birding

Blog Moved to a New Address

2007-01-20T18:32:00.000-08:00

It's official now. I will be posting new messages at http://www.nature2pixel.com/blog and no longer in this blogger site. Please visit the new url address for latest information on my birding journey.

Update 2007 Birding List : 35 species

2007-01-14T18:38:00.000-08:00

More species added to the list from my trip to Batang Tiga Paddy Field, Melaka on 13/1/2007.

31. Cinnamon Bittern
32. Yellow Bittern
33. Black Drongo
34. Black-shouldered Kite
35. Red Collared Dove

Update 2007 Birding List : 30 Species

2007-01-07T07:49:00.000-08:00

5/1/2007
Kajang
16. Cattle Egret (11 nos.) 11am
17. Scaly-breasted Munia 11am
18. Javan Myna

Putrajaya Wetland
19. Barn Swallow 12pm
20. Rock Pigeon 1.30pm

Puchong
21. Purple-backed Starling 4.15pm

6/1/2007
Putrajaya Wetland
22. Greater Coucal 12.15pm
23. White-breasted Waterhen 12.30pm
24. White-throated Kingfisher 12.30pm

7/1/2007
Taman Tasik Cempaka, Bangi
25. Common Sandpiper
26. Little Egret
27. Painted Stork
28. House Crow
29. Black-naped Oriole
30. Pacific Swallow

Update 2007 Bird List : 15 species

2007-01-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

I have yet to go on any actual birding outing. But still manage to see a few species while driving and walking around. Species sighted today (4 January 2007) are

Putrajaya Wetland
13. Golden-bellied Gerygone
14. Asian Glossy Starling

Kajang
15. Common Myna

My Own Birding List 2007

2007-01-02T20:19:00.000-08:00

Dennis did it in 2006 and I decided to do something similar, but of course this is my personal challenge for this year. So here goes my list starting 2 January 2007.

Putrajaya Wetland (2 January 2007)
1. Yellow-vented Bulbul
2. Little Heron
3. Purple Swamphen
4. Pink-necked Green Pigeon
5. Large-tailed Nightjar
6. Purple Heron
7. Pied Fantail
8. Paddyfield Pipit

Kajang (3 January 2007)
9. Olive-backed Sunbird
10. Peaceful Dove
11. Spotted Dove
12. Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Jas & John's Family Day Out in Putrajaya Wetland

2007-01-02T06:09:00.000-08:00

Unexpectedly, Jas and John came over to the wetland park with John's parents. I was not aware of their visit until I received John's call at 10.30am. I was told that they arrived around 8am and had sighted 13 species in the morning. Since they have not gone over to the nightjar site, I joined them for the walk to the site. Along the way, we saw yellow-vented bulbuls, eurasian tree sparrows, yellow-bellied prinia, pink-necked green pigeon & a purple swamphen. Upon approaching the nightjar site, we stopped. I pointed the nightjar to John's mom and she managed to spot it immediately. After a minute, Jas spotted a 2nd nightjar perching on another low branch of a simpoh air (Dillenia suffruiticosa). Then, John used his camera to focus on the bird so that he can showed to his dad where the bird perched.

After the nightjars, there isn't much left to see when I looked at my watch and the time was 11.30am!!! After a short break in the cafe, they adjourned to Putrajaya's heronry which is located 5-10 minutes drive away from the park.

Nightjars side-by-side 24 December 2006

2006-12-24T07:36:00.000-08:00

I have not check out the nightjar for quite some time now. So, when one of my colleague called me through the walkie-talkie to inform me that she saw it, I quickly took out my scope from my office cabinet and the tripod from my car. Walked all the way to the scene, and we saw 4 nightjars. 2 of them were sighted close to each other. Since my Nikon Coolpix 4500 is now with my girlfriend, I tried to use a Nokia 6600 to shoot through the scope eyepiece. I have to admit that it is NOT a quality shot.

Where to go Birding today?

2006-11-28T02:13:00.000-08:00

It's been raining every afternoon for the past weeks. I believe it will remain the same for another 2-3 weeks. Somehow, the rain has created a temporary wetland directly in front of my house. Occassionally there are cattle egrets, brown shrike, pond heron, black-shouldered kite, blue-tailed bee-eater, cinnamon bittern, sunda pygmy woodpecker and purple heron. But most of the time (since i'm taking my annual leaves and staying away from office for a week), I had to stay home and do birdwatching on the internet.

