Dr Manjeet Singh's Malasian patch revised (1 Viewer)

Tanny · May 13, 2010

Due to some unforeseen circumstances I had been unable to continue with the original Thread called Dr Manjeets Malayan patch,

Now hopefully I am able to continue this project of editing Manjeets, delightful, humorous, and sometimes sad stories. Unfortunately I cannot add the stories to the original thread because the time has relapsed. Therefore I will revise the thread and post all the stories together till I get up to date.

Dr Manjeet tells me that he is negotiating to have the stories turned into a book, and I think he would be delighted to have loyal members read them once more here in the Bird Forum.

Although Manjeet is at the moment incapacitated for at least six weeks with an injury and his computer is to be replaced, he said he will one day bounce back and once more bring laughter to his brothers and sisters in the forum.

Dr Manjeet Singhs Malayan Patch
Opening introduction to Dr Manjeet Singhs Malayan Patch.

Some time ago I mentioned to Dr Singh that he should have all his writings put together into some kind of book form because to me they would make hilarious reading. After experimenting I have at last been able to gather all of his articles together and am now busily editing them. I sent the good Doc this letter to get his approval and received the reply.
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Hi-ya Manjeet, I see that you are on line and I thought this is a good time to tell you that I am working on a big project. Remember I once said that your stories would make good reading if seen all together, you know, like a book. Well at last after ages of experiments I have been able to draw off your writings into a folder and am able to edit them and will eventually post them into “Dr Manjeets Malayan Patch”. That is if I have your permission to do so. I only started yesterday and looking at the finished first page I feel that they will be well received by our readers. Let me know if you approve of my efforts. Tanny.
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My Dearest friend..for you any thing you hear.. by the way I had gone to see a publisher here and told him I want to make a calendar for 2008.. with my stories and 12 birds.. you know what he told me ..good idea..but you must get 12 of the most beautiful birds .. I asked him I hope you under stand what I am asking ..*YES 2 Girls from Malaysia ..: ‘ D..*..almost strangled him..left crying ..
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It will take a long time to finish editing and posting but I will start now from the beginning in 2005 when Manjeet joined us. At first his postings were just descriptions of the birds he posted, but gradually he became more confident after receiving friendly comments from forum members.
After he got encouragement by the replies from members to his amusing stories there was no holding him back and gratefully we are constantly kept laughing at his anecdotes.
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Early on in his association with us he asked a very serious question in a thread he posted, and this question to me seems to sum up a little of the personality of our favourite forum member. I have posted the replies because through them Manjeet seemed to relax more with his writings.

Compulsion for birding, is it addiction or creating space away from family and friends.
13th August 2005

Compulsion for birding, is it addiction or creating a space away from family, friends and work and enjoying it.
Guys I have been an unofficial birder for a long time and used to go birding on and off with my battered camera and binoculars. I used to take snaps and develop them and keep them in files. Since I officially joined this birding web I now have a new camera and telescope, and have this overwhelming compulsion to go birding at any free time I get, looking for birds to photograph.
Theses past few days the haze has been high in Port Klang-my home town (you all must have seen the story on C.N.N.) I have been advising my patients to stay at home and don’t go out due to the haze, but I ignore my own advice and go out to all the birding areas to get some pictures, even though I know they will not be clear due to the haze.
Addiction or looking for space? Do any of you feel the same, or am I just a lone nutter. Have any one of you felt the same compulsion like me?
The main thing when I am birding I feel (in my mind at least) that I don’t have to face the patient in my practice to whom I have to tell that he or she is terminally ill and has a short time to live (selfish isn't it.) These one or two hours away helps me to make up my mind and free my soul.
I would like you to tell me how you feel during birding, is it compulsion with addiction or creating a space away from family, friends and work The new camera may have increased my compulsion by giving me easier access to developing the pictures that I have taken. I wonder if there were no computers or digital cameras, would there be the same compulsion and addiction for birding or would we find some other way to create our own space.
christineredgate
I think a mixture of both; Manjeet. It begins as a hobby and interest, but then begins to be compulsive. As indeed so does the photography which one has taken up as an added interest? My life seems to be planned so as to make "my time”, to escape from the house and just watch and listen to the birds. No matter where I am or what I am doing outside of the house my eyes are always cast upwards and ears are always listening. Even indoors, I constantly watch the feeders when they are in view to see which species are visiting, and watch the antics of the regulars.
Like yourself, Manjeet my work was with the sick and needy, but at that time my escape was fast motor bikes, and the open roads, holidays spent camping and traversing the country side, but now I find birding is so relaxing, just being out of doors in a quiet environment watching the birds doing "their thing”, give me immense pleasure, and if I manage a decent photo along the way, then I am very happy.
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Stewart J.
Compulsive yes, relaxing, soothing and so enjoyable, in fact "Therapy"
senatore
For me birding is the excuse/reason for going out in the countryside to places I would not have gone to normally. I would never have thought of going to Norfolk before I took up birding and would never have found out what a beautiful county it is.
Max.
I think the others have pretty well summed it up already for me
Whereas I'm not in a job like yourself where I may have to tell folks on a regular basis that they are terminally ill etc I still find it relaxing and a way to switch off from the artificial 'pointlessness' ( for want of a better word ) that seems to be life these days......everything seems to be rush, rush, rush nowadays and greater importance placed on trivial things rather than what is around them......since I moved up here to the countryside I'm amazed *and quite saddened too* that so many folk seem to be bored senseless with their lives and rely on artificial pick-ups like alcohol, drugs, TV etc etc - even more so, it seems, than folk in towns and cities - yet if they would just open their eyes and look around at what they have living right on their doorstep, they would see the answer staring them in the face!!! It's just not natural for humans to be cooped up indoors each and every day!
To me getting out into the open spaces and fresh air away from the crazy rat race is an obsession and a need - a chance for me to totally switch off and forget about everything except the skylarks singing above me, the woodpigeons cooing in the trees, the wind blowing, the sea - everything!!!! Just being able to share a moment with the other creatures on this planet puts life into perspective for me.......and helps restore me to sanity! According to my husband I'm a right grumpy old mare if I don't get my 'fix' on a regular basis - and he says there IS a marked difference in me being much calmer when I've been outdoors
If I do have ONE teensy grumble it's that since meeting Neil I've had another person to consider - can't go off birding seven days per week anymore!
Gill
For me it’s similar to all of you.
I love the country and all my sports I have done have been in the country. I constantly went to the Norfolk Broads as a Kid on a Boat and loved the smell of Water and Forest.
To watch the dawns and Sunsets, the rain which I love especially summer rain as it’s warm, and immediately after it stops you get a FRESH SMELL in the summer and that smell is the best.
The different colours of the Trees in autumn (fall) and the new life in spring. The mist and fog at dawn in winter.
My least favourite is summer, I know that sounds odd but it seems a stale season...I don't know just my opinion.
I love all Birds from a Sparrow and pigeon to a eagle and Hawk. And I am still learning about them. The BB C's 'Life of Birds' is stunning and I defy anyone to say that these creatures are not Beautiful, intelligent and are FREE after you have seen the series.
My son who had no interest in birds after watching it now watches them and although other species of 'Birds' at the age of 18 is his priority he really does appreciate them more.
To sum it up for me I guess its escapism to land that was once uninhabited by us, a land free of the crap of society a land that we must enjoy before although not in our lifetime will come to an end.
I heard that in 50 years time it is estimated that 40% of Animals will not survive some going extinct and some lowering in numbers.
I am proud that in my lifetime I can still see these wonderful creatures.
Bit of a Waffle on but that's how I see it for me.
florall
It seems that all of us who have replied to this thread feel much the same. I am compelled to go out, more and more, and at times, I have to (and want to) rein that in a bit so that birding doesn't take over my life and totally dominate it. (I do have other interests, and one or two things that are more important to me.)
I'm lucky that my family is prepared to come out birding with me. My husband is just as besotted by birds as I am, and my two adult children like walking in the countryside, and are prepared to walk slowly with me as I spot birds, and will even occasionally point things out to me. So birding is definitely not a time to get away from family.
But I think the most important reason is the one first touched on by Katy - to get back in touch with the natural world. I just find this vital to my mental wellbeing.
Gus Horsley
I think there's a level of agreement here. It's nice to contribute to a "safe" topic for a change.
I do a stressful job and live with kids and grandkids and I need the opportunity to get outdoors with my wife, away from the 9-to-5 life, to recharge the old batteries, etc. So I go birdwatching, climbing and caving. The trouble is that once I get really involved with these sorts of activities I also tend to get embroiled in the political side of them as well (such as cave conservation) which can sometimes get me stressed, so it's all a pointless exercise really....
Blimey, I wish I'd never said all that!
My boss is looking at me - I'd better get back to work.
Gus
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Mabel
I love getting away from it and it's great when you can add to your Year List, too.
I don't watch birds to simply get them on my list (I once spent 10 minutes watching two Kittiwakes, the were not doing anything particularly interesting, I was just looking at them):-it's just a bonus.
I wish that my birding spots were a bit less isolated/dangerous, though.
christineredgate
Mabel, you have said it all here. For some of us the enjoyment of birding is to actually watch the birds, study their behaviour, smile at their silly squabbles, watch as a parent Gull spends a few moments opening a mussel shell for junior, whilst the offspring impatiently nudges the parent and cannot wait for the contents to be opened. Just like human children. Birds have to fight for their survival, their habitat is slowly dwindling, and I for one, have a great deal of respect for our feathered friends, I feel privileged to be able to view their every movement through scope and bins.
When you think, how would we feel if someone was doing the same to us!!!
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Marmot
Hi Doc,
I think it puts you in another world away from all your troubles and woes and makes you forget all bad things that are happening and also it is a quiet time as all you can hear is the Birds not the rush and clatter of today’s busy times.
13th August 2005,
Katy Penland
For me it's to get into the rhythm, sounds, smells and feel of the natural world, away from the artificial environments most of us have to live and work in. And to be honest, whether it's birding or whale watching (yes, even on a noisy twin-diesel boat) or hiking or any other outdoor activity, it's about encountering other life on their terms and in their own space that's so calming and rejuvenating at the same time. I don't think there's anything better than the fragrance of a forest at dawn or the wind in your face on the open ocean. That we also get to see who (notice I don't say 'what') else lives Out There is a gift.
Adey Baker
I don't have the same decisions to make at work that you do, Manjeet, but I do work in a noisy and sometimes hot factory so there's no doubt that a walk in the open to see birds and any other forms of nature is a complete contrast - and any new camera equipment is a real incentive to get out even more!
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Manjeet
Thank you all for the support and understanding-When we become medical students our Professors tell us that we should not get involved emotionally with our patients but don’t forget we are humans too-some times some one slips through our guard-I realised that by taking time off at that time may have been wrong but later realised that 1to2 hrs did help to clear my mind and make the right choice but I did feel guilty by taking off to do birding which I love. Thank you for the support.
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At the end of each dated article I have left the name of the bird posted and if you wish to see it and also read the actual un-edited version then please feel free to go into Dr Manjeets Gallery and scroll down to the date provided.
When editing the stories I have deleted all the smilies because they seem to spoil the flow of the story but their loss doesn’t diminish the humour, I have also deleted the numerous, “Lol – lol” that Manjeet is so fond of after he learned what it meant. All abbreviations have also been changed to the full word. At all times I have kept to the exact wording, however on some very infrequent periods I have altered the words to make them more readable in the English language. Some of the words Manjeet has written totally bamboozle me and I have put them in brackets with a question mark, I hope the Doc might come back after reading it and give an explanation. We will never really know what makes the Doc tick but I for one hope he ticks on forever.

Here is another (un-edited) example of Manjeets writing before I start posting the first of his Patch.

Hilarious Misspelled Comments in the Photo Gallery..lol..
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Manjeet
I have been viewing the gallery for couple of years..and had some good laughs from miss-spelled comments..i will start with comments that i remembered the most..one is MINE & the other.. A.dancy's..lol...
1. I was viewing a picture of a bird which realy excellent and the details were fantastic(i cant remember who's picture it was)..scrolled down and saw the one comment only by dancy..it said
EXCELLENT SHIT and ,..i collopsed with laughter but immediately p/m/ dancy..and said my soul friend ..you mis-spelled word the ...waited laughing..30 mins passed no reply from dancy..he was on line..then went back to the bird..oh my God the person who had uploaded the bird had replied..ARE YOU SURE dancy..i could magine him slowly writting it..the reply..i at once wrote a comment..saying dancy has mis-spelled the word..or the O..is missing in his key board..and i started laughing..i am sure he was laughing too...then i get the yellow flashing sign on my moniter..dancy.. my God Manjeet i typed it wrong..i told him too late my friend..howled with laughter..remember dancy.. ,
2. 2nd was my own blunder..i had gone birding..and had got my first twitch..the Chestnut-winged Cuckoo..came back and uploaded the picture..i was so happy with the picture and more so because our Birdforum member JAMES EATON was here and on sunday we were going birding..as usual i had to write a story..in that i wroteHi people i had gone birding to-day.. i was HORNING MY SKILLS (INSTEAD OF HONING.. )..so that to-morrow James may be impressed..lol....there were many comments on the picture..but LIMA..caught it and ran me rugged....oh guys i collopsed with laughter..it is still there..
Now i am sure there were many more comments like these which you'll have seen..would it be fun to share them in this thread..i am sure you'll are laughing.Regards people.
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Marmot
Last edited by Dr Manjeet Singh : Thursday 16th August 2007 at 09:45. Reason: missed words Manjeet but it one of yours.From your write up on the photo "I slipped, stumbled.....""The land there had lots poodles filled with rain " ---------------- I smile every time I see a Poodle.
Manjeet
Marmot YOU HAD TO REMEMBER THAT DIDNT YOU..lol.. ..oh God i had forgoten that.Thanks Marmot for the blushing reminder..lol.
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That's hilarious. Thanks for the laugh Doc. I have mistyped things myself with embarrassing results, I once - on another forum - mistyped the word can't as something very rude, substitute the a for a u and you'll see what I mean.
As usual, rely on the Doc for a laugh. Thanks Doc!
Another Manjeet gem
"...people it isnt easy to photograph this bird..the cock screw motion of it's body..makes a blurr in the picture.." Think you were supposed to say corkscrew
rmot:
Originally Posted by robinm Much more of this and it will have to be moved to Ruffled Feathers Certainly brightened up a dull day

robinm..Much more of this and it will be moved to ruffles feathers..ME OR THE THREAD.. , ..cheers my friend..

I am extremely lucky that my normal browser has a spell checker! Or I would make even more mistakes than is shown. However, will also admit that I am sooooooo very glad this forum uses English as it's language. Otherwise, I'd never type a word. I love to tease Manjeet and others (at least in my mind) for misspellings. But, also admit they do better than I would if English were my second language!
So to all my friends here on line who wade through our language everyday - have one one me
"I hope you love birds too. It is economical. It saves going to heaven." Emily Dickinson
Originally Posted by Reader
Manjeet, you are a star. As others have said, there is little more that I can add other than Birdforum has been both funny and informative over the years.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY birdforum
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIRDFORUM and thank you for the countless hours of enjoyment that you have given us.. TO THE BEST BIRD SITE IN THE WORLD.. , and thank you Steve,Green Fields Andy Bright and the others for making this site the BEST IN THE WORLD..and for the MODS . ..a thank you from the heart for putting up with us and FOR BEING THERE WHEN NEEDED.. , ..last but not the LEAST..THANK YOU TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF BIRDFORUM..YOU"ll ARE GREAT..
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Manjeet
Thanks for being in existence Bird Forum, without you life would be very empty. I’ve said it somewhere before, this Forum to be like a family and like a family we sometimes have misunderstandings but as the years go by we mature and draw closer together. Through the Forum I have made so many friends and although I will never personally meet everyone like my happy friend Dr Manjeet, his writings and writings from others have stimulated and enhanced my life and each day when I log onto the Forum, all stress and worries disappear and when I log off I feel rejuvenated. Tanny the half cast English Aussy. - Dr Manjeet Singhs ghost writer .
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A private note from Manjeet to Tanny.
Hi Soul friend..
Thank you very much, I read the file my friend, you have taken a colossal load on your shoulders, ‘Ha’, you are certainly my ghost writer, only a small correction, my Name is, “Dr Manjeet Singh” ( not Sing Ha-ha. Mind you I do enjoy singing). I have 3-children; the eldest on the 13th Aug 2005 was a15yrs old. Female, the second is a boy 12 years old at that date, and the last is another girl who was 8 years old on the 13th Aug 2005, No twins “Ha-ha. Tanny, this project is going to take much of your time. I just hope it gives you as much satisfaction as it is giving me. Initially I was a little hesitant in writing because I was not proficient in the use of a computer. I first learned how to use a computer in February 2005, Self taught, the only lessons was with my daughter. I joined the Bird Forum on the 7th April 2005 and was a bit embarrassed at making mistakes, and wondered how Admin would take to my kind of humour. I have now discovered that the Bird Forum is a safety valve for releasing tensions due to my job which I love very much. Keep them coming my friend, and I hope people will enjoy reading my stories. You have taken so much trouble, thanks again. If only one person laugh's after reading all the stories, then I feel I have made one person forget his worries Then I am satisfied. Regards, Manjeet.
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Hello
13th Aug 2005
Thank You very much for allowing me to join this forum. My name is Dr Manjeet Singh. I am 50 + yrs old. I am married (happy most of the time) I have 3 kids, 1 Girl-15 yrs, 2.boys,12yrs, (Twins ?) and another girl 8yrs ((who teaches me to use the computer). Sorry for the mistakes, one finger typing). I have been a doctor for the last 25yrs and for the last 16yrs have my own practice. My passion has always been wild life(birds)and reading books. I think I have the best library in a loo in Malaysia (ah). When I was a student I had passion for wildlife but no money for my passion, and when I became a doctor, no time for my passion (Wildlife). My wife always says that my 1st wife is my profession and my 2nd wife is her.(ha-ha).HELLO TO EVERY ONE.
Dr.Manjeet Singh
Registered: April 2005
Location: Klang, Malaysia
Tall, dark and handsome with a Turban while working and when birding without turban but carry's a sword. Best looking Singh in the world for when GOD made me he threw away the mould (stop staring you hear).
Born on 16.06.1954.
Married on 16.06.1985.Tried to have my three kids on 16.June but failed (how much money it would have saved me if I could have the FIVE functions on the same day).
My job: Healing people.
Hobbies: Birding, Music, playing musical instruments and the best instrument I play “IS MY OWN TRUMPET”. (Ha - Ha).
Social status: A WALKING NATIONAL DISASTER for my Town since birth.
MOTTO: Laughter is Life and enjoy life with laughter for remember LIFE IS SHORT.
Fri November 11, 2005 • Views: 1,212. Additional Info Keywords: Dr.Manjeet Singh.
Scientific Name: Homo sapien-related to Apes and Bears(Theory of Charles Darwin.)
Equipment: Born with it and now acquired a T.D.1 for birding.
Location: Klang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Habitat: Singh’s are found every where in the world

Date Taken: 31.10.05. (Picture taken by my Elder brother)
Dadrknsingh Dr KN Registered: June 2005 Location: Johor Baru Fri November 11, 2005 9:13am Nice picture (Though I took it myself).
Your camera is definitely better but my subject was infinitely better man.
Psilo
Love your sense of humour and your attitude to life
SeanKP
Manjeet, it is great to be able to put a face to the smiles and laughter.
Karim Madoya
Glad to recognise and meet you here DOC. Nice hat! You have there! Stole from DONALD, may be. Happy birding to you. May GOD bless you?
vidler23
Nice to meet you Doc, nice sense of humour.
Horukuru
“Hehehe” maybe Tilley hat doc?
tunpin.ong
Hi Dr Manjeet, That's a serious looking birdwatcher. Nice to 'meet' you. Look forward to more of your nice photos with humorous wordings.
KCFoggin
It's a pleasure to put a face with a post
Marmot
I love the description of yourself and the equipment. I didn't realise the other DR Singh was your brother either.
Mark Bruce
Hey Doc, Good to finally see you.
IanF
Nice to see you again Manjeet and thanks to your brother drknsingh for taking the photo!
Donald Talbott
Hi Manjeet (Dr) you are a man of many disguises. All we need now is to see the mighty sword. My wife thinks you look very young. Keep on taking photos of the amazing birds in Malaysia. Donald.
a.dancy.
Absolutely fantastic to see you Doc. Has anyone approached you as the next James Bond? If you look at your photo on screen you will see there is a tap behind you, so fill your hat with water and have a drink on me! Leave some water in you hat and let the birds bathe in it. That will be your next photo assignment; birds bathing in your hat.
Christineredgate
Hi, Manjeet, lovely to "see you”. Your sense of humour is second to none, keep the pics coming.
John N
Great to see you Manjeet. Love the hat and your sense of humour and your great attitude to life. Bring on the sword.
Tracker
Ahhh, my older brother! Wondered for a while what you looked like, bro Great to see you Dr Manjeet; looking forward to my next prescription, only this time, forget the arm-wrestle

Sapphire
Nice to meet you Manjeet, now I can put a face to all the funny stories.
Matt green
Greetings Manjeet, good to see you in the flesh!
Digiscoper321
Hello there Dr Singh. Nice birding outfit, sunglasses and a great birding hat to go with your photo gear. Looking good with great detail
Lima
Now I can see why women faint or scream when you are around and disaster befalls you!! Great to finally see who I've been conversing with all this time. Keep up the birding and hope to hear "more Manjeet misadventures"!!! Makes birding worthwhile.
Johnny oxygen
Nice to see you doc great sense of humour. Manjeet. Thank you very much but I do like your name-Johnnyoxygen. I like it. (Ha)’smile.
Steve nova
Nice to me you Manjeet.
Nora
Hi! Felt that it would be nice to see the face behind all those wonderful pics and stories, as a new comer I have felt very welcome and encouraged to take better photos. Thank you very much!
gmax
Good to finally see you, doc ... good shot!

nyoman
Great to meet you again, doctor! Rock on!!!!!!!!
Clive Timmons
Ah The Funniest Doctor in the world I will leave it to the Ladies to decide if your the Best looking

but its fair to say your the Coolest looking Doc around and Long may the Laughter continue Great to See you
Julien
Hi there Manjeet, you look exactly as I had imagined. Thanks for all the comments, stories and the laughter they bring.
Tim Taylor
You don't seem to have had a post against your picture for a long time so I thought I'd change that. Nice Tilley turban to complete the outfit there.
James Eaton
Is that really you Doc? I don't think so, can't see a can of Tetley’s anywhere!
Timwootton
Hi again Manjeet - just reading your description - 'Life is short. .. ???' Is this how you greet your patients? Ah well, I suppose it's one way of getting the waiting list down. Hope the kids are driving you mad -as mine are me. Cheers - Tim.
Keith Reeder
Is that a telescope in your hand, or are you just pleased to see us?
Stephennj
Nice to finally meet you Doc! You are a bona-fide Renaissance man, thanks for sharing!
picus
Likeable image between Conrad Lorenz and adventures

Rajiv Lather
Dr Singh, nice meeting you here, again. How is it that my beard has got more grey in it than yours? Something fishy going on there!!
Luiz
Hello Manjeet! So you play a trumpet! I like to play a flute. Please, send a new photo, with the red turban, I bet people would love to see it!
Birdeye
How did I miss this I wonder? Although I seem to have seen it somewhere else recently - something about a T-shirt and a hen - I can't remember...nice to see you Manjeet, thanks for the photo. :d It's nice to have faces to put to names.
eastwood
Strong man, my friend. Nice to see your photo. Definitely one of the best looking Singh’s in the world, even it may not be the only one.
Duke Leto
Manjeet great to put a face to a name.
Muscatclark
Well, I should have guessed that you'd be a musician!! I Know another Dr/Trumpeter and a Brain-surgeon/Bassoonist, I'm a Clarinettist as well as an opera singer, but would be sued if I practiced med!!! I'll stick to birdies.LOL
AJDH
Good to see you doc.
Marian Alvarez
Oh, Doctor, I'm really late... but better late than never! I had a great time reading the comments to your pic, and seeing you... now I understand certain mentions to your hair and to your appeal! I must confess you don't look like a doctor... but certainly an avid birder! Great to "meet" you... and I agree with Luiz, I would love to see posted a real picture of you with the red turban. The contrast with this one would be very interesting, that's for sure! Cheers!
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7th Sep 2005
Birders, Birds, Wild Animals & Mother Nature. A hilarious combination while I was birding.
I just had to go to Kuala Selangor for a birding trip, so got up in the morning at 6am and fumbled my way through getting dressed in the dark (afraid of awaking my mother who sleeps in the next room). She’s a bit of a tyrant. My wife told her to keep an eye on me until she returns back with the children from a holiday in the U.K. My mother, she kept me in her womb for 9months and has turned into a right (TURNCOAT.) I am considered the son-in-law (out-law) and my wife is her daughter, cruel people (Ha). Silently I went to the car and stealthily pushed the vehicle out of the drive, then jumped in and bolted for the Nature park (Kuala Selangor) then I realised that I was only wearing my shorts but being really hairy I consoled myself that no insects could get me, after all I was wearing my religious sword and it’s magic would protect me. I reached Kuala Selangor at 7.15am and the nature reserve was closed, It was due to open at 8am so I killed time by eating my packed breakfast and was in high excited about my visit and my imagination began running wild. I started imagining seeing birds that no one had ever seen or heard about, but then my imagination went haywire and I started seeing birds with turbans, “Yikes” that snapped me out of my daydreaming). Then my phone rang as it usually does when I want to be free. (MOTHER), “Where are you son”? “Mom, I have gone birding to Kuala Selangor”. MAKE SURE THEY ARE FEATHERED ONES NOT TWO LEGGED KIND, DO YOU HEAR ME SON.” Blimy, she’s 80 yrs old and still doesn't trust me, or is it a mother and daughter-in-law understanding.
Took the map from the counter and paid RM2 for entrance fee to the girl, and that girl had the cheek to tell me there will be small children in the park and the way you are dressed you may frighten them. I told her, “I can always take off my shorts if it frightens the children”. She fainted. I didn't know that she meant the sword not the shorts. (Why do people faint?). I started to walk through the track and the unbelievable sounds overwhelmed my senses and I forgot all my troubling thoughts and started looking for birds. I also had to watch where I put my feet because Snakes frequent this area. When I headed away from the track into the scrubs and tall trees, I started hearing this small moaning sound but didn't pay any attention to it because I had seen this ELVIS THE PELVIS BIRD. with black and white patterns on wings and breast and it was swaying it's body slowly from side to side in a peculiar corkscrew fashion. After taking a picture of the bird I realised that the sound had increased to a roaring pitch and the bird was about to fly away, quickly I got my second picture and on turning around I saw myself surrounded by monstrous mosquitoes. The cloud was about 3feet thick by 2feet wide and 10feet long. This black hoard of “kubla khan's” were attacking me but my hairy birthday suit protected my legs and arms. The sound was the disgust of their failure to penetrate my hairy armour. I bolted from there and galloped back to the main trail with my sword banging against my hip and with my scope, camera and tripod on my shoulders. The fiendish creatures pursued me relentlessly for sometime before giving up. (I was too fast). I used a small towel (4x4inches) to (shead?) swat all the mozzies from off my legs and spat out a few hundred more mozzies from my mouth, then blew my nose and another couple of hundred mozzies shot out. I don’t think I will ever forget these mozzies and will come prepared next time I visit this park.
I don’t know what species of bird I risked my life for, but I will find out when I get home and check my guide book.. The phone rang again, (MOTHER). Son have taken your food, I was still spitting mozzies from my mouth and said – “NOSH YESG (I meant not yet)”. “SON,- HOW MANY TIME HAVE I TOLD YOU NOT TO TALK WHEN YOU HAVE FOOD IN YOUR MOUTH, WHAT TYPE OF DOCTOR ARE YOU - YOU HEAR” I decided then to switch off the phone - peace at last. Then I started walking, and walked, and walked, and saw many wonderful birds. A Serpent Eagle, Grey Heron of which I took a few pictures (50 I think). Then a brown-throated sun bird, a Brahminy kite (couldn't take pictures of the kite because there was no way to get close.) Then got a picture of a bird with a curved and yellowish white ring around the eyes - didn't know what it was (I will upload it in bird forum for Identification)
Oh, by the way, I left my turban at home and was using a old Australian hat, (Fair dincum mate, they’re the best. Sorry, couldn’t help putting that in) camouflage coloured, it had a long chin strap which has a small button with which one can tighten the chin strap. I wandered off the trail into the jungle and saw two birds running up a tree, quickly I positioned my scope and camera and hid behind a nearby tree. Through the scope I watched a woodpecker with a red blazing crest and golden brown body, what type I don’t know, that’s another bird I will check up on later. I started taking photoes. It was on my 5th picture when I felt something splat on my left shoulder and trickled down into my left breast pocket where I kept my last piece of half eaten chocolate bar, I assumed some ripe fruit had fallen on my shoulder. Then I heard this unearthly scream near my ears, my last bit of hair stood on end, knocking off my hat. The birds for miles around fled away. I looked up and just 4feet above me sat this primate humanoid creature, black in colour with a grey under belly and black face with grey whiskers (a monkey, and a big one). My adrenalin diminished and was replaced by anger because he had scared the birds away, I glared up at him, and he glared back in a challenge, then he curled up his lips and showed me his long teeth in a massive grin, I replied by showing him mine. With a final glare, (and I like to believe he recognised me being a distant relation of his), he flicked his tail, missing my nose by a few inches and jumped onto another tree and went away laughing (I swear). Then I realized that there was a foul smell coming from my left shoulder, turning to look I could see the result of a bloody monkey with the runs and now I also smelled to high heaven. I searched for a water sauce to wash off the revolting excrement. I found a small stream and scrambled down the bank less than a cubit high. On taking off my shirt I almost cried when I had to throw the half eaten choc bar away. The stupid monkey’s slimy turd had covered it. Luckily I had this tiny piece of soap, I think I purloined it from one of the hotels where I had gone for a doctors meeting. I washed the t-shirt and hung it up on a branch to dry and as I turned, a snake dived through my legs into the stream, I was so startled that I fell backwards onto my rear end on the wet bank. I looked down and noticed a stone right between my legs, a centimetre more and it would have damaged my “goodies”. Then I heard this loud tearing sound and my rear was getting wet “Oh No”, my canvas shorts had split from between the legs to my rear, right up to the belt loop behind. I stood up and checked by bending over and peeping between my legs, thank God all parts were there. Now how do I go back to the car in this condition, and then I remembered that today was, Independent day for Malaysia and there will be hoards of people at the main area. Sweat was starting to pop out on my brow in my panic, (I am dead). Then I had this brilliant idea, the Aussy hat came to my rescue. I opened the chin strap put both my legs through the strap and adjusted the hat on my rear end then pulled the chin strap tight, the strap itself hanging down in front, I pressed the button to lock it. The hat had successfully covered my rear end. I picked up my things and went to the car park. On the way a family group past me and some of them asked, “Hi Doc, been Birding”, then one of the small brats asked me, “Doctor why are you wearing the hat behind, the hot sun is falling on your baldy head.” I growled and said, “this is the new fashion for birding, the hat chases the birds away, so I’m hiding the hat”, As some of them moved passed me there was a lot of sniffing (I don't know why). Then I found out when I had got into my car, I had to open all the windows because the poo smell was hell. I drove to the restaurant and there were two tables occupied, one of them by the District Officer and his family. “Hi doc” but refused to shake my hand (the smell was following me), then I called the waiter, who turned out to be a clown, he stood 10feet away from me and was bending 90degrees backwards when taking my order. I went to answer natures call and a wash. Returning to my table I passed the D.O's table again and his small son shouted, “Doctor is wearing RED UNDER WEAR” the hat had slipped up from my rear end, now I know why I was feeling a tightness inside, I had put on my12years olds red jockey underwear, in the dark when getting dressed this morning. I picked up my equipment and bolted for the car. Then called mom and collapsed with laughter with the phone left on, my mother must be thinking that I have gone totally loony this time.
The bird with curved beak and yellowish white around the eyes was uploaded for bird Identification. in bird forum.

14th Nov 2005
Birders, Birds Wild Animals, plus Monkey
Well people by now you must have read my 1st birding trip to K.Selangor which was 2 months ago and now I am forced to go back because I started “TWITCHING”, “Oh no”, I hear you say, but honestly, no disrespect to all the true bird twitchers please. In medical terms, twitching is one of the withdrawal symptoms of Drug Addiction. You have twitching of hands, muscles, feet and even facial muscles leading to unbearable pain, for example seen in Heroin addiction, cannabis, etcetera. In my case I was barred by court from going to my patches because of the BIRDS. I had received a stay order form from the court because the birds claimed that I invaded their privacy, and the last straw that broke the camel's back was when I took the picture of the White-throated kingfisher and the Pink-necked pigeon in a compromising pose (see my gallery, (“Oh no the Singh paparazzi has found us”)' and the STOOL PIGEON WAS THE SQUIRREL. who had dobbed me in. The judge said if I violated this court order he will throw me in the country ZOO FOR TWO YEARS. I cant even touch a camera in Klang now because, “the BIRDS AND BEES ARE WATCHING ME”. So I have decided to go to K.S. again and this time I will take my clinic guard with me to carry my brewery, Tetley's Ale. I arose at 6.00a.m.and dressed, making sure I was wearing my own clothes this time, then I WOKE UP MY MOTHER LIKE A DUTYFULL SON (oh I love waking people up like this -don’t forget they have been doing that to me for the last 25yrs) I told her that I was going and she replied, “DONT COME BACK”. I ran down the stares and hopped into my car and started the engine and left it on for TEN MINUTES. Oh, did I tell you, my cars silencer had fallen off a couple of days ago. I’m SURE MY MOTHER AND MY NEIGHBOURS ARE STUFFING BLANKETS IN THERE EARS. Oh How I love making a loud noise at 6.21am in the morning. As I left I could hear my mother and neighbours cursing me, and do you know, IT WAS SOOO SOOTHING. So there I was, on my way with my walking brewery, my scope plus camera, my Tilley hat and my old poncho. Remember the choc-bar which I had to throw because of the monkey, well this time I will be able to cover myself down to my knees with my poncho. Oh, before I forget, the T.D.1 is quite heavy, (2.5kg) so I saw an old Chinese cobbler I knew and both of us worked on a belt and harness to carry it. We rigged two shoulder straps of leather attached to the belt in front and back (well padded) and a smaller straps of leather to button the T.D.1 on to the belt in the front pointing down and when I throw my poncho over, it wont get wet and its easier to walk with. We reached K.S.at 7.45.a.m. When out of the car I fixed my T.D.1 to my waist with the rig, and right on the dot at 8.00am I walked into the reception area, inside there were three men and a female manning the counter, they turned and saw me, the female screamed and fainted and the three males ran towards me with their fists raised and eyes on my waist. “oh no”, I had blundered again, in my haste to fix my scope and camera I had fixed it standing OUT and with my poncho covering it -it gave a tenting effect out wards. Quickly I flipped the poncho to my left shoulder, exposing the scope and camera. (like Clint East wood in the good, the bad and ugly)They saw the scope and stopped and had sheepish grins on their faces, now remember, attack is the best form of defence in this type of situation.(MOE TZE TONG) I started shouting at them. You young people have a dirty mind just because I am old you think I’M A DIRTY OLD MAN. The side room door banged open and a small bold man with a Charley Chaplin upper lip moustache ran in. “Wo.ho, Doctor Manjeet how are you” (he knew me, I think) “what happened” and I told him but didn’t say that the scope was covered. He scolded them and they said sorry, then I took out RM4 to pay for both of us but the senior said no, its on the house. (Ye-ha now that's the way to get a free admission) Went outside and the first thing I did was to readjust my scope downwards and then collapsed with laughter. We started walking, 8.00am to 9.10am, no birds seen or heard, the weather was gloomy and over cast. We walked and walked until we saw a small path with a sign. “To hide and observation tower”. My walking brewery and I entered the hide but found it dirty, full of leaves and with those big red ants that give a nasty bite. On deciding to go to the top floor we started huffing and puffing up the stairs of the four story tower. When reaching the top we collapsed and I just had to open the first Tetley's ale can, I passed it to my guard and his face light up like a candle. I took a big swig and all depression flowed from me. In a moment I had my camera on the tripod and sat there waiting. Suddenly I saw a group of little birds jumping in a tree close by. I started snapping pictures and suddenly they were gone as quickly as they had appeared. I put replay on my camera and saw 3 lovely pictures of the Oriental White eye, a first for me. I drained the ale can in celebration. Knowing that there was nobody around I let go a HUGE BURP ( I am sure all of you have done that when you felt you were alone). I swear then that I heard a answering Burp, and looked around wildly but saw no one. The weather was still dull but bird watching was quite fruitful from the tower. I saw a Grey Heron, Olive-winged Bulbul, Malkoha, (will i.d. it later from birdforum), Little Heron, Egret. We then decided to go back down and walk again, and while strolling along we had another drink. (My walking brewery was as happy as a mudlark, the load was getting less and the alcohol increasing in the blood.) I then saw a Common Koel, and a Starlings or two, Then I got my 1st Thick-bill Green Pigeon and snapped away like glory, (my reflexes were becoming super fast (I wonder if ale causes that). The weather was less rainy (is there a word! never mind it sounds nice) but still over cast. I looked at my watch, the time was almost 1.05pm. We decided to go for lunch in the small town outside the Park. Taking the trail called Danae, (I think!) this was where last time I photographed my red-turbaned Woodpecker. When reaching the place, saw nothing and sat on one of the benches there, as usual the mozzies were everywhere but I was well protected this time. I took out another can of ale and had to refuse one to my side kick because I had visions of having to carry him home. Just as I took a sip I heard a burp to my left. I quickly put the can down on the bench and stepped away to take pictures of a bloody monkey who was sitting there burping and grinning at me. Then I heard a rustling sound from behind where I had left the can, I turned and saw this big chap scooting off with my can of ale. I gave chase but the monkey almost laughingly flicked his tail inches from my nose and went up the tree. I then gathered my camera and took a few shots of my nemesis, the crapping one. He tried to smile when I took the shots but his RED RIMMED EYES gave me the impression he had a hangover. Then he took a sip of my ale and unashamedly gave a HUGE BURP. I think that’s one of the reason why Monkies differ from Humans, we’re not so rude. I picked up my equipment and galloped off to the office area with my sword bouncing against my hip. It was then I noticed about twenty feet in front of the office, a huge tree and the Woodpecker with red-turbaned head was running up the trunk. I looked around for a good place to get a picture and saw a small building, a ladies loo, it was close to the tree and had leafy cover. I ran like mad and just near the toilet door I saw that I had the perfect sight of the birds, fifteen feet away. I adjusted my scope and on manual started to click a couple of hundred times as the red turbaned bird ran up the tree. Wow-wee, was I having fun. Then it suddenly dawned on me that some one was kicking in my shin, I looked around, nobody, then I looked down and there was this little old Indian lady, about four feet 6 inches with white hair, aged about seventy six years old. She was hammering away at my shin and shouting loudly in the Tamil language, (her mother tongue). I actually speak Tamil but my mind was on the turbaned one. The old girl then started yelling in English, “OOh you big Doctor ahan-I CHANGED your DIAPERS when you were one day old, and when you were 7yrs old you used to steal my jambus from the tree, remember, and then do you remember Manjeet when I caught you kissing the Chinese head masters daughter through the fence”. I quickly scooped her up and hugged her, more to keep her quite, because I was worried what other secrets she will expose, seeing as by now there where about 25 people around us (her extended family I presumed, fifteen of them and then the ladies from the loo who came out to see what the racket was all about. Everyone with a dirty look on their faces).Then It came to me, (always shout when you are in trouble, people may believe you are innocent). “Oh Aunty MALER you where my other neighbour, (a Tamil school teacher) how are you.” I quickly took her to one side and hugged her again. She was crying and I was crying, (I because I was not sure if I’d got my picture of the Woodpecker) she started remembering my Dad and My brother, (middle) I asked her to lunch but she and her family refused because they had to leave, thank God, I don’t know what else she will tell them about me. By the way, the Chinese headmaster left the next day for the northern states, his daughter and I swapped telephone numbers. That’s another story. I bolted for the car and went to have lunch with my side kick. I had planned to go back to the Park after lunch but it started raining cats and dogs, (sorry to cats and dogs lovers, but I was taught this expression by my English school teacher from Kent.U.k). We decided to call it a day and headed for home. I’m hoping by now all of you are laughing your heads off at my adventures, and I shall right now attach the monkey and the stool pigeon Squirrel pictures, and if I see the monkey gets more comments then my face in the members gallery then I wont talk to you all again. The moral of this story is “LAUGH WHILE BIRDING”.Oh, according to James Eaton, I hope I got the name right, if not forgive me, the monkey is a Silver Languor from India, “what else”.

