Steve Happ Photography Ramblings and dissertations

Padang Matsirat

The other day I walked along the creek behind the Padang Matsirat wet fish market. It was a pretty ordinary morning with nothing special or new.. ha ha way to tell a story..

Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)

Great Egret ( Ardea alba )

Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus)

Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis)

Is it feeding on a snail ?

Red Collared Dove (Streptopelia tranquebarica)

And some Spotted Doves.

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)

Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

Carpenter Bee

Xylocopa sp.

Langkawi bird list

Great Egret ( Ardea alba )
Common Sandpiper
Pond Heron sp.
Paddyfield Pipit
Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis)
Red Collared Dove (Streptopelia tranquebarica)
Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)
Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus)
Brown Shrike
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)
Black-naped Oriole
collared kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

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Cenang Reed Beds

A few days ago I went to the Cenang Reed Beds for a look around. This is what i saw.

Black-browed Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus bistrigiceps)
Thanks to Tou Jing Yi for the id correction, whoopsie!!

Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis)
The call sounded good to me – a short sharp “dik dik”.

Grey-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus)

Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus)

Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)

Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus)

Langkawi bird list

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
Common Sandpiper
Grey-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus)
Brown Shrike
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
Chestnut Munia (Lonchura atricapilla)
Striated Heron (Butorides striata)
Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus)
Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus)

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Gunung Raya in February

I have been in lockdown for weeks, so two days ago I went up the mountain to see what I could find.

Blue Whistling-thrush (Myophonus caeruleus)

“Bill colour varies with range: dark in China and parts of mainland South East Asia, bright yellow elsewhere. ”

Blue Whistling-thrush (Myophonus caeruleus)

They seem to like fanning their tails.

Pin-striped Tit-Babbler (Mixornis gularis)

Oriental Honey Buzzard

Edit: Not a Changeable Hawk-eagle ??? But waiting for an id. Thanks Boas Emmanuel for the id help. 🙂

Figs ?

Mountain flowers

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Langkawi Tourist Photos

23rd February, 2021. I have now been on Langkawi for four and a half months. Here are some photos from around the place.

Tiger

We found an abandoned cat and looked after it for a while. I called her Tiger. I am still not sure whether it is a boy or a girl.

Dark-necked Tailorbird

This bird came and pecked on my window lots of times. I have no idea why. Maybe pecking at his own reflection.

Buah Jering

Many birds were eating the seeds out of the Buah Jering. “Jering fruit contains 3.5 % protein, 0.1 % fat, 1.7 % carbs, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamin A, B, and C. It also contains a type of alcholoid compound that can give a defecation boost. But jering seeds also contain toxic ingredients known as jencolic acid. ”

Barbecue

Cooking some chicken.

Full Moon

Full moon at Fisherman’s Wharf, Sungai Cenang.

Anti-drugs notice

I think it says “Forbidden to inhale drugs. In this area you are noticed.”

Mandi Kerbau

Water Buffalo having a swim.

At Banggi Island

Here is a bonus photo that survived on my phone for nearly a year. I have no idea why?

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Malaysia Bird List – 276 Species.

The first time I came to Malaysia birding was in May 2012, after a trip through Bali and Java, then on to Singapore and over the bridge to Johor Bahru. First stop was Mersing on the Eastern coast, then off to Pulau Tioman. Across to Melaka for the Botanical Gardens, Port Dickson, Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands, Taman Negara, Kota Bahru.

Silver-eared Mesia (Mesia argentauris). Tanah Rata.

The second time birding to Malaysia was in October 2016, on the way to Japan skiing. My first stop was Kuching in Sarawak, then to Sibu, Bintulu, Miri. Then I flew to Kota Kinabalu, hopped on a bus to Gunung Kinabalu, Sepilok, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Semporna and Tawau.

Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush (Garrulax treacheri) – Gunung Kinabalu

January 2020 saw me back in Sabah at Tawau from Kalimantan in Indonesia, after a two month trip in Sulawesi. Then north to Semporna, back to Kinabatangan, Sepilok, Gunung Kinabalu, Dragon Pearl Beach, Banggi Island, Crocker Ranges, Tenom, back to Kota Kinabalu, then I flew to Gunung Mulu in Sarawak, then back to K.K. and on to Singapore.

Bornean SpiderHunter (Arachnothera everetti). Tawau Hills N.P.

