Dr Manjeet Singhs Malayan Patch (1 Viewer)

[Tanny]

9th June 2006
It’s been about four months since I started trying to take pictures of these little birds, they are always on the move and I’ve been having a lot of trouble with the bright sun on their stark white heads and causes the picture to have strange effects, and even now I feel I have not done justice to this birds. They are so beautiful through the scope. Not to worry, one day I will get a good close up. I was passing a housing area and they were feeding on the grass at the side of the road about 3miles from my practice. Hope you all will understand. Thanks.
White-headed Munia. Lonchura maja

12th June 2006
Stocky heron, three coloured adults with black crown and back, pearly grey wings and white under parts. Size-60cm. Believe me this place at Tasik Putri has 5000 to 10,000 birds roosting. The sounds of the birds and sight was unbelievable. It’s the first time I’ve seen a roost with so many birds. Little Heron, Grey Heron, Purple heron. Black-crowned Night Heron and Egrets. A huge mass of birds.
Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax

12th June 2006
Reached Kuala Selongor at 11am.It was raining lightly so I decided to climb the watch tower which overlooks the water catchment area. Huffing and puffing my way up the four story tower I rested before setting up my equipment.There were two other guys there watching the birds. One of them asked me he could look through my T.D.1. “No problem” I said and focused it for him. He took a peak and in his excitement yelled out, “I see a heron”, all the birds on the tree close to the hide started their racket and the timid ones who were nearby flew to the centre of the water area. (sigh) I waited for an hour before one was close enough to photograph. The bird was a wet Grey Heron. Grey Heron Ardea ciinera

13th June 2006
It’s been raining lightly for the past two days and I’m getting withdrawals with no birding, at last the weather has cleared and I decided to go to my, (‘ah’ Personal hide which I had made after a little black mail, (all’s fair in love, war and birding))
This is my lunch break and I waited a hour in the hide at my pond patch and have seen nothing. On running out of time I packed up and started heading back. As I walked back from the edge of the pond I saw a movements way across the pond, I looked and saw this pair of birds. I did take a picture of the birds in September 05 but at a different place. I hope to get a closer view of them in the future. Hope you like it. Light Brown plumage and scaly wings are diagnostic. No white streak on flanks
Lesser Whistling-duck or Tree duck Dendrocyna javanica

15th June 2006
It started raining heavily at three pm this afternoon and I wanted to go birdwatching on my break at five pm and suddenly at five fifteen it stopped, so I bolted for the hide at my pond patch, thinking, if it rained again I would be sheltered. I sat in my hide watching the Purple Swamp Hens chasing each other and I also saw the Purple Heron sneak into the reeds. When it was time for me to go back to work, I stepped out of the hide and suddenly-this bittern flew up about a foot away. I watched it fly over the reeds and land on the edge of the pond on the other side. I carefully walked behind the pond and then crawled to the ponds edge through mud and wet reeds. I saw the bird sitting motionless and took about 7 pictures, then the canny one saw me and I couldn’t help laughing because that’s one up for me.
Small ,slim with rich chestnut or cinnamon plumage, creamy beneath with dark
streaks down central neck and breast; yellowish bill and legs
.Hope you can see the beauty in the bird as I saw it.
Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus

 

[christineredgate]

Good reading,Tanny.

 

[Tanny]

20th June 2006
Last Sunday I decided to take a walk around my housing area, it had rained all day till about 4 pm it became bright but still with grey skies. Just as I stepped out of my gate I saw this Female Asian Koel backing into the branches on a tree to my left. Without looking at it I fixed my camera tripod, turned and took a picture of this lady, it flew off with such racket as if I had made a pass at her..(ah)..My First unusual pose of this bird.
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea.

22nd June 2006
I am still trying to get close to the lesser whistling duck for a picture, the last picture I took was roughly between 150 to180 feet away. A couple of nights ago on my break at five pm I parked my car about half a mile from the pond and started stalking from the rear, through the mud and reeds, the last few yards I crawled on my stomach to the lip of the pond and immediately saw the Duck. As I was getting set up a Swamp Hen came and chased it closer to me, roughly ninety feet away. With the first picture the duck heard the shutter and I was only able to get three pictures before it headed into the reeds out of sight. Well my Ducky friend, “one day I will get you at 20 feet”. And I shook my fist at the reeds as I headed back to the car.
Lesser Whistling-duck or Tree duck Dendrocyna javanica

30th June 2006
Since Monday I have not done any birding, too much work and an overload of insurance claims to write. I was very moody and left for my patch yesterday at 1pm, telling my staff, “if anyone comes tell them doctor has gone to see the shrink”, (Don’t panic, my shrink is birds, birds and birding. “ha”)
I parked myself near this old Indian temple and watched the world and birds go bye,
My attention was drawn to a Pacific Swallow feeding her two chicks, one of them was trying to con an extra feed from mom. I couldn’t take pictures of the youngsters because they were partially hidden by the temple wall. When the mother came and sat on the wall in full view I was then able to take the picture.
One look through the scope and my whole body was alive and mind singing and it had only taken about ten minuets of watching those birds for my body to be purged of all it’s moodiness, my mind was again at peace, that is why I call this shot my Mood Elevator. Hope you like it, “well I am only human and I to have mood swings.
Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica.

After the pacific swallow I decided to go on the opposite side of the road where I could see growing a kind of wild shrub and stunted trees, and in the trees I could see juvenile Blue-throated Bee-eaters being feed by their parents. I wanted to get closer but then decided to take the pictures at about 85 feet away. The parent bird flew away at the sound of the shutter. I waited quite a while but was only able to take pictures of the Juveniles. I returned back to my practice with my mind and body in harmony again. I have posted these pictures, not too bad I think, but pictures don’t matter in comparison to how I felt. What I felt was priceless. I was washed clean of all impure thoughts and was raring to take a shot at life again. (Big Grin.) I hope birding does the same for all of you.
Blue-throated Bee-eaters. Merops viridis

1st July 2006
To photograph these Black-naped Oriole’s is extremely difficult, they are so canny, they can see you from far off or if you are close they hide behind the branches.
To me this is a truly Beautiful bird. This bird is a resident in the trees just across the road from my practice. Eighteen years ago I planted seven trees around the school playing field so that school children can rest under the shade after playing. The school is about 500meters from my practice. I was hiding behind the tree and a parked lorry when the bird came and set upon a branch 30feet away. On my first shutter sound it looked at me and with my second shot I nailed it. At the time I didn’t know how the picture will come out, but looks OK. I’m not altogether satisfied with the picture because the bird seen through the scope looked really beautiful. I hope you like it. Male -brilliant yellow with black mask through eyes meeting at nape, black wings, black tail with yellow tips; pinkish-orange bill. Size-26cm.
Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis

