A Leisurely BY 2022 from Herman and Kit

[Kitsafari]

@PeterHG @Galana thank you from both of us. 

 

I think we are done with the singapore birds unless more mega rarities appear over the next three days. which i doubt. 

 

[Zim Girl]

Lovely set of new additions, the chestnut-winged cuckoo especially!

[Kitsafari]

thanks @Zim Girl the CWC is also one of our favourite cuckoos.

 

One more Sing migratory bird that Herman managed to capture this  morning!

 

474. Blue Rock Thrush, Pinnacles

 

The skybridge on the 50th floor of this tall residential building is a favourite stopover for this species! a rather accommodating robin

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

now for the final stretch, we head to Fraser's Hill in Malaysia where the birds are colourful but skittish and where we were fogged up. we spent 2.5 days in Fraser's Hill, of which the first 1.5 day was just very nice although the morning fog was terrible. but from the end of the second day, the fog thickened and the birds just vanished into the fog and our cameras were just rendered useless. then we spent the last day at Congkak and surrounding areas in Hulu Langat just outside of Kuala Lumpur. the lack of  luck followed us.

we managed to get some birds, albeit a lot of EBCs. 

 

Let's get cracking.

 

 475. Buff-breasted Babbler, Frasers

 

 

odd my shot came out reddish here as it looked normal in my folder and on my laptop.

 

Edited December 29, 2022 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

476. Golden Babbler, Frasers

 

we called this tiny hopper Herman's nemesis bird. (BTW we used Weng Chun as our guide again. he's very hard working and always looked for better angles for us to take photographs. @TonyQ has used his guiding services before). Weng Chun tried to lure this bird out a few times but each time this tiny fellow resolutely stayed in the bushes and was so fast that Herman just couldn't get a shot. I managed to get a couple of "able to ID" shots. a real good looker in the right sunlight. 

 

It's literally that small: 

 

cropped

 

 

[Kitsafari]

477. White-browed Shrike Babbler, Frasers

 

Male

 

Female

[Kitsafari]

478. Black-browed Barbet, Frasers

 

 

 

Edited December 29, 2022 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

479. Fire-tufted Barbet, Frasers

 

Compared with our last visit, this stunning barbet didn't show well this time. i think it was the weather (November is the start of the monsoon season). 

 

(still not sure why my photos are coming out here so reddish altho i did lighten it up a lot)

 

 

 

edited to add a clip of its call: 

 

 

Edited December 29, 2022 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

479. Dusky Broadbill, Congkak

 

Very high, right above us and against the sky. 

 

 

 

Edited December 29, 2022 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

480. Spectacled Bulbul, Congkak

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

481. Mountain Bulbul, Frasers

 

[Kitsafari]

482. Little Cuckoo-Dove, Frasers

 

 

[Kitsafari]

483. Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Frasers

 

The only chance to get a shot of this drongo (lifer) was in the thick thick fog (couldn't see beyond 20m). 

 

 

that's how thick the fog was: 

Edited December 29, 2022 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

Some repeats: 

 

white-chested babbler - a very cheeky but entertaining babbler

 

Large Cuckooshrike

 

 

Grey-cheeked Bulbul

Edited December 29, 2022 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

484. Black Eagle, Frasers

 

Only one chance against the grey skies

 

[Kitsafari]

485. Blythe Hawk Eagle, Frasers

 

far far in the distance, we were amazed Weng Chun spotted it.

 

 

Taking off

[Kitsafari]

486. Little Pied Flycatcher, Frasers

 

female

[Kitsafari]

487. Rufous-browed Flycatcher, Frasers

 

Looking forlorn as the babbler kept chasing it away. 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

488. Mountain Fulvetta, Frasers 

 

[Kitsafari]

489. Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush, Frasers

 

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

490. Malayan Laughingthrush, Frasers

 

 

[TonyQ]

Good to see some birds from Frasers Hill with Weng Chun (we enjoyed being with him, so pleased  he is still working). Shame about the fog.

Will you reach the magic 500?

[xelas]

Fraser Hill is a home of great looking birds, specially bulbuls . I have no doubts you will reach and surpass #500.

[Kitsafari]

9 minutes ago, xelas said:

Fraser Hill is a home of great looking birds, specially bulbuls . I have no doubts you will reach and surpass #500.

 

I saw the bulbuls and thought of you @xelas  

[michael-ibk]

So many beautiful birds again, one just has to love the gorgeous species you get in your part of the world. Love the first Flycatcher photo especially!