So yeah, the persistent haze has meant that outdoor activities have been rather limited lately. And then there’s the rain.
Lots and lots of rain.
Last weekend, we were all suited up and ready to go when hujan came down relentlessly. So instead of burning some calories, we ended up burning through a plate of laksa Johor and some lontong in Puteri, TTDI. Hahaha.
This morning, though, the skies looked considerably better. Alhamdulillah. So we made a beeline for Taman Jaya in PJ.
It was quieter than expected, but that also meant we scored a nice parking spot almost instantly. And just a few steps later, I scored a new lifer!
Yup. Among the ubiquitous House Crows were a couple of these very common Malaysian species...
Zebra Dove (Merbok)
The Zebra Dove is a small, slender dove with a soft, repetitive coo and distinctive barred markings across its body. They’re pretty common around parks, gardens and urban areas, but hey — common doesn't mean they don't count!
These guys were basically putting on a little show, so we hung around watching them while doing some stretching. Haha.
Then we started on our walk and were serenaded by some familiar and beautiful bird calls. Out came the binoculars...
But could I spot the culprits? Nope.
Pftt.
The morning then took a slight turn for the worse when a bunch of Zumba dancers started their session — and proceeded to blast Lady Gaga at a volume that, I suspect, was sufficient to scare off humans, squirrels and birds alike.
Sheesh.
Still, before heading home, we managed to score another lifer!
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Pipit)
The Eurasian Tree Sparrow is a small, familiar-looking sparrow with a chestnut-brown crown, black markings around the eyes and white cheeks with a distinctive black spot. They’re widespread and perfectly at home around human settlements.
Another common Malaysian bird.
Another lifer for me.
And that's one of the things I'm beginning to enjoy about birding. You don't necessarily have to venture deep into a jungle or trek up some mountain to find something new. Sometimes, a couple of new birds are just hanging around in your neighbourhood park, waiting for you to actually look up.
So yeah, not bad lah.
Two new lifers, a decent walk, some stretching, and only a moderate amount of Lady Gaga-induced ornithological disruption.
Then it was off to Section 14 for some delectable breakfast. 😀
Not a bad Saturday morning at all.