10th July 2006
Yesterday morning my wife asked me to help her pack their luggage, she and the three children are going away for a while to Kashmir on sixteenth, next week. I put on a sad, long face and started helping her to pack. A long face to show all of them that I am going to miss them. I’m sure many of you guys have also done that. My youngest was also helping and while we were packing there was this noisy racket outside my gate, my friend the Kingfisher was looking for me. I quickly told them I will back in a minuet and went out onto the porch and there was my resident White-throated Kingfisher shouting away at me. Quickly I grabbed my camera took a few pictures because I just can’t resist doing so. These last two weeks have been rather zero where birding was concerned. I went back inside and continued helping them pack, again with a sad look on my face. My little one was watching me and then said, “ pappy we are sure you are happy that we are going on a two months holiday, so why the long face? because now you have eight to nine Sundays to do birding”. Both my wife and I collapsed with laughter. Out of the mouths of a child ‘eh’. Well I hope you like my noisy resident. Keeping in practice-ah.
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis

 

[Tanny]

17th July 2006
Well folks I got Bad News and Good News. I think I will start with the Bad News, My wife was supposed to go to Kashmir on Sunday the sixteenth but had a bit of fever so I postponed the trip till the twentieth.(hee evil aint I -hee)Thus knowing my mom, wife and kids will be snoring till midday, I decided to go birding to Telor Gong, Port Klang. I reached the bund area by 7.15am, the morning was still misty with no sun but daylight was appearing. When I looked across the bund, I saw on a dead tree, my “flying money”, I didn’t miss getting some pictures and I was as happy as pig wallowing in mud. Birding gets me like that most of the time.
Thick red bill brownish/greenish above, dark turquoise below, SILVERY DOLLAR SHAPE PATCH ON PRIMARIES-seen in flight-that's why I call it my FLYING MONEY) size-30cm.
Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis

17th July 2006
I continued walking on the bund and then returned the same way. I then saw two Woodpeckers, I’m not sure what species they were and the pictures are quite dark because they were deep in the branches, I will check when I get home. After I managed to get pictures of the Jungle Fowl I sat down for breakfast, a sandwich. I had just finished the sandwich when in the distance I noticed some creatures moving towards me, they seem to be rolling on the ground and running at the same time, “Oh no”, not a troop of monkeys”. I waited with my heart in my mouth but joy upon joy, they were a family group of seven otters. At about thirty feet away they stopped and frolicked there for ages, and believe me I loved watching the youngsters rolling in the dust and if they came too near to me their parents would call them back. Watching these Otters was the crowning glory of my birding day. When they slipped away and left I got up and went home and got there before my snoring family woke up
‘Ah’ My friends, it was a beautiful day.
Otters(Mangrove or Sea otters.


22nd July 2006
Took this picture at the Telor Gong area near a village, before I went to the bund area last week on the sixteenth. It reminded me of myself after a long stint of thirty six hours at the local hospital. My turban was usually turned around, my beard going four ways, and my moustache turned upwards towards my eyes after a couple of mouth to mouth resuscitation due to bad breath of the patients. (I still shudder at the thought). I assumed I looked something like this bird if you can imagine a turban on the kingfisher, but folks please don’t ask me to give mouth to mouth to this guy, look at the beak, “Yikes”.
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis

24th July 2006
The weather was dull and grey and I felt just as depressed, but when I saw this bird it was like I became alive again, this was the first time I had seen this bird. I knew it was a broadbill but not the species. Thanks to Bird Forum data base and it’s experts they nailed the identification for me. “thank’s guys. I only wish the day was more sunny but, no matter, I enjoyed it like I always do when birdwatching. Well I will soon be posting my birding day at F.R.I.M., and that was a laughter filled event.
Banded Broadbill Eurylaimus javanicus

 

[Tanny]

25th July 2006
After trudging all over in FRIM, I saw a foot path going up a hill and asked a jogger, (he was thinking who s the fully dressed up mad guy in track suit, and I was thinking who is this crazy guy jogging in the blistering heat, humidity and grey sky.) “where does this path go”? he said, “to the guest house which has been closed since last year”. What a wonderful place for us, I thought. The ideal place for me and my walking brewery. On reaching the place we found it was locked with a rusty lock and a sagging gate. well there is a saying, “no lock can keep out the Doc”. Taking out my trusty pen knife and with a little bit of fiddling I got the gate opened.
My friend and I went up to the building that was very run down but there were a few fruits tree fruiting. “Bingo” I thought, there just has to be some bird who will come to feed here. We sat down to rest and I took out my ale. It was just after midday. After a long cool drink I saw a movement under the canopy of leaves and this red-eyed beauty was there staring at me. Please believe me he was already drunk, and had red-eyes to prove it. This was another first for me. I hope you’ll like it.
The light was a little low because the bird was within the depths of the tree, a rather defused light.
Red-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus brunneus

7th Aug 2006
Yesterday picked up Peter Ericsson, (the Birdman from Thailand) at the Airport. Lucky for him his p.m. found me free for Sunday, so I went and picked him up and safely dumped him at Fraser Hill. On the way I noticed this beauty, well Peter's Luck or mine. We made the most of it, I’m sure his pictures will be better than mine. One for me Birdman. I hope you like this one I’ve posted. Don’t worry Peter reached Fraser's Hill in one piece. don’t believe me eh.
Blyth's Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus alboniger

7th Aug 2006
Reached the main street of Fraser's Hill, Peter found his Puncak Inn. Peter called it Pancake Inn. As we came out on a small building nearby, this bird was feeding on the edge of the roof. Peter immediately took out his Gun and I took out my Bazooka and we fired away. I an quite satisfied with my results but I think Peter's shot was better. “To you Birdman” I hope all of you in Bird forum will like it, it’s a beautiful bird. As for the quality of the pictures well you are the judge
Silver-eared Mesia. Leiothrix argentauris.

9th August 2006
BIRDING TRIP TO F.R.I.M,a LADY WITH TWIN TOWERS DOUBLE THE SIZE OF DOLLY PARTON'S Brea.. and bad weather-BELIEVE IT OR NOT

Decided to go to F.R.I.M (Forest Reserve Inst. of Malaysia) on 23th.07.06.
Got up at 6.30am and quietly started to take my shower. Stupid me why quietly, my family has gone on a holiday. I started singing “Jail House Rock” at the top of my voice. Then I heard a few shoes being thrown at my bathroom window from my neighbours and then LOUD KNOCKING at the bathroom door. “Oh my God”, I forgot Mom was still in the house. I opened the door partially and she was shouting,

(((((“I used to bath you and clean your soiled diapers, are you hiding from me, you idiot, don’t you know that I was sleeping, and furthermore, my son, Your voice can raise the dead. Now get out fast and go, if I cant sleep in half an hour YOUR T.D.1 goes out of the window, have I made my self clear”.))))

