Monday, July 19, 2010

Malaysian Hawk-Cuckoo From Temengor

 

I was at Temengor Dam in Gerik, Perak  last Thursday and during my break I went for a walk along the left-bank of  Perak river, downstream of the Dam. While waiting for a Blue-eared Barbet to come within range, I spotted this Hawk-Cuckoo perched on a low branch below the  Barbet which was singing high up the canopy. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get a clear shot of the bird. I tried to get to a better location but the bird disappeared from it’s perch. Well, I believe most bird photographers know the feeling when their target simply disappear in a flash.

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I guess luck was on my side when suddenly this very secretive and quiet bird appeared again with food between  it’s bill and landed on another branch giving me a chance to get better shots.

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Notice what  his lunch was? It’s a caterpillar! It made my hair stand when I saw the image on the monitor. Caterpillars are among the creatures that are to be avoided at all cost! I’ve had a couple of painful experience previously where these ‘crawlies’ got under the clothing and you’d feel as if the skin was about to explode!

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To him this caterpillar is a tasty meal, must be…

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As soon as he swallowed the caterpillar, he quietly disappeared into the belly of the forest again, leaving me with a few frames of blurred images of BIF. This was my last shot before he flew away.

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6 comments:

  1. Great catch for Hawk-Cuckoo and photographer.

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  2. Brilliant looking bird Ari and the last shot is just perfect. You call it "he", are the sexes different, I just think it looks like a young bird

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  3. nice clean perched photos, great job.

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  4. Nice series of shots. Ideal perch

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  5. You're very lucky indeed!
    Love the series of the bird eating that caterpillar.

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  6. Thanks everyone for the C&C, and you're right Phil, this bird must be a juvenile.

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