Ampang and Genting Highlands on a Rainy Season 26 November 2006

2006-11-26T19:35:00.000-08:00

This morning, I joined 'endemic guide' and Mark on a trip to Taman Rimba Ampang in the morning and Genting Highlands in the afternoon. Hoping to see the Blue-banded Kingfisher, I walked along the stream. And the only things I saw were children playing in the water. No sight of any bird at all. Well, the weather isn't good either. We do get to see some birds up in the top canopy of the forest. Since we also wanted to go and see montane birds, we left ampang at 12pm. Oh, I met Soon Pin in the park as well for a short chat. Up in Genting after lunch, we headed straight to the peak. The rain is not doing much of a favor for today. Still, we walked in the rain hoping to find birds for our friend from Australia.

Ok, the list of sighting includes

blue-tailed bee-eater
chestnut-breasted malkoha
glossy swiftlet
greater green leafbird
black magpie (1 pair)
bar-winged flycatcher-shrike
scarlet minivet
velvet-fronted nuthatch
spectacled bulbul
red-eyed bulbul
common tailorbird
crimson-breasted flowerpecker
yellow-breasted flowerpecker
oranged-bellied flowerpecker
purple-naped sunbird
grey wagtail
oriental magpie robin
tiger shrike (juvenile)
asian brown flycatcher
asian glossy starling
common myna
mountain tailorbird
mountain leaf warbler
chestnut-tailed minla
black-throated sunbird
mugimaki flycatcher (we were walking in the rain then)
large niltava
large cuckooshrike
brown barbet
dark-sided flycatcher
grey-rumped treeswift
pond heron
yellow-vented bulbul

some of the unconfirmed sighting (and those that escape my scope and camera)

drongo (both the guide and Mark saw this and probably a black drongo)
mountain bulbul
ashy tailorbird
black-thighed falconet
whiskered treeswift (flying high up in the sky of ampang)
common buzzard (it was raining and misty on the highland)
unidentified raptor (on the way up to Genting Highland)
unidentified spiderhunter (at least 2 species)
another flycatcher was sighted with the mugimaki (the guide says it is a pair but to me, it looks like a narcissus)
black-naped oriole

a common buzzard?

the only bird photo I shoot and can be shared with you today is this flycatcher.

Some of my favorite shots

2006-11-24T08:12:00.000-08:00

2005 Southward Migration

2006-11-24T08:01:00.000-08:00

This year raptor watching in the park was affected by the haze. I managed to see a few individuals of sparrowhawks and oriental buzzard though. But the numbers were less than 10!!! Last year, it was the best sighting of the passage migrants flying south. Most of them were sparrowhawks and oriental honey buzzard. The buzzards were perching on rubber trees and on low shrubs - Dillenia sufruiticosa

Another 2 pix from my collection 6 September 2004

2006-11-24T07:56:00.000-08:00

Parasitism behavior was observed during the nesting of golden-bellied gerygone a.k.a. flyeater in the wetland park. It was 6.37pm and pretty dark then. No host were spotted nearby but this cuckoo managed to come close and invaded the nest, making a larger entry hole to the nest.

Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker

2006-11-24T07:49:00.000-08:00

Few days before Phil arrived to photograph birds in the wetland, I was looking for asian paradise flycatcher but stumbled onto this common small woodpecker in the park. This time, I got to see the parent feeding a young bird. The juvenile have a shorter tail in comparison to this adult.

Falcon finishing a bird

2006-11-24T07:28:00.000-08:00

I was going through the stocks of CDs containing photographs taken since 2003. I guessed these are worth sharing with the readers. The photographs were taken on Raptor's Watch Day in Cape Rachado, Port Dickson Malaysia. It was my first time attending the event so that means I don't really know the way to the event venue. Then I ended up near the shore and saw a falcon with a yellow bird, Black-naped Oriole. Quickly, I took out the scope and attached the camera. It was extremely windy so, I took many shots hoping some will come out decently for record purpose. So here are the photographs for your viewing pleasure.

A flying Raptor - Resident of Putrajaya 5 November 2006

2006-11-07T07:18:00.000-08:00

This raptor was seen circling in the sky over putrajaya while i was driving towards my work place. Since I have the D80 next to me, I stopped by the side and start shooting.

Only managed to see a few...

2006-11-07T07:08:00.000-08:00

It rained quite heavily the night before and this morning, it is not the usual bright sunny day. It is still gloomy. Still, I remembered I need to look for the migrant black-backed kingfisher which was reported a few days earlier. I have to try my luck. However, this morning I was only greeted by a kingfisher, 2 wagtails, 2 bulbuls, 4 magpie robins, 1 warbler, and 1 bee-eater.