17th November 2005
How to stay cold in the tropics while birding-can any one help
I have been reading threads about how to keep warm while birding but, “sob”, can any of you advise me how I can keep cold while birding. “Any one please”.
I wanted to go birding in my BIRTHDAY SUIT but my wife threatened to leave me.
I went birding in minimal cloths and THE POLICE ARRESTED me,
I wanted to go birding without my HAIR and TURBAN but the RELIGEOUS PRIEST stood out side my house WITH A NAKED SWORD.
So please is there anyone out there can help me, “TO STAY COOL WHILE BIRDING”.
29th Nov 2005
I went to my patch near my practice yesterday around about 5.10pm, I had earlier seen a kingfisher but was unable to get a picture of it, or to see if it was a Rufus-eared or Common Kingfisher. I parked my vehicle under a stunted tree with another tree about 15 feet away. My observation site overlooks an irrigation canal and usually the kingfisher would come there to fish. Suddenly the kingfisher was there even before I could take a picture or see through the scope. Then dash it all, the 6 to 8 Starlings I had seen earlier flew down to the tree in front of me and started a racket and the Kingfisher flew away. I shook my fist at the birds and believe me they kept on squawking and giving me dirty looks. As I left I took a shot at one of the more aggressive birds. And at a spare moment in the practice I decided to have a look at the picture, and yes the effect of the green with the bird was very pleasing to me and I hope it's the same with all of you.
Philippine Glossy Starling. (Aplonis panayensi)

7th Dec 2005
Was sitting near a small dirty river near my place, waiting for the elusive kingfisher. It has been raining for the past week and the small river had risen to about ten feet and now the banks were almost covered down to the fast flowing dirty water. I heard a splash from the other side of the river, about twenty feet away, and then I saw a huge Monitor Lizard heaving itself from the water on my side and started hissing and inflating it's throat at me. I quickly stood up to run away but not before I had taken a few pictures. I looked at the lizard and it's eyes told me, “Doc, you’re next on the menu”. I backed away and left that patch in one heck of a hurry. I think the Lizards size was about 7 feet long and the tail was still about another three feet in the river, and guys, I wont be going back there for some time.
Monitor Lizard.

24th December 2005
Hilarious 2 hrs birding on Xmas Eve.
Today is Xmas Eve (24.December 2005) and I went back to my patch to seek out the Purple-backed Starlings after I had made a blunder in the identification of them yesterday, I thought they were the Common Iora but James Eaton very gently told me that they were the Purple-backed Starlings. I decided to go during my lunch break from 12.45pm to 2.30pm. I reached my patch and right away saw a huge flock of the Purple-backed Starlings. I had great fun clicking away for about 20 minuets. I think after I reviewed my pictures on the L.C.D they appeared to be O.K. I then decided to go deeper into this patch. This area has a resident King Cobra and of coarse the Mother of All Monitor Lizards, posted on the seventh in my gallery. I had bought myself a Hickory staff, 10 feet long by 2inchs thick and had burnt one end and sharpened it. I had also cut it into two halves, five feet each, and made a metal cup to fit one piece into the other, it’s easier to carry in halves. The king and the monitor are in that patch and I thought a sword would be too short to fight them with.(hee-hee ). Ten feet between me and them I think is a safe distance, and also by jabbing the pole into the inclined banks of the pond fifteen to twenty feet from the water would assist me not to slip and fall due to the wet and muddy conditions. I decided to sit near the bank under a stunted tree, about 4 feet from the path. After spreading my water proof canvas sheet to sit on under the cover of branches and leaves. I set up the T.D.1 and reclined on the sheet completely hidden and waiting for the birds on either bank of the pond to appear. It was about twenty minuets without anything showing up when I heard two murmuring voices coming on the foot path and they stopped behind me about 4 feet away. Then suddenly, “TWO ENORMOUS BARE BEHINDS CAME INTO VIEW” to my left and started to squat and were about to perform their bodily functions. I have seen many ugly behinds in my twenty five years as a doctor, but these behinds took the prize for grotesqueness. Multiple ugly warts hanging down and a mile of fungal infection covering the colossal backsides. “Oh no” the nearest one moved closer to me and it looked like he was going to crap just a foot from my shoulder. I quickly jabbed him in the left behind with the point of my pole, but still it kept coming, I then jabbed him hard on the right behind, this caused him to bellow with pain and I heard him crying, “oh mother I have been bitten”, and the obscene apparition disappeared and the running footsteps receded quickly into the distance. All this had spoiled my birding and I was wondering what next was going to happen here in this unlucky place. I decided to go back to the practice and packed all my equipment and drove back. When I reached my practice my staff called and says that there is a snake bite victim waiting. I told her to take the patient to the recovery room and set up a drip and to ask the patient what type of snake had bitten him. My staff came running back and said, “Doctor I think it is a huge King Cobra because she had seen the “Fang Marks” on both cheeks of the backside and the gap between each bite mark was very wide. A bell started ringing in my head and I went quickly to the recovery room to see the patient lying prone with his pants off, and lo, there was the most ugliest behind I had ever seen in my medical life, the same one I had seen half an hour before. I told my nurse we don’t need a drip, please remove the drip and gave him a A.A.T. jab and clean up the twin holes which were Leaking like Dracula's mouth after he has fed. The jab to prevent Tetanus because who knows where I have prodded the hickory staff. Then I told them that it was not a snake bite but me with my hickory staff. I told him, next time check where you are crouching or go home and do it. Then I asked them what were they doing out there and they said catching birds. To say that was like insulting my wife, I shouted at them and told them that they were illegal immigrants and I will call the police. They started to pay, (I was tempted to take their money but said, no) but, NEVER, EVER LET ME CATCH YOU CATCHING BIRDS. They bolted from the practice and my staff and I collapsed with laughter. Merry Xmas To All.
12th Jan 2006
The weather is still overcast and will probably remain like this till end of January. I decided to go to one of my patches about 6 km from my practice, a Palm oil plantation. Once out of my car I adjusted my sword and slung my T.D.1 with the tripod onto my shoulder and walked into the trees, and lo and behold there were about 11 monkeys on the palm trees and the Alfa male was having a Sex romp, he growled at me, and for a moment I got the feeling that he was considering me to be some kind of competitor. So I quickly took some pictures and got out of there before he attacked me. I headed deeper into the plantation but the bloody monkeys kept following me and their growling and howling drove all the birds away. After an hour and a half I decided it was useless and decided to go back. On the edge of the plantation I turned and brandished my sword at the Alfa male who had led the pack and was now sitting on the last palm tree. “You will not believe it” but he stood up on his hind legs and brandished his middle sword at me and then collapsed howling in merriment. Startled at the undignified sight, I bolted out of there. Trust me to pick on a monkey weirdo.
Monkey: Primate

23rd Jan 2006
The bird was quite large with a chestnut crown, broad white eye ring, rufous chested and chestnut undertail coverts. I saw this bird on Frazer's Hill and like a mad-man went galloping after it. After an hour of groaning, huffing and puffing the birds, about six of them kept “LAUGHING” at me (I think that’s why they are called Laughing Thrushes) as they stayed hidden in the shrub making it difficult to take a picture.) Just as I was about to give up, this five year old Indian girl came to me and speaking in the Tamil language, asked me, “uncle do you want to take a photo of this bird” “YES” I said. She took me to her house just twenty feet away, it was an old wooden house and there was a old plywood bird table nailed on a stump. She asked me to wait about twenty feet away at the corner of her house. She went inside and brought out some cooked rice and placed it on the table. Within moments the birds started arriving and I got my pictures and had the last laugh on the Laughing Thrushes.
Chestnut-capped Laughing thrush.: Garrulax mitratus.

18th Feb 2006
Today being Saturday I decided to go and see some Baya weavers. I’m on my own because the wife and kids had gone to school for their sports day. I first went to mom's room, I usually see her before I leave for my practice. She asked me “why so early” I said “I am going to see some birds”. She then told me that she also wanted to come with me. My mother is 81yrs old, and has had a right-sided paralysis, a stroke, and hasn’t left the house since January this year. I was amazed but so pleased and handed a stool to the maid and asked her to follow me with it. With great difficulty I carried mom out to the car. After loading the stool and mom into my vehicle off we went. I was so happy and sang, “a birding we will go, a birding we will go, E-I Adio a birding we will go).When reaching my patch I got her down from the car and she walked with her Zimmer frame to where I had placed the stool. Once she had settled down and was comfortable she went and hung her walking stick onto the back of my collar, “ah, true to form, she always does that”. After a few minuets waiting there the Baya Weavers arrived and I enjoyed taking plenty of pictures. I also managed to show mom how a bird looks through a telescope. Just as we were about to leave for home, mom said, “ Manjeet, are you sure the scope cant see through one's cloths”.
I hope all of you don’t mind me writing about this incident here. It was just one of the best days for me and I just had to share it with you.
: Baya Weaver.(Breeding Male): (Ploceus philippinus).

27 Feb 2006
I went to my Tmn Klang –jaya patch on Saturday twenty fourth of this month. I was wanting to find the Oriental Reed warbler. It was early when I arrived and the weather was dull with no sign of sunlight. I at last saw the Warbler but it dived into the reeds and photography was impossible. It was after an hour when I was just about to give up and head back to work when I heard this loud chirping to my left and about fifteen feet away was the bird, sitting there, singing away.
Baya Weaver. ( Ploceus philippinus).
01 Oct 2007
Dr.Manjeet Singh
Thank you very much, I read the file my friend, you have taken a colossal load on your shoulders, ‘Ha’, you are certainly my ghost writer, only a small correction, my Name is, “Dr Manjeet Singh” ( not Sing Ha-ha. Mind you I do enjoy singing). I have 3-children; the eldest on the 13th Aug 2005 was a15yrs old. Female, the second is a boy 12 years old at that date, and the last is another girl who was 8 years old on the 13th Aug 2005, No twins “Ha-ha. Tanny, this project is going to take much of your time. I just hope it gives you as much satisfaction as it is giving me. Initially I was a little hesitant in writing because I was not proficient in the use of a computer. I first learned how to use a computer in February 2005, Self taught, the only lessons was with my daughter. I joined the Bird Forum on the 7th April 2005 and was a bit embarrassed at making mistakes, and wondered how Admin would take to my kind of humor. I have now discovered that the Bird Forum is a safety valve for releasing tensions due to my job which I love very much. Keep them coming my friend, and I hope people will enjoy reading my stories. You have taken so much trouble, thanks again. If only one person laughs after reading all the stories, then I feel I have made one person forget his worries Then I am satisfied. Regards, Manjeet.
No worries, she’s, right mate, I’m enjoying going through your stories and fair dincum, some of them are absolutely hilarious and have me laughing all the time, and a good laugh is a great way of healing, so you can take pride in knowing that you are not only healing the patients in your practice but are also healing many others throughout the world. I was a little bit disappointed at the lack of response to the thread but its early days yet and I still have another 180 stories to post, so your patch will be on the front page for a very long time yet. I bet you never realised you wrote so many stories.
I still can’t believe how I managed to get your name wrong, So sorry for that. I’ve tried to get in and alter it but am unable to do so, so it looks like you will have to be a “Sing-er” forever in this thread.
Tanny
2nd Mch 2006
It was while I was waiting for the elusive Kingfisher today that I saw the Little Heron. I was in my patch hidden under a stunted scrub beside the dirty Aru river, (all the muck for miles around flows along it to the sea, it’s filthy and stinks, but wow, what a haven for birds. The Little Heron landed 20feet away on the opposite side of the bank. I was excited because I had never been this close to this bird before. Little Heron, small, heavily plumaged, dark-grey or green, grey with nearly black crown, pale face marking, streaks on breast and narrow buff edges to wing feathers. Size about 45cm.
Little Heron. ( Butorides striatus)

21st March 2006
Just A Silly Thread: Have You Ever Scared Some One Witless When Birding
I’m sure most of you birders have done this, scared people witless when out birding. So please share with us your experiences.
(I know you have already started grinning in anticipation at what is coming.)
Yesterday I saw a Juvenile Goshawk on the tree just out side my gate. The tree is about 60 feet high and shades my house and also my neighbour's house. Some of the big branches are quite thick and lean over from the outside to the second floor window ledge. Late last night after finishing my work I went home and did the usual things and went to sleep. I suddenly woke up because I heard the hooting of an Owl out side my house coming from the big tree. The time was 2am. I got up and as it was a warm night I was only wearing my skimpy shorts, and singlet, (or Singh-let)
(The Brits used to call a collar-less, sleeve-less and neck-less shirt, a Singlet.) so I call it a Singh-let. (Ha-ha)
As I was about to leave I gave my wife a dirty look (she was awake) and asked her, “are you pregnant by any chance”? She glared at me and said, “NO”. I don’t know why I wrote this here, probably something to do with my post in Donald Talbot’s thread called Superstitions and Myths.
I tippy-toed down the stairs quietly so that I wont wake the children, and opened the front door and went outside. I was bare footed and was carrying my huge torch which was given to me by a Naval Doctor.
When opening the gate I heard the “hooting” again and decided to climb into the tree to see the owl. At about thirty foot up I rested on a big branch, the end of this branch was almost touching my neighbours upstairs’ window. I started to shine the torch up and down the tree looking for the Owl. Then I noticed my neighbour walking up and down in his room. He made his millions with his poultry farm, and I suspect he was worried about his farm and the recent bird flu scare. The only thing that I know about my neighbour, is that he’s always boasting that he’s not afraid in the night.
(Well now how could I resist such an opportunity, “Naaa,” “I wouldn’t,” “would I”?) Then with a big evil grin on my face I started jumping up and down on the branch, and the branch started hitting his window ledge. (I’m very hairy, just like a bear or big foot). Suddenly, my neighbour ran to the window and slammed it shut and then dashed all around his house slamming shut all the windows and doors. I saw him peering between the curtains up at me and he looking very pale. He was alone in his house because his wife had gone to her mother's with the children and had asked me to keep an eye on him, medically that is. I collapsed on the wide branch with laughter then started looking for the Owl again. After some time, feeling warm and drowsy I rested and must have dozed off. Suddenly I was woken up by sirens and bright light which was shinning on me from below. I shouted down to the people, "Put that --- Light off”. They heard me and switched out the light. When I got my sight back I saw a red fire brigade truck and a police patrol car parked by my gate. I then scrambled down from the tree and walked towards the police chap who at once said "Tuan (Sir) Doctor (Thankfully he recognized Me) and started laughing, and the fire brigade people also started laughing, and when they stopped I asked them why they were here? “ Oh doctor, your neighbour phoned us and told us that there was a huge animal trying to get into his house through the window and he was scared.” So all of us, the police and I went next door and the police man shouted for him to come out. When he came out the first thing he asked the police man, “did you catch the wild animal? he was visible trembling. The policeman moved to one side and my neighbour saw me with a huge grin on my face. I said, “I thought you said you’re not afraid at night”. All of us collapsed laughing and after saying good morning I went to my house and as I opened my gate there was a huge clapping sound, All the people in the neighbourhood had come out onto their balconies to see what all the noise was about, and were clapping and laughing. Then I heard my daughter's voice, shouting loud and clear, “YES, THAT IS MY PAPA, WAKING UP PEOPLE IN THE MORNING AT 3 AM WITH SIRENS, JUST TO SEND THEM BACK TO SLEEP LAUGHING. I TURNED BEETROOT RED AND BOLTED INTO MY HOUSE.
25th Mch 2006
I thought I had better go back to the mangrove patch to get a better picture of the Pied Fantail. On reaching the place I set up the camera's etc. and waited. All kinds of strange sounds can be heard in a mangrove swamp, Slurpy sounds, plopping sounds mixed with rustling sounds of the leaves. Of coarse there is always the whining sounds of the numerous mozzies. A rustling splashy sound to my left made me turn and a large Monitor Lizard slithered into the brackish water. Turned back, and as if by magic sat this Kingfisher, sitting on the same branch on which the pied fantail had set. The gleam in his eye and the disgust on his face was quite clear believe me. I think he said “WATCH MY BEAK MATE IT"S SHARP” and then with a loud laugh it flew away. The gleam in his eye and the laughter was his joy of being Free.
White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis-F.Alcidinidae.

7th April 2006
For the past 10days all birds are on strike in my patch and I was feeling quite low and angry and I have been taking it out on my patients (evil me-ah).
Then I get a call, from a well known birder from U.K, he is here and would like to go to Kuala Selongor on the 8th of April, said he was flying down from Cambodia (I think) Well I did ask him, “are you certain that you want to go birding with a “toddler” and you may not be certain if we come back in one piece or land up in jail”. He laughed and said “come on Dr.Manjeet, dont joke”.
Today is the day I joined Bird forum, my membership anniversary. I decided to go (“horning”) honing my skill at bird watching so that I don’t look like a idiot.
Went to my Panda Aran -jay patch. No birds seen at first, then I noticed this beauty across the river, about 50 to 60 feet away. I haven't seen this bird before-but no problem -guide book and Birdforum is there.
Monotypic-Adult-Distinctive, slender and long tailed, glossy blackish upperparts and crest, white hind-collar, largely Rufus-chestnut wings, whitish under parts with a buffy-rufous throat, blackish vent and white-tipped outer tail feathers(not seen in pictures).Size-38-41.5cm
: Chestnut-Winged Cuckoo. Scientific Name: Clamator coromandus.

17th April 2006
Decided to go birding on Sunday alone, with no walking brewery tagging along. I was heading to the area called Telor Gong, about 10miles from my house. I wanted to find the sea and mangroves and breath the fresh sea air. When I came to a cross road I had no idea which way I had to go so closing my eyes I left it to instinct and drove down one of them. After about five miles I came to a dead end at an old jetty where fishermen used to tie there boats, but now the jetty looked like it has not been visited for years. A shaky derelict jetty, and I like a fool parked my car and decided to stroll down it and see if it was a good place to see birds. I set up my camera etc, and sat on one of the half broken planks. Then it dawned on me, there was no room for me to turn the car when I want to leave. Oh no I would have to reverse my car the whole five miles back up to the cross road. (I am a real idiot aren’t I) While pondering what to do I saw a movement on one of the rotten bamboo posts, on checking it out I became very excited because there it was, my first sighting (but was not sure) of the Sunda or Grey-capped woodpecker. Lou Solomon (I hope I got the name right)-identified for me. Thanks Lou.
Similar to Grey-capped pygmy woodpecker but smaller, with distinctly brownish crown. base colour above generally brown; streaking below generally broader and more diffuse. Short red-streaks(not seen in this picture) on the side of rear crown Size-12.5 to13cm.
Well guys and girls, I had to reverse the five miles back, and when I reached the junction, my neck had spasms. (painfull man).
Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos moluccenis).

21st April 2006
Found a new patch today, roughly 7 kilometres from my practice. A pond about 220ft by 150ft. I had settled myself down in the reeds at the edge of the pond without taking much notice of where I was sitting. Then I saw this beautiful bird about fifty feet away, bright bluish-purple, green on wings, greyer on the head. Big red bill and legs, white beneath tail. size about-42cm. After taking the pictures I released that a horde of ants were all over me. I was out of there like a shot and doing the rain dance, swatting and shaking the little monsters off. Most of them fell off but I still discovered a couple hanging onto my cloths when I got home. “ouch”, the bites, I’m sure some of you have had the same experience some time or other. This was my first, both with the bird and the ants.
Purple Swamphen ( Porphyrio porphyrio)
25th April 2006
Decided to go for a quick one, birding I mean, “ha-ah”. I have found this new pond that I mentioned before, surrounded by weeds and with water lilies and reeds growing all around it. Its about 10 minuets drive from my practice. I reached the pond at 1.05pm.and wriggled my way through the weeds and reached the pond edge. As I crawled through I had disturbed a small monitor lizard who dashed away from me. Moments after getting myself set up a this good looking chap pops up about forty feet away and who would miss a chance like this.
I hope you like it. I was back in my practice by1.35pm.for some minor surgery. A quick visit but a successful one. I felt very relaxed after the birding.(I just love it).There was quite a strong wind blowing at the time.
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis.

25th April 2006
I was surprised by the amount of birds seen in this pond. I saw a Purple Heron, Moorhen, Purple Swamphens, Great Oriental Warbler, Kingfisher(white-collared), White-breasted Hen, and a pair of Lesser Whistling Ducks, I got a picture but they were hiding in the weeds and reeds so the results are not clear. Well there is always a next time, or is there, just 300yrds away is a large construction in progress.
Purple Swamphen ( Porphyrio porphyrio)
28th April 2006
Decided to go to my gloomy mangrove patch at 5.00pm. I had only one and half hour to see some birds. As I walked into the patch and settled down, hoping some birds will come. I had heard an ?(Artic Warbler?) earlier there with his zheet zheet sound. I waited for about an hour and suddenly a Brown Shrike came and perched itself on a half-burnt tree about thirty feet away and started laughing at me, “chack-chack-chack” I was feeling angry and swung my T.D.1 like a seasoned gunslinger and nailed him with a shot.(I had to laugh Ha.). My time was up and I had to go, believe me the shrike followed me all the way to the car, with it's “chack-chack-chack”, almost sounding like my elder brother scolding me. (drkns-if you are reading this -when are you going to up-load some pictures. Were waiting-Broc, he is your best friend-tell him if you read this.) Today I viewed the picture, well it is better then nothing.(GRIN).
Brown Shrike. (Lanius cristatus)

2nd May 2006
On Saturday I got a call from an old lady at 3pm. Doctor my grand son wants to see you, they are a fisherman family. I told her I will pop in at 5p.m. (she has been a patient, bed ridden due to old age, so I thought that was the reason. When I reached there the grandson about-9yrs old came running out and told me that he has seen the ((((-(BOTAK(bold)?) bird-patient forgotten.?)))))
I squatted down after collecting my Craig Robson guide book from the car and asked, “is it a huge bird” he said, ”yes” then I showed him the pictures of (stocks) Storks, and he pointed to the Lesser Adjutant.
Next morning, being Labour day, I went to the small jetty, in Pandamaran-jaya. The boys father was waiting with the young fellow. I looked at their boat-and said, “no way am I going in this boat”, (5feet long and 2feet wide) Laugh if you want too, I need space-ah). I looked around and saw a 40 footer moored nearby. I went and checked it out, and asked whose boat is this, a chap came out and said “Tuan it is mine”. “well it’s mine now” I said. He laughed and took us aboard. We sailed out to the sea and started trawling up and down the Telok Gong area (from the sea). 9a.m to 12 noon, Nothing of interest seen and I had followed my soul friend's advise, no drinking while birding. (Donald Talbot). Finally I couldn’t stand it any more and took out my Ale can and had a long cooling drink. (there was an ice box in this boat and I had put the ale there for later when I was going back). Then, “what do you know”, there they were (it’s the ale I think, well that’s my excuse, Ha-ha) just about 60feet away, five huge birds had just flown down onto the mud flat. Now guys and girls it is not easy for me to take picks on a boat, the sea was moderately rough. I started shooting, but they are very shy birds and kept moving away. So I asked the owner if he could anchor the boat and for all of them to hide down below. I waited nearly two hours in the blistering heat. The sun was killing hot and I was killing the ale cans, (Hee-hee, Giggle-giggle). I eventually saw them again, about 40 feet away and took about fifty pictures, and hoped I had managed to get a good one. Large stork with massive build-orange neck and dark under wings. Size-114cm. These were my first , and you know what, I swear that I thought that I looked like them in morning with out my make up. “Oh by the way” I took the man and his son for a good lunch in gratitude.
Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus).

3rd May 2006
After getting my Lesser Adjutant, I watched for birds but the weather was getting rough and the sea more so. I decided I had enough and asked to be taken back. When reaching the jetty, stepped of the boat with my kit slung over my shoulder and started to sway from side to side. Well was it the sea or the ale ?. Final test was when I walked off the jetty and spotted a small tree with a Magpie Robin sitting on a lower branch with the last sunlight seeping through on it's back. I quickly set up my camera and took a shot. When viewed in the L.C.D I decided it was not the ale but the sea, the swaying I mean, the picture was steady as a rock. Hope I passed the test. Big grin.
Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis
8th May 2006
I took this picture on the twenty first of April, but was not happy enough with it to load in bird forum, I actually refused to look for it in my folder, but today while going through my folders I saw this bird, Well Manjeet, you’d better upload this picture and tell the story of when it was taken, because it’s the closest you ever got to this bird. I know you are going to laugh. Well here goes, I had told you that I had recently discovered a new patch surrounded with reeds with a pond and these birds are big but to get near them is almost impossible, they have this long neck and excellent eyesight, but my thinking is that I am smarter than a bird brain. I went to this patch at 5pm it was getting dark with an overcast sky. I cut some weeds and tied them around the outside band of my Tilley’s Hat. I used quite a few of them and waited. At 6.20pm the four birds arrived. I had wriggled to the edge of the pond and started taking pictures but just after a couple of shots one of them saw me and with one harsh croak they bolted, but I knew I had the pictures I wanted. The time was already 6.30pm. When on the way to the practice I thought something was wrong with my driving seat because the roof of the car kept bumping my head. When reaching the practice and entered I was met by about 35 patients (adults and kids in the waiting room). I said “good evening” and there was a pin drop silence until a small child asked me, “where you playing cowboys and red Indians Dr Singh”, then everyone collapsed with laughter and it was then I realised that the REEDS WHERE STILL DECORATING my TILLY HAT. I bolted into my room.
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea).

8th May 2006
Today I decided to go to my original patch, the place where I started taking pictures in July last year. It’s been a long time since I was here and those Bee Eaters were very difficult for me to take pictures of. last time, but this time I swear they greeted this old man like an old friend. How I loved their antics in the air. Hope you all like it.
Blue-throated Bee-eater. (Merops viridis.)

17th May 2006
Bright cinnamon, Rufus with whitish narrowly streaked head and breast; outer primaries blackish. Size 45cm.
Since 6 days ago I injured my left heel, which has swollen up, thus I couldn’t go birding, but yesterday the addiction took over and I padded my left boot and went to one of my patches at 1pm. As I entered the patch, two small Quails erupted from between my legs, blackish-grey almost no tail, only a short flight of about five feet then they disappeared running into the scrub. I looked for them but to no avail. I decided to come back at 5.pm. to this same place and this time I slowly eased myself into the area and waited for an hour and then decided to call it quits. As I turned I saw this raptor bird, about forty feet away. “Oh my”, my first such majestic bird. I think it knew I was there and gave me quite a few shots and even obliged me by turning and giving me the other profile. The evening sun and the shadows were playing tricks with the light and I found it rather difficult to get a good shot. Finely, believe me, it lifted it's wing as if to say good bye, and then it flew away.
Still thinking about the bird my mobile rang, my staff ringing to tell me that there were patients waiting. I should have been there ten minuets ago. I ran to my car and floored the accelerator after switching on the flashing lights that I uses in emergency There are 4 traffic lights between this place and my practice and when I reached the main road a petrol cop saw my lights and came alongside on my right. I rolled down the window, “ Hi Doctor-lambat kah, (are you late). I just nodded my head and the next minute his sirens were on and we were speeding to my practice. After reaching I thanked him and he laughed and said in Malay. “photographing birds Doctor caused you to be late.” I gave him a grin and then both off us laughed. As he pulled away he shouted –“You’re OUR KIND OF DOCTOR”. and sped off. Well my friends, twenty five years in this town brings some benefits now and again. I hope you'll like the picture, I tried my best but I know it could have been better.
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

22nd May 2006
On Saturday at 4.45pm I was getting ready to go birding and had just put my camera and etching into the car when a young boy came up to me and said, “Doctor can you come and see my father in the house, it’s quite near please” How could I refuse because the hospital had called me and asked me to make this persons life comfortable till the end, his illness was terminal. And sadly he was only 39yrs old so I followed the boy to his place and did my best to ease his fathers problem by sitting with him and cleaning him up. Then it was time for me to go back to my practice. I felt so angry with my self for not being able to cure the young man, angry with God for many reasons. (Believe me I was, I am human too) I took a short cut through a lane and at the edge of this lane I saw a bird sitting on a large rusty bin. I stopped the car and the bird was cooing to itself and continued doing so while I set up my camera. I felt that the bird was calling to me and when I looked through the scope I felt an overwhelming since of peace engulf me. It was when I looked into the Peaceful Doves eye the returning look told me, “Life goes on Manjeet, there is birth and there is death in all living creatures but life goes on with memories of the good times, and the memories can bring peace to the heart. I am naming this picture “my peaceful one” Hope you don’t mind what I wrote, because as I have said before, I am human too and my professional occupation can deal me a rotten hand at times. I am thankful to Bird forum because I am able to offload my feelings without my patients knowing how I feel. The Bird Forum bring's peace to my mind.
Zebra Dove (Peaceful Dove) (Geopelia striata)
25th May 2006
There are some days when I just like to work, well Monday & Tuesday was like that, I just worked my butt off but on Wednesday I told my staff I was going to my local patch, I just wanted to walk among nature, not taking pictures but just walk. At 5 p.m. when I got into my vehicle I discovered that my efficient staff had loaded all my equipment into the car. I reached the patch and decided to just carry my camera, but was still in no mood for taking pictures. Reached the foot-path about half a mile with no birds seen, then I saw this small tree covered by grass half as tall as the tree. Suddenly a flock of glossy starling flew in. I watched them for a while and was feeling good as I walked passed the tree. In the corner of my eye I saw a lone Starling hiding among the leaves. I carefully sneaked back and took a picture, the bird heard the shutter click and turned towards me with a look of disgust and almost said “caught again”. I started laughing at my resolution not to take pictures of the birds today. The bird went flying off. As I was going back along the path chuckling to myself I saw three guys coming towards me. When they saw me their smiles became strained and they gave me a sickly look and said tuan (Sir) doctor. As they passed me I heard one guy tell the other two that this is the “Gila (Mad) Dr.” I burst out laughing and they bolted. Any old bird brain cant fool Singh Brain.
Glossy Philippine Starling (Aplonis - panayensis)

29th May 2006
This Purple Swamphen was taken from the hide that the Developer built for me and he also has fenced the pond. A little bit of blackmail and my toothy grin got the job done 3 weeks ago. I am sure you have heard this, “All’s fair in Love and War” and I include “Birding”. I found this pond on in April but every time I went birding the ants, and rain made it very difficult because I have to crawl to the edge of the pond through the reeds to see the birds. Well 3 weeks ago I decided to look for the developer and went to the housing estate and called a couple of Indonesian workers and asked them to call the boss. They looking at me, bearded and carrying a bazooka (T.D.1), well it does look like one. They ran and got him and I saw this roly-poly guy coming towards me with a angry look. Suddenly his face turned green and a smile was pasted to his face, I knew him. “Hello Doctor any problem”, he looked worried. ( He had come to see me a year ago after he had gone to a neighbouring country and had visited the red zone and contacted, V.D. I had treated him.) I told him, “till now no problem but do you think you could build me a hide at the edge of the pond and please if possible fence it”, he looked at me I had my wicked grin on my face because I also knew his wife. He told me no problem and I left. Next day when I drove back I saw the pond was fenced and a hide according to my sketch was there. He had also put up a notice board saying. “DOCTOR'S house” . I could hug him for it.(mean aint I.) This picture I took yesterday from the hide, the bird was about 40feet away. No ants, no rain on the head and I can snore to my hearts contents. Ah bliss.
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio

5th June 2006
The 3rd of June was a public holiday in Malaysia because it was our King's birthday, and my day off so I decided to go back to Telok Gong, to the old jetty where I had seen the Sunda woodpecker. This time I left my car 5miles up the road. When reaching the old jetty I started walking on the Bund which separates the mangroves and sea from the villages and cultivated area. The time was 9.30am and the sun was blazing hot. I walked about 10km and rested. Then decided to go back. I did see quite a few birds but too far away to take pictures. Half way from my starting point I stopped and took some water, and as I tilted my water bottle, what did I see? Four sentries standing watching. The sun was to my left and shining full on the birds. I took the shot and hope it is o.k.. Well now I don’t need to use a boat to see them. Ah.
Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javenicus

5th June 2006
After getting the Lesser adjutant I wanted to see if the Sunda Woodpecker was still around. There are about 4 to 5 poles imbedded in the old jetty and the poles facing inwards to the jetty have no holes, but I suspected the woodpecker’s nest was in a hole facing outwards because I saw him come two or three times in two hours and disappear. To find out I had to wade into the mangroves, tramping through the oozing, stinking mud. The tide was out and I managed to reach a stunted tree to hide behind. It wasn’t long before the bird returned, and I watched it clinging to it’s nest hole then vanish inside, but not before I took a picture. I hope it is a good picture because it was the only one I could get, the smell of the stinking mud was just too much and drove me back to dry ground, about thirty feet away.
Sunda Woodpecker. Dendrocopos moluccensis

9th June 2006
It’s been about four months since I started trying to take pictures of these little birds, they are always on the move and I’ve been having a lot of trouble with the bright sun on their stark white heads and causes the picture to have strange effects, and even now I feel I have not done justice to this birds. They are so beautiful through the scope. Not to worry, one day I will get a good close up. I was passing a housing area and they were feeding on the grass at the side of the road about 3miles from my practice. Hope you all will understand. Thanks.
White-headed Munia. Lonchura maja

12th June 2006
Stocky heron, three coloured adults with black crown and back, pearly grey wings and white under parts. Size-60cm. Believe me this place at Tasik Putri has 5000 to 10,000 birds roosting. The sounds of the birds and sight was unbelievable. It’s the first time I’ve seen a roost with so many birds. Little Heron, Grey Heron, Purple heron. Black-crowned Night Heron and Egrets. A huge mass of birds.
Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax

12th June 2006
Reached Kuala Selongor at 11am.It was raining lightly so I decided to climb the watch tower which overlooks the water catchment area. Huffing and puffing my way up the four story tower I rested before setting up my equipment.There were two other guys there watching the birds. One of them asked me he could look through my T.D.1. “No problem” I said and focused it for him. He took a peak and in his excitement yelled out, “I see a heron”, all the birds on the tree close to the hide started their racket and the timid ones who were nearby flew to the centre of the water area. (sigh) I waited for an hour before one was close enough to photograph. The bird was a wet Grey Heron. Grey Heron Ardea ciinera

13th June 2006
It’s been raining lightly for the past two days and I’m getting withdrawals with no birding, at last the weather has cleared and I decided to go to my, (‘ah’ Personal hide which I had made after a little black mail, (all’s fair in love, war and birding))
This is my lunch break and I waited a hour in the hide at my pond patch and have seen nothing. On running out of time I packed up and started heading back. As I walked back from the edge of the pond I saw a movements way across the pond, I looked and saw this pair of birds. I did take a picture of the birds in September 05 but at a different place. I hope to get a closer view of them in the future. Hope you like it. Light Brown plumage and scaly wings are diagnostic. No white streak on flanks
Lesser Whistling-duck or Tree duck Dendrocyna javanica

15th June 2006
It started raining heavily at three pm this afternoon and I wanted to go birdwatching on my break at five pm and suddenly at five fifteen it stopped, so I bolted for the hide at my pond patch, thinking, if it rained again I would be sheltered. I sat in my hide watching the Purple Swamp Hens chasing each other and I also saw the Purple Heron sneak into the reeds. When it was time for me to go back to work, I stepped out of the hide and suddenly-this bittern flew up about a foot away. I watched it fly over the reeds and land on the edge of the pond on the other side. I carefully walked behind the pond and then crawled to the ponds edge through mud and wet reeds. I saw the bird sitting motionless and took about 7 pictures, then the canny one saw me and I couldn’t help laughing because that’s one up for me.
Small ,slim with rich chestnut or cinnamon plumage, creamy beneath with dark
streaks down central neck and breast; yellowish bill and legs
.Hope you can see the beauty in the bird as I saw it.
Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
20th June 2006
Last Sunday I decided to take a walk around my housing area, it had rained all day till about 4 pm it became bright but still with grey skies. Just as I stepped out of my gate I saw this Female Asian Koel backing into the branches on a tree to my left. Without looking at it I fixed my camera tripod, turned and took a picture of this lady, it flew off with such racket as if I had made a pass at her..(ah)..My First unusual pose of this bird.
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea.

22nd June 2006
I am still trying to get close to the lesser whistling duck for a picture, the last picture I took was roughly between 150 to180 feet away. A couple of nights ago on my break at five pm I parked my car about half a mile from the pond and started stalking from the rear, through the mud and reeds, the last few yards I crawled on my stomach to the lip of the pond and immediately saw the Duck. As I was getting set up a Swamp Hen came and chased it closer to me, roughly ninety feet away. With the first picture the duck heard the shutter and I was only able to get three pictures before it headed into the reeds out of sight. Well my Ducky friend, “one day I will get you at 20 feet”. And I shook my fist at the reeds as I headed back to the car.
Lesser Whistling-duck or Tree duck Dendrocyna javanica

30th June 2006
Since Monday I have not done any birding, too much work and an overload of insurance claims to write. I was very moody and left for my patch yesterday at 1pm, telling my staff, “if anyone comes tell them doctor has gone to see the shrink”, (Don’t panic, my shrink is birds, birds and birding. “ha”)
I parked myself near this old Indian temple and watched the world and birds go bye,
My attention was drawn to a Pacific Swallow feeding her two chicks, one of them was trying to con an extra feed from mom. I couldn’t take pictures of the youngsters because they were partially hidden by the temple wall. When the mother came and sat on the wall in full view I was then able to take the picture.
One look through the scope and my whole body was alive and mind singing and it had only taken about ten minuets of watching those birds for my body to be purged of all it’s moodiness, my mind was again at peace, that is why I call this shot my Mood Elevator. Hope you like it, “well I am only human and I to have mood swings.
Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica.

