Bird Photography at Fraser Hill after 7 years

Last time birding at Fraser Hill was in May 2029, when Long-tail Broadbill went viral.

This time I went for Fraser's Hill International Bird Race, not as participent but just as cassual photographer looking for bird photos.

Here are a few species that are worth publishing.

Malayan partridge (Arborophila campbelli) is my target bird

found it at Jalan Mager

Black-browed barbet (Psilopogon oorti)

Fire-tufted barbet (Psilopogon pyrolophus)

Rusty-naped Pitta - juvenile

Chestnut-capped Laughingthrust

Mountain fulvetta

White-tailed Robin - male

White-tailed Robin - female

Rufous-browed Flycatcher

Rufescent Prinia

Silver-eared Mesia

Streaked spiderhunter

 

Durai aka The Birdman, Mahazan Cik Aik, and me

Photographers waiting at Jalan Mager

Peak breeding season and Long-Tail Broadbill

Long-tailed broadbill (Psarisomus dalhousiae)
I always wanted to see this Elvis Presley bird since birding 12 yrs ago.
Lack of time and busy with other commitment, I forgot to go up for birding. The last I visited Fraser Hill for birding was in Jan 2013. Link==.>   HERE
That hill station is in the Raub district, about one hour drive from my house, and I regularly go up there, cycling and hiking on the Pine Hill trail. Link==.>. HERE
Then I saw MikeBirder posting in his blog about breeding season and long-tail broadbill making its nest. Link ==>>.HERE
When Mike saw it in the middle of April, the pair were busy building the  nest.
One month later, busy feeding the chick. The parents will fly into the nest in about 20 minutes intervals.
Ten photographers with big bazooka lenses waiting at the roadside about 50 feets from the nest.
When the bird arrives with insect, tap-tap-tap  spontaneous rattling machine gun like  noise from the camera.
Within seconds the parent flies away, and everybody chiming at their camera's LCD screen.

King of rock ‘n’ roll and pop Elvis Presley.

Photo from: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Imagess

Look at Elvis's hair style and thick sideburns, and compare to broadbill face. Similar?

Pic by JJ Harrison, from Wikipedia (cropped and converted to B&W)

 Long-Tail Broadbill nest (below), hanging precariously on old rattan leaves, over hill slope /  river.

That a prefect site as rattan's sharp spines deter the predator.

Other birds that I manage to catch

While waiting for boadbill, we see this barbet  perch on a vine looking for fruit.

Fire-Tuff Barbet (Psilopogon pyrolophus)

These two pictures taken near Shanzan Hotel.
Silver-Eared Mesia, feeding the chicks
and Male Black-throated Sunbird  Black-throated Sunbird (Aethopyga saturata), foraging on  a colourful Sanchezia speciosa flowers.

My next target is to see the Sultan Tit.

 Pic from Wikipedia by: Dibyendu Ash.

Coppersmith Barbet on Guava Tree - Burung Tukang Besi/Takur Akar di Pokok Jambu Batu

Common Hari Raya Birds

One hour birding at my mother in-law's house backyard on second Hari Raya holiday

Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis)

Yellow-vented Bulbul

Common Myna

Coppersmith Barbet

Barbet Eating Banana at ISO 2500

The dark, overcast sky during rainy monsoon season. I have to push the ISO to 2500 to have a decent picture of this Gold-whiskered Barbet eating banana in my backyard.

Shutter speed 1/30, no flash

Gold-whiskered Barbet at dead coconut tree

Gold-whiskered Barbet (Megalaima chrysopogon)

Bird feeder at Shahzan Inn Fraser's Hill

Here are common birds at the Shahzan Inn bird feeder.
You can easily see Silver-eared Mesia,  Long-tailed Sibia, and Chestnut-capped Laughing thrush. Photographing Fire-tufted Barbet you need to wait and be patient. It will come down when all other birds leave and less crowd.

Fire Tufted Barbet (Psilopogon pyrolophus)

 Long-tailed Sibia (Heterophasia picaoides)

Silver-eared Mesia (Leiothrix argentauris)

Location: Shahzan Inn, Fraser's Hill, Pahang

Fire-tufted barbet

Fire Tufted Barbet (Psilopogon pyrolophus) is a common bird at Fraser's Hill, very responsive to calls.
Getting a decent and low-angle shot is another challenge unless you are willing to wait patiently at the Shahzan  Hotel bird feeder.

Location: Shahzan Inn, Fraser's Hill, Pahang

Bird of Prey - Gold-whiskered Barbet

Tough Luck!.
3rd time unlucky with nestling at my backyard.
This was the last pictures taken on the morning of 28thMarch. The mother was trying to cover her baby, but you can see the baby head protruding there. By evening the two chicks were gone.

I suspect this was the real culprit. It perched on electric wire just above the" jambu" tree on the evening of 27th March. This barbet must have seen the chicks/ nest and waiting for the right moment to strike. I have not seen the actual attack, but from the past history (feasting on Tree Sparrow) - this is the prime suspect.

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digging form my archived (old 2007 pictures)

Black-naped Oriole and Coppersmith Barbet