Moorhen Families at Melaka 28 October 2006

2006-10-28T05:45:00.000-07:00

Me and my girlfriend went over to this paddy field in Melaka hoping to see a few raptors in action but the only raptors we saw were Black-shouldered Kite and Black Kite. The most approachable species today is the Common Moorhen (not only one but 3 families). Each family consist of at least 4 chicks. The parents were fed the chicks with apple snails - plenty of this snail in the water and the pinkish eggs can be seen almost everywhere above the water surface.

The other species include zitting cisticola, scaly-breasted munia, brown shrike, unID terns, little egret, purple heron, Blue-tailed Bee Eater, White-throated Kingfisher, etc.

Phil's Day Out at Putrajaya Wetland 21 October 2006

2006-10-28T05:17:00.001-07:00

Phil and wife decided to check out the wetland for birds. So we met at 7.30am and I showed them a few spots for birding. Among the birds sighted are large-tailed nightjar, purple-backed starling, asian glossy starling, purple heron, little egret, scarlet-backed flowerpecker, common flameback, rufous woodpecker, purple swamphen, osprey, crested serpent eagle, changeable hawk eagle, oriental honey buzzard, black-shouldered kite and yellow-bellied prinia. Sorry Phil, no sunda pygmy this time around. Better luck next time.

Ferruginous Flycatcher 20th October 2006

2006-10-28T05:05:00.000-07:00

I've got another lifer! today is the ferruginous flycatcher, a migrant. As it was perching a few meters away from the main path, I had to get closer but without getting it annoyed with my presence. So, I tried to get closer when it flew away for a while from its favorite perch and then I stopped somewhere in the bushes when a fallen tree trunk blocks my path. I was at the same time, wearing my slipper and left my shoe in the car. Got bitten by a few big forest ants.

Now, this bird is just like other flycatcher. It stayed at one favorite perch all the time and flew away everynow and then to catch some preys.

Location: Sungai Perdek, Hulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia

Birding @ Genting Highlands 28 September 2006

2006-09-29T04:28:00.000-07:00

Today is a challenging day for birding for me. It's been over a year since I go for montane birds. Nevertheless, I have a fast improving birding buddy with me today - Lee Kok Chung @ Ahli Chung. As we make our way up to the highland resort, we saw 3 birds in the sky. 2 Wreath Hornbills and 1 Black Eagle. We went to several spots for birding and managed to see a group of Chestnut-tailed Minla with a Black-throated Sunbird at close range. Really close at approximately 5 feet away from the vehicle. Near the Skyway station we stumbled upon a dead king cobra, about 7-8 feet long.

The list for the day (No.1-34 spotted in Genting Highlands while No.35-40 spotted while travelling along the old road to Gombak).

Wreath Hornbill
Black Eagle
Golden Babbler
Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker
Buff-necked Woodpecker
Striped-throated Bulbul
Buff-rumped Woodpecker
Tiger Shrike
Brown Shrike
Blyth Hawk Eagle
Great Hornbill
Grey-headed Flycatcher
Barn Swallow
Pacific Swallow
Common Myna
White-bellied Yuhina
Chestnut-capped Laughing Thrush
Scarlet Minivet
Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike
Large Woodshrike
Orange-bellied Leafbird
Asian Paradise-flycatcher
Everett's White-eye
Mountain Tailorbird
Mountain Leaf Warbler
Long-tailed Sibia
Crested Serpent Eagle
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Chestnut-tailed Minla
Black-throated Sunbird
Oriental Magpie Robin
Grey Wagtail
Gold-whiskered Barbet
White-breasted Babbler
Emerald Dove
Striped-throated Babbler
Whiskered Treeswift
Asian Glossy Starling

I was really upset when i spotted the first bird in the list because when i forgot to bring along the CF card for my D70!!! I left it empty the day before. However, Ahli was kind enough to let me use his card taken from his canon compact camera.

A New Addition to My Personal Checklist of Birds of Putrajaya Wetland

2006-09-25T18:28:00.000-07:00

21 September 2006, I was taking my routine walk in the park. it was 4pm (which was quite unusual as i usually walk in the morning or 12pm). i know it's already the start of migration season, so i thought i should checkout for flycatchers (yes, i went to the same area where a flycatcher was spotted last year). no sign of that flycatcher from last year. suddenly i saw an active bird under a tree nearby. it look so much of a pied fantail. a common local species but i decided to check it out anyway. GOODNESS!!! couldn't believe my eyes. a new species for my personal checklist in the park.