After the pacific swallow I decided to go on the opposite side of the road where I could see growing a kind of wild shrub and stunted trees, and in the trees I could see juvenile Blue-throated Bee-eaters being feed by their parents. I wanted to get closer but then decided to take the pictures at about 85 feet away. The parent bird flew away at the sound of the shutter. I waited quite a while but was only able to take pictures of the Juveniles. I returned back to my practice with my mind and body in harmony again. I have posted these pictures, not too bad I think, but pictures don’t matter in comparison to how I felt. What I felt was priceless. I was washed clean of all impure thoughts and was raring to take a shot at life again. (Big Grin.) I hope birding does the same for all of you.
Blue-throated Bee-eaters. Merops viridis

1st July 2006
To photograph these Black-naped Oriole’s is extremely difficult, they are so canny, they can see you from far off or if you are close they hide behind the branches.
To me this is a truly Beautiful bird. This bird is a resident in the trees just across the road from my practice. Eighteen years ago I planted seven trees around the school playing field so that school children can rest under the shade after playing. The school is about 500meters from my practice. I was hiding behind the tree and a parked lorry when the bird came and set upon a branch 30feet away. On my first shutter sound it looked at me and with my second shot I nailed it. At the time I didn’t know how the picture will come out, but looks OK. I’m not altogether satisfied with the picture because the bird seen through the scope looked really beautiful. I hope you like it. Male -brilliant yellow with black mask through eyes meeting at nape, black wings, black tail with yellow tips; pinkish-orange bill. Size-26cm.
Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis

10th July 2006
Yesterday morning my wife asked me to help her pack their luggage, she and the three children are going away for a while to Kashmir on sixteenth, next week. I put on a sad, long face and started helping her to pack. A long face to show all of them that I am going to miss them. I’m sure many of you guys have also done that. My youngest was also helping and while we were packing there was this noisy racket outside my gate, my friend the Kingfisher was looking for me. I quickly told them I will back in a minuet and went out onto the porch and there was my resident White-throated Kingfisher shouting away at me. Quickly I grabbed my camera took a few pictures because I just can’t resist doing so. These last two weeks have been rather zero where birding was concerned. I went back inside and continued helping them pack, again with a sad look on my face. My little one was watching me and then said, “ pappy we are sure you are happy that we are going on a two months holiday, so why the long face? because now you have eight to nine Sundays to do birding”. Both my wife and I collapsed with laughter. Out of the mouths of a child ‘eh’. Well I hope you like my noisy resident. Keeping in practice-ah.
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
17th July 2006
Well folks I got Bad News and Good News. I think I will start with the Bad News, My wife was supposed to go to Kashmir on Sunday the sixteenth but had a bit of fever so I postponed the trip till the twentieth.(hee evil aint I -hee)Thus knowing my mom, wife and kids will be snoring till midday, I decided to go birding to Telor Gong, Port Klang. I reached the bund area by 7.15am, the morning was still misty with no sun but daylight was appearing. When I looked across the bund, I saw on a dead tree, my “flying money”, I didn’t miss getting some pictures and I was as happy as pig wallowing in mud. Birding gets me like that most of the time. Thick red bill brownish/greenish above, dark turquoise below, SILVERY DOLLAR SHAPE PATCH ON PRIMARIES-seen in flight-that's why I call it my FLYING MONEY) size-30cm.
Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis

17th July 2006
I continued walking on the bund and then returned the same way. I then saw two Woodpeckers, I’m not sure what species they were and the pictures are quite dark because they were deep in the branches, I will check when I get home. After I managed to get pictures of the Jungle Fowl I sat down for breakfast, a sandwich. I had just finished the sandwich when in the distance I noticed some creatures moving towards me, they seem to be rolling on the ground and running at the same time, “Oh no”, not a troop of monkeys”. I waited with my heart in my mouth but joy upon joy, they were a family group of seven otters. At about thirty feet away they stopped and frolicked there for ages, and believe me I loved watching the youngsters rolling in the dust and if they came too near to me their parents would call them back. Watching these Otters was the crowning glory of my birding day. When they slipped away and left I got up and went home and got there before my snoring family woke up. ‘Ah’ My friends, it was a beautiful day.
Otters(Mangrove or Sea otters.

22nd July 2006
Took this picture at the Telor Gong area near a village, before I went to the bund area last week on the sixteenth. It reminded me of myself after a long stint of thirty six hours at the local hospital. My turban was usually turned around, my beard going four ways, and my moustache turned upwards towards my eyes after a couple of mouth to mouth resuscitation due to bad breath of the patients. (I still shudder at the thought). I assumed I looked something like this bird if you can imagine a turban on the kingfisher, but folks please don’t ask me to give mouth to mouth to this guy, look at the beak, “Yikes”.
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis

24th July 2006
The weather was dull and grey and I felt just as depressed, but when I saw this bird it was like I became alive again, this was the first time I had seen this bird. I knew it was a broadbill but not the species. Thanks to Bird Forum data base and it’s experts they nailed the identification for me. “thank’s guys. I only wish the day was more sunny but, no matter, I enjoyed it like I always do when birdwatching. Well I will soon be posting my birding day at F.R.I.M., and that was a laughter filled event.
Banded Broadbill Eurylaimus javanicus
25th July 2006
After trudging all over in FRIM, I saw a foot path going up a hill and asked a jogger, (he was thinking who s the fully dressed up mad guy in track suit, and I was thinking who is this crazy guy jogging in the blistering heat, humidity and grey sky.) “where does this path go”? he said, “to the guest house which has been closed since last year”. What a wonderful place for us, I thought. The ideal place for me and my walking brewery. On reaching the place we found it was locked with a rusty lock and a sagging gate. well there is a saying, “no lock can keep out the Doc”. Taking out my trusty pen knife and with a little bit of fiddling I got the gate opened. My friend and I went up to the building that was very run down but there were a few fruits tree fruiting. “Bingo” I thought, there just has to be some bird who will come to feed here. We sat down to rest and I took out my ale. It was just after midday. After a long cool drink I saw a movement under the canopy of leaves and this red-eyed beauty was there staring at me. Please believe me he was already drunk, and had red-eyes to prove it. This was another first for me. I hope you’ll like it. The light was a little low because the bird was within the depths of the tree, a rather defused light.
Red-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus brunneus

7th Aug 2006
Yesterday picked up Peter Ericsson, (the Birdman from Thailand) at the Airport. Lucky for him his p.m. found me free for Sunday, so I went and picked him up and safely dumped him at Fraser Hill. On the way I noticed this beauty, well Peter's Luck or mine. We made the most of it, I’m sure his pictures will be better than mine. One for me Birdman. I hope you like this one I’ve posted. Don’t worry Peter reached Fraser's Hill in one piece. don’t believe me eh.
Blyth's Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus alboniger

7th Aug 2006
Reached the main street of Fraser's Hill, Peter found his Puncak Inn. Peter called it Pancake Inn. As we came out on a small building nearby, this bird was feeding on the edge of the roof. Peter immediately took out his Gun and I took out my Bazooka and we fired away. I an quite satisfied with my results but I think Peter's shot was better. “To you Birdman” I hope all of you in Bird forum will like it, it’s a beautiful bird. As for the quality of the pictures well you are the judge
Silver-eared Mesia. Leiothrix argentauris.

9th August 2006
BIRDING TRIP TO F.R.I.M,a LADY WITH TWIN TOWERS DOUBLE THE SIZE OF DOLLY PARTON'S Brea.. and bad weather-BELIEVE IT OR NOT .
Decided to go to F.R.I.M (Forest Reserve Inst. of Malaysia) on 23th.07.06.
Got up at 6.30am and quietly started to take my shower. Stupid me why quietly, my family has gone on a holiday. I started singing “Jail House Rock” at the top of my voice. Then I heard a few shoes being thrown at my bathroom window from my neighbours and then LOUD KNOCKING at the bathroom door. “Oh my God”, I forgot Mom was still in the house. I opened the door partially and she was shouting,
(((((“I used to bath you and clean your soiled diapers, are you hiding from me, you idiot, don’t you know that I was sleeping, and furthermore, my son, Your voice can raise the dead. Now get out fast and go, if I cant sleep in half an hour YOUR T.D.1 goes out of the window, have I made my self clear”.))))
In record time I got ready and went down and packed everything in the car. Then ran up to Mom's room tickled her and gave her a huge hug while she was shouting,” LET ME GO YOU BEAR RUG” .I ran down the stairs shouting, “Mom the T.D.1 is in the car safe.” (I am a mean and loving son). Now I started to sing loudly as I left and a few more shoes were being thrown at my car from the neighbours. I hadn’t a care in the world because I was free and going birding.
I picked up my walking brewery and off we went to FRIM. It’s about one hour from klang a place called Sg.Buloh. We were early when we reached the reception desk and had to wait till eight am when it opened, and after paying I drove in. Never go on a Sunday, the place gets crowded with people. I parked my car near a show house made of wood, a tourist attraction village house and sat there for a while listening. When I heard the sounds of birds I forgot every thing else. First bird seen was a Straw headed Bulbul, The pictures were not too clear, then a Yellow-vented Bulbul, heard a cooing of a Pink-necked Pigeon and then heard the laughter of the White-throated Kingfisher. Looks like a promising day. I let the atmosphere soak through me and became tuned in with nature, now I was ready.
We walked around for a while, enjoying the birds sound and then drove to the closed Rest House, and used a pen-knife to open the rusty gate, “old habits die hard” . I parked the car half way in the gate and walked up towards the old fruit tree near the unkempt lawn. Just about 60 feet from the tree I saw a blue beak with what I thought was streaks of yellow strips on the wings, and the bird had a faint blue eye-ring. “Oh my”, the first Banded Broadbill I have ever seen. I took about twenty five pictures hoping to get at least one good one because the sky was cloudy. When I tried to get closer the bird flew away. Then I spied a second tree about forty feet away and as I walked towards it I saw my first Golden-Whiskered Barbet. Again I took up to twenty pictures. I tell you my friends, it wasn’t easy, the horde of mozzies were following me as usual.
By then the time was about midday, my how time flies when one is enjoying themselves. I then noticed my walking brewery looking through my old battered binoculars down the hill at a stream near the back of the house. I shouted at him to come and have some ale, (Tetley’s ale my favourite.) but got no response, that was very strange, normally when I shout ale he comes running with a broad grin on his face. I quietly walked up behind him, and “Oh my”, he’s watching some ladies bathing in the stream about two hundred yards away, and in only what nature had given them. I rapped him on the head and grabbed the bins and told him to come, secretly I was wishing he wasn’t here so I could watch, (naughty aint I).
I went to the lawn in front of the house and sat down under the tree and took a long swallow of the cool ale. Why do special birds arrive when I’m not ready, just as I lowered the can a bird came and sat on a branch of the tree I was sitting under, about fifteen feet away from me, it was a wonderful Black and Yellow Broadbill, by the time I got up it had flown away. I drowned my sorrow in my ale and cried. “well almost”.
Then I decided to drift at random till I noticed a bungalow on a hill so drove up the drive and parked my car under a huge tree just out side the building, the tree was at least sixty feet high. and I saw another fruiting tree at the edge of the land close to the jungle, with a small stream running down nearby. I walked around as if I owned the place and then a man came running out and before he could say anything I asked “where is your Boss.” Tuan(Sir), “he has gone to K/L. with his family”. “Well tell him Dr.Manjeet Singh was here for a few hours of birding” .
Who knows he might tell him, and if he does tell him, so what! I wont be here next time to see him if he’s around, if he is, then I will act with confidence again and I doubt if he will stop me. See how easy it is. (cheeky blighter aint I)
He personally took us to a seat close to the tree where we sat down and had our lunch, chasing it down with another ale. I walked close to the tree and watched some birds through my scope. First was the Red-eyed bulbul. A tick for me, the bird already had a hangover, showing it’s red eyes.
Next was a Crimson-winged Woodpecker, then a Stripe-throated Bulbul. I was in a bird wave. A Copper-smith Barbet visited and I got a glimpse of a Chestnut-breasted Molkoha, ?, I think.
When no other species were seen I strolled down to the stream about close to the jungle and sat down on an old stump. A few minutes later in glides a Black Giant Squirrel. I thought it was a Flying Squirrel until I checked later, but honestly, it glided with the furred sides opened up. I watched it sitting there for a while, then it turned and glided back into the Jungle. It was then I noticed a leech gorging it self on my right wrist, I waited for it to gorge itself and fall off, then wrapped a hanky around the wrist to stop the trickle of blood.
Since it was getting cloudy and windy I decided to go but Marmot's words kept ringing in my ears, “Manjeet don’t go to the canopy walkway”. “Oh why didn’t I listen”
After thanking the man for allowing us to watch birds in his masters garden, my walking brewery and I drove off to the canopy walkway. We reached the canopy walkway after huffing and puffing up a 300metre hill. At the top of the hill there was a rope bridge that stretches for 200meters across the canopy to a hill on the other side and is about 30 feet up from the ground. The rope bridge is made out of one broad single plank fixed to ropes and the side walls made also from ropes about six feet high, so that we don’t fall. I allowed my side-kick to cross first, then with my tripod and camera I followed. I was hoping to take a shot of the twin towers because I was told that you can get a clear view from the middle of the rope bridge, but when I reached the centre, the wind picked up and the bridge began swaying so I decided to forgo the shot. When about ten meters from the end the bridge began swaying even more and I heard a loud scream, “No it wasn’t me that screamed, but I felt like doing so”. I quickly dashed to the end and turned to see a huge lady about six feet tall, and with chest like ‘the twin towers’, “double the size of Dolly Pardon’s breasts”. The rope bridge was sagging down in the centre and there was a fifty percent incline on the walkway. The wind had almost became a gale and the whole bridge was swaying, and the lady was hanging on and continuously screaming. I looked for the chap who is in charge of the bridge and saw him dashing down the hill to get help. I then looked at my brewery but he edged away with a look of fear in his eyes.
“Oh boy”, here we go again and I handed my equipment to the brewery and told him if he dropped this I will kill him. I started walking back towards the centre and stopped about ten feet from the hysterical woman, I knew not to get any closer because she might grab me due to her fright. I squatted down and shouted at the lady to stop screaming, she stopped but was hanging on side ways, I asked her to turn and face me which she did and the side ropes bulged out and the swayed lessened. “Now look at me and do what I am doing” I lay face down and she followed, it was an even distribution of weight that I was trying to achieve. The rope bridge slowly lessened it’s swaying. I then told her to, “grab the side ropes attached to the plank and start pulling yourself forward”. Well my friends I kept inching back and she kept inching forward and I started breathing again. I kept talking to her and told her that I am a Doctor I wont let any thing happen to her, if she had fallen you would have bounced but poor me I would have been flattened. Whenever humans get in a position where their life is in danger they scream and void there bodily waste, or they start flatulating. Well this lady stopped screaming but the flatulation,! believe me the thunder over head couldn’t drown her sound and the wind was blowing my way, “Oh god why me”, and oh the smell. Finally my feet touched the planking on the other side and my friend helped me up and then went to help the lady. I found my Tilley hat and jammed it on my head and looked over to see the guy who was in charge of the bridge returning with two bouncers from a pub for help.
I think I started shouting at him for letting this lady get on the walkway when suddenly--- (EVERY THING TURNED DARK AND SOFT AND THEN I FELT SOME ONE KISSING(SLOUBRING ALL OVER MY FORE HEAD AND I COULDNT BREATH). I wrenched my head out from the darkness into daylight and saw this lady smiling at me and saying, “Thank you”. (((((You-told her I was married ?)))))) Then I felt the breeze on my partial bald head, my Tilley was missing, I looked around and saw it perched on the twin mountains, I grabbed my hat and my things and bolted down the side of the hill, looking back I couldn’t see my brewery and then I saw him twenty feet in front running like a marathon athlete. We ran for about a mile and on reaching the car collapsed panting. Then he told me that I was bleeding from the fore head and down to my face and beard. I took out my second hanky and wiped it. “THE BLOODY LADY HAD BEEN CHEWING BEETLE-NUT”, that and her saliva was smeared all over my face, I used water to try and wash it off but without soap the red stain doesn’t wash off. We got into the car, me with my red face, and started driving towards the gate. Then I stopped and asked my brewery, “I was running because she kissed me but why were you running ?. He said, Tuan(sir), you are married and she kissed you, I helped her the last ten feet and I am not married, “ WHAT DO YOU THINK SHE WOULD HAVE DONE TO ME”.
Both of us collapsed howling with laugher in the car.
LAUGH LIFE IS SHORT.

14th Aug 2006
Received a p.m. 4 days before and it said, “Hi-I am Peter Ericsson, could you let me know how to get from K.L.I.A. to Fraser's Hills”. Since it was a Sunday and I was not working, so I decided to pick Peter up. I think I told you before that no one allows me to drive long distances. I am banned by Mom and my wife, they say I drive too fast. So my young friend Chandra had volunteered to drive me to the Airport. Peter had told me he will be wearing his Aussy hat and I told him I will be wearing my Tilley’s. We reached the Airport at 1.20pm, the flight had just arrived. While waiting outside I saw these 4 to 5 children, about 8 to 11yrs old, and heard them whispering, “Kenny Rogers”, believe it or not my beard is almost white now, and with the hat, maybe they thought I was the Singh version of Kenny. Then I heard one say, “Oh the Kenny Rogers Rooster chicken is good” I bolted from there worried that they may ask me to buy them a meal. Then I saw a tall guy without a hat, a foot taller than me, smiling (a shy type of smile). Hi Peter I said he came over and then took his luggage and dumped it in the car. He then had to change some U.S dollars. Then we left for Fraser's. He appeared a shy chap, but I know how to break the ice and asked him what birds had he seen. He had a far away dreamy look on his face and started telling me the story of the Pitta, he never kept quite after that. Then I admired his gun and he admired my bazooka, and said mine had a good length and I told him that his also was quite big. “Now hold it right there readers, I was referring to his camera and he to mine. “Phew”, one can get the wrong idea sometimes. I finally left him at the Hills after an hour of chatter and birding, then I left to return to klang. Just as I was leaving I took a picture of him to go with the others I had taken earlier you can see the far away look as he listens to the bird sound even forgotten to take off the lens cover. Well Peter I hope you get your lifers.
Peter Ericsson Homo -sapiens

14th Aug 2006
When my brother had taken my mom to Fraser’s hill, I had to follow, and as they refused to let me drive at night, I had to wait till the morning. and when Broc from J.B. who had come to klang for a holiday, called, I asked him is he free to go to the Hills tomorrow. “Yes” he said. Broc is a Bird Forum member. At 5am I collected my brewery and a young friend, Vicky, who drove my car because he wanted to see some raptors. This young chap is becoming interested in birding, the feathered variety. We reached Fraser’s Hill by 9.30am. Saw my brother and family briefly and said “Bye”. Mean aint I, but where birds are concerned I have no time for idle chatter.
Broc and I had lunch of very spicy food and there was smoke coming out of my colleagues ears and he kept panting for over half an hour. After lunch we walked and I saw a sign saying “Private Property” so I just walked in and Broc started shouting, “Manjeet it is a private House”. I turned around and told him, “I CAN'T READ”. The poor chap followed me in and immediately we saw a beautiful bird sitting there. Both Broc and I took a lot pictures, then we said good buy to the bird and left, the bird just sat there.
Large Flycatcher (male photo) has dark blue under parts and a paler crown. Size about 21cm-Well my First I am sure it was Broc's first too..
Large Niltava Niltava grandis
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Broc 24th May 2006
Spent Sunday morning with the good Doc who was generous enough to show me his favourite bird haunts in Klang. If you think his writing is humorous you should meet up with him in person! He shared his private hide (I kid you not) which is constructed overlooking a fairly large pond filled with flowering water lilies!! Observed Purple heron, purple swamphens, cinnamon bittern, chestnut munia and greater coucal. BTW everyone recognises him and waves! All in all an excellent morning well spent with the good Doctor!
Marmot
And you lived to tell the tale, you didn't get arrested, break any bone in your body or get drunk! This must be a first for the Doctor; we must send him out with company more often.
Broc
hahaha! We did stop by a watering hole to quench our thirst after a long hard morning. Funny thing ... the water had turned to beer! Glad I lived to tell the tale cos the good Doc will show you snake strike marks on his boots!
(Photo of the Doc with his tripod.
Dancy
Nice one. Is there any particular reason for the legendary doc setting up his tripod in squashed tiger droppings? I bet he's got the claw marks on his backside! Give him my regards.
ps. can't see the sword
Broc
Hi Dancy. Doc sets his tripod up in tiger droppings to mask his presence from the other tigers of course! This however is a problem when it comes to elephant droppings and more so when they ain't pre-squashed! Moments like this is when having a portable brewery helps!
Manjeet
Broc,Broc-what have you done now nobody will go birding with me

sad

-Keith have to wear construction cloths-birding in the wild, wild west in klang is a wee bit dangerous(ah) but don’t worry I can always take you to a place where they don’t wear cloths(deep in the jungle-ah-Orange asli settlements-Native people of Malaysia-:wink

Digi321-that's the secret of my practice(ah).Mamot I did bring Broc back alive-now Dancy I am waiting for you

Big grin

-:smile:
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22nd Aug 2006
Today my mom and I were sitting at the back of the house, it was Sunday, my day off. We were watching this Magpie Robin fighting with a crow and believe me the Robin won. It then went and sat on the back fence that separates my neighbour's house and mine, and started shouting it's victory to the world. The time was 6.59pm and the sun had just gone down but one ray of sunlight was striking my back window and its reflection shone back to mid-way on the bird's breast. I had my camera with me and took a picture. I have never taken a picture under such a low light, but I do like the results, they surprise me. I think I was pushing the T.D.1 to it's limits.
Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis.

30th Aug 2006
Today was one of those days when every thing that could go wrong went wrong in my practice. By 12.30pm after sending the emergency’s to the hospital I gave a dressing down to my senior nurse, telling her to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Then I scolded a diabetic for not taking care. I then walked out to go birding, It was my lunch break. I was going to my mud-flat patch. As I passed the counter, the Diabetic patient asked the senior staff, “Dr Manjeet is angry”, and she replied, “he has MPS” I somehow reached my patch, laughing all the way. The laughter had caused the tears to flow, I made sure though that no one saw me or they would be saying, “Mad Dr Manjeet is really mad. Let me explain what MPS means, it’s ‘Menopausal Syndrome’, men do have it, but not me yet. I saw this beautiful Egret at the patch and took some pictures, unfortunately I have never been able to get good feathered details of this bird and again today I am not satisfied with the results. Watching this bird slowly eased my mind and I was my usual pleasant self for the rest of the day. I hope you will like this bird with out the feathered details.
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
1st Sep 2006

Broc and I had decided to go birding and he was in charge of the morning session.
Had gone to Ampang Forest Resv.By 12.30pm the birding there was over and the cloudy weather improving.
-had lunch and then I told him Old man how about going to Telor Gong-since both of us have to go for dinner it will be closer to our place-
he gave me a glare, “I know, I know, Broc. “ I LOOK OLDER THAN YOU” (ha)”. He said, “yes”.
(always remember to make your buddy feel older than yourself and he will do anything to prove that he is younger.(I know I am mean).We reached this place at 2.30pm and I heard bird sounds coming from this wooden house by the side of the road and said to Broc “let's go and check it out”. “You go in” said Broc, “and if you come running out with a dog behind you I will be running faster ahead of you”. (oh the dirty low down...friend).
I went in, and at the side of the house this over weight lady saw me and started to put her hair in place. (the universal action of Ladies in the world) She was hooked. Before I could open my mouth she says, “Sorry (in Malay) this compound is a mess DOKTER-it rained last night” I asked her if I may look around to take pictures of birds. She said, “Oh birds-please take what ever pictures you want in my house” and went back, I then heard her shout to her husband in the house, “OH ITY GILA DOKTER nak hantar gambar burung” In English it means, “you back there, the mad doctor is taking bird pictures. Just after I called Broc, “don’t worry come on in” I saw this Woodpecker on a tree, the sun was from behind the bird and I only had one chance of a picture and took it. Well it appears o.k. Red crown and nape, greyish ear-coverts, blackish submoustachial stripe, unmarked Buffy yellowish-olive neck sides,throat,and upper breast, olive-whitish belly with dark streaks/loops, barred primaries and outer tail feathers. (Picture is of a Male).size 30cm.Sorry for the tail missing could get only one shot , there will be a next time I hope. Another first for me.
Laced Woodpecker Picus vittatus

1st Sep 2006
At the same place, Broc and I watched the parent Sunbirds feeding this little one, It was a wonder to watch this family of very active birds but again a tonic to the mind and sore muscles, so much so that I started smiling at Broc, and who by now knows me and started looking for a escape route. He’s not sure what I might get up to when I’m in this mood. It was a delight to watch these birds, and with the help of the guy upstairs I got the pictures of the parents also.
Brown-Throated Sunbird. Anthreptes malacensis
Tanny after reading all this i am wondering...Who is this Dr Manjeet Singh.....are you sure it's me my friend..)...after reading few of the stories..(like Horning my skill...did i say that...
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No worries mate, if no one else is enjoying these stories at least you are. Tell you what! why don't you get your computer expert, 'your eldest daughter' to print out the stories and put them in a folder so that all your mates can read them, or maybe get them published when the final story is edited. On second thoughts forget it, I will probably be dead and buried by then.

2nd Sep 2006
I was lucky to get the whole family of this Brown-Throated Sunbird, and I must thank my friend, Broc, our B.F. member, who kept my mother busy with his sweet talk. Brock also got some good pictures of these birds. I watched both of the parents feeding the young one, It was such a pleasure to watch.
Brown-Throated Antbreptes malacenis

2nd Sep 2006
While the female was feeding, this male was resting, it had been a feeding frenzy, the junior kept asking for more and Broc continued sweet talking my mother, (I wonder why). Poor male looked harassed. The Largest Sunbird, the male has an iridescent green and black crown, with a purplish rump and dark tail, while the sides of the face, is olive. Throat was a dull brownish in the centre with purple at the sides, the rest of the under parts were bright yellow.
Brown-Throated Sunbird. Antbreptes malacenis

2nd Sep 2006
Well he does look full doesn’t he, poor busy parents, what we go through for our children. Thank God Broc just stopped sweet talking my mother. (I know Broc after reading this you are going to kill me). “Smile”.
Juv. Brown-Throated Sunbird. Antbreptes malacenis

4th Sep 2006
Since I joined B.F. I have pestered all of you with advice, and Lima, you are the one who taught me the little I know of photo-shop, and which photo shop to use. Thanks a million for all the help you’ve given me Lorna, and I know you must have spend hours doing this for me. Regards also to all my friends in B.F. especially Ianf, and Marmot, Broc, dancy, psilo, Clive, Andy, (not joking). Mark, Katy and K.C. and so many more. I don’t think I have enough space to write down your names. All of you B.F. people. “THANKS A MILLION FOR TEACHING ME BIRDING” which I am learning in my limited way.
Blue-Banded Kingfisher(Male) Alcedo euryzona

4th Sep 2006
Just before entering the Tmn Rimba Ampang Broc met a Lady birder who he knew, she told us where there was a Blue-banded Kingfisher somewhere near the stream but was unable to see it. I like an idiot told her that, don’t worry lady, the Singh is here and the bird knows me, and laughed. We moved on and crossed the stream near the water treatment plant and as usual had to drag Broc across. As we walked up I saw a movement at the base of a tree and then saw the Kingfisher fly to a dead branch. I could hear Broc breathing down my neck and told him, get ready my friend and we blazed away like it was the battle of Mid-Way. I decided that I could not do justice to the pictures in the photo-shop so I sent them to Lima our bird forum member because she is the one who taught me what little I know about the process of photo shop. Thanks a million Lima.
Hanno from Vietnam came for a visit and he taught me a lot about birds and I was a little bit sad when I took him and his wife to the same place where we saw the Blue-banded Kingfisher, but it was the female we saw this time. Sadly, just as I took a shot my Kowa T.D.1 jammed and I’m unable to take pictures for the L.C.D remains black. So my friends it will take at least two months at least for it come back from Singapore. So please keep your pictures coming in my friends so that I can enjoy your pictures.
Male-Mostly dull dark brownish wings, blue breasted band and blackish bill.
Blue-Banded Kingfisher(Male) Alcedo euryzona

15th Sep 2006
Now please don’t get angry. with the word twitching my fellow birders. I have been birding for the last twelve days during my lunch and tea breaks from my practice, but I have not uploaded a picture for the last twelve days. (no T.D.1). Thus I have started twitching through withdrawals for uploading. (A new word I believe, ha).
I had taken this picture at Fraser Hill's with Broc a couple of weeks ago but didn’t upload it because I felt this picture wasn’t good enough. But now since I have begun twitching with withdrawals I just have to upload something. Please forgive me(ah) Small size, Rufus upperparts and pale under parts, diagnostic. Note I was surprised to see only one bird in the Data Base by Peter Ericsson. Marmot I am sure Broc has up loaded a better picture of this bird some time back, (look for missing birds).
Little Cuckoo Dove Macropygia ruficeps
21st Sep 2006
This 10cm bird is one of the canniest, restless, pain in the behind. bird, I have ever known and has the loudest mouth in the bird kingdom, (according to it's size) and has many times startled me with its loud trill from underfoot.
I had gone to Telor Gong, my mangrove area and just as I parked my car, there it was, the Ashy Tailorbird on the cable (p.s-the same cable the White-throated Kingfisher was photographed on. -my pic;s-my struggle for life)
I got down and set up the camera and focused, a perfect shot I thought, and as soon as I fumbled for the remote, and watching through the view finder I heard a loud trill and bird was gone. I looked around wildly and saw it sitting ten feet away on my right. Well from then onwards it began. I kept on following and missing, and when on reaching the end of the bund the stupid bird turned back the way we had come. I told myself, “this bird brain isn’t going to get the better of this Singh brain”. We reached the cable again, near my car, the time, one pm in the afternoon and the sun was high in the sky and hot, almost fried my brains, the Tilley hat was no protection, I wished I had my turban on. Then about twenty feet away the bird stopped and took pity on this old man. I managed just two shots when it gave a trill and was gone again. I sat down and downed two ales one after the other. Hey you guys, don’t scold me, I had lost a lot of fluid. Thankfully I did manage to get this one, not very good picture, but after that chase the best ale and bird is my thinking.
I wonder how I forgot to upload this picture, probably “Old age catching up”.
Ashy Tailorbird Orthotomus ruficeps

30th Sep 2006
I wanted to down load this picture for the last couple of months but never got around to it, until yesterday when an 11 yr old boy came to my practice because he was ill. After I treated him he asked me, “Dr. Uncle did you put up the picture of the yellow bird which you took near my house when my father was ill”. “No” I said, “but to-morrow I will”.
For the past 20yrs in my practice I have done some small charity work for Terminally ill patients with Cancer. When ever the hospital send people home who are terminally ill, they call me and tell me that “so and so” has this illness and could you Dr. Singh see that they are comfortable till they leave this world.
Any patient around the radius of 15 miles from my practice I go and see. Usually I may have to change the catheter, or ryles tube (feeding tube for the patient), and spend a few minutes with them, generally I try to make them smile. So whenever I see a bird around that area I take a picture and when back at home, process it and write down what took place, a bit like a journal I guess. so here goes. The picture may not be that good but the joy it brought this young boys father cannot be forgotten. I got a call from this boy, saying that his father's catheter was out, so before going to the clinic I went to see him. The house was the last single storey building at the end of a road and just beside it was a plot of land with some shrubs and one stunted tree. I saw two beautiful Black-naped Oriols in the shrub feeding their young fledgling, so quickly I took out my camera and went closer to get a picture. These bird have unbelievable yellow colours but can vanish among the branches without a trace, which these adult birds did. However the junior bird sat there, I think he hasn’t learned the vanishing act yet. I took a few shots and then went back to the waiting boy.
I entered the house carrying my kowa and medical bag and changed my patients catheter and asked the son how has he been keeping. The lad said, “the same”. The man pointed to my camera, and the son said he wants to know what is it? “even in the pain he was feeling, he asked that”. I took out the kowa and put it on the tripod and brought it closer to the chap. and showed him the jun.Oriole on the L.C.D screen. Then I almost jumped out of my skin when the boy whistled the birds song, believe me it was so well done. I turned to see the father had a huge smile on his face for then he realised that the bird I was showing him was the birds in the plot next to his house. I left the kowa on and watched the son and father enjoying the picture and the boy kept up the whistling till the batteries in the camera ran out. Left for the practice and kept the picture .The boy's word yesterday came back to me so I told the boy to come back on Monday and I will show it to him. There is a joy of birds even to a non birder. Life has lots of up and downs but joy can be found in all these times isn’t it.
Sadly the father of the boy passed away soon after that time.
Black-naped Oriole

4th Oct 2006
While looking through my bird files I saw this picture, at first thought it was too bright but I liked the pose and the tree with pine needles. I processed it and felt it was o.k. to upload and (sly grin) I also wanted too keep in practice.
Well my friends the time is here again to laugh and enjoy the bird forum, check the thread YOUR BIRDING DAY tomorrow for my thread called, “Birding with Bins and no Camera”. Laughed out of my Patch. It is Recurvirosta's fault in my picture of the Little Cuckoo Dove. “Go birding he said, with Binoculars”, and I did what he said. “SIGH”. Hope you have a little laugh tomorrow.
Large Niltava Niltava grandis
5th Oct 2006
Birding with bins & no camera-laughed out of my patch.
Went home on Saturday, at nine pm and told my family I was going to go birding on Sunday. All of them without any fuss said yes. The last 3 weeks, I have been rather irritable, cranky and a pain in the butt to my family and patients. Post menopausal syndrome! “Oh, no way”. No, worse than that, No CAMERA.
I shooed my children away from the computer room and asked my wife to sit with me and see some bird pictures. I went into ‘psilo’s’ gallery, what better motivation for birding do we need after seeing ‘psilo’s’ pictures of birds, surprisingly my wife enjoyed them too. Being a Saturday, had two (pegs ?) (Kegs) of black label, with nuts fried in chilli's (small tiny little red ones which light a fire in your belly, but for my mood it was just right.
All this birding is due to Recurvirostra's Comments in my last picture uploaded. If no camera so what.

((((GO BIRDING HE SAID, With BINS HE SAID(sigh) AND I WILL I SAID )))))).

I borrowed a pair of binoculars from Jason Tan, (B.F. member), my binoculars are of a pre-war design, probably 1st World War I think. Next morning took a bath while singing, “I CAN'T GET NO SATISFACTION”, at the top of my voice. No one shouted, all were quite, pretending to be asleep, even my neighbours were quite, then went to say good buy to Mom, (still Singing), the door was locked and a note stuck there, said, “GO ENJOY YOUR SELF SON-please sing softly”. your loving Mom”. I wondered why every one these three weeks have been so nice. I ran to the car like a man of 20, jumped in and drove off to do my birding. I decided to go to my favourite patch, the mud flat and pond.
Taman Pandamaran Jaya, Port Klang, Selangor, Malaysia.
This patch is about one and a half miles long, and about thirty feet at the widest part. On the right is the mud flat, roughly three hundred feet to four hundred feet wide with an area of water. On the left is the Aru River which is almost like a small stream and truly dirty. This is the place where I have photographed almost fifty percent of birds that I have posted in my gallery.
I parked my car behind the old Indian temple, and took out my bag containing my ale, the walking brewery is on leave, and with my borrowed pair of binoculars set off down the path. A moment later as I looked up at the huge tree over the temple, I saw on a low branch a squirrel standing up on its hind legs, with a smirk on its face, she knew me. Then I walked to the edge of the pond and lo there was a Purple Heron, the sentry, who always flies off making a racket and saying Dr.Singh is here. But this time, he just looked at me with a sly grin on his face, “-croaked”, once and said, “NO CAMERA MATEY! “and just stood there fifteen feet away and continued to fish. I gave him a good dirty look through the binoculars and moved on. I walked for about another fifty feet and suddenly a bird flew in sight and sat about thirty feet away on a branch of a tree. “Wow”, a male plaintive cuckoo. I almost cried, “OH NO” “NO CAMERA”, It sported a beautiful grey-head, throat and upper breast, and a lovely peachy Rufus, on the remainder of the under parts. The bird stayed for around ten minutes before departing. I made my way to the mud flat pond area, my old friends have arrived, the Common Sandpipers, nine of them., five Wood Sandpiper, eleven Common Moorhens, and one Little Egret, all of them having a whale of a time eating, and the irony of it all I was roughly only twenty five feet away from them, and my presence didn’t bother them at all. “THEY KNEW I HAD NO CAMERA.”. Dirty birds. I sat for an hour and enjoying their antiques, ((((I was re-lax-(s)ing(h)- Not Manjeet Singh.)))
I then decided to move over to the bank of the Aru River, the small stream opposite the mud flat, dirty and almost black but you do find birds there. First bird was a Little Heron fishing and then my favourite bird the Cinnamon Bittern flew off about twenty feet away, “He still doesn’t like me”. I sat down on the bank of the river, and looked across at the trees opposite and saw Purple-backed Starlings mixed with Philippines Glossy Starlings, and I just sat there admiring them, then on looking up I saw my favourite bird, the Black -Shouldered Kite, hovering over two hundred feet above me. Then I realized it was almost noon so I fished out a can of ale and took a deep swig to drown the sad feeling of not having my bazooka, the KOWA. I started returning the way I had come and had only walked about a hundred feet when I saw a movement on the branch of a tree to my right. With trembling hands I looked through the bins. “OH MY GOD!” It was black above with white eyebrows and a white wing patch, yellow rump and yellow under parts grading into white under tail coverts. The bird was a YELLOW-RUMPED FLY CATCHER. It sat there for fully five minutes preening it self before flying into the dense scrubs. Slowly I flopped down onto the footpath and like a demented, frustrated, child I started hammering the ground with my fists and wept real tears. “A LIFER AND NO CAMERA” “Waaaaa”. Then I noticed I was hammering into something gooie and soft and it was splashing onto my shirt, and then I got a nose full of its stink. I had been hammering a fresh “COW PAT” one that had been crapped there earlier today. I jumped up and went as fast as I could to the old temple. All around me I could hear all the NASTY BIRDS laughing at me. I found a water pipe at the temple and stripped off and washed my hands and the shirt. Oh the horrible smell. Then I heard a chattering laugher above me and there was the squirrel about ten feet up on the branch, belly up and laughing I swear it was saying, “HOWS THE SMELL”. I shook my fist at all of them and bolted for the car and drove home with the windows down. (do you wonder why).
That was my birding day with binoculars at my favourite patch. I’m sure the birds and the squirrel are still laughing .
RECURVIROSTRA--BIRDING YOU SAID,WITH BINS U SAID.
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johnnyoxygen
fantastic storyteller you are doc manjeet,what a day you had, nice one.
Nora
Manjeet!! You are just magic!! I walked every step of the way with you and saw all that you did so who needs a camera when we have you? If we were blind you would still be able to bring life and laughter to us all! Thank you so much and not long to go till 'Bazooka' back? Thank your family too for letting you go birding with bins, I'm sure that they feel better as well!..... Keep re lax s(ing)h and please more stories!! Nora
r2didi2
Manjeet - if I had your wonderful ability to write like that, I'd seriously consider writing a book - "Dr Majeet's Memoirs - birding in Malaysia" or something..
_John M
Manjeet, Please find the time to write a book about your hilarious birding exploits, it would be a best seller. Then you could afford the Zeiss binoculars and the Canon camera and lens. Keep the humour coming Manjeet, it cheered me up no end, on a dreary, wet day on the west coast of Scotland.
Penny
Thank you so much Manjeet for a spectacular account of your day. As the others have said, you really ought to write a book, it WOULD BE A BEST SELLER and you would become a multi-millionaire.
BBird
Hi Dr. Singh You weave a story like no other. I can't tell you how much I enjoy your posts. They always bring a smile to my face and I know that is exactly what you intend for all of us to feel - joy! Thank you so much.
Gill Osborne
Dr Singh You are a star....never fail to bring a smile to one's face LOL I think we should all chip in a pound and buy you a new pair of bins and a scope
Agree with the others about getting all your adventures collected together - I'm sure you already have enough on this site alone to get started with!
Keep birding Dr Singh....we all love to hear about your exploits and adventures
Dr.Manjeet Singh
Thank you all for the offer of Bins- -Well GOOD NEWS MY kOWA IS ON THE WAY-WILL ARRIVE TO-NIGHT(my niece is on the way from Singapore and is coming to K.L. will drop it of in my house-BLESS HER(next Birthday of her's - I know what she will demand-oh my bank balance. Thank you all for keeping me involved in the forum with your funny comments and also upload of pictures that you'll uploaded for me-THANK YOU
psilo
Manjeet what can I say? I had just written a lengthy reply here to you and then accidentally deleted it!! grrrrrrrr!!! A brilliant thread from the master of story telling. I think you are very brave to go out without camera. I know that I couldn’t and woulnd want to. It would crease me up to see such wonderful things and not be able to record them for others to enjoy. That may sound sad but we are all motivated differently and I am a photographer before I am a birder.
Great story. I do hope that you are now far more sweet smelling FANTASTIC news about your camera turning up. I am soooo happy for you. Now get out there and do what you do best and make us all laugh some more!

