The Ashy Minivets (Pericrocotus divaricatus) have finally arrived at the taman. These are normally sighted in a bird wave here, and typically keeps to higher canopy. However a flock usually reveal its presence by trilling calls, and foraging movements.
These birds could come from south-eastern Siberia, north-eastern China, Korea, Japan or Taiwan.
On this occasion, only a couple were seen, and the female sighted with the other on a touch and go speed.
15/2021
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
Sudden avian cries caught my attention, and from where I was, caught a glimpse of a rather large bird flying into a tree that I've just passed by. There was an upsurge of adrenaline as I zoomed in to what could be a cuckoo. After a couple of shots and still unsure of its identity I crept nearer to have my cover blown as the plantain squirrel I sighted earlier started to squawk as the bird was close to it and so alerted it. The bird fled and it was definitely a cuckoo, relatively bigger than what I have seen so far.
It turned out to be the Large Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx sparverioides), a lifer for the taman!
This bird is of Least Concern status and is considered an uncommon migrant here, and could hail from India, southern China and Indochina.
It was fortunate that I was able to capture this image albeit blocked with its tail bands clearly visible, a noticeable display of rufous at its neck (which extends to the breast in an adult), brownish-grey upper-part, all features that confidently enable its identity.
16/2021
With only these images I was after it again but unfortunately it kept fleeing and diving into the undergrowth until I lost it. It was interesting to note that this bird tried to evade detection by flying low into the undergrowth to emerge and dive again into the undergrowth, which made it extremely challenging to spot in the dark and dense area.
I had thought I struck again when I spotted one sitting quietly on a branch. I quickly aimed my camera and I guessed the bird was on the alert as it immediately flew into the undergrowth.
But it turned out to be a different one, nevertheless it was another exhilarating moment.
A debate ensued if this was a Malaysian Hawk-Cuckoo or a Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo, and I'll have to settle for it being the MHC despite the absence of a large white patch on the nape of the neck as common in any MHC.
The Malaysian Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx fugax) is of Least Concern status, and could be considered a migrant 'over most of its range, including S & E Myanmar (and Tennasserim), Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, N & C Laos, W Tonkin and C Annam (Vietnam), and it is sparingly distributed and generally local across Borneo; however, considered frequent at Siberut, on Sumatra.'
17/2021
Common garden birds but uncommon encounter, and manna for the eye to watch these Black-naped Orioles, parent and juvenile.
Was it me, was it me you were trying to evade?
It was not the best of shots but it was the best of entertainment to encounter the Chestnut-breasted Malkoha this way.
Both Bukit Kiara and Taman Rimba Kiara are blessed with several species of woodpeckers that would keep birders happy when there is a lack of 'exciting' avian sightings, or for some if not many, also terribly happy in the presence of 'exciting' sightings.
Up in the bukit, I can always count on always encountering or at least hearing the unmistakable calls of the Banded and Crimson-winged Woodpeckers. But the presence of this pair of Common Flameback Woodpeckers at slightly higher altitude here is not so common, so it was more than thrilling when both flew in at eye level when my energy was waning for the lack of avian presence.
Some images are not pretty, but they do speak of reality like these of the White-breasted Waterhens (Amaurornis phoenicurus) who cleverly blend into their habitat when foraging, except that the habitat does not make a pretty picture. So we do tend to dismiss these images and hope for cleaner, even better if minimalist background.
We forget sometimes that understanding habitats can lead us to spot more easily the birds concerned as habitats do offer hints of the colour of the avian plumage. And blending in naturally help birds to mute their presence.
A young adult out alone but always alert and would have fled if it knew it was watched. But unaware it foraged on alone.
