The Penang Birder

This year, Malaysia played host to the annual Asian Bird Fair and it was held at the alluring island of Langkawi in Kedah. MNS was the organizer for this international event and the international delegates of the fair were given an optional post-event birding tour of the country. I assisted Andrew, MNS's Head of Communications, for this 5-day birding excursion and the road trip kicked off at the open grasslands of Chuping in Perlis. Although we only had an hour to spare at this locality, quite a number of birds were recorded including a few northern specialties and a lone dark-morphed Booted Eagle - the highlight for this short visit.

The reason for the time constraint was a lunch date with the wildlife department at the Bukit Merah Laketown Resort in Perak. After lunch, it was a 3-hour drive to Sungai Tengi in northern Selangor for dinner and board at a home stay facility of the same name. The next morning, we gathered at the town hall before proceeding to our next destination. There, we were treated to a pair of Oriental Pied Hornbills - right in the middle of this small town. This is the only species of hornbill that occurs within built-up areas. Even then, it is rare in some areas and completely absent from my home state of Penang. So, it was not only the foreign birders that got all excited but a local birder from Penang as well.

Next in our itinerary was the Sungai Dusun Wildlife Reserve - also in the state of Selangor. The main reason for our visit here was the Tapir Conservation program. As this trip was organized by MNS, it was only fitting that we all got to know the MNS mascot a little better. The Malayan Tapir is a fascinating and unique animal. The contrasting black and white colours may make it a striking animal in captivity but it the wild, it helps to break its huge form and blend into its surroundings.

There was a baby tapir in one of the paddocks and its colours are completely different from the adults to help it hide better among the forest undergrowth. It was certainly adorable but during our visit, it did not move about much and this was the only angle I managed to take.

Birding was also good within the reserve with sightings of hornbills, woodpeckers, cuckoos and raptors. At the end of our 3-hour excursion here, we recorded about 40 different species and the highlight was a fruiting tree near the paddocks which acted like a natural bird magnet.

A lunch date in Kuala Kubu Baru at the foothill of Malaysia's premier birding site, Fraser's Hill, was the next program for the day. After that, it was the scenic drive up Fraser’s Hill for 3 days of pure birding in a montane wonderland - something the group has been looking forward to since day one.

Fraser's Hill has always lived up to its reputation as one the best birding sites in Malaysia and for me, Christmas came early in the form of a Large Scimitar-babbler. This montane species is not particularly rare but somehow it has eluded me all these years. I finally got it on the last day and my fourth attempt at the renowned Telekom Loop. I have no photos to show for this lifer and you know what? It does not really matter. I was elated I managed to tick off one of my two target birds. The other ‘bogey’ bird was the Marbled Wren-babbler. However on both my attempts at its favourite ravine along the old Gap Road, it rained. I took as a sign from above that my time has yet to come. I was not totally out of luck with all brownish babblers and this lucky shot of a Grey-throated Babbler seconds before it disappeared back into the undergrowth is certainly a keeper. The distribution of this nondescript species in Peninsula Malaysia is rather peculiar because it is strictly a montane bird in the central and southern regions but in the north, it occurs in the lowlands as well.

Another babbler that I managed to capture quite decently this trip is the ever-common Mountain Fulvetta. Despite its abundance in montane forests, its active nature is a big hindrance with it comes to photography.

The Blue-winged Minla is not what one would consider to be a brownish babbler but the local race has the plainest plumage variance of all the races. You can hardly even notice the blue on the wings.

Did I mention Christmas came early? Of all the Broadbills that occur here in Malaysia, the Long-tailed Broadbill is the most striking and enigmatic. I have numerous encounters with this species in the past but I do not have any good images of it as it is shy and keeps to the canopy level most of the time. A foraging party across the ravine provided eye-level views but the distance was a little too far for any really good shots. And to be honest, I was content with the images I obtained from this encounter

I would never have guessed that the following day I will come across them again in roughly the same area. This time one came relatively low and I was humbled and totally in awe with this true spectacle of nature that was perched right in front of me. It was a priceless moment that will remain with me for the rest of my life.

The Fire-tufted Barbet is another striking species that occurs here and unlike the broadbill, it is more regularly encountered. This time, it seemed to be everywhere - not that I am complaining. The bright colours, the red bristles from which the name is derived and the unique cicada-like calls are just some of the reasons why it is a much sought-after species.

The call of the Black-browed Barbet is very much a part of the sounds of any montane forest in Malaysia. Unfortunately, I failed to obtain good images of this common species despite many encounters throughout the trip.

There are a number of birds found here that possess appearances so unique and remarkable that they can never be confused with any other species. This devilishly striking bird that goes by the name of Sultan Tit is certainly one of them.

When it comes to spectacular montane birds, the Green Magpie is another fine example of this legacy. Despite its large size, vivid colours and vocal nature, it is not an easy subject for photography. It tends to move about in the canopy level and dense vegetation. Close and unobstructed images are rare privileges. As fate would have it, this trip I managed to photograph it in the open but the poor lighting condition at the dawn hour prevented me from fully capitalizing on this rare opportunity.

This Orange-bellied Leafbird must be feeling a little smug because had me fooled when it called exactly like a Javan Cuckoo-shrike and I called out the wrong identification to the rest of the group. Are you happy now?

Woodpeckers are well represented in the montane forests of Malaysia. For this trip, the Yellownapes provided memorable performances for the duration of our stay at this hill resort. The Greater Yellownape is the larger of the two species - naturally...

The Lesser Yellownape is slightly smaller in size but possesses just as much attitude and charm as its bigger relative.

Come to think of it, dark blue seems to be the colour for montane birds here in Malaysia. The most conspicuous of them is surely the Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo. Large, noisy and hunts in mid-flight, it is very unlikely to miss it whenever it is up and about. This one has lost one of its rackets...

This one, on the other hand, has no rackets at all…

I have noticed a drop in the sightings of the Large Niltava during this trip. In fact, my only record came on the last day at this hill resort. This species sports a brilliant blue plumage and you just have to take my word for it as this back-lit image does no justice to its colours.

More often heard than seen, the Lesser Shortwing is a minute thrush that never leaves the cover of the undergrowth. A true skulker by nature, this was my best effort despite a prolonged period of begging and persuasion to get it to come out into the open.

The Rufous-browed Flycatcher also finds refuge among the undergrowth but luckily, it has more of a ‘showy’ personality and open perches are not much of an issue.Not all that uncommon in the hill stations but it is usually their soft whistling notes that give away their presence.

This old landslide spot seemed to have something of interest to a flock of Everett's White-eyes. These tiny, hyperactive balls of feathers are a real challenge to photograph especially when they are in their elements along the canopy levels. This is the first time I have seen them so low and staying put longer than usual. I took as many shots as I could and hoped for the best. Here are some of the better images obtained.

Jelai Resort's compound used to a bird magnet as the lights from the resort at night attracts insects which in turn attracts birds when morning comes. And the resort employees also feed the birds. Now closed for almost two years, some of the birds do occasionally pass through but not in such big numbers and varieties as before. The Silver-eared Mesias still recall the good life they used to enjoy here...

And the Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush wonders when the good life will return to Jelai Resort. So does most birders that had the good fortune of experiencing the birding at this spot in the past.

As the name suggests, the Mountain Bulbul is strictly a montane species and is relatively common at all the hill stations. I always feel that images with birds facing the camera somehow lose their appeal to me (with the exception of owls). Anyway, this Mountain Bulbul was in a nice position but I only managed one single shot before it flew away.

No visit to Fraser's Hill is ever complete without encountering one of the commonest birds of the locality which is none other than the Black-throated Sunbird. Common it may be but the iridescent colours of the male bird never ceases to dazzle and amaze.

There is a slight possibility that one may miss the sunbird but there is no way one can miss its close relative, the Streaked Spiderhunter. Abundant in all hill stations, it is a slightly larger bird and extremely vocal. Birders tend to take it for granted because you can see it everywhere. But in terms of beauty, I think it holds up pretty well for itself.

Fraser’s Hill does not only provide sanctuary to birds. There is a rich variety of other wildlife that calls this little piece of heaven on Earth home. A group of wild piglets foraging among the undergrowth next to an isolated access road got my immediate attention. Initially, all I could only managed were glimpses of something sizeable and brownish. Alarm bells went off in my head. I could almost visualize the oscillation of the Mountain Peacock-pheasant through the dense vegetation. Then, out came a snout and the rest as they say, is history.

We were unsuccessful with owling for this trip but it was not a total loss. The smaller residents of this montane forest provided some nocturnal entertainment. Tarantulas are still common in Fraser’s Hill. Although they are not as huge as some as their South American counterparts, they still look intimidating enough to earn our respect.

The Trapdoor Spider is not as fortunate because their population is on the decline. That is a real shame because this spider is truly a wonder of nature. For the benefit of those you are not familiar with the Trapdoor Spider, it builds a lair (which is a burrow on the mossy hill slope) lined with web strain that will help detect potential prey as them move over the strains. The lair comes with a lid, hence the name trapdoor.

When prey is detected, the Trapdoor Spider will spring out from its lair and usually makes short work of the unfortunate victim. Here is an image, taken without any “coaxing”, of the spider out of its lair.

This trip will go down as one of the best in my book. Not only were the birds performing well but to actually be a part of this group of fine birders from all over Asia and beyond. The experience, knowledge and friendship shared was very much the highlight of the trip as well.

The long but awesome 5-day birding trip with the international delegates from the Asian Bird Fair is finally over. It was time for the long drive back alone to Penang from Fraser’s Hill and I thought it would be best to make a stop somewhere along the way. Somewhere I could spend a couple of hours birding just to rejuvenate my senses. Somehow, the Kek Loke Tong Temple at the outskirts of Ipoh in Perak kept popping up in my head. The compound of temple does provide sanctuary to a number of birds including the temple thrushes – the Blue Rock Thrush. It is also about the halfway point for the journey home anyway. After considering a few other possible localities, I decided to follow my instinct took the Ipoh exit from the highway.

It has been a few years since my last visit and to my dismay, the temple thrushes were no where to be seen. During my last visit, the Blue Rock Thrushes were found in good numbers and very confiding. Like I always tell myself – never take things for granted and enjoy it while it last. Just as I was about to curse myself for choosing this locality, I caught some movement at the edge of the secondary forest. Upon further scrutiny, it turned out to be a Drongo Cuckoo. I decided to spend a little more effort with it as there was nothing else about. Much to my delight, it was quite confiding and I managed to obtain some really good shots.

Halfway through my observation, it flew down to the ground and caught something. The action was a little too quick for me and I could not determine what it caught and ate. From the ground, it flew up and alighted on an even lower perch, just under the crown of a dense tree.

I did finally find a Blue Rock Thrush as I was about to exit the temple grounds. It was a stunning male resting on a rocky outcrop. The angle was a little steep and I had no choice but to make the best out of the situation.

As I was driving along the outer perimeter fence of the temple, I thought to myself – well, at least I got a Drongo Cuckoo. Suddenly, a few small greyish birds flew across the path of my car and landed on the roadside grass straight ahead. I jammed on the brakes and had a quick look through my bins. My initial guess was right on the money – Java Sparrows! Locally common in only a few localities in the country, this area is one of its known strongholds. I have only one other encounter with this species and inevitably, I had a tough time trying to contain my excitement. Is it possible for sparrows to be sexy? If they look like this – absolutely!

Soon, I realized there was a small flock of them around and I slowly drifted my car towards them. The sparrows appeared quite comfortable with my stationery vehicle and I also made myself comfortable and proceeded with the photo session. I concentrated most of my efforts on two particular individuals that appeared to be more confiding than the rest. They seemed to have a thing for the perimeter fence and frequently alighted on it. No doubt that the fence is a man made object but if my subjects have no issues with it, why should I?

It was only natural that I ignored the duller juvenile until I started to breathe normally again. Don’t worry, bud. It's your turn now...