Tanny: Hi guys, many of you have desired Manjeet to compile his outstanding stories into some kind of book and I hope, this my contribution will assist him with the opportunity to do so. Like you I wanted to see them put together and, thankfully I have the desire and time to do so. Please take a moment to reply to this thread at this section. Not only to show your appreciation to Manjeet but to inspire me to carry on till the end. Thank you all. Manjeets Ghost Writer.
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11th Oct 2006
Hey you Guys it's not ME , but the Male Sunbird singing. Yes my Kowa is back, it arrived yesterday at 11pm, my niece brought it from Singapore.
All had long faces in the house last Sunday, my whole family knew. Wife had a longer face, because I was sleeping with the Kowa last night. (mean me). I got up 4 times to check if the kowa was really there, I’m sure it has also happened to some of you. I could hardly waight for the morning get ready for work, no house calls today. Just beside my gate this bird was singing to 2 females (believe me), he was sitting there shouting cheep, cheep, wheet, proudly and loudly, handsome isn’t he. Just what I needed to test my camera. The red that you see is my Ornamental palm tree just six feet to the right, thus some portion shows in the picture, I didn’t crop it because I felt it added to the picture. Well Guys and Girls this Singh Brain is back.
Olive-backed Sunbird(male). Nectarinia jugularis
14th Oct 2006
Well people I remember these birds laughing at me last Sunday, they kept wheeling over my head and would come and sit just twenty feet away, they never sit still when they are on the trees. I went searching for them at noon today and saw them about thirty feet away and my trigger finger started to smoke. Laugh at me will you, ‘ha’. We don’t have too many pictures of these birds in the data base. Dark mantle and crown and a narrow wing bar.Size-19cm.
Purple-Backed Starling Sturnus sturninus.

14th Oct 2006
Just to show them that my camera is back, -I took a frontal shot and then shook my fist at them. As I turned away from the starlings I saw , (Waaa, waaaa) the Chestnut- winged cuckoo flying away, It’s back on migration. I looked everywhere for it but it had vanished, and it was with a heavy heart I (((drugged))) my way back to the practice, not to worry though, it's back and I hope to get it next time. Tomorrow or Monday maybe. To me it’s a really beautiful bird. Hope you enjoy this Laughing Starling.
Purple-Backed Starling

((((I wondered if you where taking drugs Manjeet, now I have your confession.)))
16th Oct 2006
Sunday went birding to a place called Bukit (hill) Julotong, about forty minuets drive from my place. I had seen this place four years ago and had a huge stretch of jungle and was told there are Horned Bills to be seen there. When we reached the place I became very sad because only one small hill was left with about seven to nine trees and the rest is a residential area, I wonder where the birds went. So then we decided to go to F.R.I.M. which was just twenty minuets drive from there. Oh, the haze is back and photography takes a hit. I tried, and did get some good bird pictures in my usually fumbling way. I decided to dedicate this bird to Bird forum for I didn’t find it in the data base, and yes, it’s a first for me also. More pictures will follow, but just now I am getting over the hang over of yesterday, ALE, I think I will give it up. I hope you like the picture. It looks OK I think. Small with black head and contrasting white-throat, and black and white breast; distinctive yellow under tail-coverts, brown above, with white tips to outer tail feathers seen in flight.Size-14cm
Scaly-breasted Bulbul pycnonotus squamatus.

16th Oct 2006
This pain in the behind bird gave me a merry chase, I would get up to about twenty feet from it and set up my camera, and with all adjustment done and ready to press the shutter button, it would then gave me a scolding and fly away. For about an hour I walked like a mad man behind this bird. On passing a group of people I heard one say in a loud whisper, “I thought birders always stay put in one place and wait for the birds to arrive, so why is this nut Singh running after them”. I finally stalked the bird from behind to about twenty feet and got this picture. As I was going back I meet the same crowd and one of them said, “Singh did you get the bird”. “Yes I said, I was only after a backside picture”. Hope you like this, I liked the colours of the bird.
Tiger Shrike Lanius tigrinus

16th Oct 2006
While walking with my walking Brewery, he grabbed me from behind by my shirt and I thought he was saving me from stepping on a snake. Just like an excitable two year old, my brewery pointed to a tree, and sitting there was this black squirrel, a huge one, I took a shot and then saw this little bird just three feet away from the squirrel. I managed one picture and when I tried for the second, the kowas batteries had run low. In a mad panic I ripped off the kowa and went fumbled for the batteries, by the time I had everything fixed together the bird had showed it’s butt and flew away.
Often incomplete yellow-eye ring, typically not linking up with the yellow ear patch, plumage olive, pale olive-grey below, becoming yellow is on abdomen and beneath tail. Now the beak seen in the picture is slightly open when I took the shot.
Yellow-eared Spider Hunter Arachnothera chrysogenys.
17th Oct 2006
Monday is always a mad day in my practice so I went through my patients like a hurricane in Florida. By twelve thirty I was free and scooted for my patch, and when I got there I did what a good birder does, I set up my equipment for taking pictures. As I strolled along I noticed a movements in a stunted tree about fifty feet away. I looked through the scope and there to my excitement was this female, Yellow-rumped Flycatcher. I started taking pictures. The bird was busy eating a caterpillar, so I moved to a new position to get a better picture. Suddenly I saw the male Flycatcher and the rotten thing flew away. “Waaaa, blubber, blubber” I did my usual thing, fell down to the ground, crying and hammering the grass with my fist, but this time I looked to see that there were no cow pies around. I had missed this elusive bird again. Hope you like the female, because the male Flycatcher does.
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia
19th Oct 2006
Well the Haze and heat is back in Malaysia and when at my patch at 1pm it was unbearable, but the bug of birding had bitten me on the behind and after walking a mile up and down, panting and sweating I stopped under a small tree and it was here when I saw this little brown bird also panting. I just silently watched it while under that shaded tree and surprisingly it came closer to about twenty feet away from me. It sat there on the dried branch of the tree and kept looking it me, now even a dumb Singh like me can under stand why? I pointed my camera and fired away. I then though I saw it giving me a bow before going, or was it the heat effecting me. (((or the drugs drugging me))) (Hee, hee). It was a simple brown bird but all birds are beautiful to me. Hope you like it, I did and sweated buckets for this one.
Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica.

25th Oct 2006
It is the time of holidays here in Malaya, first the festival of light for us Indians, and then the Idd holiday for the Muslims. So yesterday with my practice being closed, I headed for the Telor Gong. I landed up at the old lady's house, the one where Broc and I had photographed the Lace woodpecker. The thing the old lady asked was “where was Broc”. Brock is our B.F. member from Johore. Are you reading this Broc in Australia. I told her that he has been thinking of you all the time, she gave me a whack on the head and said, “you are a smooth criminal”. I gave her the sweets that I had brought for her grandchildren and then went off to her fruit tree, suddenly a brightly coloured bird wheeled in front of me and settled back on the lower branches. “Oh my” it was an Asian Paradise Flycatcher. The head was a blackish-blue. believe me, but the tail was not long. It was a difficult bird to get a good picture of Because it stayed in the middle of the canopy and the light wasn’t too good. I hope you like my beauty.
Asian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi

25th Oct 2006
Today work was a killer, patients after patient and the ringing of the cash box was real music to my ears, (ah-mean aren’t I) After I had shot 0pps I mean after I had seen all my patients (You cant blame me, too many comments in B.F.saying excellent shot). I left for my mud-flat and pond patch, the place where Changchun took those sneaky shots of me. On reaching the patch and feeling tired, I just sat under one of the stunted trees and lazed in its shade out of the sun. The weather was beginning to turn bleak when I saw the freaky Yellow-rumped flycatcher, the female again. Then as if by magic this beautiful bird was sitting just thirty feet away, all I had to do was click the shutter button. “Oh” the bird's beauty took my breath away and all my tiredness vanished in a instant.
After the picture I took a shot of a Tiger shrike and then galloped back to my practice with my sword swinging behind. lucky Wengchun, you were lucky that day I was not carrying my sword. (Ha). I hope you like this picture I ran back to post it, so you can also enjoy the beauty of this bird.
Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus
26th Oct 2006
Sunday I had got the male after telling the old lady in Telor Gong that Broc was fine, and today I went to my patch thinking I will see the plaintive cuckoo or the male Yellow-rumped Flycatcher. I sat at the edge of the Aru river bank at my patch near my practice, smelling the pungent odours of the dirty stream. I asked my self, “what am I doing here”? and a voice in my head said, “don’t worry you’re not cuckoo yet, just carry on birding Manjeet”. It was then I saw a brown bird skim over the stream and take an insect from the water (do these birds do this) and went and perched across the river about sixty feet away on a thick vine, it was the female Asian Paradise Flycatcher. (am I right, is this the female?). A bonus for me I guess. It was taken at a distance and hope all of you will like it.
Asian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi

30th Oct 2006
Went to my patch again at Telor Gong, Pandamaran, I was told by a small boy that he had seen a Black bird near the mangroves, I showed him the picture of the Black Baza and he confirmed it. I reached the bund area by eight am. It was a bit cloudy and soon after I started walking I saw my red turbaned one, the Common Flame-back Woodpecker. Then a few feet away the Sunda Woodpecker was hammering away on a palm tree, I got a picture but not very clear. Then I walked a couple of miles with my heavy load, No ale again, the brewery is still on leave. I must be getting old because I had to rest. Just as I sat down I looked to the left and there was the Black Baza setting on the mangrove side. I got my camera ready and adjusted the focus and just as I pressed the shutter button the “BLOODY” (sorry....heat and all that) bird flew off. I sat there cursing to high heaven. Before I had reached my car I saw this Blue-tailed Bee-eater. Well I thought, “beggars cant be choosers” so I took some pictures. well at least I got one clear picture but the bird was a bit ruffled with my statement, (beggars cant be choosers). Hope you like it because I just cant resist photographing these birds, they are so beautiful.
Blue-tailed Bee-eater. Merops superciliosus
31st Oct 2006
I was in two minds should I put up the picture or not-I feel the picture is not clear enough but on the other side the laughter it gave me was too much so decided that you’ll should share in the laughter.Sunday as you know I had gone to Telor Gong and had posted my last picture(bee-eater) but the first picture was this. Reached the area at 8.10am-parked my car near the old ladies house and walked to the wooden house just 100 feet away-now the guy living in the house is a ex-solider(cpl) and was in Congo 1947-90yrs old may be a day younger-he knows that I was a Doctor in the army also a ex-captain-the salute he gives is the typical British one-and can you’ll imagine me carrying my scope camera ,tripod have to respond and many a time saw stars in the day time when the scope gives me a wack on the side of the head.After seeing him walked about 15 feet saw the lacy on a palm tree-adjusted my focus and just about to press the shutter it flew then heard a loud roar of disappointment- looked behind me 10 feet away were about 27 people the old man and his brood were following me-a four yr old girl child came forward and sadly said-TIDAK DAPAT(mean you didn’t get it) I shook my head and then she seriously pointed to the next tree -I saw the lacy there. Galloped after it-just 20feet I stopped and adjusted the focus-I felt it was going to be the best shot of my life-just as I clicked the shutter-the stupid bird flew-this time heard a howl of anguish from the 27 people behind me(just 10feet behind me they had followed me)-looked back with anger but saw this little girl with a little finger on her lips telling every one to shush-called them all over and the old man whispered in my ear-he is on the next tree-the whisper was louder as fox hunting horn. This time told them don’t move and moved nearer the tree-saw it through the scope it was busy eating ants and had partly covered his eye with a membrane-seen in the shot. Took 2 shots and it flew away quickly turned with my sad hound dog look -looked at them-all of them were almost ready to weep, esp. the little girl-then I just gave a load HA-all of them started cheering as if they had got the shot them self-showed all 27 people the picture on the L.C.D-it looked o.k. but had to post it-guys and girls 27 (me included) people and the LITTLE GIRL took this shot. Hope you like it.Regards.
Laced Woodpecker Picus vittatus

Tanny 31st Oct 2006
Youre an absolute "Cadbury fruit and nut case" Wish I could put a smily here. I've read many of your reports but have never made a comment, just had to this time.Thanks sport for all the funny stories and excellent pictures.
Oct 2006
Thank you very much...
Tanny thank you for the comment in the Lace & Laughter...well since I was seven years old I made a promise always to laugh and then became a Doctor. I see sixty to seventy patients a day, every day, they come to me sad but when they leave they have a smile on their faces. No matter how bad the case, if I can ease their agony (certain cases) with laughter. I don’t give them hope but show them how to live with the pain and have laughter with their family. I then believe I have achieved my goal and to me it’s the same in birding, why not have laughter with such beautiful gift’s of nature. Birds and birding eases my mind and soul and laughter makes it all worth while, even one laugh. That’s me Tanny. “Laugh Life is short.”
Regards. Oh keep your comments coming you hear.
1st Nov 2006
Well from the title you should guess how much trouble I had in getting the pictures of this warbler. I went to my Mud-flat and pond patch at five pm and sat down at my usual place beside the Aru river. I am beginning to miss the smell(ah). On looking across I saw a movement on a dead tree just across the river, then I saw this tiny little birds rushing around and suddenly they flew across to my side, just about fifteen feet away from me. Quickly I adjusted my scope and camera and then the fun started, they were never still and it must have been about twenty minuets before one of them rested long enough for me to snap a few pictures. They just kept running around the tree on the top branches and after about thirty minuets of this I was panting and my knees were wobbly and I just had to have a rest. It was then one of them came out and set looking at me and I did manage to get two pictures, the second being this one I have posted. There was almost an hour between the first pictures and the last ones and there is a lot of difference between the two picks due to the Light. This was another first sighting of this bird and even though the vines were there I was pleased with the results. I hope you are also.
Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis

2nd Nov 2006
Today when I walked into my patch this bird saw me and started a racket which could be heard for miles around and then followed me about. When I got the picture of the female Plaintive Cuckoo, the Shrike started up again. I then started walking back and just before reaching my car he was there again, but this time he posed on the branch almost begging me to take his picture. So my friends what could I do but take a picture, and believe me, it looked at me for a minute and then silently flew away. With a beautiful bird and the sun shinning I felt happy and in peace. Regards it wanted you to see it's pictures I guess.
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus

2nd Nov 2006
Well To-day I went back to my patch looking for the Chestnut-winged Cuckoo again, and waited like a cuckoo in the hot sun on the bank of the Aru river. It wasn’t long after getting there when I saw the female Cuckoo from across the river, it would be a long shot but when I looked through the scope and said, “Breast Out, breath in, Hold it” and took the picture, the female did what I told her to do. I had photographed the male the other day, and today the female, but she is a bit shy and sat so far away. That’s why the picture is at a distance.
Plaintive Cuckoo(Female) Cacomantis merulinus

6th Nov 2006
This Sunday I was working in the morning and afterwards reached home and had lunch. We made plans to go to the Mall in the evening, to shop for my son's birthday next week. I told my wife I will just pop out for a couple of hours to do some birding and surprisingly both my ((tricksters)) children volunteered to go with me. I was wondering why. Anyhow we left for Tmn Santosa area just 3 miles from my house. I haven’t been there for ages, about five months ago. When I reached the patch, I found it reduced by half because a factory dealing with stones has established a base there.
I went in with both my children and just about fifty feet away there was tall grass and a few trees, behind it all I saw these little ones feeding. Both the kids started jumping up and down in excitement but a dirty look from me settled them down.Got the male in focus picked my fat little one up (oh my back) and showed her the bird through the view finder, and readjusted the focus the sight and told her to press the remote button, “Hey-presto she photographed the bird.All of us were laughing and I had this good feeling when my kids are around me. It was then my son quietly said, “I hope you don’t mind Dad, I am calling my fifteen friends along (for my birthday) to the place where they have an indoor football field, and Dad of cause after the game we will be hungry, can we then order pizza's.” (now you know why I call them ((tricksters)) I was enjoying the birding and my son knew that was the best time to ask. With a serious face I said, “I believe, YOU CAN”. After that all they wanted was to GO home. (crooks I believe).
Well my youngest daughter Roshani did take this shot. (pss-will surprise her tonight when I show her the picture in Bird forum)
Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus

7th Nov 2006
It was not a very busy day yesterday and I waited for the clock to strike four thirty before scooting off to my Aur river patch. I sat down on the bank of the river, (enjoying the fragrance of human folly.!) (rubbish dumped in the river.) Then I heard the breaking of branches behind me and who do you think was visiting ? My young friend, a new father of one. Jason Tan, our very own B.F. member, carrying his whole set up. He plonked himself beside me and you know! I was glad he was there, it made a change from talking to the bushes and the monitor lizards. We talked of birds of course and he rattled of so many names that my mind was in a spin. Suddenly I saw a Lesser Coucal flying across to our bank, we started galloping after it. I don’t blame people from laughing when they see us. Can you imagine a hairy bear of a Singh with a huge contraption on his shoulder galloping along with a white hairless male Chinese, carrying the same equipment, and also galloping. Who wouldn’t laugh, I know I would. We never found the Coucal so we returned back to the river with me panting all the way, I recon I must be getting old, or is it the Ale that makes me unfit! Before we sat down, Jason said, “Dr.Manjeet, (I wish all my friend would drop the word doctor and only call me Manjeet). there is a Common Sandpiper across the river on the mud bank”. Quickly we got ourselves a bit closer and started taking pictures. I was about forty feet away while jason was about ten feet closer to the bird. I didn’t want to get closer for it may have cause the bird to bolt. Well he is a migrant to my mud-flats..
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
9th November 2006
To-day at 1pm it was raining cats and dogs with thunder and lightening thrown in, so I couldn’t go birding. During my tea break-at 4 pm the rain stopped but it was still cloudy. At 4.30pm I bolted for my patch. As I drove, the words of my young friend, (Jason Tan, our B.F. member) came to me. He told me he had brought a birder a couple of days ago to my patch and they saw the sandpipers and my young friend got ready to take pictures, he then noticed this birder holding his nose, Jason asked, aren’t you taking any pictures, the birder in a “LOUD VOICE” said, “are you joking, the mud-flat is so dirty and smelly and the little water in the pond is so black” (it was low tide then) and he walked off. I felt sad at first and I told Jason, “who makes the place dirty, Man does, who destroys their habitat, Man does. The poor birds are trying to live in these conditions- I admire the birds. Then I got angry and told him to tell his friend, “YOU CAN MEAN MOUTH ME, NO PROBLEM, OR MY PRACTICE OR MY FRIENDS, BUT DONT SPEAK BAD ABOUT MY PATCH”, it is a shooting matter. “Aargh”, the next time I see him I will shoot him on sight and upload his picture in the Bird forum and let them be the Judge. “Aargh”. By then I had reached my patch and got my gear from out of the boot and wandered into my favourite birding place. The huge pond was full up to the brim and on my left the Aur River was a 40 foot raging torrent with just a foot below the bank, the first time I had ever seen it this high. I had only walked about twenty feet when I saw the Black-crowned Night Heron perched on the tree at high water level, I took a few pictures and then noticed the Purple heron about 50 feet away on the pond side swallowing a fish. Just twenty feet away from me was a tree branch that had broken and was leaning in the pond. As quick as I could, and keeping the tree between me and the bird I reached the trunk. On peering round I saw the bird was cat-napping, and I took a few shots of the dozing bird. Then taking a twig in my left hand I refocused and readied the remote control and while looking through the view-finder I snapped the stick. “Wow”, it opened his mouth and eyes, I clicked the remote, the bird saw me, and with loud “kaw”, flew away. I doubled up with laughter, some sentry he was. In the past he frequently spoilt my birding, but I GOT YOU THIS TIME .On looking up I could see that I was in for a wetting. I dumped all my things into my black plastic bin bag and slung it over my shoulder, then the heavens opened up and by the time I reached the road I was all soaked and my Tilley’s where flopping down my ears. (Guys it's not water proof-ah) and my boots were full of water. When waiting for a large van to pass I got another drenching. I trudged over to my car, put my things on the back seat and set in the front and removed my boots and poured a gallon of water out of them. I then removed my saturated socks and squeezed them as dry as I could, then I rolled my track suit bottoms up to my knees and drove back to my practice bare footed. I had forgotten what time it was and on reaching my practice I slung the bin bag over my shoulders and with boots in hand walked in my practice in my bare feet. Oh my God there were 10 patients waiting, I gave them a sheepish smile, but then this chap (who always brings his wife and cracks sick jokes) gets up with a flourish and said, “Dr Singh oh my is this a new fashion”. (I, all soaking wet in my bare feet-GRRR) “No” I said “I had gone for a Post-Mortem”, (me being the C.S.I). “Oh” he said, “what are your carrying in the huge bin bag”. (I have got big eyes and my eye-lashes are long) ,I widened my eyes and made a sad long face and said, “Oh the BODY is in the bag”. He turned green and sickly and tottered back to his seat. In the pin drop silence I sneaked into my room, and as I closed the door, one of the patients said, “Don’t worry the Doc has been birding” and then there was a howl of laughter from nine throats (including his wife). I collapsed with laughter. I hope you like the picture but it took me 1hr to write the story (one finger typing).
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
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Christine Redgate. Good reading,Tanny.This is a masterpiece.Mable Isn't it just, Christine?
Manjeet is my hero! Keep it up Tanny!
Tanny. "Oh great" Mable, I thought the only people who visit this thread is Christine, Manjeet and myself. When a person takes on a long term project like this it's surprising how much one little comment of encouragement is appreciated. Thanks mate, i'm putting you into my favourites list. I suppose it's the same feeling when one puts a picture in the gallery and no one makes a comment about it. Up to today I have posted fifty eight times and have edited ninety two of Manjeets stories so far. The full total of his stories, is one hundred and eighty one, so you see there is a long way to go. I just hope that Manjeet is able to print these out and turn them into some kind of book. One day when I can afford a new ink for my printer I will try to do that myself.
Marmot. Well done Tanny.
I have forgotten so much that had happened to Manjeet , hes a walking disaster zone in the nicest possible way. He has been such a help to me over the past few years. I am suprised Tanny that you haven't been taken to the Docs Surgery due to laughing too much at all these "Tales of Manjeet".
Don't feel downhearted that this is not appreciated ,IT IS, when you look it has had 1,400+ views..
James Eaton Tanny.
Many great tales here....I know many people have been reading them, he certainly is one of a kind. Whenever I'm going through a heavy workload and need a break, I look at this thread. I spent yesterday afternoon with the Doc, I arrived at 12, only supposed to spend an hour or two there as he is a busy man as we all know (?), finally managed to pull myself away a shade before 7pm! I met his best friend from school and family, his best friend from another school and his family, then the receptionists family and another best friend from somewhere else, then my head just got in too much of a spin to remember the others!

Tanny.Thank you Marmot and James, your support is what I was looking for, not just for my personal reasons but for Manjeet also, because I had read through his writing his great love and regards towards both of you. As I continue deciphering Manjeets writing I am being drawn slowly into understanding his psychology and I have nothing but utmost admiration for the guy. I can see the great devotion he has to his patients, the turmoil of his mind when they are called by their Gods. He then needs to get out into the wilderness to rejuvenate his mind. His great sense of humour is another kind of escape valve, and the amusing responses from readers is a stimulant for him to continue. When I started this project I never realised just how absorbing it would turn out to be. Although I initiated the start of this thread I now feel that there is a higher force pushing me onwards, and I am obeying willingly. Manjeet, may your spiritual guide forever collaborate with mine.
IanF. Don't be discouraged Tanny, keep up the good work. I've been keeping up to date with your efforts and the Doc's stories even if not posting in the thread - so have many others for that matter - you just have to look at how many times the thread has been viewed 1,488 so far!
Another bonus is that the thread introduces the Doc to many members who may not otherwise hear of his hilarious birding adventures as not everyone visits the Gallery regulalry.
Good on yer sport, no worries I will be here till the end. Like you say, this thread could bring the Doc to many more members and his healing with laughter will spread throughout the world, and dare I say it! With everyone in the world laughing then the world will be in peace.

Great work,makes me smile reading these posts from Manjeet,esp "God must be on diuretics",heavy rain,this I will remember,very good.
Thanks Christine for picking that one out, I'm not familiar with medical terminology and I have just put 'Diuretic' into keyword and discovered that it is any drug that elevates the rate of bodily liquid excretion. Manjeet slips in some really funny words and even changes others to make them amusing. Thank goodness he hasn't discovered the word "pishing" to attract birds. I still laugh when I remember Kate Humble catching out Bill Oddie in Spring Watch when she 'pished' and played a Buzzard call.

13th Nov 2006
Since Friday it has been raining buckets, and for three whole days I didn’t manage to go birding. The twitching has started, with just mild tremors so far. Today it has stopped for a while. With one hour for lunch break I went to my patch but nothing out of the ordinary there. Then in the evening at 5pm I bolted for my mud-flat and pond patch. It was cloudy but no sign of rain. On reaching my patch I saw three cows grazing there, I walked up to the last one who was deep in my patch because I had seen a small bird on the ground behind the cow. I was a bit apprehensive about the cow because of its needle sharp looking horns but as I hadn’t seen the bird before I threw caution to the wind and walked up to about two feet from the cow who promptly turned and cocked her tail and let go the artillery mass of cow pie, I jumped just in time and she gave me a dirty look and trotted away. “Oh thank you, you---“. I tip toed toward's the bird, and about thirty feet away saw it was a cuckoo but didn’t know what species it was. I clicked away a few shot before the cuckoo flew away.Then above in the sky the clouds had became black and threatened rain, so I decided to run to my car. Stupid me, I had forgot about the cow. Just as I was nearing the road I heard this stampeding behind me, looking back I saw the cow was charging me. I ran like hell to the Indian temple steps and whipped the door shut and heard the thud of horns on the woodwork. I had to wait at least an hour in the Temple, periodically peeping out to see if it was clear, and it was only when a man arrived to take the cows away did I give a sigh of relief and go out. I gave the man a piece of my mind and shook my fist at the cow
Little Bronze Cuckoo Chrysococcyx minutillus

14th Nov 2006
It has been raining here since Friday and thankfully it stopped yesterday before lunch-so where would an addict like me go for his “Bird Fix”, to my mud-flat patch of course, the one near my practice. I felt a great uplift of relief after so long with no birding. I walked around my patch, but! No birds, not one could be seen or heard, but I didn’t care for I was out birding. As I walked back after an hour at the edge of the pond in the tall grasses(Lalang) I saw twelve or more tiny birds weaving through the grasses. On looking through the scope they all appeared to be Scaly-breasted Munias, suddenly one tiny bird flew up and sat exposed on a grass stem. It was a Chestnut Munia, the only one among the lot. Dear friends I can never get the black head right and the poor little thing looked wet. So to get the kick of birding I took a few pictures. Please don’t start kicking me if the shot is bad.
Chestnut Munia Lonchura atricapilla

15th Nov 2006
To-day I had a meeting at 1pm in the a private Hospital. It was a talk on Flatulence and believe me the talk was all flatulence and did make me snore. I only went there for the free lunch and to ogle the young nurses(do you believe that). Now for functions like this I have to wear my Turban and I choose a bright blue one this time. By two thirty pm I was back at my practice, sadly it was still raining. (I tried to contact God to ask him to stop the rain but impossible his priests blocked the message). may be he did hear (my God does that some times) because the rain stopped and it was a birding I will go.
I wore no Tilly hat as I still had my Turban on, I also carried the bin-bag just in-case. When I walked into my patch I met my kith and kin, (one of our far distant relatives, or so they say) also wearing blue (head). I took a few pictures and then the Guy up there couldn’t hold on to his water any more. Quickly I bagged up my equipment and ran for the car. As they say, “the Heavens opened up” and I swear I heard laughter from above or was it a peal of thunder. (my God does have a sense of humour you know). I got truly drenched and with my soggy Turban around my neck I bolted for my practice (the first time for ages for me to be back early.) Third time lucky I would say and Do you know! I really enjoyed the 20mins of birding.
Asian Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi

18th Nov 2006
Since the purple Heron was caught napping, (see my gallery) I haven’t been disturbed much at my patch, but yesterday when I went to the patch and just as I stepped in the two resident kingfisher put up a huge racket, thus no birds seen. Today heavy rain in the afternoon but cleared up by four thirty so I ran to my patch for a quick birding, or so I hoped. Before going in I looked through the scope and saw the poor Purple heron at the end of the patch about three hundred feet away, with his head only visible. The poor chap has been demoted. Then just as I stepped in these Laughing Hyenas started up again. I shook my fist at them and plodded on through the mud, but no birds were seen. The clouds were building up again so I decided to get back. It was just before the exit when I saw a movement on a wooden pole and saw a long beak peeping out. Gradually I moved closer and under the branch I saw one of the new sentries. I took my time for he hadn’t seen me. After I took the picture I laughed at him and the poor chap bolted from there, cursing. I liked the hidden view of the bird and love the natural look of the branches-I hope your thoughts will be the same. I wonder who will be the next sentry to my patch.
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis

20th Nov 2006
James Eaton (B.F. member from U.K.) arrived here on Friday and during lunch we made plans to go toTmn Rimba Ampang on Sunday. James hadn’t been there before. I got to his hotel at a quarter to eight and the Hotel was right smack in middle of Kuala Lumpur. I called him to say we were waiting down below, and I got out of the car to stretch my legs. What a mistake that was, can you imagine all those people hurrying here and there and seeing a sight like me standing there, a Singh with a Tilley hat, and wearing a track suit with the bottoms tucked into the socks. All eyes kept reverted to me and some surprised looks were thrown my way. I could almost hear the thoughts, “who is this Mad Man”! It didn’t bother me though, then I saw this Lone Ranger coming towards me with an infectious smile on his face and a long, one foot cylinder hung at his right hip and another long one on his left hip, and with his DSLR dangling down from the waist in front. (Ha-ha) Oh I laughed. I greeted him with “Kima Saabi me Tonto”. “What on earth are you carrying” he said, It’s my water bottle on the right and a sound recording devise on the left”. Well it dawned on me then that I was with a expert so I didn’t ask what was dangling in front (Now-now don’t be naughty, you hear, I may be a novice but I knew it was a Cannon. (hee-hee). We reached Tmn Rimba after having breakfast at a small shop where all the female staff kept looking at our Lone Ranger. James and I were trying to see the Blue-banded Kingfisher, but nada, our other companion decided to head back before lunch to F.R.I.M. which he hadn’t seen before. Just before reaching the car there was a loud sound heard by both of us, and just mid-way among the tall trees we saw a red head accompanied with loud Ki.Kiiiiii sound, and a drum roll. The Woodpecker had started pecking for grubs. Oh why do they always have red on the head, lucky I wasn’t wearing my Red Turban. The weather was cloudy and some stray sun was peeping through and since we don’t have a picture of this bird in the data base I am uploading it but I am sorry for the poor quality. I didn’t know what woodpecker it was but no fear, James the Expert shouted, “Manjeet its an Orange-Backed Wood pecker”. Another first for me. I always try to go birding with James when he is here in the hope that some of his birding talents will rub off on me.
Male Orange-backed Woodpecker, Reddish under parts(red Under wear it means-lol) and crown and a striking orange back that flashes in flight-unbelievably if seen.Orange-Backed Woodpecker (male). Reinwardtipicus validus

21st Nov 2006
Well John M this is for you, to chase the gloomy winter away and to remind you that Spring is just round the corner you hear. After we left Tmn Rimbat K.L. we decided to go to F.R.I.M.. About an hours drive from Ampang, it was turning cloudy and we, James and I were hoping to catch a glimpse of the Masked Finfoot at this place, but it was a big No. During our walk through a trail with no birds in sight, it started to rain and we bolted to the car and drove around, and reached the pond area where the Masked Finfoot was sighted last year. By then the rain had stopped and I was again, huffing and puffing behind the young man, James. It was when I took a rest I saw across the pond, this Kingfisher, another first in my collection. I got as close as I could and the shutters clicked away, I took plenty of pictures but what I like about this one is the green around it, just like spring. So thus, one picture for you John to chase the gloom away. I was about seventy feet from the bird and my friends the kowa did surprise me with its shot. Big bill, head brown becoming light rufus on breast, abdomen and hindneck;blue-wings and brighter blue back with a longish tail. Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis.

23rd Nov 2006
“Rain-rain go away, come again another day”. Well people it has been raining here since Tuesday and then the rain stopped at five pm today and I bolted for my patch. Just at the entrance, there he was, I nodded to him and he nodded back then he made me a offer I couldn’t refuse, “put my picture on bird forum today (mind you Dr.Singh my best profile you hear), I will let you go in without the other birds knowing”. How could I refuse. He nodded and posed with that infectious grin of his. Well guys and girls after that I went in but no birds, I think he conned me. Hope you like his best profile.
White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis

26th Nov 2006
It has been raining again and yesterday it eased off as I closed for the day, so it was off to my patch for me. Just as I entered my patch saw a small movement at the edge of the pond in the tall grasses. I stopped and looked carefully and saw this new sentry-about thirty five feet away. The bird had seen me but froze, thinking I hadn’t seen him. I waited there for ages and he didn’t move, then I gave up and, “SHOT HIM RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES”. I just wanted to show you how some birds try to fool us. Then I gave a loud laugh and off he went. Liked the background and off cause his eyes.
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis.

27th Nov 2006
The Gods have been unkind down here-rain, rain and rain again. To-day at 5pm I saw no rain so went to my patch. I had decided that I will not sneak in today. So on reaching my patch I walked in singing at the top of my voice, a limerick (dirty) about a Singh birding.(-one day will sing for you only hope the Admin & Mods don’t boot me out of B.F.) Right away I saw the Purple Heron sitting at the end of the pond, and an Egret sitting on the top of a tree, and there was no panic from any of them. I continued singing until there came this lady friend of mine who hopped from inside a small tree and perched there with cocked head as though she was listening to my song. Still singing I stopped about twenty feet away and got my T.D.1 ready. Still no panic and I fired away with a heart full of laughter.As I finished my song,this lady of mine nodded and flew away.So remember some times no sneaking pays doesn’t it. This is the closest that have ever got to this bird.
Plaintive Cuckoo(Female) Cacomantis merulinus

30th November 2006
Who reminds you of what bird?
Wild Imagination or Just a silly thread but Laughter is there.
Yesterday I had this experience that I wont forget. please don’t laugh yet.
The First patient I saw yesterday was about five foot one inch tall with a thick patch of greyish-white hair on his ear lobes, he had short, upstanding grey hair on his head and was about fifty years of age. And had small, beady eyes and had quick movements. He looked like someone I had seen many times.
He sat down and told me, “Doc, I have heard of your sense of humour but please don’t laugh, I have a swelling on my Left Butt. So with a serious face I let him lay down on my examination couch and turned him over. My mind kept telling me that I knew this chap and have seen him many times before. He had quite a swelling, an Abscess, so I took him to my minor Operating Table to lance it. It was just as I lanced the abscess when I remembered where I had seen him before. I quickly did what I had to do, lanced and drained and slapped a dressing on it and then collapsed laughing. Finally, he asked me, “why are you laughing” I said, “Do you really want to know, and do you have a sense of humour”. “yes” he said. He went out and took his medication and waited for me. I took him to a tree outside the practice where six or more Common House Sparrows were sitting and pointed out to him the old male bird, after a moment his eyes turned wide and he turned around and started to laughing and said ”Doc I do look like a sparrow-so you can call me Mr. Sparrow from now on” we both laughed and off he went.
QUESTION HAVE YOU MET SOME ONE OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO REMINDS YOU OF A BIRD IN THE WILD
Then I went in and set down, my staff came in and said, “where is your friend”, I said “he’s not my friend but a new patient.” “but doctor” she said “HE DIDNT PAY”. Groin, Well you win some and you lose some.

8th Dec 2006
Hold it Guys and Girls before you strangle me with my own turban, I know the picture isn’t that good but what could I do. Since 29th of November it has been raining here. This morning the sky was over cast and by 11.40am it started to rain and by 1pm it was raining cats and dogs and it would stop at about 3pm and start up again till 7pm, (my break time)till 6th of December. I think my God is on diuretic's. I know how can I talk of God this way but I am sure my God is laughing and he has a sense of Humour, if he didn’t then why did he sent a follower of his like me down here . So on 6th Dec. at 5.30pm the urge to twitch the shutter button over rode me and off I went to my patch. It was overcast. I didn’t go into my patch because it was knee deep in mud. So sat at the edge of the pond were the water drains out into the Aur river. After 30mins, who do you think tip-toed into view, It was the White-breasted Water-hen. The light was fading but a ray of sun light hit the pond and reflected on the bird on the other side (right towards me) I couldn’t help it I twitched and pressed the shutter. After three shots the bird saw me and dived into the lilies. So I got up and put every thing into my bin bag and went to the car and lo again it started pouring buckets from the sky. I reached the car and shook my fist at the Guy upstairs and told him you cant keep a good man down. I got my bird you hear. Well I hope all of you will forgive me if the picture is not up to the mark but what could I do, I needed a birding fix.
White-breasted Water-hen Amaurornis phoenicurus
11th Dec 2006
I have been trying to get as close as possible to this little Sandpiper and had missed him twice when I passed him at the entrance of the patch, so even though it was a dull day I decided to visit my area, and reached it at 5pm,the setting sun was behind me as I sneaked to the place where I had seen him at last time. It was just behind the wild bush covered by creepers and I saw him there, bouncing up and down. (do they always do this jig.) I got him in focus and clicked the shutter, My friends, I could see the surprised look on his face. With laughter bubbling in my heart, I told him, “got you my friend”.
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

11th Dec 2006
Still laughing at the sandpiper I trudged on into the knee deep mud, and it was just as I reached the tree with the fallen branch that leaned into the pond when I saw him, and stopped. When I had finished focusing I saw him spear a fish from the pond. It was the first time I had ever seen a bird spearing a fish, I almost forgot to click the shutter. “Wow, yes, I caught him beak-handed”. The fish was a Japanese Carp, I wonder how that got into this, not too clean pond.
Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus

11th Dec 2006
On Saturday I was feeling restless because I was taking my daughter for admission to a Private Collage on Sunday for her “A" levels "(p.s. probably restless because thinking of the dent it is going to make in my bank balance-lol- .Told my wife I will go birding in the morning and will be back by 12 noon and then at 2.00pm will go to the Collage in Subang Jaya. So off I went in the morning, and reached the mangroves in Telor Gong. Mud-mud-everywhere, for every foot I took when trying to climb the bund I slipped back two. But once you are bitten in the butt by the birding bug you don’t give up so easily. So I decided to invade a small village near by. Next to the last house in the village I saw a palm trees plantation with just a few trees. I stumbled and slipped through the mud and leaned again a palm tree, huffing and puffing. Ay guys, its torture with all the weight I carry. I had just decided to go forward again when this eagle came and sat on the palm leave just about twenty five feet away. (“My God is looking after me”) I only managed to take three picture before the eagle saw the Singh and off it flew. By the way, after the first shot the restless feeling disappeared you hear.
Creasted Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela

19th Dec 2006
Well Guys and Girls my internet server had crashed for four days so you can imagine what state I was in and especially as it also has been raining on and off all the time. I did manage to go birding once but still felt grumpy because I couldn’t see your birds in the Bird Forum. Now today the rain had stopped at 12noon and I got out to go birding. I reached my patch and found it very wet and as I enter I have to go pass a large ten foot stand of reeds at the beginning of the pond on my right, and also an old heap of bricks about 5 feet high, left after the repairs to the Indian temple. With a smile on my face and construction shoes on my feet, I felt like I was living again. Just as I passed the reeds I caught a flash of brown among them, I continued to walk for a bit , then turned back, and as I passed the reeds again I saw a small brown bundle of feathers. I walked passed and sat down near the brick heap. Slowly I pushed my tripod and kowa out and eased my self behind it and waited. Again I slowly sat down and adjusted my camera. There he was, just twenty two feet away, and boy, if looks could kill I would be dead and buried. I took a few shots and stayed sitting there for over an hour and in all that time he kept looking at me with his killer stare. I stared back and it became a game of see who breaks first. He knew I was there but did not move at all, just pretending to be a weed. All I was waiting for was him to turn so I could get a side view picture.
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis. Well it looked like this standoff may turn out to be a draw, but I had to go back to the practice by 2.10pm, to bathe and change, but this idiot was playing dare. I eventually decided to try something. I eased my left hand out in the grass while still viewing him through the view finder, and started looking for a stone or something else to throw and hoping my hand will not land in another cow pat. Finally groping blindly I found a small stone. (note the heap of bricks were on my right out of my reach). Now holding my remote in my right hand I threw the stone in the pond with my left. As the stone hit the pond with a small splash, the Bittern turned to look and my friends the rest was history. I got you my feathered friend. I laughed aloud then and after giving me a dirty squawk, the bird flew away. Could I please pat my back for a good picture, ‘pleaeeess’.
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis.

