Jay 2/2 Oct 2022 - Crested Jayshrike/Shrikejay (formerly called Crested Jay)

In term of color and crest the Bornean species is rather more beautiful in brown than our peninsula one which is plain  blackish. Its crest  tapered into a flair   and at times rounded one too.  It is rather responsive to our guide bird call and hover around our hide in Telupid for quite sometime. Apparently there were some feeding between a pair; whether its a parent feeding a juvenile or a mating ritual I really cannot say during the coming monsoon season here which is early this year.

I believe this beautiful Jay will be split from our peninsula subspecies but I will  record it as not a  lifer. Apparently I saw some photos of Thailand  they have the same chestnut color Crested Shrike jay (Platylophus galericulatus (Cuvier, 1816)

 

Avian Sighting June 2019 - Crested Jay

A family of 3 Crested Jay was quite active during one my trip with Joe to Taman Negara western side. Unfortunately, they were most elusive always hiding behind  thick of foliages. As you move to get an open perch view, it would fly off to the opposite side to your frustration.

Usually, it is active in the morning with its chattery call like a machine gun. So guys be weary of its call when you are at Merapoh.

APFc brown morph male with its long tail. It is a resident bird. 

Other birds that came out to greet me are as posted here.

The rufous-crowned Babbler is one of the many babblers you can encounter here

 The Crested Serpent Eagle in the wet morning on the way in to Perhilitan

Yellow-bellied fledgling still need to be fed 

A pair of the common Hill Myna of Merapoh

Buff-rumped Woodie which came closed to Port 1

A raptor in a far tree probable a resident Honey Buzzard

 Fruiting trees still not attractive here. The Ficus at the Padang still devoured of fruits though

What are they waiting for Joe?

JAY 1/1 - Crested Jay

Crested Jay

Finally a full view picture of my beloved Crested Jay. Taken in June 2015 in Taman Negara Pahang. This is my second sighting of this big bird standing up at 33cm or a footer tall.

Okay it is not a perfect shot. Sometimes it not your bird luck. Waited patiently for it to show its head but in vain. Tried chasing it but the bird was just too shy to pose in the open unlike the Drongo, it was with. Crested Jays are supposed to be gregarious but this bird was on it own in a birdwave of babblers and a Greater racquet tailed Drongo for company. It tends to keep to the clear storey of 15-20 meters as it keeps the foliage in between us. So close and yet so far.......sign.

Maybe it is the second nesting period of Oct-Feb that it is more actively looking for a mate. The other time that recorded nesting is in the period of Jun-Jul. Their nest is cuplike and is build on tree branches about 6 ft from the ground. Now to hunt for nesting this time round in late October.......muaaah.

Crested Jay is a big black bird of more than 1 footer with a beautiful towering crest that points to the front. The other distinct feature is its white neck patch. You will have a better chance to see Crested Jay in Taman Negara than in Krau. This my first time to have a glimpse of it after 5 years of birding here. Yen says he saw a threesome in Awana recently. The book says they do venture upto 1200m so there is possibility. They feed on anything that that they can catch from birds fedglings, eggs, amphibian, reptiles, grubs and berries.............till better shot next time.