At one point, they did alight on natural perch and I must say the image turned out better than expected. So, the detour to this temple cave was the right decision in the end. I should learn to trust my instincts more often in future.

The recent sighting of a Zappey’s Flycatcher (a recent split from Blue-And-White Flycatcher) and a Black-headed Gull, both of which I have seen only once before in the past but without any successful photographic attempts, at the northern parts of mainland Penang helped me to decide for this week's birding excursion. My first destination was the swamp forest of Air Hitam Dalam for a scarce but stunning migratory flycatcher.

After a thorough sweep of the area, I had to come to terms that the Zappey’s Flycatcher may not be around anymore. Another blue flycatcher that was certainly around was the resident Mangrove Blue Flycatcher. Along a more secluded part of the elevated boardwalk, I came across at least 3 individuals. First was the first male that crossed my path.

This confiding fellow was the second male sporting a more typical extended range of orange underparts.

A lone female that has been following the males could be the mate of one of them…

A possible third male was seen among the undergrowth about a few feet away from where I observed the first batch of flycatchers earlier on.

A small fruiting tree just outside the Management Office provided one of the highlights of the trip. Surprisingly, the fruits only attracted two species and apart from a few Olive-winged Bulbuls, there were Lineated Barbets. This barbet is more of a scrubland and mangrove species rather than a true forest dweller and this locality, is one of its strongholds. I have longed to photograph this barbet for quite some time now but without much success as it prefers the canopy levels. But today, the tempting fruits got the better of its security senses and I was presented with the opportunity for a most rewarding photo session.

In the absence of other species at the fruiting tree, it became the star bird and that held my undivided attention for a good half an hour. And just like that, every bird suddenly took off and it was only me and the fruiting tree left. Thank goodness I have obtained more than enough photos of the barbet before its abrupt departure.

The Green-billed Malkoha is the largest Malkoha in Malaysia and should be named the Long-tailed Malkoha instead. Like any other malkoha, it does not make an easy subject for photography. Despite its size, it is extremely agile and active. It scurries about the canopy levels like a giant squirrel. I almost lost it when all my efforts so far to capture a few shots were futile as it was always and somehow blocked by the vegetation. Even when it was stationery, it made sure I had something to curse about by resting in a partially hidden position.

But like the words immortalized by Guns N' Roses in their song, Patience - "...take it slow. It’ll work itself out fine. All we need is just a little patience..." And finally, the Green-billed Malkoha decided to hop onto an open perch for more than 30 seconds with the lighting just about right. I can still recall the first time I saw this species. There was a pair of them and they flew right across the path of a teenage birder on one of his very first MNS organized field trips. Those gravity-defying tails certainly made an impact on his retinal receptors then.

The swamp forest here is a haven for winter visitors and passage migrants alike. This season itself a few rarer migrants have found their way to this locality and today, I came across a confiding juvenile Crow-billed Drongo. Not really rare but I have yet to obtain any good images until today that is.

It was following a pair of foraging Plaintain Squirrels - much like the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo's obsession with foraging Long-tailed Macaques. The principles are the same - the foraging mammals will unintentionally flush out prey for the Drongo. And supposedly, the Drongo will keep a lookout for harm in return. However, it seemed quite oblivious to my presence. Or perhaps it knew that this human with the telephoto lens pose no threat to either of them.

At the mudflats of Bagan Belat, my next destination, a flock of Brown-headed Gulls resting reasonably close to shore was exactly what I was wishing for. Sure enough, I picked out a smaller individual from the lot through my bins. Hor Kee's Black-headed Gull was still around. Unfortunately, the gulls suddenly took flight and alighted on the far end of the mudflats. I am not sure if it was because of my over-zealousness to get closer for a shot or something else but the celebrity gull was now well beyond the reach of my gear. Worse of all, I could not picked it out from the crowd again.

While contemplating of a way to get to the gulls, a passing military helicopter spooked everything present into flight. Well, almost everything. The gulls remained where they were - as expected.

A flock of Pacific Golden Plovers showing their displeasure towards the big iron bird's intruding and inconsiderate presence. Not that I blame them - the plovers, that is...

A reptile slithering along the exposed mud at a far distance got me all excited. Will this finally be my first wild crocodile? Nah, it was just a monitor lizard doing its best impersonation of a crocodile. I guess spending too much time under the hot sun will eventually get to you. I took this as my cue to leave - before I start seeing Pied Avocets (a dream Peninsula Malaysia's first record for yours truly) foraging at a distance.

My final destination of the trip was the paddy fields at Kubang Semang. One of the best ways to go round the vast networks of gravel trails is by bike and I was on my faithful iron steed today. She does not only help me weave through the horrendous traffic of Penang Island with ease but takes me places where four wheels simply cannot. Well, you know it was a slow day at the paddy fields when I had the time to photograph my ride instead of birds.

First of all, please do not let my title of this post give you a wrong impression. Gulls are uncommon here in Peninsula Malaysia. In fact, most of them are extremely rare. Of the handful of species that occur in our waters, only the Brown-headed Gull can be considered to be a regular winter visitor. It is locally common at only a few sites and the Bagan Belat coastline in mainland Penang is one of them. Numbering up to 40 strong at times, this species is no stranger to the birders here including yours truly. Now, the second commonest gull around is the Black-headed Gull. Both species are remarkably similar-looking especially in non-breeding plumage but there is one major difference - the latter is a rare migrant.

I was truly excited when Hor Kee found a juvenile Black-headed Gull among the flock of Brown-headed Gulls at the Bagan Belat coastline recently. I had no photographic evidence of my sighting of this species in the past at this locality as well and this individual, that seemed to have settled in quite comfortably here for the winter, presented me with an opportunity to make things right. It took a couple of trips before I finally managed to get close enough for a reasonably good photo session. Upon further scrutiny, I found not one but two juvenile Black-headed Gulls among the flock of Brown-headed Gulls. Christmas came early for me this year!

The size is probably the most distinct difference for two species at rest but it is only helpful when both are present. When seeking confirmation of the identification of the celebrity gulls later back home, Dave pointed out that if the outermost primaries are completely white below, it is the Black-headed Gull. And that made life a whole lot easier…

Midway through my observation, one of the Black-headed Gulls drifted away from the flock and when for a swim…

In flight, the Black-headed Gull is distinguishable from the adult Brown-headed Gull (left) by the absence of the "mirrors" enclosed within the dark primaries.

Another adult Brown-headed Gull in flight showing off its signature underwing pattern…

Juvenile Brown-headed Gulls are even more similar to the Black-headed Gulls and they even have the same dark-coloured irises as the latter instead of the pale irises of the adult birds – another characteristic that is used to tell adult gulls apart.

The "mirrors" are also absent from juvenile Brown-headed Gulls. So, it boils down to the outermost primaries again to differentiate young gulls.

Here is a comparison shot of the juveniles of both species. Young Brown-headed Gull (left) can be lighter built at times and look so similar to the Black-headed Gull that they could have been passed off as siblings. Isn't gull identification such a joy...

This Black-headed Gull making sure I do not put it down as a juvenile Brown-headed Gull by flashing its completely white outermost primaries...

When the initial thrill started to wear off, I diverted my attention to the commoner Brown-headed Gulls. I must admit the adults are quite attractive even in non-breeding plumage.

The Brown-headed Gulls sensing that the limelight is now on them started to put on a really good show for a very contented waterbird addict. I spend a whole lot of my time scanning the coastlines of Penang for birds and to me, this is about as good as it gets when it comes to gulls.

Dave's Big Year eventually brought him to the forest of Sungai Sedim in Kedah where he managed to tick off quite a few more species in his list which at the time of writing, stands at an amazing 564 birds. His visit to the locality was better than usual and I decided to try my luck there as well. A flock of foraging Yellow-bellied Bulbuls started things off for the day. Their preference for the lower levels of the forest provided great eye-level views. Unfortunately, the lighting conditions were terribly challenging the entire trip with the rain clouds threatening to cut short my birding excursion.

Babblers are well represented in this educational forest especially along the access trail that leads up to Gunung Bintang. As always, photographing this family of birds can be frustrating especially the terrestrial species. This Short-tailed Babbler was kind enough to give me a one-second window to focus and take a shot of it in the open. After that, it was back to the undergrowth and the usual fleeting views...

I do not think anyone can ever get bored with the Asian Paradise-flycatcher. The white-morphed male is nothing short of extraordinary. His grace and beauty captures the heart and imagination of birders of all ages and status. I have been trying for years to obtain good shots of the males but somehow or another managed to elude my efforts. This time, I spent 30 minutes stalking, begging, playing dead and every other means I could think of but this image was all I could manage in the end. It was a prolonged and interesting encounter but the image is not what I was hoping for...

The adorable Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher on the other hand was surprisingly accommodating this morning. Its sweet whistling notes can be heard on almost every visit but the bird itself prefers the comfort and security of the canopy levels. This habit makes it difficult for me to obtain good images despite the frequent encounters.

I also came across a small birdwave and was utterly excited to make out the shape of a trogon in the wave. Naturally, all other species were ignored and the trogon soon revealed itself, or should I say herself, to me as a female Scarlet-rumped Trogon.

The highlight of the trip must be this flock of inquisitive Hairy-backed Bulbuls. This species behaves more like babblers than bulbuls and is fairly common throughout suitable forested habitats in Peninsula Malaysia.

The Hairy-backed Bulbul gets its name from the supposedly hair-like feathers on its back. I have never once notice this feature in the field and even with rather close-up images like this, the 'hair' remain invisible to us mere mortals.

Today was definitely a day for bulbuls as a third species found its way to my memory card. The Grey-cheeked Bulbul is not as common as the two other species but it is quite regularly seen in the forest here. With so many different species of bulbuls occurring in this one locality, each have their respective niche to fill to ensure their own survival. That is why it tends to keep to the higher storey of the forest.

Eventually, rain drops started to fall and although not heavy, it was rather persistent. I reluctantly made my way out of the locality because before the rain, it was very good in terms of birds. On the way home, I turned into the paddy fields of Bandar PERDA in mainland Penang to check if anything was about on this wet and gloomy midday hour. Along the pylons, I found the mighty Eastern Imperial Eagle overlooking its winter domain on this lofty perch. I do not need much reason to take my time to admire this majestic raptor and with the weather showing no intentions of improving, this is possibly the best thing I could wish for to end today’s outing.

And talking about winter, I would to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The constant rain brought more woes and kept me away from the field for most of the morning on my rest day. Afternoon saw the rain ease a little and the call of the wild was a little too strong to resist. However, I dread the thought of crossing the Penang Bridge to get to my usual birding spots as the rain would have created traffic congestion. I have been shunning birding localities on the island because of late, birding here is simply incomparable with the mainland side. So, today is a good day to see what the Pearl of the Orient still has to offer to a frustrated birder. I headed towards the mangroves and scrublands of Sungai Burung in the southwestern part of the island - a local patch that I have not visited for a long time.

The visit started off slow initially and I really had no idea that it would end up as one of the best birding trips on the island that I have ever experienced. I even had the time to take a few shots of a foraging Scaly-breasted Munia.

On the school field next to the access, a trio of female Pied Trillers was busy picking up insects that were flushed out by the downpour. It must be a girls-day-out because no males were seen at all.

With the rain trickling down to a stop, the locality gradually came more alive and the birding got better. This Greater Coucal finally got a chance to dry itself and did not give much thought to my approaching vehicle. A shot of a Greater Coucal on exposed perch does not happen very often and I had a feeling then that maybe the pearl has not lost all its shine yet...

A Brahminy Kite also enjoying the change of weather from its lofty perch...

The calls of the Blue-tailed Bee-eaters broke through the silence of this gloomy afternoon when I passed the paddy planting areas of this district. It did take much effort in locating one as they love exposed perches on which to launch their graceful aerial pursuits of their insect prey.