This is a comment by a local birder "i found out that the Asian Paradise-Flycatcher shown in the photo having a orangey bill with a blackish tip, but the description in most guide books is a blue bill and blue eye ring too, but these photos does not show that blue at the eye ring or the bill, but yet they are not in juvenile plumage. I'm wondering if they are immatured birds almost moulted as adults or they are the migratory race "saturatior", however, i cant find guides that describe the saturatior race is lack of blue bill and eye ring."

While someone suggest a philentoma, he replied "first, we see that the mantle and scapulars are brown, which should be bluish in male philentomas, females doesn't look much like wat is shown in the picture as it will be more plain in colors for the head part. Furthermore, the jizz of the bird still tells us that they should be paradise-flycatchers, the small crown seen in Cheong's photo is rather obvious, and try to have a look on the bill eye and the bill, a special "jizz" tell u its a paradise-flycatcher. I have also checked OBI, and saw a female AP Flycatcher shot at Tai Po Kau, HK, is having pale bill too, and a Japanese Paradise-flycatcher with pale bill is labeled as Immature, so its either the pale bills are immatures for both species, or they indicate diffrent subspecies??? I saw pictures of male AP Flycatchers in India having blackish bills."

It passed away half an hour ago...

2006-09-03T06:35:00.000-07:00

It was 11am when I entered my cabin office. One of my staff contacted me through the walkie talkie. "Mr.Cheong, the baby bird just passed away half and hour ago....." A sad news indeed. He told me that it was still active earlier. Cause of death is unknown.

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To rescue a young heron

2006-09-01T08:13:00.000-07:00

When I picked up the bird from Jing Yi this afternoon, I managed to get a few shots of the young heron with his help. Then, I quickly rushed to Uncle Tony's house for his advice and most important to feed the bird with some food before I continue my journey back to Putrajaya. Initially, we use chopstick to feed the bird but then decided to use hand instead. In the end, eventually the bird snapped the food away from my hand. WOW! It was hungry indeed. Back in the office, I put some newspaper in a small aquarium and use it as a temporary enclosure for the young bird. I covered the top with a plastic aquarium cover. I also went to look for the caretaker of the captive birds in the park to get some food that they feed the captive birds. Again, I had to force feed the bird. My night shift staff will take turn to look after this bird, hope that everything is well tomorrow.

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Birding Report @ Taman Wetland Putrajaya 18 January 2005

2006-08-31T08:10:00.000-07:00

Norizan, a beginner in bird watching along her friend were curious about birds and wanted to start to learn their names. So, I took them around the park in the afternoon though I don't promise much sightings between 3pm - 5pm.

1. Black-naped Oriole
2. Yellow-vented Bulbul
3. White-headed Munia
4. Purple Heron
5. Purple Swamphen
6. Yellow Bittern
7. Brown Shrike
8. Large-tailed Nightjar
9. Pink-necked Green Pigeon
10. Common Myna
11. Jungle Myna
12. Common Iora
13. Blue-tailed Bee-eater
14. Painted Stork
15. Common Moorhen
16. Peaceful Dove
17. Spotted Dove
18. Pacific Swallow
19. Yellow-bellied Prinia (calls only)
20. House Crow

Equipment: Optisan 10 x 50 binoculars & Nikon Spotting Scope RAII(A)
Location: UW1 & UW2

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Their tools

2006-08-31T08:09:00.000-07:00

The various shaped beaks all have one thing in common - they perform specific functions. Most were shaped by eating habits, though some hornbill species use their great and gaudy bills as a defence against marauding monkeys andsnakes, while the toucan's lobster-claw beak serves as a mark of recognition and may figure in courtship display. The carrion eating king vulture and the caracara havesharp hooks atthe tips of their beaks for tearing hides and meat. the shoebill's beak also ends in a hook, but it is flat and serrated as an aid in holding sleppery frogs. the parakeet's strongcurved bill is well adaptedfor cracking seeds, goaging out chunks of fruit and even for climbing. the protruding lower half of the black skimmer's trowel like beak is useful for scooping up fish out of water.

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3 offsprings in a flyeater's nest

2006-08-21T09:06:00.000-07:00

It looks like the flyeater keep on nesting throughout the year. I was too busy to trace the flyeater's call earlier until I finally able to spare a few minutes from my work to 'hunt' for it last week. When I saw it the nest is completed and even heard calls coming from the nest. This evening, I used my Nikon spotting scope to observe it from afar. Initially, I thought I saw 2 beaks then a third beak was spotted. This is certainly good news to the population of flyeater in the park. When I first heard the flyeater's call a many weeks earlier, the little bronze cuckoo's call was also heard even until now when the eggs have hatched. Could there be another flyeater's nest somewhere nearby?

