On 9th March 2010, Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS came across a large flock of Lesser Whistling-ducks (Dendrocygna javanica) at a large ex-mining pool near Chemor in Perak, Malaysiain. This pool is popular with herons, egrets, bitterns (especially Purple Heron, Ardea purpurea), Common Moorhens (Gallinula chloropus), Little Grebes (Tachybaptus ruficollis), etc.

This was the largest flock of Lesser Whistling-Ducks Amar has ever seen in the region. Counting from composite and multiple images that he took, he estimates that there were at least 19 in the flock, possibly as high as 25.

Could they be migrants gathering there after their return from the north? After all, Amar was at the same area about a year and a half ago but did not see such a large flock. Or could they be residents?

The ducks were nervous and on two occasions the entire flock made their characteristic whistle… HERE . The cries were recorded with a Nikon D90 and as the flock was in the center of the pool, the recording tends to be a bit soft. The call appears to be made when the ducks were agitated, as well as in flight.

Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius madoci) is easy to spot at many of the limestone hills surrounding Ipoh City, in the Malaysia state of Perak.

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS first made the acquaintance of these shy birds on 9th June 1986 when he and his wife were living near a limestone outcrop. They were then having breakfast at a corner coffee shop, sitting in the open air section, when this nondescript bird hopped by to scavenge scraps fallen to the ground.

At first glance it was easy to mistake it for a starling but on close scrutiny it turned out to be a Madoc’s Blue Rock Thrush. Since then they have returned intermittently to these limestone hills to observe these fascinating birds – their plumage colour is very dependent on lighting.

“On this day I spotted six of them over a 1 km stretch of broken limestone hills - four adults two of whom had partners,” wrote Amar on 8th May 2010. “Songs recorded. They love to hop on the ground looking for scraps. They are generally shy except for some pairs that have got used to the many human visitors to the cave temples. The female I am posting here is a regular at this cave temple with her mate. She is in breeding plumage… (above).

“Occasionally we all have these magical moment when birds extend some trust to us and allow us to observe them at close range. One of the six Madoc’s Blue Rock-thrush… did that for me. I arrived just at the right moment (required permission to enter this limestone hill religious sanctuary). This male in full breeding plumage arrived at the same spot just as I did (above). He was after some fallen Ficus benjamina fruit – they forage on the ground and do not seem to pick fruit off the tree. He saw me just 2-3 meter away at the base of the tree but the call of the fruit was too strong. He hopped down almost at my feet to forage, initially too close for pictures. The change in plumage in different lighting was dramatic. In the shade he looks rich blue like the M. solitarius pandoo (above left). But in strong light he looks speckled blue with brighter patches on the forehead (above right).”

The two calls recorded can be heard HERE and HERE.

“[The White-tailed Robin (Myiomela leucura leucura)] is not an easy bird to watch and very hard to get good pictures. Have seen them at many locations at this particular highlands (Camerons) but they are best seen on the narrow road that leads up Brinchang Mountain. They have taken a liking to forage on and by the side of the road, and any keen observer can spot them there. They prefer living near a stream. They are usually solitary or in pairs. I have only once seen it as part of a bird wave in May 1993.

“It is a very shy bird and will disappear into the primary forest by the side of the road the moment you approach 10-12 meters. In addition much of the road has primary forest on both sides and is rather dark for non-flash photography. They are best photographed from the car which they seem to tolerate. However the problem of stopping to take pictures is the tourist traffic going up and down this single lane road (all rushing to the tower at the top). The other way is to abandon the tripod and flash (both of which frighten most birds) and wait patiently by the side of the road to be rewarded by reasonable views.

“We usually see 3-4 pairs on any trip up this mountain and have got a clear idea on which stretches of the narrow road they will be at. This trip the numbers were very encouraging. They appear to have been breeding well at this location and from 1,600m to 1,800m along this road we spotted two breeding pairs (one with two juveniles), three other single adult males, two other single females (one subadult) – 11 White-tailed Robins on 3 km of mountain road.

“What surprised me was that two of the females were spotted at the tea garden (lower stretches of the road). Morten Strange (Photographic guide to Birds of Malaysia & Singapore, 2000) states that they come lower during the ‘winter months’. However in all my visits there have not seen them this low.

“G C Madoc (An Introduction to Malayan Birds, 1956), one of our best bird watchers for behaviour and description, states ‘the species appears to be silent, and I have never heard it sing’. I generally agree with him but, as this was breeding season, the air was full with song by the male (and possibly female from the shadows). Have some ‘shaky’ handheld videos of the male singing delightfully. Loves to stand on a low branch and sing for considerable periods if not disturbed. Some of the juveniles were also calling out for food. Suspect the song was primarily territorial by the male (due to breeding) but also a few appeared to be warning whistles due to our presence.

“The male can look very dark unless the light is shining on it, then it is seen to be a delightful blue with lighter patches at the shoulder and forehead and white in the tail. They forage extensively by the roadside and like to hop about, occasionally fanning their tail and showing the distinctive white on the tail feathers in both sexes. The females are brown with the same white in the tail. They also do the tail fanning behaviour.

“One was seen bringing an earthworm to the nest while a juvenile in the shadows was still being fed.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Gunung Brinchang (1,600-1,800m ASL)
Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
14th May 2010

Images of male (top two) and subadult female (bottom) by Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS.

A pair of adult Green-billed Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus tristis longicaudatus) foraging in bright sunlight that tolerated the presence of Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS and his camera nearby provided us with a close-up study of the bird. The location was the Tambun Interior, Perak, Malaysia and the date, 17th October 2009.

The Green-billed Malkoha can easily be confused with the Black-bellied Malkoha (P. diardi) which, to Amar’s experience, is less common, although their habitats overlap.

“The main differentiating features that are present in the Green-billed Malkoha but not the Black-bellied Malkoha are much longer tail in respect to the body; narrow white band extending around the red periorbital patch (best feature in the field) and slightly more conspicuous back shafts in the head and neck feathers (although not apparent in this image).

“White-headed Munia (Lonchura maja) are decreasing in number in the Malaysian city of Ipoh in Perak. The same situation is probably seen in other areas in the region - trapping for pet shops and loss of habitat, at least in cities and urban areas, are major reasons. However there are still some large flocks to be seen, as in this field and some overgrown Chinese cemeteries around Ipoh (above).

“Estimates of images of the flock photographed before the fire on 26th December 2009 show more than 235 White headed Munias and one Black-headed Munia (L. malacca sinensis) at this site. Often seen a few Black-headed Munias mixed with the flocks.

“There were also a decent number of juveniles (above). The image on the left shows a juvenile, that on the right shows a juvenile moulting into an adult. The ratio of juveniles to adults in this flock was 1:6.

“One of their favourite foods is the Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) abundant in this field.

“Because of the fire I was able to get closer to them, near the road and using the car as a hide, to document plumage.”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh City, Perak, Malaysia
26th Dec 2009 and 27th February 2010