27th Dec 2006
I have being down with a Viral infection of the throat for the last 10days, thus on Sunday after closing my practice at 1.p.m. I decided to close my practice on the 25th, (Xmas) and allow another doctor to see my patients if necessary. Now folks because of the medication I couldn’t have a drink on my favourite day. (Woe is me, no Ale). So the best thing for me to do is go birding on Xmas and be back by evening to enjoy a good dinner in my friend's house with my family. (killing two birds with one stone so to speak. “oops don’t get angry it is just a saying”, where is the Xmas spirit, I am forgiven I hope. --this is how I coned my family-lol).
We left at 8 am for F.R.I.M., a place quite easy to explore with good roads. After some aimless walking with my brewery, no Ale, food only. My companion pointed out a small bird on a huge tree. I looked through the binoculars, and what did I see, a very small Falconet on a huge branch. It had a little white on forehead, narrow white supercillium,large black ear-covert patch, without a collar, mostly white throat, black lower flanks and thighs. It was my first Falconet and I got so excited, just like a toddler with a bottle. I snapped away from about sixty feet, for the tree he was perched on was below the hill road. Oh I was in seventh heaven, hardly thirty minuets and I get this beauty. Now there was no stopping this Singh. It is not a close up but the bird looks beautiful. I hope you all like it too.
Black-thighed Falconet Microhierax fringillarius

Well after seeing the Falconet, my viral infection became history, so we trudged on in the hot sun and did see some birds, like the Banded Broad-bill at a distance. A Straw- headed Bulbul, but it was too quick for me. Then we decided to have lunch and I had a huge one and chased it down with plain water. “Sob-sob and a crying, sigh.” Then we decided to take the old guest house road. With no Spirit to drink I became high on XMAS SPIRIT(ha).Then I saw a bird flirting, yes flirting in the secondary jungle. Now people have you ever walked on a jungle floor completely covered with dry leaves, every step I took was like a crack of thunder, and every time I got ready to take a picture the bird moved away. Finally, after a mile or so it sat down and posing for me, but the light in the canopy was bad. I know nothing of lighting or exposure and all that I have learned is from all of you in Bird forum. The bird looked like a cuckoo but not to worry Craig Robson's is there to identify it. People I don’t know why I like this picture, I wonder, if it’s because it’s a first for me, or does the dark image appeal?. Hope you’ll will bear with me. Regards and Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to all of you.
Drongo Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris

30th Dec 2006
Moon Light,
Reflections of my Life...
Don’t laugh, haven’t you gotten up in the morning with a (((pisky))) tune humming in your head. I do. Ever since the earth-quake everything went slow (it is back to normal today) I couldn’t even see your pictures in the main gallery. So at my lunch break I went to my patch with this tune humming in my head like a Looney, and off cause I was singing it. I saw a pink necked pigeon and went as close as I could in all the mud and just as I was ready to take the picture, it flew away. With a sigh I looked around, the gooey mud was up to my ankles. I saw a tiny movement to my left and quite a way off, and there I watched my Yellow bittern just about ready to strike a fish., as he did so I also got a picture. The hearing of this bird is so acute and with the click of my shutter he turned and saw me. I couldn’t help myself and shouted, “GOT YOU” The poor fellow gave me a look that would kill and flew away. Now I know why the song “See the reflection” was in my mind.
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis.

1st Jan 2007
The Changing of Sun light, Well even though it was a public holiday I was working. A steady stream of patients since I came in first thing in the morning. I looked up as I saw the last patient, the time was past midday. I changed into my birding cloths and picked up my bag, kowa and tripod and stepped out of my room and saw up to fifteen patients waiting for their medication etc. Suddenly an old lady of seventy five years of age and five feet tall dashed in and said “Dr Singh, Dr Singh, my hen has got a problem”. She was holding the hen under her arm. I (((groined))) groaned for she was the lady who lived just behind my practice. Before I could tell her that I was a doctor for humans, she caught my arm and dragged me back into my room. So while glaring at my sitting patients I followed her inside. She said, “there is some thing hard in my hen's behind” and immediately stuck her index finger into the hens backside, and shouted,” I can feel it”.So I had to put my kowa down and put on my disposable gloves, and while she held the bird I inserted my gloved finger in the bird's rear orifice, then I burst out laughing “Your hen is going to lay a egg Lady”. I saw the surprise on her face and then ushered her out, chucking my glove in the bin. Before she reached the door the hen gave a loud squawk. I think the old lady's fingering of the bird's rear end and my fat index finger doing the same has stimulated it for in a moment out popped the egg and the next thing I see, is the lady dropping the bird and diving for the egg, she caught it close to four inches from the floor. Suddenly my patients all shouted, “HOW IS ZAAT Doc” In the pin drop silence I raised my right arm with the index finger pointing upwards and said, “The bird is out”. We all collapsed howling with laughter. The old lady got up and gave a dirty look to all of us and then stumped up to me and grabbed my right hand and opened my palm and deposited the egg there, then bolted from the room. There was another gale of laughter and I was left with the egg on my face (figuratively). I reached my patch still chuckling, and found no birds anywhere. Even if there was one I don’t think I could have taken any pictures with the laughter bubbling up every minute. This wood sandpiper I had taken last month and hadn’t posted, Well there is always a tomorrow.
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
5th Jan 2007
Well I am sure some of you have seen Bollywood movies, (heard they are quite popular in the U.K.) where the Handsome Hero runs, skips and dodges the flowers and trees in pursuit of his lover, a veiled Indian bride, for miles while singing at the top of his voice without even breathing deeply. Well I’m no Bollywood hero, after a mile of chasing this veiled one. Every time I tried see the face it would hide behind the leaves, just like a veiled Indian bride. I ended up huffing and puffing in the humid heat. I just had to rest and leaned against a tree, and said to myself, “enough is enough”. then suddenly the bird appeared not far away and I began taking picture after picture, then it turned and exposed it 's face, “shish” it was a male. I didn’t crop this picture and I know it is not a good one but I think we have only 3 examples of this bird in the Data Base. I hope some other member gets a better picture because I am still exhausted thinking about it.
Raffle\'s Malkoha Phaenicophaeus chlorophaeus

5th Jan 2007
Since I uploaded the wood sandpiper taken in December, and uploaded it again due to the internet playing up.I struggled to get into the bird forum, but couldn’t and believe me I couldn’t see any birds from the first till the third. I visited my patch and the tide was low and the sun was bright overhead and the heat was going through my hat onto my bald patch. I saw a group of Sandpipers and discovered they were Wood Sandpipers, twelve of them. I started blazing away, taking pictures. Then all of a sudden I felt a warm trickle of water entering through my construction shoes, on looking down there was this dog of medium size with a blissful look on its face, cocking his right leg up and doing what dogs usually do. It was one of the temple dogs. I took a kick at it but it dodged the kick so I didn’t even have the satisfaction of reprimanding it. I bolted for my car with the fluid sloshing in my right shoe. “Why me God, why me”. That evening I had to bear my daughters party with all those pin-up pictures she has of me. I’m still waiting for my shoes to dry out and have not done any birding since then, and on top of everything else, I have a sluggish Internet. “Why Me God.”
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

9th Jan 2007
Today James Eaton had come down to Klang and I will be taking him to my patch As we entered the area and silently walked along the track there came to us the gentle “cooing”, love was in the air. (Oh no please, I am talking about the Pink-necked pigeons-lol). Not far to my right I saw these two Pigeons fly in. James was using the binoculars while I sneaked closer to the birds and started taking pictures. Suddenly in the silence the male turned to look at me, and believe me! he said” Dr.Singh would you mind giving us some privacy” I looked at him and said, “Why do you think I left the branch beside your neck, isn’t that privacy”. With a laugh he flew away.It was soon after that when James and I saw the Yellow Bittern, Cinnamon Bittern, Egret, Common sandpiper & a Common Moorhen, but all of them were too far away to get a good picture. I spent just over an hours birding, with very enjoyable company. I am sorry I haven’t been able to pass comments on all your lovely pictures. I try but after just one comment the internet hangs for hours. In the past 3 days I have only managed to pass about 3 to 4 comments. Today the itch to upload a picture has overcome me, and I am keeping my fingers & legs crossed(lol) that it will work. These days when I upload I cannot read the comments and I believe it's going to happen to this picture also. In the morning I can see some of the thumbnails and I hope I can see mine, so here goes. I do miss this site my friends.
Pink-necked Pigeons(Male& Female) Treron vernans.

12th Jan 2007
Two Sundays ago, or was it three Sundays ago, my wife decided to go to a supermart and asked me to go along with her. “I hate shopping.” I said to her, “I will drop you off in the Mart and when you are ready give me a ring on the mobile, I will be in Telor Gong my birding area”. She asked me, “why cant you be with me to shop” I said, “You are able to shop till you drop, while I get so tired after only one hour in the mart, and don’t forget, if I was with you, every thing you buy I would probably say no. How nice it is for you when I am not there, you can buy whatever you want, isn’t that a good deal”. Before she could say yes I picked her up and dropped her literally in the mart and bolted. I was just cruising along in my car near the bund on a dirt road. And there I saw this beauty. The sun was fully on the bird so I used the exposure correction for the first time. I recon I did alright.
Black-Shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus

12th Jan 2007
In the past 10days I have not been able to go into bird forum, expect once when I uploaded the Pink-necked Green pigeon, birding also has been limited due to bad the weather. To keep myself amused I went through my collection of bird pictures, many of them not downloaded in the gallery. At the same time ((((horning)))), (lol) my skill in photo shop. This bird I had taken in F.R.I.M last year but cant remember the time. I have already posted this bird in the gallery but this picture shows a slightly different pose. When it saw me It flew away.
Banded Broadbill Eurylaimus javanicus

15th Jan 2007
I fancied going birding on Sunday so I called Jason Tan, our young Bird Forum member. He asked me to meet him at a half way place since he will be in K.L. for the night on Saturday. I met him at seven am, and he had brought his wife and young son along. I said, “I don’t think it was such a good idea to bring a four months old baby on such an overcast day”. He replied with a laugh, “He is my young birder” I just had to forgive him when I looked at the chubby little one, and said, “hello”. You know I swear he winked at me, Splendid, I knew then that we will get along just fine. We reached the park at about ten am, decided to go to the pump house. Jason wanted to meet a few birders on the way and as always, many hello's were thrown around. .The track is about five kilometres long, the first leg being two kilometres up hill ,then one kilometre down, then its up hill again for another one kilometre, and the final kilometre was downhill to the pump house. We Huffed and Puffed our way to the mid-point and stopped for a rest. Jason’s puffing was definitely more than me and I lectured him a bit about it. Get fit my friend or when your at my age you will be crawling up these hills(lol). We met three birders then, two of them were Chinese and one chap was a Malaya. I said “hello”, and the Chinese chaps asked, “how long Singh you have been birding”! “Still learning the ropes”, I said. I could see their faces fall and knew what they were thinking, “Oh no this new idiot is going of scare the birds away. They started rattling away with Jason Tan in Mandrine. Sometimes, people don’t realise the a person of a different race may know your language very well. Since they were talking about an elusive bird called the Siberian thrush, etc, etc, etc. I went and started talking to the Malayan chap, a nice person. Me and my brewery then left them with Jason still rattling away in Chinese. After walking about a mile I thought I had better go back and see how Jason Tan was. They were still at the same spot. As soon as I reached Jason, he gets a call on his mobile and he has to return back. We said our goodbyes to him and me and my brewery turned to walk back again towards the pump house. It was then my countryman also decided to join us. Mr Rosily is his name and he seemed to be a good birder. I enjoyed chatting to him and told him about the Bird Forum and how members in the Forum have taught me so much about birding. He said he would like to join also, and I gave him the web site and we carried on birding. Some specials for me was the Sultan tit, Black-crested Bulbul, (not a good picture), Black-browed Barbet, Drongo cuckoo,?Rhinocerous Hornbill at a long distance. (I did take a picture of the Hornbill. A few other birds were seen but it was very tiring time, and after a cool Ale we headed back to the car for lunch. Just about a hundred feet from the car this, “Hoppalong Cassidy” was hopping down before us, so I just had to take a picture. I think Rosily may have got a better picture. Now I wonder if Jason and the Chinese men saw this bird, it would be ironic if they didn’t after talking about it so much. All in all it was an excellent trip for me. I have some birds waiting for identification from my friends in the Forum.
Siberian Thrush(Female) Zoothera sibirica

17th Jan 2007
Monday and Tuesday I had a heavy load in the practice and on Wednesday the misery became even worse. I went on Bird forum and felt a bit better. By twelve noon I felt very depressed for I was wondering how I was going to tell one of my patient about his illness. Half an hour later I told my staff that I am going to see my shrink and bolted to my patch. I Just walked to the centre and set at the edge of the pond under a short tree with the blue sky and blazing sun shining down on me. As nature seeped slowly into my bones and mind, I started to relax and heard the call of the Asian cuckoo, loudly telling every one where he was. I heard the wonderful calls of the Yellow-vented Bulbuls and realised what I had missed these last two days. Then on looking to the left I recognised my shrink. He was silently paddling through the shallow water, searching for insects and small fish. I focused on him and when I took the picture, all my worries and miseries I had experienced these last two days evaporated into thin air. My shrink was here and all is well.
Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus
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Christine. Very good,Tanny.I could do with you stopping here for a week and sorting my website for me, you have lots of patience.It is good reading Manjeets prev threads,so amusing,but very cleverly put forward.
Manjeet. Christine lots of patience is a under statment..he has Tons of it..)..i take my turban off to you....a true ghost writer you are.
Tanny. Thanks mate, but honestly I am enjoying, ((((additing)))) your stories, I just hope that when I have to put in my own interpretation to some of the chapters that I consider totally unreadable, that I spoil the funny side of the story. Just keep the stories coming, no matter how weird and wonderful they are.
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26th Jan 2007
I haven’t gone birding since the eighteenth of this month and by the time I looked up at the clock it was already twenty past two, almost time for my second session to start and by the time I was finished for the day it way well past my tea time. I don’t know if its just that more people are getting sick these days or am I getting too popular and well known, None of them understand that they are depriving me of my time for birding-lol. There are times when I feel like standing in the middle of the room and, screaming, Imagine if I did that, I would really be thought of as “A Mad Singh” . The next best thing is to upload an old picture which you have seen but in a different angle. Sorry guys if it bores you, next birding trip I will make up for it and thank God the internet is working today. Also there are only two or three pictures of this bird in the data base and one of them is by yours truly.
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo Clamator coromandus

28th Jan 2007
Yesterday I told my self, come what may, I will go to my patch, the mud-flat pond and the Aur river area. When I reached my patch I became really sad because the Town Counsel has decided to clear all the vegetation on both banks of the river. There are very few trees tree left and the banks are littered with cut shrub, tree and vines. All the small birds have gone, I didn’t see any there. At the pond side nothing has been disturbed, thankfully, and the usual birds were there, but the river side! It’s like a raw scar on both banks. I know within a month or two every thing will grow back but I felt so sad, because for the last two years this has been my favourite patch. I walked around aimlessly and then went down to the bank of the river and set down under the hot sun, no stunted trees for shade now. After a while I heard a low, “caw”, repeated three times and I looked across the river to see this house crow sitting on a cut branch. He looked at me and seem to be saying, “Are you lonely Dr Singh, I am here”. I looked at him through the view finder and his feathers looked so beautiful, the colours were shining and shimmering because the noon-day sun was right above. Who says crows aren’t beautiful, and the sadness in my heart turned to wonder. “Yes I am here” he said. I don’t know how this bird has these colours but it does. I went back to my practice with a heart full of wonder. Thank you crow.
House Crow Corvus splendens

29th Jan 2007
On Sunday I finished work at one pm. And went home, after lunch I felt the urge to go birding at my favourite patch, I just needed to go because that is the place where I can lose myself in nature When I reached my patch I was still feeling a bit sad but then I began thinking about the Crow and I started smiling. When wandering around the mud-flat area I spied a Pink-necked Pigeon, it was so well hidden that I had to search for it again through the telescope. I felt I had to get closer to the bird if I wanted a good picture so I picked up a branch, about six feet long with leaves still intact, curtesy of the Municipal council. I carried the branch on my shoulder and sneaked in, foot by foot, every time the bird turned I stopped. When I felt I was close enough I stopped for a rest, the flipping branch was heavy. The sun was shining from the right onto the bird. I extended the hood of the T.D. and waited for this shot. I took it just as the bird saw me. I laughed, and said “One for me”. These birds are really quite difficult to photograph up close.
Pink-necked Green Pigeons( Female) Treron vernans.

31st Jan 2007
My birding today was at the area opposite my patch, it is land that’s been left vacant for about eighteen years, it was originally destined to be built on but something happened and it fizzled out. This five to six acres has now re-grown and there are secondary trees and scrub, with small pools of water, a seepage I think with grass and some cleared areas. This patch I usually go to at noon for there are two predatory creatures lurking there. A huge Python, and the King cobra. I’ve seen them a couple of times at a distance in the past, and if they see you they usually vanish, that is why I go at noon, when it is bright. I called Jason earlier but he had just got up (?at noon, lucky him).I reached the patch and took a path which my feet have trodden many times before, and it was just as I reached the centre of the area when I saw this colourful bird fly just ten feet from me. “Oh” the call of this bird made the blood rush in my veins, and people I knew I just had to get a picture of this one there was a huge ant-hill behind the bird so I carefully made my way to behind the Ant Hill. As soon as I reached the hill I peeped around and there it was and still telling the world that the Singh was here. I took as many pictures as I thought I needed and then stepped from behind the ant-hill. You should have seen the look of surprise on the birds face, it made me laugh out loud and shout, “Got you my friend”. Lovely isn’t it-this is best I could get. In 2005 I had taken a distance shot of this bird at Carey Island, about 25 miles away on a small island out from Port Klang. Who would believe I would find one here in my patch.. Well the Singh luck is still working. They say this bird is uncommon in West Malaysia.
Red-Wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus

5th Feb 2007
I was getting ready to go birding this afternoon and was still bubbling with laughter about what happened at the practice today.I saw a patient yesterday and asked him to come in the morning and bring a sample of his morning urine, His wife was with him and she asked if I would test her urine also, I gave both of them clean sample bottles and said they must only put in a sample from the mornings urine. This morning they duly arrived, each carrying their precious load. I tested the wife's urine first, to see if there was any sign of pregnancy. Something about this sample got me puzzled, there was something wrong, because the urine was dark coloured, and had lots of pus cells in it which the husband had complained of yesterday. I then tested the husbands urine and it was clear. By then I guessed what had happened but kept quiet. I then did a urine pregnancy test on the husbands sample. As I watched the test results I started laughing, both of them looked at me and said “Doctor why are you laughing” in between the howling of my laughter I told him that he was pregnant. They had somehow got their samples mixed, All off us collapsed laughing. So still with the laughter on my lips I went for my evening birding. Reached my patch and went in. At the extreme end of the patch there are four to five huge trees. I rested there and took out my water bottle but before I could take a drink I saw this bird's corkscrewing motion as it walked. I let go of my drinking bottle that I had tied on a long cord that hung from my neck. The bottle swung and hit me hard between my legs. ‘believe me’ The fear of missing this bird controlled the pain and I adjusted the scope and managed to take two pictures before it flew away. Then my patch heard the loudest “Singh scream”. No more bottles hanging down from my neck.
Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus
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9th February 2007
BIRDING ETIQUETT.

WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN BIRDING.

WHAT GET"S YOUR HACKLES UP AND MAKES YOU WANT TO
STRANGLE YOUR FELLOW BIRDER WHILE BIRDING

I started birding seriously just Two years ago (Squeaky New-lol), and I have met up with quite a few birders, my favourites are James Eaton, Hanno I could go out with many of them at a drop of a hat, (oop’s, Turban) the job permitting of cause. But there are some that make me not want to live the experience again. Here are a few things I had to contend with.
(1). GOLD DIGGING OR NOSE PICKING.

This guy rang me up saying he wanted to go birding with me. I had never met him before. I went to pick him up in the morning. On reaching his place, he was waiting outside his house. As I got out of the car I saw him with half his right Index finger up his nose, he was just merrily digging away. When I reached him he at once brought his right hand out to shake my hand. I avoided it by picking up his bags. Well people for the one hour drive to the birding place he was busy digging either his left nostril or his right and in between he will gave a small grunt of satisfaction when some glob like thing came out and then with a another grunt fleck it out of my car window, thank God he unwound the window first. This continued throughout the day. (poor, poor me).

(2).NOSE BLOWING.

Another time I picked up a birder at six thirty am at his house, he had about three or four huge cameras around his neck. (Manjeet you are meeting a real birder this time, I am always excited to be with an expert, and I felt so happy). I stored his things in my car and off we went. After some time while driving I saw him take out a huge table cloth and suddenly there was this blast of sound, my head hit the roof of the car and with tears of pain in my eyes I saw him blowing his NOSE. all the way to the birding place and during the birding he kept blasting, and it continued on the way back, there was no let up. No birds were seen, I wonder why.

(3).PASSING WIND.

Flatulating loudly while birding and frightening the birds away, or doing it on the SLY and making me gag due to the obnoxious smell, especially when the wind is blowing towards me, while for him IT'S GONE WITH THE WIND. Of cause not a single bird was seen in that outing.

(4).FORGOTTEN THINGS TO BRING WHILE BIRDING .

Isn’t it amazing how many people forget to bring spare batteries or S.D. Cards, and others forget to take water with them, and then they ask you if they can borrow yours just when you are about to press the shutter on a picture of a lifetime, worse still when it’s a lifer for you.(GRRRRRRRRR.)

(5).WEARING LOUD SHIRTS AND BRIGHTLY CLASHING COLOURS.

There’s nothing worse when stalking a bird and your companion is wearing, bright, obnoxious coloured clothing, the birds can see them from miles away, also squeaky shoes and stepping on every branch.

(6).AFTER A BIG CALL OF NATURES.

The companion who returns from a desperate visit to the toilets and settles down without washing his hands. Then he decides to open every thing edible in the lunch box I provided and taking one sample from each and popping it in his mouth with the same unwashed hands. (shudder(I stayed hungry that day people.)) He then tells me , “Manjeet your food is excellent, where is the ale”

(7).SNORING.

Last but not the least, on the way back while I am driving, my companion this time fell asleep and start snoring so loud that it could waken the dead, and every time I took a turn he would fall on my shoulder and snore more louder. (God forgive me, I may do murder).
Since most of you are very experience birders I am sure you can add a few more things to my list, Please do so, then when I go birding with a stranger again I will fax him the list a day earlier to familiarise him to the etiquette of birding.
Marmot
Well done, have you noticed its all men who have the bad habits...mind you I think your wife would have something to say if you were going out in the company of lady birders all the time.

Perhaps Delia & I should visit and Nora and Rose from Australia, KC & Katy from the USA. (Probably left a lot of ladies out that are in your fan club though).

Your complaint then would probably be :-
1) We smell too nice and are putting the birds off, after all the female birds do seem to like posing for you.
2) We won't drink ale..we will only have wine (myself only pepsi).
3) We won't let you pass wind.
4) We have brought our handbags with us and have everything including the kitchen sink and expect you to carry them.
5) We are so well coordinated in our clothing we make you look scruffy.
6) We tell you off for wanting to spend a penny behind the tree.
and finally
7) We all talk too much and you cannot get to sleep on the journey back...the memory of us talking even stops you from sleeping the next day.
Great thread
I am sure others have had some of your experieces and don't wish to re live it.
gyrfalcon
Peter Jones
Regarding the passing of wind.. A few of us went hill walking / birding in Yorkshire. We all kitted up with GPSs, high-tech rucksacks, gadgets etc. I decided to take serious mountaineering/astronaut spec packet of high energy food (reconstituted Chicken Curry) which I impressed everyone with, as I added flask water, and proceeded to enjoy a full meal on the hill tops.
30 minutes later, the aftermath was truly frightening. My soon to be ex-friends could smell my gases when upwind of me in a field of cows.
I suspect my carbon footprint cloud could be seen drifting over Thirsk that afternoon.

Steve Babbs

I think if farting ever became an olympic sport many birders could be serious competitors.

A Dancy
Nice one DOC!
For myself I prefer to bird alone.
1. I can break wind and no one cares! My mother in law once said "better out than in" though I am not sure what she was referring to.
2. I carry a lot of gear when photographing and nearly always forget something so I only have myself to blame. I do however forget things more when I bird with other people.
3. No2's, best thing is eat a diet that makes one constipated ...one does not have to waste time toileting. More time for watching birds!
4. Nose picking ...a disgusting habit and ought to be punishable by death! Ones bits should be put into a hanky , we dont want the birds eating it.
5. Snoring ....every one does it, it's human!
One of my biggest gripes are birders who lack real birding skills. I do not mean ID skills , I mean getting near birds or explaining where birds are when in a group situation. Pointing is pointless (forgive the pun) no one shares the same angle as the observer. There are better techniques than pointing and besides pointing can alert birds and scare off those which one has not seen yet. There is not one bird book (or bird photography book) that covers this subject well enough in my view.
Another gripe is with those with an ego bigger than a double decker bus. Watching a bird half a mile through binocuars and e.g. aging the bird and telling you what it had for breakfast. How can they do all that with a dot in a landscape? Don't get me wrong, there are some superb birders out there but some should just come clean, it would make the lesser mortals feel more comfortable.
Finally what ever gripes we may have about others I won't let them spoil my day with the birds. There were of course a few gripes I have which I could not put to print for a family show.
Keep birding Doc!

chris murphy
I really don't know if this is true, but when I went to see the Green Heron near Scunthorpe a few years ago I arrived at the point where the bird had been only to find people heading off saying that the bird had just flown. Apparently (and I stress apparently ), the bird had been showing at close range and someone had let off a monster fart, the sound of which had been enough to flush the Heron. Thankfully it did come back eventually, but that was the first time I'd heard of a mega being flushed thanks to someones anal emissions.

timwootton Er, Manjeet - you ABSOLUTELY PROMISED not to mention my behaviour!!!
Some friend you are
Dr Manjeet Singh
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW TIMWOOTTON HASNT GONE BIRDING WITH ME YET and i almost forgot-HANDPHONES-GRRRRRRRRRR-you have stalked a bird & are about to focus for a shot and you suddenly hear the charge of the American Calvery(you know like those western moves and red indians) -what bird would stay after that-
Lisa W I almost always bird alone, and now I know why! Manjeet, I really needed a laugh after the week I've had and am now in a much better mood for the weekend. Thanks, my friend!

Katy Penland
OMG, Doc M, I've just awakened the neighbors I'm howling so loud!! What a fun thread! But beware the truths in Marmot's post -- except that I like beer and wine equally and loathe soft drinks (sodas; cokes; whatever they're called in your neck of the woods) so I guess you could say I'm easy. LOL!

Oh -- things I don't like about other birders? People who want to take a "quick peek" through my bins because they left theirs at home. Usually these people are all sweaty, or sneeze/cough while using them, and I can barely stand to touch the bins again much less put them up to my eyes. Icky yucky pooh pooh.
erniehatt
Manjeet thanks for the entertaining article, I was going to mention the cell phone, its a curse not only for birders, but for a golfer like me, just as you are about to putt for the money the bells chime. I only go with the wife, I don't think she trusts me out on my lonesome. Ernie
Birdeye
Rose from Australia

Manjeet, what a laugh, I could actually imagine some people I have known doing those things. Thank goodness I always go off alone.

I really laughed at the nose-picking story though, because just a few weeks ago I saw a man do that. I had gone to a patch of bush just outside a nearby town, wearing an old men's army shirt I bought to camouflage myself when I'm trying to photograph birds. There is a walking track right through the middle of the bush, but I had moved off the track, and was standing among some trees, trying to locate the Crested Shrike-tits. The man came into view, walking his dog on a long lead. With his free hand, he was exploring a nostril; each find was hauled out on the tip of a finger, carefully inspected - and then wiped on his shirt. Neither the man nor the dog noticed me, as I just stood still - well Manjeet, I had forgotten about the man with the dog (and the nose) until I read your post. Thanks very much, I'll have nightmares tonight now.

Deanneart
ROTFLOL Manjeet!!!! The tears are streaming down my face I am laughing so hard I can't see. I think my laughter is going to be as good as an abs workout at the gym. Everyone here is toooooo.... funny.

My gripe is being with someone who can't keep their mouths shut, they have to keep talking and talking and talking and spouting out way too much information when you just want to look at the birds. Some folks have to 'prove' how knowledgable they are and I want to say to them, "yes I know and acknowledge you are a supreme being and I'm a lowly beginner and can't keep up with you intellectually so can you stop talking now?"

Anyway, I'd like to join the girls on the Manjeet birding trip. I promise not to pass wind.....or try to burry my knuckle in my sinuses.... (Eeeeeuuuuu to that)

pcurpb
There was a letter in one of the birding mags a few years ago from a woman driven mad in a hide by birders talking about a scaup which, try as she might, she simply could not see. She was about to ask them where the hell the b****y thing was, when she realised they were from Yorkshire... and talking about a 'SCOPE!

nickderry
As I usually bird alone I can break wind as often as I like, and getting up early after too much beer and kebab the night before usually means that there is enough to create a small greenhouse effect. I would also annoy by being the one that holds everyone up because I want to stop and sketch a chaffinch.
My pet hates in other birders are:
Those that think that a huge life list makes them a good birder, and argue the fact, even though we know they don't identify their own birds!
Those that shout in the hide: has everyone seen the mallard? If you want to point it out, do it quietly.
A personal pet hate, those that watch me field sketching and then ask me if I copy photos for my paintings, I'm too polite to turn round and call them a muppet, but I do feel like it at times.
Mmm, it's good to vent, and I'm not talking about flatulence this time.

deborah4 hmm ... can relate to all those Nick - especially the first one!
(and just add birders who won't stop fidgiting when you're trying to Id a distant call or stand motionless having spotted something!)
More in keeping with the Doc's tone though, birders who leave a dump along with loo paper round the back of Hides and those that turn up to where you are, ask if 'there's anything good about', then disappear just as quickly if you say 'not seen anything out of the ordinary'
ayasuda

Thank you Dr. M. for picking an interesting topic and airing your concerns to the forum. That just puts a smile on my face as I gather friends to go birding this weekend. Normally, I like to bird alone as well. I noticed that when I'm driving alone there is less of a tendency to drive off the side of the road, because someone yells, "Oooh...Look over there!"
nickderry
I can certainly add Deborah's points to my list of gripes. Quite unfortunate that people think hides look like toilets, on the flip side, I got into a 'hide' here in France and was greeted with no windows and a toilet, whoops!

Ayasuda, I am that person that yells 'look over there', still without driving licence I am the bane of my (sadly) non-birdwatching boyfriend's 'good' driving when going along the motorway I shout 'arrète! il y a des cigognes!' (translation to keep in the good books on the non-use of foreign on the forum - 'stop there are some storks!'
JoanT
My pet hate is the use of the word "allegedly". Example from yesterday birder came up and used that word in his first sentence to me regarding a bird that I had just happened to have found and put on the pager. Why do some birders always assume that because they can't find the bird it is either not there or been miss id'ed when they just haven't looked in the right place for it. The bird talked about here was a local scarcity a Turnstone and is still present today. A simple "Have you seen the Turnstone" would have got a much more pleasant reply from me.
nickderry
Can completely relate to the use of the word 'allegedly', especially when I was a bit younger and very few would believe any good birds I saw, luckily most of them stayed around to be 'confirmed'. There's a few threads going on in the rare birds forum about not believing what others see, quite a shame, as I'm sure those that doubt other's birds are more than willing to accept anything they've seen alone.
JoanT
It was only this one guy and I had never seen him before. The bird had already been successfully twitched by other locals and even if it hadn't it would have got into the county bird report. I have seen some of the comments on the rare birds thread and was involved with the release of the news of the Herts Hoopoe which unfortunately I never saw. The doubter there was someone who arrived and left before I got there, not a local apparantly, so I have been told as I knew most of the people who arrived after me.
matt green
I agree with everything on this thread, except the farting!!
I just don't want to spend a whole day birding with someone I'm not comfortable with farting off in their presence, subtlety isn't always an option...as hard as one might try.
I look on them as the ultimate 'friend or foe' test, in short...if you can guff with no fear of reprisals then you know you're onto a winner!!!

Dr Manjeet Singh Oh Matt ..lol,lol.. One Farter..has become a good friend of mine while birding but he makes sure he does it down wind.. Thanks people i had forgotten about this thread.
__________________
Gingling
My oh my :It looks as if you all have just discovered an uncultivated market for inflatable birders to take on those outings. Think of it , only you decide when to let the air out of them , they do as they are told and do not talk back.
Low maintenance, non-snoring plastic friends with only a look of encouragement.
For those of the nose picking variety , a inflatable birder with a optional plastic camera tripod that fits up the nose and giant Green tipped index finger accessory attachment

Peewit
Hi Doctor M
ha ha LOL. I am glad I saw this thread. What a laugh
What can I say or what can I say. It is true what you say about wind - both ends I mean. Other wind can be just a gusty as in snoring.
The old saying is 'Wherever you be, let the wind blow free' or words to that effect.
Another embarassing one is a friend of mine decided to have a no 1 under a tree. This was in the wilderness by the way so no others where around. On top of the same tree, well sturdy bush was a Stonechat sitting on top of the topmost branch having a good old twitter (If only birds could say what they really mean )
Honestly some things you cannot help at all. Freak of nature of something like that
Rosemarie DiMatteo
Oh my lord! I came here expecting advice about the dos and don'ts of birding (knowing next to nothing at this point) and what do I find? Hilarity! I'm sure learning about lots more than birds here! Many thanks from across the pond.
The Devil Bird
I don't usually go birding with others, just my dad. And reading this, I would much rather go with the people described in the thread than with Dad, it sounds much more well mannered! Kidding
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10th Feb 2007
I had been looking for this bird for some time, not because I wanted a twitch but because so many birders I met kept talking about it, and always talked about seeing it. When I reached the top of the hill of the pump house, puffing and panting as usual and my legs and hands trembling like a man of 80 yrs. I saw high in a tree this small bird capering among the branches. With trembling fingers I managed to take a couple of pictures. I knew it was a barbet but what didn’t know the type. When I got home and looked it up in the bird guide, I found it's name. I am sorry it isn’t a good picture, not like you others who day by day churn out excellent pictures, (whom I hold at awe.) Since it was my first sighting of this species I wanted to share it with all my friends in bird forum. I hope you like it as much as I do.
Black-Browed Barbet Megalaima oorti

14th Feb 2007
After parking my car I followed a short road with Jason and my brewery walking behind. Suddenly this cheeky little fellow came out and sat about fifteen feet from me and just above eye-level, then with a contemptuous flick of his tail while looking at me, flew into the tree. Of cause it fired my blood and I almost took out the sword, then realised the camera is mightier then the sword so I sneaked in after him, and then one sun ray took pity on me and shone onto this fellow, mark you, he was still keeping a eye on me while feeding on seeds from a branch. I clicked my shutter and with a contemptuous flick of my right moustache I left him with a laugh. The sneak is beautiful don’t you think. I like the picture because of his sneaky looks, look at his eye will you.
Orange-bellied Leafbird (Male). Chloropsis hardwickii

16th Feb 2007
Today I was feeling burnt out, maybe because of my work, but probably because I had gone to see two terminal ill patients, whose families are going to celebrate the Chinese new year. When there, a child of four asked me, “will my grandfather see the Chinese new year Doctor Uncle”. I looked at the child and didn’t have an answer but told the child, “look after him well and he may”. Then went back to my practice and saw all the regular moaners and groaners with not much wrong with them, apart from a few serious ones. By mid-day I felt completely burnt out. I took off to my patch, the one beside the temple and decided to sit myself down and just look at nature. I could see the pond and see the Moorhens running up and down the mud-flat. I took a deep breath and dozed off, whilst leaning against a small tree that faces the Temple and the huge tree whose shadowed covers the whole area. Suddenly a sound of quick, deep notes sounded which flowed right through me and brought every thing alive in me, it was a beautiful melodious sound, I looked up and saw a flash of yellow, and the deep notes flowed again with a trill at the end. I was born again, every sad thing went out of my mind and I was up and taking pictures of this beautiful bird. “My Phoenix Bird”. Nature is a profound soothsayer who even brings peace to this (((destructive man.?)))) (sad, considerate man. Tanny). The picture may not be up to the mark but it’s my phoenix bird. If any of you who has heard the sound of a Common Iora singing will surely agree with the wonder of it’s song.
Common Iora Aegithina tiphia

19th Feb 2007
Never go birding after a previous nights party. On Saturday night my family and I went to our friends house for a Chinese New Year dinner, after closing my practice I took my family and we stayed till two am in the morning. and I was slightly tipsy so my wife drove us home. I got up in the morning at six thirty, made my coffee and sandwiches and off I went to Telor Gong. I reached there just after seven am, it was still dark so I parked near the old ladies house, Brock’s friend. I got my things ready but had a colossal hangover. Seeing as the sun was still not out I decided to have my breakfast. My coffee you can have float my boots in it. After finishing my meal I looked around and gave a huge BURP, it sounded like thunder-lol, but the head ache eased a bit. The sun had just started peeping out like a girl of sixteen when I saw this small movement just across the road in the bougainvillea bush. My headache was history because just about fifteen feet away. My first bird of the day. I focused and clicked away. I am surprised how close it was normally this bird is quite shy.
Little Bronze Cuckoo(Female) Chrysococcyx minutillus

19th Feb 2007
With the little Bronze Cuckoo in my camera I started walking on the bund, to my left the mangroves and to my right the few scattered village houses, I was humming away one of the dirty Cantonese lyrics I heard at the party, and was feeling good. Then noticed some movements at the side of the dirt road, it looked like a Munia, and it was collecting nesting material. As it passed me I saw it had a white rump. “Wow” my first White-rumped Munia. Well people I plonked my self there and waited for it to return, which it did very soon and of cause the Singh was waiting with his camera all set up, with a laugh I clicked the button and this was the second in the bag for today and another first for me.
White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata
20th Feb 2007
For a change I didn’t have many patients, and thank God I had time for birding during my lunch break. As I walked silently down the path the Bittern flew off and I guess the sentry duty is on again. He thought I hadn’t seen were he had plonked himself among the lilies. I sneaked around him and waited on the bank of the pond. In about twenty minuets time out pop's his head about sixty feet in the centre of the pond. He does a complete circle (380 degrees), looking for his nemesis, me. I pressed the shutter and he saw me, and flew away squawking-saying “doesn’t this Singh have nothing better to do” Well my friend I caught you pretty among the lilies, I like lilies and flowers around the bittern. Poor chap. I hope you'll can see the drop of water on the end of his beak.
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis.