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Birding @ Taman Wetland Putrajaya / Putrajaya Heronry

2006-08-13T07:01:00.000-07:00

The morning was a quiet one. I was taking Linda and her friend from UK, Bob (his first time in Malaysia) around the park. She wanted Bob to see the nightjar, but that was not so difficult to show since I know the nightjar will usually stay at the same place. We walked from the car park towards the wetland cell and towards the nightjar site. After the nightjar, we drove to the heronry. Here is the list of birds that we saw (and heard) in the park and the heronry. Time: 7.30am - 10.00am

1. Common Myna
2. Eurasian Tree Sparrow
3. Black-Naped Oriole
4. Oriental Magpie Robin (Male + Juvenile)
5. House Crow
6. Brown-Throated Sunbird
7. Olive-Backed Sunbird (Male+Female+Juvenile)
8. White-Throated Kingfisher
9. Scaly-Breasted Munia (Nesting)
10. White-Headed Munia (Nesting)
11. Baya Weaver
12. Pied Fantail
13. Lesser Tree Duck
14. Purple Swamphen
15. Blue-Tailed Bee-Eater
16. Large-Tailed Nightjar
17. Yellow-Vented Bulbul
18. Common Tailorbird
19. Pied Triller
20. Richard's / Paddyfield Pipit
21. Purple Heron
22. Grey Heron
23. Little Heron
24. Black-Crowned Night Heron
25. Painted Stork
26. Asian Glossy Starling
27. Spotted Dove
28. Peaceful Dove
29. Pink-Necked Green Pigeon
30. Pacific Swallow
31. White-Breasted Waterhen
32. Red Jungle Fowl (Heard)
33. Coppersmith Barbet (Heard)
34. Golden-Bellied Gerygone (Heard)

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More Night Herons

2006-08-11T06:33:00.000-07:00

Today, 2 flocks of night herons were seen flying around the central wetland and later perched on the island. I suspect these are from the colony inhabiting the putrajaya heronry. It's been a long time since the herons make a visit to central wetland.

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Birding at Taman Rimba Ampang

2006-07-19T05:50:00.000-07:00

A fantastic day for bird watching in Taman Rimba Ampang, KL today. Started the watch at 7.30am with Yong Ding Li (and friend), Stephen Boey, Khong, Jan, and (of course, a regular bird photographer) Banard. There was not much of action initially. But as we make our way towards the playground, the birds start to show up and mostly up on the top canopy.

1. Banded Woodpecker 1 Feeding on ants attracted to fruits
2. Crimson-winged Woodpecker
3. Checker-throated Woodpecker
4. Maroon Woodpecker
5. Buff-rumped Woodpecker
6. Gold-whiskered Barbet (heard)
7. BLue-eared Barbet (heard)
8. Brown Barbet (heard)
9. Red-bearded Bee-eater (heard)
10. Blue-throated Bee-eater
11. Blue-banded Kingfisher 1 male seen
12. Rusty-breasted Cuckoo (heard)
13. Violet Cuckoo (heard)
14. Raffle's Malkoha
15. Chestnut-breasted Malkoha 3 in kampong scrub
16. Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot
17. Glossy Swiftlet
18. Wihskered Treeswift
19. Emerald Dove
20. Crested Serpent Eagle
21. Asian Fairy Bluebird (heard)
22. BLue-winged Leafbird
23. Lesser Green Leafbird
24. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
25. Black Magpie (heard)
26. Green Iora
27. Lesser Cuckooshrike
28. Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike
29. Scarlet Minivet
30. Asian Paradise Flycatcher (White morph)
31. White-rumped Shama (heard)
32. Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher (heard)
33. Rufous-chested Flycatcher 1 seen
34. Oriental Magpie Robin
35. Javan Myna
36. Velvet-fronted Nuthatch
37. Sultan Tit
38. Stripe-throated Bulbul
39. Spectacled Bulbul
40. Red-eyed Bulbul
41. FInsch's Bulbul 3 seen on fruiting macaranga
42. Buff-vented Bulbul
43. Hairy-backed Bulbul (heard)
44. Rufous-tailed Tailorbird
45. Dark-necked Tailorbird
46. Short-tailed Babbler (heard)
47. Black-capped Babbler (heard)
48. Rufous-fronted Babbler (heard)
49. Grey-headed Babbler
50. Striped Tit-Babbler
51. White-bellied Erpornis
52. Crimson-breasted FLowerpecker
53. Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker
54. Ruby-cheeked Sunbird
55. Purple-naped Sunbird
56. Little Spiderhunter
57. Spectacled Spiderhunter 1 seen, on fruiting macaranga busily chasing away other bulbuls and cuckooshrikes
58. Eurasian Tree Sparrow
59. Scaly-breasted Munia 1 carrying nesting materials

Everyone went home with a smile and satisfaction of another good birding day at almost 3pm.

