Far out in the East....

Wow.... a birding trip to Asia. 2 weeks in Malaysia on a birding holiday.....without a guide! What could possibly go wrong? Well in all honestly nothing did go wrong..... all the logistics were very smooth, the company was good and 200+ new life birds, easy peasy.

Week 1:
Kuala Selengor in the lowlands and then upto Frasers Hill at around 1600mtrs.

Before I start I will quickly get out of the way the sad fact that I saw the best owls on the planet (maybe a slight exageration, but only slight).... but I didnt have my camera, and the guide couldnt believe how dumb this was... he had a Buffy Fish Owl in the spotlight for 5 minutes at a range of 20ft.... looking at us and I didnt have my camera! I will never forget those 5 minutes.....  a while later we had a Barred Eagle Owl in the spotlight at a range of..... 20ft......anyway back to the .....more mundane, ok not so mundane but nothing will ever compare to those 2 cameraless moments (oh why did I leave the camera????.

Day 1
Travelling from Kuala Lumpur was always going to be stop start.... whats that ? its a crow...stop I need a photo. Well it could have been but we decided to make some headway and leave the expressway behind before we started to get too excited. The first stop was actually for coffee, I sat outside the cafe watching the Tree Sparrows but could hear a few other sounds from around the back, we paid up and ventured to the rear where I quickly got 7 new life birds.... Common Myna, White Throated Kingfisher, Zebra Dove, Pacific Swallows, Asian House Martins, Brown Shrike and a lovely pair of Olive Backed Sunbirds.

He....

and She .....

Further on along the roadside the first raptor caught our eye... a Black shouldered Kite sat atop of a dead tree eating prey...... I think I maybe spooked it as after a few seconds it juggled with its prey and lost it

a lost catch and rightly miffed!

We soon reached Kuala Selengor, over head Brahminy Kites were in good numbers, soaring right above our hotel

Other birds soon followed ... and in good numers too: Zebra Doves, Oriental Magpie Robin, Yellow Vented Bulbul, Black Naped Oriele, Spotted Doves, Blue Tailed Bee-eaters..... the nicest suprise being this Sundra Pygmy Woodpecker that landed right outside the Chalet!

other bird images from day 1

Ashy Tailorbird

Striated Heron

Scaly breasted Munia

however the highlight of the day possibly goes to the Long Tailed Nightjar that we had in the spotlight sat on the fence of the hotel gounds. However at 03.30am I could have happily strangled it as it constantly woke me with its call.... that was so loud I am sure it was camped out on the veranda!

A scarce garden visitor

Much to my delight this male Reed Bunting has been visiting my garden for 3 consecutive days

It is usualy common in reedbeds and open areas such as moorland and cultivation. However during harsh winters they are known to feed from garden bird tables, so it was as much a suprise to find this fella on a glorious sunny spring day..... even better to see it is still visiting after 3 days

Happy Days indeed

This weekend in the garden

With a trip abroad looming, again I have not found the time to get out and about, however even the extra chores couldnt stop me snapping away for a few images......

The Blue Tit in flight was a nice bonus as the momentarily clear sky gives a lovely backdrop for the translucent wings, of course you are all used to my Lesser Redpoll images by now.... Yes they are still here in great numbers as is the Mealy Redpoll that will soon be departing our shores and heading back north.... For the record it has been here for 78 consecutive days.

The Siskin numbers are now increasing..... a garden record count of 12 today.

Lesser Redpoll

Female Siskin (showing off her fine plumage)

Blue Tit

Meally Redpoll

Blackbird

Acrobatic male Siskin

Moorland Grouse... Bfbs contribution to WBW XIV

The red grouse is a truly wild game bird found only in the British Isles and Ireland. The main distribution is in the north of England and Scotland. Its typical habitat is upland heather moors. I am lucky enough to live close to some fabulous Peak District moorland here in East Cheshire, very close to the borders of Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

The winters are incredibly harsh on the moorland and the weather can deteriorate for months often having the main passes betweeen the towns of Macclesfield (in Cheshire) cut off from Buxton (in Derbyshire),

One of my favourite areas is Axe Edge Moor, this moorland lies between the two towns and is very close to the iconic Cat & Fiddle public house, renowned for being at the highest alltitude in England it is this particular part of the moorland that I favour and is a stronghold for the Red Grouse species.

Looking towards the Cat & Fiddle from Axe Edge Moor in the spring time

and the Summer time

Despite the very harsh winter weather of course the summer months can be a very beautiful and be inspiring in such a magical place.

The moorlands are also home to some other lovely species such as

Golden Plover

 Short Eared Owl

 unfortunatly because of the Red Grouse it is also home to a rather ugly preditor....the human shooter, I dont like the word hunter in this topic as they hardly have to hunt these birds, simply flush them out and take pot shots at close range... grrrrr...... Less said about that the better! :(

In search of Hawfinch..... or Bfbs contribution to World Bird Wednesday XIIl

Hawfinch...... a finch with a stonking great beak. Scarce visitor around these parts and always a nice one to get onto your year list.  Easy peasy.... go to the Hawfinch stronghold, wait around for an hour observe the large finch beauties and duly add them to your list..... er not quite!

Only the day before a rather good count of 15 were reported in the stronghold of Cromford, Derbyshire. No problem as its only an hour and a halfs drive for me.... I have the day off, I can still be home for lunch. 9am until 11.30am not a jot.... half a dozen other birders are searching the area too... the light fades in and out as heavy dark clouds roll in, bingo... high up in the tallest tree 2 large finch like bids arrive.... 3 more, even better.

Damn the trees in front partially obscure the sight, four of the birds are obscured by branches, the other is partially obscured and also in sillouette, turn you bugger, lets see your beak!  Ok its the right size bird, its bulky.... its in sillouette still, I move for a better view...damn theyre gone....... that was the last sighting, now the rain starts to tumble... the light has now completely faded.... its tea time!

Its never meant to be easy is it..............

I did manage to get this rather nice image of one of the Little grebes that was on the local canal.

This male is showing off its breeding plumage and has paired off with a mate, and it was vocally defending its teritory from another male. About 100yrds further down the canal another pair guarded their territory.

Fantasy Football

Thought I would take my camera along to a local football match one evening last year. I gave up my usual seat to stand on the other side of the ground and try to get some action shots under the floodlights.

Macclesfield Town Vs Northampton Town (Moss Rose Ground, Macclesfield Cheshire)

Concentration
Flying winger...Colin Daniel

1/20s - f5.6 - ISO 1000

in full flow

Lee Bell ..... eyeing up the opposition

Paul Morgan..... blue leader 

Ben Wright..... lone striker

Jon Brain... loud and clear