A.W.Birder: Always on the lookout for fine birds...: April 2013

Monday, 29 April 2013

A Few Malaysian Landscape Shots

Finally got chance to have a look through some more of my Malaysian photos today. Here are some landscape shots... from Fraser's Hill, Taman Negara, Kuala Selangor and Kuala Lumpur

Fraser's Hill

Inside the forest at Fraser's Hill (High Pines Trail)

Fraser's Hill

Crossing Point on the Tahan River at Taman Negara

Giant Tree in Taman Negara

Cloud at Taman Negara

Just before I got soaked to the skin in less than 5 minutes of rain!

The Tahan River at Taman Negara

A good view point at Taman Negara

Forest trail at Taman Negara

River Tahan at Taman Negara

River Tembeling at Taman Negara

River Tahan at Taman Negara

Tidal Lake at Kuala Selangor

Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur - Petronas Towers

Sunday, 28 April 2013

Arctic Tern in the hand, in York...

There's been a few Arctic Tern through the York Recording Area over the last few weeks, nowhere near as many as last year (Terntastic: Arctic Bonanza in the LDV), but still better than none. Heslington East on the outskirts of York has been 'the' location to connect this year.

One of the Arctic Terns was reported as 'showing well' the other week, however today while walking around the site I came across the remains of the bird, which I brought home with me. It's not every day you get an Arctic Tern in the hand, especially this far inland! I took a few photos, below:

Arctic Tern - side profile

Arctic Tern - open wing

Arctic Tern - top view

Arctic Tern - tail view

Arctic Tern - underside view

Arctic Tern - head view

Thursday, 25 April 2013

Rocking Awesome

Managed to get over to Spurn this evening to connect with the female [Rufous-tailed] Rock Thrush. Got a record-shot on my phone (below). Also had the Black Brant amongst a flock of Dark-bellied and Pale-bellied Brent Geese. A couple of Whimbrel flying about and several Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail about too. A good evening. Unfortunately we missed the Caspian Tern! But can't really complain!

[Rufous-tailed] Rock Thrush (phone-scoped)

Tim got a great digiscoped photo of the Rock Thrush - Spurn's second record, the first being a male, in May 1984 and only the third Yorkshire, and 29th UK record (I think!). Certainly pleased to get that one! Check out Tims picture of the Rock Thrush (and the Black Brant) here.

The day had started well as a dog walk on the edge of the village got me a fine male Whinchat (patch tick), a showy Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 pairs of Common Whitethroat and several each of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap, 6 summer-plumaged Golden Plover, and finished with my first Common Swift of the year over my house this afternoon (with a flock of 5 House Martins) and a Wheatear on the edge of the village this evening. Spring is in!

I haven't really had time to post recently due to work duties, York Ornithological Club duties, and best-man duties, though I have seen some ok birds including a range of common passage migrants - mainly all on the local patch.

Am now looking forward to another few year-ticks as more migrants continue to arrive...

Monday, 15 April 2013

I don't do Ducks!

Generally. Though today I made an exception to my rule....

A brief reprieve from South-east Asia (though I do have my non-bird and scenic shots to come once I've got time to look through them!) and also a trip report, hopefully I'll get time to sort them all out before I head back over there in December!... Anyway a bit of local stuff for now....

Some good local birds this weekend, highlights included Arctic and Common Terns, two drake Garganey, Little Egret, Little Ringed Plover, Wheatear, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Swallow, Sand Martin and House Martin. Still lots of signs of winter in Whooper Swan, Fieldfare and Redwing. Though I did miss 2 York Area 'non-year-list' megas this weekend in Arctic Skua and Osprey which took the gloss off a little!

On Saturday I was very pleased to see one of my favourite birds - drake Garganey (phone-scoped photo of one of last years birds below). As far as I was concerned that meant I didn't have to look at another duck for the rest of the year. Great. Only one problem, I wasn't expecting a drake Baikal Teal to turn up at Mecca (AKA Flamborough Head) today! Luckily I got a flyer from work this afternoon and managed to connect with the bird with relative ease. Thanks to Ollie for use of his bins and Rodney for loan of scope! This bird really was a total stunner. Don't think a duck has ever impressed me so much - other than the aforementioned Garganey!

Garganey -Phone-scoped in 2012

Hopefully it won't be long before some proper birds start turning up to look at, like warblers, wheatears, shrikes, chats, raptors etc... no more wildfowl please.... unless it's a Long-tailed Duck on my patch....

Wednesday, 10 April 2013

Last lot of Malaysian Birds...

will stick some of the scenes and other wildlife on in the next few days (along with link to trip report once that's finalised), but here's a few more photos from Taman Negara, Fraser's Hill and Kuala Selangor..