Time is running out.....

The Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher is almost like the Ambassador of Tourism for Panti, bringing hundreds of photographers weekly, some from as far as the northern states of malaysia. Many unfamiliar faces, and for those that I know, i tease them with - "Just make sure your lizard is longer then mine this year!" 

Wonder why i posted little thumbnails abv for the two lovely Pantiwood's stars, both with FIM? 

(Ahem..).....because that is the only perch where two are always seen close together, so now you know you have to find that tree yourself, challenging! And time is running out!

Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx erithacus)

Pekaka Api *  棕背三趾翠鸟 * セアカミツユビカワセミ *  นกกระเต็นน้อยหลังแดง

Martin-pêcheur à dos roux * rybárik hrdzavochrbtý * Крошечный лесной зимородок * 

Rotrückenfischer * Rødrygget Isfugl * 

OK Left to right, Ah wong, Ah Tan, Ah Chew, Ah Soong, Ah ...ah .....hachee! 
lets do it again,with the easier way, 7 blue shirts, 2 green shirts, 1 light brown...

I will be re-do'ing my lizard shots soon because I need both their eyes open and hopefully look straight into my camera, maybe with its tongue sticking out! Sound cruel so sorry lizards! And weather doesn't look good this week, it always rain for hours in the afternoon, has been so for the last two week in Panti.

A Rufous woodpecker came landed not far from me when i was shooting the ODKFs, it was probably seeking my 'protection ' as it was attacked by two Checkered-throated Woodies what seemed like un resolved territorial disputes.

Rufous Woodpecker (Celeus brachyurus)

Belatok Biji Nangka *  栗啄木鳥 *  クリチャゲラ * นกหัวขวานสีตาล

Pic brun *  vlikác krátkochvostý * Рыжий дятел *

Rustfarvet Spætte * Ameisenspecht * Carpintero Rufo

Motionlessly clinging on a trunk for quite a few minutes, eye-balling at the attackers away from my angle and i have to start talking to bird again 'You are safe here, now look here, look here!", it's hakka, in case you want to know the language i speak to birds!

AKAN DATANG! Coming soon.....

A 'surprise' visitor from the North paid me a visit,......., and I almost fainted upon seeing 'his' fluro orange leech socks. :))))

Panti's Green Broadbills!

17th & 19 June

The Green Broadbills are probably the most elusive among all the other broadbills in Panti. They are not rare as their calls are always heard, but they seldom venture into the open along the main bunker trail. So when I chanced upon a couple calling endlessly for my attention shortly before the Swamp. I totally forgot the original plan of setting up hide for a super rare bird of Panti, not the midget Banded Pitta, but something BIG!

Green Broadbill (Calyptomena viridis)

Takau Hijau * ミドリヒロハ  * Mỏ rộng xồm

Eurylaime émeraude * kosmatec smaragdový * зелёная калиптомена * นกเขียวปากงุ้ม

Smaragdbreitrachen * Smaragdbrednæb * Eurilaimo Verde

The male plumage colors just don't look like something from the real world, bright florousence green and easily shift its shade makes it a perfect natural camouflage to Panti's forest. And because of that when it perched on different location over a short period i see all my imgs have different color tone on its feather. Time to go for more tutorial in pnotoshop i guess! 

I have seen this species in 2009 but this was the only time i managed to get some closer shots.

I can't deny the fact that the recent sighting of the Banded Pittas have caused some mad rush to Panti, but the recent rise in traffic was mainly due to the emergence of the Pantiwood's Star - the ODKF, in the same old spot which i always refer to as "The OldTown". 

If there is a built-in 'phtographed-meter' in these pair of ODKFs, I am quite sure it would read more than one million by now. Superbly friendly and alway ready to pose for your MLU shots. There were times where I actually 'talk' to the bird "Wait, just five more low ISO shots before you go!" to get the "Huh?" look!

Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx erithacus)

And i have already accepted two wagers from friends on "Let's see if my lizard is longer than yours this year!" - loser pay for Bak Kut Teh of Sedili! So pray for me!

Yellow-bellied Bulbul (Alophoixus phaeocephalus

Cream-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus simplex)

Dark-throated Oriole (Oriolus xanthonotus)

And this is probably what i hate too, water in the ears after shower,

Buff-vented Bulbul (Iole charlottae)

I alway feel 'sympatic' to the Red-bearded Bee-eaters which i have reported in my earlier entry. The adults are often seen around the spot seemingly looking for their three missing chicks! :(

Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus)

OK, one more look of the cheerful Pantiwood's star before i start weeping for the RBBEs!

Oriental Dwarf Kingfishers

When I started birding photography last year, sighting of ODKF were rare despite my frequent trips to Panti. But then again i wasn't experienced enough to look for them :) !

Year 2010 the situation turns around, and much to the photographers' delights, between April to August alone, nestings were spotted at various locations.

Sharing some of my fav shots here...