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.

Common Kingfisher

 Time when familiarity further fosters fondness, for one that's pretty predictable, pretty aural-detectable, almost.

And so, a speeding glint of blue, had me rush to locate where the Common Kingfisher had landed as it flashed past skimming the flowing water, and it turned out to be almost like trying to locate the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow!

It seemed to have disappeared.

Then, unexpectedly, was found on a relief of sandy rocky spread that had defied gushing river water.

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!

 

Arctic Warbler

 Just as one wondered when would an Arctic Warbler be sighted, it was as if one was propelled out of the canopy layer!

Incessantly hopping, flitting, jumping, suffice and grateful for now, a thought has instantly been translated into form!

Crow-billed Drongo

 Time when it's not about the bird, nor the distance, nor the presence.

It's bad enough that the Crow-billed Drongo has to travel far to avoid its winter in a location that has a daily reading of almost 200 AQI, for more than 30 days now, being naturally skittish, its wariness extended to have to constantly flee from its favoured perch at the approach of someone.

Time too the haze discouraged one from staking out the site for more images.

Nevertheless it has to go on record that the Crow-billed generally favours the bukit more than the taman, so it's a special rare occasion to spot it here.

Tiger Shrike

A first winter Tiger Shrike in the taman, normally seen only for a few days here.

 

Amur Paradise-Flycatcher

 At times mesmerising, thrilling, at times frustrating, its vortex of acrobatic moves inevitably pulled one into its frenzy.

The presence of an Amur Paradise-Flycatcher in the taman is uncommon, what more a male that teased with a promise of a future long tail feather.

So with utmost patience and high hope, the trigger was poised!

A respite before it resumed as before.

Much later, an unexpected find, to chance upon it again, briskly dipping in the river, another teaser movement that was all too soon over, and failing at foraging before it fled.

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.