Sime Forest 16Mar06

From Con

Danny & I met in Sime Forest this evening to search for the Hooded Pitta. Got our first sighting about 6:15 PM about 10 meters or more in from the trail. Just a glimpse under two branches and then he hopped off further into the brush. No picture. Still joggers are coming by.

Then again, about 6:30 PM, a second sighting. This time I get a picture, but it's through the brush and very hard to recognize, blocked by leaves and twigs 10 meters into the forest. Still joggers are coming by.

We keep looking and looking, no pitta. It's getting darker and darker. Now all the HSBC Tree-Top walkers have gone home. There are no more joggers. The monkeys are squabbling. The drongos are calling. And then at 6:50 PM, out of nowhere, the Hooded Pitta steps out onto the trail and begins foraging for food in plain view. Danny and I get almost 10 minutes of observation. He lets us get within about 10 meters, but if we try closer, he hops further down the trail, but lets us follow him. Pictures don't seem to bother him, in fact he seems rather curious and stops to look at the crazy birders following him.

And finally, at about 7 PM, he steps off the trail and back into the forest, and the show is over.

Just after the second sighting, Danny points out a Greater Racket-tailed Drongo.