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…..

Bulbul of Malaysia Part 3

I would say that the following Bulbuls are not as common as Bulbuls in my previous 2 postings, at least at my usual birding sites.

I’ve been trying to get better shots of this Yellow-Bellied Bulbul for quite sometime but yet to get any. They seem to be quite uncommon.

 

I’ve had a few brief encounters with the Ochraceous Bulbul and here are some of their images that I managed to capture.

 

And I’ve got images of this Bulbul which I think should be Puff-Backed Bulbul but I’m not too sure of the ID. May be those experts out there could confirm the ID.

Bulbul of Malaysia Part 2

Even though these bulbuls are not as common as the Yellow-Vented, they are quite easy to find near most forest edges.

Go to most forest edges and you’ll most likely see these Red-Eyed Bulbuls.

  

 

 

Another Bulbul that’s usually seen in the same area is this Buff-Vented Bulbul.

 

Is this a juvenile Buff-Vented or Red-Eyed Bulbul? I’m not too sure of the ID.

 

 

And so too is this Hairy-Backed Bulbul

 

The Spectacled bulbul is also commonly found together with the other ‘cousins’ above'.

Bulbul Of Malaysia Part 1

Bulbuls seem to be the most common bird in Malaysia. They can be found almost every where, from city parks to deep jungle. Common as they are, I still enjoy watching and photographing them.

I believe this is the most common of the Bulbul family, the Yellow-Vented Bulbul, I got these shots near my house in Kelana Jaya.

 

 

Another quite common Bulbul is this Stripe-Throated Bulbul. Go to most forest edges and even villages you’re sure to find them.

 

Also quite commonly found at forest’s edges is this Cream-Vented Bulbul.

Gray-Breasted Spiderhunter

Ulu Trengganu, October 2010

Here are some more ‘yet to be posted images’ from my archive. With their powerful wings and extra long bills they are such a joy to watch. On their perch, they look clumsy and awkward. Their habit of bobbing the heads make them look as if the bills are too heavy for the neck to support them but once they leave the perch, they are immediately transformed into a powerful flight machine, they can even hover like a helicopter moving in forward and reverse directions.

 

They are among the most powerful ‘flyer’ around, when in flight, you will most often ‘hear’ rather than see them.