The Penang Birder

The journey from the Royal Bintang Hotel where I picked up Matthew, my latest guest who hails from the land down under, to Air Hitam Dalam did not take as long as I anticipated. Upon arrival, it was still dark but the birding hotspot was far from dead. Large-tailed Nightjars were establishing their territories one last time before seeking refuge from the light of day and Mangrove Blue Flycatchers signal the arrival of a brand new day with their repertoire of sweet whistles. The atmosphere provided the perfect built-up for the birding to come and we waited in anticipation for the break of dawn.

One of the first birds to greet us was a pair of Olive-winged Bulbuls. Occasionally, this bulbul can be rather confiding and this is certainly of those occasions. One of them was calling persistently and I can only assume it is the male establishing his territory. With the breeding season around the corner, it comes as no surprise when throughout this visit we encountered more birds pairing up.

There are quite a number of successful species here at Air Hitam Dalam like the Mangrove Blue Flycatchers. They are truly thriving in whatever is left of this swamp forest and have perfectly adapted to the lifestyle here. The pair that holds the territory at the rear car park area is the one that is most frequently encountered and photographed. And today, as expected, they provided another memorable performance for my guest to enjoy.

The resident pair of Brown Boobooks roosting next to each was the highlight of the trip. No matter how many times I have encountered them before, they still do it for me. Daytime sighting of owls is always exciting to me and photographing two in a single frame, no matter how common the species is, is a treasured experience.

The characteristic calls of the Collared Kingfisher drew our attention to the canopy where we saw a pair also preparing for the coming breeding season. Love is certainly in the air...

There are no woodpeckers in Australia and I really wanted to show one to Matthew. The star woodpecker of the locality, the Streak-breasted Woodpecker, did a fly-by which was too brief to ignite any sense of awe and excitement. The Banded Woodpecker, on the other hand, made sure that my guest goes home with a memorable encounter of an Asian woodpecker.

The male Banded Woodpecker is a beautiful representative of the forest here and his decision to be so confiding today amazes me as well. This close encounter is a great way to wrap things for this time. In fact, it is a great way to end the year as well. 2015 has been an amazing year and I am truly blessed to be able to experience all the excitement, beauty and fascination the birds provided. I also want to wish each and every one a Happy New Year.

The dawn of a new year was fast approaching. I have cramped myself uncomfortably among the nooks of a coastal rocky outcrop to hide my human form as best as I could. Beyond the outcrop, mudflats as far as the eye could see. However, I am here in this bleak environment along the north-western coastline of mainland Penang on my own free will. Somewhere out there is a first record for Malaysia and I have been looking forward to this for the past few days. At first light, I ushered in the first day of the year in the company of 10,000 waders and it is a true privilege to be able to witness such a breathtaking sight in my home state of Penang. And just in case anyone from the local authourities is reading this, if this is not an Important Bird Area (IBA) worth conserving, I swear to God I do not know what is.

However, the spectacle of such a high concentration of these fascinating birds could not hold my attention for long. Soon, I was scanning the surroundings for gulls and my heart skipped a beat when I found the first flock at the edge of the tide. Hor Kee found Malaysia's first Slender-billed Gull a few days ago and that is the sole reason for my visit here. After a couple of hours, Brown-headed Gulls were all that I had. The Slender-billed Gull is not that easy to distinguish from the commoner Brown-headed Gull to begin with. But I havescrutinised the gulls present today well enough to admit that the new year is not off to a very good start.

The descending tide did not provide comfort as well and the waders foraged further and further away from the shoreline. With about an hour's birding remaining in my New Year Day celebration schedule, I decided to make a bee line to my favourite local patch at Air Hitam Dalam. I could certainly use a little spiritual replenishment from this birding hotspot. My New Year morning birding excursions are usually a time to relax and reflect on life but not this time. It was just a whole lot of eye straining, anxiety and swearing. However, a Crow-billed Drongo on an exposed perch in good light set things right again. It may not be able to completely erase the earlier disappointment with the gull but it was an exciting encounter nevertheless. I wondered how even a 'black' bird like this drongo is able to stimulate my senses. And I could not find any good answers except for the fact that I love birds. Being able to observe and photograph these wonders of nature has always been my true passion in life. The birding world here is not quite the same as it was when I first started but so long as there are havens like Air Hitam Dalam and the birds continue to inspire and amaze, I will always be able to find my sanctuary.

A big flock of Ashy Minivets were seen combing the canopy levels for insects and other forms of prey but they were moving at such a vigorous pace making photography very challenging. The dense vegetation that the Minivets seemed favourable of was another setback.

Perched unobtrusively at the mid-canopy level, this Indian Cuckoo would have gone unnoticed had I have been less vigilant. Cuckoos usually betray their own presence with their persistent calls and the same applies to this species. However, the ones found at this locality are winter visitors and tend to be silent throughout their stay at this tropical retreat.

I have a keen interest in all kinds of wildlife and although on a lesser scale for butterflies, a confiding one will usually get my attention especially when I am taking a breather in between birding. It is not as brilliantly-coloured as some of the other species but it does make a nice addition to my database of insect photographs. It is always good to broaden one's horizon, right?

The lone female Tickell's Blue Flycatcher of Air Hitam Dalam was her usual confiding self as she rested among the undergrowth. The dim lighting (and my photographic gear) may have robbed her of some of her vibrancy but she is still as captivating as ever.

Her companion, a handsome male Mangrove Blue Flycatcher (it's complicated), posed ever so invitingly on a better-lit section of the undergrowth. These flycatchers have played a significant role in my birding tours throughout the year and it is only right that I let them wrapped up this short excursion this time. Dipping out on the Slender-billed Gull was a bitter pill to swallow but luckily, it lost its grip on me by the time I reached home. And I was able to be good company to my better half for the second half of my New Year Day celebration schedule.

I'm usually at the pickup points, wherever they may be, well before daybreak. That is unless the guests will be arriving in a cruise ship. This is not the first time for me to be picking up guests at Swettenham Pier but these cruise ships usually dock later than my preferred time to start my tours.

So once Gaetan and Christine got into my car, I had to get this French-Canadian globe-trotting birding couple to the closest birding hotspot and it was none other than Air Hitam Dalam.

With the breeding season just around the corner, the resident pair of Crested Serpent-eagles was making their intentions very clear. A sparse tree overlooking the rear car park appears to be one of their favourite vantage points to survey their kingdom. As common as these raptors may be, they are still regal and impressive.

The migratory Black Kites have a few more months to go before their biological clocks start clicking. For the time being, it is just easy living in a tropical paradise.

Meanwhile, closer down to Earth, this Abbott's Babbler made sure that it had our attention by providing a good performance. This is one of the best places to see this skulking species and at times, it looks a little out of place being away from the dense and dark realm of the undergrowth.

However, it could not outshine the Mangrove Blue-flycatchers (very few birds can at this locality) and this female was certainly one of the highlights of the visit. It was their first lifer of the trip and it certainly made an impression.

The next locality that we visited was the paddy fields of Permatang Pauh. The thing about paddy fields is that every month or so, the landscape changes. Exposed mud and shallow water patches, which are ideal for water fowl, will be overgrown with paddy stalks. It is only a matter time. It took a while for me to find a new 'birdy' patch on this visit and all I had to do was find a spot to park my car where all the motorcyclists could pass and enjoy the show. Grey-headed Lapwings, Ruffs, Common Snipe, Long-toed Stints, Temminck's Stint are among the water birds that made the visit here memorable. However, I was too preoccupied trying to locate more species and did not have too much time to shoot except for this foraging

Black-winged Stilt.

The open country habitats of Penanti were next line as we searched in vain for Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters and Oriental Pratincoles - two species that are in my guests' list of birds to see. A Black-thighed Falconet hunting from an electrical cable provided some comfort for missing out on the target birds. Small in size but big in character, the Falconet is always a delight to observe.

A visit to a couple of open country habitats within the Kulim Hi-Tech Park further north yielded no results for the 2 target birds as well. My guest have been to every continent on Earth and have recorded over 3,600 species of birds and it was good to see them excited when I showed them a roosting Savanna Nightjar even though it was in the shade and partly hidden. Judging from their reaction, I need not have to ask them if it was a lifer.

Our last location for the day was the hilly forest of Sungai Sedim where they managed to tick off another two lifers. The last leg of their tour provided some memorable encounters and some were courtesy of birds that they have seen before during their last trip to Malaysia 5 years ago. A couple of inquisitive Hairy-backed Bulbuls were certainly one of them.

Despite being one of the largest of our forest birds, good views of the Rhinoceros Hornbill are a bit of a novelty. A female that was perched on a distant tree certainly had us mermerised. It does not matter, if it is a close or far observation. If you do not get excited by the sight of this majestic creature, you do not deserve to be called a birder. My guests expected to see 10 lifers on this trip but unfortunately, I could only managed 8. But they were far from disappointed and I guess it had a lot to do with the non-lifers putting on memorable performances as well.

The grasslands of Chuping in Perlis beckoned again and this time, my regular guests, brothers Nigel and Jimmy, soaked in the picturesque sunrise before scanning the horizon for any signs of bird life. However, we did not need to look long or far. Caught in the golden light of the morning sun was a flock of Great Mynas. The origin of the birds found here is debateable but this season, there is a significant increase in numbers and today was the highest count for me – about 20 birds. Native or otherwise, this myna is absolutely alluring. I just cannot get over the wicked crest and that body anatomy alone could have won me over. It is most not found in my home state of Penang and we spent quite some time with them despite the strong pull of whatever that could be waiting for us further in the grasslands.

We eventually found our way to the jacana pond and since the Bronze-winged Jacana is a lifer to my guests, we patiently waited for the celebrity waterfowl to show themselves. I did not even dare to think that I might obtain some improvement shots of these shy birds in order to reduce the chance of being disappointed again. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So, I guess I do not need to describe how I felt with yet another record shot.

Unlike my earlier visits, it was now dry and dusty. The dry season has commenced and the poor show of bird life is the unfortunate result. My guests are here for the raptors. Not being able to show even one to them for half a morning does not reflect very well on me – even if they are very understanding about it. By late morning, the heat was at a blistering state. For the life of me, I simply cannot comprehend why some of the birds do not attempt to even find some shade to rest in. This Zebra Dove appeared to be most comfortable resting under the sun on the concrete pole of the perimeter fence.

Maybe there is something about these poles that give the birds a sense of calm in this unbearable heat for the dove was not alone. A Paddyfield Pipit also chose to rest here. And like the dove, it was just as confiding.

The Zitting Cisticola is small in size but big in character. Just check out this pose…

The heat did not seem to be bothering the Black Drongos much as they continued to hunt around the sewage pond area. The heatwave is quite apparent in the photo and despite the close distance; all the images did not turn out as good as I anticipated.

A few Yellow Wagtails were also foraging around the sewage pond and one of them did come relatively close to our stationery vehicle. Out there in the grasslands, not many wagtails were seen and it is most probably because of the weather condition. Naturally, I dipped out on Malaysia’s second Citrine Wagtail which was recorded here a few weeks back.

In the afternoon, it became more like the Chuping that I have come to know and love. A female Eurasian Kestrel provided the first raptor photographic opportunity. The kestrel is also one of the few raptors here that you can regularly see perched on a tree. And she got the ball rolling. That’s my girl!

A female Eastern Marsh Harrier was the first harrier of trip and I thank God for that. After all the amazing harrier encounters prior to this trip, it was downright disheartening that I had to search for more than half a day to actually see one. Anyway, the harrier was soaring high above the grassland but the good lighting provided something to cheer about in regards to photography.

I have had only brief and distant observations of the striking male Siberian Stonechat at this locality so far. But today, he was a very different bird. I cannot recall why we stopped our vehicle but it does not matter. He decided to alight on a low branch just next to us. He may not be in full breeding plumage but he was a handsome devil indeed. And the clicking of our shutter filled the vicinity...

The encounter even got better because he started to hunt. Several times he dropped to the ground but without success. The best thing was, he always came back to the same branch and we were lucky enough to be in a very good position to observe his endeavours – unsuccessful as they might be. Or maybe he was just showing off.

The highlight of the day was a magnificent Short-toed Eagle that flew reasonably close and despite the harsh lighting, it provided a few captured moments that I am quite please with. This season I have probably seen the Short-toed Eagle more times than all the previous seasons. But this beautiful raptor has not cease to excite and intrigue.

As evening drew near, a few harriers started to come in to roost among the taller rubber trees. Although the numbers are nowhere near the former known harrier roost, it was still exciting. A juvenile Pied Harrier landed on a surprisingly open area and it was a photographic invitation not to be turned down. The first day of our tour concluded on high note and the slightly disappointing morning was nothing more than a hiccup. Just for the record, we recorded a total of 11 raptors during the tour and that is a good haul by any standard.

