Blue and White Flycatcher

Bukit Tinggi, 15th March 2011

After reading Madi’s blog (madibirder.blogspot), I knew I had to get some shots of this rare winter visitor and I had to get it fast before it leave Bukit Tinggi. I was working in Hulu Perak since the first week of March and  was supposed to continue on to Kenyir, Trengganu, but I made a detour through Selangor and Pahang with a short break, up in Bukit Tinggi. Here are the ‘reward’ I received for my effort.

 

Unfortunately, this bird was still molting, it would’ve been spectacular if he’s got his full plumage on.

 

Thanks Madi for sharing your images earlier.

Orange-Headed Thrush

Bukit Tinggi, 22nd February 2011

Every year, bird photographers and bird watchers will visit Bukit Tinggi to photograph or watch this rare visitor to Malaysia. Almost every Bird Photographer in Malaysia and probably Singapore would’ve shot this lovely bird on their visit to Bukit Tinggi. Here are some of the images I captured during my visit to Bukit Tinggi in February.

 

 

This particular bird was very accommodating to Photographers, probably because he’s so used to seeing human pointing those ‘big round thing’ towards him almost everyday!

Orange-Breasted Trogon

Bukit Tinggi, 22nd February 2011

Here is another ‘must get’ bird for Photographers who visited Bukit Tinggi. I guess lady luck was smiling on me when a pair of OBT showed up close to where I was shooting the Silver-Breasted Broadbill. I wished I had more opportunities to choose a better back ground but under those circumstances one just can’t afford to be too choosy can we?

A male Orange-Breasted Trogon

 

 

And this must be the female Orange-Breasted Trogon

Star Bird of Bukit Tinggi – Silver-Breasted Broadbill

22nd February, Bukit Tinggi

 

Almost every bird photographer who visited Bukit Tinggi would definitely bring back images of this beauty – the Silver-Breasted Broadbill.

This pair was busy collecting materials for their nest.

 

To me this is one of the most attractive bird among the Broadbill family

 

 

 

Hope they will have a successful breeding season.

Common Flameback

It is very much easier to photograph birds in City Parks compared to those in the forest, probably because these birds are used to seeing humans in their habitat. I had this experience recently during my morning walk at the Kelana Jaya Park. I noticed some bird activities at a section of the park. As I got closer, I saw  this pair of Common Flameback foraging quite low near the ponds’ edge. I quickly ran to the car and grabbed the gear to get a couple of shots of this amazing bird. Here are the images that I managed to capture during my ‘unplanned’ birding trip.

This female Flameback allowed me to capture a couple of shots before she moved to a much higher spot in the tree.

 

Unfortunately, the male was not too accommodating, I had a tough time trying to get  good shots of him.

Bulbul of Malaysia Part 4

Tomorrow, we’ll be celebrating the Chinese New Year and I’d like to wish all my Chinese friends a ‘Happy, Prosperous and Abundant New Year!’ Gong Xi Fa Chai.

 

This is the final installment of my Bulbul series for the moment. These 3 species of Bulbul share the same habitat and coloration.

The Black-Crested Bulbul, commonly found near edge of forest, usually in pairs.

 

 

Like the Black-Crested Bulbul above, the Grey-Bellied Bulbul are usually seen in pairs near the forest edge.

 

The Black-Headed Bulbul are usually seen in small flocks within the same area as the other 2 Bulbuls above.

Thick-Billed Warbler

18th January 2011,  Kenering, Gerik, Perak

 

Looks like I’ll have to take a break from posting my Bulbul series due to this ‘interesting’ development: I was at a clearing near the Kenering Dam when I noticed some bird activity near a clearing. As I reached the area, I noticed a few pairs of Grey-Bellied, Cream-Vented and Red-Eyed Bulbul busily feeding on a small tree. While walking toward the tree where the Bulbuls were, a small, plain colored brownish bird flew across my path and perched on some tall grass beside the track. I managed to get a couple of shots before it disappeared into the bushes.  Thinking that this could either be a Horsfield’s or Abbot’s Babbler, I didn’t pursue the bird again. Upon checking the C. Robson Guide, I realized that this was not a Babbler. Due to my limited knowledge and experience in bird ID, I posted the images in PhotoMalaysia bird forum. From the responses in the forum, the bird was identified as a Thick-Billed Warbler – a rather rare bird in Malaysia.

Here are the images of the bird that I managed to capture. Could this really be a Thick-Billed Warbler?

 

 

Hope to get comments from all the experts out there…..