Stalking the stalker

 Moments with it, play along and it's yours, almost.  

The Tiger Shrike is loud, easily revealing its presence yet can be so quiet perching close by that one can easily miss it.  With characteristic avian aversion to human proximity, it flees as soon as it thinks it's spotted.

Too common a-robin

If the Oriental Magpie-Robin dons brighter colours perhaps it'll be more sought after?  It's presently sought after only because of its melodious songs and calls - certainly delightful as well as amusing to listen to when two are engaged in avian exchange - listening intently, I dare say one can almost discern whether the exchange figures as warning, persuading or even reprimanding!

Displaying exquisite tail-feather movements as it spotted an insect catch (this I deduced only after observing what it did following its display).

It was so preoccupied that it was unaware that I was trailing behind.

A cricket catch which it quickly discarded probably due to the extremely long antennae of the this Asian Bush Cricket.

What’s left in the bill was just part of a leg that it also promptly tossed off.

The other wagtail

Easy to miss but easy to spot too as it moves energetically and unceasingly, a tiny little thing amidst the dry leaves litter on the ground, but not easy to get close too.  The best respite for ideal shots would be when it halts for a catch, above and on the ground.

The Forest Wagtail (Dendronanthus indicus) is always a delight albeit a challenge to come across.

Refresher (extract mybis):

Order - Passeriformes

Family - Motacillidae

Genus - Dendronanthus

Specific epithet - indicus (J F Gmelin, 1789)

Common name: Forest Wagtail, Kedidi Hutan, Kedidi-air Hutan, Pipit Rimba

Status: Least Concern

19/2024

 

Lone raptor

A lone and young pale morph Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus, orientalis), was seen flying over the bukit.  Flying high it circled searchingly and leisurely but as soon as it ventured lower, and perhaps spotted my camera lens (?) it took off over the hill - the only explanation I have why it suddenly fled over and across the hilly expanse.

Refresher (extract mybis):

Order - Accipitriformes

Family - Accipitridae

Genus - Pernis

Specific epithet - ptilorhynchus (Temminck, 1821)

Common name: Crested Honey Buzzard, Oriental Honey-Buzzard, Helang Lebah, Helang Lebah Asia, Lang Lebah

Status: Least Concern

18/2024

 

Too much to stomach

Avian digestion has to be constantly regulated, and so simply natural for this sub-adult Blue-throated Bee-eater too as it promptly cast its rather substantial size of a pellet of indigestible materials, of mainly insect remains it had unceasingly hawked and consumed over the last hour.

And it's all well and good again.

And what else would be more natural as a follow-up than an external ejection as well, ie, preening.

 

Ubiquitous bee-eaters

 And they are here, there and everywhere.
The Blue-throated Bee-eaters (Merops viridis) are both residents and migrants to this country but when one spots them in flocks, one can be sure these are migrants.  Also the flocks will comprise numerous old and young.

Refresher (extract mybis):
Order - Coraciiformes
Family - Meropidae
Genus - Merops
Specific epithet - viridis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name: Blue-throated Bee-eater, Beberek Leher Biru, Beberek Leher Hijau, Berek Berek Pirus, Berek-berek Tadah Hujan
Status: Least Concern

16/2024

Only minivet migrant

Ashy Minivets (Pericrocotus divaricatus) characteristically move in a flock or a pair, but this one seemed to be a loner.

Refresher (extract mybis):

Order - Passeriformes

Family - Campephagidae

Genus - Pericrocotus

Specific epithet - divaricatus (Raffles, 1822)

Common name: Ashy Minivet, Burung Matahari Kelabu, Mas Padang, Minivet Abu

Status: Least Concern

15/2024

However, and strangely it was heralded by the calls and appearance of this Large Woodshrike (Tephrodornis virgatus).