In record time I got ready and went down and packed everything in the car. Then ran up to Mom's room tickled her and gave her a huge hug while she was shouting,” LET ME GO YOU BEAR RUG” .I ran down the stairs shouting, “Mom the T.D.1 is in the car safe.” (I am a mean and loving son). Now I started to sing loudly as I left and a few more shoes were being thrown at my car from the neighbours. I hadn’t a care in the world because I was free and going birding.
I picked up my walking brewery and off we went to FRIM. It’s about one hour from klang a place called Sg.Buloh. We were early when we reached the reception desk and had to wait till eight am when it opened, and after paying I drove in. Never go on a Sunday, the place gets crowded with people. I parked my car near a show house made of wood, a tourist attraction village house and sat there for a while listening. When I heard the sounds of birds I forgot every thing else. First bird seen was a Straw headed Bulbul, The pictures were not too clear, then a Yellow-vented Bulbul, heard a cooing of a Pink-necked Pigeon and then heard the laughter of the White-throated Kingfisher. Looks like a promising day. I let the atmosphere soak through me and became tuned in with nature, now I was ready.
We walked around for a while, enjoying the birds sound and then drove to the closed Rest House, and used a pen-knife to open the rusty gate, “old habits die hard” . I parked the car half way in the gate and walked up towards the old fruit tree near the unkempt lawn. Just about 60 feet from the tree I saw a blue beak with what I thought was streaks of yellow strips on the wings, and the bird had a faint blue eye-ring. “Oh my”, the first Banded Broadbill I have ever seen. I took about twenty five pictures hoping to get at least one good one because the sky was cloudy. When I tried to get closer the bird flew away. Then I spied a second tree about forty feet away and as I walked towards it I saw my first Golden-Whiskered Barbet. Again I took up to twenty pictures. I tell you my friends, it wasn’t easy, the horde of mozzies were following me as usual.
By then the time was about midday, my how time flies when one is enjoying themselves. I then noticed my walking brewery looking through my old battered binoculars down the hill at a stream near the back of the house. I shouted at him to come and have some ale, (Tetley’s ale my favourite.) but got no response, that was very strange, normally when I shout ale he comes running with a broad grin on his face. I quietly walked up behind him, and “Oh my”, he’s watching some ladies bathing in the stream about two hundred yards away, and in only what nature had given them. I rapped him on the head and grabbed the bins and told him to come, secretly I was wishing he wasn’t here so I could watch, (naughty aint I).
I went to the lawn in front of the house and sat down under the tree and took a long swallow of the cool ale. Why do special birds arrive when I’m not ready, just as I lowered the can a bird came and sat on a branch of the tree I was sitting under, about fifteen feet away from me, it was a wonderful Black and Yellow Broadbill, by the time I got up it had flown away. I drowned my sorrow in my ale and cried. “well almost”.
Then I decided to drift at random till I noticed a bungalow on a hill so drove up the drive and parked my car under a huge tree just out side the building, the tree was at least sixty feet high. and I saw another fruiting tree at the edge of the land close to the jungle, with a small stream running down nearby. I walked around as if I owned the place and then a man came running out and before he could say anything I asked “where is your Boss.” Tuan(Sir), “he has gone to K/L. with his family”. “Well tell him Dr.Manjeet Singh was here for a few hours of birding” .
Who knows he might tell him, and if he does tell him, so what! I wont be here next time to see him if he’s around, if he is, then I will act with confidence again and I doubt if he will stop me. See how easy it is. (cheeky blighter aint I)
He personally took us to a seat close to the tree where we sat down and had our lunch, chasing it down with another ale. I walked close to the tree and watched some birds through my scope. First was the Red-eyed bulbul. A tick for me, the bird already had a hangover, showing it’s red eyes.
Next was a Crimson-winged Woodpecker, then a Stripe-throated Bulbul. I was in a bird wave. A Copper-smith Barbet visited and I got a glimpse of a Chestnut-breasted Molkoha, ?, I think.
When no other species were seen I strolled down to the stream about close to the jungle and sat down on an old stump. A few minutes later in glides a Black Giant Squirrel. I thought it was a Flying Squirrel until I checked later, but honestly, it glided with the furred sides opened up. I watched it sitting there for a while, then it turned and glided back into the Jungle. It was then I noticed a leech gorging it self on my right wrist, I waited for it to gorge itself and fall off, then wrapped a hanky around the wrist to stop the trickle of blood.
Since it was getting cloudy and windy I decided to go but Marmot's words kept ringing in my ears, “Manjeet don’t go to the canopy walkway”. “Oh why didn’t I listen”
After thanking the man for allowing us to watch birds in his masters garden, my walking brewery and I drove off to the canopy walkway. We reached the canopy walkway after huffing and puffing up a 300metre hill. At the top of the hill there was a rope bridge that stretches for 200meters across the canopy to a hill on the other side and is about 30 feet up from the ground. The rope bridge is made out of one broad single plank fixed to ropes and the side walls made also from ropes about six feet high, so that we don’t fall. I allowed my side-kick to cross first, then with my tripod and camera I followed. I was hoping to take a shot of the twin towers because I was told that you can get a clear view from the middle of the rope bridge, but when I reached the centre, the wind picked up and the bridge began swaying so I decided to forgo the shot. When about ten meters from the end the bridge began swaying even more and I heard a loud scream, “No it wasn’t me that screamed, but I felt like doing so”. I quickly dashed to the end and turned to see a huge lady about six feet tall, and with chest like ‘the twin towers’, “double the size of Dolly Pardon’s breasts”. The rope bridge was sagging down in the centre and there was a fifty percent incline on the walkway. The wind had almost became a gale and the whole bridge was swaying, and the lady was hanging on and continuously screaming. I looked for the chap who is in charge of the bridge and saw him dashing down the hill to get help. I then looked at my brewery but he edged away with a look of fear in his eyes.
“Oh boy”, here we go again and I handed my equipment to the brewery and told him if he dropped this I will kill him. I started walking back towards the centre and stopped about ten feet from the hysterical woman, I knew not to get any closer because she might grab me due to her fright. I squatted down and shouted at the lady to stop screaming, she stopped but was hanging on side ways, I asked her to turn and face me which she did and the side ropes bulged out and the swayed lessened. “Now look at me and do what I am doing” I lay face down and she followed, it was an even distribution of weight that I was trying to achieve. The rope bridge slowly lessened it’s swaying. I then told her to, “grab the side ropes attached to the plank and start pulling yourself forward”. Well my friends I kept inching back and she kept inching forward and I started breathing again. I kept talking to her and told her that I am a Doctor I wont let any thing happen to her, if she had fallen you would have bounced but poor me I would have been flattened. Whenever humans get in a position where their life is in danger they scream and void there bodily waste, or they start flatulating. Well this lady stopped screaming but the flatulation,! believe me the thunder over head couldn’t drown her sound and the wind was blowing my way, “Oh god why me”, and oh the smell. Finally my feet touched the planking on the other side and my friend helped me up and then went to help the lady. I found my Tilley hat and jammed it on my head and looked over to see the guy who was in charge of the bridge returning with two bouncers from a pub for help.
I think I started shouting at him for letting this lady get on the walkway when suddenly--- (EVERY THING TURNED DARK AND SOFT AND THEN I FELT SOME ONE KISSING(SLOUBRING ALL OVER MY FORE HEAD AND I COULDNT BREATH). I wrenched my head out from the darkness into daylight and saw this lady smiling at me and saying, “Thank you”. (((((You-told her I was married ?)))))) Then I felt the breeze on my partial bald head, my Tilley was missing, I looked around and saw it perched on the twin mountains, I grabbed my hat and my things and bolted down the side of the hill, looking back I couldn’t see my brewery and then I saw him twenty feet in front running like a marathon athlete. We ran for about a mile and on reaching the car collapsed panting. Then he told me that I was bleeding from the fore head and down to my face and beard. I took out my second hanky and wiped it. “THE BLOODY LADY HAD BEEN CHEWING BEETLE-NUT”, that and her saliva was smeared all over my face, I used water to try and wash it off but without soap the red stain doesn’t wash off. We got into the car, me with my red face, and started driving towards the gate. Then I stopped and asked my brewery, “I was running because she kissed me but why were you running ?. He said, Tuan(sir), you are married and she kissed you, I helped her the last ten feet and I am not married, “ WHAT DO YOU THINK SHE WOULD HAVE DONE TO ME”.
Both of us collapsed howling with laugher in the car.
LAUGH LIFE IS SHORT.

