Birds of Teluk Intan by Camera-Meng

12th April 2011 Birding trip with SH Chai, CK Jack & Scoopy Law

2011-04-14T08:09:00.000-07:00

What a great day!

2011-02-24T08:23:00.000-08:00

22nd February 2011, 9am. As our usually weekly birding practice, SH Chai drove CK Jack and me to our usual birding destination at Seberang Perak Teluk Intan. That day the weather is good. And the farmers is cutting down the paddy after it has been harvest. This is the time that eagles, egrets and herons came for food. As the tractor cutting down the paddy, barn mouse is the victim. They normally ended up being sliced by the blades.

I started my shot with a Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus) flying around the owl house standing at the middle of the paddy field.

Soon I see it flying up then turn around and give me a good pose.

Then I saw 2 Grey-faced Buzzard fighting and a Brahminy Kite passed by. It is always fascinating to see their acts.

Here is other pictures of Buzzard and Kite taken by me.

Few months ago, I saw my friend posted a Lesser Adjutant photo. My friend told me that he snap it from mangrove forest near Penang. Oh that will be very far from here. But that day, we got a huge surprise. Ck spotted a Purple heron look a like flying high up the skies. He ask me how come purple heron can fly up so high?

Thus is have a look from my view finder. Oh man! Its not a purple heron. Its a Lesser Adjutant. Wow, this is the first time i look at it and it is flying.

This is the best I can get. It fly very high. We waited for a while and it did not lower down at all. Hopefully I can get a better shot next trip.

Below is some other photo I taken that day.

Around 11pm, my friend Scooppy called and ask me want to go for night birding. Both of us go to Sungai Manik Teluk Intan to search for Common Barn-owl (Tyto alba). This it the next owl we want to snap after we snap the fish-owl. It is not difficult to find common barn-owl. As soon as we enter the first road, I saw it standing at the electric pillars. Here is some of the photograph I taken that night.

Here is the video recorded by Scooppy and me.

Common Barn-owl Part 1.

Common Barn-owl Part 2.

Thank you for viewing.

Buffy Fish-owl (Ketupa ketupu)

2011-02-12T08:01:00.000-08:00

Last week, when most people celebrating Chinese New Year, I was busy working in the kitchen. I haven't tell you guys I am actually a chef. Working for family run restaurant. Working non stop since morning till late night, I miss my photography. On the 6th day of Chinese New Year, around 11pm my friend Scooppy called me, saying that one of our friend spotted an owl at housing area.

I was surprised. Couldn't believe it, because it was my dream to snap an owl (not from zoo, please). I quickly went home and tell my wife that my friend spotted an owl and I want to go and snap it. She says 'hurry go..and becareful' (very supportive wife)

Here is some shot I take that day.

A day to remember.

2011-01-26T10:02:00.000-08:00

25/1/2011. Its a cloudy day. Perfect for another birding trip with my two buddies SH Chai and CK Jack. As planned a day earlier, we set off the trip to Seberang Perak for our birding trip. Seberang Perak as I say in my earlier entry, there is plenty of egrets, heron, eagles and other smaller size birds. But why it is a day to remember?

About 5 months ago when I go to Seberang Perak with SH Chai, I snapped a Brahminy Kite ( Haliastur indus) or in Malay, we called it Lang Merah flying with a mouse as prey at its feet. However the kite was too far and the photo is totally useless. With disappointment in myself, I set a goal that I will someday no matter how long it takes, I will snap it clear and large.

Finally the patience pays. As we heading home after snapping various of birds, we come to a T junction. SH Chai asked me whether I'm in hurry to go home or not. I replied "Nope" . If we turn right, that is the way out from the paddy fields. SH Chai must have instinct in his heart. He turned left.

Along the road there is many long grass and beautiful scenery. It was so relaxing. Suddenly, CK Jack shouted stop. He said he saw something hiding at the tree. I was thinking that it must be an eagle. So I pointed out my camera and have a look. Oh! it was a Brahminy Kite eating something. SH Chai suggest that we must go down and get some shots.

Guess what, my dream come true. It was a Brahminy Kite with its prey, a mouse. The kite is enjoying its meal. When it saw us, it flew out with its meal. Look what I've got.......

It was a fantastic day. I can't even believed it myself. These were the shots that I'm totally happy with. Totally satisfied.