When I reached the section where the access road runs parallel to the mangroves, the afternoon's birding intensified. A migratory Large Hawk-cuckoo put my field craft and photography skills to the test. In the end, I had to concede defeat to the cuckoo and no photographs were obtained. However, this handsome male Tiger Shrike was more than willing to pose for my camera. He was so tame that no skills were required this time. I just needed to remember how to press the shutter.

The resident pair of Crested Serpent-eagles was seen and heard throughout my time here. Whatever disappointments I had with the Large Hawk-cuckoo evaporated when one of the eagles provided another close-up photo session. Majestic still comes to mind even though this is one of the commonest eagles in Malaysia.

When I was about to come to the area where I usually turn back, a few pigeons resting on a sparse tree caught my attention. Upon further scrutiny, they turned to be Thick-billed Green-pigeons. A few pairs were snuggled up quite affectionately. My guess is the cold and gloomy weather must really be getting to them.

Just a short distance from the loving couples, a fruiting tree was in season and I found myself in the midst of a lot of pigeons - a whole lot of them I might add. Much to my delight, I found more Thick-billed Green-pigeons. The males are striking birds and I wasted no time in shooting them as I do not have any good photographic opportunities with this species before.

The females lack the rich chocolate on the wings and inevitably, lose out to the more colourful males in terms of time in the limelight. I'm only human after all....

I have recorded three species of green-pigeons so far in Penang Island and this fruiting feast naturally attracted the commonest of them all, the Pink-necked Pigeons. The males are just as attractive as the male Thick-billed Green-pigeons but I found the former to be slightly more aggressive and will often chased away the latter if they get too close to each other. I did look out for the third species, which is the Little Green-pigeon but to no avail. In fact, I cannot recall the last time I saw this species in the field.

The female Pink-necked Green-pigeon is even duller-coloured than her Thick-billed Green-pigeon counterpart.

The fruiting tree was overhanging the access road and because it was a narrow road, my stationery vehicle was certainly blocking the way. I had to shift to and fro a couple of times to let other vehicles past and on one of those occasions, I noticed a small raptor on a dead tree over the mangroves. I immediately took a few shots but the raptor was on to me the moment I aimed the camera at it and gave me suspicious stares. Most sparrowhawk-like raptors that I have come across in the field are extremely shy and wary. This one is no different. It dived into the mangroves after a few clicks of the shutter and was never seen again. I had a quick look at its images and did not think much of it as I was too eager to get back to the fruiting tree.

It was only when I got home that I had a long good look at this raptor. After doing some homework, I realized it might not be the usual Japanese Sparrowhawk. In fact, the absence of tail bars on the upper tail strongly suggests the rarely seen Shikra and a would-be lifer for me. These past few months I let my enthusiasm get the better of me when I seek confirmation for a few of my possible rare raptor sightings. So this time, I sent the images to Chaiyan accompanied by a rather conservative message but the reply that came back from him was anything but conservative. Finally, I got my first Shikra! Christmas certainly came early this year and my dormant life list erupted back to life. The pale grey upperwings and unmarked central most uppertail feathers were the distinguishing factors. Thanks to Chaiyan, I now know that this is an adult female of the dussumieri race and this girl came all the way from the Himalayas. She is also possibly the first perched Shirka to be photographed in Peninsula Malaysia. That's a good girl. Merry Christmas!

Now back to the fruiting tree. I paid more attention to the Thick-billed Green-pigeon because they are the scarcer of the two pigeons. These pigeons are far from graceful when they gorged on the fruits and the fruits are just about bite-size for them and are swallowed whole at a rapid pace.

To wrap things up from this unexpectedly remarkable trip are a few more images of the Thick-billed Green-pigeons in more presentable poses. I embarked on this trip with very low expectations but at the end of the day, I was given a very good reminder by the birds - that in birding you can never know what to expect and something amazing could be waiting for you when you least expect it.

The predawn drizzle again washed away any plans for a big day out. This came as no surprise because Peninsula Malaysia is now facing a flood crisis. I had no intentions to let a birding day go to waste so I decided to visit the marshlands at Pulau Burung in southern mainland Penang. Waterbirds may be my only consolation in this weather. When the dawn chorus started to fill the locality, the drizzle eased. By the time it got light, the rain surprisingly stopped altogether and the ever-present Jungle Mynas rejoiced at the sight of a rising sun. Open country mynas are much ignored due to their abundance. I admit that I am also guilty of this at times. But on those occasions when I do shower them with attention, I find them to be full of character.

The marshlands here showed no signs of recovery as I and every local birder had hoped for. The 'beautification' process by the local authorities has all but destroyed what I used to consider as one of the best birding localities in Malaysia. A handful of Lesser Whistling Ducks instead of the usual high numbers loitered around what is left of their wetland home. Just in case you are wondering, the slight blurred effect on the image is because I now have to shoot through perimeter fencing - not like the good old days. What is the point of beautifying the lake and putting up cement walkways if you are not going to keep people out, right?

Reflections of wings and inspiration…

The migratory Whiskered Terns, on the other hand, were almost in their usual numbers. With the sun now as bright as it could ever be, getting the right exposure for generally white birds can be a challenge.

It has been a long time since I had a Wood Sandpiper put on a good performance for me at this locality and this image brought back fond memories of a time when shots like these are just part of an ordinary day's birding here.

Even by using my car as a hide, this female Watercock (positive identification of the sex and age of this species in non-breeding plumage is not easy and I stand to be corrected) had me waiting for a long time before she finally revealed herself - at the other side of the canal.

Purple Herons are usually just as shy but I guess this adult bird has been denied the soothing rays of the sun for too long to be bothered by my presence. Now, a Purple Heron in full view at this distance does not usually happen to me and it tempted me to believe that the magic of Pulau Burung lives on.

The heron was not the only one enjoying its spot in the sun. This Crested Serpent-eagle looked like it could really use the sun's warmth…

A female Common Kingfisher hoping to catch a hearty breakfast from her shaded perch. I left her to her hunt and made my way to the next locality - the neighbouring forest of Bukit Panchor State Park.

I seldom visit this locality nowadays because for some reason the birdlife has diminished tremendously through the years and I have a hunch it is human-related. The habitat still looks intact though. It is the sort where you can expect to see, let's say a Giant Pitta hopping across the access trail (and never to be seen again). This mythical bird is the only reason why I do not stop visiting this locality altogether.

Apart from a flying Violet Cuckoo signaling its arrival and departure above the canopy of the forest with its persistent calls, this confiding Gold-Whiskered Barbet was the only notable encounter during my short visit.

Probably the commonest of the barbets, the Gold-Whiskered Barbet is highly adaptable and occurs in a wide range of habitats in Peninsula Malaysia. Its preference for the canopy levels keeps it out of sight most of the time and its persistent calls are the only evidence of its presence. The only angle of an unobstructed shot was backlit but I am grateful just to be able to enjoy this prolonged encounter.

My next stop was the scrublands of Juru in central mainland Penang and here, I recorded my second Crested Serpent-eagle for the day. This species is doing very well for itself throughout the country and its tolerance towards human is probably one of the factors behind its success.

This light-morphed Changeable Hawk-eagle circled menacingly above the scrublands in search of a meal. This is another raptor that is fairing quite well and the keyword again is tolerance - especially towards a species called man and all his characteristics.

The paddy fields of Kubang Semang were where I spent the next hour or so. I felt lucky the Black-winged Stilts decided to grace the day with their presence. I have always had a soft spot for these elegant waders and with nothing much about, taking the time to appreciate their beauty required no second thoughts.

The fifth and last locality for this trip was the swamp forest of Air Hitam Dalam at the northern tip of mainland Penang. I have birded across the entire span of the state since dawn and covered a few different habitat types. Penang is not a big state. It is the second smallest state after Perlis. But it is not the size of the dog in the fight; it is the size of the fight in the dog. Penang has always been my home and has provided all I could ever ask for and more in birding and life as well. After all these years, it still has got what it takes to keep me amazed. For example, my third Crested Serpent-eagle for the day! Apart from the blind eye, it looks perfectly healthy to me.

This Buffy Fish-owl was enjoying an afternoon siesta before being surprised by a stumbling birder.

A shift of position instead of the usual disappearance act provided me with another chance to make things right. Going on all fours on a swampy terrain may not appeal to everyone but a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. The owl, probably enjoyed a good laugh at my expense, decided to tolerate my presence this time. And the decision to take the hard way this time was the right one.

The Yellow-rumped Flycatcher was being his usual confiding self. That's a good boy...

No visit to this locality will ever be complete without the Mangrove Blue Flycatcher...

This will probably be my last birding excursion for the year. I am certainly looking forward to what 2015 has in store for the Penang Birder and hopefully, a few lifers along the way if it is not too much to ask. Happy New Year, everyone!

For the past six years, I have had the first morning of the year to myself. It's almost like a tradition. My wife has to do the closing of the accounts for her company on the first day of each year for a few hours. I take this opportunity to have some time alone to reflect on the year that has just past. I do not have any New Year resolutions anymore since the day I quit smoking for good. I do not see any harm in doing some birding whilst reflecting. Any excuse will do to get myself into the field. So this year, I witness the breaking of dawn of the brand new year over the horizon of the swamp forest at Air Hitam Dalam in mainland Penang.

The resident Crested Serpent-eagle was the first bird to greet me in 2015. Happy New Year, bud...

The New Year's Eve celebrations must have been a real blast as most of the birds were not up and about on this beautiful morning. A male Ashy Tailorbird finally gave me a reason to put my gear into work again. Confiding as he may be, the lighting condition and his active nature prevented me from obtaining better images.

Are you looking for me? This cocky Abbott's Babbler was teasing me from the cover of a dense clump of Nipah Palms.

A lone migratory Drongo Cuckoo hunting from the edge of swamp forest was a pleasant find. Although not that uncommon, I have not recorded this species at this locality before.

The characteristic song of the tiny Golden-bellied Gerygone is a regular sound of the swamp forest here. It is not an easy subject for photography but today, it was a little more confiding than usual.

Looking a bit lost out in the open, this Green-billed Malkoha used whatever means to try and conceal itself from me…

I kept my cool and just waited as I knew exactly where it was heading - the forest on the other side of the open area. True enough, it eventually made its way, in its typical laboured flight, to other side. I missed out on the flying shots but I absolutely made sure I got the landing shots. It landed on an exposed Nipah frown at eye level and in good light - what more can I ask for on New Year’s Day.

The resident Mangrove Blue Flycatcher must be feeling a little depressed I have been ignoring him the whole morning. You know I still love you, right?

In Malaysia, there is a wader site of legendary status simply known as Kapar in the state of Selangor. However, it is a restricted area as this site is a power station. One cannot simply just walk into Kapar. There is tons of paperwork involved to obtain the entry permit. I have only been to this site once, back in 1994 and at that tender age the experience was simply overwhelming for me. I have yearned for a second trip ever since. When I came to know of a Wader Workshop conducted by the MNS that will include a practical session in Kapar, I knew that is the chance I have been waiting for and enrolled for the next available course.

The workshop was held in Kuala Selangor Nature Park (KSNP) which is another birding site that I have not been to in ages. Together with Choo Eng, James and Beryl, we braced through the horrendous Friday evening traffic along the Penang Bridge and gradually made our way south. Accommodations and food was provided for at KSNP. They were nothing fancy but you will not hear a whim from me. After all, it is not the food and board that I look forward to in any birding trip.

I managed to squeeze a couple of hours of birding in the park before the workshop commenced. Now, I have been through all sorts of stuff in the name of birding and so far, nothing can be much of a hindrance. But the mosquitoes here are in a class of their own. Relentless and unforgiving, I had to dig deep to carry on birding after the first quarter of an hour. I have encountered the mosquitoes here before during my past visits but I cannot recall it being so bad.