 

[Tanny]

Imagine meeting this hairy monster in the jungle on a dark night, “Ieeeeeeyaaaa”. Even I would stain my pants and run in the opposite direction, and it takes a lot to scare me.

 

[Tanny]

14th Aug 2006
Received a p.m. 4 days before and it said, “Hi-I am Peter Ericsson, could you let me know how to get from K.L.I.A. to Fraser's Hills”. Since it was a Sunday and I was not working, so I decided to pick Peter up. I think I told you before that no one allows me to drive long distances. I am banned by Mom and my wife, they say I drive too fast. So my young friend Chandra had volunteered to drive me to the Airport. Peter had told me he will be wearing his Aussy hat and I told him I will be wearing my Tilley’s. We reached the Airport at 1.20pm, the flight had just arrived. While waiting outside I saw these 4 to 5 children, about 8 to 11yrs old, and heard them whispering, “Kenny Rogers”, believe it or not my beard is almost white now, and with the hat, maybe they thought I was the Singh version of Kenny. Then I heard one say, “Oh the Kenny Rogers Rooster chicken is good” I bolted from there worried that they may ask me to buy them a meal. Then I saw a tall guy without a hat, a foot taller than me, smiling (a shy type of smile). Hi Peter I said he came over and then took his luggage and dumped it in the car. He then had to change some U.S dollars. Then we left for Fraser's. He appeared a shy chap, but I know how to break the ice and asked him what birds had he seen. He had a far away dreamy look on his face and started telling me the story of the Pitta, he never kept quite after that. Then I admired his gun and he admired my bazooka, and said mine had a good length and I told him that his also was quite big. “Now hold it right there readers, I was referring to his camera and he to mine. “Phew”, one can get the wrong idea sometimes. I finally left him at the Hills after an hour of chatter and birding, then I left to return to klang. Just as I was leaving I took a picture of him to go with the others I had taken earlier you can see the far away look as he listens to the bird sound even forgotten to take off the lens cover. Well Peter I hope you get your lifers.
Peter Ericsson Homo -sapiens


14th Aug 2006
When my brother had taken my mom to Fraser’s hill, I had to follow, and as they refused to let me drive at night, I had to wait till the morning. and when Broc from J.B. who had come to klang for a holiday, called, I asked him is he free to go to the Hills tomorrow. “Yes” he said. Broc is a Bird Forum member. At 5am I collected my brewery and a young friend, Vicky, who drove my car because he wanted to see some raptors. This young chap is becoming interested in birding, the feathered variety. We reached Fraser’s Hill by 9.30am. Saw my brother and family briefly and said “Bye”. Mean aint I, but where birds are concerned I have no time for idle chatter.
Broc and I had lunch of very spicy food and there was smoke coming out of my colleagues ears and he kept panting for over half an hour. After lunch we walked and I saw a sign saying “Private Property” so I just walked in and Broc started shouting, “Manjeet it is a private House”. I turned around and told him, “I CAN'T READ”. The poor chap followed me in and immediately we saw a beautiful bird sitting there. Both Broc and I took a lot pictures, then we said good buy to the bird and left, the bird just sat there.
Large Flycatcher (male photo) has dark blue under parts and a paler crown. Size about 21cm-Well my First I am sure it was Broc's first too..
Large Niltava Niltava grandis

 

[Tanny]

Broc 24th May 2006
Spent Sunday morning with the good Doc who was generous enough to show me his favourite bird haunts in Klang. If you think his writing is humorous you should meet up with him in person! He shared his private hide (I kid you not) which is constructed overlooking a fairly large pond filled with flowering water lilies!! Observed Purple heron, purple swamphens, cinnamon bittern, chestnut munia and greater coucal. BTW everyone recognises him and waves! All in all an excellent morning well spent with the good Doctor!

Marmot
And you lived to tell the tale, you didn't get arrested, break any bone in your body or get drunk! This must be a first for the Doctor; we must send him out with company more often.

Broc
hahaha! We did stop by a watering hole to quench our thirst after a long hard morning. Funny thing ... the water had turned to beer! Glad I lived to tell the tale cos the good Doc will show you snake strike marks on his boots!

(Photo of the Doc with his tripod.-----(Tanny))

Dancy
Nice one. Is there any particular reason for the legendary doc setting up his tripod in squashed tiger droppings? I bet he's got the claw marks on his backside! Give him my regards.
ps. can't see the sword

Broc
Hi Dancy. Doc sets his tripod up in tiger droppings to mask his presence from the other tigers of course! This however is a problem when it comes to elephant droppings and more so when they ain't pre-squashed! Moments like this is when having a portable brewery helps!


