Birds of Bukit Tinggi

Last month I took some time off to visit Bukit Tinggi. The last time I visited this place was on May 2009. I saw in some local bird forum that the Orange-headed Trush (OHT) was sighted here by some photographers. I have been long wanted to photographed the OHT but on the past few occasions I was not able to find time to visit Bukit Tinggi due to work commitment. For this new sighting, I would't want to miss the opportunities again. 

I arrived at the peak of Bukit Tinggi at about 7.30 am. I immediately set up my gears. Without wasting time (because it was a half dat trip only) I headed to the first shooting location, the plant nursery at the Japanese Garden. Many birds came to the nursery hunting for the  moths and other inserts in morning. 

A Dark-sided Flycatcher perched nearby the nursery:

Later I spotted a bird with light blue feather perched at a tree nearby, it was a Verditer Flycatcher: 

After the Verditer Flycatcher left, a bird with the "punk hair-style" came and perched at the stem of a plant. It was an Ochraceous Bulbul. The fella was looking for the moths as its breakfast.

The Ochraceous Bulbul only stayed on the perched briefly but long enough to let me took a few snap shots. After the Bulbul left, I was attracted by an orange color bird perched on a single horizontal twig. It was a Orange-breasted Trogon. 

A Yellow wagtail stood at the side roof of the nursery. 

It was a busy morning at the nursery. Unfortunately there was still no sighting of the Orange-headed Thrush (OHT). As I was walking toward the car park. I saw my fellow bird photog, Adrian. He hang around this place very often, he was so kind to tell me the precise location of the OHT.

My lifer of the day, the OHT:

The winter migrant bird from the far north, Mugimaki Flycatcher :

Thanks for reading, your comments are welcome.

Doi Inthanon - Inthanon Bird Centre

Inthanon Bird Centre is the place that you should not miss out if you are birding in Doi Inthanon. Many birders or photographers hang out here, they came here for delicious Thai food or lodging. Besides food and lodging, this is an important place where information on the recent bird sighting is exchanged among the visitors. There is also a bird sighting log book at the main desk, many visitors recorded the sighting information into the log book. It provided vital information of recent bird activities in Doi Inthanon.

At the backyard of the Bird Centre, some species of birds frequently come there looking for residual food or worm on the soft soil. During my stayed there, I was lucky to photograph 2 species of migrant birds and 2 resident birds.

Dark-sided Thrush:

Blue-whistling Thrush (Migrant species)

Hill Blue Flycatcher

Female White-rumped Shama

A group photo with the owner (Mr & Mrs Daeng) before I left Doi Inthanon:

Thanks for reading, your comments are welcome.

A video Footage of Blue-banded Kingfisher

Feb 12 2011. Finally I am done composing a video footage of the Blue-banded Kingfisher. Enjoy the video. The video was composed using the Apple iMovie video editing software. The footages were captured using the Canon Eos 1 D mkIV, EF 800mm lens with the new Canon 1.4 mkIII tele-converter. Your comments are welcome.

For HD quality, kindly click and select the 720 p resolution:

2nd Round of Blue-banded Kingfisher

Feb 5 2011. Today is the 3rd day of Chinese New Year holiday. This morning I decided to try my luck looking for the Blue-banded Kingfisher at Ulu Paip. Nelson came to join me, without his lens (sent to Canon for servicing). He brought with him the 7D body and just in case if we found the target, he wanted to use my lens for some record shots. 

We sat down at a rock in the middle of the stream. We drank coffee and constantly scanning upstream and downstream for the target. I decided not to move around as the movement would distract and alert the target should it decided to perch at some rocks nearby. 

At 8.45 am, while I was looking upstream, Nelson alerted me to a small rock few meters downstream. OMG, it was really the Male Blue-banded Kingfisher. Perching there quietly, the fella was looking at the stream for its morning breakfast. I repositioned my lens and looked through my viewfinder. I was greedy, hmm... the target was not big enough since I had many photos of it the other day, I want some "full frame" shots. I slowly raised my body and moved the camera, the fella was kind enough to let me went nearer. I fired about 50 frames with mirror lock-up. After that I dis-mounted my 1 D mkIV and mounted Nelson's 7D. He made a couple of shots using my gears.

Here's the selection of shots from this morning's outing:

Canon Eos 1 D mkIV Ef 800mm IS + 1.4 TC
ISO 1600 1/5 f8

Canon Eos 1 D mkIV Ef 800mm IS + 1.4 TC
ISO 1600 1/13 f8

Canon Eos 1 D mkIV Ef 800mm IS + 1.4 TC
ISO 1600 1/15 f8

Thanks for viewing.

Blue-banded Kingfisher

Feb 1 2011. On last Sunday morning,  I decided to bird at Ulu Paip lowland forest. It was about 4 months that I last visited this place. At about 9.30 am, while we (my brother and me) were shooting landscape at the middle of the stream. I saw a blue color bird flew passed me. It was flying toward downstream. I quickly turned my head and tracked the target. Bingo I saw the bird stopped and perched on a rock few meter away. After a careful checking with my binocular, it is a Male Blue Banded Kingfisher. Apparently the Blue-banded Kingfisher stopped by to hunt for "breakfast". I slowly carried my equipment and approach the target. Here are some selected shots:

Canon EOS 1 D mkIV EF 800mm IS + 1.4 TC
ISO 3200 1/50 F8

Canon EOS 1 D mkIV EF 800mm IS + 1.4 TC
ISO 1/1600 1/30  F8

Canon EOS 1 D mkIV EF 800mm IS + 1.4 TC
ISO 3200 1/40 F8

Canon EOS 1 D mkIV EF 800mm IS + 1.4 TC
ISO 5000 1/50 F8

Thanks for viewing.

Happy Chinese New Year (Lunar Calendar)

Feb 1 2011. It will be Lunar Calendar New Year (Chinese New Year) in 2 days time. I take this opportunity to wish all my friends a Happy and  Prosperous  New Year.