The second brown flycatcher

 Finally, the Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica) is sighted in the taman.  It's also the first time I spotted it in a mixed bird wave.

A common migrant that will spend its time here in the taman before it normally flies home in March/April the following year, the Asian Brown Flycatcher has been recorded every year here ever since I started noticing its presence.

10/2022

With its ubiquitous presence it's hardly sort after but the challenge's to try and spot if it's a different bird each time spotted, which led me to wonder if this other one was different as I came across it soon after in another part of the taman.

Closer to home

 On a cold misty morning, this one came visiting, a junior male Olive-backed Sunbird.

The 'forked' one

 The Crow-billed Drongo (Dicrurus annectens) is a medium-sized bird quite easily recognisable by its thick bill and, flared and forked tail.  It may be of Least Concern status implying omnipresence but I've hardly found it a common migrant.

In addition it's easily spooked too, fleeing when sensing human approach, which was why I've not been able to obtain satisfactory images despite recording its presence here every 'winter' year since 2019.

Again, I spotted it quite deep into the Kiara trail and it remained there the entire duration, on the very same perch.

09/2022

The forked tail immediately gave away its identity and so did the white spotting on the breast and belly.

Slow and steady Sliders

 When it's the most natural thing to do, no awkwardness, no self-consciousness.

But it does look like it's going to be a long afternoon for this pair of Red-eared Sliders.

As it's not so common to come across this scene despite the healthy population of Sliders here, I tried not to be too intrusive as I circled round them for record shots.

These turtles may be used to people walking about but they will disappear into the water immediately if anyone approaches too close when they are basking in the sun.

However, according to the Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (extract FB, 8 July 2019):

Red-Eared Slider (invasive sp.) 

Red-eard (sic) sliders are a very popular aquatic pets. They’re easily found in pet shops and are usually sold at a very low price. While they may seem cute because of their small size, these turtles are highly invasive!

They’re listed as one of the worlds top 100 worst invasive species. They compete aggressively with our native turtle species for food and other resources. Most of the Red-eared sliders are hybrids, which means they’re more aggressive (with longer claws), highly adaptable to their surrounding environment and they eat almost everything. This leaves our gentle native turtles no chance of survival.

Please do not buy Red-eared sliders as pets. If you already have one, please do not release them into any pond or lakes or rivers. Instead, give them up to other family members or friends. Whatever you do, DO NOT release them into the wild. 

 

Hardly the 'common' visitor

 It was my third attempt to 'pin' it down since I first heard it fleeing up and down the river.  It came every year since I first saw it here in 2017 but as always, a challenge for shots, and I've missed it a couple of times in previous years not for want of efforts, with its river playground hardly friendly for sightings.

The Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), sharp and adorable, is always much sought after even if one has loads of images of it!

Fortunately this time, it was one of those moments when one's waiting and the target bird suddenly popped out, and with merely a tiny window available with the river banks now thick with vegetation, 'fast and furious' was the essence.

So am grateful that her (the under-bill reveals that it's a female bird) few seconds' appearance managed to afford some gems of images.

08/2022

And it looked like it's not too easy for this one to 'cari makan' here as it was soon chased off by a white-breasted waterhen, and the harsh cries of a neighbouring white-throated kingfisher seemed to convey too that it was hardly welcome.

Still it's hoping that this one would remain resilient and stay on, so this would be the first of many encounters to come.

Parrot cometh again

This is one bird that proclaims its presence as it flies so enables one to quite easily locate it. And the palm flowers seems to draw it here regularly.

 Another encounter with the Blue-Crowned Hanging-Parrot that actually left me feeling as if I was intruding into its privacy!

From the moment it spotted me, it kept a lookout my way which made me feel that decency should allow it, or rather her, to indulge away from prying eyes!

Another quick glance my way, a quick gulp at the flowers, and it was off!

As I was waiting

 

Uhh, don't mind me, please, really!