The next day, we left the grasslands for some pristine tropical rainforest. At the car park of Bukit Wang Forest Reserve in Kedah, a pair of Wreathed Hornbills flew across just as it got light. It is always great to encounter hornbills in the field but it was too dark for any photographic attempts. In fact, that was the story for the whole morning. In terms of birding, it was terrific. We got birds like Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle, Violet Cuckoo, Banded Kingfisher, White-bellied Woodpecker and other forest denizens. In terms of photography, we were not so lucky. The highlight of trip was when Jimmy spotted a raptor on a tall dead tree and upon further scrutiny turned out to be a Crested Goshawk. This raptor is renowned for its agility and efficiency as a bird of prey. These traits will naturally garner my respect and affection as raptors are one of my favourite group of birds. I do not have any good shots of this species yet and today, despite it being so obliging, the distance was just a little too far for my gear. But it was still a memorable encounter.

The Common Snipes took advantage of whatever shade they could find to escape the relentless tropical sun. Shaded locations are such a prized commodity that they were more tolerant than usual. At such proximity, these cryptic waders would usually perform their vanishing act.

The final destination of this 2-day tour was Air Hitam Dalam and upon arrival, the weather turned unexpectedly. Rain clouds started to form and darken the skies. Just an hour ago it was too much sun and now, it is too little. Welcome to birding in the tropics. A big troop of Long-tailed Macaques was stomping through the swamp forest for their evening siesta. One individual was too indulged with the meal at hand to even take notice of our approach. I am not particularly fond of Long-tailed Macaques because of their nasty nature. But on this occasion, I did take the time and effort to capture this photo.

Where there are macaques, there will be Greater Racket-tailed Drongos. Perched above the marauding troop, the drongo was patiently waiting for any prey flushed by its mammalian companions’ movements.

My Singaporean guests were hoping to experience the Mangrove Blue Flycatchers again – just like their last visit to this locality. It would be a great way to end the tour for them. And this flycatcher rarely disappoints. I know that I have posted photos of this species quite often. But I have learned, through years of residing in this ‘beloved’ country of mine that nothing is to be taken for granted. Like I always say, enjoy it while it last. And enjoy, we did.

I was up way before my alarm went off. Perhaps the excitement of the trip ahead kept me awake. I am not off to some exotic far away location. In fact, it is just to the mudflats of Bagan Belat – one of my local patches in mainland Penang. That is the beauty of birding. Even nearby locations can be just as exciting at times especially when there is a possibility of a mega lifer. The tide was ideal for a visit in the late morning and so, I went to the nearby locality of Air Hitam Dalam to kill time. I arrived at the swamp forest just in time to witness the graceful Great-eared Nightjars hunt one last time before the arrival of dawn. The buoyancy of their flight and their immense size captivated me throughout the encounter. There was no point attempting to capture the hunt in this light and the best I could manage was this landscape shot of the breaking of dawn. After the nightjars left, that is.

It was not a slow morning at the swamp forest. Most of the regular species were present but my heart was not really here today. I longed for the aroma of exposed mud and the salty sea breeze on my face. But most of all, I just could not stop thinking about Malaysia’s first Slender-billed Gull which was recorded at the mudflats a few weeks ago. I dipped out on the gull on New Year Day and the wound is still fresh. It was a beautiful day at the mudflats. The sun was shining brightly and the sky was just so blue. Thousands of waders were foraging everywhere in this extensive mudflat but they were not my objectives today. Today, I am after gulls and I will have to try very hard not get distracted.

The mixed flock of gulls were roosting very far off shore as the tide was still low. My enthusiasm got me here a little earlier than planned. Somewhere among them were two Slender-billed Gulls. Due to the distance, there was no way I could positively identify my would-be lifers. The differences between the three species of gulls found here are very subtle as I found that out the hard way later in the day. The majority of the 250 or so gulls are Brown-headed Gulls. So far, four Black-headed Gulls have been recorded and as well as two Slender-billed Gulls. Last season, we had two gull species here which were the Brown-headed and Black-headed Gull. Now, gulls are rare in Malaysia. Having two species at the same locality was a blessing. Having three is a miracle – thus all the excitement. Anyway, the pace of the rising tide is beyond any mere mortal’s control and I patiently waited for nature to take its course.

It was a long wait and perhaps, one of the longest hours of my life. A few of the waders present did their part to help me pass the time. The most impressive of them all was this lone Eurasian Curlew that came surprisingly close to where I have positioned myself.

As the tide gradually rise, it pushed the gulls closer to the shore line where I was waiting anxiously. I did my best to scrutinize each and every bird present but from what I could tell, there were no Slender-billed Gulls present.

I did see at least one Black-headed Gull (the gull on the left of the photo) but I did not spend too much time following its movement. This species is rare to our waters but there were bigger fish to catch today.

The closest I got the gulls was when they settled down near the river mouth. It was much easier to identify them due to the close proximity. But still no Slender-billed Gull. It was truly disheartening. I did send a few images of “possible” Slender-billed Gulls (the wonders of modern technology) taken from the flock to my birding buddies who have all seen the gull before and their replies was more or less expected. The Slender-billed Gull remains elusive to me.

I was so focus on getting my lifer that I did not spend time to enjoy the fine performance by the commoner Brown-headed Gulls. Some of them did come very close but I only took a few shots. Here are a few juveniles that can a little deceptive at times in hiding their true identity.

But there is no mistaking an adult Brown-headed Gull - even when it is in non-breeding plumage like this. By the way, the smaller gull on the left is the much rarer Black-headed Gull which I did not realise was one at that moment. My obsession with locating the Slender-bill Gull even made me overlook this rare migrant. It was only when I was back home that I took notice of the dark iris and that is a real shame because I could do with a few more good images of it. I guess I deserved that much for ignoring this species earlier on in the morning.

When the tide finally peaked, the gulls moved away from the river mouth and rested on some exposed mudflat further down the coast. I solemnly walked towards the gulls and made myself comfortable on the nearest patch of dry land to the roosting flock. Just as I was about to give in, I spotted a rather pale-headed individual and I started to feel alive again. But I had to be cautious. After hours of frantic searching under the scorching sun, there is always a possibility I was hallucinating. Upon further scrutiny and confirmation from my birding buddies (modern technology at work again), I finally found what I was looking for.

It was a distant shot, the lighting was harsh and the heatwave very apparent but I got my first lifer of the year and it was also a new record for Malaysia. The quality of the photographs will not deny me of a jubilant moment. It was a moment that almost did not happen. And that made this whole encounter even so memorable.

Just to prove I was not seeing double, here is a photo with the two celebrity gulls in a single frame. The irony of it all was I took this shot before I positively identified the gulls. It was a random shot of the flock taken out of desperation. In fact I took many random shots with the intention of going through them on the big screen back home (which was how I found out about the significance of this photo) in case I did miss out on the gulls in the field. I did not waste the shutter count of my camera after all.

As my pulse gradually came back to normal; heat, hunger and thirst started to kick in out of nowhere. There were still thousands of waders out on the mudflats waiting to be scrutinized but the search for the gulls has really taken its toll on me. I took a few shots of this spectacle of nature before calling it a day.

When the roosting waders took flight, they literally block out the sun. This is probably the highest concentration of waders at this locality since the good old days back in early 2000s. And since I am not really trying to identify the waders, I reckon there will be a few Spoonies, Pecs and Sharpies around. Rarities can sense this sort of things and will instantly keep well out of sight when you are trying your best to locate them. That is the law of things.

As I trekked through the swamp to try and get close to a few foraging Asian Dowitchers and Nordmann’s Greenshank (and you guessed it – I failed in the end), I flushed at least two roosting Large-tailed Nightjars. There is just something about the way a nightjar flies. It is more like floating through the air and with such grace. I started off the day with nightjars and it seemed really fitting that I could end with nightjars as well.

The Penang Botanic Gardens is not exactly the kind of place that you will find me on a birding Saturday. No doubt it is a beautiful place with lush green landscapes and probably provides shelter to quite a number of birds. However, it is a popular tourist and recreational destination and it can get a little crowded at times. I do not consider myself to be antisocial. There is one thing though – I do prefer to do my birding in peace far away from all those stares and interruptions. It has been more than 25 years since I took up birding and yet, up to this very day there are still people who cannot grasp the thought of someone who loves and appreciates birdlife so much that he will travel far and wide just to observe and enjoy these wonderful and inspirational creations of Mother Nature.

I found myself walking alongside morning walkers at the break of dawn as I made my way to the Lily Pond section of the gardens. It must take a very good reason to risk exposing myself to the torments from my fellow human beings and it is an Orange-headed Thrush reported by a few birders that has been showing well at that vicinity. This migratory thrush may just be uncommon here in Malaysia but to me, it is rare as I have only seen it once before and with no photos to show. It was still dark when I reached the spot where the thrush was last seen and made myself comfortable on the narrow cemented forest trail and waited patiently for my quarry to show itself.

I did not have to wait long. The Orange-headed Thrush appeared out of nowhere and started foraging along the trail. There was enough light for me to enjoy the beautiful plumage of the thrush through my binoculars but my photography gear just could not cope under such conditions. Inevitably, I laid down my camera and just watched the thrush hopped along the trail (and into my heart) as it looked for breakfast while waiting for more light to pierce through the dense canopy. It was a stunning bird and its tolerance to my presence made the encounter priceless. The setting and close proximity brought back memories to a time when Penang Hill was still a birding haven. For a few seasons, a male Siberian Blue Robin would forage along a cemented trail next to the Southview Bungalow. Back then, I did not even own a camera. I just sat on the trail and cherish the encounters through my binoculars. Birding was definitely simpler then. I did not have to worry about lighting, composition, exposure, etc.

When the lighting condition finally improved, so did my images. The encounter was now complete as I was able to obtain reasonable images. Being under the cover of the forest, the lighting was far from ideal but you will not hear a peep from me. Giving and receiving Mandarin Oranges are very much a part of the Chinese New Year tradition. With the New Year just two days away, this ‘orange’ from Mother Nature is a gift that will be treasured for a long time to come.

All my years of birding has made my sense of hearing relatively sharp and there was no mistaking the calls I was hearing coming round the bend of the trail – human speech. I avoided eye contact hoping that the group will move past me as fast as possible without jeopardizing all the efforts I have put in to gain the trust of the thrush. But I guess sitting on a forest trail alone with birding equipment was too much for most humans to ignore and I tried to be as courteous as possible when thrown with the normal array of questions. This was the first of the three groups that walked past during my observation. With each passing group, it took the thrush longer to return to the trail again. After the last group, I had to come to terms that there was no chance of the lighting condition improving and very likely, more recreational walkers will be marching down the trail. So, I decided to pack up and proceeded to the mudflats at Bagan Belat for some time at the beach.

One of my main reasons for this visit was to try and get some improvement shots of the Slender-billed Gulls. During my last visit, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of gulls present and picking out the rare Slender-billed Gulls was tedious work. This time it was a whole lot easier as there were only seven gulls present. If only the Slender-billed Gulls were among these Brown-headed Gulls. This outcome devastated Andy (chairman of Wild Bird Club of Malaysia) who was back in Penang for the Chinese New Year more than me because the former would have been a Malaysian lifer for him.

The number of waders at the high time roost has decreased since the last visit. I never expected this phenomenon to last but I did not know it would be gone so soon. Utter disappointment...

The only wader that provided some good photographic opportunities was the Common Redshank. As usual, it will forage quite close to the shore line and will even disregard your presence if you do not pose to be of any threat to it.

Surprisingly, the highlight of this visit to the mudflats did not come from the mudflats but the sky above. When I first arrive at the river mouth, there was a pair of White-bellied Sea-eagles resting on some poles not too far from the coast and the waders. Since the waders are not perturbed by their presence, then neither should I. Midway through my visit, the eagles took to the air and were flying in unison. That can only mean one thing – we were in for a treat.

Most fish eagles throughout the world have spectacular aerial displays during the breeding season. The White-bellied Sea-eagle is certainly one of them. These large eagles lock talons in mid air while plummeting down to Earth spiralling. And just before they make contact with the ground, they release their love hold. Like the scene from The Big Year, one of my all-time favourite movies, where the three birders doing their big year actually took the time to enjoy a pair of common Bald Eagles performing a similar display. Usually they tend to exaggerate the truth in movies but there is no exaggeration about this scene. It is just as breath taking in real life. This is my crappy attempt to capture the moment and it does no justice to the courting pair.

I also bumped into Mr and Mrs Hum, some of the most senior birders in Penang, and their friend further down the coastline. Mr Hum has been shooting birds for as long as I could remember and his photographs are a true inspiration to me when I first took up bird photography to compliment my birding. However, the mudflats are unlikely to spring any more surprises and I decided to head to one last location before calling it a day. By the time I arrived at the Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest, the sun was at its zenith and bird activities have dropped to a low point. But this is Air Hitam Dalam. You do not usually go home empty handed. This confiding Lineated Barbet certainly made sure of that.

