Big Bad Wolf Sale 2017 - What has Birdwatching got to do with BBW?

Big Bad Wolf held its 2017 Year-end Book Fair at Mines Convention and Exhibition Centre. Off I went with my youngest sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew to look for activity, school and story books for my niece and nephew. It was also a good opportunity to look for Bird Field Guides from around the world. More than half of the books on sale at BBW were specifically for children. The rest were mainly novels, biographies, cooking, gardening, arts with one table on Nature, which was where I spotted this Field Guide to the Birds of the West Indies. Some of the islands in the West Indies are members of the Commonwealth Group, sharing common interest with Malaysia. Interesting to read about how Ian Fleming came up with the name "James Bond" for his famous 007 spy character. Ian Fleming is an active birdwatcher. He lives in Jamaica and came across the name of the ornithologist who published the definitive taxonomy Birds of West Indies. Mr Bond's field guide was featured in a scene from "Die Another Day" where the spy (role played by Pierce Brosnan) posed as an ornithologist when he introduced himself to his lady love interest (role played by Halle Berry). That famous beach scene was shot in Cuba. Read on more about this here.     

BBW website can be viewed here.  

Missed the Little Curlew by a few Days

Oriental Honey Buzzards are on the move as they migrate southwards towards the Indonesia from Northern Asia ("Autumn migration"). Pleasant surprise to see this individual OHB (picture above) plonked into a tree beside the Taiping Municipal Council on a Sunday mid-morning post Taiping Bird Count 2017. I was in Muar end-October 2017 weekend for a personal matter and decided to do some birdwatching at Sungai Balang, Muar, Johor after hearing so much news about the Little Curlew's rare appearance there.

Alas, the Little Curlew would wait for no man, woman or child and was already on its way to the Indonesian archipelago as well. Little Curlew is listed as Least Concern in an informative pictorial by Graham Catley which I posted earlier in http://fraserhill.blogspot.my/2017/04/last-of-eskimo-curlew-from-canada.html. Also saw Eurasian Curlew in an earlier trip to Malacca - more on that trip organized by Wild Bird Club Malaysia at Birdwatching & Jalan-Jalan Cari Makan in Malacca: Website about birdwatching and birdwatchers in Malaysia.

Did see some wader species notably the Pacific Golden Plover, Terek, Marsh and Wood sandpipers as well as the odd-looking Lesser Adjutants. It was already hot by 10am (felt like noontime heat) by the time I left Sungai Balang for my lunch appointment with my friend in Muar. The highlight of that morning was the 68 migrating OHBs flying southwards toward Indonesian archipelago. Circling above the ricefields of Sungai Balang. Only one batch soared close by in front of me in order to take photographic proof. Lone Sparrowhawk species was circling at the top of this first batch of OHBs, from 9.15am to 10am, Saturday morning. Listing of birds which were seen that morning have been entered into eBird at http://ebird.org/ebird/malaysia/view/checklist/S40042742

Barbets in foothills of Maxwell Hill

Red-throated Barbet and Sooty (Brown) Barbets were feeding in this fruiting tree together with the flowerpeckers, bulbuls and leafbirds. Was in Taiping, Perak for the inaugural Taiping Bird Week 2017 and the foothills of Maxwell Hill was the final (post-Bird Count) birding stop, for me and Swee Peng. Read on about Barbets and all 11 Species of them in Allen J's article on Field Identification of Barbets in Peninsular Malaysia (Note: Click on title which will take you to the full article that was published in eBird Malaysia portal with many more awesome pictures of Barbets). Taiping certainly lived up to its reputation as the wettest town in Malaysia. Did not realize the Red-throated Barbet has such a bill that is so thick, long and scythe-like in terms of sharpness. Saw this same barbet during a trip to Sarawak's Borneo Highlands Resort which was reported at Into the Heart of Borneo (well, almost) – WBCM trip to Sarawak 2017: Wild Bird Club Malaysia went on an adventure in Sarawak from 15th to 18th September 2017. We arrived in Kuching airport on a sunny Friday m...   

Trio of Bulbuls and more at Maxwell Hill Taiping Perak

Three different bulbul species feeding in the fruiting tree at the foothills of Maxwell Hill, Taiping, Perak - this is definitely a rare sight for me. The Red-eyed, Scaly-breasted and Gray-bellied formed the bulbul trios and together with the Crimson-breasted flowerpecker, Sooty Barbet and Red-throated barbet, they made this tree come alive with their musical notes whilst busily gobbling up the juicy fruits. This was the final location in Taiping that Swee Peng and myself birded at, post Taiping Bird Week 2017 - we had a good time observing these avian beauties that Sunday afternoon. Our birdwatching session at this part of the foothills was interrupted by the big fat drops of rain. We bade farewell to the bulbuls, leafbirds and flowerpeckers, as we headed back to Taiping Lake Gardens for our afternoon hot beverages before departing Taiping for Kuala Lumpur. Birdwatching in the great outdoors of Taiping Lake Gardens, Maxwell Hill and Kuala Sepetang during Taiping Bird Week 2017 was such a welcome break from the fast pace of life in KL. Maxwell Hill foothills birds seen have been recorded in eBird Malaysia and can be viewed at  http://ebird.org/ebird/malaysia/view/checklist/S40388774

I have to accept the fact that not all of my family members and not all of my friends and office colleagues will appreciate birds as much as I do......which is what makes this cartoon strip below on Birdwatching and Tools, Food and What NOT to bring when watching birds so relevant, funny and useful at the same time.

