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Perdik Recreation Forest -
May 2nd, 2004
- Ulu Langat - 20 miles or 32
kilometers out of Kuala Lumpur offers many forested patches for
birding. Going by names, these places are Perdik, Congkak, Lepok
Pangsoon and Terkala. Among these lots, I have heard lots of talk
about Perdik, which I am very familiar with and I concur. My best
sighting was the Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher there. The place is just
2 kilometers out of the Batu 18 junction settlement and another 2
kilometers into the hills.
On this morning,
alone, I left early and even brought my own biscuit there as
breakfast. After turning in from the main Ulu Langat Road, I was at
the first rest stop of Perdik Area just before 8.00 am. The whole
place was alive with sounds and calls of birds. Before I could set
up my camera I caught sight of a Babbler in the scrub beside the
river. Went forward for a closer look, it was jumping from branches
to branches. I was not particularly keen as the ambience then was
one that was too dark for fairly decent pictures. Anyway, I waited
on the banks for the bird to come close. Suddenly a loud call about
15 feet away attracted my attention. Slowly I moved out of my ambush
and move to a new position behind the call. The next call, directed
me back to my first position. It must be less than 10 feet from
where I was squatting. Went back to my old position, a recess carved
out out of a river bend and waited. The call came and there just 5
feet away, a ginger plant was intermittently shaking. The call
continued and signs of activities went on for a good 15 minutes.
Frozen and praying that the Pitta would move eventually out of the
thick undergrowth. It didn't and wickedly stayed in the same spot.
The call was distinctive, unmistakable and the movement resemble one
of a bird pecking at the roots.
A Chestnut-naped Forktail flew in
and landed about 8 feet away on the water's edge. Saw me and
investigated for a split second. I moved to reposition my camera. It
was just too close for the bird who just took flight. My body aches
forced me to give up and I returned to the shed to rest my poor
body. There was nothing much I could do, the small patch of wild
ginger plants was carpeted at the mid section downwards by runners,
creepers and ferns.
Frustrated, I took a slow walk up
the trail and photographed some wild Ginger flowers along the trail.
A shadow caught my eyes and here on top of the banana flower, stood
a mid-size blue bird. A Verditer? Never mind. Since it was within
range. Back home, the clear picture confirms that it was a Pale-blue
Flycatcher. Wow! A lifer for me. I have almost completed my search
for all the blue Flycatchers.
Up in the last Car park, the
usual Malkoha, Blue-winged and Bulbuls were too high and too fast. A
Greater-racquet tail confused the whole situation by lurching very
close to all the points I moved to.
I returned to my
car, and there waiting for me was a Black & Yellow Broadbill. It
changed its perch a few times. All in the lower storey and within
range. Draw back was the dark forest environment. Satisfied, I
packed and make my way out. Would you believe it a Black & Red
Broadbill was there beside the trail. Less than 10 feet up. I
approached it and from the car, made all my pictures.
What a day that was!
May
6th, 2004 -Encouraged
by the very good results, came next Thursday, Stephen's off day. We
headed out for Perdik once more. We were on schedule, reaching the
place before 8.00 am
The environment was the same,
full of sounds and bird calls and promises of a good day. Gibbons
calling, Barbet singing and smaller birds chirping away type of
scenario. I stayed behind at the first car park area while Stephen
proceeded to the larger car park some 400 meters inside. I was
waiting for the same miracle to happen, looking forward to the Pitta
calling out again. I would not be distracted by the Broadbills but
more for the watch out of Babblers. Very focused. No! The Pitta did
not call. But there were the Flycatchers and Babblers that I
wanted. They were darting across the road from one refuge to
another. A Dark-throated Oriole even stood in front of me silently.
I was searching and could not locate the bird until it had enough
and took off. There was even one White-rumped Munia spending a few
minutes, feet away from me.
The regular residents, their
presence added to the confusion. A pair of Rufous Woodpecker, whole
family of Leafbirds, Lesser & Blue-winged were all spending the
morning in the canopy 40 feet above my head. The Malkohas slowly
checked through the forest edge, as if they knew I did not need any
pictures from them. Two fair size black birds were playing "cops
&robbers" in front of me some 100 feet away. When I went nearer to
check, one dived into the forest floor and another flew a couple of
hundred feet away. Got it! Turned out tp be a juvenile
Greater-racquet tail without the streamers.
Yes, cannot deny, there was a
hive of activities but not a single picture taken. Frustrated I went
inside to check on Stephen. He too was having a tough time with a
Chestnut-breasted Malkoha who wouldn't go away but would not appear
in the open for its picture to be taken. All I had were a few poor
pictures of an Ochraceous Bulbul.
We decided to call it a day in
Perdik and headed for the area of the Bat Hawk. There it was some
150 feet with the appropriate angle for the camera, some 200 feet
away. We decided that it was a waste of time trying. Just when we
were moving out of the area, a Black-headed Bulbul flew to Stephen
side. How could he turn away from a bird less than 10 feet away. By
the time he fumbled with his equipment, the bird gave up on him and
flew a little distance away. That is bird photography!
We adjourned to Congkak, where I
wanted to show Stephen, the choice spots. This time the Emerald Dove
was co-operative, flew beside the car instead of ahead and landed on
a Bamboo branch just above the roof of the car some 8 feet away. At
the same time a Black Drongo flew past the car and landed on a
branch on my right , at the side of the road at eye level. That's
it! Stop the car insitu, don't move and focus. Before we could get
some pictures, the school holiday crowd, tooted their horns away.
Really confirmed that day did not belong to us. We parked the car
and went separate ways. There was fair bird life up in the track and
as usual the Malkohas were trying to lure my attention away.
We met up again at the car park,
there was this family of Tit babblers. Real friendly, exposed
themselves, jumping from branches to branches, undisturbed by our
pursuit where ever they hopped. Again not a single shot landed.
There goes a beautiful day for
birding with no result on the camera.
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