Red-Bearded Bee-Eater

14 January 2012, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang

Local name: Berek-berek Janggut Merah Scientific Name: Nyctyornis amictus One of the regulars at Bukit Tinggi, she was out early that day sunning herself to get warmed up.

Red-Billed Malkoha

14th January 2012, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang

Local name: Cenok Api  Scientific Name: Phaenicophaeus javanicus She likes to hide between the leaves  the reason why all my previous snapshots  of this bird  had  parts of the body  partially hidden. Much to my delight  a pair of this beautiful Malkoha were foraging out in the open, a great opportunity for me to  obtain some improvement shots.

White Rumped Shamas

14th January 2012, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang

Local name: Murai Batu Scientific Name: Copsychus malabaricus Highly sought after as song birds, enthusiasts are willing to pay big money for them. The female     The male has darker upperpart and  longer tail than the female.

Hill Blue Flycatchers

14th January 2012, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang

Local name: Sambar Bukit Scientific Name: Cyornis banyumas Lucky to have both the male and female out in the open. The male     The female

Siberian Blue Robin: 1st Winter Male

14 January 2012, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang

Local Name: Murai Siberia Scientific Name: Luscinia cyane Presently the star bird of Bukit Tinggi.. The constant wagging of the tail is the distinctive feature of this  Robin. Exposure Program: Aperture priority   Exposure: 1/6s  f/5.6  ISO 400,  Flash: No Focal Length: 400 mm ,   EFL 35mm equiv: 600 mm,    RAW format All photos taken using the slow shutter technique (delayed exposure & cable release)

Purple Swamphens

28th December 2011, Bidor , Perak

Local name: Pangling Scientific Name: Porphyrio porphyrio The last time I was there only one swamphen was sighted and it got me  kinda worried. Some parts of the swamphen’s  regular feeding area had been fenced up and the pond looked dry. The reason being the stream had been diverted  into a commercial pond and as a result  the liilies and water hyacinth , the swamphen’s main diet were gone. On this visit the ponds looked green a lush with the water hyacinth in full bloom, the water  was flowing again into the pond, and the swamphens?……….they are back and .thriving!.     Perfectly adapted for life on the floating vegetation, their long toes and large bill make short work of the soft water hyacinth  shoots  .   A juvenile bird  startled by an unwelcomed  visitor. The adult bird wasted no time in getting away from the imminent danger.

Cotton Pygmy Geese

28th December 2011, Bidor , Perak

Local Name: Itik Kapas Scientific Name: Nettapus coromandelianus Stopped over in Bidor on my way back from Ipoh just to check out the ponds. There were not many birds around when I first arrived with the usual species providing some action for a tired birder after a along drive. The rain put a halt to any hope of walking around the ponds. After a short nap it was one last look  before  starting the engine to head home. To my surprise I could see some splashes in the miidle of the  pond and upon closer scrutiny using the bins revealed a group of about 10 Cotton Pygmy geese feeding and playing in  between the water lilies. They were mostly juveniles, one adult female and no adult male (which otherwise would have made it more interesting).         Swimming on a bed of diamonds!

Whiskered Treeswift & Blue Tailed Bee Eater

24th December 2011, Kemensah, Selangor

Local Name: Layang-layang Jambul Kecil Scientific Name: Hemiprocne comata Whiskered Treeswifts are  beautiful birds, wearing a mask like a superhero they are simply adorable. This one is a male with the rufous ear coverts.   Local Name: Berek-berek Carik Dada Scientific Name: Merops philippinus Blue-tailed Bee eaters are pretty common in Kemensah often seen flying around in a group of about half a dozen or so. Although they are called bee eaters their diet is not limited to bees.

White Throated Kingfisher

24th December 2011, Kemensah, Selangor

Local Name: Pekaka Belukar Scientific Name: Halcyon smyrnensis Maybe the  most common Kingfisher which can be seen  in Malaysia

Dark Throated Oriole: Male

24th December 2011, Kemensah, Selangor

Local Name: Dendang Senja Scientific Name: Oriolus xanthonotus It has been more than a year since I last saw this Oriole, usually they go in pairs but this one seemed to be  solo.

Blue-Crowned Hanging Parrot: juvenile

24th December 2011, Kemensah, Selangor

Local Name: Bayan Serindit Scientific Name: Loriculus galgulus A few birds were hanging from this bamboo tree,just having a breather I guess before diving  to another destination.

Rufescent Prinia

24th December 2011, Kemensah, Selangor

Local Name: Perenjak Sampah Scientific Name: Prinia rufscens

Rufescent Prinia

24th December 2011, Kemensah, Selangor

Local Name: Perenjak Sampah Scientific Name: Prinia rufscens