Katala Festival 2017 Mascots with Some Serious Dance Moves

Upbeat performance by this group of animal mascots, particularly the tortoise mascot who can really KICK IT. The Philippine Cockatoo mascot was the star of the Narra town parade but when on stage, it was the tortoise mascot that gave everyone the dance vibes! Sure brings back some good memories from the Katala Festival that was organized by the Philippine Cockatoo Foundation and supported by the Wild Bird Club of Philippines. Was very glad to be a part of this Katala Festival 2017, under the Wild Bird Club Malaysia.   

Sunday outing at Botanical Gardens of Shah Alam

Long-tailed Parakeet......was glad to see this parakeet species even though it was just 1 individual in Botanical Gardens of Shah Alam that Sunday morning. Entrance fee remains at RM3 per person (RM1 for senior citizen and children). Tried to persuade my sister who had just returned to Malaysia from Australia to allow her eldest daughter Lya to join me in this Sunday morning birdwatching session but she was plain paranoid over my Aussie niece being at risk of mosquito bites and getting sun-burnt etc. I guess I will have to wait for Lya to be older and to tell her mummy when she is ready to follow me birdwatching. She can definitely pick up birdwatching Down Under in Melbourne, Australia since Australians cannot decide what is their best or worst Aussie bird species. Read all about it here.    

Black-thighed Falconet. 1 Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker (male species) was perched just below this small-sized raptor but it flew off very quickly when this formidable raptor appeared!

Crested Serpent Eagle soared above us just as we were making our way out of the botanical gardens. A Changeable Hawk-Eagle was seen soaring across the skies, a few minutes earlier. It was a fruitful outing organized by Wild Bird Club Malaysia, led by our birding guru Tang Tuck Hong. This was literally his backyard birding ground:) I was in a hurry that morning, since I had a service appointment at Nissan Centre in Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur at 11.15am. Shah Alam Botanical Gardens has a four-season climate house which would be interesting enough to convince my non-birding family to visit Shah Alam whilst I birdwatch - Jambu Fruit Dove has been seen here before and I have yet to have a successful meeting with this shy dove.

Mammals of Kubah National Park Sarawak

Flying Fox perhaps?

Family of Fruit Bats (all five of them) cuddled up and perched upside-down on top corner of wooden beam in the hut next to the world-renown frog pond of Kubah National Park, Sarawak.

Guessing that this is a Giant Squirrel based on quick reading of the Guide to Mammals of Borneo as illustrated by Karen Philips. Couldn't snap a picture of its head in time as this squirrel was bounding actively along the top branch of this forest tree in Kubah National Park, Sarawak.

Frogs of Kubah National Park Sarawak and Birds too

 My blog is mostly about birds but for this one post, I'm making an exception to feature FROGS! Below are pictures of the various species of frogs seen on a September 2017 Wild Bird Club Malaysia outing to Kubah National Park, Sarawak.

 

 

  

 

Read on about the birds at Into the Heart of Borneo (well, almost) – WBCM trip to Sarawak 2017: Wild Bird Club Malaysia went on an adventure in Sarawak from 15th to 18th September 2017. We arrived in Kuching airport on a sunny Friday m...

Far from Madding Crowd - in Fraser Hill

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker

More than 50 species of montane, sub-montane and lowland birds were seen (and heard) during a short 1 night weekend trip to Kuala Kubu Bahru, Selangor and Fraser Hill, Pahang. Met up with Mr and Mrs Ang who drove up from Malacca on Saturday morning at Madam's Woo Wantan Noodle Shop in Kuala Kubu Bahru on Saturday morning for breakfast. I had stayed Friday night at a homestay in KKB, to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life in KL. Below are some of the birds seen from 5th to 6th August 2017. Fire-tufted Barbet, Silver-eared Mesia, Red-headed Trogon were some of the montane birds seen that weekend. Full lists have been submitted through eBird Malaysia and are available below:-
http://ebird.org/ebird/malaysia/view/checklist/S38542323 (6th August 2017)
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38539514 (5th August 2017)

Silver-eared Mesia

Silver-eared Mesia

Fire-tufted Barbet

Silver-eared Mesia begging for food from the other Mesia 

Red-headed Trogon

Always a thrill to see this Trogon!

