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Sunday, June 25, 2023

Walk Down Memory Lane at Kuala Selangor Nature Park

Sunset over the Selangor River as my mum (her helper) and myself wait for our seafood dinner at Kuala Muara Kitchen. Did some birdwatching in the paddyfields and the Kuala Selangor Nature Park on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. The Ebird Checklists from Tanjung Karang and Kuala Selangor Nature Park (Taman Alam Kuala Selangor) are available by clicking on these location names. It has been a long time since I last visited Kuala Selangor with my family. My mum surprisingly still remembered the fireflies. This was a trip we took many years ago when the fireflies still existed along the shores of Kampung Kuantan. That is sadly a thing of the past. 

Fireflies song by Owl City is a sad reminder of an incredible species of insects that once lit up the trees alongside the Selangor riverbanks at Kampung Kuantan. 
Dinner at the newly opened Kuala Muara Kitchen next to Le-Shore Hotel. Aquamarine-painted walls were cool. Our dinner comprised mussels cooked in salted egg butter sauce, seafood fried rice (with a relatively large prawn), mango kerabu (which my mum rated as delicious and as a former nurse who worked in Perlis, Penang & Kedah, some of the best kerabu originates from those States so she knows how to rate kerabu) and fish & chips.

                                          Her first slice of BBQ Stingray (Pari) followed by ..............                                               a SECOND slice of pari. 

                              PanTimor's BBQ Spread was irresistible. 
      A nyonya heritage-looking shophouse with a cafe at Pekan Lama Kuala Selangor named Auntie Foo.
A large monitor lizard ambles across the road nearby the temple in Pasir Penambang
Monkey King (Soo Wu Gong) gazes sternly at all who visit the temple in Pasir Penambang 
 
Autan anti-mosquito lotion is essential to be slathered liberally across every inch of my skin before I began my walk into the Kuala Selangor Nature Park. The Collared Kingfisher is such a welcome sight at the entrance of the Kuala Selangor Nature Park.  

Friday, June 23, 2023

Dreaming of the Ferruginous Partridge

 
At 3,500 feet this Japanese Gardens was reported as the first of its kind to be located on the highest elevation in the highlands of Malaysia at Bukit Tinggi in the district of Bentong, Pahang. I was observing black carpenter ants which were attracted to the sugar produced by the bright red flowers of a gingery-looking plant. Looks like some of the plants were facing aphids infestation.  
The Japanese tatami cottage below fascinated me and being in the midst of a forest, one starts to imagine anime characters from the likes of Totoro, the Catbus from My Neighbour Totoro. Studio Ghibli which created these fantastical anime cartoon series launched their theme park and their website can be viewed HERE. Their first website was launched on 1st February 2022. Totoro is a giant, friendly forest spirit in Japanese and looks like an owl when perched on a tree branch. 

via GIPHY

Previous trips have been made to Bukit Tinggi with friends to look for the Mountain Peacock Pheasant, which can be read HERE. The hills were alive with bird songs that afternoon and seeing some of these such as the blue-winged leafbirds, cinereous bulbuls, grey and buff woodpeckers, as well as hearing the calls of the gold-faced barbets still brings so much joy to me. Wish I could continue birdwatching regularly again once I complete my online distance learning program with the IUMW.
The convenience shop is still operational at the top of the hill nearby the Japanese gardens with working toilets (as pictured above). Despite having a rubbish bin near the shop, youngsters still litter the area with ice cream wrappers. Spare the rod, spoil the child? 
Looking at the valleys beyond the hills which form part of the Titiwangsa Range of Peninsular Malaysia. 
It was wonderful to spot four different species of monkeys that afternoon which were the Dusky Leaf (as above and below), Siamang, White-thighed Surili and Pig-tailed Macaque. The Dusky Leaf was quite a big group jumping from tree to tree, and munching on young shoots. Checklists from eBird Malaysia from that short afternoon trip are available at https://ebird.org/checklist/S141923283 and https://ebird.org/checklist/S141923829 - hoping to make more time to birdwatch with friends soon. 
Two Dusky Leaf Monkeys viewed from afar (as pictured below). It was lovely to see a flock of Grey-Rumped Treeswifts roosting in a tree as I was walking back to my car.  
I can only dream of seeing the Ferruginous Partridge again next time. I heard it calling in the valley beyond as I left the hills. The first Ferruginous Partridge that I saw was at Bukit Tinggi and that shy denizen of the forest floor can be viewed here via eBIRD Checklist below:-
https://ebird.org/checklist/S41790284

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Creative 404 Webpage Error with Flamingoes, Vultures and Collared Owlet (Mine)

Mallards in flight, a wader, and a family of grebe in the pond plus a flying swift/swallow species were being observed by a girl through her binoculars - this makes for a great introduction to birdwatching in terms of visualization should anyone starting a website or needing promotional material on birds & birdwatching, whether you are a teacher or a volunteer or journalist or website designer/administrator or a hobbyist or working with an environmental organization (local or international) and need cool graphics to promote events like World Migratory Bird Day, Asian Waterbirds Census, World Wetlands Day and more. The banner above was sourced from this website which you can explore HERE . Sometimes, organizations, schools, companies, etc have websites where web users may encounter a webpage that does not exist, has been moved or has a dead or broken link. This is known as the 404 error code, one of the most frequent errors a web or internet user may encounter. When that happens the IT team should be provided with innovative and creative website templates to alert, inform and educate the internet user accordingly about a 404 error occurring. INSIDER has compiled the most creative 404 error pages on the web in 2015 which you can read about, view (and chuckle accordingly) HERE.  