23rd Feb 2007
Well guys and girls, I have been laughing since yesterday, I couldn’t even go birding, my hands were shaking so much, so I decided to upload this picture which calmed my nerves. You’re wondering why, well it all started like this. I was sleeping soundly yesterday and the phone began ringing and woke me up.
Blurry eyed I picked up the phone and saw that the time was 2am. “Hello” I said and suddenly a loud howl, “Ohohohohohohhhhh” and, “screammmmmmmmm”, and this voice say's, “I am dying Doctor”, and again it was repeated, and I shuddered and then a female voice answered, “Oh Doctor I am his wife, you remember the patient Ganesan with the wound between his thighs, you know, who injured him self on his wedding day”. Yesterday the Medical Centre had discharged him after doing the dressing but since 3pm he hasn’t passed WATER, and his belly has belly on top of his belly and he is in much pain”. (Oh my God, retention of urine with Bladder distension). Again the, “Oohohohohohohhhhhh” and a, “screammmmmm” and a whisper ..”Dr. I am dying”. Then I remembered, the boy who was given the keys of his new house on his wedding day, and after the dinner and drinks had taken his new wife to the house for a new experience on his wedding night. They reached the house and with keys in hand, started fumbling with the locked gate, in his excitement I guess, the keys fell into the compound, just out of his reach, so our HERO climbed over the gate, at the top he slipped and came down hard on the wicked gate spike, a huge chunk of tissue and skin was gouged out from his right inner thigh including the skin of the right scrotum. Since they had called me to see I had admitted him into the medical centre and he was in there for a month, for all they could do for him was dressing and hope the wound would heal. I told her I was coming quickly and galloped down the stairs after slipping into a T-shirt, got in my car with my battered medical bag and I was off. This place is a new colony about 20mins drive from my place, it consist of forty houses, twenty facing each other smack on the high way to Pulau Indah, Port Klang. Then as I passed the five minuet mark in my driving I started feeling cold from below my waist. I looked down and, “OH MY GOD I HAD FORGOTTEN TO WEAR MY PANT'S” I stopped the car on the side of the road and started looking for my sarong, a piece of cloth four feet long and three feet wide which you tie around your waist. I use it to clean my dash board and windows, (my collages days keep sake).Have you ever tried dressing yourself in the car, the whole car was shaking from side to side and just as I was about to tie the knot to both ends of the sarong, there was a knock on my right side window and when I looked, there was this torch shinning on my face. I got the window down and I heard a voice say Police. “Oh No”. I put my head out and this policeman see's me and said, “Oh Dr.Manjeet Sir”. He looks down at me holding the two ends of the sarong and starts howling with laughter and say's, “Doc, you forgot to wear your pants” “No” I said, “I wear this in my house, but I am seeing a patient and it had come loose”. He gave me a dirty grin and said “O.K. follow us” and off we went. Tomorrow the Klang Police H.Q. will be laughing. “OH GOD WHY MEeee”.We reached the place and there was a festive air there, all the forty families were out side, the headman saw me and came running and said “THANK GOD YOUR HERE”. Then I asked, “why aren’t you all sleeping”. He said, “Shsss”, Then I heard the loud whaling, “OohohohohHHHH”, and a screams and then, “Dr. I am dying”. The headman looked at me and said, “how could we sleep”. Quickly I went into the house followed by the cheering crowd. went into the room and saw the boy on the bed. I removed the sheet covering him and saw a huge pressure bandage between his thighs. As soon as I removed the bandage, I saw the private part kinked and folded and with the pressure bandage on top that is why he hadn’t passed water since 3pm. It was like he had a belly on a belly. And then the thing moved and a tremor ran down it's length and I ran behind the chaps head, and as I looked, it uncoiled like vicious COBRA and reared up and watered the ceiling, then watered the wife, the window on the left, and finally the door. I heard the crowd surging back and then it laid quite with a slight tremor. I like a idiot quickly went to see if the wound was infected, and the monster reared up again and the vicious head glared at me and spat a litre of water at me below my waist, my sarong was completely soaked. Then there was a soft satisfied grunt, and the patient fell asleep with a huge grin on his face and the vicious thing went LIMP.
Then I told the wife to wet wipe the husband, and I went to the bathroom and rinsed my sarong and after tying it back on wet as it was, I came and cleaned the wound and left the dangling part on the side so that he could do what he had to do. Then I went out and saw the whole population rolling on the ground with tears in there eyes, and you know the policemen were also hanging onto the side bushes laughing their heads off. I at once jumped into my car with my wet sarong and bolted for home. I reached home at 4am but couldn’t sleep because I kept dreaming of the vicious head rearing up and spitting water all over me. Then at 7am I got ready and went off to see my two terminally ill patients and told them the story, and they were still laughing when I left. God bless them, in so much pain and they can still laugh with me, “I love these people”).Then on the way I dropped by the medical centre and the Orthopaedic surgeon(a friend of mine) and told him what his staff had done and he called them in. There were four of them. I remembered one who was retired and given a job again in this centre, she was myopic and hard of hearing. I scolded all and then this myopic one turned to boss crying and said, “DR. I AM SORRY I SHOULD HAVE CUT THE BLACK DANGLING THING BUT THERE WAS NO SCISSORS IN THE DRESSING SET SO I JUST KINKED IT AND FOLDED IT (THE DANGLE) AND PUT ON THE PRESSURE BANDAGE”. well people, THE SURGEON FAINTED and I bolted for my practice laughing all the way.
Now you All know why I couldn’t go birding till today. Now please when you stop laughing, SEE THE BEAUTIFUL BIRD TOO, for it soothed my nerves.
24th Feb 2007
Since two days of no birding because I was laughing too much, and if you have seen my soothers of nerves, the Blue-tailed Bee-eater which I uploaded yesterday then today you will be pleased to know that it was a lazy day, not many patients and I just spent some time browsing through Bird Forum before I went to my patch which the Town Council had cleared about a month ago. Some scrubs had gone, I haven’t been here for over a month, and the trees left behind were leafing and some had fruits. I saw a movement in one of the trees and sneaked closer for a better look and saw this group of starling having lunch. As the shutters clicked, the bird I was photographing saw me and the look in his face seemed to say, “don’t you have any thing better to do”, before he flew away. For me any bird is a beauty.
Philippine Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis

26th Feb 2007
We went to Fraser's Hill again, me and my walking brewery and reached there at about eight am. It was still a bit misty and there appeared to be clouds above the mist. We were having tea in cowboy town when I saw this Sunbird just sitting on a flowering plant, guys it was the ultimate shot, the light, the pose and the bird were perfect, but before I could press the shutter, a loud “WAAAAh” just next to my elbow, and I turned to see an eight year old boy standing there laughing. When he saw my face he bolted to his father side, I love kids very much, but felt angry with this one because when his father told him in Mandarin that he shouldn’t have done it, the boy replied, “why you bother the Singh isnt your brother”. I then told him in Mandarin, “you shouldn’t be rude to your father”. The boy went pale and the father felt bad but I winked at his father who guessed I was trying to teach the boy some manners. But you know maybe I may have done something similar to someone else when I was a youngster. So I was feeling a bit angry with my self as I walked up the hill. Then high up in the canopy I saw this beauty, and people, the anger drained out of me in seconds as I bagged my first Verditer Flycatcher. I know it isn’t that good a picture but believe me I was about-150 to 170feet away -this Kowa T.D.1 always surprises me.
Verditer Flycatcher(Female). Eumyias thalassina

26th Feb 2007
Still walking I decided to rest and like magic there came the tweeting of birds and I was surrounded by them, I managed to get a picture of this male and some of the female but they are so fast that they give you a crick in the neck while taking pictures-I don’t know there seems to be a little blurry around the head, or was it it’s fine feathers. My first picture but not a lifer because I had seen it before. Well even with the blur this Guy is dashing and Good looking, like me,-lol-.(for a Singh you hear..).My day was picking up. Regards.
Grey-chinned Minivet(Male). Pericrocotus solaris.

26th Feb 2007
Now after I got the male this female just sat there and was making a fuss the male darted in and fed it. I looked closely and it was not a juvenile but an adult female. I wonder if it’s a courting behaviour, don’t know, but by then the sky was becoming grey and there were a few drops of rain. To finish off I photographed this Grey Minivet to go with the grey sky. excuse me for the picture quality, couldn’t get a better shot.
Grey-chinned Minivet .(Female). Pericrocotus solaris.

27th Feb 2007
Aki, Tim stole your Great Tit and Hans your crested ! (opps..ahmmmm), nothing was left for me, so I kidnapped you and brought you here. The reason to take pictures like yours. Look the background is what you like, lichen and moss branches, The bird it is beautiful don’t you agree.(I know you also have beautiful birds over there) Now I also know you miss the SNOW for most of your shots there is snow Well my friend DO YOU SEE THE SILVER PATCH NEAR THE EAR Think of it as snow and you wont feel home sick. I know your bird pictures are a hundred times better then mine, but, YOU HAVE TO GIVE ME SOME GOOD POINTS FOR TRYING, O.K. Hope you people like this copy, Singh not cat.
Silver-eared Mesia. Leiothrix argentauris.
1st Mch 2007
The Rain had stopped by two pm and the sun was hot again and I decided to go to the Jeriau Water Falls, and on the way I thought it might be interesting to go to the waste dump. Please don’t do it if you are there after a rain, the smell was horrendous and the flies were thick like a carpet. Oh the things I get up to for my friends in B.F.. Hee-he. I squished my way through the rubbish, choking on the killer pong and through my streaming eyes I saw a flicker of wings and this beauty came and sat on a small tree down hill to the dump. It was too close to me, and I only zoomed a little bit but couldn’t get the tail in the picture. It gave me such a disgusting look with it's mean red-eyes before flying away. I do hope you like it, and I’m sorry for the loss of the tail. This is the first time I have photographed this bird as clear as this. The black colour never seems to come out the way I actually saw it. But the surprise is that I found this bird at the dump. Morten Strange says it is found there, at the lower level well. I rest my case. Just a hundred feet away from there I got the Bronze Drongo also. I will post that one some other time.
GreaterRacquet-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus

2nd Mch 2007
Well I know you have seen me before, yes I’m in the gallery as the loony doctor, he got me on the nineteenth of December. I know he has nothing better to do, but me, I have to make a living and must stay alive. See now what he has done to me, MADE ME NUDE, me the best looking Yellow Bitter bird in the world. I wonder if the doctor enjoys doing this to me, I know, I know, he said something about a competition, but I don’t believe him, I think he is having fun with me and enjoying it like hell. Teach him a lesson, DONT VOTE FOR HIM-please.
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis.

6th Mch 2007
I had gone to my patch that day just after the Town council had clean up and cut down all the bushes on the side of the Aur river. I walked around the patch, no small birds like Tailor birds, Sparrows and even the Sunbirds were missing. I sat on the bank hoping some birds would come when I heard a low “hiss”, and just thirty feet across the river was this one huge guy that you wouldn’t want to meet in the dark. “No not me,” He could take off my leg with one snap. He was sun bathing and after the hiss he inflated his throat pouch and looked at me and I was thinking, “you are next Dr.Singh”. Huge isn’t he, at least twelve to fourteen feet long. He is the King of this patch but I think he hasn’t met the real king, (cobra) yet. How do you like this example of what sort of things can be found in my patch. The poor chap has only the river to hide in now. Hope you like it too, all are natures gifts aren’t they.
Monitor Lizard ??????

8th Mch 2007
Got up in the Morning with a smile on my hairy face and a heart full of joy for I was seeing my favourite patient. The one who has been paralysed from the neck down, a patient who has been bed ridden for four to five years. I reached his place and as usual these people greet me with a smile. He was smiling too, (I really love these people, I really do).He told me he wanted to whisper something in my ear, so like a good Doctor I bent my head closer to him, I could see that he had a small tube running out from his mouth which disappeared beneath the pillow, he said, “a little closer” and like a nincompoop I went closer, he clenched his jaw and a spray of water splashed all over my face. I then realised that the whole family was laughing. He had asked his grandson to get a rubber bladder which they filled with water and had a tube running from his mouth to the pillow, and the other end was pointed at me, all he had to do was close his jaw over the bladder in the mouth and the water would baptised me. He then whispered to me, “Dr you are lucky it was only water, not like that day when you were hosed below your waist”, remember my Nerve Soothers. Oh these people are great they made me laugh today. I did what I had come to do and as I was leaving, turned and told him, “WATCH YOUR SELF MY FRIEND I have a few tricks up my sleeve too”. I left laughing. Thus at twelve thirty pm after finishing with the Moaners and (((((Groiners))))) I left for my patch. What a beautiful day, being bed ridden hasn’t stopped my patient from trying to get one up on me. Suddenly saw a big bird flying down to a tree Oh joy, I sneaked in and discovered, there was my flying Money sitting quietly, and I blazed away like there was no tomorrow. I call this bird my Flying Money because when the first time I saw it, I noticed the white 'silver dollar’ patch on the wing. Hope you like it and people the day was beautiful, my patients were good and I was laughing at the joke on me, and then the icing on the cake was this beautiful bird. What else do you need. Regards and hope you like it.
Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis

8th Mch 2007
Well Guys And Girls for a birder one view isn’t enough, but I hope you believe me, the heat and the sun was hot enough to fry a egg on a rock, but the sight of this beautiful bird drove every thing out of my mind. Just the sheer pleasure of bird watching remained. I loved it. Hope you'll will like this view also.
Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis

Tanny · May 13, 2010

Continued 1

10th Mch 2007
Well people yesterday I had gone to see one of my favourite patients, he was in pain, so I gave him an i\m Morphine injection. After twenty five minuets he opened his eyes and looked at me, and as always he has the biggest smile for me. I asked him how he was, and he told me, “fine since you are here”. “Oh”, I laughed and said, “is it the morphine or me ,your talking about”, he gave low chuckle. As I set there for a while more, I felt a presence! Mr. Death was around, He and I have a long standing feud going on. I argue for more time for my patients when he wants to take them away, but believe me sometime he listens but on other occasions he tells me to let go for the patients suffering will be less. I do agree, but today I said, “No” for this patient. “he is waiting for his son to come back from the U.S.A. with a ENg. degree in ten days from now”. I told him that when I die and you come to take me, I will give you one hell of a time if you don’t listen”. “Oh Dr.Singh, that has been my nightmare and even God’s, (my God-lol) if we put you in hell, the whole of hell will start laughing around with you, and don’t forget all your friends are there, Hell is supposed to be all agony and pain, not laughter. Again if we put you in Heaven you will corrupt all the good people there (like the B.F.-lol). O.K. this ones I agree with you, but we have also decided that your turn will not come around for a very, very long time.” As I laughed, the presence vanished. So I went back to my practice and saw my patents and at twelve thirty bolted for my patch. I really was not in the mood and just sat in the shade of one of the last stunted trees at the edge of the pond and dosed off. It must have been about fifteen minuets or so when a sharp cry of the Wood Sandpiper woke me up and I saw it just about thirty feet away. I took pictures, then stood there looking at it's grace, colour and zest for life, and I realized that, “LIFE” is for living the best you can, and if possible, loving it, and laughing at it. Nature is there for us to enjoy life with BIRDS like this to show you it's beauty even though it has a simple colour. Nature has millions of colours and species to make what we call LIFE. So people! “LIVE LIFE, LOVE LIFE, LAUGH at LIFE, and LAUGH with LIFE”.
I hope you will like the bird for it is LIFE.(I wrote this today for all the people who have every thing but still don’t understand life.

12th Mch 2007
Well Birdforum members, you’ve been having a good time taking pictures of us, haven’t you, well we, the birds have been wanting to talk to you for a very long time but found it difficult because we couldn’t get hold of an idiot birder to mind control. Finely we have found the ideal loony among you whom we think can convey our thoughts. We laugh ourselves silly when you sneak around in the mud and grime trying to get a photograph to identify us, but the one who outshines all of you is that, weird and wonderful, Dr Singh. When this birder heads our way, the sentinel gives us the warning and then we are on the alert to give him the run around, and torment him. None of us have ever met a birder as nutty as him, he comes here in the Heat, Midday sun, Rain or flood, huffing and puffing after us as we dodge ahead among the branches and leaves. “Oh” we do show ourselves to him now and then but as soon as he puts his tripod down and is about to press the shutter button, we fly away, “Oh my”, you should hear the colourful language, and see the stomping of feet, and then the shaking of his fist at us. Oh this birder gives us such fun and laughter with his weird antics, not only that but it’s the amazingly funny things that happen to him, like today for instance. He came into the patch with two things on his mind, one, a bad mood and, two, a desire to get a picture of a couple of birds that has eluded him for ages. When I saw the black look on his face and the glower in his eyes I knew the reason and—and---Haaaa-haaaa-haa, Ooops, nearly fell off my perch. He was so happy when he got to the practice this morning, singing to himself and greeted everyone with a wave and a big smile. The first patient came in had a very sore throat, that’s why I, the White-throated Kingfisher is telling this story. The great Doctor sat the patient down, asked him to open his mouth, and say, “AARGH” and then he depressed the tongue to see the back of the throat, it was then that the patient let off a tremendous, “BURP”, right in the Doctors Face. I could see the poor old Doctor wilting, and collapsed in his chair. The patient had eaten onions and turnips for his breakfast. Oh my, the poor Dr got the full nauseating blast in his face. Oh what a hoot, all the birds he has persecuted in this patch went belly up with laughter when I told them. After recovering from that ordeal the Doctor called in the next patient. A lady so huge, she had to push sideways through the door, she must have weighed at least more than two hundred pounds, she had come to have her blood pressure checked. It took the doctor ages to wrap the cuff around her ‘ham-joint’ sized arms, he could barely close the cuff. Then he started inflating the cuff, and at the first 10mmg she past wind and as he increased the pressure so too did the farting, and by the time it reached to 200mmg, she was going like a machine gun. “Haaa-Haa-haa, Heee-Heee-Hee, coff-coff-coff”, “Oh please let me wipe the tears from my eyes with my feathers, Oh the poor old Doctor wilted again due to the stench. We bird haven’t had so much fun since who flung the chunk-, splutter-splutter. So now, here he is trudging through our place trying to forget what happened. What the poor guy was after was the Black Baza and the Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, both of them hang around here but our doctor has been missing them for the last two months. Baza is a real tease and a tormenter. The Doc exhausted himself searching and took a rest under a tree, unbeknown to him Baza sneaked into the top of the tree and lets fly with a stream of white gooey body waste and it splatters down all over the Doc shoes, and then Baza flies away leaving the Doc standing there shaking his fist. The Doc looked so dejected and depressed that I for the first time took pity on him and challenged him to take my picture but he couldn’t see me so finally I perched just 20 feet in front of him where even he couldn’t miss. If you look closely at the picture you should see the smirk on my beak. Well birders of B.F. it has been a blast meeting you all. Be kind to Dr Singh, Hee-heee, the loony. I hope you like my picture, I’m still laughing, “kek..kek..kek” .White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis

14th Mch 2007
I sat at the edge of the Aur river and felt sad about the folly of man. Trees and bushes, chopped down and left to rot. When the tide comes in some of it is swept off the bank and floats down the river to clog up other banksides, or even floats right out to sea. The remainder clings to the bank, rotting away as an example of mans destructive power over nature. Then, all is transformed, as one of natures emissaries flies in to beautify the desolation. A Chinese Pond Heron flapped lazily down the river to perch on one of the dying branches and my sad thoughts of man and his folly vanished and I could only sit there and stare in awe at the beauty of the bird. I hope you who look closely at this picture of this bird will see the same. “Oh Nature, you are a wonder”. I do hope you will like the beauty amongst Man’s folly. I am sorry I know pictures of nature and birds must show beauty but what can I do, I live among man's folly, but you have to agree to the beauty of this bird.
Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus

Marmot
Well said Manjeet, we are responsible when it comes down to it not these poor animals that have to live amongst something they have not created. Perhaps you should start being Known as the "campaigning Doctor" rather than the "loony one" and have a word with your local council about tidying it up to be an area that is appreciated by all. Great picture.
When we had the very first "man & Birds" competition this was the one that won it, although just one item of rubbish was in the picture it soon grows.

Tanny 14th Mch 2007
Strewth mate, I would never consider the Doc as "Loony", he's the only one among all of us in the forum who is able to put down in words the true faults of modern man. His ability to open our eyes and lift up our hearts to the depressive destruction and sadness in the world with a laugh, is a gift that many of us appreciate immensely, and we will defend him with the last drop of ink in our pens. Keep us laughing Doc and thanks.

Marmot
Tanny, this is not an insult to Manjeet, he actually calls himself this at times. I am a full paid up member of the "Dr Manjeet Fan Club" even my Mum is his main fan and keeps in regular contact with him.

Dr Manjeet Singh
Thanks all of you. Yesterday after reading Marmot comment about doing something about it, and instead of sulking, I decided to go and see the Chairman of the Municipal Council. He is well known to me. I barged into his house and told his wife, “I shall be having breakfast with your husband” (His wife adores me for she is one of my’ ‘out-laws’), and making him a offer he cant refuse”. After breakfast I shoved him into my car and brought him to my patch by seven thirty am. I showed him all the debris and destruction and asked him when is he going to clean this place up. To be fare to him, he didn’t know anything about it. I showed him the birds through my binoculars and he asked me to take him to his office. He was very angry and as I left I could hear him shouting at his staff. I have just got a call from him telling me that they will clean up the dead trees and rubbish by Sunday. Well we will see on Monday. Marmot, thanks for the inspiration.

digishooter
Isn't it ironic that the only organism with the intelligence and capacity to make wrongs right, persists in making the right wrong. We are making our bed and I fear we will have to lie in it. I have little hope for the species. It is why I spend so much time with my eye in a camera and spending my time reading the missives of Doctor Manjeet and my friends on the "forum”, By the way, Doc, This is my favourite of the herons.

Clive Timmons
People the world over DR, ...... at high tide we get tons of flotsam/Jetsam/Dirty-peoplesam on my Estuary. I’m sick of putting up no litter signs? Well if they are stupid enough to dump, what are the chances that they can read ? Your Heron brightened it up and you made me Laugh so thanks

Hansbertil
The bird is a beauty to marvel at, and at the same time one gets saddened by the man made "uglyfication" of the setting. A great capture, but leaving me with contradictory feelings.

16th Mch 2006
Hans, thank you for the commented on my picture of the Yellow Bittern, that was my dream picture my friend, and this is for one step closer to your dream.
As I went to my mud-flat and pond at 5p.m. I passing the thick reeds and grasses on the edge of the pond and saw a brown movement from the corner of my eye. I continued walking for about fifty feet and then came back and stopped about twenty five feet from the reeds, I plonked down my tripod and looked at the pond, slowly turned the scope and camera towards the brown patch hidden in the grass and focused, The bird was pretending to be a reed and pushed his neck along side a tall grass stem. I watched and waited, then some insect came near to him and he turned his head, that was when I got my picture. I laughed when he saw me and took off with an injured expression on his face. Hans for you, hope you like it. Hans if you don’t like it, please don’t send me to Sing, Sing, because I’m already a SINGH (lol.)
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis.

Marmot
If Hans sends you to sing-sing I am sure you will have a large rescue party coming to get you out.
Marian Alvarez
Ha, ha!!! I think not to like your Yellow Bittern is just impossible... and anyway Hans is too nice fellow to send you to Sing-Sing after such a touching dedication!

Congrats to both of you, Dr. for this beautiful composition and Hans for this "gift"!
a.dancy
If ever you end up in Sing Sing I will get the sparrow birds to keep you company (like the bird man of Alcatraz) till I come and break you out....superb shot Doc!
hansbertil
Now I am a very proud and delighted owner of a "Singh-dedicated Bird". Singh-ing your praise Manjeet, over this true Beauty. I love it. The Bittern we have in Sweden have a deep mystic sound that is hard to imagine is coming from a bird. Love the setting too, full of randomly placed green lines. THANKS VERY MUCH, dear dr. Manjeet Singh

(((As I have commented in the picture Beauty Among Man's Folly-the needling of Marmot))) ( loll-our sisters can be a pain in the behind, they needle, needle, I’m sure if you think back all the nagging, ‘oop’s’, I mean needling, (nicer word) started from our sisters, and when we got married our wives took over, lol. (The Ladies are going to slaughter this Singh-lol ???))
.
When I reached my patch with the Chairman of the M.C. oh boy he’s almost eight years younger then me and he was huffing and puffing like a steam engine behind me (see Birding makes you fit -people). We rested on the bank of the Aur river and looked for birds and as if God wanted to show this chap that birds also need clean areas-I saw these two friends across the river, unbelievable, a Chinese Pond Heron and a Black-crowned Night-heron. All the rich feeling of mother Nature's wonders seeped into me and after taking a couple of pictures, laughingly whacked my friend on the back and said see the two friends are asking you to clean up this Man Made Folly. will you! Well he has promised by one week he will clear all the dead trees and muck. But people lets be fair to him, he didn’t know that they had left those dead trees and muck behind, and he also didn’t know such beautiful birds could live here. The picture isn’t too good but still he saw the birds. Thank you very much my friends and Bird Forum, and as Tim Taylor said, “never be passive at least try, NO HARM DONE BUT SOME GOOD MAY COME.”
Chinese pond Heron /Black-crowned Night-heron( non-breeding) Ardeola bacchus + Nycticorax nycticorax

Marmot
Manjeet it is advice us Ladies give, Ian calls it nagging.
I was just thinking that it would be good for you to have some before and after pictures of this area. Well done on your actions, I am sure that there are very few of us that would have gone and done what you did, good on you! I am sure your wife is probably saying "How come you take notice of Marmot, when I have been asking you for ages to do things”. Great image. PS, Can I borrow you to get a few things that I want Ian to do.
Tanny
Well done mate, and congratulation for you efforts. I will look forward to seeing many more unusual birds after the MC has got the pollution cleaned up, mind you it has just dawned on me that maybe these birds enjoy the tangle of branches.
Chris Charles
Maybe you will be Malaysia's Ian Kiernan.. Ian started the, 'Clean-up Australia' campaign and was the catalyst that changed many Australians habit of just discarding rubbish.
Sounds like a good morning Doc, Two Herons and a job well done with the Chairman, and all by 7:45am!
19th Mch 2007
I was overjoyed to know that one of our Bird forum members has had his picture published in a U. K. National paper, yes, it was Dancys picture of the Wheatear.
So I have dedicated a poem to him which I have written to put in the thread, Bird and Poetry, but then realised that not many readers will know of Dancy’s achievement, so I decided to upload it in the photo gallery, of cause accompanied with the right picture. I found out about Dancy's picture through my Mafia connections, lol. Well here is the picture, and Dancy’s Dance. Some of you have felt it, I have but I believe Dancy has lots of experience with birds. So people for Dancy it is:

DANCY'S DANCE.
UP HIGH, A SPECK ABOVE GLIDES HIGH AND LOOKS BELOW.
SEE'S A MORTAL DOWN BELOW.
DIVES DOWN TO SEE WHICH FOOL IS BELOW..
SEE'S A SINGH BIRDING BELOW
LET'S GO HIS LOAD OF NIGHT BEFORE..
THEN LOOKS DOWN AT THE POOR SINGH BELOW..
UP HIGH A SPECK ABOVE LAUGHS LOUD AT THE SINGH BELOW.
(Crested Serpent Eagle)
I AM NO POET BUT JUST A SINGH. Hope you like the picture, and Dancy I am proud of you my friend.
Creasted Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela

19th Mch 2007
Yes, “Oh blimy”, you think this is crazy, “nah” keep trolling. On Sunday after closing my practice I went home and had a few chilled beers. After my lunch all my family was sitting with me and my (out-law-sister) sister in law. My wife’s elder sister has come down to Malaysia. The ladies decided to go shopping and my sister in law said to me, “Manjeet you don’t have to go”. “Oh boy”, I hugged her and gave a dirty look to my wife, then bolted for Telor Gong. The time was three pm and I had been walking on the bund for about two miles before I realised that the birds were not as stupid as me. It was forty degrees and the humidity was eighty five percent. All the birds were resting. I walked back to my car and sat down and thought, there are about four small villages and all have road access, so I decided to “Troll” for birds. who says there is no such word! Just as they go trolling when fishing, I am going trolling for birds. That is, I will drive around all over the place and if I see any bird I will stop and take a picture. Well lucky me, I saw this Kite and got a picture of it. It’s not a very good picture because have you seen that mind blowing picture of this bird in the Data base by Neil Fifer. This is the first time I have seen the patterns on this Kites wing and I just stared and stared. Beautiful, so what next but to show it to my bird forum friends.
Black-Shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus

23 Mch 2007
It has been raining here since Sunday, especially at night. It was still raining on Monday and I didn’t go birding but now it’s Tuesday and the rain stopped by eleven am, so taking advantage of this I scooted for my patch to see if they were cleaning it up. At the side of the Aur River I saw people about a mile up stream clearing the cut tree trunks and I went to visit them and asked if they would please leave the bigger tree trunks above the highest water mark, so that the birds could perch on them. I was so pleased that my friends promise wasn’t just hot air. I walked back to the pond and on my right the pond has many stunted trees and clumps of grasses at the edge and usually there is a gap of about five feet between each clump. At one of the gaps of about twenty five feet one can get right down to the edge of the pond. Nearly always when I pass the clumps a bird would fly up, so this time I decided to carefully take a look through the gap and I saw a shadow about forty feet away. I lay flat out on the ground to see below the trees, I got my kowa ready, and focused it to about thirty five feet, then eased it a foot into the clearing on the left. I took a slow deep breadth and jumped up behind the camera. “Wow”, there was this Chinese Pond Heron, and I just managed to get one picture before I collapsed laughing. You should have seen the startled look on his face, it was as if he was caught naked, then I realised he was semi-nude, he was in partial breeding plumage. What a look of disgusted he gave me as he flew away, and I went off laughing to my patch opposite the mud-flat and pond. His expression reminds me of suddenly opening a public toilet door and finding someone half dressed there. Hope you like him even though he is half dressed. My internet has been very sluggish and my e-mail was not working these five to six days but it appears to be O.K. to-day.
Chinese pond Heron Ardeola bacchus

23rd Mch 2007
Still laughing at the Nude guy, I left for the patch opposite, where the land had lots of ((((((poodles)))))) filled with rain water. I went on, sloshing and slithering to the place where I had seen the Forest Wagtail a few months ago. To get to the area under the canopy of trees I have to get across a drain about six feet wide and about four feet deep. I had a few months back positioned a thick branch across and was able to use it as a bridge. Knowing I had done this many times before, I nonchalantly strolled along the branch, this time though as I reached the centre there was a loud “CRACK” and down I plummeted, I stood there in shock, my face level with the earth two feet away. The drain water almost level with my waist and I was wet like a babies nappy. ‘But’ in the second I looked up I saw a forked tail vanishing upwards. I pulled myself dripping out of that drain and sloshed over to a tree nearby and looked across a clearing and there was this bird looking at me. I knew it was of the Drongo family, possibly the Black Drongo, or Drongo Cuckoo which I had seen there before. I just managed three pictures before it vanished. Wet and dirty I went back to the practice where I got cleaned up and changed. Then I put the bird in for identification. and what a surprise when I was told that it was a Crow-billed Drongo. Dave B and Cuckoroller (Steve) confirmed the identification and according to Dave B it is quite a rare bird, there are not many pictures of this bird to be found. Well my friend’s our Data Base now has one of the rare pictures of this bird.
Crow-billed Drongo Dicrurus annectans

28th Mch 2007
This month I couldn’t get a Doctor to relieve my practice on Sundays, and my wife say's it’s because her sister is here, “you just didn’t try” she said. Last Sunday I had taken them out after their shopping. When we got home I had a chilled Ale before lunch, allowed only on Sundays. As I was relaxing, my three kids came up to the T.V. room and bowed with their arms out stretched, “Oh-oh”, this means that I have to make a decision about something. Before I could asked what it was my sister in law came up and said, “oh Manjeet my best friends sister from Bombay who is staying in K.L. has called me for dinner, and the children have refused to come with us”. She told me, “you know, the one we went to last year for dinner”. I started laughing, then asked her, “why didn’t she ask me to dinner”. “oh”, my out-law said, “she is afraid of you”. my wife was standing behind her sister and was begging me not to say anything. “Well Children you don’t have go, but wify dear, you will have to take your sister to this dinner”, and then my kids and I collapsed laughing.For supporting my kids, they told me that I could go birding. My wife and my (out-law) sister in law left at four pm and I got away by four thirty. I wished both of them an enjoyable time as they left. As a reward for the Children I told them they could order some Kentucky Fried Chicken for dinner, you could hear them shout with excitement for about one mile away. I made my way to this place called Pulau Indah Mangroves. Oh people, it was hot but an exciting place. I saw my first Blue-crowned hanging Parrot here and got a good picture for identification. While walking back I saw this family of Bee Eaters having dinner. I started setting up the equipment and extend the camera hood but I forgot the exposure correction. I reached home and watched the kids eat their dinner and then packed them off to bed at nine. Then I took a strong whisky, “for medicinal purposes of curse”, then settled down to watch the television with my Mom. The ladies arrived home at ten thirty and it was my sister in law who came up first and I could see she was still hungry and looked angry. I asked her to sit down. She asked me if I had taken my dinner, and I said, “no but Mom has had hers”. Then I started laughing, and my wife joined in, You’re still hungry aren’t you, don’t say any thing, I will tell you what sort of dinner your friends sister’ had served up. The vegetables were constipated in looks, the rice was like Rice-water stools in Typhoid, (that is how they caught Typhoid Mary-lol) and the home made pickles were like a Salt-lick for Cattle. Almost in tears she said, “why didn’t you tell me”.” how could I, she is your best friends sister”. and you know why she didn’t call me to go with you. because last time I went, everyone was very polite and said, “good food” but their faces looked tortured-lol. but I, being a bit outspoken had told her, “next time hire a cook”.So you see ,she will never call me to dinner again. All of us started laughing and I took them out for a Chinese.Well looking at the Bee Eaters the little one reminds me of my (out-law). lol. Hope you like the story. The moral of the story is, “if you ask someone to dinner and you cant cook, hire a cook”. Oh I forgot to mention when I asked the husband how he managed, he said he always eats out. lol.
Blue-tailed Bee-eater. Merops philippinus

29th Mch 2007
This family of two parents and three little one were having a good feed while I was baking or getting well done due to the heat.? the mom instead of feeding this one hopped to the other branch to feed the other-but looking at him I realised he was calling Mom-and with a laugh this hairy Singh moved on. Hope you like this little one-as much as I do. Thanks every body-watching a bird family we could learn some things of life-don’t you think so. Regards.
Blue-tailed Bee-eater. Merops philippinus

30th Mch 2007
I have been trying to get a picture of this bird for at least a year but every time I see them in my patch there would suddenly be an explosive sound and this grey hound of the bird family would be seen running and disappearing in the scrub, a bird is so canny that even if I am 300 feet away it knew that the crazy Singh was here-lol. I believe this bird is the quickest bird in Malaya. Today I went and sat on the bank of the pond and saw a movement across the pond about a hundred and eighty feet away. I tracked it through the scope and then it came out into the clearing, but people believe me after my third shot it saw me hiding behind the tree from across the pond and like Carl Luis it flew off and left me shaking my fist at it. I know it is not much of a picture but my tick satisfaction is there. I wish I could take a closer picture of this bird after seeing the pictures in the data base. I take my turban off to them for taking such excellent pictures.
Red Jungle-fowl Gallus gallus

2nd April 2007
Heard you were admitted in the hospital for Va...opps Angina (heart muscle pain). Get well soon my out-law. You have always been one of the people that we depend on when we land in trouble in Bird forum, so please get back as soon as you can and stop showing the nurses your full breeding plumage! “you hear.lol”. They may do a stress test just to check your ticker. So please be back. I had to slip and slide all over the muddy bank to get this picture for you, I do hope you like it. I was feeling a bit down in the dumps but once I saw this bird with it's beautiful feathers, “I KNEW YOU WOULD BE FINE”. I also hope all you other members in Bird Forum will also send Ian a get well wish, they say many wishes from the heart will always cure the heart. Regards and I hope you too like this bird.
Chinese pond Heron-breeding plumage Ardeola bacchus

Jaf
Great photo Doc! I'm sure this'll cheer Ian up, He can dream of having a mud bath from the looks of it.

Marmot
Remember Manjeet Ian does not have breeding plumage, like you he resembles a Sun Bear...the Nurses would probably send the pair of you to the Veterinary surgeons. I will keep you update with what is happening....don't go throwing yourself in the mud though or you might end up in the bed next to him....mind you handy to have a Doctor at your side.

gmax
Nice reference to Ian's breeding plumage, I agree doc ... nurses are always feared by wives Good capture!

Birdseye
Ian, I hope you get better soon - I'll miss your input on Bird forum while we wait for better times to come again. And Manjeet, thank you for being concerned, and for letting us know that our friend is ill.
This is a brilliant shot Manjeet, the colours are superb - and I think I can see how you slid.

Lisa W
Excellent shot and sentiment, Manjeet. This should help to cheer Ian up!
Ian hope you are feeling much better soon.

Deanneart
A beautiful card for Ian Manjeet! You are such a kind-hearted person.
Get well soon Ian, you hear???