The adorable Coppersmith Barbet was calling from an open perch a little too far for my liking and did very little to help me get over the bloodsucking ordeal.

The only other shot that I took within the boundaries of the park was this Lesser Adjutant. Flying low but against the sun, the image turned out pretty much how I had expected.

The main objective for the workshop was to create awareness and educate about the importance of wetland conservation and the wonders of waders. It included an identification course and when it comes to waders, one does not stop learning about this fascinating family of waterbirds - no matter how long you have been at it. I can always use a few new pointers to help me in the field. When it was finally time for the practical session at Kapar, there was only one thing on my mind - to unblock the Caspian Tern from my Malaysian life list. It is the world’s largest tern and winters in small numbers in this state. At Kapar, it is almost a certainty or so they say. Unfortunately, I missed it during my first visit to Kapar and all these years I have searched for it in vain along the north-western coastline of Peninsula Malaysia.

Once we attended the rather unique safety briefing, which I will not elaborate on, we made our way to the ash ponds. This is where the waders come in from the coast just beyond the perimeters of the power station to roost during high tide.

And here, they come in by the hundreds.

Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to wader wonderland...

It did not take long for me to enjoy my first lifer of the year. At the 'big' pond, theunmistakeable Caspian Terns flew in to roost. This is a crappy shot of this stunning bird but a lifer is a lifer.

The Caspian Terns and most of the other waders landed on the far side of the pond. I had no choice but to cherish the moment from such a far distance.

Some of waders did alight on the embankment but they were still too far for any good images.

With the waders getting quite comfortable in their current position, we decided to go round the other side hoping to reduce the distance. When we finally got round, the Caspian Terns were no longer there. All was not lost when I picked out an all-too-familiar jizz of a pale wader that I have been aching to see again for a long time. Hey, I know you...

Back in 2003, I caused quite a ripple in the birding community when I reported over 30 Nordmann's Greenshanks wintering along mainland Penang’s coastline. A globally endangered species, it was the highest count in the country at that time. Today, I counted only about 6 of them roosting among the flocks of waders and terns. It was a nice feeling to see them again after all these years.

Gull-billed Terns are probably the commonest terns at this locality. They are stunning terns as well but overshadowed by the rarer Caspian Terns.

The waders flying to and fro occasionally came reasonably close like these Bar-tailed Godwits and Great Knots.

After some time we shifted to the 'small' pond and there, another spectacle of nature was waiting for us. Thousands of smaller waders, or peeps as they are so affectionately called, were roosting in the middle of the pond and hundreds were still making their way in. A truly spectacular sight but accurate identification can be frustrating and difficult. To a beginner, it may be downright terrifying.

The thought of seeing a ‘Spoonie’ did cross my mind and I will bet my bottom dollar I was not alone. Ang, who conducted this workshop rather well so far, immediately got into my good graces when he shouted out the words that will make every wader fanatic tremble with excitement - Spoon-billed Sandpiper! Unfortunately, this celebrity peeps did not stay still for long and it was difficult just to keep it in view with a scope let alone photograph it. I have seen this highly endangered species only once before back in Penang and this second encounter still gave me goose bumps. And on this rare occasion, I did not feel that bad for not able to obtain any images. In fact, my camera hung over my shoulder for longer periods than usual on this visit.

I did take plenty of random shots of this mass flock with the hope that one of the images will have the ‘Spoonie’ in it. Back home, I started scrutinizing the images. At the time of writing, I have gone through about half but with no success yet.

I can only write so much and my images cannot fully do justice to what we were experiencing in front us. The sights, sounds and emotions are simply beyond words and images. I guess you just have to be there.

But waders are not the only waterbirds that were performing that day. A number of Painted Storks was also in the vicinity. Although they are free-flying birds from the zoo, they are still majestic birds and their presence certainly did not go unnoticed by yours truly. I always have a soft spot for waterbirds - especially the big ones.

Grey Herons will usually receive a fair share of my attention. Needless to say, this confiding individual got the lion's share.

This one has just swallowed a big fish whole. I was a fraction too late to capture the feast on camera.

The Pacific Reef-egret is the rarest egret after the Chinese Egret in Malaysia and I do not have much field experience with it. It is also the only one to have 2 colour morphs. I always find the dark-morphed egrets to be rather exotic and this flying dark-morphed individual provided my best image for this species thus far.

The golden light of the setting sun when reflected by the water provided a dream-like effect on the images. I am not much of a romantic person but I can make an exception for today.

Waders flying into the sunset to end one truly amazing day – it does not get any better than this. When I look back upon my life, this trip to Kapar will certainly be of reflections of wings and inspiration.

The next day, we had our practical session at the coastline of Sungai Janggut which was a short distance from KSNP. In order to take full advantage of the receding tide that day, we had to be there at first light. Admiring the morning sky flushed with brilliant hues of purple and pink was a great way to start off the day.

The timing was near perfect as the waders were waiting on the sandy shore for the tide to recede. Apart from the usual peeps, there were a good number of Ruddy Turnstones - another common species that has eluded my attempts to obtain good images. A few of them were showing flashes of their brilliant breeding plumage and I tried to get as close as possible without putting them to flight.

I was very conservative with my approach as I do not want to risk being the reason the rest of the group has nothing but sand and mud to look at.

The arrival of a Eurasian Curlew diverted my attention from the turnstones. We were still in the 'golden light' hour and that improved my image tremendously.

The highlight for this excursion was this lone Asian Dowitcher. Not quite in the same league as the Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Nordmann's Greenshank, it is still a rare wader and a good sighting. Despite its shortcomings, it is fending quite well for itself. This trip was certainly a memorable affair that will certainly go down as one the best. Being in a restricted is a blessing in disguise for the wader roosts at Kapar and they stand a very good chance of surviving in the world of man.

It is always interesting to meet and get to know birders from other parts of the world and this time, I had the companionship of two lovely ladies from Scotland. I took Lucinda and Louise out for a day trip around Penang and we started off at my favourite local patch, the freshwater swamp forestof Air Hitam Dalam in northern mainland Penang. This small patch of forest has never fail to deliver and the birds there are quite accustomed to human presence and confiding. There is also a good mix of forest and open country birds here at this locality. That makes it a little easier for birders who are not used to birding in a tropical rain forest. A typical rain forest may be rich in diversity but it is quite challenging to actually locate the birds at times.

The denizens of the swamp forest gave the ladies a very warm reception with the striking male Yellow-rumped Flycatcher leading the way. The confiding individual was certainly the highlight for my foreign guests on this occasion.

The open area was also alive with bird activities. Woodpeckers, kingfishers and cuckoos were going about their daily routines and practically ignored our presence. It was a great way to observe these fascinating birds in their natural environment. The wintering Black Kites entertained us with their graceful sallies as they moved about their roosting trees.

Birding along the paddy fields by car was something new to my guests but the experience was a memorable one for them. This was probably one of the most pampered ways they have ever done birding in and some of the open country waders at Kubang Semang like this Grey-headed Lapwing performed admirably to further enhance the experience.

My favourite moment of the trip was encountering a flock of Purple-backed Starlings foraging on a low bush. These winter visitors are not uncommon to this locality but are usually wary of human presence. This time the distance between us and the birds was within their comfort zone and we were rewarded with reasonably good views as they foraged about. This female provided one the best images I have so far of the beautiful species.

Ben is one of my regular guests and when this avid Singaporean birder wanted to visit Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill) in Taiping, Perak for some weekend birding, I was ready to accommodate until I found out that the hill resort was closed for road works due to landslide. Luckily, the caretaker of the Nest Bungalow, Mr. Lee, managed to make the arrangements for a couple of hardcore birders to go up and spend a night up on the hill. The jeep ride up the hill can be taxing for newcomers because of all the hairpin corners and the aroma of the diesel-powered transports. However, Ben took everything well in his stride. Halfway up the hill, we almost had to cancel our plans if this fallen tree was any bigger. Well, it seemed like Lady Luck was on our side and it did not take long to remove the obstacle that was lying between us and our destiny.

Once we completed the rather tedious hike up to the Nest Bungalow to unpack our luggage and birding gear, we hit the jeep track leading up to the summit of Bukit Larut. That is, after we took a minute to soak in the view from the bungalow. It was certainly a bright and beautiful morning. Taiping is the wettest area in Malaysia and sunny skies are somewhat of a privilege at times.

Bukit Larut is where I saw my first hornbill. I can never forget the first time I heard the locomotive-like wing beats of these magnificent birds. Until now I still get all excited when I hear them. To see and photograph a perched hornbill at a close distance is something that does not happen very often. Despite their enormous size, hornbills are shy creatures. To start things of for this birding excursion was this male Rhinoceros Hornbill in all his glory resting among the foliage of the canopy level not too far from the jeep track. The distance was just about right for photography but unfortunately, confiding as he may be, he was resting in the shade with the sun in front of him.

He did not seem to mind our presence but we tried in vain to find a better shooting angle. This is one of those times that I feel like just putting my camera aside and enjoy the moment through my bins which I did after trying out all other possibilities for a better shot.

We came across several birdwaves along the jeep track. Dozens of species foraging vigorously together always get the adrenalin pumping but can be a little too fast and furious for photography. Bukit Larut this time has certainly exceeded my expectations. While observing one of these birdwaves, I picked out a true forest jewel restingunobtrusivelyin the canopy of the forest. It was a Long-tailed Broadbill and it appeared to be quite comfortable in that position. I quickly signaled Ben over and both of us enjoyed prolonged, stunning views of this extraordinary bird.

The closure of the hill for the past few weeks could have been a factor in the high level of bird activities along the jeep track. Without annoying humans about, the birds may start to find the forest edge attractive and safe again. In short, it was a blessing in disguise. I cannot remember the last time I saw a Long-tailed Broadbill so confiding at such close proximity.

As lunch time drew closer, dark clouds started to form. All meals were provided at the bungalow and usually fresh from the stove. So, we still needed to make our way back to the bungalow regardless of the weather condition. At the bungalow below ours (the former famed Speedy Bungalow) we came across a fruiting tree. An adorable Black-browed Barbet was gorging on the fruits and lunch will just have to wait as it is not easy to see this canopy-loving species at eye level.

The Ochraceous Bulbuls were also present at the fruiting tree but by then, the lighting condition has changed dramatically from the sunny skies of morning.

A lone Asian Brown Flycatcher alighted on a nearby banana tree while we were still at the fruiting tree. It has no interest in the fruits but the fruits also attracted insects which were what it was after.

By the time we were finished with lunch, it had started to pour. Taiping was living up to its reputation as the district that rains more often than the sun shines. The dining area is an open porch with just a roof over our heads. It was the perfect location to wait for birds to move through the forest on a rainy day while enjoying a warm cup of tea - us enjoying the tea and not the birds…

This male Black-throated Sunbird's urge for nectar was about as relentless as the torrential rain. He was constantly going round the flowering plants within the compound and from what I can see it will take much more than rain to keep him from getting his 'fix'.

I was expecting our birding excursion to come to a complete standstill but a flock of Mountain Bulbuls decided to pay us a visit and we sprung back into birding mode. This species is the commonest bulbul that occurs in hill stations of Peninsula Malaysia and it is no different here at Maxwell Hill.

Another bulbul that was unperturbed by the rain was the Ashy Bulbul. Not as common as the former but it was regularly seen during our stay here. The fruiting tree at the bungalow below may have something to do with their regular presence.

This male Mugimaki Flycatcher was still looking smart despite the wet conditions. Unfortunately, we did not manage to relocate this striking species when the weather improved.

When the rain finally subsided, in came the mist and it was back to the comforts of the dining table and another cup of tea...

Just when we thought it was a good time to take a quick nap, the characteristic sounds of hornbills in flight burst into the vicinity followed by what sounded like the yelping of puppies. The Bushy-crested Hornbills have arrived! Despite being partially concealed by the heavy mist, we tried our best to obtain some photographs of this family of three - two adults with a recently fledged juvenile.

