Jul 20, 2010

Rufuous-backed Kingfisher aka The Flying Carrot

The photos were taken a couple of months back but I did not get around to post them until now.
The nesting pair of Rufuos-back Kingfishers drew birders and bird photographers from local enthusiasts as well as from as far as Taiwan and Singapore. At one stage the nesting site was inundated with 500mm-600mm ‘bazookas’ all aimed at the adult birds! Both the male and female adults were scurrying to-and-fro bringing live food for the sole chick in the nest. Live food ranged from lizards, cicada, dragon fly, cricket, crabs, frogs and spiders.
P.S. The nesting pair must be wondering what in the heck are these ppl so excited each time they make their appearance. If only they could understand why bird men and women go cuckoo over them! LOL  
_MG_0454
_MG_0320
For me it was a great experience ‘camping out’ and patiently waiting at intervals of between half an hour to as long as one hour apart for the adult birds to return to their perch albeit for just about 2 minutes (max) before flying into the nest to feed the chick!
A very rare show indeed! To top it all it was Box Office seat all the way!!! Kudos to Mr. Khong aka wondersf for sharing the location. Gracias!
Video also uploaded to http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rufuos-back+kingfisher+aka+The+Flying+Carrot&aq=f
Thanks for dropping by. Cheers!

Jul 19, 2010

A half day walk-about in FRIM

FRIM or the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia is located very close to the city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It boasts of a well maintained forest park and is residence for both local as well as seasonal migratory birds. FRIM also have a number of trails in which one could observe the natural flora and fauna up-close whilst exercising at the same time.
The following photos feature birds seen and ‘shot’ during my brief visit there.

_MG_0724
Black-thighed Falconet


_MG_0582-1
Grey-chinned Minivet (Male)

_MG_0068
Grey-chinned Minivet (Female)

_MG_0405
Crested Serpent Eagle

_MG_0357
Crested Serpent Eagle (Female)

_MG_0707
Blue-winged Leafbird

_MG_0087
Spectacled Spider Hunter

_MG_0195
A pair of Greater Racquet-tailed and Bronze Drongos.

_MG_0557
Buff-rumped Woodpecker (record shot)

_MG_0286
Red-eyed Bulbul

_MG_0640
Verditer Flycatcher

_MG_0419 
Common Tailor Bird.
Thanks for dropping by. Cheers!

The Oriental Pied & The Black Hornbill.wmv