Woodpecker, Gunung Tampin

Again, the woodpecker proves to be difficult bird to shoot. Heard the pecking sound, scanned several trees top to bottom before spotting a shadow in the dense vegetation. A pair of them together, yet unable to get a clear full body shot.

Orange-backed Woodpecker (Male)
Reinwardtipicus validus

Orange-backed Woodpecker (Female)
Reinwardtipicus validus

Gunung Tampin birding

In between takes, a flourescent green snake hangs from the tree right in front of us.

Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker
Prionochilus maculatus

Bulbul

Flycatcher, Gunung Tampin

In between, a fly catcher presented itself on the dead tree. The 2nd shot looks much like a winter scene.

Ferruginous Flycatcher
Muscicapa ferruginea

Red bearded bee eater, Gunung Tampin

After too many shots of the malkohas, tried to look for other birds. Lifer high up in the trees. Typical bottom view shot, could hardly see the head.

Red-bearded Bee-eater
Nyctyornis amictus

Red billed malkoha, Gunung Tampin

Stumbled into a pack of 4 malkohas in mating ritual (I think). The birds were nodding their head like a male turtle dove only less frequent. The birds will follow you on the trees as you walk, sometimes nodding their head as if chasing you away.

Start of the head nodding, the feathers around the head is fluffed to make the head bigger.

Red-billed Malkoha
Phaenicophaeus javanicus

Gunung Tampin birding

A leaf bird joined in the frenzy.

Lesser Green Leafbird
Chloropsis cyanopogon

Lifer.

Ashy Bulbul
Hemixos flavala

Another Gunung Tampin blue bird

Another lifer, blue seems to be the fashion trend at this time of year. The bird was quite confiding as it took several rounds flying from the perch deeper in the woods out to the edge of the road to feed on a fruiting tree.

Asian Fairy-bluebird
Irena puella

Gunung Tampin Woodpecker

I was 50ft down the ravine when my buddy shouted woodpecker, woodpecker from the parking area. By the time i rush up the ravine, the noise from an approaching motorbike scared a pair of them deeper into the woods.

Another record shot. Lifer though.

Orange-backed Woodpecker
Reinwardtipicus validus

Gunung Tampin Bulbul

More bulbuls

Gunung Tampin Verditer Flycatcher

Lifer. Spotted this cyan bird in the tree but it was too quick for a decent shot. Merely record shots of body parts.

Verditer Flycatcher
Eumyias thalassinus

Kemensah birding ...

Detour to Kemensah on the way back home, trying to avoid Deepavali traffic. The place for city folks to get in touch with nature. Most interesting stream to have come across, a couple was washing their car inside out like there was a drought in KL.

Couldn't locate a bird there on such short stint, ended up in Kemensah heights with these shots.

Future exploration is in the plan.

Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Merops philippinus

Kukup birding

Did some light birding as we arrive at Kukup around 5+. The heavily crowded place still have some bird activity.

Pacific Swallow
Hirundo tahitica

Brahminy Kite
Haliastur indus

White-bellied Sea-eagle
Haliaeetus leucogaster

The noisy kingfisher gave away its location as it gets ready to roost for the night on a lone tree sandwiched between houses on tilts on the mudflat. Tried to get a shot as sharp as possible in the diminishing light at 7+.

Collared Kingfisher
Todiramphus chloris

Tanjung Piai birding

Lifer, spotted a flock of birds as we are walking on the bridge towards the jetty on the sourthern most tip of mainland Asia.

Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus

Unknown crab.

Monument of Tanjung Piai

Pontian birding

Lifer, spotted a kingfisher on a bridge on the way to Pontian. It allowed me sufficient time to setup the camera which was safely tucked in the camera backpack to take only 1 shot before flying off. Not a common kingfisher to me.

Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis

Brown Shrike
Lanius cristatus

Gunung Tampin birding

Birds are rare with some mat rempits doing their stunts at the parking lot. Decided to go higher up the mountain than the usual spot.

A juvenile Black drongo with a catch ... After checking online, juvenile drongos are completely black.

Black Drongo ?
Dicrurus macrocercus

Repah birding

Stake out at the waterfall area yielded this lifer, its a challenge to detect birds as you are right by the water edge. The noise of flowing water drowns all bird calls, the only tool is good eye sight to detect the slightest movement.

Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinerea

Then back to the normal routine of quiet jungle track. Another lifer.

Asian Paradise-flycatcher
Terpsiphone paradisi

And another.

Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike
Hemipus hirundinaceus

Gunung Datuk birding

Birds are rather shy today, easily frightened by the use of the flash.

This bird is too quick for me, one second on the branch, the next on the cable. Not what i would call a natural photo.

Scarlet Minivet
Pericrocotus flammeus

More Malkohas of Gunung Tampin

I get the impression Gunung Tampin is full of Malkohas.

Raffles's Malkoha
Phaenicophaeus chlorophaeus

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha
Phaenicophaeus curvirostris

Black-naped Oriole
Oriolus chinensis

More Gunung Tampin birding

Gunung Tampin is starting to be another favourite birding spot due to its tranquil surrounding and super fresh air. Being a real mountain also means no local residents to explain what you're doing and avoid.

All this is spoilt by a telco company laying cables to the transmission tower on top of the hill. Maxis subscribers will be happy to get stronger signals in Tampin.

Some local residents are not bothered by the invasion.

Lesser Green Leafbird
Chloropsis cyanopogon

Tiger Shrike
Lanius tigrinus

yyy Bulbul
xxx

Gunung Tampin birding

Back at Gunung Tampin. This time a bulbul and the majestic hornbill.



Lifer bulbul, too bad only a belly shot.

Grey-bellied Bulbul
Pycnonotus cyaniventris

Treasures of Tampin, a flock of at least 6 birds were swarming to feed on a fruiting palm tree in the thick jungle. Limited view of the bird shooting thru the leaves. For a moment it felt like we're back in prehistoric era with pterodactyls flying about, the size of the birds were truly very impressive!!!

Time to bring out the trekking shoes to go off road.

Oriental Pied Hornbill
Anthracoceros albirostris