These guys are wonderful, SH Chai (right) CK Jack (left). It was a great teamwork. We snapped photos that seldom we will see. One can easily get Brahminy Kite photo picking up food (chicken fat/ intestine) from waters in Langkawi. But not a mouse under its feet.

Below is some other photos that I snapped that day. Hope you enjoy it. Thank you for viewing.

What bird is this? Koel or Coucal?

2011-01-11T09:36:00.000-08:00

Few days ago, I went to Teluk Intan Riverfront for usual birding practice. My friend CK came along with me. As usual, we will sit on the bench for a while, while waitting for and interesting birds come. Just for few minutes, I saw a few long tailed parakeet flying around. Then they hang around the tree. I managed to snap a few shot of it.

That day is a quite an exciting day. I snap a bird that until now no one can determine what species is it. Some say koel, and some say coucal. I have ask many people who loves birds, they also can't give me the right answer. Hopefully I'll get the answer soon. Below is the photo.

4th Jan. 2010 Seberang Perak trip with SH Chai & CK' Jack.

2011-01-06T10:14:00.000-08:00

It was a great outing with my 2 best friends. I shot 8 types of bird including 2 new bird that I have not snap before from Seberang Perak. We start our journey at 9am and reach there about 9.30am. Discussing birding photography and jokes fills the atmosphere for the short trip there.

The first bird we snap that day is purple heron. As I say before, purple heron is very sensitive. Once we saw it, we won't miss the chance to get a good shot at it.

Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

As we go further, I snap a kingfisher standing at the water lock.

White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)

Driving around the paddy fields, there is many bee-eaters and swallow flying around.

Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus)

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

As I snapping the barn swallow, I saw a snake swim by.

Here is my 2 buddies SH Chai and Ck' Jack. Thank you guys.

SH Chai

CK' Jack

There is many Little Egret and Eastern Cattle Egret at Seberang Perak. So to us, it is just a common bird there. But snapping them in actions will be nice.

There is a type of bird that we seldom see at Seberang Perak. And that day we was so lucky. There is so many of them there. It is Little Tern (Sternula albifrons). Here is some photos that I've taken that there.

Near 12pm, we take the last round and heading out from the paddy field and caught by surprise, we saw a White-breasted Waterhen. I saw it twice before but it was so fast and I didn't get the chance to snap it at all. This time, I was really lucky.

White-breasted Waterhen

( Amaurornis phoenicurus)

The last photo I take from this outing is Grey-faced Buzzard. And it concludes the great day with my 2 best friends.

Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus)

Spotted: Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris)

2011-01-06T08:42:00.000-08:00

3rd Jan. 2011 9am, Just a day I spotted the crested serpent-eagle, I came across with the Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris). I still remember, my early birding activity. I snap this hornbill at Teluk Intan Riverfront before and that was few months ago. That time I just use the Tamron 70-300mm and the quality wasn't good enough. However at that time I was delighted because it was the first time I snap a hornbill.

This time I was surprise to find it flying around housing area. I was on my way to breakfast after sending my son, Edward to school. This time my instinct works again. I carry all my camera and lens to breakfast even I did not plan to shoot anything that morning.

I was delighted the second time.There is 5-6 hornbill flying around. I manage to snap few shot. This time I understand the reason why my uncle Peter enjoy bird watching rather than snapping their photo. I keep laughing alone the way the hornbill fly. They are so clumsy and even fights among themselves. It was a great experience.

As I follows to the place the hornbill flew to, I came across with the crested serpent-eagle again. My oh my what a perfect morning.

I do not know when I'll see the hornbill again. But I hope soon. Thank you for viewing.

Spotted: Crested Serpent-eagle (Spilornis cheela)

2011-01-02T08:12:00.000-08:00

2nd January, 2010. 6pm: As I going back to restaurant after deliver dinner for my wife, I saw a crested serpent eagle standing at an electrical pillar. For me, when I saw a big birds, its like found a big chunk of money. Haha.

At the kitchen, I told my dad what I saw just now. My dad ask me whether I manage to snap it or not. I say I wasn't driving my car. My camera is in my car. Then my dad replied, 'Go now, hopefully its still there.' So I grasp my car keys and head to the spot again.

I was so lucky that the eagle still standing there. I took a few shot of its actions and waited it to fly. Near 6.30pm, it still stand there not moving at all. Maybe it is waiting for food. It's getting late. I'm not waiting for it to fly off. Previously I snap it flying before at Seberang Perak (will share with you next time).