Early March saw me on peninsular Malaysia, first stop Mersing. Then Melaka, Cameron Highlands, Pulau Pangkor and then came lockdown, so I was on Pangkor Island for three months.

Cream-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus simplex). Pangkor

In June I was able to escape from Pangkor Prison, so I headed east to Ipoh, Taiping, Penang, Sungai Petani, Alor Setar, Langkawi, Kuala Perlis, Perhentian Islands, Terangganu, Cherating, Jerantut, Cameron Highlands, Ipoh, Taiping, Penang, then back to Langkawi.

Milky Stork (Mycteria cinerea). Taiping

So, back to Langkawi and I have been here nearly four months!

Slaty-breasted Rail (Lewinia striata). Cenang

Malaysia Bird List

Amur Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone incei)
Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus)
Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus)
Ashy Tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps)
Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica)
Asian Fairy-bluebird (Irena puella)
Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis)
Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus)
Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans)
Asian Pied Starling
Banded Woodpecker (Chrysophlegma miniaceum)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus)
Black And Red Broadbill (Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos)
Black Hornbill (Anthracoceros malayanus)
Black-and-White Bulbul (Pycnonotus melanoleucos)
Black-and-Yellow Broadbill (Eurylaimus ochromalus)
Black-and-crimson Oriole (Oriolus cruentus)
Black-capped Babbler
Black-capped White-eye (Zosterops atricapilla)
Black-crowned Night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Black-eared Shrike-babbler (Pteruthius melanotis)
Black-headed Bulbul (Brachypodius melanocephalos)
Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea)
Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis)
Black-naped Tern (Sterna sumatrana)
Black-thighed Falconet (Microhierax fringillarius)
Black-throated Sunbird (Aethopyga saturata)
Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike (Hemipus hirundinaceus)
Black-winged Kite ( Elanus caeruleus )
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
Black-winged flycatcher-shrike (Hemipus hirundinaceus)
Blue Rock Thrush
Blue Whistling-Thrush (Myophonus caeruleus)
Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot (Loriculus galgulus)
Blue-eared Kingfisher (Alcedo meninting)
Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus)
Blue-throated bee-eater (Merops viridis)
Bornean Black Magpie
Bornean Forktail (Enicurus borneensis)
Bornean SpiderHunter (Arachnothera everetti)
Bornean Treepie (Dendrocitta cinerascens)
Bornean Whistler (Pachycephala hypoxantha)
Bornean Whistling-thrush (Myophonus borneensis)
Bornean green magpie (Cissa jefferyi)
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)
Bronzed Drongo (Dicrurus aeneus)
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)
Brown-throated Bee-eater ((Anthreptes malacensis)
Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis)
Buff-necked Woodpecker (Meiglyptes tukki)
Buff-rumped Woodpecker (Meiglyptes grammithorax)
Bushy-crested Hornbill (Anorrhinus galeritus)
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Changeable Hawk-eagle ( Nisaetus cirrhatus)
Checker-throated Woodpecker (Chrysophlegma mentale)
Chestnut Crowned Laughingthrush (Garrulax erythrocephalus)
Chestnut Munia (Lonchura atricapilla)
Chestnut-bellied Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus sumatranus)
Chestnut-breasted Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus curvirostris)
Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush (Pterorhinus mitratus)
Chestnut-crested Yuhina (Yuhina everetti)
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti)
Chestnut-hooded Laughing Thrush ( Rhinocichla treacheri)
Chestnut-winged Babbler (Stachyris erythroptera)
Cinammon-headed Green-pigeon (Treron fulvicollis)
Cinnamon Bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus)
Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)
Common Flameback (Dinopium javanense)
Common Green-Magpie ( Cissa chinensis )
Common Hill-Myna (Gracula religiosa)
Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia)
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
Common Redshank
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius)
Copper-throated Sunbird (Nectarinia calcostheta)
Coppersmith Barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus)
Cream-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus simplex)
Crested Fireback (Lophura ignita)
Crested Goshawk (Accipiter trivirgatus)
Crested Myna (Acridotheres cristatellus)
Crested Serpent-eagle (Spilornis cheela)
Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja)
Crimson-winged Woodpecker (Picus puniceus)
Curlew Sandpiper
Dark-necked Tailorbird (Orthotomus atrogularis)
Dark-sided Flycatcher (Muscicapa sibirica)
Daurian Starling (Agropsar sturninus)
Dollarbird (Eurystomys orientalis)
Dusky Munia (Lonchura fuscans)
Eastern Crowned Warbler
Eastern Marsh Harrier (Circus spilonotus)
Eastern-crowned Warbler (Phylloscopus coronatus)
Eurasian Curlew
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
Fiery Minivet (Pericrocotus igneus)
Fire-breasted Flowerpecker (Dicaeum ignipectus)
Fire-tufted Barbet (Psilopogon pyrolophus)
Forest Wagtail (Dendronanthus indicus)
Germain’s swiftlet (Aerodramus germani)
Golden Babbler (Cyanoderma chrysaeum)
Golden-bellied Gerygone (Gerygone sulphurea)
Gray Heron (Ardea cinereal)
Gray Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
Gray-chinned Minivet (Pericrocotus solaris)
Gray-headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus)
Gray-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus)
Gray-rumped Treeswift (Hemiprocne longipennis)
Great Egret
Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis)
Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis)
Greater Green Leafbird (Chloropsis sonnerati)
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus)
Greater Sand-Plover ( Charadrius leschenaultii)
Green Broadbill (Calyptomena viridis)
Green Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula aenea)
Green Iora (Aegithina virissima)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
Grey-bellied Bulbul (Pycnonotus cyaniventris)
Grey-crowned Babbler
Grey-headed Fish-Eagle (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus)
Grey-headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus)
Grey-streaked Flycatcher (Muscicapa griseisticta)
Hadeda Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash)
Helmeted Hornbill (Buceros vigil)
Horsfield’s Babbler (Malacocincla sepiaria)
House Crow (Corvus splendens)
House Martin