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The Heronry View from the Opposite Shoreline

2006-07-17T07:31:00.000-07:00

This evening, I went for a recee along the opposite shoreline to check out the herons. Actually it is much nearer on the other side yesterday, but here it is more exposed and plenty of actions. Can even get to see the birds reflection when they flew right above the water surface. Nope, I didn't bring along my D70 - only have my digiscoping gear.

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More Bird Photographers to Putrajaya Wetland

2006-07-16T08:29:00.000-07:00

There were 5 bird photographers visited the wetland today. We started the activity early at 8am. However, I expect it to be more fruitful than what we had today. Travelling along the wetland cells does not bring any good bird sightings except for the lesser coucal, changeable hawk-eagle (dark morph), white-headed munia, chestnut munia, pied triller, scaly-breasted munia, blue-tailed bee-eater, blue-throated bee-eater, white-throated kingfisher, baya weaver, pipit, mynas, crows, etc. well, this morning there was not a single purple swamphen sighted. Yes, I also showed them the Putrajaya island heronry where they managed to get some flight shots of the purple heron, grey heron, black-crowned night heron, and little egret. Well, better luck next time.

Putrajaya's Island Heronry

2006-07-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

I went to check on Putrajaya's heronry this morning. During my last visit, I saw a little egret nesting but when I checked on it,there were no little egret sighted. The nest was empty. There were several other nest of Grey Heron, Purple Heron and Black-crowned Night Heron. On one of the nest, there were 2 hatchlings of Purple Heron while another nest with 3 grey herons about to fledge.

Then, there was a bit of action on the top canopy of the island. hey...this is still early to see a cattle egret in Putrajaya. For 4 years in Putrajaya, I have not seen a cattle egret in July. Okay, I am going to check on this heronry in the next few days.

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A Birder from California

2006-07-12T07:36:00.000-07:00

Today, Doug from California visited the wetland with his Malaysian friend. They arrived pretty late - almost 10am. Nevertheless my staff tried her best to show them the birds we have in the park. Doug said that almost any birds in Malaysia is a LIFER. well, I do not know what lifers he got today, but what I heard from my staff, Zuraidah who showed them around, is that they were happy with the short tour. Zuraidah also managed to show them a nightjar - usually seen during the night time. Of course, we will try not to miss the island heronry. As usual, they were purple herons, grey herons, black-crowned night heron and little egret - together with their nests. There were also dozens of Painted Storks around the island heronry.

Well, one thing she forgot is to get Doug's email. So, in case if you are reading this, please go to http://wengchun.fotopages.com for more previous bird sightings in the park. You still have my call card right? Just email me.

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A single little egret in the wetland cell

2006-07-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

The usual period when a little egret can be sighted in wetland cell is usually during the migratory season (Sep/Oct - Mar/Apr). However, it happened to be wading in one of the wetland cells of Putrajaya. Could this be the resident / nesting individual from the Putrajaya heronry? well, possible....

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Birding Along Jln. Sg. Lalang and Sungai Tekala 6 July 2006

2006-07-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

today, with a buddy from endemic guide, we venture along the trail in Sungai Tekala from 5.00pm - 6.30pm. Nothing much were identified as the birds were not giving us an easy time except for the hairy-backed bulbul (again?) and banded broadbill.

Earlier in the afternoon I stopped by at the Semenyih Dam and saw 2 soaring Grey-headed Fish Eagle.

After dinner, we went into Putrajaya Wetland for a short tour. I wanted to show him the Barred Eagle Owl and Collared Scops Owl but no luck tonight.

Common Iora Actively Calling at the Car Park

2006-07-04T07:21:00.000-07:00

Common Iora were actively calling at the car park in front of my office. Zuraidah, a birder among my team member, told me she spotted the iora sitting on the nest which was built more than a month ago. Why does the bird come back after a month?

Flyeater Update 4 July 2006

2006-07-04T06:31:00.000-07:00

The family came back to the bamboo and neem tree again today. The first nest has dropped. Now the 2nd nest is almost torn apart. The juvenile is no longer calling the parents for food but still follow the adult wherever they go.