The final bird of the day was a soaring Brahminy Kite. Red is an auspicious colour for the Chinese New Year and an ideal way to wrap things up for this last trip before the New Year as the Brahminy Kite is a reddish bird after all. One last thing. Note to self – never pack up your camera until you are next to your vehicle because just do not know when a ever-wary Black-capped Kingfisher suddenly decides to alight on the rope of the boardwalk right in front of the gazebo you are resting in. Well, life goes on...

I have a few consecutive free days to kill for the rest of my Chinese New Year break. Thus began my festive birding spree. For my first day, I decided to go somewhere closer to home and it was none other than the forest at Sungai Sedim. The rationale behind this decision was to check on the status of the fruiting trees there. Victor, my old schoolmate, is back in Penang for the celebrations and joined me for this time’s excursion. It is good to know he is still very much into birding since the last time we met one year ago. While waiting him to arrive, I spent some time with the Whiskered and Grey-rumped Treeswifts at their usual morning hangout. The distance and lighting made it difficult for photography and the gathering of the treeswifts of Sungai Sedim will always be a spectacle best enjoyed through my binos.

Two of the locality’s regular fruiting trees have started to bear fruits but it will take a while for the fruits to ripe. My birding network has alerted me a few days back of an active fruiting tree along the Gunung Bintang trail and that was where were heading to. But mid way up the trail, we had to make a stop. A male Scarlet-rumped Trogon was calling from the forest edge and the bright red underparts stood out from the dimly lighted canopy level like a beacon in the night. It may be the commonest trogon but I do not think it is even legal to ignore such a stunning bird.

Red is an auspicious colour for the Chinese New Year and the presence of the trogon certainly brought good fortune to our excursion because we came across our second trogon species a short while later and it was a Diard’s Trogon. A pair was heard calling but despite a careful search, we only managed to locate the female. Although she was quite confiding, the dense vegetation prevented us from obtaining any better images. Don’t you just love shooting in the forest...

We almost had a third trogon species for the trip but the calling Red-naped Trogon just did not want to be seen today. Instead, we settled for a second male Scarlet-rumped Trogon. Not wanting to be outdone by its compatriot, it put on a good performance as well.

When we finally made it to the fruiting tree, Nelson was already busy shooting at the patrons of the tree. Three was not a crowd in this case and we made ourselves comfortable in our respective positions because from the look of things, we will be there for some time. The tree was aflutter with mostly bulbuls and flowerpeckers. The Red-eyed Bulbul is the commonest bulbul here and there will usually be a few at every suitable fruiting tree. Needless to say, they were gorging on the fruits here.

I am quite sure whoever named the Cream-vented Bulbul probably had his or her reason but the white iris is the distinguishing feature of the species and White-eyed Bulbul is an apt name in my humble opinion.

I have no qualms with the common name of the Spectacled Bulbul. It has a distinct yellow eye ring after all. However, it was exceptional shy today and kept to the furthest branches throughout our observation. It was a stark difference from their usual behaviour at fruiting trees. I guess birds, like people, have their mood swings too.

Ashy Bulbuls are generally shy and it came as no surprise when they kept their distance when feasting on the banquet.

The Buff-vented Bulbuls were one of the boldest today – coming right down to the lowest branches to gorge and completely disregarding the presence of the humans.

When it comes to bulbuls, the Scaly-breasted Bulbul is in a class of its own. The colour combination on the plumage of this bird can only be the work of divine powers and this beautiful representative of the bulbul family is worshipped by countless birders including yours truly.

But today, the divine Scaly-breasted Bulbuls were overshadowed by another colourful member of the bulbul family – the Grey-bellied Bulbul. It is a matter of personal preference but I feel the latter is just marginally behind the former in the looks department. It was their exceptionally confiding nature today that won me over. This time, they stole the limelight and even the Scaly-breasted Bulbuls had to concede defeat.

Quite a number of flowerpecker species were also gorging themselves on the fruits but the one that I was really hoping to see did not turn up – the gorgeous male Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker. In its absence, the male Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker took center stage. Almost equally as attractive (personal preference at work here again), there were three males present today and at times, I could not decide which one to focus on.

The male Orange-bellied Flowerpecker is another handsome devil and needless to say, had his fair share of attention today. Fruiting trees provide the best photographic opportunities to capture images of this little but striking bird. It applies to the rest of the flowerpeckers as well.

Not all flowerpeckers are brilliantly coloured but they still receive my undivided attention because some of the duller species are rare to say the least. Unfortunately, none of the rarer species made appearance but the common ones like the Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker certainly kept us busy.

The fourth species present at the tree today were the Yellow-vented Flowerpeckers. Although this species lacks the colours of some of the flowerpeckers, its strikingly marked underparts give it a certain appeal that is almost impossible to resist.

The distinct ringing call of the Everett’s White-eye filled the vicinity when a flock of these adorable birds descend upon the fruiting tree. The temptation of food can pull in all sorts of birds – even those that spend most of lives at the topmost canopy levels of the forest. That is one of the reasons I have so few images of this species. That, and the fact that it rarely stays still.

It is always exciting to find something other than the usual bulbuls and flowerpeckers at a fruiting tree here. Now, leafbirds do patronize fruiting trees but never with such consistency. The Lesser Green Leafbird is probably one of the rarer leafbirds here in Sungai Sedim but the excitement a pair brought to the tree was short lived as the male refuse to go anywhere near a slightly exposed branch. But his mate was a real sweetheart and provided plenty of good images.

I noticed last year of a male Green-backed Flycatcher that frequented fruiting trees here and since fruits are not part of his diet, it is the insects attracted to the fruits that he is after. When I saw male Green-backed Flycatcher flitting about the canopy level of the fruiting, it could very well be the same individual.

Not even an active fruiting tree can drown out what the locomotive wingbeats of hornbills does to me. Acting out on instinct more than anything else, my gaze and attention shifted to the sky above and just in time to capture a pair of Wreathed Hornbills passing through. A quick look at my camera’s playback was required to make sure it was not a pair of the rarer and similar-looking Plain-pouched Hornbills.

On the way back home, I could not stop thinking about the Orange-headed Thrush at the Penang Botanic Gardens. Against my better judgement, I made a detour to the gardens and as expected found the tourist hotspot crowded. There was no sign of the thrush when I arrived at the spot I was it a few days back. I waited for about an hour but to no avail. A troop of Dusky Leaf Monkeys probably had a good laugh at my expense and seemed to be in no hurry to move on from the nearby trees. Well since it is the Year of the Monkey, I think they make a fitting end to another memorable birding excursion.

I have been quite consistent with my visits to the former mining pools of Malim Nawar in Perak during this time of the year. This locality does have a good record for producing mega lifers and I thought I will try my luck here on day 2 of my festive birding spree. The 200km drive was slightly taxing than usual due to my level of intoxication from last night’s festive drinking session. There have been records of the scarce White-shouldered Starling a few months back and I decided to start off today’s excursion from the spot where a pair of these migratory starlings were last seen. Luck was not on my side and despite a thorough sweep of the area; there were no signs of the starlings. So, I turned my attention to the next best thing – the uncommon Sand Martin. There is still some confusion about the true identity these martins and Malim Nawar is one of their regular wintering grounds. I am a simple man. Until, they find a way to differentiate the Sand Martin the Pale Martin (which is near impossible); they will all be Sand Martins to me.

At least 5 birds were present in the vicinity and they have a habit of resting along the wires, in the company of Barn Swallows, above the fish ponds. When compared to the latter, they are smaller and duller-looking but sometimes status supersedes everything else. With no way of getting any closer to the martins, I soon left them to their sunbathing and searched for other interesting species to document.

You are bound to see a few Cattle Egrets when birding in open country habitats like this. In winter, they are small and don their boring non-breeding plumage. Come spring and you will see an astonishing change for the Cattle Egret sports the most vibrant breeding plumage of all the egrets found here.

That remarkable breeding plumage is further enhanced when in full breeding plumage with the purplish hue to the lores and reddish glow to the legs. Exquisite is the word...

The Long-tailed Shrike is a beautiful bird and certainly beats the rest of the shrikes hands down. Unfortunately, it is also the shyest. I have come to a stage where I will not even attempt to try and reduce the distance for a better shot whenever I come across one in the field. Sometimes, God works in mysterious ways. I was not even trying today and the bird just happened to be along the route I was taking. To my astonishment, this Long-tailed Shrike did not budge. It still remained put when I raised my camera to focus on it. That’s more like it.

But the sound of the shutter must have struck a nerve because it flew across the trail after a few clicks. Luckily by then, I had already obtained my best images of this species to date. The lighting from this angle was better and the rays of the morning sun brought out the true splendour of the bird.

A colony of nesting Baya Weavers is not something you can easily miss. First of all, there is the presence of all those architectural work of art these birds call home. So amazing are these nests that are collected to be used as interior decorations. Unfortunately, these unscrupulous nest collectors lack conscience and humanity. Nests with fledglings still inside will not be spared and that just makes my blood boil. Secondly, the birds at a nesting colony tend to make a racket that can be heard from far away. There were at least 3 colonies within the area and I am glad this species is still doing well despite all the senseless prosecution.

As there was nothing much about, I took my time to observe a relatively new colony told by the big number of bachelor pads. Most of these pads are newly-constructed as they are still green. From these bachelor pads, all the hot-blooded males will sway, sing, shout and do whatever it takes to entice a female to join him. Not so much different from human beings, I guess.

This is the reason for all the activity at a colony – the dull female.

Once a male manages to find a mate, he will finish up the nest – turning his bachelor pad into a family suite. Again, this sounds very familiar. Anyway, this is what a completed nest looks like.

The Little Cormorants have settled in quite well to this locality. A handful were seen during this trip but they were extremely skittish and nearly impossible to approach even by car. These skilled fishers of birds were the only relatively uncommon waterbird that crossed my path today.

The commoner waterbirds, however, were very gracious and did a fine job hosting me during my visit. I absolutely adore Black-winged Stilts. There is always an aura of grace and poise about them. This male was so confiding that I could not help but to stop and photograph this common but striking wader.

It felt like there is a slight drop in the number of Grey Herons. In the past, I used to be overwhelmed by their sheer number. In fact, these large herons are one of the reasons I love this birding hotspot.

The same applies to the Purple Herons. It will be real shame if these two giants can no longer find sanctuary here in Malim Nawar. I could be a little paranoid but I have seen how these herons are losing grip of their home at the marshlands of Batu Kawan in my home state of Penang.

On the other hand, egrets like the Great and Little Egrets are finding life to be sunny and blissful here...

It is not that often a Greater Coucal allows itself to be photograph in the open. This cuckoo is shy despite its large size and common status. The deep booming call is frequently heard in a variety of habitats and is the best indication of its presence. Having said that, I guess having a few twigs in the way of my attempts to capture images of this skulker is not a big deal after all.

While taking a breather from intense searching for possible rarities under the blistering sun along the rows of former mining pools, a lone Eastern Yellow Wagtail wandered very close to my stationery vehicle. I certainly do not need any invites to start shooting this confiding individual. Now this is probably one of commonest passerines that spend their winter here in Malaysia. In suitable open country habitats, their numbers can be impressive. But a close encounter like this does help ease the disappointment of the lack of rarities for this trip.

My plans were set for the third day of my festive birding spree – or so I thought. I intended to spend as much time as the volatile jeep shuttle schedule of Bukit Larut in the state of Perak would allow. As I walked towards the ticketing booth at first light, there was a notice stating that the shuttle service will not be operating today. I just stood there stunned. This turn of events really took me by surprise. After the initial shock, came the anger and the swearing. So much for some montane birding during this festive season. The reason, which I found out later, was because there will be a little ceremony here today to commemorate the handling over of the management of the hill to the local council. Whatever and so long as they do not kill off the hill, it does not matter who is in charge. I planned to visit the mangroves of Kuala Gula after my montane excursion but now, it will no longer be a side trip. I arrived at the locality slightly later than my usual birding time and proceeded to search for an enigmatic and unique bird that has been recorded here last month – the Common Hoopoe. It has been more than a decade since my last sighting of this scarce migrant and much to my dismay; it was nowhere to be found. Today is certainly not off to a good start and nothing has gone my way yet. Not even the weather as dark rain clouds started to form overhead.

Flocks of mynas and starlings will come out of their roosts in throngs at this locality after the break of dawn. I did my best to look out for any rare or unusual species and for my effort; I did come across one species I do not see that often up north. It is also a species I am not too fond to see making its way up north because it is not native and is highly invasion – the Javan Myna.