House Swallow
House Swift (Apus nipalensis)
Hume’s White-eye (Zosterops auriventer )
Indigo Flycatcher (Eumyias indigo)
Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia)
Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis)
Java Sparrow (Lonchura oryzivora)
Javan Cuckooshrike (Coracina javensis)
Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus)
Javan Pond Heron (Ardeola speciosa)
Jerdon’s Baza
Jungle Myna (Acridotheres fuscus)
Laced Woodpecker (Picus vittatus)
Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)
Lesser Adjutant
Lesser Coucal (Centropus bengalensis)
Lesser Frigatebird (Fregata ariel)
Lesser Green Leafbird (Chloropsis cyanopogon)
Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo
Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus)
Lesser Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna javanica)
Lineated Barbet (Psilopogon lineatus)
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Little Green Pigeon (Treron olax)
Little Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula westermanni)
Little Spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostra)
Long-tailed Parakeet (Psittacula longicauda)
Long-tailed sibia (Heterophasia picaoides)
Malaysian Pied-fantail (Rhipidura javanica)
Malaysian Plover (Charadrius peronii)
Milky Stork (Mycteria cinerea)
Mountain Bulbul (Ixos mcclellandii)
Mountain Fulvetta (Alcippe peracensis)
Mountain Hawk-eagle (Nisaetus nipalensis)
Mountain Imperial Pigeon (Ducula badia)
Mountain Tailorbird (Phyllergates cucullatus)
Mugimaki Flycatcher (Ficedula mugimaki)
Ochraceous Bulbul (Alophoixus ochraceus )
Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni)
Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyrus jugularis)
Olive-winged Bulbul (Pycnonotus plumosus)
Orange-bellied Flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma)
Oriental Darter
Oriental Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis)
Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)
Oriental Magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis)
Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris)
Oriental Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis)
Pacific Golden-plover (Pluvialis fulva)
Pacific Reef-Heron (Egretta sacra)
Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica)
Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus)
Pechora pipit (Anthus gustavi)
Philippine Megapode (Megapodius cumingii)
Pied Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula bicolor)
Pied Triller (Lalage nigra)
Pin-striped Tit-babbler (Mixornis gularis)
Pink-necked Green-Pigeon (Treron vernans)
Plain Sunbird (Anthreptes simplex)
Plain-backed Sparrow (Passer flaveolus)
Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus)
Puple-throated Sunbird (Nectarinia sperata)
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
Purple-naped Spiderhunter (Kurochkinegramma hypogrammicum)
Purple-naped Sunbird (Hypogramma hypogrammicum)
Raffles Malkoha ( Phaenicophaeus chlorophaeus)
Red Collared-Dove (Streptopelia tranquebarica)
Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus)
Red-bearded Bee-eater ( Nyctyornis amictus )
Red-eyed Bulbul (Pycnonotus brunneus)
Red-naped Trogon (Harpactes kasumba) – female
Red-necked Stint
Red-throated Barbet ( Megalaima mystacophanos )
Red-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes rhodolaema)
Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus atronuchalis)
Redshank (Tringa totanus)
Rhinoceros Hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros)
Rock Dove
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (Chalcoparia singalensis)
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
Rufous Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus)
Rufous Woodpecker (Micropternus brachyurus)
Rufous-bellied Eagle (Lophotriorchis kienerii)
Rufous-bellied Swallow (Cecropis badia)
Rufous-tailed Tailorbird (Orthotomus sericeus)
Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punculata)
Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus speciosus)
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum)
Scarlet-rumped Trogon (Harpactes duvaucelii)
Silver-eared Mesia (Leiothrix argentauris)
Slaty-backed Forktail (Enicurus schistaceus)
Slaty-breasted Rail (Lewinia striata)
Slender-billed Crow (Corvus enca)
Spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus erythrophthalmos)
Spectacled Spiderhunter (Arachnothera flavigaster)
Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)
Spotted Wood-Owl ( Strix seloputo )
Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo
Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelogarpis capensis)
Storm’s Stork (Ciconia stormi)
Streaked Spiderhunter (Arachnothera magna)
Streaked Wren-babbler (Napothera brevicaudata)
Striated Heron (Butorides striata)
Stripe-throated Bulbul (Pycnonotus finlaysoni)
Sunda Cuckooshrike ( Coracina larvata)
Temmink’s Babbler (Pellorneum pyrrogenys)
Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus) 9315
Thick-billed Green-pigeon (Treron curvirostra)
Van Hasselt’s Sunbird (Leptocoma brasiliana)
Wallace’s Hawk-eagle (Spizaetus nanus)
Watercock (Gallicrex cinerea)
Wedge-tailed Green-pigeon (Treron sphenura)
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)
White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliastur leucogaster)
White-bellied Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis)
White-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)
White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorhynchus)
White-crowned Hornbill (Aceros comatus)
White-crowned Shama (Copsychus stricklandi)
White-headed Munia (Lonchura maja)
White-rumped Munia (Lonchura striata)
White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus)
White-throated Fantail (Rhipidura albicollis)
White-throated Kingfisher (Halycon smyrnensis)
White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
Whitehead’s Spiderhunter (Arachnothera juliae)
Whitehead’s Broadbill (Calyptomena whiteheadi)
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
Wreathed Hornbill (Rhyticeros undulatus)
Wrinkled Hornbill (Aceros corrugatus)
Yellow Bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis)
Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
Yellow-bellied Prinia (Prinia flaviventris)
Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker (Prionochilus maculatus)
Yellow-breasted warbler (Phylloscopus montis)
Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus)
Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker
Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier)
Yellow-vented Flowerpecker (Dicaeum chrysorrheum)
Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata)
Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)