Red-headed Trogon is such a regal-looking bird:)

White-throated Fantail

Literally a Fantail in display:)

Crested Goshawk of KKB - its flight is so silent as it glided to perch on this tree

Checklists of the Birds recorded in KKB, Selangor on 5th August 2017 as below:-

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38539322

An earlier article on Fraser Hill outing with members of Wild Bird Club Malaysia is available for reading at:-

Joint Event between Fraser Hill Community Library and Wild Bird Club Malaysia Part 1: Wild Bird Club of Malaysia organized a 2 days 1 night trip to Fraser Hill from 11 th to 12 th June 2016. This outing included a ...

Philippine Cockatoo Festival 2017 in Palawan Island

Philippine Cockatoo Festival 2017 in Palawan Island: Wild Bird Club Malaysia (WBCM) was invited by Wild Bird Club Philippines (WBCP) to attend the 11th Katala (Philippine Cockatoo) Festival...

90 Philippine Cockatoos joined this solitary Cockatoo later that evening in Narra, Palawan Island. Fond memories from Katala Festival 2017. The three rescued Cockatoos (left pic) in Biodiversity Centre, Palawan Island which is managed by Indira and Peter Widmann. These three cockatoos were rescued and placed under the care of the Biodiversity Centre. These rescued cockatoos were headed for a bleak future in the caged birds industry. These birds were rescued from another part of the Island and there was uncertainty whether they could adapt to the environment in Rasa Island. Part of the existing colony of Cockatoos as seen that wonderful evening as below:- 

Particularly affectionate pair of Cockatoos on lower right of picture

Wild cockatoos in Malunggay Tree

"Yes dear, I'm listening dear" (pair of Cockatoo in middle of picture seems to be saying)

Cockatoos moved to roost in this coconut tree as dusk turned to night

Tender moment of preening from one cockatoo to another:)

Read more about of this amazing Cockatoos at eBon Wild Bird Club Philippines website.

Birds of Palawan Island in Three Days

Birds of Palawan Island in Three Days: Olive-backed Sunbird Melodious Babbler   Ashy-fronted Bulbul Rufous-tailed Tailorbird Spot-throated flameback P...

I had posted this article in Wild Bird Club Malaysia website earlier with pictures from Mr Andy Lee. The Pygmy Flowerpecker and Chestnut Munia appeared at JoseLiza Guesthouse and I was lucky enough to snap these winged wonders. It was my first trip to Palawan Island, Philippines and every Philippine and Palawan species was seen from 29th June to 1st July 2017 were lifers for me:)

Even though we get Olive-backed Sunbirds in Peninsular Malaysia, the male OB Sunbirds in Palawan have such deep orange tinge below their blackish head. Green Imperial Pigeon, Melodious Babbler, Ashy-fronted Bulbul, Slender-billed Crow, Palawan Hornbill and Spot-throated Woodpecker were some of the birds which I had manage to get a picture, and these were shared through eBird to confirm the sightings. Wild Bird Club of Philippines has submitted the checklist of birds recorded at Zig Zag road, Borbon, Napsan (Puerto Princesa) and Iwahig Prison and Penal Colony through eBird. The checklists reproduced below as below:-
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38126523
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38126539
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38126557
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S38126591

My Garden Birdwatch 2017

2016 count was done at my sister's place in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. Plan to count at this area again this coming 17th and 18th June 2017. Would be interesting to see how the garden birds of Malaysia are faring in 2017, and which species will be at the top of the list. Common versus Javan Mynah "Battle" - wondering whether this battle continues or will other Mynah species prevail?  

Japanese Gardens Bukit Tinggi Part Three - Fauna and Birds

Orange Breasted Trogon on Sunday afternoon. It was calling earlier in the morning but didn't see it. Returned to the trails and waited for the Ferruginous Partridge to return that afternoon. The pair didn't show up but the Crimson-Winged Woodpecker turned up unexpectedly. This woodpecker hammered away at one of the tree trunks for quite a long period of time. The back of the woodpecker was facing me for quite some time and I could only get a picture of the left side of its face and body in a matter of seconds. Broadbills visited the trail that afternoon were the Black and Yellow and Silver-breasted.   

Missed the Silver-breasted Broadbill at Telapa Buruk so was really happy to see it turn up at Bukit Tinggi that Sunday afternoon! Silver-breasted broadbill's whistle-like calls were heard before it flew in and perched on several branches above the trail. Such a treat and I'm over the moon being able to see three different species of Broadbills (the Green was seen earlier in the morning) in 1 day.   

Bird seen and/or heard that Sunday afternoon at Bukit Tinggi have been recorded in eBird through my earlier post at Japanese Gardens in Malaysian highlands. Gray-rumped Treeswift and Indian Cuckoo were last birds seen as I exited the trails near Japanese Gardens. The Himalayan Squirrel and Dusky Leaf Monkey were also a welcome sight that day in Bukit Tinggi. Although the Ferr. Partridge did not turn up that afternoon, the birds seen that day more than made up for the no-show by the Ferruginous Partridge. Was with Ang and Mrs Ang (Lwee) during the Sunday morning birding session and am grateful to them for giving me a lift up to Japanese Gardens from first guardhouse at the foothills of Bukit Tinggi.