Manjeet
Broc,Broc-what have you done now nobody will go birding with mesad-Keith have to wear construction cloths-birding in the wild, wild west in klang is a wee bit dangerous(ah) but don’t worry I can always take you to a place where they don’t wear cloths(deep in the jungle-ah-Orange asli settlements-Native people of Malaysia-:winkDigi321-that's the secret of my practice(ah).Mamot I did bring Broc back alive-now Dancy I am waiting for youBig grin-:smile:

 

[Tanny]

22nd Aug 2006
Today my mom and I were sitting at the back of the house, it was Sunday, my day off. We were watching this Magpie Robin fighting with a crow and believe me the Robin won. It then went and sat on the back fence that separates my neighbour's house and mine, and started shouting it's victory to the world. The time was 6.59pm and the sun had just gone down but one ray of sunlight was striking my back window and its reflection shone back to mid-way on the bird's breast. I had my camera with me and took a picture. I have never taken a picture under such a low light, but I do like the results, they surprise me. I think I was pushing the T.D.1 to it's limits.
Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis.

30th Aug 2006
Today was one of those days when every thing that could go wrong went wrong in my practice. By 12.30pm after sending the emergency’s to the hospital I gave a dressing down to my senior nurse, telling her to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Then I scolded a diabetic for not taking care. I then walked out to go birding, It was my lunch break. I was going to my mud-flat patch. As I passed the counter, the Diabetic patient asked the senior staff, “Dr Manjeet is angry”, and she replied, “he has MPS” I somehow reached my patch, laughing all the way. The laughter had caused the tears to flow, I made sure though that no one saw me or they would be saying, “Mad Dr Manjeet is really mad. Let me explain what MPS means, it’s ‘Menopausal Syndrome’, men do have it, but not me yet. I saw this beautiful Egret at the patch and took some pictures, unfortunately I have never been able to get good feathered details of this bird and again today I am not satisfied with the results. Watching this bird slowly eased my mind and I was my usual pleasant self for the rest of the day. I hope you will like this bird with out the feathered details.
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
1st Sep 2006

Broc and I had decided to go birding and he was in charge of the morning session.
Had gone to Ampang Forest Resv.By 12.30pm the birding there was over and the cloudy weather improving.
-had lunch and then I told him Old man how about going to Telor Gong-since both of us have to go for dinner it will be closer to our place-
he gave me a glare, “I know, I know, Broc. “ I LOOK OLDER THAN YOU” (ha)”. He said, “yes”.
(always remember to make your buddy feel older than yourself and he will do anything to prove that he is younger.(I know I am mean).
-----------------------------------------------

We reached this place at 2.30pm and I heard bird sounds coming from this wooden house by the side of the road and said to Broc “let's go and check it out”. “You go in” said Broc, “and if you come running out with a dog behind you I will be running faster ahead of you”. (oh the dirty low down...friend).
I went in, and at the side of the house this over weight lady saw me and started to put her hair in place. (the universal action of Ladies in the world) She was hooked. Before I could open my mouth she says, “Sorry (in Malay) this compound is a mess DOKTER-it rained last night” I asked her if I may look around to take pictures of birds. She said, “Oh birds-please take what ever pictures you want in my house” and went back, I then heard her shout to her husband in the house, “OH ITY GILA DOKTER nak hantar gambar burung” In English it means, “you back there, the mad doctor is taking bird pictures. Just after I called Broc, “don’t worry come on in” I saw this Woodpecker on a tree, the sun was from behind the bird and I only had one chance of a picture and took it. Well it appears o.k. Red crown and nape, greyish ear-coverts, blackish submoustachial stripe, unmarked Buffy yellowish-olive neck sides,throat,and upper breast, olive-whitish belly with dark streaks/loops, barred primaries and outer tail feathers. (Picture is of a Male).size 30cm.Sorry for the tail missing could get only one shot , there will be a next time I hope. Another first for me.
Laced Woodpecker Picus vittatus

1st Sep 2006
At the same place, Broc and I watched the parent Sunbirds feeding this little one, It was a wonder to watch this family of very active birds but again a tonic to the mind and sore muscles, so much so that I started smiling at Broc, and who by now knows me and started looking for a escape route. He’s not sure what I might get up to when I’m in this mood. It was a delight to watch these birds, and with the help of the guy upstairs I got the pictures of the parents also.
Brown-Throated Sunbird. Anthreptes malacensis

 

[Dr Manjeet Singh]

Tanny after reading all this i am wondering...Who is this Dr Manjeet Singh.....are you sure it's me my friend.:-O..Oh B-L-I-M-E-Y.(..please to enjoy the word say it in a Singh's accent 3.)...well my friend after you finish this project..i dont think you will ever talk to a Singh again..lol:-O..after reading few of the stories..(like Horning my skill...did i say that...:'D)..i was blushing under my beard..Thanks my friend.:t:

 

[Tanny]

No worries mate, if no one else is enjoying these stories at least you are.
Tell you what! why don't you get your computer expert, 'your eldest daughter' to print out the stories and put them in a folder so that all your mates can read them, or maybe get them published when the final story is edited. On second thoughts forget it, I will probably be dead and buried by then.


2nd Sep 2006
I was lucky to get the whole family of this Brown-Throated Sunbird, and I must thank my friend, Broc, our B.F. member, who kept my mother busy with his sweet talk. Brock also got some good pictures of these birds. I watched both of the parents feeding the young one, It was such a pleasure to watch.
Brown-Throated Antbreptes malacenis

2nd Sep 2006
While the female was feeding, this male was resting, it had been a feeding frenzy, the junior kept asking for more and Broc continued sweet talking my mother, (I wonder why). Poor male looked harassed. The Largest Sunbird, the male has an iridescent green and black crown, with a purplish rump and dark tail, while the sides of the face, is olive. Throat was a dull brownish in the centre with purple at the sides, the rest of the under parts were bright yellow.
Brown-Throated Sunbird. Antbreptes malacenis

2nd Sep 2006
Well he does look full doesn’t he, poor busy parents, what we go through for our children. Thank God Broc just stopped sweet talking my mother. (I know Broc after reading this you are going to kill me). “Smile”.
Juv. Brown-Throated Sunbird. Antbreptes malacenis



4th Sep 2006
Since I joined B.F. I have pestered all of you with advice, and Lima, you are the one who taught me the little I know of photo-shop, and which photo shop to use. Thanks a million for all the help you’ve given me Lorna, and I know you must have spend hours doing this for me. Regards also to all my friends in B.F. especially Ianf, and Marmot, Broc, dancy, psilo, Clive, Andy, (not joking). Mark, Katy and K.C. and so many more. I don’t think I have enough space to write down your names. All of you B.F. people. “THANKS A MILLION FOR TEACHING ME BIRDING” which I am learning in my limited way.
Blue-Banded Kingfisher(Male) Alcedo euryzona