Flyeater Update 1 July 2006

2006-07-02T07:10:00.000-07:00

It was approximately 8.30am when I spotted the family of 3 flyeaters at the neem trees of the car park again near the nesting site. I noticed 1 of them (an adult) actually flew to the bamboo and hovering in front of the 2nd nest. When I compared the 1st and 2nd nest, the former is in better shape than the 2nd nest. Then, 3 of the birds just flew further away from the neem and bamboo.

Birding 30 June 2006 @ Putrajaya Wetland

2006-07-02T07:06:00.000-07:00

It was a tour of the park while looking for birds this morning. This is the 2nd time I brought John and Jas around the wetland park. John wanted to get close to a tree with baya weaver's nests while Jas wanted to see the flyeater and the little bronze cuckoo. They arrived early at 7.30am and we walked towards the wetland cells. Along the way, there were sunbirds actively moving from melaleuca trees to bottle brush trees. On the same location, the common ioras were calling very loud. As we reached the cell, Jas spotted something on the other side of the wetland cell. 7 lesser tree ducks staying motionless. As usual the yellow-bellied prinias can be spotted here with the pied fantail. This is just a short stop just to check out the condition of the cell, and later we moved back to the main car park area. On the way, before reaching the tower, there were 3 rufous woodpeckers and a number of starlings.

During the tour along the wetland cell on vehicle, we managed to see (while John managed to photographed some) blue-throated bee-eater, blue-tailed bee-eater, pipit, white-headed munia, scaly-breasted munia, chestnut munia, olive-backed sunbird, purple heron, baya weaver, and pied triller.

And I also showed them a small island heronry in Putrajaya. The birds that were nesting there includes grey heron, purple heron, black-crowned night heron and little heron.

Along Jalan Sg Lalang & into Sg Tekala

2006-06-28T00:23:00.000-07:00

Started the trip quite late as the weather doesn't look so good early in the morning. So, I didn't expect much though. The road towards Sungai Tekala seems quite good and after passing by Sungai Tekala, there are more birds flying across the road. So, I stopped at some of these areas to enjoy the birds.

There wasn't anything exceptional but still quite good for the day.

I also took a walk into Sungai Tekala Recreational Forest. No one was there and almost no bird calls until i walked up the stairs and heard a call. Only 1 bird, it looks like a bulbul - a hairy-backed bulbul.

Along the road towards the Semenyih dam, there were plenty of bulbuls, flowerpeckers, spiderhunters, tailorbirds, barbets etc.

One bad thing happened while I stopped my car next to the Semenyih dam. I turned my keys but it jammed and wouldn't start. This is not the first time it acting like this. 10 days ago it happened inside the wetland. So, I thought it could be the 3 years old battery or the yet-to-replaced spark plug. Immediately after reaching Kajang, I asked the service centre to change the spark plug. I thought everything will be alright, so i turn the key, it happen again!!! Then the supervisor came, and said it could be the starter problem. *sigh* cheap car....what to do?

Flyeater Observation Update 26 June 2006

2006-06-26T06:15:00.000-07:00

The time was 6.30pm. 1 Cuckoo was heard calling from the same tree as yesterday morning. Immediately, a flyeater responded. Territorial warning? Here is another photo to compare the juvenile and adult flyeater.

Flyeater Observation Update 25 June 2006

2006-06-25T07:33:00.000-07:00

2 cuckoos were heard again this morning from 10am and managed to locate only 1 of them perching high up on the rubber tree very close to the flyeater's nest. No flyeater is seen inside the nest. However, a few meters away, the juvenile flyeater is calling for food. 2 hours later, the adult and juvenile flyeater is spotted on the same neem tree next to the bamboo for their routine feeding session.

This is one of the cuckoo spotted in the morning.

Flyeater Observation Update

2006-06-24T07:19:00.000-07:00

From 11.00am up to 2.00pm today, the flyeater is busy feeding the juvenile. Now only 1 adult bird is sighted with the juvenile. While both of them are busy feeding and being fed, I noticed another adult bird is inside the first nest. Could this be the missing individual from the family of 3? How can it be possible to incubate another egg?

Later in the evening between 6.30pm to 7.00pm, 2 little bronze cuckoo were calling and I managed to locate 1 of them perching high up on a rubber tree. I guessed both of the cuckoo is aware of the flyeater's nest. At the same time, the flyeater were calling together with the cuckoo. Territorial? being defensive?