Padang Matsirat Birding

So this is the last time I can go out birding until February 4th. We are in lockdown for two weeks. I can go backyard birding I spose.

Carpenter bee, Xylocopa sp.

I cannot believe how luminescent the wings are!

Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)

Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica)

Lesser Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna javanica)

On the lake on the way back from Padang Matsirat.

Langkawi bird list

Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus)
Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)
Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica)
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)
Olive-backed Sunbird
Lesser Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna javanica)

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Temoyong Creek

This morning was the second last morning before the lockdown in Malaysia. I went to the Temoyong Creek area because it was close and I had things to do today.

Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus) – male

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus)

Pacific swallow (Hirundo tahitica)

Pacific Reef-Heron (Egretta sacra)

Dark morph, also known as Easter Reef Egret.

White-headed Munia (Lonchura maja)

A big mob of White-headed Munia in a rice paddy.

Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus)

Langkawi bird list

Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus)
Dollarbird
Common Myna
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus)
White-throated Kingfisher
Spotted Dove
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschanaulti)
Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans)
Collared KIngfisher
Pacific Reef-Heron (Egretta sacra)
Pacific swallow (Hirundo tahitica)
Common Sandpiper
White-headed Munia (Lonchura maja)
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)
Paddyfield Pipit
Brown Shrike
Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus)

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Cenang Birding

This is a mixture of photos from around the Cenang area from the last couple of days. Tomorrow is lockdown again in Malaysia, so I do not know if I will be able to get out and about. We shall see.

