The Japanese one

 When I caught sight of this one with an inverted 'U' and white belly, I felt an adrenaline rush.  This was only the second time I've sighted this bird in the bukit (the first in 2018) and I prayed that I'll get a better shot this time.

It was thrilling but in the end it was pure frustration again as the Japanese Paradise Flycatcher (Tersiphone atrocaudata) kept to the upper canopy, and then was off to a similar canopy level before it disappeared.  It didn't return even as I waited and waited and waited.

Nevertheless I felt a triumph to be able to record again its presence here, which brings the total to three species of paradise flycatchers sighted in the bukit, all the species that transit in the country during the migratory season.

This bird is considered a rarer migrant compared with the Amur and Blyth's, slightly slimmer with distinct demarcation between gray chest (or gorgeous purplish-black in male) and white belly, and continuous gray running from throat to chest as in this female/immature male.  Breeding male sports a richer mantle hue, neon-blue eyerings,  a short crest and long black tail streamers.

13/2021

As I was waiting

 Always trust the Asian Brown Flycatcher to make your day if the day turned out unproductive.

As I was waiting

 

Thanks for the presence!

'Amur' with a difference

 I guess after birding for some time now, one does get to have an 'extra' feeling when encountering a bird.  When I spotted a flurry of splayed brown tail feathers my heart almost skipped a beat, that this one might be worth tracking if I was able to, as it came in a bird wave which is always now you see now you don't.

And I was glad I persisted, and the bird almost got me little crazy, moving from spot to spot trying to nail an identifiable image, and finally it obliged although from a far, but enough.

It's a male Amur Paradise Flycatcher with slight but discernible elongated tail feathers or rectrices that will be truly grand in a couple of months!

It may not be the best of poses but I was happy with this confirmation of the rectrices which can extend to twice its body length, ie, up to 30cm before it flies home to breed.

A hawk-eagle loses out

 I literally walked into, ehh below, this juvenile Changeable Hawk-eagle in time to see it scan down which happened to be the compound of the adjacent longhouses that have chickens running everywhere, swoop down and up again, empty.

And all I was able to do was to try capture it in flight as it then circled above and away.

As I was passing by

 It's always a thrill to walk into the Crested Serpent-eagle even if it's watching it perched undeterred for so long it out-stayed you.

Woodpecker's forage

If only figs are its diet, life surely would be easier for the Banded Woodpecker! The diet of the woodpecker comprises small invertebrates, ants, their eggs and larvae.

There was unfortunately no catch as the poor thing dug, jabbed, tapped, nudged, every thing it's known to do.