Steve Happ Photography Ramblings and dissertations

Ragunan Zoo, Jakarta.

Ragunan Zoo is about an hour north from the centre of Jakarta. I caught one of the TransJakarta buses from Jalan Thamrin and had to change at Duku Atas. When I got there it was already open, so I could have got there a bit earlier.

Javan Pond Heron (Ardeola speciosa)

I wandered around looking for birds in the trees and pretty did not have any idea where I was. I did manage to find some Javan Pond Herons that were in the trees above the orangutan pit. Their Indonesian name is Blekok Sawah.

Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus)

Another Myna, this time the Javan Myna , whose Indonesian name is Kerak Kerbau. There were a bunch of Common Myna as well.

Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier)

I had not seen any Yellow-vented Bulbuls for a while so it was a pleasant surprise to see a few. They are always so photogenic. They love showing off their mohawks. There were a few Sooty-headed Bulbuls around as well but their photos were not so good. Their Indonesian name is Merbah Cerukcuk.

Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica )

There were a pair of pacific swallows resting in the elephant enclosure. Their Indonesian name is Layang-layang Batu .

Plantain squirrel (Callosciurus notatus)

I had been trying to get a photo of one of these squirrels for ages. They just flit around so quickly, they never stop still. Plus they are always in the foliage where it is dark and all the leaves get in the way of trying to focus on them.

Javan Pond Heron

This javan pond heron just flew into this tree. I have no idea what he was doing but the camouflage is excellent.

Water Monitor

This small Water Monitor was in the crocodiles enclosure. I could not see any crocodiles so I guess he was pretty safe. I also saw a Pied Fantail but was not quick enough to get a photo of him. doh! On the way back I fell asleep on the bus I was so tired. The electricity went off for a couple of hours this afternoon and it was so hot.

Taman Monas Hari Dua

This morning I got up early to get to Taman Monas. I was beated there by about four million Jakartans intent on jogging around the monument. There were Tai Chi Groups and all sorts of exercise groups parading around in their nice uniforms.

black nectar eater

I have seen these big black fly looking things a fair bit. I have no idea what they are.

Plain-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis)

The Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis), also known as the Plain-throated Sunbird, is a species of bird in the Nectariniidae family. It is found in a wide range of semi-open habitats in south-east Asia

Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum trochileum ) – Juvenile

The Indonesian name for Golden-bellied Gerygone is Remetek Laut.

Golden-bellied Gerygone (Gerygone sulphurea)

I need to have another look at this next one. It could very well be a Metallic Starling or something else again. “The Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis) is a species of starling in the Sturnidae family. It is found in Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests. ” – wiki.

Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis)

Common Myna (Adicotheres tristis. Its Indonesian name is Jalak.

Common Myna (Acidotheres tristis

Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala)

This is the Javan sub-species, Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala). Javan sub-species. Note the whiskers to draw the insects into the beak.

I saw a photo of one of these yesterday but cannot find it again. I am mystified by this one now. Update: Asian Pied Starling (Sturnus contra), thanks once again to Khaleb Yordan. The species has been included in the genus Sturnus and Sturnopastor in the past but recent studies do not support its inclusion within Sturnus leading to the reinstatement of an older genus name Gracupica.

Asian Pied Starling (Sturnus contra)

Resources for Jakarta birds

Birds of Jakarta Photos

Birds of Jakarta blog

Taman Nasional Gunung Gede Pangrango

Yesterday I caught the bus from Pangandaran to Bandung. It was an Air-conditioned bus so it was not too bad. Then I jumped on a bus to Jakarta when we arrived at some intersection. This one was a slow one however and there was a lot of traffic and breakdowns going over the mountains so it was very slow.

in flight

This morning I set off up the mountain to walk to the waterfall and hopefully photograph some birds. There were quite a few after some time but it was very dark and I had lots of trouble getting any decent shots. The Trilling Shrike-babbler is endemic to Java. (Thanks to Mike Nelson from Birdtour ASIA for fixing my mistake.)

Javan White-eye Trilling Shrike-babbler (Pteruthius aenobarbus)

I just happened to catch a mob of minivets hopping around a few trees near the track.

Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus siebersi)

I stopped off at Telaga Biru (Blue Lake) which was along the track. It was not really a lake just a big pond with blue coloured water. There were a few butterflies along the track but not that many.

Butterfly

I finally made it up to the waterfall ( Air Terjun Cibereum). The water was pouring over quite strongly so there must have been lots of water coming off the mountain. The trail up to the top of Mount Gede and Pangrango kept going past the waterfall. I think I only went about a third of the way up the mountain. That was enough for me.

Waterfall

black-winged flycatcher-shrike (Hemipus hirundinaceus) eating a grub

On the way back down I spotted this bird eating this grub and then saw some Black Monkeys cavorting around in the trees.

