Thursday 30 November 2017

Narcissus Flycatcher

Though I wish this individual was sighted in Langkawi but it wasn't.

It took me a total of three hours waiting and sitting in the ferry, seven hours of solo driving, one hour twenty minutes of waiting in the occasional drizzle and only less than five minutes with her! No time to sit down for lunch and just enough time for me to drive back up towards north to catch the last ferry to Langkawi. 
Female Narcissus Flycatcher Ficedula narcissina revealing her olive rump. Only managed record shots and heavily cropped image.

Despite having to arrive late at the site, which was at 1pm, I am indeed thankful that she finally showed up at the last moment that I must leave and before the rain came down. Seeing her was like seeing my date! LOL! I felt a slight adrenaline rush and my hand gripping on my DSLR body was slightly shaking.😌😂

Narcissus Flycatcher Ficedula narcissina is vagrant to Peninsular Malaysia and a winter visitor to Borneo and Philippine. It is native to Sakhalin, Japan and Korea.
Not colourful and she looks like one of those LBJ. Still cute!

OMG! Twitching is addictive! Really? Is not cheap for sure! I was teased for being a twitcher. Am I? Nahh...I don't consider myself a real twitcher otherwise I would have seen this bird much earlier. I did have the urge to see this flycatcher tho and at the same time, I wanted to do something exciting before the high season kicks in. 


A few friends to thank for leading me to this vagrant flycatcher - Liung, Ang, Wilbur and Chiang who helped me arranged the rented car. 

Monday 27 November 2017

Run Swamphen Run!

Birdwatching in Langkawi A Swamphen

Hey Swamphen! Why are you in such a big hurry??!

Swamphen says, "It is the long school holidays now! I am running into my hideout."

Our local school holiday for the final term started yesterday and will be end on the first week of January 2018. Langkawi will be busy and jam packed especially at the touristy sites like the cable car, Kilim jetty, Pantai Cenang and Pulau Dayang Bunting. The road to the Kuah Ferry Terminal will be congested or heavy traffic jam. Plan your itinerary well to avoid the crowd. I will definitely avoid going to the ferry terminal.

How to go about on tours especially Langkawi nature tours without having to be stressed out dealing with the crowd? If you are clueless and not the type of doing D-I-Y tours, how about booking your private tour with a local guide that can enhance your travel experience here on Langkawi? Also, if you are not travelling with kids, it is best to avoid December...unless you have booked your flights. If you haven't book your accommodation yet, it will be very wise to do it now. Just like this Swamphen here. Early bird gets a hideout!

Langkawi birdwatching swamphen hideout
This Grey-Headed Swamphen is finally contented and happy in it's hideout
This is our shy and skittish resident bird of langkawi, Grey-Headed Swamphen Porphyrio poliocephalus, which can be found in our marshes and paddy fields. 

Wendy can be contacted for private nature tours such as Langkawi birdwatching, kayak mangrove, rainforest walk or any customised nature tours. Click here for contact details.