My Old Blog: Problems Resolved

 

After about 4 months of trying to salvage my original birding blog since it suffered some problems which prevented me from updating the status, it is finally back online.  My initial thoughts were to continue with this current blog but it would be shame to leave that one idling after so much effort had been poured into it to reach its current state.

So effective immediately I will be posting on the original   ‘ Wings Among Us’  at   madibirder.blogspot.com. However, I will  still keep  this blog alive (not updated)  in case the gremlins strike again.

I thank all for supporting this site and I hope it has given you the pleasure that it has given me. If you are new to the site I would be honoured to have you as my follower on the original blog.

Thank you

Best wishes

Mohd Rosmadi Hassan @ madibirder

Little Cuckoo Dove

5th May 2012, , Fraser’s Hill, Pahang

Local Name: Tekukur Api Scientific Name: Macropygia ruficeps It was very late in the evening and the light was fading fast but luckily she came back to roost before it was completely dark. My previous photo of the Little Cuckoo Dove was taken more than 3 years ago and I’m quite pleased with  these improvement shots although they were taken in quite challenging condition.   Date & Time of Capture: 05/05/2012 18:56:13 Exposure: 1/4s  f/7.1  ISO 400,  Flash: No Focal Length: 800 mm ,   EFL 35mm equiv: 1200 mm

Long-Tailed Broadbill

4th May 2012, , Fraser’s HIll, Pahang

Local Name: Takau Ekor Panjang Scientific Name: Psarisomus dalhousiae Elvis is alive in Fraser’s Hill…….. that’s what birders say everytime they see this bird!   Hmmmmm…… I wonder why?

Black-Thighed Falconets: Happy Together

7th April 2012, , Kemensah, Selangor

Local Name: Lang Belalang Scientific Name: Microhierax fringillarius I  found a single falconet  preening herself on a tall dead tree. It is a bit unsual since they normally go in pairs.  She flew to another tree, closer to my position. As I was shooting her I was pleasantly surprised  when I could see through the viewfinder another bird joining her on the dead branch. The lighting was great and the models were  fabulous!

Siberian Blue Robin: Moulting

25th March 2012, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang

Local Name: Burung Murai Siberia Scientific Name: Luscinia cyane She looked different from the last  time I saw her , the blue  has come out darker and the black band  around the throat is more obvious. The changes  appeared over a period of approximately 9 weeks.

Silver–Breasted Broadbills

25th March 2012, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang

Local Name: Burung Takau Tanda Hujan , Burung Tadah Hujan Scientific Name: Serilophus lunatus It is nesting season again and these beautiful Broadbills are busy building their nests.

Plaintive Cuckoo

15th March 2012, Tok Kassim, Sabak, Kelantan

Local Name: Sewah Mati Anak Scientific Name: Cacomantis merulinus

Oriental Reed Warbler

15th March 2012, Tok Kassim, Sabak, Kelantan

Local Name: Cekup Paya Besar Scientific Name: Acrocephalus Orientalis

Chestnut-Winged Cuckoo

15th March 2012, Tok Kassim, Sabak, Kelantan

Local Name: Sewah Kepak Merah Berjambul Scientific Name: Clamator coromandus   One of the more elusive migrant cuckoos, I finally caught up with her in my home state of Kelantan. I noticed that this Cuckoo preferred to forage very close to the ground and sometimes would come down to the ground in search of  food. This is an ultra long distance shot of my lifer.

Collared Kingfisher

15th March 2012, Tok Kassim, Sabak, Kelantan

Local Name: Pekaka Sungai Scientific Name: Halcyon chloris A Collared Kingfisher enjoying her early morning  reptilio-breakfast.

Black-Capped Kingfisher

14th March 2012, Tok Kassim, Sabak, Kelantan

Local Name: Pekaka Kopiah HItam Scientific Name: Halcyon pileata Black-capped Kingfishers are extremely shy birds and would be spooked by the slightest movements that you make. Crouching in my car, and  then driving slowly along the dirt road to within 20m from her position.  This was the closest that I managed to get to this Kingfisher after so many years of trying.

Long-Tailed Shrike

14th March 2012, Tok Kassim, Sabak, Kelantan

Local Name: Tirjup Ekor Panjang Scientific Name: Lanius schach Compared to the Tiger and Brown shrikes, Long-tailed shrikes are less commonly sighted  and not as approacheable as the other two species. I managed to take  these few shots from a distance , luckily they turned out ok.

Coppersmith Barbet

14th March 2012, Tok Kassim, Sabak, Kelantan

Local Name: Takor Tembaga, Takor Tukang Besi Scientific Name: Megalaima haemacephala A male Coppersmith Barbet with the bright red forecrown and breast patch.

Hooded Pitta: Sad Case

11th March 2012, Shah Alam, Selangor

Local Name: Burung Pacat Gembala Pelandok Scientific Name: Pitta sordida A juvenile Pitta in her habitat , a small patch of jungle before  the undergrowth was cut and ‘cleared’  by unscrupulous  so-called Bird Photographers to provide unobstructed shooting lines. Mention the word ‘Code of Birding Ethics’ and most Bird Photographers here would scratch their heads or offer you  wry smiles, in their hearts maybe saying ‘ who ‘s this smart Aleck?”. A sad state of affair and a bit paradoxical as far as the concern for birds and  habitat by those who have chosen this creature as their source of pleasure. Some even go to the extent of going into the bird’s nesting/ feeding area to introduce ‘foreign   perch’ just to obtain shots with cleaner backgrounds. These pictures were taken two weeks before the area  ( in a public park where one has to pay to enter) was  ‘cleared’ by unknown Bird Photographers . . News of what had happened to this bird  has spread within the local birding community , either by word of mouth or through the internet bird forums. Let us hope that it is a lesson learned, and  that it has created better awareness on more  ethical practices especially for this region.

Grey-Headed Babbler

9th March 2012, Sedim, Kedah

Local Name: Scientific Name: Stachyris poliocephala A lone Grey headed Babbler flew to the river’s edge to bathe in the cool clear water.

Stork-Billed Kingfisher

9th March 2012, Ayer Itam Dalam, Pulau Pinang

Local Name: Pekaka Paruh Pendek Scientific Name: Pelargopsis capensis I only have a few  long-distance record shots of this Kingfisher prior to this. Penang is probably the easiest place to see this Kingfisher.

Rufous-Collared Kingfisher

11th March 2012, Sedim, Kedah

Local Name: Pekaka Rimba Besar Scientific Name: Actenoides concretus ]

Banded Kingfisher

10th March 2012, Sedim, Kedah

Local Name: Pekaka Riang Rimba Scientific Name: Lacedo pulchella A female Banded Kingfisher just sitting quietly , sometimes raising her crown.

Blue-Banded Kingfisher

9th March 2012, Sedim, Kedah

Local Name: Pekaka Bukit Scientific Name: Alcedo euryzona peninsulae A male Blue-banded Kingfisher was hunting near a small waterfall. Compared to other places the chances of seeing this Kingfisher are better in the northern states of the peninsular,  and that was where I found this little guy. Sitting quietly on the rocky river bank, he would dive down to catch small fishes.

Lineated Barbet

9th March 2012, Ayer Itam Dalam, Pulau Pinang

Local Name: Takor Kukup Scientific Name: Megalaima lineata It is quite difficult to get clean shots  of this barbet as they usually tend to keep themselves between the leaves.

Laced Woodpecker

9th March 2012, Ayer Itam Dalam, Pulau Pinang

Local Name: Belatuk Bakau/ Hijau Scientific Name: Picus vittatus A female Laced Woodpecker on her morning round.