

07/2022

Keeping very much to the upper canopy this time, I had to be contented with mere record shots only.