When the mist lifted, only the youngster was in sight. Both the parents bird have shifted to the topmost part of the canopy to dry off. This, and the flock of Wreathed Hornbills seen earlier, was the third hornbill species for the day. And that is an achievement by itself. Despite the weather conditions being unfavourable at times, this trip to Bukit Larut will go down as one of the best.

The setting sun produced such an array of mesmerizing colours that even a hardcore birder like me took the time to appreciate and that is something that I do not usually do when I am out birding.

This is a typical 4-dish meal by the caretaker-cum-cook of the Nest Bungalow, Mr. Lee. It may not be much but to a couple of hungry birders that just came back from an evening of birding under a blanket of mist, this is as good as it will get as far as we were concerned.

As I was about to call it the night, Bukit Larut had one little surprise left for me in one of the most unlikely places - the bathroom. A small dark-coloured tree frog was taking shelter there and naturally, I took a few shots of it using my iPhone. Although birds are my one true passion, other wildlife does evoke interest as well. I did not know what species it was until I got home and consulted Muin, a birding friend who studies reptiles and amphibians for a living. How cool is that? Anyway, thanks to him I now know that it was a Pied Warty Frog and apparently, it is not that common as he has not seen it before in the wild. Is there no end to this amazing place?

It was another beautiful morning the next day. However, we only had the morning to bird as we need to follow the jeep down before noon. We decided to visit the fruiting tree at the bungalow below again because it was too good of an opportunity to be missed. And the Black-crested Bulbuls were thinking just the same thing. Striking and comical at the same time, it was a delight to observe them feasting on this natural buffet.

The bulbuls were truly gorging themselves with the fruits...

I swear to God I even see them momentarily immobilized due to too much eating...

With more than enough food to go round and the soothing rays of the morning sun hitting the tree at certain areas to provide a much-anticipated sunbath after a wet and chilly night, these bulbuls are truly living the good life. This image says it all...

As we were waiting for our ride to arrive, an Oriental Honey-buzzard flew low overhead to bid us farewell. This species is highly variable in plumage and the root cause of much confusion and misery when it comes to raptor identification. At first glance, I thought this juvenile bird was an Osprey!

From the cool montane forest, we made our way to the hot mangrove forest of Kuala Gula which was a short drive from the foothill. Nothing much was about but we did take the opportunity to taste some of the seafood there for lunch. I had a contingency plan if things did not work out at Kuala Gula. Ben mentioned that the Yellow-rumped Flycatcher was one of his target birds and I know just the place to go where you are almost ensured of one - the swamp forest of Air Hitam Dalam in mainland Penang.

As expected, the Yellow-rumped Flycatcher performed well. The hour-long drive from our last location was certainly worth it. I am truly going to miss this little guy come summer.

This Green Crested Lizard was taking a little siesta in the sun on the same tree as the flycatcher and it finally got our attention when the flycatcher moved on.

To cap things off for this fantastic trip, we came across a pair of roosting Brown Hawk-owls. They could not have chosen a better location to roost as it was quite hidden and surrounded by vines. For us, they could not have chosen a worse location as there were no way we could obtain any good images.

Are you done yet?

There were three target birds for this trip to Chuping in Perlis - the Brahminy Starling, Richard's Pipit and Oriental Skylark. The two hour drive was a breeze due to the prospect of twitching (there, I've said it) three possible lifers. So, it was three Penang birders, Choo Eng, Muin and yours truly against three birds that were not even in the Malaysian checklist a couple of years back. It was certainly a beautiful morning with a sea of grass contrasting against the sunny blue northern sky.

Just as we were about to hit the dusty network of access trails, an Oriental Honey Buzzard doing its best impression of a Common Buzzard diverted us into side path that cuts through a rubber plantation and scrub. As we left kicking ourselves for letting this species getting the better of us again, Choo Eng spotted a reed warbler resting out in the open. Once the warbler realized our intentions, it quickly moved into hiding. I took a few record shots because anything with feathers in Chuping is a potential rarity. The warbler vanished into the vegetation shortly after but when I looked through the images, it turned out to be a Thick-billed Warbler. A species that I have only seen once before in my life and it was from this locality as well. The trip was off to a flying start!

There were quite a number of Long-tailed Shrikes present today. However, this species is naturally shy and good shots are difficult to obtain. I had to settle for this slightly unkempt individual because it was the only one that was slightly more confiding than the rest.

A couple of weeks back, Dave recorded a Brahminy Starling here in Chuping and last week, he managed to obtain a few tantalizing images of this vagrant and from his description of the bird's habits, it seemed to have a thing for the pylonlabelled 54/72. When we reached the location of this pylon, we spilt up to look for the starling on foot. Muin saw it first and upon receiving his alert, we rushed to his position only to find the celebrity bird gone. We failed to relocate it despite a careful sweep of the area. I thought to myself then that it was going to be a very long day. When I gradually regain my composure, I remembered the pylon and started to scan these behemoth steel structures one by one. And there it was on pylon 54/72 - just as Dave promised!

We stalked out at the pylon on a few occasions and the starling did return to its favorite perch. Unfortunately, it was rather wary of our presence and we only managed distant shots. But it was still an exciting lifer and a stunning one as well. Welcome to Malaysia, bud...

With lifer #1 in the bag, we set our sights on our next target, the Oriental Skylark- a first record for Malaysia last season. As we moved in on the coordinates given by Dave (yes, he recorded it again last week), we came across a field being plough by a tractor. All of a sudden, a smallish quail ran across the field just next to the access trail. To make a long story short, three full grown men were made to play cat and mouse with a bird the size of a tennis ball - much to the amusement of the workers present. Our persistence prevailed and it was a female Blue-breasted Quail, a lifer for my companions. This was my best effort at the end of the chase.

The field where Dave saw the skylark had plenty of Red-throated Pipits when he was there. Well, the pipits were certainly around but there were no signs of any skylark. Reluctantly, we turned our attention to the pipits. Red-throated Pipits are rare migrants to most parts of Peninsula Malaysia. Here in Chuping, it is quite regular and occurs in unbelievably high numbers. We counted no less than 50 birds but not even one was gracious enough to provide a decent photographic opportunity. They are surprisingly well camouflaged and by the time you get close enough or spot one, it will fly just far enough to deny you a good shot.

When we had enough of these pipits showing off their defense mechanisms against lumbering birders, we moved on to our third and final target. The Richard'sPipit is a split from the ever-abundant Paddyfield Pipit a few years ago. Apparently, the former is a rare migrant to Malaysia and the call and flight pattern are the best distinguishing features between the two species. When we finally at 'the' field (yes, Dave again), we walked into the long grass and almost immediate a Richard's Pipit shot straight up into the sky while uttering its call and flew away horizontally for miles before disappearing back into the long grass. Unfortunately, we did not manage to capture a single shot but it was lifer #2 for me nevertheless. All my experiences with Pipits have taught me a sure way to identify the Oriental Pipit from the rest. If it poses for you to shoot from every possible angle without even a flinch, it is an Oriental Pipit.

The male Siberian Stonechats are coming into breeding plumage and they look devilishly handsome when they flit about the grassland. The northern winds will find their way here to Peninsula Malaysia at this time of the year and for small birds, the unobstructed landscape can be a taxing place to live. This stonechat was having a tough time finding his balance in the onslaught of the strong winds. And we were finding it hard to obtain photos without blurred motion.

But for the raptors, they were in their element. Their long wings enable them to take full advantage of the wind's energy. Harriers being the most graceful raptor around were a sheer delight to observe. This female Pied Harrier and her larger relative, the Eastern Marsh Harrier, put on quite an aerial performance to solve a territorial dispute.

A Eurasian Kestrel feeding on a lizard prey deserves attention no matter how far it is perched or how high, on this occasion.

I never had much luck with photographing Ospreys. These migratory raptors are usually shy and they are not so common to begin with in the first place. However, this lone bird that flew relatively low provided my best images of this graceful raptor to date.

From the grasslands, we then turned our attention to the small pockets of secondary forest along the fringes in search of the elusive Racket-tailed Treepie - another northern speciality. But the closest we came to a Treepie were the Black Drongos. This open country drongo finds shade from the midday sun along the tree lines and at times, quite a number can be found on a single tree.

Without much luck at the forest pockets, we drove to the ponds at the northern end and were greeted by a flock of Cotton Pygmy Geese. The only other resident duck in Peninsula Malaysia, it is more uncommon than the Lesser Whistling-ducks and a lot better looking.

Unfortunately, they were as shy as they are adorable and any attempts to reduce the distance between us and the ducks ended with the latter flying further and further away.

A lone Pheasant-tailed Jacana paddling along the far side of the pond is a new record for Chuping. It is not unexpected to record this uncommon migrant here as the habitat is ideal and there are records from the nearby Timah-Tasoh Lake.

We patiently waited for this migratory jacana to come closer but it never did. So, I ended shooting more obliging subject like these resident Little Grebes. The population of Little Grebes and Eurasian Moorhens at these ponds are doing well indeed and I cannot think of any other place I have been in Peninsula Malaysia that has such a high concentration of these waterfowls.

To wrap things up for another outstanding trip here, we came across an Indian Roller that had just caught a gigantic grasshopper. The lighting condition was just right for me to capture fast action shots and with much clarity for once. Chuping again prove itself to be 'the' place for rarities and vagrants. Two lifers in a single trip is very much a rarity for me now and I was not too disappointed about dipping out on the skylark. A couple of months left before the end of the migratory season and then it will be a very anxious wait to see how much of this unique habitat will lose its place to the encroaching rubber plantations. And will Chuping still remain a sanctuary for unexpected winter visitors. That is something only time can tell.

The Asian Waterbird Census (AWC) is an annual event coordinated by Wetlands International. Each year in January, volunteers from across Asia and Australasia will conduct the AWC in their respective countries. I am no scientist but I derive endless fascination from birds. That is why whenever I can, I do my part and help out in some conservation work. The AWC and My Garden Birdwatch (MYGB) are just some of the citizen scientist projects that I commit myself to. For the AWC this year, we did counts at two sites. Together with Dave and Hor Kee, we started off the first count at the sandy shores of Kuala Muda in mainland Penang.

Once we got ourselves comfortable, it was down to business. Here, on the exposed sandbars, a high concentration of terns rest in between feedings and tides. Egrets and a small number of waders will also use these resting stations. The count was conducted from the shore and it was a fair distance from the birds. There is no point to risk spooking the birds when doing a count. Stationery birds are much easier to count than flying ones - believe me. By mid morning, we concluded the count here. It was a good session as there were about 3,000 terns present consisting mostly of Common Terns and as well as a few Brown-headed Gulls.

The resident dark-morphed Pacific Reef Egret provided the photographic highlight for me after the count. This coastal species is the rarest egret after the globally endangered Chinese Egret in Peninsula Malaysia. The coastline here is one of the few spots in Penang where it is regularly encountered.

The elevated rocky outcrops next to the coastline where the egret had landed to forage provided the ideal cover for me to sneak up on my subject and successfully obtained my best images of this species to date. Being the only the egret in Malaysiawith two colour morphs makes it unique and it is a species that I have always wanted to obtain good images. Looks like I got my wish today...

We had a few hours to kill before the next session of our AWC. The nearby paddy field was a very inviting option to pass the time. Upon our arrival, a flock of about 60 Asian Openbills were seen riding the thermals further confirming the fact that these enigmatic storks are still present in my home state. The paddy fields had quite a number of egrets about. Here is an image depicting the differences between the Great Egret and the Intermediate Egret.

I had a frustrating time trying to obtain decent shots of the Red-throated Pipit during my last birding trip that is at the grasslands of Chuping in Perlis. We came across a handful of these uncommon migrants again today but unfortunately, they are not any better than their northern comrades. I will get you guys one day...