4th Sep 2006
Just before entering the Tmn Rimba Ampang Broc met a Lady birder who he knew, she told us where there was a Blue-banded Kingfisher somewhere near the stream but was unable to see it. I like an idiot told her that, don’t worry lady, the Singh is here and the bird knows me, and laughed. We moved on and crossed the stream near the water treatment plant and as usual had to drag Broc across. As we walked up I saw a movement at the base of a tree and then saw the Kingfisher fly to a dead branch. I could hear Broc breathing down my neck and told him, get ready my friend and we blazed away like it was the battle of Mid-Way. I decided that I could not do justice to the pictures in the photo-shop so I sent them to Lima our bird forum member because she is the one who taught me what little I know about the process of photo shop. Thanks a million Lima.
Hanno from Vietnam came for a visit and he taught me a lot about birds and I was a little bit sad when I took him and his wife to the same place where we saw the Blue-banded Kingfisher, but it was the female we saw this time. Sadly, just as I took a shot my Kowa T.D.1 jammed and I’m unable to take pictures for the L.C.D remains black. So my friends it will take at least two months at least for it come back from Singapore. So please keep your pictures coming in my friends so that I can enjoy your pictures.
Male-Mostly dull dark brownish wings, blue breasted band and blackish bill.
Blue-Banded Kingfisher(Male) Alcedo euryzona

15th Sep 2006
Now please don’t get angry. with the word twitching my fellow birders. I have been birding for the last twelve days during my lunch and tea breaks from my practice, but I have not uploaded a picture for the last twelve days. (no T.D.1). Thus I have started twitching through withdrawals for uploading. (A new word I believe, ha).
I had taken this picture at Fraser Hill's with Broc a couple of weeks ago but didn’t upload it because I felt this picture wasn’t good enough. But now since I have begun twitching with withdrawals I just have to upload something. Please forgive me(ah) Small size, Rufus upperparts and pale under parts, diagnostic. Note I was surprised to see only one bird in the Data Base by Peter Ericsson. Marmot I am sure Broc has up loaded a better picture of this bird some time back, (look for missing birds).
Little Cuckoo Dove Macropygia ruficeps

 

[christineredgate]

Very good,Tanny.

 

[Tanny]

21st Sep 2006
This 10cm bird is one of the canniest, restless, pain in the behind. bird, I have ever known and has the loudest mouth in the bird kingdom, (according to it's size) and has many times startled me with its loud trill from underfoot.
I had gone to Telor Gong, my mangrove area and just as I parked my car, there it was, the Ashy Tailorbird on the cable (p.s-the same cable the White-throated Kingfisher was photographed on. -my pic;s-my struggle for life)
I got down and set up the camera and focused, a perfect shot I thought, and as soon as I fumbled for the remote, and watching through the view finder I heard a loud trill and bird was gone. I looked around wildly and saw it sitting ten feet away on my right. Well from then onwards it began. I kept on following and missing, and when on reaching the end of the bund the stupid bird turned back the way we had come. I told myself, “this bird brain isn’t going to get the better of this Singh brain”. We reached the cable again, near my car, the time, one pm in the afternoon and the sun was high in the sky and hot, almost fried my brains, the Tilley hat was no protection, I wished I had my turban on. Then about twenty feet away the bird stopped and took pity on this old man. I managed just two shots when it gave a trill and was gone again. I sat down and downed two ales one after the other. Hey you guys, don’t scold me, I had lost a lot of fluid. Thankfully I did manage to get this one, not very good picture, but after that chase the best ale and bird is my thinking.
I wonder how I forgot to upload this picture, probably “Old age catching up”.
Ashy Tailorbird Orthotomus ruficeps

30th Sep 2006
I wanted to down load this picture for the last couple of months but never got around to it, until yesterday when an 11 yr old boy came to my practice because he was ill. After I treated him he asked me, “Dr. Uncle did you put up the picture of the yellow bird which you took near my house when my father was ill”. “No” I said, “but to-morrow I will”.
For the past 20yrs in my practice I have done some small charity work for Terminally ill patients with Cancer. When ever the hospital send people home who are terminally ill, they call me and tell me that “so and so” has this illness and could you Dr. Singh see that they are comfortable till they leave this world.
Any patient around the radius of 15 miles from my practice I go and see. Usually I may have to change the catheter, or ryles tube (feeding tube for the patient), and spend a few minutes with them, generally I try to make them smile. So whenever I see a bird around that area I take a picture and when back at home, process it and write down what took place, a bit like a journal I guess. so here goes. The picture may not be that good but the joy it brought this young boys father cannot be forgotten.

I got a call from this boy, saying that his father's catheter was out, so before going to the clinic I went to see him. The house was the last single storey building at the end of a road and just beside it was a plot of land with some shrubs and one stunted tree. I saw two beautiful Black-naped Oriols in the shrub feeding their young fledgling, so quickly I took out my camera and went closer to get a picture. These bird have unbelievable yellow colours but can vanish among the branches without a trace, which these adult birds did. However the junior bird sat there, I think he hasn’t learned the vanishing act yet. I took a few shots and then went back to the waiting boy.
I entered the house carrying my kowa and medical bag and changed my patients catheter and asked the son how has he been keeping. The lad said, “the same”. The man pointed to my camera, and the son said he wants to know what is it? “even in the pain he was feeling, he asked that”. I took out the kowa and put it on the tripod and brought it closer to the chap. and showed him the jun.Oriole on the L.C.D screen. Then I almost jumped out of my skin when the boy whistled the birds song, believe me it was so well done. I turned to see the father had a huge smile on his face for then he realised that the bird I was showing him was the birds in the plot next to his house. I left the kowa on and watched the son and father enjoying the picture and the boy kept up the whistling till the batteries in the camera ran out. Left for the practice and kept the picture .The boy's word yesterday came back to me so I told the boy to come back on Monday and I will show it to him. There is a joy of birds even to a non birder. Life has lots of up and downs but joy can be found in all these times isn’t it.
Sadly the father of the boy passed away soon after that time.
Black-naped Oriole

4th Oct 2006
While looking through my bird files I saw this picture, at first thought it was too bright but I liked the pose and the tree with pine needles. I processed it and felt it was o.k. to upload and (sly grin) I also wanted too keep in practice.
Well my friends the time is here again to laugh and enjoy the bird forum, check the thread YOUR BIRDING DAY tomorrow for my thread called, “Birding with Bins and no Camera”. Laughed out of my Patch. It is Recurvirosta's fault in my picture of the Little Cuckoo Dove. “Go birding he said, with Binoculars”, and I did what he said. “SIGH”. Hope you have a little laugh tomorrow.
Large Niltava Niltava grandis

 

[Tanny]

5th Oct 2006
Birding with bins & no camera-laughed out of my patch.