Super good luck today. Normally I won't carry my camera bag around. Today something telling me that I must carry my camera bag. Guess that my instinct is correct.

Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

2010-12-29T07:55:00.000-08:00

Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) or Burung Pucong Serandau with average size of 80-90cm, it is the largest bird that can be found in Teluk Intan. Mostly found at paddy fields, and I snapped most of it at Seberang Perak Teluk Intan (The Felcra plantation).

My friend SH Chai always nickname it as 'bengkok' or 'senget' due to it's strange shape of its neck. Purple Heron is not easy to snap as it has its comfort zone at least 50 ft. or more. Once we get closer, it probably will fly away before we can snap it.

Previously I use the Nikkor 80-200mm F2.8 ED, the photography that I taken is too small to crop. Thanks to my beloved mom, she get me Sigma 150-500mm F5-6.3 APO OS DG HSM lens, I only able to snap more nicer photo of the purple heron. Thanks mom!.

SH Chai and I always go frustrated when the purple heron flew off when we get closer. He even call the purple heron 'ball-less' haha.

Jokes and laughter often cure our disappointment. But once we snap it, the feeling is unspeakable. My friends if you interested to go to the place where there is lots of purple heron can be found, Seberang Perak is the right place to go.

Here is some photographs of purple heron that I have taken. Hope you enjoy it. Thank you for viewing.

At Seberang Perak (Teluk Intan) - Introductions.

2010-12-28T08:06:00.000-08:00

Often, once a week I went to Seberang Perak with my best friend and also my photography-mate SH Chai to snap some large egret, herons and also eagles. As an introductions before I write further about Seberang Perak, I would like to share some of the types of birds at Felcra paddy plantation. It is always a great shooting moments when I go there with my friends. Snapping under the hot sun, my wife always complain that I'm getting darker. Haha.

The Felcra plantation road is bad, we need a strong 4x4 to get in and snap from our vehicles. SH Chai is really a great friend. I would like to thank him a lot for taking me to Seberang Perak.

Beautiful landscape at Seberang Perak is simply breath-taking. There is as many as 20 types of birds I've have snap from Seberang Perak, and I will be happy to share it with you here.

Tractor is use to plow the field before planting new paddy. Egrets will be there to pick up 'free' worm, insects or frogs. "It is always easy to follow the tractors", the egrets says.

These egrets have a comfort zone at least 30 feets. We can't get closer than that. We'll scare them away.

Below is some landscape that I've taken at Seberang Perak. Next I will post types of birds that I have snap from there.

Yellow-vented Bulbul

2010-12-26T09:55:00.000-08:00

Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier) or Merbah Kapur, is one of the commonest in Teluk Intan. There is plenty at the Teluk Intan Riverfront. Feeding by the fruits of the monkey tree (the name of the tree people told me).

I likes to snap them as they have many expression and movement. The only style that I haven't able to snap is their flying picture. They fly very fast. Once they grasp the fruit, they will quickly swallow it or fly to another tree if there is people nearby or the green pigeon comes.

Below is some photo of yellow-vented bulbul that I've snapped. Soon I'll snap it flying. That is my next move, and I'll share it with you here.

Thank you for viewing.

Long-tailed Parakeet (Psittacula longicauda)

2010-12-18T10:10:00.000-08:00

The long-tailed Parakeet (Psittacula longicauda) or as known as Bayan Nuri, is moderately sized.
Male average size is 42cm while female average size is 30cm. I sighted it at the Teluk Intan Riverfront last week and was delighted as it was the first time I actually snap it.

Once I saw it flocking in a group (around 8 of them) over trees but never have the chance to snap this colorful bird. I was very lucky last week as 3 of then stop at top of a large dead tree. Lasted for 2 minutes plus, I manage snap some of its pose and a in flight position.

I did do some research. Other possible place in Teluk Intan where long-tailed parakeet is sighted, including oil palm estate and reserve forest. I'm not sure how true is that. But I'll definately will find it again.

Thank you for your viewing. Hopefully the information here is useful to you.

As a begining.

2010-12-18T01:25:00.000-08:00

This is my first entry about birds of Teluk Intan. Hi! I'm camera-meng. I'm here to share with you some of the birds photograph that I've taken. Next entry I'll go more details. Thank you for viewing.

The yellow vented bulbul

(Pycnonotus goiaver)

The olive backed sunbird

(Cinnyris jugularis)

The juveniles asian glossy starling

(Aplonis panayensis)