Then among the dead mangroves, I caught a glimpse of something moving up one of the dead trunks. It was a Sunda Woodpecker looking for breakfast. I stalked my way closer until the trunk was in front of me and patiently waited for the minute woodpecker to move round to this side of the trunk in which it did – eventually. Things are finally starting to look up...

A male Ashy Tailorbird came extremely close to my stationery vehicle while foraging among the branches of a fallen mangrove tree. Although the angle of the shot was a little steep but I am happy with the clarity of the image as the bird was quite active and the lighting was less than desirable

A small number of Pond-herons were foraging near the river and upon further scrutiny, one of them turned out to be a Javan Pond-heron. It was still in the early stages of its breeding plumage and that explained why it was so confiding and cooperative. If it were in its striking breeding, it would have been long gone before I could even get half as close as this.

The larger herons like the Grey Heron and Purple Heron were exceptionally skittish this time and I could not even muster one single reasonable shot. The Striated Herons that find refuge in this bird sanctuary have shown exceptionally bold behaviour in the presence of humans time and time again. And a nice portrait will not require much effort.

The waterways that cut through this bird sanctuary are favoured hunting grounds for kingfishers. Five species were recorded this trip. The Black-capped Kingfishers were being their usual difficult and skittish selves. Although my luck was improving, there was no point hoping for one of these beautiful birds to allow me to obtain one reasonable shot. The Collared Kingfishers, on the other hand, could not be bothered even if you reach out your hand and pat it on the head.

At least two Common Kingfishers were seen zipping up and down their respective territories and I did not have much photographic opportunities until the moment one alighted near where I have stopped my vehicle. It turned out be a female and remain on that perched for quite a period of time. And I felt so privileged to have the companionship of such radiant beauty - even if it lasted only for a few minutes.

When it comes to Red Junglefowls, you have but one shot to get it right as they are very shy and wary birds. This morning, I managed a couple of shots before it disappeared into the long grass of the adjacent palm oil estate. The male’s resplendent colours are something you do get to enjoy for a prolonged period and every shot that I get which is slightly acceptable will be keepers in my book.

The male Pied Triller is a striking bird that occurs in a wide variety of habitats including mangroves. Its nasal notes are not foreign in built-up areas as well but like most beautiful birds that occur alongside man in Malaysia, I do not have many images that I can be proud of. This slightly distant shot of a male bird proclaiming his territory from the canopy level of the mangroves is certainly one of my better efforts.

I started feeling restless around mid morning. This tends to happen when things are slow – like today. As I was making my way out of Kuala Gula, the distinctive silhouette of a White-breasted Woodswallow delayed my journey to my next destination. This species is commoner down south and I have yet to see one in my home state of Penang. It also has a preference to use man made objects to rest and this time, a rusty goal post in the middle of a school field. Not the kind of setting or the lighting condition one would ask for but it will do.

I headed up north to another vast area of mangroves. Pulau Burung is at the southern tip of mainland Penang and this whole area used to be one of my favourite birding haunts. I have lamented many times how this little birding haven was destroyed by the local authorities but I guess what is done is done. No point dwelling in the past because it will not bring back the glory days of yesteryear. The weather has turned full cycle by then and it was sunny with clear blue skies. The scenery is breath taking despite the landfill in the background.

However, I am not here to soak in the view. It is always the birds that really do it for me and the Lesser Whistling Ducks are one of the few that still call this place home.

This used to be the best place in the whole of Malaysia to observe and photograph Blue-tailed Bee-eaters. This confiding individual brought back good memories of that era and I, slightly moved by this nostalgic moment, kept my composure well enough to continue shooting.

It has been a long time since I did a birding circuit and seeing that I still have half a day left, I might as well do one today. After a quick lunch, I set off towards Sungai Sedim. The active fruiting tree is not just a bird magnet. It pulls in birders just as well. On the way there, I made a little detour to check on an old friend who has been absent from his favourite roosting during my last first visits. Even from a distance, I could make out its silhouette and today, the Barred Eagle-owl was roosting much lower than usual. I would have been happy just to know that the owl was still well and kicking but to be able to get so close to this amazing animal was a real bonus. So long as I remained in my vehicle, this individual will be almost as tame as a house cat. And today’s excursion just when up a notch.

The slight drizzle as I made my through the narrow rural roads leading to Sungai Sedim could not dampened my spirit especially after such an exhilarating encounter with the owl. The rain trickled down to a stop when I arrive at the fruiting tree and I took that as another good omen. I barely had time to get down from my vehicle when the birds started to come in to the fruiting tree. Most of the species present at the tree were the same species as my last trip a few days back. As I was observing the patrons of the fruiting, the male Green-backed Flycatcher alighted barely a few feet from where I was standing. Unbelievably, it chose a clean perch with a clean background and almost at eye level. I was left dumbfounded. It is just one of life’s mysteries and one that I enjoyed it for almost half a minute. All the activity from the fruiting tree above momentarily ceased. It was just me and this handsome migrant.

Once the flycatcher disappeared into the vegetation, I was back on Earth again. The commotion above caught my senses again. The distinct calls of the Finsch’s Bulbul filled the vicinity and it did not take long to locate one gorging on the fruits.

A flock of Hairy-backed Bulbul made a pit stop at the fruiting. I only managed to take one shot before the flock moved on. And I had a sudden urge to visit the paddy fields of mainland Penang. Call it a birder’s intuition and I decided to adhere to my inner voice, packed up and head to one last locality for the day.

Most parts of the paddy fields were either dry or waiting to be harvested and that is bad news for a birder. I was beginning to doubt my decision to leave the fruiting tree at Sungai Sedim when I spotted a flock of large birds soaring above and it was one massive flock. Even at this far distance there is no mistaking the Asian Openbills for anything else. This is another species that I have not seen for months and I decided to drive closer to this spectacle of nature.

As I got closer, the flock descended on probably the only spot that has open water in this entire area. I drove closer cautiously as these birds usually do not have much tolerance for intruding birders. However, they were exceptionally confiding today and I guess they were just very reluctant to part from this watery refuge.

Using my vehicle as a mobile hide, I got to as close as I possibly could and enjoyed the view. The storks appeared relax in the presence of this lone birder and I too got comfortable before focusing on obtaining some good images. The setting sun provided a certain glow to both the storks and the environment in my images and I am truly loving the moment.

Large shadows cast over the water marked the arrival of even more Asian Openbills. My initial guess was right. An open flooded patch is certainly a prized commodity here and I have positioned myself the best that I could to welcome this second wave of storks. Sometimes when I am birding, I will have encounters that are so captivating that everything else drowns out and I just lose myself completely. I had two earlier on – the Barred Eagle-owl and the Green-backed Flycatcher. And this is my third – being surrounded by Asian Openbills. All these took place in my usual birding spots and it made me wonder why I needed to drive all way into Perak state in the first place.

When the storks finally settled down, there were at least 500 birds in this pool of water alone and this is the closest I have ever been to this unique waterbird. Now, this is what birding is all about. Moments when everything just falls into place perfectly and the birds give a show that will last a lifetime.

When I was finally able to break free from the spell the storks have put me under, I discovered that the day was not quite done yet. A flock of Ruffs were foraging at different section of the flooded patch alongside the much commoner Black-winged Stilts. The Ruff is an extraordinary wader and what makes it so is the remarkable breeding plumage. Unfortunately, we will never get to see a male Ruff in full breeding here as they do not breed here in the tropics. But it is still a scarce winter migrant and seven birds together is something to shout about for sure.

Just as I was stalking towards the Ruffs, the entire flock of Asian Openbills suddenly took flight and it was a fury of wings and feathers. Continuous wingbeats of 500 pairs of wings at such close proximity can be a rush. Initially, I was puzzled by the unexpected departure of my feathered friends until I saw a local villager casting a net for fish. I guess I should not complain because at least he had the courtesy to wait until I was done with the storks and started to photograph something else. This wrap things up for a long and tiring day of birding circuit that started off on the wrong foot but concluded so much better than I could have hoped for.

This is the final trip of my festive birding spree and it was to the forest of Pedu in Kedah state which has all the ingredients of a premium birding site. I had the companionship of Choo Eng this time and as usual, we left the comforts of home way before dawn in order to reach our destination at first light. The forest came alive as we were unpacking our gear. The dawn chorus itself was enough to get our adrenalin pumping because it consisted of some very interesting species including a Rufous-collared Kingfisher. Although he (yes, it was a striking male) was reasonably tame, I failed to obtain anything that resembled a bird photo due to the dim lighting. In fact, that was the story for the rest of the day. During our 6-hour excursion, we recorded almost 70 birds in which only a handful had photos to show. But my biggest disappointment was missing out on photographing a pair of Jerdon’s Bazas because I was simply too slow. When I finally had the rare raptors in focus, they had almost flown past the gap between the forest canopies. The Jerdon’s Baza was not unexpected but it was still a new record for this site. The forest here is indeed sanctuary for countless species – both common and rare. The views here are picturesque but somehow ‘reflections of leaves and inspiration’ do not evoke the same quantum of emotions...

We had a good haul of raptors on this trip. Unlike the bazas, I managed to shoot both the Rufous-bellied Eagle and Crested Goshawk. Unfortunately, they were miles away and I do not think sharing photos of a dot in the sky is going to do anything for this post. An Oriental Honey-buzzard almost slipped past my radar too but with the lighting condition being much better now, my gear was fast enough this time.

There is no way to improve this photo unless we took a boat out and positioned ourselves with the sun behind us. It is a little far fetched because after all, it is just an Osprey. From the look of things so far, chances are the Osprey will take flight by the time we get there anyways.

Shooting babblers in the forest is never easy and that is an understatement. These birds get a kick out of frustrating birders and bird photographers alike. Their preference for dense vegetation and their inability to stay still make them one of the most challenging birds to photograph. The Chestnut-winged Babbler is common at this locality. I hear them on almost every visit. This is the first time I managed to capture its image. Although it is far from perfect, I more than happy to add this species to my collection finally.

This was more of an act of desperation rather than a deliberate attempt to capture a Black Magpie in flight...

A huge tree that towered over most of the other trees was flowering and it was a big feeding station. Due to the distance, some of the birds were beyond recognition especially the dull coloured ones. The Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot is one of the patrons of this tree. Identification was not much of any issue due their distinct shape and splendid colouration. But if I wanted to obtain better images of it, I will need to master the art of levitation. As for now, this image will just have to do.

The Van Hasselt’s Sunbird used to be common in Penang Island. Back then, I did not even own a camera but I have plenty of memories of this dazzling species. And memories are all that I have until today. I have not seen this species ever since I took up photography. I do not think it has become that uncommon. It is just fate and the alignment of my stars. Anyway, at least two pairs were feeding on the nectar of the flowering tree. These sunbirds are tiny birds and at that distance, all the splendour and details of the male birds are all but lost. A record shot is only the right thing to do. I just hope I do not have to another decade before I get to photograph this species again.

So far, I have not had too much luck with photography and naturally, I did not put much hope on a Black-bellied Malkoha that was resting at the canopy level. It was a little far to start with and the sun cast an awkward shadow on the bird.

I got distracted by another bird but I cannot recall which species. It could be age catching up or the fact that after I was done with the bird, the lone Black-bellied Malkoha had me under a spell by shifting to a position that was almost ideal for me to shoot. It was perched much lower down and in the sun. I am not sure if birds can read the minds of humans because this, the smallest of our malkohas, read mine like a book. It stayed long enough for me to capture a few shots before it took cover in the dense foliage of the forest. And that minute of staying put was all that I could ever ask for.

The bubbly call of the Green Broadbill will betray its presence and for that, I am truly grateful. A silent bird is usually overlooked despite its striking plumage. Like the malkoha, the first image was nothing more than a record shot.

However, it did move to a better position and provided the perfect end to the trip. It was still a good one despite the shortage of good images but then, that is forest bird photography. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose but the anticipation of what you may encounter will lure you back time and time again.

Whenever I take guests out birding there will always be a sense of anxiety at the back of my mind. The birds that we so passionately seek are wild and free. How could anyone accurately predict the outcome of any birding trip? However if there is an active fruiting tree, you have got it made – most of the time anyway. My latest guest is from Australia and like me, is also an ad man by profession. After showing Tony the Treeswift Tree of Sungai Sedim, I took him straight to the fruiting tree that was a centre of attention the last time it came into season. I have to admit I was excited too because word has reached my ears that the Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker was back to feed on the fruits. This little but rare forest denizen rocked the birding community back then when at least 2 pairs patronized the fruiting tree on daily basis till the fruits were depleted. Judging from the number of birders present here this morning, I was not the only one that received the news.

Unfortunately, the star bird did not make an appearance but the other species that did come for the fruits helped ease the disappointment. To my guest, the male Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker is just as stunning a bird and status does not mean much to an overseas birder. Appearance and character does. And the Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker certainly have those.

The Yellow-vented Flowerpecker, despite its lack of colours can brightened up any birding day. After all it is not that commonly encountered here when there is no fruiting tree about.

When the Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker joined in the feast, I knew that it was going to be a great day. There was a fourth species present but the Orange-bellied Flowerpecker did not stay long enough for me to capture its images.

Both the Greater Green and Lesser Green Leafbirds were also present at the fruiting tree. It is not common to see both these species feeding on the same tree and I felt truly privileged. Even the absence of the splendid adult males or my unsuccessful attempts at photographing the Greater Green Leafbird could not change that fact.

Bulbuls are expected patrons at any fruiting tree and the Grey-bellied Bulbuls led the way this time with their contrasting colours. It was the only colourful bulbul present and naturally had our attention whenever it appeared on the tree.

The distribution of the Finsch’s Bulbul throughout Peninsular Malaysia is somewhat erratic but in the forests of the north western region like Sungai Sedim, it is regularly encountered.

If not for the thin yellow eye ring, the Spectacled Bulbul would be a truly nondescript species. But a confiding forest bird, no matter how plainly coloured, deserves some attention. Forest birds can exceptionally difficult to photograph at times and I for one certainly do not take them for granted.

Apart from the fruiting tree, Sungai Sedim was surprisingly quiet. My usual Gunung Bintang trail provided very little opportunity to stop and utilize our birding gear. Not wanting to fight a losing battle, we decided it was time for a change of scenery. As we were making our way out of the Kulim district, a little detour to check on the roosting Barred Eagle-owls proved to be a most rewarding decision. I may be slightly used to the confiding nature of this incredible nocturnal hunter but for a first timer, difficulties in breathing and uncontrollable quivering are the usual reactions. Then only do awe and admiration kick in.

Since luck seemed to on our side, I decided to venture onto a nearby empty industrial plot to look for another creature of the night. A nightjar is not as impressive as an owl but it still has a lot of compelling qualities that make it simply quite amazing. Having said that, I was elated when we found a Savanna Nightjar roosting at one of its regular roosting spots.

Its cryptic plumage blends in perfectly to the concrete embankment and could have been easily overlooked if it was not known to roost there. It has eluded me during my past few visits and this surprisingly confiding individual certainly made up for all the misses. It seemed totally at ease in our presence and continued its afternoon siesta without a care in the world.

A visit to the paddy fields of mainland Penang yielded nothing much except for a huge flock of roosting Asian Openbills at the same spot where I last saw them. Instead of resting at the flooded patch, the storks perched on a nearby tree. With no way of reducing the distance, we left the flock after obtaining some environment shots.

In order to end my trips on a high note, a visit to the swamp forest of Air Hitam Dalam is usually what it takes. However, the Mangrove Blue Flycatchers that usually welcome my arrival were no where to be seen. In fact, I did not manage to even see one throughout the visit. Life, as I know it, almost came to a halt. My ‘guaranteed ’showstoppers have left me high and dry this time and I was utterly devastated. In fact my guest said I appeared to be more disappointed than him. It was relatively quiet at Air Hitam Dalam and the only photo I took was of an Indian Cuckoo lurking around the edge of the access road as we were making our way out of the locality.

An attempt to seek out some kingfishers eventually led us to the mangroves of Juru. However, things did not pick up at all and it was another disappointing visit. We did stop to observe a troop of Silver Leaf Monkeys and judging from their confiding nature, are quite accustomed to human presence.

A mother and her adorable baby was quite a delightful sight. Unlike the other members of her troop, she was a little reserved towards our presence and the reason was very obvious. And we did not push any further to obtain better images. The trip started extremely well but last bit was a little disappointing. But this is birding. You can never be sure of what you are going to encounter or miss.

For the second day of his tour, I took Tony to the open grasslands of Chuping in the tiny state of Perlis. Upon arrival, Chuping appeared and felt like a whole different country to him and I could not agree more. The atmosphere at this locality does has its own distinct flavour and the birding, is usually exceptional.

Just as the first rays of the morning swept across the sea of grass, a handsome male Pied Harrier floated into view and caught us by surprise. When we recovered from the initial shock, I did my best to obtain better views and photographic opportunities. My gear struggled in the dim lighting and I felt a little short changed after the encounter. My guest, on the other day, got his shots and one of the best moments of his tour with me. A lone Paddyfield Pipit hopped up onto an exposed stake to bask in the morning sun now that the raptor has left the vicinity but it provided very little compensation for my earlier disappointment.

Blue-tailed Bee-eaters are not exactly what I would naturally look out for in Chuping but I will make an exception for a flock hunting in good light. This spot must be filled be bees as the bee-eaters seemed to be catching them effortlessly. Every sally was short and successful. And every shot I took had bee-eaters with food in the mouth.

On a recently ploughed patch, a pair of Siberian Stonechats was also having a field day. Judging from their constant movement, food was abundant. Although they were quite confiding, the lighting condition was difficult and the distant, less than desirable. The male was almost in breeding plumage and a record shot was the least I could do in appreciation for his performance and beauty.

Our main targets for this visit were the raptors - especially the harriers. Apart from the earlier encounter with the male Pied Harrier, we had very few photographic opportunities for the rest of the morning. A female Pied Harrier provided the only other reasonably good encounter. We followed her hunt momentarily and even managed to get her making short work of a large grasshopper.

The Eastern Marsh-Harriers were far and few. The striking male at this distance can hardly evoke any sense of excitement.

There is one more migratory raptor that is a regular here at Chuping and it provided one of the highlights of this visit. Resting all so elegantly on the barren earth, this female Eurasian Kestrel was more confiding than usual – much to our delight. I drove as close as possible and took a few shots as best as I could. She was not a big bird to begin with and the distance was just slightly beyond my gear’s comfort zone. But it was a good encounter. She allowed us to ogle at her beauty from the comforts of the car and that itself could almost make up for the long drive here.

There were plenty of Oriental Pratincoles around today and most were in breeding plumage. This unique wader is not an uncommon sight but it does make a good subject for photography. It usually has a high tolerance level towards human presence and we managed to obtain quite a number of good images.

By lunch time, the heat was getting a little unbearable and we decided to stop and have a meal before proceeding to the next locality. A striking male Red Collared-dove bade us farewell as we made our way out of the grasslands. The forest of Bukit Wang provided nothing of significance except for a pair of inquisitive but shy Black-and-Yellow Broadbill. Playing hard to get does enhance the encounter but only to a certain degree if you do not show yourself at the end of it all.

A repeat of yesterday’s fate was looming on the horizon. And against my better judgement, I decided to try Air Hitam Dalam again. When we arrive in the car park, it was relatively quiet. And my faith on the locality now hangs by a thread. Then I caught an all-too-familiar jizz of a bird with the corner of my eye. I could finally breathe again. A sigh of relief as a male Mangrove Blue Flycatcher proudly exhibits his splendid plumage to my guest. And my faith, totally restored. Throughout the visit, we managed to see three pairs throughout the vicinity including the complicated pair of Mangrove-Tickell’s Blue Flycatchers. The male was extremely confiding as usual and a wrong setting my in camera (accidentally turn the dial to shutter speed priority again) resulted in a slightly soft image. But I was not too worked out over it as I have plenty of good images from previous encounters. The important thing is the flycatchers are still here and for that, I am truly grateful.

When I first found out about the Hooded Pitta that was performing well at the Shah Alam Agricultural Park in Selangor a few years back, I had to give it a pass. Reasons being it was not a lifer to me, it would be a long drive and most of all, it would be crowded. I mean it is a pitta after all. One of the most sought after bird species in the world. The same applies to when they found the confiding Mountain Peacock-Pheasants at Bukit Tinggi in Pahang. I always stress on the fact that we should never take things for granted and now, after a few years, I finally decided to have a go at both these birds before it is too late. Immediately after work on Friday, I braved the horrendous rush hour traffic along the Penang Bridge to get to the mainland. Four hours later I left my fate at the hands of modern technology to help me maneuver through the residential areas of Petaling Jaya in Selangor to the house of my good friend and ardent reader of the Penang Birder’s blog, SL Foo. He and his wife certainly made me feel right at home and their gracious hospitality is one of the reasons that made this trip so memorable. It was an early night for me because it has been a long drive and at first light tomorrow we will be going after the famous Hooded Pitta of Shah Alam.

During my early birding years, I imagined that pittas are only found in remote natural habitats. That was until I had my very first pitta, a Blue-winged Pitta, at a modest rubber plantation in Perlis. It changed my perspective of these fascinating and spectacular terrestrial birds. We have migratory Blue-winged and Hooded Pittas to Peninsular Malaysia and they sometimes occur in unlikely places. I have had numerous memorable encounters with the Blue-winged Pitta since that eye-opening encounter in Perlis but the Hooded Pitta never quite provided any memorable ones. That explains why I drove 400 kilometres to visit a crowded tourist and recreational locality just beyond the borders of our capital city of Kuala Lumpur on a weekend. After all pittas are one of my favourite birds and for them, I am willing to travel to the ends of the world.

There is a particular spot next to a small stream with isolated clumps of bamboo where the Hooded Pitta has been wintering for the past few seasons. We did not have to wait long for the star bird to appear. Amidst morning walkers, cyclists and some Aerosmith-wannabes screaming their heads off at a nearby event; I finally connected well with this alluring species. The Hooded Pitta may not be a lifer but it certainly had me fooled with all the feelings it managed to conjure up inside of me.

The pitta came back to the spot throughout the morning and was as confiding as any wild bird could ever be. In fact, it was so well behaved, it made me feel overdressed for the occasion. I might as well don Bermuda shorts and shirt because I do not think it will affect the pitta whatsoever. Anyway, we made ourselves comfortable and enjoyed this memorable encounter.

To top it all up, there could be at least three birds present judging from the slight differences of their blue wing patches. All my life I have struggled to obtain good views of single birds. Now, here I am having a few Hooded Pittas take turns to entertain and thrill me. There are very few things in birding that can better that. Come to think of it, there are very few things in life too.

In between the pittas’ performances, two renowned songsters made brief appearances. The Oriental Magpie Robin is still doing well despite all the Illegal trapping and nest raiding.

The White-rumped Shama is not so fortunate. There is now a distinct reduction in its population throughout the country. The male bird was shy this time and I could only obtain images of the duller female.

As we were about to pack up and leave, the Hooded Pitta made a final appearance for us. Perhaps it was its farewell gift to us as it performed for the longest time today. Pittas are such amazing creatures. It does not matter if you encounter them deep in the forest or just next to an open-air concert. Every single encounter is magical.

Here is Foo trying to get me better acquainted with the other feathered residents of this agricultural park...

With my main target for the day in the bag, Foo took me to one of his usual birding haunts in the Klang Valley – the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) in Kepong. There is a fruiting tree here that is a centre of bird activity and one of the patrons is the adorable Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot. Nothing beats having a local birder showing you around his local patches and I have Foo this time. You save time and effort trying to locate birdy spots within a locality and most of all, you are up to date with the latest happenings.

On the way to the fruiting tree, we made a short stop to look for a female Green-backed Flycatcher. Although not that rare, she is still uncommon enough to ignite some excitement. We found her foraging at the very spot Foo said we would. Now, that’s local knowledge for you.

The Stripe-throated Bulbul can be found in suitable habitats throughout the country. Unfortunately, I do not have many good encounters with it back in my home state of Penang. There is no denying the attractiveness of this species. The streaks engulfing the face region give you the impression that this bird is adorned with a golden mask. I was a little surprised when this individual alighted below eye level on a fallen tree in front of me and tolerated my efforts to slowly stalk closer for a better a shot. I started to see why this is one of Foo’s regular birding sites.

We settled down in front of the fruiting tree and the first thing that struck me was the size of the tree. It was a small tree as far as forest trees go and the birds will certainly be close when they feast on the fruits. The Lesser Green Leafbirds were the first birds to get my attention and they were certainly close. In fact, they did not show much fear of our presence. The male, as usual, is more colourful and charming.

The female Lesser Green Leafbird may lack of the colours of the male but her green plumage is just as vibrant as any male...

According to Foo, the fruits brought out the worse from the Greater Green Leafbirds. And couldn’t agree with him more. They were noisy, possessive and aggressive. All smaller birds including the Lesser Green Leafbirds were driven away by any means necessary. It is no wonder there were no signs of the parrots. I have never witness such tenacity from this leafbird at fruiting trees in my regular sites. I guess life near the capital city tend to change who you are and it is a true dog-eat-dog world. There were no female Greater Green Leafbird present and the males that were present were not too courteous to each other either.

You could basically walk below them and they will not even flinch. But shooting from directly below your subject will not get you anywhere. The foliage was quite dense and the leaves got in the way of most of my attempts. Luckily the bold nature of the birds provided ample opportunities and I did manage some unobstructed images in the end.

Sneaking in when the leafbirds are distracted was a family of Plain Sunbirds. This species spends most of its time along the canopy level and good views are not that easily obtained. Today, not only did I manage to obtain great views, the sunbirds were also very confiding as well. The male with his signature head patch came really close to my position but the foliage prevented me from obtaining better images than this.

The female, living up to her namesake, is certainly a plain looking bird. I caught her as she was devouring a fruit on an exposed perch. That certainly made my day.

There was some ground activity nearby the fruiting as well. You will not see any Selangor birders paying much attention to the Javan Myna. This myna is an adaptable and highly invasive species. It does not have a very big fan club but until it finally colonizes my home state of Penang, I will still be a fan.

We were about to get into the car and call it a day when the bleating call of the Black-and-red Broadbill seeped through the vegetation. With some effort and a little luck, we managed to locate the bird perched in the crown of a roadside tree. The lighting was terrible and a record shot can never do justice to the real beauty of this forest jewel.

Back at the Foo Residence, I was offered the perfect beverage to cool down and it was also my victory drink to celebrate one heck of a day. The Hooded Pittas certainly made the journey worth the while by performing so admirably for a visiting Penang Birder. And a supporting cast of colours and personalities completed this truly memorable excursion.

Socks, the cat of the house, probably could not comprehend why this day is any different from yesterday. To her, life is a bliss and every day is a great day. It was another early night for me as we prepare for an even earlier day tomorrow. The montane forest of Bukit Tinggi beckons and that birding adventure will be covered in my next post.

The anticipation of my second day of birding in central Peninsular Malaysia got me all worked up and I made my way downstairs full of zeal and excitement. Like the first morning, breakfast was all ready and waiting for me – courtesy of Foo’s wife, Connie. I must admit I was truly being pampered on this trip. The drive to Bukit Tinggi in Pahang took slightly more than an hour but the winding journey was made shorter by Foo’s excellent driving and his awesome ride.

Bukit Tinggi is yet another tourist destination and is usually crowded on weekends like today. However through his connections, Foo managed to get us in way before the permitted entry time. This is the second time I have been to this hill resort but the first visit was a casual trip. Today, was a different story. I was on a mission and a remarkable gamebird was my target.

A short trek from the Botanical Gardens and we reached the spot where the renowned Mountain Peacock-Pheasants of Bukit Tinggi frequent. It looks like any ordinary patch of montane forest but the memories and experiences that birders far and wide obtained here are anything but ordinary. This pheasant is only found in the main range of Peninsular Malaysia and no where else in the world. Prior to the discovery of the pheasants here, this endemic has an almost mythical status. Elusive and scarce, it is rarely encountered in the field. I have seen it on two occasions in the past and they were only glimpses of its true splendour. It has been three years since the discovery and one of the reasons I chose to finally have a go at the pheasants now is to avoid a crowd when shooting. But fate would have it that I had to share the location with a group of half a dozen mainland Chinese birders and their local guide. They came shortly after we had settled down and waiting for my second target bird of the trip to start its performance. I may sound selfish and perhaps I am but I would very much preferred to enjoy my moment with the pheasants at total ease and solitude. Anyway, we did our best to accommodate the group.

A couple of hours later, a stream of continuous shutter clicks from the direction of my new found companions broke the silence. I knew that the pheasant has finally decided to show itself but from where we had positioned our hides, I could not see a thing. It is a good thing the pheasants here are accustomed to all this attention. Any other gamebird would have turned tail and disappear right back into the forest. Slowly, I could almost make out the shape of the pheasant foraging just behind the undergrowth. There was nothing I could do but wait. And it was one of the longest minutes I had to endure in my life. The intensity of the moment was unbelievable. If my heart were to beat any faster, I fear it would have broke through my rib cage. When this amazing creature finally showed itself completely to us, I took a few seconds to awe at this magnificent creature before commencing with the photo shoot.

It was a handsome male. The blue-green ocelli sparkled like jewels whenever they caught the few rays of the sun that have managed to pierce through the dense canopy. The chestnut colouration interwoven with intricate fine markings make this bird a true wonder of the natural world. Its near mythical status is no exaggeration. It is so beautiful that at times, it seemed unreal. It was like a secret passageway to a fantasy world was breached once upon a time allowing the Mountain Peacock-Pheasants to cross into our world and grace us with their poise and beauty for all eternity.

The mere presence of the pheasant drowned out everything else. The hide I was in became my own little private world and at that moment in time, it was just me and the pheasant. And all these astronomical feelings was the doings of a single male bird. Other birders have encountered pairs and even families of this pheasant here but I can only dream of such good fortune and privilege.

The whole encounter lasted about 5 minutes. During that time, the pheasant hardly stood still. The dim lighting offered very little reprieve for my modest photographic gear. The long tail that had me spell-bounded proved to be a double-edged sword as it was challenging to keep the entire bird in the frame. Naturally, I wanted more. The group left immediately after the performance. I decided to stay and wait for the pheasant to return.

While waiting, the other species present finally had my attention like this male Oriental Magpie Robin. For the second consecutive day, this species has appeared at my target birds’ location.

The Buff-breasted Babbler occurs in hilly forest and is not often seen as it tends to keep itself well hidden among the undergrowth. I have several failed attempts to obtain its image in the past. This confiding individual changed all that. In terms of appearance, there is not much I can elaborate on this non-descript species but that does not mean I did not relish the encounter. I finally managed to obtain some reasonably good images of this little brown job.

Active and small, it was a tough subject to photograph despite its confiding nature...

I was disappointed when the pheasant did not return after a couple of hours. On the other hand, that made the earlier encounter even more precious to me. As I was about to pack up, this Common Treeshrew scurried into view and was just asking to be photographed. Naturally, I obliged...

From Bukit Tinggi, we travelled to the adjacent hill of Genting Highlands. Well known for its casinos and theme parks, this hill resort is naturally another popular tourist destination. However, those attractions are of no concern to me. The Important Bird Area (IBA) of Awana along the lower slopes is. IBAs here in Malaysia are not given their due protection. Awana, as many other IBAs, is under threat by human activities. That is a real shame because it is certainly a very beautiful and a regular birding site for birders in this region including Foo.

The Collared Owlet here has performed well on numerous occasions in the past but not today. Today it was quite adamant of taunting us from the dense foliage of the forest canopy with its diagnostic calls. No amount of pleading will get it show itself and a flying Great Hornbill finally diverted our attention away.

A fruiting tree only yielded a pair of Fire-tufted Barbets. This species is undoubtedly the most impressive of all our barbets. The challenging lighting condition and the height of the tree robbed us of any great images despite the confiding nature of our subjects.

After such an exhilarating morning with the pheasant, it would take something truly spectacular to reignite my excitement. A small flycatcher hawking along the forest edge awakened my senses but after further scrutiny, it turned out to be only an Asian Brown Flycatcher – the commonest of our migratory flycatchers. Not quite the spectacle I was hoping for.

Foo was a little puzzled as to why we have yet to come across the Orange-bellied Leafbird. This beautiful forest jewel is a common sight here. I have been to this site only once before a few years back and I obtained one of my images of this species courtesy of an exceptionally confiding individual. I know what it feels like when you fail to show a regular species at your local patch to a visiting birder. A handsome male on our way back saved Foo the agony. And Foo’s pet bird was a great way to wrapped up things up for this weekend of outstanding birding and great companionship in the heart of Peninsular Malaysia. I owe the success and rewards of this trip to Foo. Without him, photographing a certain migratory ground bird and an endemic game bird will still be very much in my bucket list.

I started birding when I was a teenage. It was my godfather, Ban Beng who took me to my very first birding trip more than 25 years ago. And the rest, as they say, is history. Occasionally, he does join me for some birding and last Saturday, he brought his friend Chng along. Like what he did for me back then, his friend got to experience a true birding trip for the first time. I decided to take them to somewhere not too far from home and where birds are easy to encounter. The first place that came to mind was Air Hitam Dalam. The elevator boardwalk that cuts through the swamp forest is the perfect passageway to the wonders of the natural world. As expected, it was an enlightening experience for the first-timer and I did my best to guide him through this captivating experience.

Chng had a keen interest in night birds and the trip was off to a very good start as the resident Spotted Wood-owl was one of the first few birds we encountered. It was resting high up among the foliage of a tree crown. It was a distanced shot and the morning sun was not quite bright enough but the encounter was certainly exciting. Seeing an owl in the wild for the first time always is.

We came across a number of the regular birds that are found here but some, more than others, left truly lasting impressions. A Greater Coucal glided across our field of view and alighted on a low bush not too far away. Instead of making the usual quick escape into the dense undergrowth, it stayed long enough to allow the moment to be captured into our digital archive.

The Mangrove Blue Flycatchers were back to their usual selves and we had close and prolonged encounters with two pairs of these striking birds.

At mid morning we left Air Hitam Dalam to seek out more nocturnal birds and modest environment around the Kulim Hi-Tech Park was our next destination. The Barred Eagle-owl has been performing well for the past few weeks and it did not disappointment this time as well. Its sheer size and enchanting beauty certainly captured our undivided attention. It was not much of a surprise when this nocturnal hunter ended up being the best bird of the trip.

The last bird for the trip was another night bird and it was the Savanna Nightjar. The remarkable camouflage was so effective we almost drove right past it.

And what could be better than to observe one Savanna Nightjar at its daytime roost? To observe two Savanna Nightjars and the second bird is a female as she lacks the white outer tail feathers of the male. Of the two birds she was the more relaxed one and provided the perfect to end to Chng’s first day out in the field.

Japan is no doubt one of the best holiday destinations in Asia at the present time and an offer from a childhood buddy to stay at his abode should I want to visit the Land of the Rising Sun was too good of an offer to turn down. I have known William since our pre-school days as he lived just a few houses from my parents’ place. His work takes him all over the world and for the time being, he will be based in Japan. His company provided him with a nice and cosy little place in the suburbs of Shibuya just outside Tokyo centre and this was to be our home for the next week or so. It came with a garden and that provided me with my first taste of birding in Japan on my first morning in this foreign land.

William is not a bird person. He is into superbikes – Harley Davidsons to be more precise. I do share a some of his passion for these amazing machines. Riding a motorcycle is probably the closest you will ever get to flying without leaving the ground and I can certainly relate to that sense of freedom.

Japan is all about saving space and his designated car park will take a little getting used to…

It was a serene neighbourhood as well. Not that much traffic and people. Rows of Cherry Blossom Trees along certain spots add even more colours and beauty to the surroundings. These exquisite and delicate flowers are one of the reasons behind our visit to Japan at this time of the year and my better half was in floral heaven. She, like most members of the fairer sex, adore flowers and she was not to be disappointed in this trip.

As this was not a pure birding trip, it was crucial for me to find a local patch for which I can bird a couple of hours after the break of dawn and be back in time for breakfast and the usual sight seeing itinerary for the day. Lucky for me, next to our “home” was a shrine with a small wooded park called the Shibuya Hikawa Shrine. I found that most shrines and temples in Japan to be very well kept and “green” and it was no different with this one.

I visited this shrine almost every dawn and managed to obtain a reasonably good list at the end of my visit to Japan. My first lifer for the trip caught my immediate attention with its loud shrieking calls. It took a little effort to locate and identify it. I would learn later it is one of the commonest of Japan’s wooded habitat birds. The Brown-eared Bulbul is the only bulbul I recorded for the entire duration of my time in Japan. A stark difference from birding back home where half a dozen species on a single trip is nothing out of the ordinary. This bulbul might be common but good photographic opportunities are not easily obtainable. Apart from being slightly skittish, it has a preference for dense foliage. But the loud call, which is embedded into my memory by the end of my Japan trip, is heard almost everyday.

This is probably the cleanest shot I managed to obtain...

I hail from Penang where I see crows on a daily basis. Imagine the irony when I found it is not any different in Tokyo. But here they have the Jungle Crows (a recent split from the Large-billed Crow) and their enormous size and deep calls certainly make their presence felt far more than the House Crows back home.

Another species that reminded me of home was the Eurasian Tree Sparrow. Here, it is also a common commensal of man. I did not travel thousands of kilometres to photograph Eurasian Tree Sparrows but one foraging on some Cherry Blossoms is certainly a sight I will never get to enjoy back home in the tropics.

When I first encountered the White-cheeked Starling, I almost mistook it for a Common Myna. It was about the right size and the same shade of brown on the upperparts. It even behaved like the myna foraging on a patch of grass next to the road. That is until it turned around and I nearly tripped over the curb in my efforts to obtain better images. The features on the head and throat region were quite distinct and not much was required to ascertain its identification.

One of the most attractive garden birds in Japan is the Great Tit. Colourful, cute and charming, it was a pure delight to observe this little bird. It occasionally forages down at eye level and that is the best time to capture all the elements that make the Great Tit one of the most exciting garden birds in Japan for me.

I did not expect to find any rarities here at this suburban park. But a strange bird with strong markings hopping on the ground certainly roused my excitement. From its jizz, I guess it was some kind of a thrush and upon further scrutiny, turned out to be a Dusky Thrush. I do not know its exact status in Japan but I did not expect to find a thrush in this type of a habitat. I guess it is not that common as I only encountered it here on one occasion.

However, that one encounter was so memorable. The thrush performed well and was as obliging as any garden bird could be. It practically ignore my presence and all my efforts to reduce the distance between us. The Dusky Thrush was undoubtedly the best bird at this overseas local patch of mine.

A second thrush species was also present here at this modest locality. The Pale Thrush was seen the following day after my encounter with the Dusky Thrush. In fact, I thought it was the Dusky Thrush initially as it foraged at the very same spot. However, the absence of any distinct markings made me realise that I was looking at my second thrush lifer species. I was grateful it did not take place in the same morning because I was not sure if I could handle the excitement and adrenalin rush. Anyway, the Pale Thrush was a much shyer species and it made me work very hard to obtain shots without any motion blur or obstructed views.

There is a playground next to the shrine that is utilised not by children but pet dogs. A handful of dog owners and their pets will be waiting for the gates of the playground to be opened every morning. Initially, they probably wondered what this bald stranger was doing stalking about the bushes at the break of dawn. Anyway, we got along just fine and the dogs are usually very well behaved. One particular dog that caught my attention was this handsome Pit Bull.

Shibuya has another side to it and this is the side it is famous for. About 1 kilometre away lies the world renowned Shibuya Crossing where at certain times of the day will have hundreds of pedestrians trotting across the crossroad. And it is quite a spectacle. That part of Shibuya has numerous dining, shopping, entertainment and leisure outlets at your disposal. Whatever you need, you can find it there. A very different environment from where we were staying and we got to experience the best of both worlds during our stay with William.

Japan is an amazing country and this is just based on the sights and sounds we experienced during our stay here. We did most of our sight seeing around Tokyo and there is still so much more left to be explored. Anyway, the public train system around the capital city is efficient and punctual. From home base Shibuya Station, we travelled as far out as Haichioji City which is about an hour’s journey by train. The only qualm I have is the language barrier. Most do not speak English and asking for directions can be a real ordeal. Thankfully, language is irrelevant when it comes to birding and Japan is a birding paradise. This post will include the birds I managed to encounter during our visits to popular tourist destinations. My self-control was put to the test as this is supposed to be a normal vacation for me and my wife and not a pure birding excursion. A balance had to be struck. Difficult and shy birds were painfully ignored as it will take up too much time and effort. Due effort and attention must be given to my better half to ensure she does not feel neglected. At the end of the trip, I am happy with what I have managed.

One of the first few places we visited was the Hasedera Temple at the coastal district of Kamakura which is about 60 kilometres south of Tokyo. There are plenty of temples and shrines throughout Japan and most of them are popular tourist destinations. We soaked in the view as we wandered around the temple grounds.

I came to a complete halt when we approached a pond. Paddling all so casually about were a few Eurasian Wigeons – my first duck in Japan and they are cracking birds indeed. As I took a moment to relish this stunning lifer, I became aware of my surroundings again. My gear and antics have drawn the usual attention of my fellow human beings – again. And I responded with a smile. More of a grin actually. Nothing was able to rob me of the emotions this handsome duck has stirred in me.

The wigeons were very confiding and I trust they do not have to worry about shortage of food. And they probably do not see humans here as threat either. Whatever it is, it was an incredible experience.

My second duck of the trip was the Spot-billed Duck. A few were present at the same pond but because of their drabber plumage, could not steal the limelight from the flashy wigeons. As far as I can tell, the Spot-billed Duck is the commonest duck as I saw it at several localities throughout my stay in Japan.

We cruised along the Tokyo Bay after the temple visit and this coastline is quite popular with tourists and locals as well. The sandy beach here have a blackish appearance courtesy of the volcanos but that does not stop the crowd from enjoying their Sunday on the beach. The thing that really had my attention was the big number of Black Kites present and some were perched along the electrical cables next to the road. I have no doubt scavenging forms a large part of their daily routine and they have become extremely bold and confiding. I have encountered Black Kites on countless occasions back home but never once have I ever managed to get this close to one.

The kites were behaving very much like crows and it is quite surprising that the Jungle Crows here do not harass these highly adaptable raptors. Well, not frequently anyway.

Japan is not short of surprises. Disney Sea Tokyo is part of our itinerary and it was only on that day I left the house without my birding gear. As expected, this tourist attraction was crowded and full of activities. It was not exactly the type of place to expect anything in terms of birding – or so I thought.

While queuing up for one of the attractions, a few Spot-billed Ducks decided to alight and rest on some eye-level concrete pillars close by. I could not resist but to try and obtain some images as they appeared to be most comfortable while in close proximity with humans. I casually walked towards them and the ducks did not even budge even though I was close enough to pet them on the head. No telephoto lens is required. A cell phone camera will do just fine.

A visit to the Tokyo Imperial Palace was next in line and as we were about to walk the bridge that crosses the moat and into the palace, a lone Mute Swan was seen foraging along the water edge. According to my friend Google, most of the Mute Swans in Japan originated from introduced stock. Being non-native birds has not stop me from shooting them back in Malaysia. Why should it now? Besides, the Mute Swan is one beautiful and graceful bird.

The palace ground was splendid. I was not expecting any less as it is, after all, home to the royal family. There is a big field where visitors were chilling out and having picnics. Well, when in Rome do as the Romans do and we had our own little picnic as well.

So there we were, enjoying a beautiful Japanese spring afternoon and minding our own business when a White Wagtail decided to stroll across my view. I immediately jumped into action. I fumbled as I reached for my camera and I thank my lucky stars all my awkward movements did not put the bird to flight. In fact, I obtained some reasonable good shots as the bird was very confiding. Now if these photos were taken back home, I would be a very happy man. Unlike in Japan, the White Wagtail is somewhat rare in Malaysia and I have only seen it on very few occasions.

As we were making our way out of the palace, the Mute Swan was getting ready for the night ahead. Not far from the swan, I spotted a few Great Cormorants drying their feathers at the edge of the moat. It may be a common species here in Japan but to a Malaysian birder, the Great Cormorant is a very rare bird. Naturally, this fascinating water bird got my undivided attention. And you guessed it – the roosting duck was a Spot-billed Duck.

I was really looking forward to visiting Mount Takao as I read it was quite a haven for birds. But the thing is it would be forest birding and no matter which part of the world you are in, luck plays a major role in the outcome of such an excursion. The scenery was incredible. Lush temperate forest almost in full bloom greeted us as we made our way up to the summit.

I wish I had more time to explore the well-marked forest trails and all the strange and new bird calls coming from the forest. Anticipation was high. There was no doubt about. And a signboard that depicted the Green Pheasant as one of the birds found here had no influence on me in any way whatsoever...

My wife braved the cold and joined me for a short walk into one of the forest trails. At times, I do wonder how in the world she puts up with my obsessive behaviour with birding. Anyway, this trail had a suspension bridge and the view was truly impressive.

This is not the first time I have laid eyes on the intricate wing patterns of the Oriental Turtle-dove. I saw this species a few years back in Taiwan and a few days earlier at my local patch in Shibuya. But it is only today that I managed to obtain some good photos of this rather common species.

As expected, I did not see the pheasant but I did managed to come across a Eurasian Jay and it was one of the highlights of my Japanese trip. It was loud, colourful and exotic. Best of all, it was inquisitive as well and dropped by closer to have a better look at this all-worked-up Malaysian birder.

I followed its movements for as long as possible and gradually managed to obtain a few more shots before the Jay disappeared back into the forest. The encounter left me a little light-headed and I had to descend from the narrow mountain trail with a little more caution.

One non-bird related about Japan that is worth mentioning is the food. We quite fancy the Japanese food found back in our hometown but nothing beats the original. The food was glorious and we made an effort to try as much variety as possible. Although for me it is always the birds, the rich culture and culinary delights of this beautiful country also left quite an impression on me and helped made this trip a truly memorable one.

From the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, we travelled to Kyoto for a bit of leisure time and to wander around one of the most beautiful and oldest cities in Japan. One thing you will definitely notice is the unique architecture. The traditional designs and craftsmanship are all part of the rustic charm of Kyoto. It is like a city frozen in time. Kimono-clayed women is a common sight filling the city with a sense of nostalgia of days of old. Rich in history and culture, I think we enjoyed our 3-day stay here more than our stay in Tokyo.

It was a shopping paradise as well – much to the delight of my better half. Some of the shopping streets appeared to have no end and so was the variety of items on sale.

And there was the food. Gastronomic offerings that send you on a remarkable journey of taste and aroma.

We stayed at a traditional ryokan establishment in order to make our visit to Japan complete and it was certainly a new experience. The setting and accommodation gives you an insight on what it is like to live in Japan during that era of time.

The owners of the establishment are dog lovers and have no less than 5 Golden Retrievers running around the compound! One particular dog was allowed to enter the lobby and he was truly docile and friendly. Needless to say, he received a lot of affection from us.

The Nijo Castle is a world renowned site located right in the city centre. Although the architecture is not as breath-taking as some of the other tourist locations but the historical elements and it being the home to samurais and ninjas make this a unique attraction among Japan’s long list of impeccable tourist spots.

Now, for the birds. My encounter with the Mute Swan at the Imperial Palace has taught me to be more vigilant when it comes to moats and true enough, I was greeted by another lifer – a male Mallard. I have seen this species before back home but they were domesticated birds and cannot be compared to seeing a wild one. The latter will always evoke more excitement – naturally.

What is it with Great Cormorants and moats? And am I ever going to have a chance to photograph one a little closer than across the width of moats?

Flocks of White-cheeked Starlings were present at some places of the castle grounds and here, they exhibit little fear for man unlike the ones I usually encounter at my local patch in Shibuya. Daylight is early during this time of the year and the light starts to fade early as well. Shooting these active starlings in shaded areas in the late afternoon was a challenge. Only a few of my images turned out sharp despite the close proximity.

For the second time in my Japan trip I came across the Dusky Thrush. Foraging on a lawn, it was nice to see the beautiful markings out in the open and in reasonably good light. There was a low barrier that I could have stepped over to get closer to the bird but I decided against it. If it happened to be a lifer and something truly incredible like a pitta, then it would have been a true test.

Moments later, I also found my second Pale Thrush. It seemed like this two species have a tendency to share habitats. With no barrier in my way this time, I managed to stalk my way quite close to the bird. The lighting condition was a hindrance and my shots did not turn out as sharp as I had hoped. However, both the thrushes enriched my visit to this castle tremendously.

There are quite a few unique sites in Kyoto that are in a class of their own. The awe-inspiring Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is one of them. The view and feel of the place was amazing and I am sure I speak for the hundreds of other visitors that were present there as well. Japan seems to be the country to visit this year. Even two of my colleagues have visited Japan already. On the whole, most of the tourist locations were packed – even on weekdays. I can only imagine how it bad it would be during the dreaded Golden Week in Japan.

As appealing as the bamboo forest may be, there were hardly any birds and the one shot that I did take was of a Japanese White-eye. Even then it was at the edge the forest and not among the bamboo.

There is a lake just outside the bamboo forest and here, I encountered a pair of Mallards. It was a sizable lake but despite a careful sweep, the Mallards were the only sign of life. Japan is one of those places where the waterbirds come to you and not vice versa. And I for one have no complaints about that.

As soon as the pair realized that they will not be getting any handouts from me, they drifted back to the middle of the lake. Even at a distance, they still had me spellbound.

The Fushimi Inari Taisha is located just a little south of Kyoto and I do not have any bird encounters to share from that location. But the hundreds of vermillion tori gates that cuts through the hill slope like a fire snake is truly a sight to behold. It is one of those places that will be etched into your memory for a long time. I also found myself a local patch in Kyoto that goes by the name of Maruyama Park and that will be covered in my next post.

This post is not as provocative as what the title may imply. It has got absolutely nothing to do with a revered part of the female human’s anatomy but a family of small and colourful birds which despite being confiding are often difficult to photograph because of their active nature. The ryokan accommodation that we stayed at Kyoto was located near a wooded park that even had a pond – the type of place that I can sneak off to at dawn for a couple of hours of birding. So, I decided to swing by Maruyama Park with my wife in tow after our sight seeing itinerary to satisfy my curiosity for the place. It does have all the potential of a good local patch. Lush green landscaping with a small stream running into a pond.