Went home on Saturday, at nine pm and told my family I was going to go birding on Sunday. All of them without any fuss said yes. The last 3 weeks, I have been rather irritable, cranky and a pain in the butt to my family and patients. Post menopausal syndrome! “Oh, no way”. No, worse than that, No CAMERA.
I shooed my children away from the computer room and asked my wife to sit with me and see some bird pictures. I went into ‘psilo’s’ gallery, what better motivation for birding do we need after seeing ‘psilo’s’ pictures of birds, surprisingly my wife enjoyed them too. Being a Saturday, had two (pegs ?) (Kegs) of black label, with nuts fried in chilli's (small tiny little red ones which light a fire in your belly, but for my mood it was just right.
All this birding is due to Recurvirostra's Comments in my last picture uploaded. If no camera so what.

((((GO BIRDING HE SAID, With BINS HE SAID(sigh) AND I WILL I SAID )))))).

I borrowed a pair of binoculars from Jason Tan, (B.F. member), my binoculars are of a pre-war design, probably 1st World War I think. Next morning took a bath while singing, “I CAN'T GET NO SATISFACTION”, at the top of my voice. No one shouted, all were quite, pretending to be asleep, even my neighbours were quite, then went to say good buy to Mom, (still Singing), the door was locked and a note stuck there, said, “GO ENJOY YOUR SELF SON-please sing softly”. your loving Mom”. I wondered why every one these three weeks have been so nice. I ran to the car like a man of 20, jumped in and drove off to do my birding. I decided to go to my favourite patch, the mud flat and pond.
Taman Pandamaran Jaya, Port Klang, Selangor, Malaysia.
This patch is about one and a half miles long, and about thirty feet at the widest part. On the right is the mud flat, roughly three hundred feet to four hundred feet wide with an area of water. On the left is the Aru River which is almost like a small stream and truly dirty. This is the place where I have photographed almost fifty percent of birds that I have posted in my gallery.
I parked my car behind the old Indian temple, and took out my bag containing my ale, the walking brewery is on leave, and with my borrowed pair of binoculars set off down the path. A moment later as I looked up at the huge tree over the temple, I saw on a low branch a squirrel standing up on its hind legs, with a smirk on its face, she knew me. Then I walked to the edge of the pond and lo there was a Purple Heron, the sentry, who always flies off making a racket and saying Dr.Singh is here. But this time, he just looked at me with a sly grin on his face, “-croaked”, once and said, “NO CAMERA MATEY! “and just stood there fifteen feet away and continued to fish. I gave him a good dirty look through the binoculars and moved on. I walked for about another fifty feet and suddenly a bird flew in sight and sat about thirty feet away on a branch of a tree. “Wow”, a male plaintive cuckoo. I almost cried, “OH NO” “NO CAMERA”, It sported a beautiful grey-head, throat and upper breast, and a lovely peachy Rufus, on the remainder of the under parts. The bird stayed for around ten minutes before departing.


I made my way to the mud flat pond area, my old friends have arrived, the Common Sandpipers, nine of them., five Wood Sandpiper, eleven Common Moorhens, and one Little Egret, all of them having a whale of a time eating, and the irony of it all I was roughly only twenty five feet away from them, and my presence didn’t bother them at all. “THEY KNEW I HAD NO CAMERA.”. Dirty birds. I sat for an hour and enjoying their antiques, ((((I was re-lax-(s)ing(h)- Not Manjeet Singh.)))
I then decided to move over to the bank of the Aru River, the small stream opposite the mud flat, dirty and almost black but you do find birds there. First bird was a Little Heron fishing and then my favourite bird the Cinnamon Bittern flew off about twenty feet away, “He still doesn’t like me”. I sat down on the bank of the river, and looked across at the trees opposite and saw Purple-backed Starlings mixed with Philippines Glossy Starlings, and I just sat there admiring them, then on looking up I saw my favourite bird, the Black -Shouldered Kite, hovering over two hundred feet above me.
Then I realized it was almost noon so I fished out a can of ale and took a deep swig to drown the sad feeling of not having my bazooka, the KOWA.
I started returning the way I had come and had only walked about a hundred feet when I saw a movement on the branch of a tree to my right. With trembling hands I looked through the bins. “OH MY GOD!” It was black above with white eyebrows and a white wing patch, yellow rump and yellow under parts grading into white under tail coverts. The bird was a YELLOW-RUMPED FLY CATCHER. It sat there for fully five minutes preening it self before flying into the dense scrubs.
Slowly I flopped down onto the footpath and like a demented, frustrated, child I started hammering the ground with my fists and wept real tears. “A LIFER AND NO CAMERA” “Waaaaa”. Then I noticed I was hammering into something gooie and soft and it was splashing onto my shirt, and then I got a nose full of its stink. I had been hammering a fresh “COW PAT” one that had been crapped there earlier today. I jumped up and went as fast as I could to the old temple. All around me I could hear all the NASTY BIRDS laughing at me.
I found a water pipe at the temple and stripped off and washed my hands and the shirt. Oh the horrible smell. Then I heard a chattering laugher above me and there was the squirrel about ten feet up on the branch, belly up and laughing I swear it was saying, “HOWS THE SMELL”. I shook my fist at all of them and bolted for the car and drove home with the windows down. (do you wonder why).
That was my birding day with binoculars at my favourite patch. I’m sure the birds and the squirrel are still laughing .
RECURVIROSTRA--BIRDING YOU SAID,WITH BINS U SAID.

johnnyoxygen
fantastic storyteller you are doc manjeet,what a day you had, nice one.

Nora
Manjeet!! You are just magic!! I walked every step of the way with you and saw all that you did so who needs a camera when we have you? If we were blind you would still be able to bring life and laughter to us all! Thank you so much and not long to go till 'Bazooka' back? Thank your family too for letting you go birding with bins, I'm sure that they feel better as well!..... Keep re lax s(ing)h and please more stories!! Nora

r2didi2
Manjeet - if I had your wonderful ability to write like that, I'd seriously consider writing a book - "Dr Majeet's Memoirs - birding in Malaysia" or something...

_John M
Manjeet,
Please find the time to write a book about your hilarious birding exploits, it would be a best seller. Then you could afford the Zeiss binoculars and the Canon camera and lens. Keep the humour coming Manjeet, it cheered me up no end, on a dreary, wet day on the west coast of Scotland.

Penny
Thank you so much Manjeet for a spectacular account of your day. As the others have said, you really ought to write a book, it WOULD BE A BEST SELLER and you would become a multi-millionaire.

BBird
Hi Dr. Singh
You weave a story like no other. I can't tell you how much I enjoy your posts. They always bring a smile to my face and I know that is exactly what you intend for all of us to feel - joy! Thank you so much.

