Bits and pieces, Penang, Nov 2011

Another Riparia martin at Kampung Permatang Nibong on 20th Nov. Until these can be trapped and measured, I fear we won't be able to say with confidence whether Pale Martin, Sand Martin or both are occurring in the Peninsula.










20 Nov 2011






















12 Nov 2009

It was at a remarkably similar stage of moult as a bird photographed 2 years ago on 12 Nov.





One of a couple of Malaysian Hawk-cuckoos which put on an amazing eye-level performance at Penang Botanical Gardens on the morning of Nov 18th. I didn't have my camera with me (didn't expect to see much - oh me of little faith!); both these pics are courtesy of Peter Harris.

6th - 11th April 2011: Lahad Datu, Sabah

Actually about an hour and a half north of Lahad Datu, not in Danum Valley I'm afraid, but doing some surveys in oil palm plantations.



It was wet! We were cut off for 24 hrs at one point, with water rising to shoulder height!



Not much yellow on the bellies of Yellow-bellied Prinias in East Malaysia! This is the endemic subspecies 'latrunculus'.






















Bird diversity in oil palm is pretty poor, but around the edges it can get interesting if there is forest remaining, even where it is severely degraded. This menggaris (tualang) tree was home to a pair of nesting Changeable Hawk-eagles, and the same area had Storm's Stork, Black-and-Crimson Pitta, Chestnut-necklaced Partridge, 4 hornbills including Wrinkled, Thick-billed Flowerpecker and Blue-and-White Flycatcher.



Crimson Sunbirds occur wherever there are nectar-producing plants.



A couple of recent arrivals...Red Junglefowl has been introduced to many plantations as a pest control measure...



Little Grebes have arrived under their own steam. We found them in two estates where suitable ponds existed.



Another relatively recent immigrant - this one from the Philippines - Striated Grassbirds frequent open grassy areas and love telegraph wires to belt out their song!



Wandering Whistling-ducks, on the other hand, have wandered up from Kalimantan, and are now the commonest duck in many areas. Compared to Lesser Whistling-duck, Wandering has a blacker, more substantial bill (shoe-shaped rather than triangular), has richer, more orange tones below, and a more pronounced dark line up the back of the neck and over the crown, which 'spills ' onto the face down to about eye level, especially in the loral area.



The flank plumes are much more prominent on Wandering than on Lesser. Compare with some Lessers here.






















In flight, viewed from above, they have obvious whitish uppertail coverts, unlike Lesser.



From below they're a little trickier, but with a decent view, the different bill structure and flank plumes distinguish them.

The wetland areas were the most interesting. Being cut off for a day gave us chance to wander round some effluent ponds, which, despite being well inland, proved a haven for a good variety of migrant and resident waterbirds.





White-browed Crakes were everywhere!



We found just one Moorhen, which proved to be Common rather than Dusky, to our disappointment!



This juv Yellow Bittern, with its browner streaked body and lesser coverts, could be mistaken for a Schrenk's (and had me going for a moment!).



There was quite a good variety of waders in small numbers. There were about 20 Long-toed Stints...



Some Pacific Golden Plovers, including this smart bird...

There were Wood Sandpipers, Common Sandpipers, Common Greenshank, Marsh Sandpipers, Black-winged Stilts, Pintail/Swinhoe's Snipes...



A Black-tailed Godwit, looking very out of place!



And, best of all, a Red-necked Phalarope! This was a Malaysian lifer for me, and was probably there as a result of all the rough weather we'd been having.







It was typically full of energy, chasing after waterborne invertebrates.







Quite flighty too, it would make little sorties round the pond, usually returning to its original spot.













Amazingly, the commonest hirundines were these Riparia martins. There were at least 10 birds. "Sand Martin" is a rare visitor to Borneo. However, these looked just like the birds I've been seeing in the Penang area over the last few years, very little tail fork, clean white belly below a narrow breastband, tiny bill; all of which hint at the possibility that these birds may be Pale Martins. We'll work it out eventually!






















Common Sandpiper footprints. It's the only wader that will routinely feed inside the plantation.






















Leopard Cat seems to be the only feline which thrives in oil palm. This young animal was one of 27 we observed in four night surveys!

I emerged from two days in bed with a heavy cold doped up with antihistamines this morning, tempted out against doctor's orders by a Red-necked Phalarope sighting over the weekend at Pulau Burung.

Pulau Burung is a peculiar paradox of a place. It's a stinking landfill site, one of the most noxious places you could imagine to visit, yet the light there first thing in the morning is unlike anywhere else I know, and this, coupled with an abundance of confiding birds, makes it a great place for photography, even in the absence of the phalarope!







White-browed Crake, Wood Sandpiper and Little Grebe at first light.



A Wood Sandpiper at point blank range, resized but uncropped.



A Lesser Whistling-duck taking a bath at sunrise.



Water off a duck's back!





A subadult Little Grebe.









This Blue-tailed Bee-eater was begging to be photographed. I was happy to oblige!



A Wood (left) and Common Sandpiper pose for handy comparison!



A slightly closer Common Sandpiper.



A Crested Serpent-eagle enjoying the sun.

Since the phalarope was clearly elsewhere, I decided to drive over to Kampung Permatang Nibong in search of recently-arrived aquila eagles.





The first birds I came across were two Slaty-breasted Rails, though the light could have been better!



It wasn't long before the first Aquila was discovered - a cracking adult or near adult Eastern Imperial!



Being mobbed by a most upset Black-shouldered Kite.



Frustratingly, the eagle flew off before I could get any closer views.



This subadult Greater Spotted Eagle was much more obliging.







The bird appeared to be panting (it was hot!!)



While watching it, we realized that it had been joined by a second Greater Spotted, a younger bird, judging by the pale trailing edge to the wing.



Here's the first bird again.



The Eastern Imperial flew overhead briefly, providing a nice shape comparison.



Neither of which should be confused with the much commoner and smaller Black-eared Kite.



While Terence and I tried to approach the Eastern Imperial again, we came across this nice female Eastern Stonechat - a scarce bird in the non-breeding season, and always a nice find.



Paying attention to the wagtails in the paddyfields paid off - still no Citrine, but Red-throated Pipits - at least four of them.



Oddly, we didn't hear them call once, even when they flew. Usually Red-throated Pipits are pretty vocal, and the call is one of the easiest ways to pick them up.



Helpfully showing off the rump, which is streaked (though barely!).



We thought this plainer, more worn bird was probably an adult winter, whereas the other brighter, fresher birds were first winters.





Showing off!



The stripey plumage blended in surprising well with the dead paddy stalks.



While we were watching the pipits a Pale/Sand Martin made several fly-pasts.

By this time the remnants of my cold were beginning to make themselves felt, so I reluctantly decided to call it a day. However,on my way back I bumped into ...





... the Ruff flock at last! Well - five of them anyway (there were originally six). I counted 3 males and 2 females.



In just three weeks since there were photographed on 25 October, they have almost completed their body moult into first winter plumage. You can still see a few juvenile lesser coverts, scapulars and mantle feathers on the female (left).



The difference in size between the male (left) and female is very obvious here.



And here!



The white U shape on the rump is unique to Ruff.



Three males and a female.

A couple of shots from an abortive trip two days ago, when my car broke down!



Black-browed Reed Warbler.



Oriental Reed Warbler.

So that's it for now. Off to Australia for a month on Thursday. Please don't find too many rarities while I'm gone folks!