Banded Pitta - Jewel of the Tropical Forest

April 3oth 2013, Merapoh, Taman Negara


After numerous unsuccessful attempts to photograph this stunning looking bird, I finally managed to get some photos that's worth keeping and sharing.

The task is made more difficult due to it's nature of  being a smart and very shy behaviour.

Just some quick shots before it actually disappears into the undergrowth...

This bird I believe, spends more time on the ground foraging for food among the dead leaves.

At the slightest noise or movement, he's ready to flee to the safety of the undergrowth...

Ruddy King Fisher

9th April 2012 Sungai Dua, Penang

After numerous attempts, I finally managed to capture this elusive bird out in the open. It must have been my lucky day that I was at the right place and time.

A really Great Couple….the Greater Flameback Woodpecker

December 2011, Batu Kawan Penang

 

I’ve always been fascinated by Woodpeckers….not only are they ‘physically different’ from other birds, their behavior make them even more unique….in fact they are the only bird that can ‘play the drum’ with their bill!

I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to to photograph this very accommodating couple during my visit to this fast disappearing mangrove area.

 

I spotted this female on a mangrove tree at the edge of a track. She seem to ignore my presence giving me some luxury to get a few shots..

 

After a few shots, she moved to a nearby tree…

 

She seem to be very curious of my presence…..but she allowed me to continue capturing her beautiful features….

 

Finally she decided to change her perch to a more ‘horizontal’ branch….. not their favorite perch but something that I’ve been hoping for…

 

The constant movement of the female bird must have attracted the male to come out from the thick mangrove forest.

 

 

Well, he is so handsome isn’t he….

 

Looked as if he has just visited the hairdresser!

It’s the green, green world of Green Broadbill

July 2011, Kenyir, Gerik & Ulu Langat

 

Yes, green seem to very fashionable today….everyone talks about green environment, green energy,green car, green everything….so I’d like to share this green little bird that has been eluding me for quite sometime….

Finally, after almost a year of searching, I managed to capture this green beauty in it’s natural habitat, doing what it was meant to do…..living.

I got smarter after the first encounter and managed to capture their images at 3 different locations during the month of July 2011.

 

Their almost perfect camouflage renders them almost invisible especially when sitting quietly on their perch…which happens to be their natural behavior…

 

The plumage on the male bird has some kind shine that looks glossy under certain lighting condition.

 

Look how glossy this male Green Broadbill look

 

The female has much less gloss but blends even better with their environment

 

Almost a perfect camouflage…..

Fluffy-Backed Tit Babbler

June 2011, Kenyir

 

Although not as common as the Chestnut-Winged Babbler, another species of Babblers that is easily found in Kenyir area is this Fluffy-Backed Tit Babbler.

 

Their preference for the thick and dark undergrowth, coupled with their quick movements make photographing them a real night-mare for Photographers…

 

I was lucky enough when one bird showed up on a branch allowing me to get some shots of this ‘hard to photograph’ bird.

Chestnut-Backed Schimitar Babbler

June 2011, Kenyir

 

While trying to get some shots of the Scarlet-Rumped Trogon that I spotted earlier, a pair of this rarely seen bird showed up close to where I was standing. Even though they are much larger than most other Babblers, they seem to share the same behavior  and habitat with the other Babblers found in the same area.

 

I believe it is among the largest bird of the Babblers family…

 

Their constant movement provide a real challenge to Photographers who wish to photograph them.

 

I managed to capture a few shots before they disappeared into the forest..

Dark-Throated Oriole And Great Iora sharing the same habitat

May 2011, Kenyir

 

After numerous encounters with these two species, I noticed that on many occasions, if either one is sighted, the other is usually nearby, at least that’s what I found out in Kenyir …..

 

The Dark-Throated Oriole has got to be one of my favorite bird, it’s bold colors, sweet sounding song and confiding nature makes it one of the most interesting bird to observe and photograph…. 

 

Here is the Male Dark-Throated Oriole

  

 

Female Dark-Throated Oriole

 

 

Even though of a different different species, this Great Iora seem to happily accommodate the presence of DT Oriole….I believe they both share the same food source too…