Gill Osborne
Dr Singh You are a star....never fail to bring a smile to one's face LOL
I think we should all chip in a pound and buy you a new pair of bins and a scope
Agree with the others about getting all your adventures collected together - I'm sure you already have enough on this site alone to get started with!
Keep birding Dr Singh....we all love to hear about your exploits and adventures


Dr.Manjeet Singh
Thank you all for the offer of Bins- -Well GOOD NEWS MY kOWA IS ON THE WAY-WILL ARRIVE TO-NIGHT(my niece is on the way from Singapore and is coming to K.L. will drop it of in my house-BLESS HER(next Birthday of her's - I know what she will demand-oh my bank balance. Thank you all for keeping me involved in the forum with your funny comments and also upload of pictures that you'll uploaded for me-THANK YOU

psilo
Manjeet what can I say? I had just written a lengthy reply here to you and then accidentally deleted it!! grrrrrrrr!!! A brilliant thread from the master of story telling. I think you are very brave to go out without camera. I know that I couldn’t and woulnd want to. It would crease me up to see such wonderful things and not be able to record them for others to enjoy. That may sound sad but we are all motivated differently and I am a photographer before I am a birder.
Great story. I do hope that you are now far more sweet smelling
FANTASTIC news about your camera turning up. I am soooo happy for you. Now get out there and do what you do best and make us all laugh some more!

Tanny: Hi guys, many of you have desired Manjeet to compile his outstanding stories into some kind of book and I hope, this my contribution will assist him with the opportunity to do so. Like you I wanted to see them put together and, thankfully I have the desire and time to do so. Please take a moment to reply to this thread at this section. Not only to show your appreciation to Manjeet but to inspire me to carry on till the end. Thank you all. Manjeets Ghost Writer.

 

[Tanny]

11th Oct 2006
Hey you Guys it's not ME , but the Male Sunbird singing. Yes my Kowa is back, it arrived yesterday at 11pm, my niece brought it from Singapore.
All had long faces in the house last Sunday, my whole family knew. Wife had a longer face, because I was sleeping with the Kowa last night. (mean me). I got up 4 times to check if the kowa was really there, I’m sure it has also happened to some of you. I could hardly waight for the morning get ready for work, no house calls today. Just beside my gate this bird was singing to 2 females (believe me), he was sitting there shouting cheep, cheep, wheet, proudly and loudly, handsome isn’t he. Just what I needed to test my camera. The red that you see is my Ornamental palm tree just six feet to the right, thus some portion shows in the picture, I didn’t crop it because I felt it added to the picture. Well Guys and Girls this Singh Brain is back.
Olive-backed Sunbird(male). Nectarinia jugularis

 

[Tanny]

14th Oct 2006
Well people I remember these birds laughing at me last Sunday, they kept wheeling over my head and would come and sit just twenty feet away, they never sit still when they are on the trees. I went searching for them at noon today and saw them about thirty feet away and my trigger finger started to smoke. Laugh at me will you, ‘ha’. We don’t have too many pictures of these birds in the data base.
Dark mantle and crown and a narrow wing bar.Size-19cm.
Purple-Backed Starling Sturnus sturninus.

14th Oct 2006
Just to show them that my camera is back, -I took a frontal shot and then shook my fist at them. As I turned away from the starlings I saw , (Waaa, waaaa) the Chestnut- winged cuckoo flying away, It’s back on migration. I looked everywhere for it but it had vanished, and it was with a heavy heart I (((drugged))) my way back to the practice, not to worry though, it's back and I hope to get it next time. Tomorrow or Monday maybe. To me it’s a really beautiful bird. Hope you enjoy this Laughing Starling.
Purple-Backed Starling

((((I wondered if you where taking drugs Manjeet, now I have your confession.)))

 

[Tanny]

16th Oct 2006
Sunday went birding to a place called Bukit (hill) Julotong, about forty minuets drive from my place. I had seen this place four years ago and had a huge stretch of jungle and was told there are Horned Bills to be seen there. When we reached the place I became very sad because only one small hill was left with about seven to nine trees and the rest is a residential area, I wonder where the birds went.
So then we decided to go to F.R.I.M. which was just twenty minuets drive from there. Oh, the haze is back and photography takes a hit. I tried, and did get some good bird pictures in my usually fumbling way. I decided to dedicate this bird to Bird forum for I didn’t find it in the data base, and yes, it’s a first for me also. More pictures will follow, but just now I am getting over the hang over of yesterday, ALE, I think I will give it up. I hope you like the picture. It looks OK I think. Small with black head and contrasting white-throat, and black and white breast; distinctive yellow under tail-coverts, brown above, with white tips to outer tail feathers seen in flight.Size-14cm
Scaly-breasted Bulbul pycnonotus squamatus.

16th Oct 2006
This pain in the behind bird gave me a merry chase, I would get up to about twenty feet from it and set up my camera, and with all adjustment done and ready to press the shutter button, it would then gave me a scolding and fly away. For about an hour I walked like a mad man behind this bird. On passing a group of people I heard one say in a loud whisper, “I thought birders always stay put in one place and wait for the birds to arrive, so why is this nut Singh running after them”. I finally stalked the bird from behind to about twenty feet and got this picture. As I was going back I meet the same crowd and one of them said, “Singh did you get the bird”. “Yes I said, I was only after a backside picture”. Hope you like this, I liked the colours of the bird.
Tiger Shrike Lanius tigrinus

16th Oct 2006
While walking with my walking Brewery, he grabbed me from behind by my shirt and I thought he was saving me from stepping on a snake. Just like an excitable two year old, my brewery pointed to a tree, and sitting there was this black squirrel, a huge one, I took a shot and then saw this little bird just three feet away from the squirrel. I managed one picture and when I tried for the second, the kowas batteries had run low. In a mad panic I ripped off the kowa and went fumbled for the batteries, by the time I had everything fixed together the bird had showed it’s butt and flew away.
Often incomplete yellow-eye ring, typically not linking up with the yellow ear patch, plumage olive, pale olive-grey below, becoming yellow is on abdomen and beneath tail. Now the beak seen in the picture is slightly open when I took the shot.
Yellow-eared Spider Hunter Arachnothera chrysogenys.

 

[Tanny]

17th Oct 2006
Monday is always a mad day in my practice so I went through my patients like a hurricane in Florida. By twelve thirty I was free and scooted for my patch, and when I got there I did what a good birder does, I set up my equipment for taking pictures.
As I strolled along I noticed a movements in a stunted tree about fifty feet away. I looked through the scope and there to my excitement was this female, Yellow-rumped Flycatcher. I started taking pictures. The bird was busy eating a caterpillar, so I moved to a new position to get a better picture. Suddenly I saw the male Flycatcher and the rotten thing flew away. “Waaaa, blubber, blubber” I did my usual thing, fell down to the ground, crying and hammering the grass with my fist, but this time I looked to see that there were no cow pies around. I had missed this elusive bird again.
Hope you like the female, because the male Flycatcher does.
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia

 

[christineredgate]

Good reading,Tanny.This is a masterpiece.

 

[Mabel]

Isn't it just, Christine?

Manjeet is my hero! Keep it up Tanny!