Johor 17-18Jun17

From Con

White-fronted Scops-owl, same bird a few minutes apart. Very alert in the first photo, and getting relaxed in the second. Very different appearance in the two poses, almost looks like two different birds!

Malaysian Eared-nightjar

Upper Seletar 15Jun17

From Con

Fuzzy, the Red-crowned Barbet fledged today, with a fuzzy red crown. Here are a couple of images, I've been going to see this nesting for over a month, about six of us were there to see this special event. The fledgling flew several times, flight seemed strong but short (seems instinctive), but landing was a challenge (needs to be learned?). From Wells (The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula, 1999, Vol 1) there can be 1 or 2 chicks, but we saw only one.

Panti 10Jun17

From Con

Crossing the border was slow this morning @ 45 minutes delay. Just after Hutan Lipur Panti while Danny and KH were still asleep, I spotted a wild Asian Elephant ambling alongside busy Hwy 3 @ 6:15am. I shouted "elephant" and pulled off at the first turn I could find, assembled my camera, and we were rewarded as this young male elephant continued this journey coming right in front of us. He trumpeted once, pivoted and turned around and disappeared off the highway.

Bird list in eBird.

Kranji Marsh 03Jun17

From KH

JS was stationed at the Kranji Marsh tower, so Con, Danny and I went there to give our support. Of course, his gf was there to support him too.

First, a land planarian worm crossed our path.

Then, a slug crossed our path.

At the tower, a male Baya weaver was busy weaving.

ebird list from JS:

1. Gray Heron 2
2. Purple Heron 1
3. Osprey 1
4. Black-shouldered Kite 1
5. Changeable Hawk-Eagle 1 heard only
6. Brahminy Kite 5
7. White-bellied Sea-Eagle 1
8. White-breasted Waterhen 5
9. Red-wattled Lapwing 3
10. Little Tern 7
11. Spotted Dove 10
12. Zebra Dove 2
13. Pink-necked Pigeon 50
14. Lesser Coucal 6
15. Banded Bay Cuckoo 1
16. Plaintive Cuckoo 1 - heard only
17. Brush Cuckoo 1
18. dark swiftlet sp. 30
19. White-throated Kingfisher 1
20. Collared Kingfisher 2
21. Dollarbird 1
22. Lineated Barbet 1
23. Rose-ringed Parakeet 2
24. Red-breasted Parakeet 7
25. Long-tailed Parakeet 5
26. Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot 2
27. Common Iora 5
28. Pied Triller 1
29. Long-tailed Shrike 2
30. Black-naped Oriole 1
31. Malaysian Pied-Fantail 4
32. House Crow 30
33. Large-billed Crow 2
34. Pacific Swallow 7
35. Yellow-vented Bulbul 10
36. Common Tailorbird 1 - heard only
37. Ashy Tailorbird 1 - heard only
38. Yellow-bellied Prinia 2
39. Abbott's Babbler 1 - heard only
40. Oriental Magpie-Robin 1
41. Asian Glossy Starling 30
42. Javan Myna 10
43. Plain-throated Sunbird 3
44. Olive-backed Sunbird 7
45. Golden-backed Weaver 1 male seen. 3 nest seen, but don't know if in use.
46. Baya Weaver 2

Rifle Range, Hindhede, Seletar East 27May17

From KH

Today, we have a guest, JS's gf. The five of us had fun with a pair of released Helmeted Guineafowls at the carpark before heading to Jelutong Tower. ©Con Foley

At Jelutong Tower, Mr and Mrs Brown-throated Sunbirds showed well. ©Tan KH

So did Mr Crimson Sunbird. ©Tan KH

Mr and Mrs Pink-necked Green-pigeon also came close due to the fruiting trees. ©Tan KH

List at Rifle Range from JS:

1. Pink-necked Pigeon 10
2. Thick-billed Pigeon 5 - Pairs seen flying in the distant.
3. Banded Bay Cuckoo 1
4. Plaintive Cuckoo 1 - heard only
5. Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo 1 - heard only
6. dark swiftlet sp. 20
7. Blue-throated Bee-eater 2
8. Dollarbird 1
9. Common Flameback 1 - heard only
10. Blue-rumped Parrot 7 - A flock of 7 seen flying in the distant. Identified by call, robust head and short tail.
11. Long-tailed Parakeet 1
12. Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot 2
13. Black-naped Oriole 2
14. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo 2
15. Pacific Swallow 1
16. Olive-winged Bulbul 6
17. Cream-vented Bulbul 2
18. Common Tailorbird 1
19. Dark-necked Tailorbird 1 - heard only
20. Pin-striped Tit-Babbler 1
21. Short-tailed Babbler 1 - heard only
22. Oriental Magpie-Robin 2
23. Asian Glossy Starling 20
24. Common Hill Myna 11 - Predominant species calling in the forest with pairs and small groups seen.
25. Javan Myna 2
26. Greater Green Leafbird 1
27. Orange-bellied Flowerpecker 1
28. Plain-throated Sunbird 2
29. Olive-backed Sunbird 2
30. Crimson Sunbird 3

Con left after lunch and the four of us went to Hindhede.

A Sunda Scops-owl was still around. ©Tan KH

This Olive-winged Bulbul came down low. ©Tan KH

Olive-winged Bulbul ©Tan KH

Peek-a-boo! Sunda Colugos ©Tan KH

Other animals here included this Common House Gecko and this Common Bluebottle. ©Tan KH

Next, we went to Pulau Punggol for the Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoo, but it started raining, so I left. The three of them proceeded to Seletar East and together with Low CH, who was there, managed to see one far away.

Panti 02Jun17

From Con

Nice pair of White crowned Hornbills today at Panti Forest. Zero gravel trucks. Zero oil palm trucks. Pleasantly few vehicles. I took an acquaintance from the States.

Bird list in eBird.

Fraser's Hill 21-23May17

From Con

Just back from a few days in Fraser's Hill. This Red-headed Trogon (male) was very confiding, but he asked me not to reveal his location.

Here is a shot of a Rufous-browed Flycatcher. I can never resist these cuties. This fellow was down in a ravine singing his heart out. The light was very dim, I could barely see the bird, but the autofocus had no trouble picking him up.