Nearly down the bottom and I spied some ladies collecting nuts from the forest and just above them was this little bird. The ladies said that it had a nest just near them.

indigo flycatcher (Eumyias indigo)

I got some photos of the Sunda Forktail (Enicurus velatus) bu they were a bit dark so I did not post them.

Tomorrow I am going around the Botanic Gardens, Kebun Raya Cibodas. I hope there are a few birds in there. There should be a bit more light at least than in the jungle.

Gede Resources
Photos by Tobi Koppejan

Bama Beach, East Java

Bama Beach is just fantastic. They have a cafeteria here that serves the best food. And the accommodation is great. You have the sea, the jungle and the savannah. Late in the afternoon I went for a walk along the beach but did not see any birds. Only heaps of monkeys playing around and fighting each other. I think they are Long-tailed Macacas. There was a walkway along the mangroves. The roots of the mangroves were unbelievably twisted. There is also a birdwatching track but I saw about one bird along it. I came back and just walked along the road towards Bekol. I spotted a couple of crows and about four Green Pea-fowl sitting high up in a Gebung tree.

Pelatuk Sayap-merah, Crimson-winged Woodpecker (Picus puniceus)

The next morning I was up nice and early and walked along the track towards Bekol. I heard this pecking noise and looked around and found this woodpecker.

Crimson-winged Woodpecker

I got heaps of shots of the Crimson-winged Woodpecker because I was making sure I had lots to choose from. Its Indonesian name is Pelatuk Sayap-merah.

Green Pea-fowls

The Green Pea-fowls were up in the same tree again. I quite like the look of them silhoutted against the sky like this.

Green Pea-fowl

I am not sure what this is. I think I heard something about what it might be but I forgot. doh! Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus).

Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus)

Again, not sure what this is. doh! It may be a Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia).

Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia) ??

Crested Serpent Eagle

This Crested Serpent Eagle was on the road just before the camp and flew off into a tree. I put this shot in to see what they look like roosting. On the road out I did manage to see a Zebra Dove but I had my camera all packed away and I was on the back of a bike. I had also seen numerous Pied Oriental Hornbills but could not get a photo of them.

Common Animals of Baluran National Park

Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
Banteng (Bos javanicus)
Green Pea-fowl (Pavo muticus)
Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata )
Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela)
Deer (Cervus timorensis)
Dhole (Cuon alpinis)
Jungle Fowl
Black Monkey (Tracypitecus auratus)
Long-tailed Macaca (Macaca fascicularis)
Water Monitor (Varanus salvator)
Javan Wart-hog (Sus verrucosus)

Bekol, East Java

It is not that hard to get to Baluran National Park as I was led to believe. You just catch the Surabaya bus from Banyuwangi to the gates of the National Park. Hire an ojek to get you to Bekol where you can stay in the guest houses there.

Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela)

As soon as I got there I got out the camera and went for a walk along the road. Not long after and this Crested Serpent Eagle came soaring over me. I almost fell over with surprise. It was glorious.

Rusa Deer (Cervus timorensis )

I am not sure of the proper name of this deer but at least I got the scientific name right. This were hanging around near a water-hole.

Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica)

Lots of Pacific Swallow were flying about then they would alight on a stick and just hang around for a while waiting for a photographer to come along and take their photo.

Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)

And of course the ever-present Scaly-breasted Munia. I have seen them just about everywhere I have been so far in Indonesia.

Black Monkey (Tracypitecus auratus)

Late in the afternoon I went for a walk along the road back to the highway. I disturbed this mob of monkeys who fled up into the highest trees. This one looks like someone you might know.

Small Blue Kingfisher (Alcedo coerulescens)

I cannot tell which kingfisher this one is but it was the brightest blue. Small Blue Kingfisher or Cerulean Kingfisher.

Green Jungle Fowl (Gallus varius)

There were heaps of Jungle Fowl along the roads but it was difficult to get close to them.

Dragonfly

Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier)

I cannot resist taking photos of Yellow-vented Bulbul. They are everywhere but they seem to be doing the most interesting things.

Javan Wart-hog (Sus verrucosus)

A couple of Javan Wart-hogs were kept in a pen at the Bekol camp. The light was so low but I really like the dark photo. It seems to go with their look.

Green Pea-fowl ( Pavo muticus)

I saw about three pairs of Green Pea-fowl. They would not let you get close and would fly away as soon as you get a little bit too close.

Green Pea-fowl and Jungle Fowl

These pair were on the road this morning. I tried creeping up on them but this is as close as I could get.

Green Junglefowl

Flame-fronted Barbet (Megalaima armillaris)

I caught up with just one Flame-fronted Barbet this morning.

Javan Sparrow

I was told that there might be some Javan Sparrows about two kilometers down the road and sure enough, there it was. It is not a great shot, but at least it is a record. Well that was it for Bekol. I got a lift with one of the people at the camp to Bama Beach, which is just three kilometers further along. There is a guest house by the sea, and it is just like a tropical resort.

Resources

Photos by Pat Marklevitz.
Birds of Baluran.