Our second AWC session was by boat as we counted roosting waders along the Bagan Belat Important Bird Area (IBA) coastline which was not too far from the first count site. We were joined by Choo Eng and a few others including representatives from the local council. It is part of the Malaysian Nature Society's effort to get this site protected and turned it into some kind of an ecological reserve for tourists and future generations to enjoy - with the help of the local council.

Our 'guests' were in for a treat as we came across a few high tide roosts that had thousands of waterbirds. As we were doing the count on a boat, good images of individual species were difficult to obtain due to the distance and the constant rocking of the boat.

No matter what the distance, the Eurasian Curlew is almost impossible to miss because it is one of the largest waders in Malaysia and with a bill that is almost as long as its body.

A flock of Bar-tailed Godwits was looking very comfortable roosting at the water's edge. This is another species that spots an impressive looking bill.

Flocks of Common Redshanks are another species that were easy to pick out because of their vocal nature and distinct colouration.

This distant shot is of a flock of Common Greenshanks and Marsh Sandpipers. There were no Nordmann's Greenshanks here as initially thought (Thanks, Dave for the correction).

The Asian Dowitcher is another scarce winter migrant to Malaysia and deserves just as much attention.

Larger waterbirds were easier subjects for our guests to observe and appreciate. The resident Grey Herons were certainly one of them.

The Great Egrets also did their part to help keep the boat trip interesting...

We, on the other hand, required no such motivation to earn our undivided attention. The presence of 10,000 waders was more than what we could ever ask for. This was certainly a much better session of our AWC - as expected. Another exciting discovery was the 300 Brown-headed Gulls resting at one of the high tide roosts. This is probably the highest concentration of gulls in Malaysia.

A few of the gulls were quite near to our boat and they provided some great photographic opportunities.

This is a juvenile as it lacks the characteristic wing 'mirrors' of the adult bird.

Some were also swimming in the vicinity like this juvenile that has just caught quite a sizable meal. Beginner's luck, perhaps?

And if that was not enough, there were at least three of the much rarer Black-headed Gulls present as well. This adult bird was flying not too far from our boat and provided the only image I could obtain of them.

Initially, only the commoner terns were counted like this Common Tern...

That was until our boat passed some mussel farms out at sea. Consisting of cement poles jutting out from the water, they provided the perfect perches for the sea-loving terns to rest on.

The majority of the terns recorded here were the Great Crested Terns - much to our delight.

Beautiful and majestic even in non-breeding plumage, this uncommon species provided the photographic highlights for the afternoon session.

The poles were quite crowded as there were about 55 Great Crested Terns present in the vicinity. Squabbles for space were inevitable…

Among the Great Crested Terns, there was a lone Lesser Crested Tern which is the rarer of the two species. It was almost too good to be true as I have had very little photographic opportunities with both species in the past. And now, here they are together at the same spot and so obliging. Truly a magical moment…

The Common Terns that were also making full use of the poles and are dwarfed by the larger Crested Terns. The former are outnumbered here because they prefer roosting on the sandbanks of Kuala Muda where we conducted the first session of the count.

A lone Whiskered Terns was present as well and I took a few shots of this widespread marsh tern just as we were about to head back to the jetty. This year's AWC was probably the most memorable and rewarding one that I have ever had. It just goes to show that it does pay to give back to Mother Nature once in a while.

A couple of weeks ago, I received an email from a British birder enquiring about birding around Penang. One thing led to another and soon, I found myself with a mother and son team of British birders at my local patch - the swamp forest of Air Hitam Dalam in mainland Penang on a beautiful Sunday morning.

This small area of birding delight has yet to disappoint any of my guests so far and it provided yet another memorable outing. The resident pair of Brown Hawk-owls had a lot do with the outcome. They were at their usual roosting tree and by now, are quite accustomed to human presence. Daytime observations of roosting owls are not a common thing but this locality is probably where you stand a better chance of experiencing them.

The Forest Wagtail is a common migrant to Peninsula Malaysia. However, I do not have much luck with obtaining their images but that was before this individual unexpectedly walked up to where we were standing and just stood there posing. Well, are you going to photograph me or not?

Unfortunately, a lot of the images that I took had some blurred motion because the wagtail did not remain still for long. And I simply did not have the time to adjust my camera's settings. Either that or I was too excited. This was the best encounter I ever had with a Forest Wagtail and the bold markings that we normally take for granted, were simply mesmerizing at this close distance.

At noon, we were about to call it a day as this was only a half-day tour. However, Air Hitam Dalam had one last surprise for our group. From the car park, I could make out some all-too-familiar silhouettes circling in the sky above and it is a sight I have not come across for the past four months. The Asian Openbills have returned and all my worries about them moving on to another place for good can be put to rest. Although it is only a small flock of about 50-strong, it was still a breathtaking sight.

For the second day of their tour, the Vickers found themselves surrounded by the captivating sights and sounds of the tropical rain forest as we visited the Sungai Sedim Recreational Forest in Kedah. As it is their first time birding in such a habitat, it was a little overwhelming for them especially during the birdwaves. Thankfully for them, and me, some of the participants of the waves did remain still long enough for us to enjoy some good and prolonged views. This male Green Iora that was preoccupied with the meal at hand was certainly one of them. It is one of the many canopy-loving denizens of the rainforest here and close views are hard to come by. So, this encounter had both foreign and local birders quivering with excitement.

During a wave, you can easily overlook some of the birds. Several species frantically foraging for food can be very distracting and confuses their enemies and the birders alike. And if the bird is drably-coloured than the chances of it being overlooked is even higher. But there was no way in the world I could have overlooked this unfamiliar flycatcher that alighted momentarily on an exposed perch in front of us. It took a second for its identity to kick in but it was a female Green-backed Flycatcher - a scarce migrant that I have only seen once before. No wonder she looked unfamiliar!

On the way back from Sungai Sedim, I took my guests to a location that hardly seemed relevant for a birding tour - a motocross track. But to the local birders, this relatively unknown locality in Penanti in mainland Penang is one of the best places to observe bee-eaters. At this time of year, the Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters will be on hand to perform for any visiting birders.

It is a mystery why the birds choose this location to call home as they could have easily found similar habitats in adjacent areas. Whatever it is, they appeared to have found their little piece of heaven and so have the birders.

The Red-wattled Lapwing is not a bird you can easily miss. Being loud and colourful, it is one of the most conspicuous waders of the open country and a good bird to wrap things for this time.

Dave and Hor Kee came back from a spontaneous weekday trip to the Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary in Perak with an adult male Rosy Starling record. I have only seen this scarce migrant only once before and it was from this locality as well. But back then, it was just a dull-looking juvenile bird and incomparable to the beauty of the adult male that is worthy of a Shakespearean line. At the break of dawn the following Saturday I found myself scanning the very area the starling was last seen - naturally.

There were plenty of the usual starlings and mynas but no signs of my target bird. Despite a careful sweep, all I could find after an hour were more Jungle Mynas. Where is Rosy, bud?

A pair of Cinereous Tits foraged did come into view while I was waiting for the Rosy Starling but the strong morning sun at their backs and the distance did very little to cheer me up despite their adorable presence.

The Pied Triller is common even in built-up areas but I do not have many good photos of the striking male bird. So when a male happen to alight on the same tree as the Tits, I gave him his due attention.

The mangrove here is the stronghold of the Sunda Woodpecker. Like the Cinerous Tit, it is also a mangrove specialist and is an absolute delight to observe it going about its daily routine.

The majestic White-bellied Sea-eagle is always a sight to behold despite being one of the commonest eagles in Peninsula Malaysia. This individual seemed to favour a perch that was just next to the access trail. But the thing was it is quite skittish and every time a vehicle (or a birder) passes by, it will take off only to come back a few minutes later.

On the contrary, this smaller Black-shouldered Kite that was also perched on a dead tree next the access trail was not the least bothered by human presence. Its confiding nature provided me with some good images and this kite is one of the most elegant-looking raptors around.

During the migratory season, it is not hard to see five different species of kingfishers within the boundaries of this bird sanctuary. The Collared Kingfisher is the commonest one at this coastal hotspot and this pair looks set for the coming breeding season. Love is certainly in the air.

The Common Kingfisher is not as common as its name implies. It is a winter visitor to suitable watery habitats throughout Peninsula Malaysia but rarely found in big numbers.

The largest and loudest of them all is undoubtedly the Stork-billed Kingfisher. With a bill like that, it is almost impossible to miss this stunning species whenever it is around.

And talking about loud, the breeding season will signal the beginning of the persistent, almost to the point of being annoying, territorial calls of the Asian Koel. Anyone in Peninsula Malaysia, birder or non-birder alike, is familiar with the call of this parasitic cuckoo. I mean how can anyone not know the bird that calls loudly throughout the day and sometimes even through the night during the breeding season? However, hearing the bird is one thing. Locating it is another as it is quite efficient at staying out of view.

This exceptionally tame Striated Heron provided one of the highlights of the day. Undoubtedly the commonest heron in Peninsula Malaysia, it occurs in a wide range of habitats from the big monsoon drains of the city centers to the rivers of the lowland forests.

Because of their abundance, this species is usually ignored by birders and I am also guilty of this at times. But I find it hard to ignore any bird that is putting on a performance like this…

Large waterbirds are certainly one of my favourites and here, they are found in good numbers. On this particular trip, there were quite a number of Grey Herons in the vicinity.

The number of juveniles present is a good indication that this species doing well here indeed.

Kuala Gula is the one of the last few places left on Earth where the globally endangered Milky Storks still roam wild and free. The pure, wild birds are usually found deep in their coastal domain and the best way to see them is by boat. However, the Wildlife Department did some reintroduction programs years back and these semi-wild storks can be seen quite regularly near the park headquarters.

In fact, they are so accustomed to humans that they are actually like to be near human civilization. At times, they can be as tame as domestic pigeons but they are still Milky Storks and some admiration is inevitable.

One last image to wrap up the trip and the honour goes to a confiding Garden Fence Lizard that posed so willingly for me. By the way, I found out at the time of writing that the Rosy Starling was seen again in the same area the day after my visit. Welcome to the wonderful world of birding...

An invitation from Dave to meet up for some birding at Chuping in Perlis was a little too good to pass despite the fact that I had to leave early for home in the afternoon. The trip certainly did not start off well for me as traffic came to a total standstill along the North-South Highway just after Sungai Petani. A lorry transporting concrete beams spilled its load all over the highway. It took more than an hour to clear up the mess and I was at my boiling point limit by then. I know that I am not very patient on the road and I guess that is something I need to work on. A new resolution, perhaps?

Anyway, I reached my destination later than planned and quickly made my way to the ponds where Dave was enjoying a Pheasant-tailed Jacana. Lucky for me, the jacana was still around at that time doing what it was born to do - foraging on floating vegetation. It was partly hidden but with a little patience (which is never an issue when birding), I managed to obtain a few reasonable shots.

There were a few Yellow Bitterns foraging in the same area as well. I had my sight set on one of them but it adopted its defensive posture when I got too close. It was quite confident with this strategy and I was allowed to practically walked till the water's edge. You can't see me...you can't see me...

A Little Cormorant unknowingly alighted near our stationery vehicles to take a breather from the morning hunt. Being the shy creature that it is, the sound of our camera shutter immediately sent it flying to the far side of the pond.

It was certainly a bright and beautiful day and the lighting condition was near perfect when we came across this small flock of Cotton Pygmy-geese foraging in one of the ponds.

Although the flock consisted of youngsters, it was still an exciting experience as this species is not that common. It is absent from my home state of Penang and I do not have many photographic opportunities like this.

The lone male of the flock was not in his prime yet but he was a handsome bird nevertheless. Inevitably, I paid more attention to him than his slightly drabber companions.