Watercock (Gallicrex cinerea) – immature

White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)

Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis)

Snipe sp.

Not sure if this is a Common or Pintailed Snipe.

Lesser Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna javanica)

A mob of new young chicks.

Langkawi bird list

Watercock (Gallicrex cinerea)
Snipe sp.
Pond-heron sp.
White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)
Chestnut Munia (Lonchura atricapilla)
Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)
Lesser Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna javanica)
Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus)
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschanaulti)
Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis)
White-breasted Waterhen

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Cenang Birding – Searching for the Chinese Blackbird.

I got a message from Sofian Zach yesterday afternoon, saying there was a rare bird out the back of my guest house. So I grabbed my camera and set out to see what all the fuss was about. I found him and had a look at his photo. I thought it might have been a Eurasian Blackbird. We searched for the rest of the afternoon but did not see it again. The next morning we were at it again. It had been identified as a Chinese Blackbird, the second only sighting for Malaysia. Tom joined us later in the morning. Eventually we did spot it in the distance but could not find it.

Golden Tree Snake (Chrysopelea ornata)

Thanks Chai for the ID.

Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti)

Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis)

House Crow (Corvus splendens)

We got a buffalo-whisperer.

Banded Hornet nest

Langkawi bird list

White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus)
Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis)
House Crow (Corvus splendens)
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti)
Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis)
Common Sandpiper
Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)
Pond-heron sp.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Reptiles

Golden Tree Snake (Chrysopelea ornata)

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2020 Recap Birding

After two months in Sulawesi, I hopped on the boat to Tawau in Sabah, Malaysia, and spent some time at Tawau Hills National Park. It is going to be hard to pick just one photo from this time because there were so many great photos.

White-crowned Hornbill (Aceros comatus)

Tawau Hills NP, sabah. January 16th, 2020. Then it was another trip to the Kinabatangan River with so many birds and animals. Fast forward to Sepilok at the end of the month. February saw me at Mount Kinabalu, then north towards Kudat and Banggi Island. South to the Crocker Ranges and Tenom area. Then Gunung Mulu in Sarawak and back to Kota Kinabalu and Singapore.

Spotted Wood Owl (Strix seloputo)

Pasir Ris Park, Singapore. February 29th, 2020. Into Malaysia and first stop was Mersing, Melaka, Port Dixon, Cameron Highlands. Pulau Pangkor was the last stop for three months because of the lockdown (MCO).

Streaked Spiderhunter (Arachnothera magna)

Cameron Highlands, malaysia. March 13th, 2020. April and I am still in lockdown on Pangkor Island. Luckily I had a nice bilik on the water, a kitchen and decent wifi. I actually quite enjoyed my time during lockdown. Very relaxing.

Striated Heron (Butorides striata)

Pangkor Island, Malaysia. April, 2020. There was a relatively limited range of birds on my jetty home, so I might skip ahead to the next venue. May, I am still in Pangkor and in June i head north to Ipoh.

Milky Stork (Mycteria cinerea)

Taman Tasik, Taiping , malaysia. June, 2020. Taman Tasik and Bukit Larut in Taiping were my favourite places. Next to Penang, then Sungai Petani, Alor Setar in Kedah state. Caught the boat to Langkawi.

Pin-striped Tit-Babbler ( Mixornis gularis )

Langkawi.. July 11th, 2020. Across the water to Kuala Perlis, East to the Perhentian Islands, Kuala Terengganu, Kapas Island, Cherating.

Van Hasselt’s Sunbird (Leptocoma brasiliana) – male

Perhentian Kecil, malaysia. July 22nd, 2020.. August I was in Kuantan, then Jerantut, back to the Cameron Highlands, Ipoh, Taiping,

Crested Goshawk ( Accipiter trivirgatus )

Taiping, malaysia. August 15th, 2020. North again to Penang, and Langkawi.

Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) – female

Langkawi. September 30th, 2020.

Slaty-breasted Rail (Lewinia striata)

Langkawi. October 17th, 2020. The next few months saw me still in Langkawi.

Gray-headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus)

Langkawi. November 14th, 2020.

Rufous-bellied Swallow (Cecropis badia)

Langkawi. December 11th, 2020. And that is it, It is now the last day of 2020. All in all, it has been a pretty good year, despite all the dramas and disasters.

recap2020