The pond had a few Grey Herons resting on the ornamental rocks and they seemed to be oblivious of all human presence and activities all around them. Grey Herons are common back home but never have I ever seen them at such close proximity. They were so tame that initially I thought they were captive birds with clipped wings.

This is one of the few rare occasions where I could have my photo taken together with my beloved birds. One more thing, semi-military attire is not a requirement when birding in green areas within the cities of Japan as most of the birds are confiding. You will probably get the same results wearing a fluorescent pink shirt (not that I own one).

From the pond, I followed a trail upstream. I made a mental note not to lose track of time even if the birding was good. There is a limit how long the Cherry Blossoms and blissful atmosphere near the pond can keep my better half occupied. After only a few strides into the trail, I came across a small birdwave. This is my first trip to Japan. The few hours of birding experience in Japan that I have gained prior to this moment could not have prepared me for this. It was a birdwave for God’s sake and overwhelmed is the word. I am sure I missed out on a few species. Most were small and hyperactive birds. But the one that got my undivided attention were the Varied Tits. Here comes the part where I watched tits with my mouth slightly ajar. As soon as I saw the striking black and white head, I was transfixed with the bird. Nothing else could take my eyes off it. Not even the other birds in the birdwave. But the Varied Tits were a difficult bunch of birds to follow. They hardly stood still and the fading light was not much help either.

I may be new to birding in this part of the world but I seen enough photos and documentaries on the Long-tailed Tit to know how it looks like. And that cute-looking bird right in front of me that has just caught a caterpillar was definitely a Long-tailed Tit. Again I could only managed only one reasonable shot as it was extremely active. It was about then that the land of the rising sun had to endure a stream of profanity from a frustrated Malaysian birder.

One thing I noticed during my site recce of Maruyama Park was the number of Jungle Crows present near the pond area. Here, they appeared to be even bolder than the ones I encountered in the capital. I guess crows worldwide have a bad reputation but if one can look beyond that, you will see an intelligent and sleek member of the avian family.

I set my alarm for 4:30am the next day as it is already bright by then. Other than a lone Great Cormorant that flew off as soon as I reached the site, the pond was void of any life. No sight of even the Grey Herons that looked so comfortable here last evening. I did not have to walk far into the trail to get my first lifer of the day. Finches can be confusing and I must admit I did not do my homework well enough to be able to identify this Black-faced Bunting immediately. I knew it was a finch and hoped that the three shots that I fired (from the same angle) will be good enough for me or my friends to identify later. And they were – thanks, Dave.

Before the Black-faced Bunting, the only finch-like bird I encountered were the ever-abundant Eurasian Tree-Sparrows. But here at Maruyama Park there are quite a lot of finch-like birds and not all of them were sparrows – that much I was sure. I do not seem to have much luck with these birds and like the Black-faced Bunting, I could only muster one shot of this Oriental Greenfinch (thanks, Masahiko San for the identity of this lifer) before it vanished from sight.

I have seen enough Pale Thrushes to recognise this species by jizz alone. This time, it was foraging on a grassy patch.

Later in the morning, I think I came across a second individual as it looked slightly different. I followed its movements until we came to dry riverbed. It was gloomy but the thrush was rather receptive of my presence and went about its business and that made the encounter a moment to be treasured.

Then came the tits – much to my delight as I have a chance to improve on my images. Unlike that evening, there was no birdwave. For that I am truly grateful as I can focus on one species at a time. Maybe I did not stress how stunning the Varied Tit truly is. Kyoto is full of fair maidens clayed in kimonos and looking absolutely lovely but I, will rather have a cooperative Varied Tit any day.

Although I managed more photos this time, I had to work hard to obtain them. These images with the tit foraging on a flowering tree are among the multitude of little treasures that I managed to bring back home digitally to be enjoy for many years to come.

The Long-tailed Tit also made me sing for my supper. I was constantly on the move as I tried to keep up with the bird’s rapid movements. I stumbled over steps, ignored the stares of curious morning walkers, trying to focus my camera on tiny bird that never ever stops moving and all that time, be aware of the direction of the light. People say you tend to appreciate something more if it took a whole lot of effort to obtain it and they are right. The Long-tailed Tit together with the Varied Tit are some of the main highlights of my trip to Japan.

As I was recovering from all the excitement from the tit watching endeavours, a small woodpecker alighted briefly in front of me. Lucky for me, my reflex action was quick enough to ensure that I did not come out empty-handed from this short but sweet encounter. It was a Pygmy Japanese Woodpecker and describing it as adorable would be an understatement.

When the birding pace dropped a gear, I decided to head back to the pond and I found myself in the company of four Mallards. The thing was each of them sported a different plumage. Since there was only one female, she will be given the honour to start off the encounter...

This rather dull looking individual is an eclipsed male...

The third is a male moulting into breeding plumage...

I saved the best for last – a male in full breeding plumage and he is a stunning specimen. I know that this species is common here and some other parts of the world but it does not occur naturally in my homeland. I am a sucker for waterbirds and the Mallard is one beautiful and confiding waterbird. That makes it irresistible to me.

As I was making my way out, I finally spent some time observing the Jungle Crows. Just like last evening, they were loitering around the entrance to the park.

In Japan, there are two species of crows. One is the Jungle Crow which I have come to know quite well as it occurs everywhere in the capital city and the other is the Carrion Crow which supposedly only occurs in more rural areas. Effort is required to distinguish the two just like the Large-billed and Slender-billed Crows back home. It also boils down to habitat, shape of the bill and head and the overall size for the crows here in Japan as well. Except for the first factor, it can be a bit of a challenge to pick out a Carrion Crow and that is the reason why I try to scrutinize every crow I see outside the city. The last crow I photographed before calling it a day here certainly fits the bill – literally. Thanks to Dave and Masahiko, I could tick Carrion Crow in my life list without any sense of guilt.

This city park has provided me with a rewarding and memorable birding experience that honestly, was not expected. I am grateful I stumbled upon this little piece of birding paradise and I should have known it was one. People do not erect tall statues of a bird next to a park for no reason. Thank you for the memories, Kyoto City.

On our second last day in Japan, we decided to visit Ueno Park on the outskirts of Tokyo. Come to think of it, it is more like our last day because we have to catch a very early flight home tomorrow and I hope Japan will provide a memorable parting gift to me by providing a few more lifers. Apparently, Ueno Park is a great place for waterbirds especially ducks but the trip did not start off well. Dark clouds and occasional drizzle threatened to spoil our plans for the day. As we got off the train and made our way to the park, not only did the weather not improved but strong winds decided to join in the foray. And I fear that my birding excursion at Ueno Park will be short lived. I intended to spend more time at the lake area for the waterbirds and with the current weather, it could well be my sole salvation.

The first bird that greeted us as we walked along the access trail that cuts through the lake was this lone Grey Heron. I am aware of the saying that the grass is always greener on the other side but I find the Grey Herons here in Japan more attractive than the ones back home in Malaysia. Perhaps happy birds tend to be more appealing. This one certainly does not have to worry about its home being destroyed in the name of development and it certainly does not need to look over its shoulder every minute just be sure to be there is no catapult or gun-totting human sneaking up on it.

I have been trying to obtain good photographs of the Great Cormorant ever since I saw my first one a few days back. Each time I tried the distance between me and this fascinating waterbird was just too great. When I saw one drying itself just next to the trail, I said a silent prayer and approached with caution. I cannot be certain if it was the prayer or this individual was confiding but I was elated that I managed to obtain the type of photos I have been dreaming of.

I took my time with the cormorant and captured a few more images to satisfy my obsession. Thanks, bud...

Yours truly enjoying his last day out in the field for this trip...

My presence near the water’s edge did not go unnoticed. It is quite certain that the birds at this lake are used to human handouts despite the presence of notice boards that forbid the feeding of birds. A flock of Tufted Ducks made a bee line to my position and they appeared like birds with a mission. I was a little taken aback from this bold behaviour.

A few years ago, I had to drive 200km to see my first ever Tufted Duck in Malaysia. Today, I had to actually step back in order to get the whole duck into frame easier. At this close, one can truly appreciate the true beauty and vibrancy of the Tufted Duck. They even had my wife’s attention for quite a long while. It is not surprising. The striking black and plumage with a tinge of iridescent on the face would have won over anyone. And let’s not forget the wicked tuft of a crest...

The female Tufted Ducks lacks the striking colours of the male birds and the crest. I did intentionally ignore them but they were greatly outnumbered by the males.

Although the main bloom is over here, there are still some traces of how spectacular it must have been – much to the delight of my better half. At least I did not made feel so bad for exposing her to nasty weather so that I can spend some time to observe and photograph birds.

There is a small island in the lake and it is full of reeds. Not surprising I saw some of the commoner rails like this Common Moorhen foraging at the edge of the reeds.

A few Eurasian Coots were also present and I took a few shots of the one that was resting nearest to where I had position myself. To be honest, I expected to find more waterbirds. There is a notice that depicts at least half a dozen species of ducks that supposedly occur here but so far, I have only seen one. Anyway, that is birding and this unpredictability can sometimes truly test your mettle as a birder.

One bird that you will not miss at this lake is the Black-tailed Gull. Found in good numbers and having literally no fear of humans, shooting this species was a walk in the park. I do realise that is only a bleeding gull but it is one bleeding beautiful gull. Did I mention it has three colours on its bill?

The short concrete poles that hold the rope barrier at the water’s edge is one of their favourite perches. Shooting a predominantly white bird can be a challenge especially in strong light. Today’s overcast sky was a blessing in disguise as it made the exposure rather ideal.

Judging from the number of Black-tailed Gulls present here, I assume life is good for these highly adaptable birds as well. I think it is safe to say it is good for all the other bird as well.

There were quite a number of Black-headed Gulls present on these poles as well but inevitably, they were overshadowed by the much larger Black-tailed Gulls. It was only recently that a couple of Black-headed Gulls started to winter regularly in Malaysia along the northern shoreline of mainland Penang. So, seeing them in such numbers takes a little getting used to. I even have the liberty to pick and choose which one I want to photograph and I decided to get obtain the plumage differences found in the gulls present. Here is a juvenile...

This is an adult in winter plumage...

Despite a careful search, I failed to find one in its striking summer plumage. The closest were a few individuals that were starting to moult into summer plumage.

I expected to see Spot-billed Ducks as they are quite common throughout Tokyo. I guess they like to make an entrance and came fashionably late to greet me.

I thought the Tufted Ducks were determined when they zeroed in on me like crocodiles on the hunt but the Spot-billed Ducks, took a step further. They left the water and walked right up to me!

There were very few “land” birds present due to the strong winds and drizzle. A few White-cheeked Starlings were foraging on the grassy patches. The weather conditions probably made the starlings a little sluggish and I got some decent close up shots that were not affected by motion blur. The amount of white on the head region of the males seem to vary and I am not sure if it is age related. Some have just enough white to appear normal to me.

Some have nearly completely white heads and the black piercing eyes give them a slightly eerie look.

I enjoyed observing these starlings as I do watching the mynas back home. Starlings and mynas are closely related and I feel some starlings appear and behave more like mynas than starlings. The White-cheeked Starling is one of them. Full of character and mischievous, they are the best remedy to get over gloomy skies like today. This is the first time we experienced rain in Japan. I thought I left the rain back home when we left tropical Malaysia. Looks like I was wrong.

To wrap things up for my excursion to Ueno Park and since it will be my last bit on birding in Japan, I present to you one of the commonest birds in Japan – the feral Pigeon. This is yet another bird that will approach you and not the other way round. They will stroll between your feet and even stop and beg for food – much like a cat or a dog. I find it cute but I could not give in to their antics. They are a feral species and if their population is not kept in check, the native birds will be affected.

I bet this one just had a hearty breakfast...

My wife and I spend eight days exploring Tokyo and Kyoto and their surrounding areas. The cold climate, high standard of living and the language barrier are some of the drawbacks that we faced. However, the drawbacks are quite insignificant compared to all the memorable and wonderful experiences we obtained during our short stay here. And I was a real happy man. The birding was incredible. Some of the encounters were truly remarkable. But time flies when you are having a good time and soon, it will be back to the humid and pest-infested birding in my beloved tropical Malaysia.

One last trip for the year (27/12/2015)

New Year Blues...(01/01/2016)

Bonjour...

Crazy for crests

Where is that bleeding gull? (23/01/2016)

A happy Chinese New Year indeed (06/02/2016)

Chinese New Year Feast (10/02/2016)

No rarities, no problem (11/02/2016)

The grass is not always greener on the other side (12/02/2016)

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose (13/02/2016)

No such thing as a sure thing in birding (27/02/2016)

Faith restored...(28/03/2016)

Three is certainly not a crowd (12/03/2016)

One in the world (13/03/2016)

Two decades and counting (19/03/2106)

An overseas local patch

Tori, tori, tori..

A visit to the thousand-year capital

Tit watching...

One for the road