The lighting was even good enough for my modest setup to capture some swiftlets in flight. Well, maybe not some but one image was quite acceptable by my standards. It was a Germain’s Swiftlet, I think…

A Manchurian Reed-warbler had our undivided attention for quite a period of time. Unfortunately, it lived up to its reputation of being one of the most skulking Reed-warblers known to men and only gave the faintest of glimpses as it moved about the reeds. The Oriental Reed-warbler again proved that not all Reed-warblers are such a pain in the posterior and posed long enough for its image to be taken.

It was dry and dusty along the network of trails that cuts through the grasslands. And we have had better days in terms of birding. We did not really try to locate the Brahminy Starling but it was not at its usual haunt. This Asian Pied Starling, on the other hand, was being its usual conspicuous self.

We spent some time flogging the grasslands for rare passerines. The Oriental Skylark continues to elude my life list. Only the common Oriental Pipits were recorded today despite a few exciting moments for would-be Richard's and Blyth's Pipits. Richard, is that you? Dream on, human...

As for the raptors, only the usual suspects were present today. I only got round to shooting this female Common Kestrel which glided above us at the noon hour.

The army was conducting training at one end of the grassland and we made sure we avoided that section. A military plane flying low over the vicinity momentarily diverted our attention from the birds. And all of a sudden, the sky was filled with paratroopers. It was raining men at Chuping. This place is just full of surprises. Although it is non bird-related, it was still a first for me. Yes, this is the first time I have seen a parachute in real life. And judging from the crowd that started to form along the side of the main road, I am not the only one.

I still had a bit of time left after lunch and Dave managed to convince me to try for the Dusky Craig Martins at the limestone hills of nearby Bukit Jernih. This martin is the last swallow species missing from my Malaysian life list and after thorough search my life list remains as it is.

I would to take this opportunity to wish all those celebrating the Lunar New Year, GONG XI FA CHAI!

This year my Chinese New Year celebrations are a little more extensive than usual. Lucky for me I still had a free morning for birding but with the time constraint, I could not afford to travel far and it was down to my usual haunts again. Seeing that Dave had a very exciting excursion at Sungai Sedim in Kedah recently (check out his blog posting here), I decided to try my luck there as well. Who knows, maybe the Year of the Goat will bring some good fortune to this Penang birder. It seemed quite appropriate that the first bird to catch my attention during this Chinese New Year excursion was a male Chinese Blue Flycatcher. It is an uncommon migrant to forested areas in Peninsula Malaysia and a great way to get things rolling. However, his preference for the gloomy lower levels of the forest made photography difficult.

The Ang Pow (red packet) I received from Sungai Sedim this year was when I came across a fruiting tree teeming with birds. Bulbuls formed the majority of the patrons and curiously the usually common Black-headed Bulbuls were no where to be seen this time. The equally common Red-eyed Bulbuls, on the other hand, did not even bother to conceal themselves at all in my presence.

The Cream-vented Bulbul is another commonly recorded species here and its pale iris is what usually distinguishes it from the Red-eyed Bulbul.

Gradually, the rest of the birds accepted me being there and returned to take advantage of this heaven-sent food supply. Looks like I am not the only gaining a few extra pounds during this festive season. The usually elegant-looking Ashy Bulbul may not be anymore by the time they are done judging from the way they were gorging on the fruits.

Sungai Sedim is one of the few strongholds of the uncommon Finsch's Bulbul and being extremely vocal, their loud nasal calls announce their arrival each time they return to the feast like a welcoming band.

I recorded a total of 12 different species of bulbuls on this fruiting tree but not all were tolerant of my presence and some even avoided my photographic attempts. The Buff-vented Bulbuls were certainly not one of them and provided me with some of my best images of this common species to date.

It is undeniable that most bulbul species look quite similar to each other in the field and sometimes you have to pay a little more attention to the finer details to get the identities right. For the Grey-bellied Bulbul, I do not think it is necessary at all.

Being one of the most striking of all our bulbuls, it stood out from all the shades of brown and grey that were present. Naturally, I was smitten by its beauty and paid more attention to it. I am only human after all.

But there is another whose beauty equals or even surpasses that of the Grey-bellied Bulbul and it is the Scaly-breasted Bulbul. Usually found in the canopy level, good photographic opportunities are hard to come by. The feast was a little too much for it to resist and I finally managed to obtain really good shots of this forest denizen from almost eye level.

The intricate patterns of the underparts as well as the contrasting colours of the upperparts make this bulbul one of the most beautiful birds of the tropical rainforest.

The Streaked Bulbul dropped in for a short while only but luckily I managed to capture one shot before its abrupt departure. Perhaps the tree was a little too crowded for its liking.

Foraging among the shadows was a small flock of Hairy-backed Bulbuls. I was certainly spoilt for choice this time round and waiting for these skulking bulbuls to come to more open areas simply did not cross my mind. There were just too many distractions around.

The adorable flowerpeckers were also in good numbers at the fruiting tree and a total of 5 different species were present. The Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker is commonly found in the forest here and it comes as no surprise to find one gorging on the fruits.

The similar-looking Yellow-vented Flowerpecker is not often encountered and the presence of a single bird did not go unappreciated.

There is always a sense of anticipation whenever you come across a fruiting tree because you never know what might show up next. Deep inside, you always keep your fingers crossed for a rarity to come along and today, one did. It was a gorgeous male Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker and I have only seen this species once before at Maxwell Hill in Perak. It has been so long that I almost forgot the whirlwind of emotions that swept through me when I saw this species for the very first time. But when I saw the piercing red breast again today, it all came back to me and what a rush it was! Unfortunately, he was very shy and took flight as soon as I pointed my camera at him. And that was the last I saw of him.

My failure to obtain even a single shot of the Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker was a very bitter pill to swallow. Luckily, a rather confiding male Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker was there to help ease my disappointment.

Almost just as striking as his rarer cousin, he certainly did not mind my presence as he helped himself to the fruits. I guess some are more easily seduced by food than others.

A pair of Dark-throated Orioles was also wary of my presence despite my best attempt to keep myself inconspicuous throughout my observation at the fruiting tree. The pulling power of the tantalizing fruits got the better of the male bird and he did come for a quick bite before returning back to the cover of the canopy levels.

I have recorded the Plaintive Cuckoo from this location before but only from the adjacent fruit orchards. When a small cuckoo alighted nearby the fruiting tree, I was certainly not expecting a Plaintive Cuckoo. Did word got round of this Chinese New Year banquet and has it even reached beyond the borders of the forest?

The Plaintive Cuckoo may be a little out of place in the dense forest but the migratory Hodgson's Hawk-cuckoo is right at home here. I could have easily walked past it when I made my way out of the forest if not for a pair of Little Spiderhunters that mistook the cuckoo for a real raptor and were mobbing it. Their persistent calls made me stop to look and only then did I realize the presence of the cuckoo. I may not be aware of its presence initially but it was certainly aware of mine.

A little bit of stalking got me slightly closer and I managed to take a few more shots before the cuckoo glided out of sight. Although I did not get to meet up with some old friends like the Malaysian Honeyguide and the Wallace's Hawk-eagle, it was still a great way to spend a Chinese New Year morning - among other feathered friends that have always been an important part of my life.

Perlis may be the smallest state in Peninsula Malaysia but it is certainly not short of surprises in terms of birding. Recently, more than a handful of Malaysia’s first records were discovered here in this northernmost state and it now has a reputation of being a twitcher’s paradise. The Universiti Malaysia Perlis Guest House is a small resort located in a particularly unknown area called Kurong Tegar and it was here that a Thai birder, Piyapong Chotipuntu, discovered what looked like Malaysia’s first Red-backed Shrike. Immediately, plans were made and strategies formed to try and relocate this vagrant the following weekend. And together with Dave, I made my way to my first twitch of the year.

At first light, we started the search and it did not take long for us to come face to face with Malaysia’s first Red-backed Shrike. As it is a first record, I have no field experience with this species before but lucky for me, I had Dave and he was not truly convinced. The plumage was odd for a male Red-backed Shrike and this species is no stranger to hybridization which only made matters worse. So, we took as many shots as possible hoping that they will be enough to confirm his identity later. We needed a shot of its tail fanned out but the shrike had no intentions of making things that easy for us. Once we got back home, Dave studied the photos and did the research. I, mostly seek help from birding friends and experts. At the time of writing, the true identity of the shrike is yet to be confirmed but it is almost certain to be a hybrid because there are just too many inconsistencies for it to be a pure Red-backed Shrike.

There is a particular heap of cut branches that has become his favorite vantage point. We decided to spend quite some time there as the shrike will frequently return to this perch. Here, we managed to obtain the best images of this rare visitor.

When the sun was finally up, the shrike retreated into the compound of the resort and continued his morning hunt. We were allowed to enter the resort compound and we continued our efforts to obtain more photographs.

Eventually, we left the shrike in peace and proceeded to check out the surrounding areas especially the adjacent estuary. As made our way through the scrub, there were quite a number of Streak-eared Bulbuls present. Here in northern Peninsula Malaysia, this species is just as common as the Yellow-vented Bulbuls and both species seems to be doing well living next to each other.

When you are in Perlis, you should not take any species for granted. Not even the ever-abundant Eurasian Tree Sparrows because the similar-looking House Sparrow could be the next species to go into the Malaysian checklist. But nothing out of the ordinary about this Eurasian Tree Sparrow though. Except maybe the fact that it a little too close to the mudflats and risk getting stuck…

There were a number of waterbirds present on the small patch of mudflats next to the river mouth. Even at this distance, I could make out that some of the Pond-herons here were Javan Pond-herons. As we got closer, we counted 10 of these scarce migrants foraging at this locality and that figure alone was an exciting record.

We noticed a few egrets foraging at the water's edge and Dave commented that this habitat looks good for a Chinese Egret. And just like that, a partial breeding plumage Chinese Egret strolled into his field of view. I immediately diverted my attention to this globally endangered egret. It was unfortunate that it was not in full breeding plumage because this species is truly a sight to behold.

Chinese Egrets in all stages of non-breeding plumage is not easy to identify. They look very similar to the white-phased Pacific Reef-egret and it will take a discerning eye to tell them apart. Little Egrets sometimes sport a pale lower mandible, much like the non-breeding Chinese Egret and confusions arise when the legs and toes of the former are discoloured by mud or hidden from sight. Anyway, here is a comparison shot depicting the slight difference of their body structures with the Chinese Egret on the right.

And the rarities did not end there. Remarkably, this small patch of mudflats also had a Little Stint and a Swinhoe’s Plover– both rare migrants to Malaysia. As the rare peeps were a little to far away for my camera, I decided to turn my attention to a flock of Kentish Plovers. Some of the males are in their breeding plumages and look absolutely stunning.

Seeing that we were on a roll, we flogged the adjacent mangroves for other rarities that might be lurking. I guess expecting a Brown-winged Kingfisher or even a Black-hooded Oriole was pushing it a little. Although this part of Perlis is probably the closest you can get to the Langkawi Islands by land, it is still a very long shot as there is very little or no evidence of these two species occurring anywhere else in Malaysia except Langkawi. Nevertheless, we were rewarded with a brief view of the sexy blue back of a Ruddy Kingfisher as it darted past us and disappeared into the mangroves. In the end, we had to settle for an easier subject which was a confiding Mangrove Whistler. The whiplash calls of this species are usually the only telltale signs of its presence. Good views are hard to obtain and unobstructed photographs, even harder. So, it will do…

Since we have traveled all the way here from Penang, it only made sense to do a quick round of the other birding hotpots here in Perlis. Timah Tasoh was our next destination as the lake and surrounding scrublands can sometimes hold little surprises that can brightened up any birder’s day. However, nothing much of real interest was present today. Our only consolation was superb views of a pair of Bronzed Drongos. In good light, the iridescent markings do make this little drongo an object of admiration.