Another Disappointing Nightjar Nesting

2006-06-22T07:44:00.000-07:00

I was planning to see how the nightjar nesting progress. Another disappointing observation again. After the heavy rain today, I went over to the spot around 6.30pm. No nightjar and no egg. Too exposed to predators i guess. *sigh*

Adult still sitting inside the first nest

2006-06-22T07:31:00.000-07:00

after taking photograph of the adult and juvenile, i was passing by the bamboo where the nests were built. suddenly, I saw a flyeater sitting inside the first nest....so weird!!!! i am 100% confident that the chick has already fledged from that nest as i have observed a chick being fed by an adult flyeater. could this individual bird mistaken this first nest as the second nest which was built after the first nest was abandoned? can bird make mistake like that?

First Record of Flyeater Juvenile in Taman Wetland Putrajaya

2006-06-22T07:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I managed to witnessed the family of 3 flyeaters (2 adults and 1 juvenile) perching on a neem tree next to the bamboo where 2 nests were spotted. One of the adult was seen busy feeding the juvenile. The other adult was just hopping around.

Today, I was more prepared to take a snap of the juvenile to confirm the ID. After years of observing the nesting of flyeaters, this is the first time I recorded a flyeater juvenile fledged from the nest. From my previous experience observing the little bronze cuckoo chick being fed by the flyeaters, I can say, the cuckoo chick and the flyeater chick are very identical except for the size. The flyeater chick is almost the same size as the parent bird. It has a whitish eyering. The calls are also similar, however, the cuckoo calls are louder while the flyeater chick's call are softer. This time, only 1 adult bird was sighted with the chick, on the same neem tree next to the bamboo.

Below are some photos taken today while the last photo was taken previously showing a flyeater with its 'adopted' chick.

the adult.

the chick. notice the whitish eyering?

comparison: adult (back) and juvenile (front)

Compare the size of the little bronze cuckoo chick and the adult flyeater!

Large-tailed Nightjar - a new site record in Taman Wetland Putrajaya

2006-06-18T07:33:00.000-07:00

I was driving along the wetland cells of Upper North late in the morning 11.30am. I suddenly stopped my car when I saw a big dried leaf-look alike object on the ground next to a bamboo. Then, I realised it is a large-tailed nightjar. GREAT!!! This is the 4th site which I have seen a nightjar in daylight. Beak was wide open then. After a while, I just left. It started to drizzle so I decided to check out what happen to the bird. When I arrived, the bird was not there. I came out from the car and went near the ground where the nightjar was. A tiny egg. I remembered this egg and it belongs to a nightjar. The bird was incubating the egg. I left the site again when it started to rain heavily. Later around 6.30pm, I went back to this site, the bird came back to the egg. So, let's wait and see what happen. But I think I need to inform the gardener not to disturb the surrounding area of the nest. I have to learn from past experience.

Heard the Calls of the Flyeater

2006-06-18T07:23:00.000-07:00

It was a rainy day since 12pm until late afternoon in Putrajaya. Well, it stopped for a while in between that, and I heard the flyeater's chick calling for food outside my cabin office. It was there up on the neem tree, located the bird - parents and juvenile, but couldn't clearly see the chick due to the twigs and leaves. Oh well, another day I suppose.

Flyeater Fledgling and a 2nd Nest?

2006-06-15T20:19:00.000-07:00

I've been observing flyeater nesting for some time now. recently, i found something new in my observation. early this month (4 June 2006) , i saw a chick at the flyeater's nest. then the next couple of days, it was very quiet. last saturday(10 June 2006), my colleague send a sms (texting) informing me of another hanging nest next to the flyeater nest. she told me it's a neat hanging nest. so it couldn't be a sunbird's nest. when i went back to the park on 12 June 2006, a pair of flyeater was busy constructing the nest. as usual 1 of the bird carries materials while the other just accompany (or guarding) the builder. all i saw was just the hanging structure. a day after that, it was a completed nest. this evening, i heard a chick calling - sounded like little bronze cuckoo calling the flyeater, but softer. then the parent bird came near the chick and feed it. the chick is almost the same size as the parent flyeater. i did not have any optical equipment with me then. so can't positively say it is a cuckoo but it resemble more of a flyeater with kind of similar plumage color (or perhaps the lighting was poor). will wait for it tomorrow.i'll be glad if it is the flyeater fledgling, as from my other previous observations, only cuckoos were sighted on the nests.again, how is it possible to have the same pair of flyeater building a nest immediately after the chick fledged? or how is it possible to have a different pair building a nest next to an existing (but abandoned) nest? please comment. i have not come across any flyeater's nest constructed close to each other.