The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) has a very creative way to alert web/internet users who visit their website above. For more creative 404 webpages, you can browse through funny ones including Dilbert's tip to drain the Internet which the dinosaur-age manager takes too literally, HERE. Vultures were associated with DEAD LINKS for a 404 Page Error by Incore, a software development company (as demonstrated via their webpage below). You can see how NASA incorporated cosmic humour and LEGO's iconic bricks into their 404 error webpages HERE
For more practical tips including how to fix 404 error pages, find out through an
article HERE. The 404 error page for my website will feature pictures of the Collared Owlet which I took from Fraser Hill where I'd recommend for my website visitors to return Home to me by clicking on the Home page of my website:)


Friday, June 2, 2023

Banded Woodpecker, Flameback and the Californian Dream

Banded Woodpecker - a pair was seen pecking on the trunks of a tree within the National Archives Centre, Kuala Lumpur. It is a dream of mine to go on a trip looking for woodpeckers in California and to order and eat from a KOGI Food Truck which you can read about HERE. Pioneered by Roy Choi who had worked with Jon Favreau on the movie "CHEF." Both of them went on a culinary adventure via the CHEF food series on Netflix. The episode on San Francisco Bay area where they looked for oysters that were sustainably being harvested in the Bay area was fascinating. The Hog Island Oyster Co's website which you can check out HERE where six different oyster varieties including the Eastern Pacific oyster originating from the Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan (the Hog Island Kumamoto), and the Manila Clams are featured. The Oyster's Journey with the process neatly summarized from seed to nursery, their grow out, the tipping & flipping (which was demonstrated by both Roy & Jon using baseball bats),  harvesting, and live wet storage (large aquarium environment according to the website). There's a Shucking 101 video by Chef Jamie on the Hog Island Oyster Co website as well. Seeing the oysters being eaten reminded me of the cautionary tale of the young and foolish Oysters who left the oyster bed and ended up in the tummies of the Walrus and the Carpenter in the Lewis Carroll classic poem (reproduced in full below):-
"The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright —
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.
The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done —
"It's very rude of him," she said,
"To come and spoil the fun."
The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead —
There were no birds to fly.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
If this were only cleared away,'
They said, it would be grand!'
If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year,
Do you suppose,' the Walrus said,
That they could get it clear?'
I doubt it,' said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.
'O Oysters, come and walk with us!'
The Walrus did beseech.
A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:
'We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each.'
The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head —
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.
But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat —
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.
Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more —
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.
'The time has come,' the Walrus said,
To talk of many things:
Of shoes — and ships — and sealing-wax —
Of cabbages — and kings —
And why the sea is boiling hot —
And whether pigs have wings.'
'But wait a bit,' the Oysters cried,
Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!'
No hurry!' said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.
A loaf of bread,' the Walrus said,
Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed —
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed.'
But not on us!' the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!'
The night is fine,' the Walrus said.
Do you admire the view?
It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!'
The Carpenter said nothing but
Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf —
I've had to ask you twice!'
It seems a shame,' the Walrus said,
To play them such a trick,
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!'
The Carpenter said nothing but
The butter's spread too thick!'
I weep for you,' the Walrus said:
I deeply sympathize.'
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
O Oysters,' said the Carpenter,
You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'
But answer came there none —
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one."
Fourteen (14) different species of woodpeckers in California, with pictures, sound and some videos published on this website by Bird Advisors HERE. Another website mentioned there are fifteen (15) different species of woodpeckers in California with videos, audio and highlighting differences between male and female species which you can read, see and hear HERE. Sapsucker and Flicker are such unique names for these woodies in California. Brace yourself for one of the woodies named Gila Woodpecker and the last, a Californian native called the Nuttall's Woodpecker found only in oak woodlands and among the oak trees in suburban areas according to Birdwatching HQ. I like their tip which is to stay still when one hears the rattling (calls) of the Nuttall Woodpecker, which means an observer has a chance to spot them in action probing for juicy protein-rich (insect) snacks in the tree trunks:) Whilst I continue to work in meeting this Californian dream of mine, amidst my current obligations at work, to my studies and to my family, I present below our Common Flameback (formerly known as the Goldenback) species - a female which lacks the red colours on its crest. Only the male Common Flameback has this distinctive red crest. A pleasure to have spotted a pair at the KL Lake Gardens (Perdana Botanical Gardens) sometime back in September 2018 which you can read about HERE. I end my blog with a picture of trees standing tall in the Peace Hills (Bukit Aman) area of Kuala Lumpur post-meeting with the law enforcement authority at a government building hidden somewhere within the same vicinity as the Perdana Botanical Gardens.