Yellow-Rumped Flycatcher

Three weeks ago I saw the Brown Shrike at my backyard. The Brown Shrike migrated south from the Northern Hemisphere and stays here until March or April. It indicates that the migration season has officially started.

Over the weekend, I decided to look for the Yellow-Rumped Flycatcher at the Air Itam Dalam Recreation Forest.  Many birders have spotted the Yellow-Rumped Flycatcher here during the migration season. It likes to rest at this fresh water swamp before continuing its journey southward.  My effort was rewarded with the photo lifer.

Here is a HD video footage captured with the Canon 6D and EF 800 IS:

HD Video

Thanks for viewing.

Jewel of Lowland Forest - Blue-banded Kingfisher

It used to be fairly easy to see the Blue-banded Kingfisher at my favorite birding location; Ulu Paip. Unfortunately due to the influx of picnickers to this forest park, the habitat of the Blue-banded Kingfisher was severely affected. The visitors left behind trash and rubbish along the fresh water stream. The pollution has indirectly affected the habitat of the species. Click on the photo for sharper view.

The following is my only photo of the Female.

My first picture of the Blue-banded Kingfisher was captured in July 2010. I spotted it perched at a wooden lodge. Upon successfully getting the photo lifer, I was very excited of achieving one of my bird photography milestone. That particular wooden lodge was its favorite spot. It kept coming back to the same spot and the timing was quite predictable. Unfortunately this has no longer possible.

Thanks for reading.

Birds of Northern Thailand - Part 3

On the 3rd day of my trip, as usual, we hit the road at 6 am and by 7am we have reached the first birding location. It was a Monday and most of the weekend birders had gone home. They were less people at the Mountain  Bamboo-Partridge location. This increased the chances that the targeted birds would come out from the bushes. We quickly set up the blinds and fitted the tripod, lens, camera and got ready for actions. The previous sighting was at 8 am, I was very nervous as the time ticking and got nearer. I would not want to go home without a single photo of the  Mountain  Bamboo-Partridge. Suddenly I heard a long burst of shutter from my fellow photographer who was hidden in a blind besides mine. I immediately check my viewfinder, bingo, the male and female came out from the bushes and fed on the food found at the road-side.

I was very delighted to get the photo lifer of the Mountain Bamboo-Partridge. I made my first try about 2 years at another location at Doi Lang but it was an unsuccessful attempt. It was a "dream come true" at this location. 

Thanks for reading.

Birds of Northern Thailand - Part 2

On the 2nd day of the trip we headed up Doi Lang. We left the hotel at 6.00 am and by 7.00 am we reached the first birding location.

The orange-light of the dawn at far side of the horizon:

We set-up blinds at our first birding location and waited anxiety for the Mountain Bamboo Partridge. 

Unfortunately the target did not show up and it was probably disturbed by the loud talking noise from another 2 blinds at our opposite location, Arrh......... !

The first species that appeared was the Olive-backed Pipit :

The next one was my first lifer of the day, Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush (Male and Female) :

Male Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush

After that we decided to come out from the blind and looked for birds along the road. Guide A heard a vibrating trill of "duiduiduiduidui", he quickly pointed towards a tree. It was a Chestnut-vented Nuthatch perched high up at a small branch. I managed to make few shots but the Nuthatch took off and flew away.

After 1/2 hour later, we hit the road and headed to the next location. This location was the highlight of the day. This was the location where birders had sighted species of White-browed Laughingthrush and Spot-breasted Laughingthrush.

My another lifer of the day, Spot-breasted Laughingthrush:

White-browed Laughingthrush:

White-bellied Redstart, a winter migrant from the Northern Hemisphere:

Siberian Rubythroat (Female) :

Later in the afternoon, at the same location, I managed to photographed the Spot-breasted Parrotbill :

The "Grand Finale" of the day, a very rare resident species, Cutia.

As the sun was going down on the far horizon, the evening sun casted an orange light on the mountain road. It created a very beautiful scenery. You can almost hear the gentle breeze as you see the light wavy movements of the greenery lining the road and it gave the area a very peaceful ambience. This is one of those most treasured and prized moment that comes along with bird photography.