Flowerpecker (11/11) Borneo endemic - Dark-sided Flowerpecker (Lifer 561-688)

One of the common flowerpecker you can shoot in KNP.  Very responsive bird and can stay for quite a while for you to shoot. It was a matter of finding the right locale and wait for it to come by. I have seen this berry plant in Bukit Tinggi I think its call Elderberry which attract plenty of   flowerpeckers. 

The black-sided flowerpecker (Dicaeum monticolum), also known as the Bornean flowerpecker, is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to the island of Borneo, where it is found in the mountains, primarily above 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in elevation. The species is sexually dimorphic. Now is to find out whether the Yellow-bellied do dwell in peninsula...............Lenggeng FR or Panti

Flowerpecker 10/11 - Thick-billed Flowerpecker (Lifer 527)

Its been a while that I get a new lifer. When news came out I worried that it will not stay long and I was busy with work and cannot take leave during the week. When things were done I was away to the hill resort. I was lucky on my second-day visit during that weekend that it show up after it was missing for a few days earlier. The other place that I read that you can  see this bird in peninsula are  Siong Kledang Ipoh, Panti forest Johor and Seremban forest if I am correct. 

This will be my last flowerpecker lifer for Peninsula Malaysia. Though the adult have left the scene I am still happy to get this juvenile in Bukit Tinggi.  It was really surprising that it appeared here at submontane forest. Usually it is in the lowland forest.

I notice that the eyes are  a bit palish orange and as yet turn red. We were lucky that it opt to turn up at the low fruiting ficus and not the other ficus at the Japanese Garden. It was difficult to spot as the chance of an open perch is  by luck. Some more the window to shoot this tiny bird of 10 cm from 30ft  and dense foliage  really test your patience. Den was grumbling that it only got half body shot. As for me I was lucky to get these pictures.

There were other flowerpeckers that came by the tree so it was frustrating and anti-climate as you scan for other movement hoping for the star fc to drop by.


 The Orange-bellied or should it be also called an Orange-backed was the common fc frequenting the Sunda fig tree together with its mate.

 The Yellow-vented above was the most difficult fc to show on that day with its fast and furious antics. It would pick a fruit and then feed hidden from sight. So I only got the"bontot" shot only. The yellow vent is nice right lol.

The molting Crimson-breasted fp was rather friendly feeding at the low fruiting shrubs nearby. I was with Tee then as we shoot this bird in close range at almost full frame.

Flowerpecker 9/12 - Brown-backed flowerpecker ( lifer 514)

I only managed to get a single pose and away it went  with  my gang lead by Robertus. We  were shooting at the fruiting ficus tree at the far end monsoon drain away from RDC  carpark. I do not know whether the guys notice the bird as they left the post earlier  to seek other lifers at the back entrance of RDC.

The particular flowerpecker has pinkish to orangy  eye. It has dull  brown coat with a faint buffy streaking underpart from its breast to belly. It is rather stout and puffy in shape. It  stayed in the canopy top (25ft) in the  tree and never came down ever vigilant of my present.  It was feeding amongst the Blue-eared Barbet and Yellow-vented flowerpeckers and several bulbuls at that time


The other place to see this bird is in Panti Johor but I have yet to set foot to that Forest reserve down south of Peninsula Malaysia.

juvenile blue eared barbet in all green "attire"

Yellow-vened Fp

FLOWERPECKER 8/12 - Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker (Male)

It was a tough bird to see and shoot as it stayed up in the higher canopy of the ficus tree ; I would say about 20ft. I managed to see it once in the morning at about 9.30am  in Merapoh Old Quarters side. Thought the picture was a bit soft because of the foliage in the foreground;  and  I struggled to manual focus but it was too active to catch it momentarily stationary as it scour for a ripe berry.

Like to  thank my fellow birder Azman KualaLipis boy for his tip off  on  this bird. At least you KL guys now know that you need not have to go up north to Kuala Sidim Kedah or Panti to see this gorgeous  bird.

This is my first encounter of this male fp; my third lifer in 2017 bringing my tally to 473. Its features are very distinct and contrasty from its black head and breast with the red patch to its breast like a napkin or "shield of armor". The female is much plainer with a grey head and with whitish throat and a tingy orange- yellow breast.

I would say it is the best looker of the 11 species of flowerpecker that you can see in Peninsula Malaysia. In Sabah you can see another flowerpecker - Yellow-bellied which is largest kind at 13cm compared to common ones at 10cm.

FLOWERPECKER 7/10 - Yellow-vented Flowerpecker

Aiyoh did not post this as lifer so now chalking another  photo lifer no 472 to my collection  in  my blog. Merapoh is the place to be whenever the many ficus trees there are bearing berries. There are several pairs of yellow-vented there  in the month of April 2017. Seen a pair bringing fruits away from the tree to somewhere else so nesting and feeding is in progress. 

April - June  is  the nesting time  here in Merapoh SgRelau like  many other lowland forest.

The Yellow-vented is a common bird to see in lowland forest and even suburb garden and open park land. As you can see it is quite easy to identify by a whitish loral stripe between the red eye and beak; the  blackish soft streaking breast to belly and the distinct yellow bottom aka vent. The back is a uniform yellow olive coat.

FLOWERPECKER 6/11 - Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker

 

A sure see bird in TRA. This happy go lucky bird will be found among the low vegetation along the riverside. Their familiar busy whit-whit call is very distinct. Approachable upto 10ft when they are obliging.......

People will think that it has a bloody injured breast but not to worry it is their macho mark. The female also have the red crown but body is just plain olive to yellow.

FLOWERPECKER 5/11 - Fire-breasted Flowerpecker

 Fire-breasted Flowerpecker

Got this Fire-breasted Flowerpecker in FraserHill outside Hernmant's Trail junction. The other FP yet to be photograph are the Scarlet-breasted and Plain Flowerpecker.....they are the rare and uncommon one to be found.

Latest shot in Awana Genting April 2013

FLOWERPECKER 4/11 - Orange-bellied Flowerpecker

Orange-bellied Flowerpecker

 

I encountered my flowerpecker specie no 3 in Awana. One shot and its gone. Sayang lah it was quite a distance and the size of 8cm is among the smallest.

The Orange-bellied can also be observed in TRA and it a regular appearance on fruiting figs.

 

FLOWERPECKER 3/11 - Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker

 

FLOWERPECKER 2/11 - Plain Flowerpecker

Plain  Flowerpecker

Shooting from 15m away in the canopy of a flowering fruiting tree in Bkt Rengit. My only guess is the lowland species with its plain greenish olive overall coat

FLOWERPECKER 1/11 - Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker

Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker