Looking for southward migrants in Alor Setar 2012

I went back to Alor Setar for the Raya Haji this year. This year it coincide with the early southward migratory season. It gave me an oppotunity to observe some of the passing migrants at my wife's house. Most are the usuals suspects which never missed to make a stop here foraging for the luxurious insects at the surrounding paddyfields.

I didn't see any passing raptors this year which is quite weird. I do make a good last year. The count at Bedong raptor count site just south of Alor Setar for this season is also very good. What makes them not passing the area still a mystery to me...

 A first winter Crow-billed drongo. The thick bill and the whitish belly gives out the id.

 An eastern-crowned Warbler. I'm a bit confused for the id of this one but i'm quite sure i saw a stripe on the mid-head.

 This is a new record for this area, a female Tickell's Blue flycatcher (thanks to Dave Bakewell for the id). Pity i didn't manage to get a better shot of it as it was quite skittish.

 Another shot of the Mugimaki.

 I went to check the paddyfields for snipe and i manage to count at least 6 individuals. The top photo shot suggest that it is a swinhoe's snipe base on the plainer belly and less distinct and the toes didn't extend beyond tail tip....any other suggestion?

This one photo suggest that it is a Common snipe base on the feet that extends slightly beyond tail tip..but i'm not sure if i'm right...

Some of the locals, 

Common Tailorbird

Pied Fantail.

Thanks a lot.

From some free time...

Some update....

Limnonectes hascheanus

Megophrys nasuta

Philautus vermiculatus

Xenophrys aceras

Theloderma horridum

Brown Wood Owl. A new record for Bukit Panchor.

Some birds from USM...

Yellow-vented Bulbul. A coomon resident here.

Coppersmith Barbet. Preening.


Here are two shots of a leucistic Pacific/house swallow that i found recently. Very interesting. I must get a better shot of it...

Some other leucistic birds photo can be seen here: http://digdeep1962.blogspot.com/search?q=leucistic

Thanks a lot for viewing.

Some update

 Archer fish

 Eurasian Tree Sparrow

 Juvenile crested myna begging for food.

 Enhydris plumbea, Plumbeous Water-snake. A new record from Alor Setar.

 A plant hopper i guess..

 Jungle myna entering its nest..

 Rusty-breasted Cuckoo. A new record for Universiti Sains Malaysia campus.

 Streak-eared Bulbul. 

Yellow Bittern in flight.

Busy

I've been very busy this mid year. I've not join any proper birding neither did any herping trip turns out well. Going out to the woods again this weekend till next week. After that its going to be the fasting month... After raya, i'll need to catch up with my sampling. That's going to take one year to be finish. I hope i can find some time to update this blog of mine....

Here are some of the good stuffs i got which i didn't manage to post before...

A juvenile Hosemys spinosa, Spiny Hill Turtle

A calling male Spotted Litter frog, Leptobrachium hendriksonii

An adult Limnonectes malesianus

My lifer, Robinson Anglehead Lizard, Gonocephalus robinsonii

A Nepenthes from Cameron Highlands. Not sure of which species..but maybe N. macfarlanei. I would appreciate any help on the id.

Ptychozoon lionotum, Smooth-backed Gliding Gecko.

 Ptychozoon kuhli, Kuhl's Gliding Gecko.

A shot from a farm, American Bullfrog.

Ansonia latifi.

That's all. Thanks a lot.

Perlis State Park 120505

Its time of the year again where we bring all the students to do some fieldwork practice of what they learn in lecture hall. This years batch are most mostly women, the male student is only 10 out of 50. The ratio seems getting bigger every year. This time the weather is wet, so lots of leeches came out to hunt. Many of the students ended up screaming and shouting in the forest instead of collecting their specimens. Pity them but thats how it works in the field. Exploring into the wild, we are the victim and we must always respect the owner. 

In terms of birds, not much as the weather is not permitting for a proper birding. For herps, it is full moon, so nothing much were seen except for the usual stuffs. But we manage to catch quite a lot of bats this time, more than 100 individual. We also got a new record for the park. Here are some of the shots that i manage to take...

 A nice small stream at the back of the chalets.

 Draco blanfordii

 Hipposideros cineraceus

Leopoldamys sabanus, Long-tailed Giant Rat

 A juvenile L. sabanus.

 Maxomys rajah

 Maxomys whiteheadi

 Mayfly

 Phoeniscus atrox, Gilded-toothed bat. The new species record for the park. 

Rhinolophus macrotis

A planthopper nymph.

 A big forest cockroach, Rhadoblata sp.

There was no white-fronted scops owl or Banded Pitta but i'm glad there is not much changes in the park except for the area surrounding the dam and along the trail up to Wang Burma cave was cleared. Thanks a lot guys.

Finally

After so many unsuccessful attempt to attain photograph of the ruddy kingfisher, i finally got it when i was already preparing to leave its home. Here are some of the images, not a perfect one but good enough for me. Seeing such an elusive species..although they were recorded quite frequently in Singapore and quite tame..is an experience not to be forgotten what more to get it photographed..

This mangrove pitta were calling on an exposed branch while we were photographing the Ruddy. Sort of like asking for a fair attention to be given to it too!

That was the only bird i manage to photograph properly..but i'm more than satisfied. Thanks a lot.