Javan Myna Anting Asian weaver ant

This Javan Myna was photographed at my backyard. When I look at a camera LCD, these two insects are hanging at the tail feather of a Myna.  Close-up of the insect identifed as "kerengga" Asian weaver ant (Oecophylla smaragdina)

Anting is a maintenance behavior during which birds rub insects, usually ants, on their feathers and skin. The bird may pick up the insects in its bill and rub them on the body (active anting), or the bird may lie in an area of high density of the insects and perform dust bathing-like movements (passive anting). The insects secrete liquids containing chemicals such as formic acid, which can act as an insecticide, miticide, fungicide, or bactericide. Alternatively, anting could make the insects edible by removing the distasteful acid, or possibly supplement the bird's own preen oil. Instead of ants, birds can also use millipedes. (Wikipedia)

Kerengga di ekor Tiong

Javan Mynas have been reported to use anting as a means of feather maintenance, where they rub insects, usually ants, directly onto their feathers and skin. This behaviour forces the insects to secrete formic acid which acts as an insecticide and bactericide. (Bird of the World)

Javan Myna drinking water puddles on the road

Javan myna (Acridotheres javanicus)

Spotted this Javan Myna drinking water puddle in front of my house.

Birds, like all animals, need water for survival, and their water intake is crucial for various bodily functions, including nutrient transport, temperature regulation, and waste removal. Water intake can vary depending on factors like age, environmental conditions, and species.

close up of the beak

Initially, I thought it was a Jungle Myna, but when googled the internet, it is not a jungle but a Javan.

"Possibly the best feature is the bluish colour of the base of the Jungle Myna bills (dark looking in the field). Even this can be hard at times." - Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS - 

Bird Ecology Study Group  < link

The Javan myna is native to Java, Indonesia, and has been introduced to southeastern Thailand, southern Malaysia (now widely spread through Peninsula Malaysia), Singapore, Sumatra, the Lesser Sundas, Taiwan, Puerto Rico, Japan and Nepal. It is found in cities and cultivated areas.

(info Wikipedia)

~Bird and Nature Photography~

Birding Temerloh Riverbank

Birding at Temerloh River Bank

TEMERLOH

I went to Temerloh for business and spent time photographing birds and activities along the Pahang Riverbank.

The Pahang River mainly flows through the state of Pahang, Malaysia. Its drainage basin covers its Pahang and the neighboring state of Negeri Sembilan. At 459 km in length, it is the longest river on the Malay Peninsula. (Wikipedia)

River banks are a vital habitat for many birds because they provide food and shelter. 

How do river banks attract birds? 

Food: Birds are attracted to river banks to feed on fish, invertebrates, insects, crustaceans, and tadpoles

Shelter: River banks provide shelter for birds

Biawak hidup, lidah bercabang

Javan Myna

Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis tigrina)

Bird and Nature Photography

Migratory bird -  Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

I visited a village in Kampung Tengah and found this Grey wagtail on the TV antenna, as well as this Eurasian tree sparrow.

Tree sparrow

West Bank - 4 bridges (the new and old bridges, the ECRL bridge)  and fishermen

East Bank - Boat, old bridge, car (Proton X50), fisherman and rumah rakit Pak Jamal (raft house).

Sg Soi boat with Indian passengers

Buah Ara (probably Ficus hispida) - di tapak pekan sehari Temerloh

Magpie Robin by Chat GPT

Murai kampung

A plantain squirrel (Callosciurus notatus miniatus) - Tupai

 What is in the squirrel's mouth? A yellow coconut?

Kedai Kancil D'Patin Bangau Tanjung, DEN691 Pembekal Patin & Talapia

Birds at papaya tree - backyard

Banded Woodpecker

The banded woodpecker (Chrysophlegma miniaceum)

The Asian glossy starling (juvenile) (Aplonis panayensis) eating on papayas 

oriental pied hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris)

The Javan myna (Acridotheres javanicus)

Oriole

pictue by: Challiyil Eswaramangalath Pavithran Vipin - taken from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Papaya_and_birds.jpg 

Yellow-vented bulbul

 

Birds in Flight during Raya Holiday

My lifer Red-wattled Lapwings (Vanellus indicus). size=32cm
Exif: 1/8000s |  ISO 640 | f/5.6 | 400mm | Exp bias 0 step.

Testing Canon EOS 5D Mark iv and 400mm f5.6 L lens for birds in flight photography during recent Hari Raya holiday.
I set the camera at 61-points Automatic Selection AF, AV mode, AI servo and high speed continuous shutter, and just fired 7fps at any passing birds.

Unlike egret or eagle, these birds are small 20cm (Asian Glossy Starling) to 32cm (Red-wattled lapwings), and moving very fast.
With overcast weather, I have to push up the ISO to 4000. Shooting against the sky,  need to compensate the exposure to +1 to +2 to bring up the birds details.
Most of the birds fly laterally to the sunlight, except for Oriole, when the sun is at my back 

Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis), size=20cm
Exif: 1/6400s | ISO 1600 | f/ 5.6 | 400mm | Exp bias +1

Jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus), size=24cm
Exif: 1/8000s | ISO 1600 | f/5.6 | 400mm | Exp bias  +1 step

Jungle Myna carrying  nesting material.
Exif:  1/8000s | ISO 4000 | f/5.6 | 400mm

Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis), size=19cm
Exif: 1/4000s | ISO 1600 | f/5.6 | 400mm | Exp Bias +1.3 step

Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier), size=20cm
Exif: 1/4000s  | ISO 640 | f/5.6 | 400mm | Exp bias +1 step

Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis), size=25cm

Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis), size =27cm
Exif:  1/6400s | ISO 640 | f/5.6 | 400mm | Exp bias 0 step
All the pic are shoot handheld.

2013 Migrant Birds at My Backyard

Finally, migrant birds perched in my backyard. Not a lifer, but Brown Shrike and Little Egret

Little Egret is a resident migrant bird in Malaysia, but I don't see it here (Raub)  in other months except in the winter. Its habitat is the mangroves and freshwater wetlands

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) - perched on a coconut pinnate and a banana leaf. Easily identified with dark-colored bills, black legs, and yellow feet.

Other than the two birds above, all the birds pictured below are common backyards.
Please look below what are they:  :)

Tiung - another Banana Series

No cycling and bird hiking during Ramadhan... this very common bird will do...

Myna Sunbathing

This is not an injured Javan Myna, but enjoying sunning.
Oriental Magpie Robin does the same thing in May here in my backyard.

Location: My backyard, Raub, Pahang.

Have a look for more bird pictures at the Bird Photography Weekly @ Birdfreak.

Juvenile Myna

Malaysian birder knows that I have no other bird pictures when I post this. ;)
But I like the lighting and shadow on its neck.
Location: My backyard, Raub, Pahang.

Myna in Flight - Tiong Jambul

White-vented Myna (Acridotheres grandis)