The grassland at Chuping was scorching and dusty. But it would be a sin to give this site a miss as we were just a few kilometers away. So, we decided to make it the last leg of our Perlis excursion. It was a decision that we certainly did not live to regret. A small flock of Oriental Pratincoles finally gave us a reason to stop and do some birding instead of trawling along the grasslands that was almost void of bird life.

It was a very warm and bright afternoon. Not the sort of lighting condition that you wish for in a photo shoot. But despite it, we managed to capture some really good images of this enigmatic wader. The confiding nature of the flock no doubt played a big role for the result of this encounter.

During our last trip here, we flushed a sandpiper from one of the ponds that had Dave, because of the brief view we were given, reluctantly dismiss a Green Sandpiper for the commoner Wood Sandpiper in the end. A visit to the same pond was inevitable and again, a slightly dark sandpiper was flushed. But this time it landed on the far end of the pond instead of doing a disappearing act like the last time. It was a Green Sandpiper after all – just as we had suspected. The Green Sandpiper may not be much of a looker but its rare status was enough to garner our admiration. We left the ponds some time after because the sandpiper showed no sign that we can improve on our images. Both of us thought the Green Sandpiper is a great way to end a truly rewarding trip. So we thought…

A quick scan on the towering pylons over the grassland produced something that made me feel a little light headed. It has been many years since the last I saw this raptor in real life and now, I finally have a chance to capture its images. The Short-toed Eagle has been sporadically recorded here in Chuping over the past two seasons but somehow, it has always managed to elude me.

I cannot believe that our last bird for the trip turned out to be another rarity. Unlike the earlier rarities, this was a magnificent bird of prey. We were running a little late as I have a family dinner later that evening but I was enjoying a Short-toed Eagle and that was a strong enough reason to risk the wrath of my better half. When it took flight, it circled back twice before flying away – much to our delight. It could be making up for all those time that it let me down in the past. Or it just wanted to have a better look at those humans standing under the hot sun covered with dust but with a wide grin on their faces.

So, here concludes our birding adventure to the beloved state of Perlis. One last shot of the Short-toed Eagle to wrap things up this time. With one “first” record for Malaysia, a handful of rare migrants and just enough time to make it back for a family dinner, this trip was certainly up there among the best for me.

We took up the task to guide a big group of Taiwanese birders that were interested in doing a morning's birding at Sungai Sedim in Kedah but had a few hours to spare in the morning before the group's arrival. To kill time, we did some scouting around to prepare for the group’s tour later. At the main car park, our intentions to have a better look at a male Blue-banded Kingfisher led us to a fruiting tree by the river. Two weeks ago, I came so painfully close to photographing a male Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker and in birding, you rarely get second chances especially when it comes to rarities. But when you do, you better make sure to make the best of it - even if the lighting was less than desirable!

Unbelievably, there were three males and one female feasting this tree. I was not aware there so many males around initially. I guess I was just lost in the moment. After all this Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker is one of the most beautiful and rarest of our forest birds. It is one of those birds that I have wanted to shoot since the day I took up photography and only after more than decade, I finally got the opportunity. But the long wait made this moment all the sweeter. As the lighting condition improved so did my images.

The plumage of the male is just gorgeous. The red breast patch is so vivid that sometimes all you see is a spot of red moving about the foliages. And the red patch was so mesmerizing that I could hardly focus on the drabber female and all the other birds that were feeding on the fruiting tree.

In between shooting the Scarlet-breasted Flowerpeckers, I had to force myself to pay some attention to the other birds. My fascination with this species had already cost me a Thick-billed Flowerpecker. Not quite as rare as the former and certainly not as aesthetically appealing but it is still a species that I have no images of to date. Anyway, the latter made a brief appearance was not seen again for the rest of the morning. I did manage to capture a few shots of the male Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker and he was another stunning representative of this family of birds.

The Yellow-vented Flowerpecker was lost among the sea of colours that were present on the fruiting tree.

The variety of Bulbuls was just as rich as the other fruiting tree I was observing at this locality a couple of weeks back. Due to the time constraint and the Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker phenomenon, I neglected them longer than I really should. The stunning Grey-bellied Bulbul was among the dozen or so bulbul species present.

I did not notice this Finsch's Bulbul until it was literally at my face. Sorry, bud. You know I still love you, right?

Our guests were scheduled to arrive mid morning and we waited for them at the open space of the 'bus park'. The Grey-rumped Treeswifts were present in good numbers here but they tend to perch and rest much higher up and good photographic opportunities are rare. This lone female rested on a slightly lower perch than the others and I showered her with the admiration that she so truly deserves.

When we could see the bus coming down the road, a pair of a Crested Goshawks decided to put on an aerial display. This goshawk is not uncommon but I have been struggling to obtain reasonable good images of it. I quickly took a few shots before we greeted our Taiwanese guests. And what better way to be greeted than having the first words said to you as you get down from the bus were "Crested Goshawk".

Chin Hock was the tour leader for this group. Dave, Hor Kee and I were assisting him for the group's visit to this birding site. The reason why this site was chosen was because it was along the way to Royal Belum in northern Perak where a few days of delightful birding will be waiting for the convoy. They could not have chosen a better site because having Scarlet-breasted Flowerpeckers at such close proximity is nothing short of a miracle at the time for me.

Apart from this, we also managed to find another fruiting tree that had barbets and pigeons for the group's birding pleasure. Quite a number of the other denizens of this recreational forest including male Asian Emerald and Violet Cuckoos did their part to welcome all 36 of our Taiwanese guests. There was also a flock of possible Swinhoe's Minivets, a recent addition to the Malaysian checklist, but since we are on tour, we could not spend too much time chasing rarities.

This male Orange-backed Woodpecker was foraging a little beyond the range of my photography setup and was not performing well but he certainly got our foreign guests all excited. I guess it is only natural for local birders to sometimes take the local birds for granted - even if is something as splendid as a male Orange-backed Woodpecker.

The tour ended on a high note, naturally. After a heavy lunch we bid them farewell and all the best at Belum. The three of us then decided to make a little detour to look for roosting Barred Eagle-owls on the way back to Penang and were not disappointed. The resident pair was roosting on a huge Rain Tree just outside the perimeter fencing of a power station.

It was most unfortunate that the afternoon sun was in front of us and our gear was pushed to the limit in order to obtain some slightly reasonable shots. The owls were giving us the evil throughout the encounter and we kept it to a minimum.

We made one last stop before Penang and it was the small area of wetlands within the Kulim Hi-Tech Park that played host to a wintering Green Sandpiper two seasons ago. The sandpiper was no where to be seen but during the search, we came across a female Greater Painted-snipe. Unlike most other bird species, the female is the one that has the looks.

There must be some leftover luck from last week's "Red-backed Shrike" encounter as the resident Long-tailed Shrike that terrorizes small wildlife of the wetlands here was a lot more confiding than usual. So far, this year has been an absolute blast and my only worry is whatever that goes up must come down. But I sincerely hope it will not be someday soon.

I was a man on a mission. During my last excursion, I literally ignored the female Scarlet-breasted Flowerpeckers due to the mesmerizing beauty of the male bird and the time constrain as I had to attend to my Taiwanese guests. So, it was back to the now-famous fruiting tree at Sungai Sedim in Kedah where at least two pairs of Scarlet-breasted Flowerpeckers have been performing well for birders all over Malaysia for the past week and that meant I still had a chance to make things right.

I arrive at the locality just after dawn and I was determined not to let anything distract me from the mission at hand. Just as the flowerpeckers started to gather at the tree, two Rhinoceros Hornbills had to swoop into the other fruiting tree across the river just to show how easily I can be seduced by their magnificence.

The male Scarlet-breasted Flowerpeckers were easily picked out from the rest and it is all because of that piercing red breast patch!

The females, on the other hand, required a little more attention. They were outnumbered by the similar-looking immature Yellow-breasted Flowerpeckers which made my task more difficult.

I had no choice but to use my bins in order to ascertain the identity of the female Scarlet-breasted Flowerpeckers before I put my camera on them. I did manage to obtain their images in the end. Despite the females not showing as well as the males, I am rather please with the results.

I have to admit. I am weak. In between shooting the females, I could not resist taking a few shots of the males. How could I possibly ignore such a wonder of nature whilst keeping my sanity? Truly striking...

For this trip, I had the luxury of time. The sun finally hit the foliage of the fruiting tree around mid morning. And I now also have images of this forest jewel glittering in the sun.

But to be fair, the commoner male Crimson-breasted Flowerpeckers gave a memorable performance as well. Totally unperturbed by the presence of birders (naturally I was join by a few other birders within the first hour of daylight), they foraged right to the lowest and nearest branches.

Even the much larger bulbuls were not as confiding as these flowerpeckers but this Buff-vented Bulbul came close to matching their bravery or should I say gluttony?

The Grey-bellied Bulbuls kept to the top most part of the tree throughout the morning...

The Hairy-backed Bulbuls foraged along the lower part of the tree but never once in full unobstructed view...

When it comes to identifying brownish bulbuls, the eyes say it all most of the time. This would have made a good shot of the Spectacled Bulbul if not for the darn leaves.

A young Blue-winged Leafbird provided some variety to the feast dominated by bulbuls and flowerpeckers. The slight presence of blue on the plumage made my task of identifying it a little easier.

When all the birds have had their fill, the activity level at the fruiting tree dropped significantly and I decided to try my luck along the Gunung Bintang access trail. Am I seeing things because of late I have been seeing a lot of scarlet breast patches in Sungai Sedim. For example, this male Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker foraging on another fruiting tree way up in the canopy. He is probably the same individual as the one I encountered last month. It was very near the vicinity of the very first fruiting that drew out this elusive species and till now, he was still shy as hell. But nevertheless, he is the prelude to the Scarlet-breasted phenomenon at Sungai Sedim.

One month ago, I would have been happy as a lark with a shot like the above of the Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker. But now, nothing less than this will do. But seriously, we humans have a tendency to take things for granted once we “have” them. The fruits are not going to last forever. Once they are depleted, these flowerpeckers will disappear back into the cover of the forest. I may have to wait another fifteen years or so for another opportunity like this if I am lucky. That is why I made sure I took as many shots as possible and enjoy this phenomenon while it lasts.

The call of the Red-naped Trogon that sounded really close made me freeze immediately. Surprisingly, it did not take much effort this time to locate the trogon. It was a male bird calling persistently along the canopy level but with his back towards me.

When he finally shifted position, I could see his underparts that suggested that he was still an immature bird. However, his new position was beyond the comfort zone of my gear.

While making my way back home, I made a little detour to check on the roosting Barred Eagle-owls. I only managed to locate one this time but it was perched much lower and closer to the access road. So close that I actually feel a little uneasy as the owl was looking at me intently. And to make things worse, I used my bike for this trip so I was not surrounded by steel and glass.

All of a sudden, the cries of a Changeable Hawk-eagle got both owl and birder looking towards the direction of the eagle. It turned out to be a juvenile taking full advantage of the blistering heat to ride the thermals. Interestingly, the owl seemed to feel that I was the lesser of the two evils and stared at the eagle until the latter gradually circled away. Then it was back to me again. Anyway, I live to 'blog' the tale and the owl was certainly a great way to wrap things up this time.

A trip to remember (02-06/12/2014)

Trust your instincts (06/12/2014)

Patience is a virtue (13/12/2014)

Gulls galore...

Almost paradise...(20/12/2014)

The Pearl has not lost all its glitter after all (23/12/2014)

From north to south (27/12/2014)

Dawn of a new year (01/01/2015)

Wader wonderland...(03-04/01/2015)

Birding the easy way

Rain or shine...(10-11/01/2015)

Northern windfall (17/01/2015)

Giving back...(24/01/2015)

Return of the openbills

Wherefore art thou now Rosy...(07/02/2015)

It's raining men! (14/02/2015)

A good start to the Year of the Goat (21/02/2015)

So close and yet so far...(28/02/15)

The one that didn't get away (07/03/2015)

Second chances (14/03/2015)