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!

Panti :: 9th Jan 2011

Weather was extremely gloomy last weekend, so before i set out my journey to Panti i hesitated for a while if i should make the trip at all.


But i wanted the Rhinoceros Hornbill, at least for some improvement shots....


By 8:30am, 8 of them came to the same tree as sighted previously, but i had just walked almost 200m away a few mins ago! By the time i rushed back, they were starting to leave one by one! :(

5 Chestnut-bellied Malkohas came to entertain me just as i was pondering if the hornbills would change their mind and fly right back to the same tree again. Interestingly the Malkohas were busy mating and hopping around non-stop, and i was only allowed two shots, without the mating scene of course!

Chestnut-bellied Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus sumatranus)

Cenuk Kecil * 棕腹地鹃 * オニグロバンケンモドキ * Phướn

Malcoha à ventre roux * malkoha hnedobruchá * นกบั้งรอกเล็กท้องแดง

Two Asian Brown flycatchers were near the scene as well, but they were extremely skittish.....

@ the first stream....

The Dusky Broadbills, Chequer-throated Woodpeckers and Racket-tailed Drongos were already waiting by the side by the time i reached the first stream, which is ~5km into the main bunker trail. 

Dusky Broadbill (Corydon sumatranus)

Takau Besar *  暗阔嘴鸟 * ガマヒロハシ * Mỏ rộng đen

Eurylaime corydon * loboš tmavý * Суматранский ширококлюв * นกพญาปากกว้างสีดำ

Chequer-throated Woodpecker (Picus mentalis)

Belatuk Ranting *  斑喉绿啄木鸟 * チャバネアオゲラ

Pic gorgeret * žlna ozdobná * นกหัวขวานคอลาย

@100m after the first stream.......


The calls of white-rumped Shama is probably the most frequently heard in Panti forest, but they are not always seen though. 

White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus)

Murai Rimba * 白腰鹊鸲 * アカハラシキチョウ * Chích chòe lửa

 Shama à croupion blanc * šáma trojfarebná * นกกางเขนดง

So when a WR Shama was seen singing in the open, I setup my gear quickly, took some shots, then walk a round leisurely to enjoy some fresh air leaving the Shama singling on its own, and I suddenly saw this Red-naped Trogon just 10' in front of me.

Unfortunately just one quick shot it flew into the forest....guess it must be mad at me for not taking its picture earlier!

i made several attempts later to lure the RNT out again, but instead I got a flock of Tailorbirds and Pin-striped Tit-babblers came begging for some portraits...these are small and active birds and getting them in frame alone is a real challenge.

Striped Tit Babbler (Macronous gularis)

Rimba Berjalur * 纹胸鹛 * ムナフムシクイチメドリ * Chích chạch má vàng

Timalie à gorge striée *  timália žltobruchá * นกกินแมลงอกเหลือง

 Dark-necked Tailorbird (Orthotomus atrogularis)

Perenjak Leher Hitam *  黑喉缝叶莺 * ノドグロサイホウチョウ * Chích bông cánh vàng

 Couturière à col noir * krajcírik ciernohrdlý *  นกกระจิบคอดำ

And on my way out the trail, i was hoping to catch a glimpse of the hornbills again but i got these instead,  around 100m after the Elephant Trail.

 Yellow-bellied bulbul

 Chequer-throated woodpecker

Greater Racquet-tailed Drongo