Thank you all -Ian is back at home and his stress test was normal-so his Ticker is fine. Hey Marmot Our Hairy suit is our Breeding Plumage you hear-lol. Thanks all the well wishes for Ian-see I told you'll -your well wishes will work.
3rd April 2007
Well people the fun has started again-oh I know I was bowled out in the last one but it was fun was isn’t-excellent winners they were-oh only entered for fun and this time this Olive-backed Sunbird is ready and waiting for all the Lady Sunbirds again for fun you hear-lol.The sad thing was there was such low voting-come on you Guys and Girls you'll can do better-even if you'll don’t enter for the comp. you'll can still vote. Please make this month's comp. such a surprise that the Admin will be shocked to see so many votes. Depending on all of YOU in the Birdforum.Regards.
Olive-backed Sunbird(male). Nectarinia jugularis

4th April 2007
Warning, have some food before reading this. ‘LOL’. Today I was very keen to go birding and frequently checked in to the Bird Forum when I had a free moment. At twelve thirty after going through my patients like Hurricane Katrina. I prepared to leave for my patch. Just as I said, “see you “ to the staff, in comes the senior nurse, who said, “Doc your Tit is here”! and like an idiot asked, “crested or great”. I knew I was in trouble when she said, “the Great one” meaning the 250lb lady with the abscess on her ‘t..’ breast. I asked her to take the lady to the Minor Operating Table and get her ready. I meanwhile prepared myself, usually for this type of cases I would wear a sterile, water proof poncho because I knew we are the ones who get hit first. I went into the room and saw the whale of a women laying on the table crying for me. To operate I had to stand on a stool. My staff had covered the patent with a sterile sheet that had a small hole exposing the area to be operated on. I looked at it and decided to make the hole larger and used a whole bottle of ((L.A !)) on it due to her size. With the first Incision, out spurted the puss, right smack on my specs and from then on it was like a gusher from Yellow Stone Park. By the time I had clean every thing up and packed the area, leaving a drain for any seepage, my birding time was gone, so I told my staff to double charge the patient, ‘mean aint I’.So once again I had no lunch, (the trials and tribulations of my profession) and continued working till four thirty when I packed my gear and ran for my patch. I sat around soaking up the solitude and relaxing with peace in my heart, and my ears ringing with the bird sounds. Then I saw this little bird hopping about, roughly twenty five away. Well what would any good birder do! hope you all like it and the story. “Sigh”, what we have to do for manna.
Tiger-shrike Lanius tigrinus

5th April 2007
I think all my patients are well for very few came in today,(sigh with relief) so at my usual time I galloped for my patch. Weather wise it was a bit cloudy and a slight drizzle was on which I believed will peter (((patter))) out by the time I reached my place. I walked right around my patch but no birds were seen . Still it was an enjoyable walk and when I returned to the start I sat on the edge of the pond near some tall grass, the Bittern's favourite place. Sitting there quietly looking for birds I saw this “Bollywood Bride” hiding in the tussock. I have been trying to get a photo of this bird for at least a year or so, but it’s a canny blighter, “now you see it, now you don’t”. I went around the pond again, galloping away with all my equipment and still couldn’t get a good view. The only thing I didn’t try was singing like a has-been bollywood actor-lol. Once again I was back at the beginning. Then I noticed there was about two feet of mud bank to the right of the tall grass that ran back to the old Indian temple, this I thought would give me elevation to see over the grass. I needed something solid to stand on and soon found two old wooden planks. In my enthusiasm I had became oblivious of everything else around me. I eased the planks up and scrambled onto them believe me the bird was still there and hadn’t heard me. Carefully I steadied the tripod and camera and focused on the bird. On my second shot the bird turned and I took two more pictures before I distinctly heard the bird say, “Oh, not the Singh again” and flew off. As I turned to the sound of someone clearing their throat I found myself facing about twenty five people on the road where they had stopped their cars when seeing me on the bank. They all started clapping and said Doctor you got the bird, then one chap looked at the others and started laughing. Twenty five people laughing can be quite loud. I shouted, “why are you laughing” The reply was, “First time they had seen a Doctor carrying plank, we thought you had gone loony”. I also collapsed with laughter. lucky they never caught me singing.lol.
Lesser Coucal Centropus bengalensis
7th April 2007
Today I told myself that there will be no extreme birding today. I went to a secondary scrub area that was once close to my birth place, Pandamaranhe. There is the remains of an old bungalow there, the home of my childhood friend and a place where I used to visit when I was a youngster. Sadly I never saw my friend again once we left school. The only thing left of the building are the 7 stairs which led into the house. Everywhere is slowly reverting back to nature and all around there was secondary jungle growth with scrubs and some trees that if left will grow enormous. Hoping I may see some birds by just lazing around, I sat myself on the stairs, and a tree with overhanging branches gave me shade from the killing heat As I waited I watching the little Barn Swallows flying around me, Twittering and chattering as they zipped after flies and Gnats. Then one of them came and sat on a small scrubby bush and as I looked through the view finder, I was awarded by the beauty of this simple little swallow. I took a few pictures of it, and as I said, I just wanted a lazy day birding, and want back to my practice with a heart full of love for nature and to face the pain of our human world. Hope you too can see the beauty in this simple swallow.
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
9th April 2007
Well people when I came to work there was this fourth year Medical student, waiting at my practice. Every year the Ministry of Health sends two students to my practice for two weeks elective posting. Young chap taller then me, and looking a bit afraid, because my name in the Ministry does send jitters through the students. I took him to my room and started seeing patients and asked him to diagnose some of them and he was o.k. Then in walked a patient for whom I wanted a sperm count, he has been married for five years but no children conceived, his wife passed the test with flying colours, so now it was the husbands turn to be tested. I asked the patient to go and get a sample, and handed the bottle to the student and told him to take the patient to the back room, at the same time I told my staff to show the student how we take a sperm sample. I continued seeing the patients until I heard this loud shout of “NO, No. I can bloody well”? and the door banged open and my staff said, “there is a bit of a problem”. I quickly ran out towards my toilet and saw the Medical student holding the sample bottle. He looked distinctly ruffled up, and the patient standing there with a wide eyed, startled look on his face holding on to his pants. I asked, “what’s happened”? “Sir” the student said, “he doesn’t want to give the sample when I wanted to MILK him”. I heard a suppressed giggle from my staff behind me, I turned and told my staff, “please take the patient to the back room and give him some books to get him going”. Then turned to the student with a very serious face, I can make my face very sad when I want to. I patted him on the shoulder and told him, “these things happen don’t take it to heart”, and then told him to, “follow my staff and see how it is done”. I bolted to my room and collapsed howling on the floor. Moments later I heard a loud roar from my patients outside. . I know (WHY ME).
Now after all this, just how could I go birding, therefore I have posted a picture of my Little Bronze Cuckoo which I hadn’t posted before. This picture was taken the same day as when I took the uploaded picture of this bird. Hope you like the Cuckoo and the cuckoo times in my practice.
Little Bronze Cuckoo Chrysococcyx minutillus

Birdeye
A beautiful shot of the little Cuckoo Manjeet! Great work, a really nice capture.
As for that other business - why you, you say? Well, it has to be you - who else could tell the story so well?

Nora
Manjeet just wonderful, you really have just made my day!!!!LOL (and still crying with laughter) the photo and the story superb! Thanks for sharing!

Deanneart
A lovely image of this bird Manjeet and another of your marvellous stories to start my day! Thanks!

Geoff Pain
Never a dull moment in your surgery Doc,same goes for the birding what a little cracker.

Marmot
I think we all should come over and pretend to be the students, a day hanging around with you would brighten everyone’s lives up.
17th April 2007
I hadn’t been able to go birding since last Saturday, because I had a student to teach, plus the fact it started raining at midday, every day and lasted till seven pm.(the Guy upstairs is being mean to me, my God). On top of that I have been grumpy to-day (laugh I know all of you’ll are going to) Since the student was sent to my practice-I was asked to go for a meeting today at the Hospital to discuss his progress. I wore my best beige suit, Beige turban, and blood red string tie with dark brown shoes, I certainly did look handsome. After the meeting and was passing the bank I decided to give some checks to my friend the manager to deposit. I parked the car and asked the police chap to keep an eye on it for me. As I approached the door of the Bank I suddenly heard the squeal of tyres and a small car stopped just outside the bank and a pretty little lady in beige suit got out and ran for the door, being a gentleman I held the door open for her. With screeching heels she stopped in front of me (I was looking Big, Strong and Handsome..lol) and looking up at me she said, “please park my car and bring the keys to me I am just joining the bank today and I am late”. “Oh NO”, she thought I was the door man. I looked around there was a line near the A.T.M. and some of them knew me and they started laughing and then I saw the police chap doubled up with laughter. I went and asked the police man to stop the traffic for a while and on getting into her car I drove it into the centre of the road where I parked it, (mean aint I.) The car being small caused the traffic going both ways to slow down before they could pass. I looked at the police chap who gave me the thumbs up sign and started to take out his summon book, I bolted for the bank with her keys. I went into the Bank and made a bee line for the manager's office. Now-a-days all the banks have glass partitions allowing the manager to see his staff and all the people in the bank. I saw the young lady fumbling with her purse in front of my friend and when he looked up and saw me he got up (we are old school mates) and came towards me with a smile. I made a sign for him to hold it a moment, Just then as the lady got out her orders to give him she saw me and said loudly, “THANKS SINGH FOR PARKING THE CAR, I DONT HAVE CHANGE BUT WHEN I HAVE FINISHED WORK I WILL GIVE YOU THE MONEY, I’m sure you will be Guarding THE BANK”. The managers face was turning purple-red and I could see that he was going to get a stroke. quickly I went to him and whispered with a wink and said, “it's fun my friend don’t laugh or cry and keep quite and slipped him the checks”, then turned around and gave her the keys and told her to give the money to the manager and left with a cheery wave. I went outside and stood hiding at the corner, in a few moments she came running out this and this time the real guard was standing out side. She started shouting, “did you see the doctor...did you see the doctor” and she was almost crying, poor lady her first day in the bank. Then she saw her car in the middle of the road with the police man standing there with the summon book. There was a gale of laughter from the people at the A.T.M. who had waited to see the outcome of my prank. I slipped away quietly from the scene so never saw the outcome, but don’t worry guys I had previously asked the police chap not to issue her with a summons when I had parked the car. So with a little laugh and a new profession I went birding and this pain in the behind bird was the only one I saw. but you know even this was fine. laughingly I went back to my practice and oh my God the student is still there. Hope you like it I like the cheeky look this bird is giving me. Regards people.
Pied Fantail Rhipidura javanica

Birdeye
Manjeet, how do you do it? You're more entertaining than a television series - in fact, your life would make a good film. I can see the title now, in red letters on the big screen - "MANJEET - THE MOVIE" or "THE SONG OF SINGH" - and all the people lining up, and the lady telling everybody else in the queue about the day she met you at the bank. Here on Birdforum we'll all be saying "you know, I knew him way back when..."
This bird reminds me very much of our Willie Wagtail, the same cheeky black eyes and white eyebrows, and never sits still. He's really checking you out too. He looks like he would indeed be a pain to photograph, so thanks for this beauty, and the accompanying story. I can't decide which I like best, the story or the photo.

julien
You really are the limit, what a prank to play on the poor unsuspecting woman. I wonder if it was anything to do with you wearing beige? There is a saying in Aus. that people who wear beige have beige personalities. This can not be said for you. I really , really loved this story, thanks Manjeet, for making me laugh and laugh. The photo is great also.

Deanneart
OH, oh, oh..... I'm laughing so hard I am coughing my brains out (I have a wicked cold you cruel man to make me laugh so hard) So now you are the valet parking???? too funny! I thought you said you were grumpy??? Not that I can see by this great story.
Oh yes, a lovely photograph too, thanks.

Manjeet
Thank you all and julien,oh the poor woman what about me the poor guard..lol..lol.Thanks people and Deanne sorry for cough ..you should see a doctor...lol.
19th April 2007
It’s been raining for the past week and birding is like playing hide and seek games with my God. Today was different, my car has gone in for servicing and I, like a idiot decided to walk to my patch. A twenty minuets walk in the full sun. I had prepared myself by loading up with water, etcetera and slung the bag behind my back, and with my kowa and tripod over my shoulders, I trudged off to my patch in my tough construction boots. The only thing I forgot were all the people who knew me, every ten yards or so a car would stop and the driver would yell out, “Doc want a lift”, but I was in the mood for a walk so declined the offers. By the time I reached my patch about ten to fifteen cars and a motorbike had stopped to ask me if I wanted a lift. “Why cant people let me be”, I said to myself, looking up to my God. I’m sure he was evolved somewhere. As soon as I reached my patch I saw my chestnut cuckoo flying away as usual, and on looking up, saw the Brahminy kite circling high above. I walked into a stand of trees and rested there in the shade. The quietness of the place slowly eased my soul and my concerned mind from my patients illnesses. As I waited there I suddenly heard the high pitch screeching of the sunbird, I loved that call, then I heard a most melodious voice, it was the song of the Black-napped Oriole who had come and perched about thirty feet from me. I watched the parent bird feed one of it’s youngsters. These are very canny birds and although reasonably common were notoriously difficult to photograph. As for the voice of the bird I believe it is the most melodious bird call I hear in my patch. By the time I got my camera ready the adult bird had vanished and the youngster was trying to hide behind a thin twig, (see the small twig just missing the eye in the picture.) I took my shot and realised that the sky had turned grey so I packed my equipment away and dashed for the road. It started raining lightly but I could see that I was in for a downpour so I dumped everything into the big bin bag and shouldered it, just in time for the heavens to opened. (See I told you my God was around.) I started walking, knowing that at any moment someone would stop and ask me if I wanted a lift. “Do you know?”, all the way to my practice not a soul passed me. I got soaking wet and it was when I almost reached the practice when there was loud ((horning)) honking behind me, I turned and saw fifteen cars had been following me and in the heavy rain they stuck out their heads and shouted, “Doctor Do you want a lift”. (my practice was just 5 feet away) followed by a gale of laughter. Then there was a single clap of thunder and I knew he was up there also laughing at me.
I hope you like my melodious one, for believe me, once you hear the song of this bird it’s never forgotten. Now can I go and get changed.
Black-napped Oriole (Juv.) Oriolus chinensis

Deanneart
Oh Manjeet!!! A lovely, lovely photograph of this beauty! You are way toooooo... funny and doesn't life just seem to happen like that, offers for rides when we plan to walk and no offers when it is pouring rain... Your joi de vive always puts a smile on my face! Thanks for sharing the laughter.

Marmot
It sounds like I used to be, in my previous job. I did a lot of walking and you could guarantee the days when you were full of the joys of spring and wanted to make the most of the surroundings someone would stop and offer you a lift. But the days when it was blowing a gale, rain etc they would drive past at such a speed. What made it worse is they normally saw you a few days after the bad weather and would tell you

Birdeye
that they had "nearly stopped" to pick you up! A great story Manjeet, and a beautiful young bird, hiding very ineffectively behind that twig. I wish you could send some of your rain over here. And the Oriole's song - I'd love to hear it. Thanks for sharing your afternoon and your bird with us - this is an excellent shot, the yellow against the green background is beautiful.

Manjeet
Hey all you people you make me proud to call you'll my friend--Deanne that is life when you need something no one is around and when you don’t they keep falling over to help..lol..Well my family thank you very much and Digi321 any time you want me as your Doctor I am here but don’t forget you are my friend FIRST. Thanks people.:up:

hansbertil
What a bird, Manjeet! Like something from a fairy tale - stunningly beautiful. Would not dare calling your stories "fairy tales", but sometimes they come close! One can see that birding affects your philosophical outlook on life - which is a seldom mentioned (but very important) factor to why people go on chasing these feathered remnants of dinosaurs.

Clive Timmons
sooooooo funny you made my day DR, your God my God what a God to do this to you !!! he only does it so you can make us all laugh Wise God stunning Shot I love the colourful Birds on your patch DR,
28th April 2007
Since the 19th of this month I haven’t been birding because of work and heavy rain, so last Sunday I decided to go to Fraser's Hill which turned out to be a disaster, it rained all the way, and when just a few miles up the Gap road my Luxury One year old Malaysian car jammed, all the gears conked out. I turned the car around manually with the help of my brewery and went down the hill in neutral to a town called Kuala Kubu Baru, and called the Tow-truck to take me and my car back home. The rain continued pouring down all the time and the Tow-truck eventually arrived at three pm. I shook my fist at my God and sat in my car while the brewery sat with the Tow-truck driver, the morons excuse was that, “a Doctor doesn’t look nice sitting in a truck”, probably laughing his head off when saying it. We set off slowly for home, doing about twenty five kilometres an hour. Many, many hours later we reached the traffic light at klang and the rain has been pouring down throughout the drive, because I had to leave the window down to be able to see, the water in my car was up to my knees. As we sat there at the lights I heard laughter on my right, and more on my left. People were pointing at me and howling with laughter. That’s the sin of being a doctor in a small town. We eventually reached my house with twenty or more cars following in a convoy and I could hear them yelling, “Doc can I give you a lift”, and then great howls of laughter. At my house my family came out and joined in with the crowd, all of them doubled up with laughter. The final straw was when my 82 yrs old mother (she kept me in her womb for nine months) came and joined in with the crowd, and the shrill pitched cackle of her laughter outdid the laughter of the crowd.How could they be so cruel, laughing at me as I sat there looking like a great big hairy bear in the car that was tilted up attached to the Tow truck. ((Hee hee, giggle giggle. Sorry Manjeet))
Had a good laugh. now I didn’t have any birds to upload so I am posting this old one taken in august 2005 which I haven’t uploaded before. I do have this bird in my gallery but not this view of it. I do hope you will forgive me for uploading this old bird but you know it is beautiful.
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker.(Male) Dicaeum cruentatum

Recurvirostra
Reading of your adventures makes me realise how utterly uneventful my life is!! Nice shot of another of your remarkable birds!

Marmot
I thought that only happened to British made cars ! (We have a French one). Well at least you got home, they could have made you walk behind it.
The picture resembles me at the moment, (yes the red hair, not that red though) Due all the visiting I have been doing to Ian, My Mum and Ian's Mum in Hospitals and general running around I haven't had time to have my hair cut and it looks as shaggy as this birds. Perhaps I should have borrowed one of your spare turbans or tilly hat to cover it up...getting it cut on Tues though!

julien
Oh Manjeet, your life and antics are quite extraordinary. Never a dull moment with you around. I felt very sorry for you in your new car but I must be truthful I did laugh with everyone else. The photo is a beauty.

30th April 2007
Well my car is fine now though, sadly “Sigh”, my bank balance took a hammering. Yesterday being Sunday I decided to go to F.R.I.M. about forty minuets from my place in Klang.
No Monday morning feelings for me but when I came to the practice I remembered that today was the student's last day of his training in my practice and I had to give him a clinical test. The morning was very busy so I didn’t have time to check out the Bird Forum and see the comments to the last pictures I had posted. After seeing the second to last patient, I called in the final person. It was a three month old male baby, all cute and chubby and a cooing bundle of joy. Now as often happens when a new born has to be examined the whole family feel they have to be present at the examination, so first to come in was the Grand Father with the Grand Mother who was nine weeks pregnant, yes indeed, she’s forty two years old and very healthy. Next to arrive in was the baby’s mother and four Aunts and four Uncles, the youngest being four years old, in all twelve people squeezed themselves into my consulting room with the student and myself. I told the student, “your clinical test start's now by examining the baby”. The poor chap had a fearful look on his face as he looked around at all of us, knowing that we will be watching his every move. He started by checking the head and gradually went down the body, leaving the genitals till the last. The baby had a big smile on his face and the cooing sound almost became purrs. Finally the student started examine the testis and also started cooing to try and make the baby laugh. As he examined the testis his face was only inches from the private part. UP went the little BIRD and a fountain of water splashed right onto the Student's face. The baby give a loud giggle and then there was silence, you could have heard a pin drop. The student, with his dripping face looked at me through tortured eyes, and his expression was like a martyr facing a bullet. I patted him on the shoulder and said, “my fine young friend,” “this was your Baptism”, then all of us collapsed laughing. and by God the student too was howling with us. “oh”, I passed him but there is a question in the paper that says, “remarks”. What answer do you think I should put in there.? lol.
At Klang I found this bird who was a real canny one, and after a few hours I just managed to take one picture under the canopy of the trees and fortunately at that time the sun was full on it's straw head. Please after laughing do see the bird too, no the bird in the picture you hear.
Straw-headed Bubul Pycnonotus zeylanicus

30th April 2007
My day at Klang was a very good birding day, I saw and photographed the Banded Broadbill, a Blue-winged Leafbird, and a Red-eyed Bulbul, I also saw a Raffles Malokha, but missed the Sultan Tit, and the Lesser Racket-Tailed Drongo. All these sightings were before lunch. After finishing the ale and my lunch I just lay back near the pond area and dozed, and it was when I had almost drifted off to sleep when I heard the angels singing, then it dawned on me that it was from a gem of a bird, perched about fifteen feet away. I love this bird so how could I not take a picture. I’m feeling a bit tired now because Monday is a Mad-house day in my practice, and off cause there is also the laughter.
Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata
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Uplifting experience
Keiron (weatherman)
Tanny,You have been doing a terrific job putting together such an entertaining daily fix of our good Doc's ramblings of birding and other free "extra bonus features" (ok yes, the patient stories) I'm at the end so far and have learned so much about him already, seen his enthusiasm and now looking forward to meeting him on Sunday myself for a "therapy session". I'll have to be on my best behaviour. I'll have picked my nose before hand, farted downwind and sneezed before the shutter is pressed. I'm sure there will be more than enough smiles to go around on Sunday. Thanks go to you Tanny for putting all this entertainment in one place for us to cheer up our days when feeling low. Keep up the good work, we all owe you one.
Tanny. G'day Keiron, thanks mate for that funny posting, I collapsed with laughter. Please write a report on your meeting with Manjeet when you get back, all of us would dearly like to meet him but as far as I'm concerned only a big win on the lottery would make that possible. Wishing you a safe journey and an enlightened experience.
Thanks Christine your ever my best mate on BF.
Marmot. I just hope Keiron has got his insurance policies up to date and that he manages to get the air ambulance on stand by as well as search and rescue.
Keiron. Marmot, I tried everywhere for the insurance policy but upon hearing who I was going with they point blank refused
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2nd May 2007
GOT YOU'LL..lol
(Delayed April Fool's joke)
Oh by the way the beauty is the bird and the beast ...you'll know..lol.Hope you'll like the picture but doubled up with laughter as I write this....Got you'll... NO STORY..Lol..Lol
Silver-breasted Broadbill Serilophus lunatus

A very distinguished looking bird Manjeet but I think it's looking a little disapproving of your joke on the poor BF members who missed out on a story.
Have we to make up our own story to go with this picture Manjeet. How could we surpass you?.
That's a beautiful bird Manjeet - but I can't find the story that goes with it.
It's good to see that you can make April 1 last so long, because it's my birthday. That was my April Fools' Day joke on my parents - they had named me Ian Geoffrey. I suppose I was lucky they changed it.

2nd May 2007
On Monday evening I called Broc our B.F.member, I was hoping he was in Klang because his bird is from Klang? Hey you people now don’t get me wrong, his wife is from Klang. He said he was still stuck in J.B. and during our conversation he said why don’t I go to Bukit Tinggi, he recommends it as a good birding place. All I know was that it was near the Genting Highlands. Today is Tuesday and being Labour Day the Clinic was closed for the day so by 5.30am I had packed the food, ale and drinks and with my kowa and my brewery set off for Bukit Tinggi. Twice I took a wrong turning and the sun had not come out when we finally landed at the foot hills of Bukit Tinggi at seven am. Feeling peckish I decided to have breakfast with my side-kick first before thinking about birding. We sat around till the sun came up and then slowly drove up the hill. About a mile up I saw some birds fluttering near the monsoon drain. I stopped the car and crept slowly forward, praying that they would stay to be photographed. I was lucky and managed to get five pictures when suddenly they flew away, something had disturbed them. I looked down to where I could see the steep road I had come up and saw a single tree where a chap was unbuttoning his belt. Then a car stopped close by me with about five guys in and they shouted “hey Singh ahhh GOT Bird ahnn.”, I could hear the echo from across the valley it was so loud. Putting a finger to my lips I beckoned them and whispered “please get down on the ground and creep forward with me”. All five necks craned over the lip of the road and they saw a Bird watering the tree? “lol”. They got up and came towards me, then one of them was saying in Chinese, “he is a Doctor”. I was grinning up at them and then said, “Do you know the moral of the story. “If you see someone looking through a telescope, don’t shout, but tip-toe towards him or her and tap on the shoulder and make a sign of a bird, first lesson of birding”. They kept saying, “Sorry ,sorry”, they had just started birding a year ago. I said, “A good birder always keeps notes when out birding, so please write what you saw just now, a birder watering the tree”. they laughed and I howled. and off I went. Hope you like the bird. I mean the yellow bearded Singh..lol. signing of with a laugh..lol,..lol.
Stripe-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus finlaysoni

4th May 2007
Today I wanted to photograph the Broadbills and I finely reached the place where the Broadbill were regularly seen. There is a kilometre long road running just beside a Japanese Restaurant and they told me that these birds were nesting around there. Near the entrance of the road I saw this group of about twenty people of both sexes sitting just ten feet away from a tree, and were talking like it was a Sunday market. I reached the outer-edge of the crowd and asked a chap who was carrying a camera and a lens as big as my leg, (hey people. I AM talking about my LEG you hear..lol) I asked him “why are you hanging about here”, he showed me a nest just 10 feet above the ground. I shook my head and said, “have you seen the bird” he said, “no it’s been two hours now and they havn’t come”. I clapped my hands loudly and said, “you people will never see the bird if you camp just under it's nest and don’t you think it may be stressing the birds”. “Shhs”. Some of them did move back but I walked on. another fifty feet and saw the same thing again under another tree, all with cameras at the ready. As I was passing this lot. I heard someone shout, “Dr.Manjeet, what are you doing here and what kind of cannon are carrying on your shoulder”. I knew him, a birder, he said he was waiting for the Broadbill with all these people. I told him, “I am waiting to shoot my patient if I find him”. (I had MURDER IN MY HEART). I just couldn’t hang around these people so decided to plod on, and it was just before the road was ending when I saw a quiet bend with nobody hanging around. I plonked myself down and set up my kowa. Hardly ten minuets had passed when the birds arrived there. I gave a low laugh and snapped away at the beauties. I tried to take them from different angles hoping to show you the different sides of the bird and it's heavenly colours. God's Creation. By the way I left at about 1pm and I passed the same people again, still waiting for the birds and still making a noise like a Sunday market.
Silver-breasted Broadbill Serilophus lunatus
7th May 2007
Today I was feeling lethargic, have you ever felt some thing bad was going to happen, a feeling of sadness. I was feeling a darkness at the edge of my vision since yesterday. Just cruzing through Birdforum, with hardly an incentive to post comments. I’m sure everyone gets these moods now and again. I plodded off to my patch still with this gloom in my head underneath my turban. I saw the Rufous Woodpecker and galloped after it in the forty degree heat, hoping to get a picture. By the time I had finished running around my patch it was one thirty and time for me to get back to work. When I reached the road leading out of my patch, I plonked down my tripod and camera and drank the gallon of water I carry. It was then I noticed this wee little one screaming for Mom with it's mouth wide open. I focused my camera and in came the mom, and unbelievable, she was feeding water to the young one. I had never seen this before and I tried about fifty shots trying to capture the watering of this youngster. No I didn’t manage it but got this picture instead. Then I realised that the gloomy feeling I had was now history. Watching the wonder of nature has replaced the gloom with a new feeling of joy in my heart. Back I went to my practice in this now joyful mood and as I entered I noticed about ten patients sitting there waiting. A tiny girl came up to me, the top of her head only reached my waist. I looked over her head to see all the staff and the patients with wide grins on their faces. Then this little girl says, “Dr.Manjeet, I am your new student for the clinical posting for two weeks Sir”. “oh no” here was my doom, I sat down on the floor and pretended to cry, and my staff and patient started howling with laughter. Well I hope you like my wee little one, the bird NOT THE STUDENT you hear..lol
Juv. Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica

James Eaton our Birforum member had called and said he will meet me at my practice. It was just after his India trip and I tell you my friends, I was literally drooling over his lap top when he showed me the rare pictures of birds that he had got. oh what a dream it was to look at those pictures. I threaten him that if he doesn’t upload the pictures in Birdforum I will come after him with my sword. So since it was my birding time I took him to my patch. (p.s I had an ultra motive..lol..) As soon as we reached the patch we saw the Crested Serpent Eagle, then two Barred Button Quails that just took off a foot away from my trudging feet. James identified them for me. Then we went to the tall trees after crossing the drain, I’ve mentioned this area before, and waited silently for the birds, I was about ten feet from James. Then the music started, softly at first, then building up into a crescendo, then the slapping sound started. Poor James was surrounded by hoards of mozzies. Now friends, don’t get me wrong I am not to blame, where he goes the Females of all species fall for him like ten-pins. You cant blame the mozzies, the female need blood for incubation.lol. and a good looking tall, tanned person was elected. (I was counting on it and they left me alone..lol..) Then he looked at me and pointed to where I saw a Woodpecker. This is the only reasonable picture I could get, I know the head is a bit blurred but I just couldn’t get another for laughing at James and the females. We went back to the clinic and poor James had red bumps on bumps all over his arms and face, and you know something, he kept giving me dirty looks as if I had told the mozzies to get him. Even my friends don’t trust me..lol. Hope you like the picture, I liked it because of the angle, and it doesn’t mean all shots should be excellent, after all we are only human. James, sorry for the bites. Oh people I did give him some medication..lol.
Rufous Woodpecker Celeus brachyurus
14th May 2007
Finally my series of this Woodpecker has come to an end, it’s a female, they don’t have a red cheek patch.However the saga of my little student has just begun and already she is causing mayhem in my practice, lol. When I tell you what happened today most of you will say, “this just can’t be true, he’s spinning a yarn”. I swear by the thing that I hold most dear, my T.D.1, that what happened is the truth, and nothing but the truth.This morning when I arrived at work there was this chap waiting for me, a Navy Officer, he had a perforation of the right ear drum which was repaired by the E.N.T. specialist two months ago. He was supposed to see the E.N.T chap again, but the specialist was on leave. I received a call last night to see if I wouldn’t mind having a look because the officer needed to return to his ship. In he came, over six foot and solid muscled. lol (remember the song from Down under ! lol). As he sat down he was still about three feet higher then me. Just as I was about to examine him, up popped my little Medical Student who asked, “can I examine him after you Sir and then I will tell you what is wrong and you can know if my diagnosis is right”. After I had examined the chap I asked him if he wouldn’t mind my forth year medical student examined you. his eyebrows shot up and he said, “I thought this girl was your ten year old daughter”, lol, both of us laughed. My little student dragged over a stool and just about reached his ear when she stood on it. I may have to give her the stool as a present when she leaves. lol. She took my otoscope with a big bore speculum that I had attached to it so that she could see better. She gently inserted it into the ear but as she pushed it in he tilted his head away from her, this caused her to lean over him she kept on leaning over as he continued to lean away. Well people, it had to happen, the stool went crashing down and she and the otoscope fell onto the patient, this caused the otoscope to penetrate a bit deeper and the Chap let out a Roar and stood up with the girl still holding the otoscope with one hand and his ear with the other. For a fraction of a second she dangled there and I caught her as she swung towards me when he turned his head. I eased the otoscope out of his ear and he sat down and said in a whisper, “Doc could you have another look”, “No harm done, the T.M. is fine(ear-drum) but there is some redness of the ear (because the student had held on to the ear for dear life. lol.) As he was leaving. he said, “ Doc I hope I die before you because I can imagine what it would be like with these new Doctors”. I raised my hand and said, “my friend honestly tell me, wasn’t' it a funny situation.”. Both of us collapsed laughing. After the patient had left my little one diagnosed the condition as Perforated Ear-Drum and told me that the repair had healed, a spot on diagnosis. Brilliant, unbelievable, while swing around she could diagnose the case lol.
Tim after reading this now you’ll know why I dedicate this picture to you.
Rufous Woodpecker (Female) Celeus brachyurus

Tanny · May 13, 2010

Continued 2

17th May 2007
It’s been raining since Monday, and I haven’t been birding because I’ve got the flu, a patients gift to me, so with rain and running nose and a hacking cough, my partner, the student sat as far away from me as she can, saying that tomorrow is her last day and she doesn’t want a flue, Charming aint she, I thought Doctors shared every thing, lol. I had taken this picture of the heron a month ago, and after seeing Gmax’s wonderful picture of the heron. wanted you to see the Best close up (Gmax’s) and the worst close up, I think the heron has flue too. This is all for sympathy’s sake, flue does cause you to get depressed. All the tissues are finished, now I’m using my table cloth for nose wipe. hope you “ACHOO,ACHOO” enjoy the picture.
Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus

22nd May 2007
Monday I was in a pensive mood, a mood brought on by nature of life and how death follows. If you remember the picture I uploaded on the tenth of February called Soliloquy with a bird. I had mentioned my terminally ill patient who was waiting for his son to come back. I was called by the son today at five fifteen this morning.
I can still remember the day I met this patient. The Cancer specialist had called me on 11th November 2006.”Manjeet we are sending a new one for you, and you will like this chap he’s always smiling”. So true, these six months I have never seen him not smile. His greatest wish was to see his son back home and employed. well the son has returned and has already started a job as a Engineer in one of the good companies. As soon as I reached the place the son came forward and said “Dr, with his last breath my Dad said, “thank Dr Manjeet for me”, and you know he had a smile on his face”. I looked at the son and said, “now it’s your responsibility to take care of your mother and your younger sister and brother”. He understood. I went back to my car with their grief aching in my mind. and drove to my practice. After the weekend, Mondays are always very busy and I didn’t have time to take a break because of there being so many patients. It was four thirty in the afternoon when my staff said there were no more cases to be seen. I just had to get away for a while, so I drove towards Telok Gong and parked near the bund area and sat there thinking and remembering the patient. After six days a week, every morning for six months I had got attached to the bloke and felt very depressed at his departure. It was while I sat there all morose when I heard the chirruping of the Olive-backed Sunbird. To my left in full view I saw the parent bird feeding this little juvenile youngster, I adjusted my scope and for ages just sat there watching this nature's child being fed, and slowly a smile appeared on my bearded face and peace came into my heart. Nature was telling me, “my friend, where there is life, there is always death, and here in front of you is life.” I managed to get my picture and returned to the car and all the way I hummed a happy tune to myself. (Little did I know the chap upstairs had something waiting for me) I reached the practice a bit late and just as I got out of the car I saw about sixteen patients outside the clinic, all of them holding their noses and when they saw me they smiled. “Oh no”, I knew what was waiting for me. I went to the boot of the car and got out my gas mask. The patient who was waiting for me was nick-named, Mr Flatulence. (that’s why all the patients were waiting outside lol).I adjusted my face mask and stepped forward boldly to go where no man has stepped before, and the mother of all pong greeted me, even through the mask. Well people that’s another story lol. I hope you like the Nature's child.
Juv. Olive-backed Sunbird Nectarinia jugularis

25th May 2007
Yesterday in the afternoon a chap brought his son to see me and while talking he said that there was a green bird in the Chinese Temple.When my days work was finished I made my way to the Temple and on arriving I realised that this was the Chinese Temple I used to steal fruits from as a child and was punished by my Dad for doing some thing wrong, and was forbidden breakfast as a punishment. I had a belief that since God made us, I had the right to takes fruits offered to him in the Temple. I remembered being chased by the caretaker and had actually met him again, and his son a couple of years ago. I reached the Temple and the son came out an said, “Doc, how long is it since you stepped into this Temple.” I said, “almost thirty five years”, suddenly an old man in his nineties came walking out slowly with his walking frame. He shouted to the son, “Guard the Fruit offerings to the God, the Fruit thief is here”. Good grief, he had remembered. We all collapsed laughing. Our laughter was suddenly interrupted by this sound, “TONK,TONK,TONK”. It was the call of a Barbet coming from a tree near the east side of the Temple. I shushed everyone to be quite and sneaked closer to the tree. Though the sun was still hot, it was close to going down and the bird was in the shade, but there were small glittering pin pricks of light all around it. I got a few satisfactory pictures. To see the Barbet thorough a scope is a once seen never forgotten sight. I was pleasantly surprised by the picture, it was almost as close to how I actually saw it.
You can see the throat pouch inflated because it was still, “TONK,TONKING”.
Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala
25th May 2007
After taking those pictures of the Barbet, even an interesting side view. The old man, his son and myself sat around by the east side of the Temple, enjoying a chat about the old days. The land of the Temple boarders onto the Mangroves and it was near these trees I heard this nasal trilling laughter. What I heard was a “trel, tre, tre” call. Then the bird came to about twenty odd feet away from us and sat there like an angel of the evening, the sunlight reflected on it's white feathers. My Pied Triller was here. I have seen it from afar and have never managed to take a clear picture before. This time though I took picture after picture with my camera like there was no tomorrow. Satisfied I had enough I stopped and laughed with sheer joy of seeing the beautiful bird. Moments later with a mocking trill it flew away. When it was time for me to go I discovered that old habit's die hard, because as I was leaving I grabbed a juicy apple from the Alter and bolted for the car, and I heard the old man shouting, “see I told you once a thief always a thief”. As I passed them in my car I rolled down the window and laughed, believe me, both the son and father were howling with laughter as I left.
This bird came in with its trilling laughter and left it's laughter with us.
Pied Triller (Male) Lalage nigra
30th May 2007
Since the twenty fifth I haven’t been able to go birding because it rained on and off most of the time and was continually cloudy. I almost started twitching in mind and body. So today I told myself I will go birding even if it Rained, Hailed or Snowed. (Ha-ha, as if, in this climate.) At about twelve noon I finished seeing my last patient. and then my staff come's in and say's a Professor Dr Chin wants to see you. “Well, well”, he’s my old friend, the person who sends me the two medical student for clinical posting every year. Dr Chin and I passed out almost the same time from Medical Collage and became doctors and friends since our internship days. In walks the professor sporting a black-eye. I asked him, “where did you get that from, did your wife hit you”, he said, “worse, remember that little student of yours”. “what I exclaimed”. “I was showing the class a slide and my pen fell on the floor and the little student went under the table to get it. I didn’t know she was there and as I was about to see the slide she stand's up beneath the table. Up went the table and the focusing part poked me in the eye. That’s how I got this shiner. Thankfully the microscope was clamped to the table otherwise it might have been an expensive accident.” All the students in the room started laughing and I admit I joined in, but do you know, that little one laughed the loudest. Then he tells me that this girl has the highest marks in most of her subjects and said, “you Manjeet gave her 92%, that’s the first time I have ever seen you give marks like that for a clinical student”. “Well I must confess my dear friend that she was well clued up on the subject, but she is a total walking disaster.” After my friend had left I decided to go birding in the rain. I wasn’t going to risqué getting my camera wet so left it behind and just took my binoculars. After walking for a short while down the path I saw the Black-shouldered Kite, perched on a tree, he was all soaked and refused to move as I passed by. The blighter knew I had no camera. Walking in the rain was a wonderful experience and believe me the birds were still flying around. I stopped under a tree and watched the Pied Fantails play hide and seek. I loved every minuet of it and it was with peace in my heart I retraced my steps back to the entrance of the patch. As soon as I reached the last tree, “Wonders of wonders”, I saw five little brown and black birds, juvenile Rufous Woodpeckers. My friends, the couple in my patch have three siblings. “Wow”, these birds nest in an ants nest and there are numerous Leaf Ants nests around this area. This was the first family I’ve seen in my patch. Humming with pleasure to myself I went back and dug up this picture taken in May just to show you the proud Mom. If God is willing I may try to get the whole family in a picture.
Rufous Woodpecker Celeus brachyurus
4th June 2007
Psilo, get well soon Lady, we miss your bird pictures in the Birdforum, you hear, a get well card which I am sure has your finger and ankle twitching. Get a good Doctor somewhere there to have a good look of your ankle. Twisted ankle should heal within 3 weeks, maybe it may have a hair line fracture there. Waiting for your pictures.
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus

5th June 2007
“Phew”, I’m wiping sweat from my beard and need to rest for a while. It’s a hot day today my friends, really hot, I guess I’m a totally crazy birder don’t you think!, but a happy one. I took off my Tilley and squeezed all the sweat out of it, honest, it was absolutely saturated, I sat it back on my head and took out the ale. You could have heard my sigh for miles as the cool drink trickled down my throat. This is the life, no humans to remind me of their failings. Although it’s hot like a oven, I had the sights and sounds of nature all around me so who wouldn’t be happy. I was, and I gave a loud laugh. No sun-stroke my friends, just the shear joy of listening to my own happy laughter. I continued struggling on through the heat and drinking my beer. have any of you ever tried balancing your tripod, camera, back pack and drinking from a can, I tell you it gets easier after a few more beers. Suddenly I spotted an iridescent streak that shot across the path in front of me. “Oh my goodness” How wonderful, how fantastic, a memorable moment. Such a glow of colours when the Sun meets the Birds iridescent coppery throat that changes colour as the bird moves it's head. It’s cap and shoulders are a bright iridescent green, shifting to lighter or darker green as the bird moves, The breast and belly are an iridescent violet purple that glows brilliantly when the sun strikes. There is also a slight orange and yellow tuffs on the pectorals seen in the picture. It was a male, Copper-throated Sunbird. Oh how I wished Nigel Blake, Nigel pye, psilo, Clive and all you others whose photography I so much admire were here. You would have had the expertise to show the true beauty of this bird. I found it a very difficult bird to photograph and I am sorry I couldn’t portray what I saw and what it truly looks like in the sun. I watched this bird for ages, mesmerised by the fantastic colours.
The beer was history, but I became, “DRUNK ON THIS BIRD'S beauty”.
Copper-throated Sunbird (Male) Nectarinia calcosthetha
7th June 2007-09-25
Well people this is the last picture of the kite. and in fact as I was going back just before I had to cross a plank to reach my car ..he with the red-eyes was sitting. at first glance at the eyes I started checking my ale cans. I swear I think two were missing. then he gave a drunken yawn..lol...since Rose didn’t see the red-eyes..(p.s. she didn’t have any ale..)..this is for you ROSE..if you like the picture please copy it and keep it in your files. just to remind you of the hairy, bearish birding Doctor..lol. (I promise it will be the last).
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus
Sorry I cannot edit this one, I just cant fathom out what Manjeet is on about

11th June 2007
Haven’t been birding since the beginning of the month because of so much work and the persistent rain. Today though the weather had changed and seeing as it was Sunday and I close the practice at One pm, I was determined to get out to the patch after work. Just before going birding I had a call from one of the Manager of the companies who send their workers to my practice. he was apologizing for his supervisor’s stupid mistake. and all I could do was laugh. The Supervisor had brought a worker from Bangladesh who had just arrived in Malaya two days ago. The reason for this visit was that this chap kept saying “BIRD FOOD”, he doesn’t know any other word in English. Now the company supervisor had passed me a number of times when I was birding so, “bird food”, and birding are connected. so he thought to bring him to me and arrived just as I was closing the practice. The only patients left had been examined and were just waiting for their medication. The staff wrote this chap's name and the record card was passed to me and the patient came in. I kept asking him what is wrong in all of the languages I knew, but all he kept saying was, “BIRD FOOD”. Finally I got him on the couch and pointed with my finger indicating where is the pain, and quickly he pointed to his private parts, I told him to dress and asked my staff to open the main door. I caught him by his shirt collar and with the other hand grabbed him by his pants from behind. and rushed him out of the door and literally through him onto the lawn beside my car. All my patients, staff and his supervisor came running out and with a very serious look on my face said, “he wanted bird food, “VIAGRA”, and then I collapsed laughing and there was another roar from the patients, by the time we stopped laughing the supervisor had bolted with the patients. It is a offence for Doctors to prescribe this medication to young people without any illness here in Malaya. So after listening to the apologies from the Factory Manager I left laughing to my patch. Just to make my day a successful one another cuckoo was waiting for me there in my patch.
Asian Drongo Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris
16th June 2007
It was raining again as I reached my practice and knew there would be no birding today. When I walked into the clinic all the patients started shouting, “Happy Birthday Doc”, how do they know! After seeing a number of patients in comes a small young lady of twenty two years that I have known since she was a two year old, I had asked her to come in for a blood test but she couldn’t come last month because she was getting married. Behind her walked a 6 feet 2 inch lad, with muscles on muscles.(I right away dubbed him Mr Steroid). He was introduced to me as her husband and he brought forward a hand like chunk of ham to shake and my hand was lost in it, then the idiot had to squeezed my hand tight, (what is it with these people who always like to show there strength) I quickly withdrew my hand which had started throbbing. Then Mr Steroids said in such a loud voice that I’m sure all my patients outside must haves heard, “Doc I was the Mr. KLang last year in the body building contest”, “oh” I said, “you needn’t have come” but he said, “I’m afraid my wife is scared and in case she faints I may have to carry her”. (While talking he was already flexing his biceps). I asked the lady to sit and called my nurse to bring the needle and syringe, I cuffed her arm and cleaned the area before taking the blood. While this was going on Mr Steroids stood behind the wife's chair and kept up a chatter with her. “Don’t worry it is just like a bite of a ant and I am here my love”. As soon I inserted the needle and the blood gushed into the vial (vacuum), the chatter stopped. “Thank God” I said to myself. then suddenly my staff nurse shouted, “TIMBeeeeeer” and there was a loud thud and my whole practice shook. The patients from outside rushed in. I couldn’t move because I was still taking the blood sample, but my nurse was already there. I got the needle out and removed the cuff and taped the needle site and went behind the lady and saw Mr Steroids laying flat out like a log. While still carrying my syringe filled with blood I stepped closer and he was waking up. My nurse was wiping his face with a wet towel, he opened his eyes and I asked, “what happened”. he said he must have fainted. At that moment there was a drop of blood on the tip of the needle that I was holding and while bending over him the syringe was about a foot above his face. The drop of blood fell and when Mr Steroids saw the blood dropping from the tip, he fainted again. Eventually we got him up and out into the waiting room and sat him down. As soon as he went out, I and my staff and the patients who came to help, collapsed howling with laughter. Then we heard another howl from outside and his wife also was doubled up with laughter. Well people no birding and I hope you'll will forgive me for uploading a old picture. but this pose I haven’t uploaded in my gallery before. Regards people and thank you for the birthday wishes.
Black-napped Oriole (Juv.) Oriolus chinensis
18th June 2007
Haven’t being birding since Friday because its been continuous rain, rain, rain, and even today it has been raining up till this moment at about four pm. I had to run to get my “FIX”. And found that half of my patch was waterlogged. I waded through the puddles feeling like I was a wader myself. I then heard a “piping” sound on my left and there I saw this small bird high and dry in the scrub. These are a very canny and alert birds. One of the favourite caged birds among the village people. I had just enough time for two pictures before off they went piping away. I felt so good getting pictures of this bird at last after so long. I had got my birding fix again. Well people it isn’t easy to get the true picture of this bird. but I did try my best.
White-headed Munia Lonchura maja

23rd June 2007
Thank God the rain stopped yesterday, by 12 noon. I bolted for the patch. I was itching for a twitch all over. “Lol”. The trees were dripping water but I was carrying a small umbrella just enough to cover the T.D. I reached mid-way among the canopy of trees and heard this sound, “Szheerssssssss”, I looked up and about 35 feet above me was my, Woody family, two youngsters and Mom and Dad. I felt sad because one was missing. Quickly I set up my gear, and the Dad started hammering on this Red-ants nest. Believe me, in seven minuets he had made a hole large enough to put his head in. The clambering of the youngest to be the first to be feed was really loud. You can see the two youngsters to the left side of Dad. while the mom was on the other-side not in the picture. Their diet is ants and believe me the red-ants can sting. Once a small nest fell on me and people I had bumps on my bumps, “lol”. Once the youngsters started eating. I swear the Dad looked at me. as if saying, “come and join us for lunch”. Hope you like the picture. the weather was cloudy and some streaks of sunlight was coming through the trees. but I couldn’t get a better picture. you know how it is with youngsters eating. the picture is always messy..lol
Rufous Woodpeckers Celeus brachyurus
25th June 2007
Well people I did finally go birding on Sunday and left at 7 am with my walking brewery. We reached F.R.I.M. at 8.35am, I took a wrong turning and got lost luckily after 10mins this idiot realised I was merrily going to Ipoh, about 300miles away. I did a quick U turn and headed back to the turn off and reached F.R.I.M fairly early but there was a crowd of cars waiting outside even then. While waiting I noticed two Europeans standing beside my car, I rolled down the window to speak to them and hoping they were birders. I called out, “HELLO ARE YOU Birders. They turned and came over and one of them took out his dictionary to and read from it. .Nope they were not English, trust me and my big mouth. With sign language they managed to say that they wanted to go into the park. He opened the dictionary again and showed me RM and drew 80 on the piece of paper. I think he was telling me that he was charged RM 80 for one person. I beckoned them to get in and when I reached the gate the guard came towards me. I said 4 people and gave him Rm 20, that’s the price for five people and told him in Malay that if he wanted more then look at my fist, he got the message and stammered, “Doctor, they should have told us that they were waiting for you as you know we charge RM 80 for photography”. I said to him, “We are birding and we take photos if possible for our own use and pleasure, so if you infringe on my desires, always remember this fist”. This attitude of mine sounds a bit rough but to some people like this guy he doesn’t know anything different and a man's greed has to be dealt with severely. Anyhow I took them inside and after parking showed them my field guide to give them some idea of the birds they would be expected to see. I thought they were birders because they were wearing binoculars. Immediately this chap took out his field guide to show me and it was then I discovered that they were more interested in plants, they were Botanists. I laughed and bid them good bye and went looking for my birds. Funny thing was I never even asked them where they came from. Well seeing as I am the bearded Singh, I of course had to meet a Bearded Bird and that wasn’t easy with all the leeches slithering all around. It had rained last night and the sky was still grey with little rays of missed sun shine pepping through the clouds. It was still good for birding though and I hope you like this Bearded Bird of the Singh family.
Red-bearded Bee-eater (Juv.) Nyctyornis amictus

25th June 2007
Well by the time I reached the hill with the isolated house, the time was about ten fifteen. The house is deserted but still in good condition. We sat outside the fence for a rest and had a drink of water, no ale because it’s far too early. Whilst there I saw this small raptor perched on a dead branch about eighty to ninety feet high in this huge tree nearby. Now if I tell you how I got as close as sixty five feet away from the bird and my untimely decent, you will howl with laugher. Be ready to read the story of my bumbling days in F.R.I.M. in about ten days time. I am still busy checking the pictures I had taken on the twenty forth so haven’t the time to write the full account just yet. Sufficient to say that my decent down the hill was faster than going up.
I hope you like this picture of my little Falcon. regards and thanks. The weather continued to be cloudy with a sickly sunlight, it didn’t stop me birding though.
Oh, the bird has just caught a dragonfly and the wing is still clutched in it's small talons. See in the picture.
Black-thighed Falconet Microhierax fringillarius
26th June 2007
Well after the leeches and the Girls Guide troop, and all the laughter at my expense, I reached the wetland area of this place..(hold your (((((houses))))) horses I will reveal all in, “Your Birding day”, I promise, even though I’m still blushing. “lol”) I took my First Ale of the day and the stupid brewery was still doubled up with laughter. We had lunch and I washed it down with another can of cold ale, then I started looking for birds. When I heard a piercing cry like, “kae,kae”, I knew it was the Stork Billed Kingfisher and I soon caught sight of it across the pond about eighty feet away. I managed to get to roughly sixty feet from it before starting to take pictures. I have a suspicious feeling that he was also laughing at me.
Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargossis capensis

27th June 2007.
Sadness, Beauty and Joy, yes I was feeling sad today because one of my terminally ill patients whom I have been seeing for just two weeks had left this world. He was suffering such extreme pain. So I like to think that all that pain is over and he is in a better place now. However it was his younger brother who I was concerned about, he loved his older brother and was looking after him throughout his illness in his own house. We hear the expression of “brotherly love” well this chap proves that point and is one in a million. I was feeling rather down when the phone rang and it was his wife ringing me to say that her husband is feeling terrible could you come and talk to him. I said, “not at all”, and shot around to their house to find him slumped in the chair in sadness.”Hi what are doing just sitting around, Ok how about coming with me for an hour”, He was surprised to see me in my birding cloths and I explained that I was on my way to my birding patch in my lunch break. We jumped into the car and off we went to my mud-flats and pond patch. I told him that I like to go birding and explained how birding helps me to keep sane. We sat under a tree and watched the small, little, not so dirty river flow along. I noticed a White-breasted Waterhen attempting to lead a Monitor Lizard away, and I guessed that the chicks were somewhere nearby. I fixed the scope, and in a moment saw the two little ones hiding in the grass at the edge of the river, I showed them to my companion and said, “see how the parent is trying to save it’s young ones, now you had done the same thing with your brother”. He started weeping, and said “yes, he has gone now and you know just how much pain he was in”. Both of us sat there deep in thought and then he started to smile. “I know Doc, you are telling me that life goes on, thanks my friend” he said. Then just to my left I saw the Spotted Dove and I quickly got up and focused onto it and asked him come and see what I see. His face just changed. and he said, “really beautiful isn’t it”. My mood of sadness was gone and I took a picture of this very common bird. but you know it wasn’t common to us for it showed us Sadness, Beauty & Joy. both of us went back to my car with our hearts at peace.
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
29th June 2007
Today in my lunch break I dashed off to, where else? my favourite patch. After almost walking around my two mile patch I reached the deep edge where there are tall tress with dead branches and lots of fallen leaves on the ground beneath them. the humidity was terrible and being hairy I think I feel it more than most. I rested for a while panting like a panther on heat due to the midday sun. Then I saw the black-naped Oriole also panting and looking at me. It gave a loud whistle and flew away. It was then that I felt there was something watching me and I noticed what looked like a dead branch on the ground about fifty feet away in the dark area beneath the trees. I became intrigued by the shape of the branch and although it looked like a branch I felt it might be something else. I moved slowly forward, keeping the trunks of tree between me and approached to about thirty feet from it. On taking a look from behind a tree I could see that my curiosity was rewarded because I could see that it was a bird. It was the Large-Tailed Nightjar. Because it was in the dark shadow I decided to use an exposure correction of 0.+5. I quickly took three pictures and believe me it then vanished in the (((eye-blink))) blink of the eye. Wondering if I did get a picture or not I checked in the L.C.D. and was delighted to see this reasonable photograph. I rushed back to the practice but had no time to view it because as usual my surgery was full of patients waiting for me. I have just had a look and edited it for posting. I hope you like it. this is the best I could do under the circumstances.
Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus

4th July 2007
The past two days I didn’t go birding because I just didn’t like being excited and my heart was sad because my secretary for the last twenty two years has decided to retire. She feels it was time for her to enjoy the comforts of home life she had saved enough to live well and had accumulated enough sense of humour to keep her mother-in-law away. “lol”. I have advertised in the papers. “Wanted, a qualified secretary who is married and has a good sense of humour”. From the replies I had short listed four people and have called in two of them for an interview. “Sigh”, no birding again today. The first lady came in with her husband, I had asked them to bring their husband along just to see how well they get on together. I didn’t want some flighty young woman who has an unhappy marriage for the job. In came the first couple and my first impression was that I was being invaded by the Russians. The woman was about six feet tall and about four feet wide and as the door was closing, in sneaked a tiny little chap, her husband. She introduced herself with amazingly a voice of a four year old child, and when the husband introduced himself, my turban almost blow off because his voice was as loud as that of a British Sergeant major shouting an order. I asked to see her degrees etcetera, and while she started showing them to me there was another blast. from the husband. “YOU KNOW DOC SHE MAKES GOOD COFFEE”. I ignored him as I was listening to her answering to my questions. Then came another blast like thunder, and my bearded was blown behind my neck and my turban almost fell off, I grabbed it quickly. “and SHE HAS an EXCELLENT SENCE OF HUMOUR BECAUSE SHE ALWAYS PUTS SALT IN MY COFFEE, and I CAN SAY SHE’S A DARN GOOD COOK. Now I started to wonder? I was sure my advert said secretary, not cook. I told them to call me in two weeks time or expect to get a call in-between times. I showed them the way out and as they were leaving he turned around and shouted, “DOC SHE MAKES a GOOD CURRY”. I quickly closed the door, sat down and cried. I then asked my senior nurse “where is the second person”, “oh Doctor. they couldn’t make it, so I give them another date.”. With my ears still ringing I took a rest and later managed to get out to do a bit of birding at four thirty. As I entered my patch the trumpet ringing in my ears faded. I stood silently looking for birds and it was as I was about to leave when I saw a slight movement from an old tree stump. I focused onto it and there I saw my ‘ghost again’ sitting there posing for his photograph and even though it was getting dark my kowa surprises me once again and I am pleased with the results.
Large-Tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus
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5th July 2007
Birding, Birds, Witch Doctor, Girls Guides, Laughter & POOR ME
I decided on Saturday that I will go to F.R.I.M a place in Sg.Buloh, Selangor for birding on Sunday, come hail, rain or thunder storms, or anything else my trickster God can send against me. “Boy oh boy, I wish I hadn’t said that. I was waiting impatiently to close my practice on the Saturday and it was just about five minuets before closing time when my staff tell me that my good friend the Bank Manager (see the picture in my gallery, “Pain in the Behind”, about the lady and the new parking attendant, me.) is outside my practice and will see me after closing. I was truly bewildered about this and wondered why he didn’t come inside to see me. Leaving my staff to close the practice I stepped out of the door and was immediately confronted by a crowd of about thirty or more people waiting for me out there. They were my neighbours and shop keepers that I knew, and all of them had huge grins on their faces. “What on earth was going on, I wondered”, I soon found out when my friend spoke up and said, “Since your birth, you have been a disaster in this town, everything funny seems to happen around you, so I have brought a Bomoh (Witch Doctor ) to cure you of this” I looked at him and his Bomoh with pity and said in a deep voice, “My friend, you are dealing with my God” They all laughed but became quiet when the Bomoh said, “A VERY STRONG SPIRIT IS TROUBLING YOU DOCTOR”. Now people I was only thinking of the two tots of whisky that my family allow me on Saturdays, not this kind of spirit. I then told my friend, “You will pay this man, not me, and if any thing happens to him you will also pay”. My friend like a martyr said “yes of coarse I will”. So like an idiot I agreed because my mind was set on birding to-morrow. The Bomoh made me stand in the middle of the road outside my practice and by now there were cars being stopped on both sides of the road and I could see grinning faces inside them from many people who knew me. The Witch Doctor took out a small kettle like pot and started walking around me, loudly mumbling, and every now and then sprinkling water on me, it was like what Witch doctors do in the movies. He danced around me, bending over, standing up, up and down, up and down, after about the fifth or sixth time he didn’t appear around again and I said to myself, “now I’m not so fat that he is going to take more then two minuets to come around and face me again. I then noticed the silence, you could almost hear a pin drop. I turned round and there was the Bomoh bent over at 90%, and he started crying and groaning with pain, his back muscle had spasms. I couldn’t control my self and let out a huge bellow of laughter and all the people watching collapsed howling with laughter. Finally wiping tears from my eyes I asked the staff to open the practice and many willing hands carried him all bent over as he was and deposited him in my waiting room. I went into my consulting room and came out with the biggest needle I could find and made him drop his pants in full view of the people.
Good grief you should have seen the colour of his underpants, incredibly psychedelic. I slapped his butt and injected him with the pain killer, in less than a minute he was fine, and I heard someone in the crowd say, “our doctor is a better Bomoh than him, see he’s already walking” The poor bloke quickly lifted his pants and while buckling it, bolted for the exit, followed by another roar of laughter. Everyone went home laughing their heads off. Laughter is a great medicine so I don’t expect to see any of them in the next few days. Next morning I picked up my brewery who is also the guard at my practice, and left for F.R.I.M. As I mentioned before I lost my way, but a U turn saved me from going to Penang. We eventually reached the place and as you know I gave a lift to two Europeans who turned out not to be birders but botanists. I made my way to the old rest house on the hill and parked the car at the bottom and then walked the back way through the thick jungle. We passed a stream and reached the fenced off area behind the house, and it was here where I saw a beautiful green bird flitting among the branches of a nearby tree. It was the Red-bearded Bee-eater. I quickly got my kowa set up and started taking pictures, but a surprising thing happened, the bird kept coming closer and closer until eventually it was only about twenty feet away. I became mesmerised by its beauty and I swear it started laughing at me. Then something amusing came to me, the bird reminded me of one of my wife's relatives with all that beard, a relative who shall remain nameless.Then we proceeded to return back down the hill the same way as we came up and as we were descending I noticed a Leech on my brewery's ear but I never said anything till we reached the stream where we stopped for a rest and where there was a lovely pool of clear running water about five feet deep.After we staked our things near the small tree with bushes, I told my brewery that there was a leech on his ear. Good grief people within seconds he was stripped down to his undies in his fear. “Don’t panic” I said as I took out from my pack the salt shaker that I always carry for emergencies such as this. As soon as I sprinkle salt onto the Leech they drop off. I removed seven Leech's off him, and he gave a great sigh of relief. After I had seen to my brewery I started checking myself and then I knew why my wife's relative was laughing. I too stripped down to my undies and my brewery salted eleven of the blighters from my hairy body. (Oh don't worry my family jewels were safe..lol..) After a Leech falls off, the place where he was attached to, seeps with blood because a Leech injects an anti-coagulant which doesn't allow the blood to clot and the wound can seep blood for hours. I looked at the pool and did what any one of you would have done, I jumped in and rubbed the blood away hoping the flow would stem with the washing. Whilst there I constantly watched the path that I can see for about a hundred yards before it dips out of sight down to the road. I was enjoying myself in the water and dunked down beneath the surface, holding my breadth for at least a Minuit at a time. When I came up for air I heard this pounding of feet and loud shouts of “LEFT RIGHT, LEFT RIGHT, LEFT”. Quickly I got out of the stream and went to the edge of the path to check it out. “Oh my God” the chap who was shouting the “Left, Right, Left, had about twenty five young girls all marching after him they were making a bee line for this place. My side-kick and I bolted behind the small tree and bushes, “Oh no” we were still in our undies, what am I going to do”. Then the instructor came into view up the path and reached the far end of the small pool, and then the front line of the girl troop was just seen. Quickly I shouted in a loud voice, “ABOUT TURN, LEFT RIGHT, LEFT RIGHT” Glory be, the troop turned and marched back the way they had come. The instructor's head whipped back and saw his troops vanishing, then whipped back again looking for the voice. I took pity on him and popped my head and arm out and shouted come here my friend. He came slowly towards me, wondering who this hairy ape was. When he could see me clearly, he collapsed laughing and I heard him say, “Dr Manjeet”. “Oh no”, he was the instructor for the Girls Guide troops of the Convent School of klang. “Oh I am dead”, most of my daughters friends are from that school. He got up and wiped his eyes and with a leering grin said, “Take your time Doc with your skinny dipping while I go and find my missing troops”, and ran off laughing. We hurriedly finished our bathing and were soon dressed and I shook my fist in the direction of where we saw that bearded relative of my wife, (lol), and bolted away from there. The time was nearing ten am and we started walking and walking till we reached another house at the end of the road on the hill. There were many people walking up and down this road taking there morning constitution, or trying to be fit. “the rotters”. Hers me, huffing and puffing and when we reach the house we sit down to rest beside a shady tree. It was less than a minuet into the rest when I spotted a tiny bird on a tall tree about a hundred yards away, quickly I drew out my old binoculars and, “Wow”, it was a Falconet. The little bird was sitting about eighty to ninety feet up that tall tree and I wanted to get closer and noticed on the right there was tree which had fallen onto another young tree and the top part of the trunk was resting on the upper branch of the tree with the Falconet in, at least twenty feet high and much nearer to the bird. I took out my belt and draped it side way’s from the shoulder to the waist and then inserted the kowa and tripod between my chest and belt, then I tightened the buckle. thus with them now safely strapped to me I started climbing the slanting tree. At the base of the young tree there was a load of sand, I think it was for repairing the house. When I reached the top I realized the buckle of the belt had slipped behind my back. I called my brewery up and when he reached me he unbuckled the belt and I got the kowa safely in my hands, I then wedged the tripod onto the trunk and asked my side kick to prop up my shoulders with his hands to keep me steady. I took about ten pictures of the Falcon and then looked behind me to see if he was alright, he give me the thumbs up sign and I looked back through the telescope the bird wasn’t there but then another bird came and sat on the same branch, “Oh my goodness, it was a Speckled Spiderhunter, the first time I had ever seen one. I frantically took pictures of him too. Satisfied with my efforts I decided to get down, but first I buckled the belt around my friend and inserted the kowa in the belt and told him to go down slowly, he reached the base and I sighed with relief, my kowa was safe. Then like a stupid idiot I asked him if the tree trunk at his end was stable, he shook the end and before I could say any thing he kicked the base of the fallen tree trunk. there was a creaking sound and the branch that the trunk was resting on at my end sheared off. Down went the tree at my end with me yelling like a banshee. My reflexes were still good and I let myself go limp and just as the tree slammed on the ground I half rolled and half jumped onto the sand. I came to with stars and birds in my vision and as it cleared I saw about ten faces bending over me. One of my patients, a Mr Tan was asking, “Doc are you alright” I got up and first tested my legs and then my arms to see if they were functioning alright. I then gave him a grin and they all started laughing and someone said, “Hi Doc you are a wild one” and they all collapsed laughing. I looked around for my brewery, I badly wanted to clobber the blighter, he came over to me with a sheepish look holding a can of Tetley’s ale. I looked at him and took the ale and downed half of it in one gulp, and said to Mr Tan, “NOT BAD FOR A 53 YEAR OLD MAN ISN’T IT MR.TAN”. There was another howl of laughter. I playfully punched my brewery on the shoulder and we went off to continued birding. By then it was midday so we decided to have lunch in the wetland area of the park, this was the place were a couple of years ago I saw the Masked Finfoot. This wetland had a beautiful place were we chose to rest and there is a huge house, roofed and floored with planks and with open sides. I rested while my brewery got my lunch. ready and I of cause lay back with a chilled ale in my hand thinking about all those wonderful birds we had seen. After lunch we went to the car and just as I opened the car door I heard the unmistakable Kae, Kae, call of the White-throated Kingfisher. I ran back to the place where we had lunch and saw through the binoculars the white bib of this bird and while I watched he opened that huge beak of his and gave his call again. He was about eighty feet away and I felt I needed to get a bit closer for a good picture, so I went to the edge of the platform and it looked like I could reduce the distance by twenty feet or more if I climb over the railing and drop down onto the thick layer of cut grass at the edge of the pond. Of all the stupid assessments I have ever made, this was the worst ever. I handed the kowa and tripod to my side-kick and swung over the wooden railing and dropped down to the ground.
The next thing I knew I was up to my chin in water and grass cuttings. The stupid grass cutters had piled all the cuttings onto the pond which I thought was firm ground. My brewery ended up with a stitch in his stomach through howling with laughter. I scrambled back over the rail, dripping water and covered with grass cuttings looking like a monster from a swamp. I grabbed my camera and saw the crazy bird had flown closer and I swear it was laughing, so I took a couple of pictures before traipsing off to a nearby stream for my second bath of the day and another change of clothes, thankfully I came prepared for all mishaps. By four pm I was truly exhausted and felt like an eighty year old man so decided to head for home. When I reached the exit of the Park there was a car before me and we all had to stop. The guards were making the cars go out one by one. Suddenly I saw the Girl Guide Instructor and when he saw me he shouted, “ATTEN-SHUN, FACE FRONT, SALUTE THE DOCTORrrrrrrrrrrr”, there was a crisp sound of boots pounding on the road and all the girls saluted me, then all of them burst out clapping and laughing and stomping on the road and everyone around joined in. The blighter had told them about my skinny dipping. I was off like a bat out of h--- but then after a mile I stopped and both of us laughed till tears came to my eyes and my brewery had cramps in his stomach. Well people I’m sure you are going to laugh at my misfortune but it was well worth it for the amount of birds I saw.
BIRDS SEEN IN F.R.I.M.
1.Blyths Hawk-eagle. no picture but a clear view 2.Straw-headed Bulbul..(p)
3.Scaley-breasted Bulbul..(p) 4.?Greater Green Bird.
5.Red-eyed Bulbul.(p) 6.Yellow-vented Bulbul.
7.Black-naped Oriole. 8.Bronze Drongo--noisy as usual.
9.Chestnut-breasted Malkoha(p) 10.Red-bearded Bee-eater.(p).
11.Crimson-winged Woodpecker (not a clear picture) 12.Black-thighed Falconet,(p).
13.Spectacled Spiderhunter.(p) 14.Yellow-eared Spiderhunter(no p)
15.Scaley-breasted Munia.(p) 16.Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (one male and two females. the idiot had a harem...lol)
17.Paddy-field pipit.(p). 18.Oriental Magpie Robin (two pairs).
19.Sultan Tit (the pesky bird was too fast for a picture.
BIRDS AFTER LUNCH.
20.Stork-billed Kingfisher.(p) 21.White-throated Kingfisher.
22.Gold-whiskered Barbet.(no p) (23). Banded Broad bill.(just good enough for I.D...p)

Hello everyone, I am Dr Manjeets walking brewery and I thought it would be great to get my own back on him and tell you my version of our day at F.R.I.M.
To start with he picked me up very early, it was still dark and like any normal person I don’t wake up until the sun rises. The Doc himself was almost asleep whilst driving and very soon got us lost, I think he must have closed his eyes when we past the turn off to Selangor. You should have heard the language and squeal of tyres when he spun the car around in a U-turn. At the gate to the park there were a few cars in front of us waiting to go in and the Doc got talking to a couple of European looking blokes who were standing there looking rather bewildered, The Doc couldn’t understand what they were saying and turned to me. Now that was silly, he knew I can hardly speak Malay never mind some other language. Eventually the guys got into the car and we drove up to the gate where I saw the Doc being a bit aggressive to the Guard, I’m sure one of these days he’s going to get a poke on the nose for his cheek. We dumped the guys off and went birding. As we slowly drive along, both of us look out for birds and when one is seen the Doc slams on the brakes and dives out to photograph it. We were heading for the old rest house on the hill and after the car was parked I slung the large pack onto my back and with the Doc carried the camera and tripod over his shoulder we headed off up a path through the jungle. Honest, I hate these places; they are full of creepy crawlies and have thousands of mozzies that are big enough to carry you away, but where the Doc goes I have to follow because it’s my job to look after him. After passing a lovely clear stream we reached the garden fence of the building and the Doc signalled me to freeze as he always does when he sees a bird. I must say I like looking at the colourful birds we see although I don’t know their names, but I am learning. On the way back through the jungle path we rested by the stream, it was a relief to put down the pack because it gets heavy after a while. It was here when the Doc informs me that there is a great big Leech on my ear. Now I have to tell you Leeches are the one evil creature I hate the most and I freaked out knowing if there was one then there had to be more on my body, so I stripped off my gear and the Doc got out his salt and sprinkled it on the seven that were clinging to me. Then it was the Docs turn and it was hard to find the slimy black blighters among his thick, black matting of hair. One of these days I’m going to get a razor and shave him when he’s asleep. “Hee-hee” the thought of it makes me laugh. I salted eleven Leeches off him and both of us were running with blood from where they had bitten us. We unanimously decided to plunged into the stream to wash the blood off and it was while we were enjoying the cool clear water when we heard someone coming up the path, we dived behind the small bushes and saw it was a troop of young girls marching towards our hiding place and the Doc and I were still in our underpants. A rather embarrassing moment was diverted by the doc’s quick thinking and we hurriedly got dressed and headed out of there.
The Doc wanted to explore another area and we seemed to be walking for ages but he was getting a bit annoyed at me because I couldn’t help chortling and giggling about us being caught skinny dipping and also because he was huffing and puffing up the steep hill and being passed by the young athletic walkers. The Doc hates the thought that he is getting old and not as fit as he was when in the Army. That reminds me, he was an officer in the Army and was used to giving orders and sometimes forgets that he is now in civvie-street. I take his orders with a pinch of salt because I know that he’s just a big softy at heart. At the top of the hill we sat down for a rest under a shady tree and I was prepared to be there for a relaxing time, silly me. No chance, the Doc had seen a small bird at the top of a nearby tree and got very excited because it was some kind of falcon and he wanted to photograph it. Now as I have said, it is my job to look after him but there is no chance of that, or stopping him when he gets excited. Before I could say anything he was shinning up an old dead tree that was leaning onto the tree that the Falcon was in and had got himself into a tangle with some strapping. Then, “good grief” he was beckoning me to climb up to help him. I hate heights but had to help him because it was my job. After unbuckling his camera I then had to prop him up so that he could take pictures and after the pictures were taken he entrusted me with his pride and joy camera and sent me back down the dead tree. I was shaking nervously when I got to the bottom and even a bit annoyed at having to climb up so high, and when he asked me to check to see if the tree was stable, I shook it and it felt firm enough then I gave it a kick in my anger and, “Oh dear” the bloody branch the Doc was on broke off with him clinging to it. He thumped to the ground and a thousand thoughts flashed through my mind. I’ve killed him, what was I going to say to his family? What was I going to tell the police? I thought about running away and pretend I knew nothing, but then I saw him move and from nowhere there was a crowd of people around him. I dived into the pack and took out his medication, a can of Tetley’s ale. The Doc gave me one heck of a dirty look and I thought I was in for the sack but in a jiffy he was back himself again and cracked a joke with those around us. As it was near midday the plan was to have lunch at the wetland area and we soon reached it and camped in a building that had a roof but no sides, this was so a person can look at the view from all around, and is sheltered from the weather. I gave the Doc another can of medication and prepared the lunch for him. I enjoyed drinking my tin of Tetley’s that he always gives to me on our trips but I did feel a bit guilty because of what happened earlier. While relaxing the Doc started laughing about the incident and said, “You should have seen your face, so worried”, in the end both of us were doubled over with laughter about both incidents of the day, and we wondered what else his God had in store for us. It was only about five minuets after that when preparing to get into the car the Doc heard the call of his favourite Kingfisher and we dashed back up to house. The Kingfisher was a bit too far off for a good picture so the Doc decided to jump over the railing to the lawn below and I would pass down the camera. I watched him jump down and I saw him plunge below the grass cuttings that were covering the pond, it was a most unforgettable sight, seeing his black hairy head sticking out of the bright green grass clippings. When I realised he was alright I couldn’t control myself and laughed and laughed till my sides ached and the tears flowed, and when he crawled out I became hysterical, it was just like some kind of prehistoric monster crawling out of a primeval swamp. Honest I had totally collapsed with laughter and had a stomach pain for ages. After he had returned from washing off all the clippings and changed his clothes he decided that was enough for the day and we should head off home. At the park entrance the guards had held up the cars and only allowed them to go out one at a time. I think it was deliberate just so that we could be slowed down for the reception committee that was waiting there. All the Girl Guides came to attention when they saw us and saluted, then with everyone else they rolled about laughing their heads off. The story about us skinny dipping had spread. The Docs face was a picture and I feared for his health. He drove the car out of there like the devil was after him but after about a mile he started giggling, then chortling, and then had to stop the car because he was laughing and laughing and I was laughing so much my stomach cramped up and throughout that night I kept having nightmares about monsters crawling out of swamps. That’s my side of the story; I just hope the Doc doesn’t read it.
Dr Manjeet Singh’s Walking Brewery.
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Manjeet. Tanny..you know something...he was probably thinking what you wrote. now the big problem is i have to translate this to him. Looks like my ghost writer you have also started laughing at me. Thanks a million my friend.
Tanny. "PHEW" After posting that last story I began to worry about Manjeet arriving in England with his sword and cutting my giblets out.Thanks mate I just hope your brewery also enjoys the story, and maybe there might be another story from him in the future. "Hee-heee".
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6th July 2007
Yes, real Rascals.
Yesterday it rained at night and by twelve noon it was blazing hot and very uncomfortable with the high humidity, but being able to go birding in my lunch break is what I call my fix so I ignore the elements and head for my local patch. As soon as I got there I saw the family of Blue-throated Bee Eaters happily chasing insects all around me. Every so often they would sit on a nearby tree and I would try to get closer but just when I reached the distance I required to get a good picture they would fly away to another tree, this kept on till nearly time for me to return to work eventually I had made a huge circuit and had reached the last tree before reaching my car. I sat down, cursing them and the heat when suddenly one of the parents came and sat about sixty feet away. I tell you, the heat was forgotten and I snapped away merrily. When I was satisfied with what I had taken I just watched them through my telescope and admiring their beauty but, Oh boy, did they lead me a fine dance through the trees and in the heat. Little rascals aren’t they.
Blue-Throated Bee-eater Morops viridis

7th July 2007
As usual when I came out of my practice and looked up, the clouds were gathering above and they appeared to be heading towards my patch, I shook my fist at my God, even one hour of delight he denies me “lol”, anyhow come what may I told him I’m going, and reached my mud-flat and pond patch with the clouds above looked dark and sinister. I told myself that the camera will be safe in my bin bag, let the rain rip.
I walked slowly to the far end of my patch, and people, not a single bird was seen, so I passed my time looking around at nature. Soon it was time for me to return, so back I went and when I reached the beginning again the cloud cover split apart and the sun shone through and about twenty five feet away on a bush sat my little bronze friend who looked at me in surprise. Luckily I had left my camera on and had just time for one picture before it flew away and a moment later the clouds closed up again blocking out the sunlight once more. I looked up and laughed loudly and grudgingly thanked him, then bolted back to my practice. Still laughing when I reached the clinic and as I steeped out of the car there was a massive clap of thunder and a solid downpour of rain fell on me. Just about a hundred yards away it was still dry. I stood there dripping wet and said to him, “no problem I had my fix and got my picture” and ran for the door. later when the rain stopped I removed my camera from the car and was pleased to see the results. I hadn’t got a picture of a male Little bronze-cuckoo before but I’ve got one today. I hope you like I...achoo!!!..achoo!!!..oh nooooooooo.Lol..
Little Bronze-Cuckoo(male)..also called Malayan Bronze-Cuckoo. Chysococcyx minutillus.
9th July 2007
Well people I was literally thrown out of my house today and almost told to go birding. I worked this Sunday till one pm and then went home and relaxed with my one ale and then had a fantastic lunch, bony Mutton, cooked Kashmiri Style, plus my favourite custard with Almonds and walnut thrown in. Now all I wanted was to have an afternoon nap, and it was as I relaxed there in my favourite chair when in trooped my whole family, and sat around me, including the “Boss” my mother. My youngest then said, “Dad it is cloudy, the heat isn’t there and there is a wonderful breeze blowing, don’t you think you should go birding” I said, “No. I would rather have a nap”. My youngest one kept looking at her watch, and then of course my (((hilter))))) The Boss, said, “Are you going birding or not” I looked around me and it looked like I was outnumbered so I got up and prepared to go birding. When I about to leave my wife winked at me, you know, one of those cheeky winks. I groaned because I knew something was up and they were not going to tell me just yet. I thought the best place to go birding this time would be Telor Gong, and you know something, the weather was perfect. I must have walked for about ten miles before returning the same way. among the regular birds, I saw the Common Flame-back Woodpecker, a pair of Little Herons, my favourite Black-Shouldered kite, Blue-Throated Bee-eaters and a Black or Ashy Drongo, I will have to put it in for identity tonight. I reached my car, then on the eddies of a breeze I smelled the ripe fruits of the Durians and I made a bee line to the old lady’s place, and found her outside her house almost as though she was waiting for me. She gave me two Durians, one for me and the other for Broc, I didn’t have the heart to tell her that you were in Australia, Broc. When walking back to my car I saw these three juvenile Olive-backed Sunbirds waiting to be fed. I just couldn’t resist taking their picture. THEY HAD STOLEN MY HEART. I learned when I returned home that my youngest daughter is in a dance group with six other girls and they were learning to dance in the Bolly-wood style at my house. She didn’t want me to be at home when her friends came to practise. I HOPE IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN.
Juv. Olive-backed Sunbirds. Nectarinia jugular
11th July 2007
Since Monday I haven’t been able to go birding in my hourly lunch break, far too many patients. Tonight feeling the withdrawals and the itch to upload a picture, I decided to look through my old files and found this picture that I hadn’t downloaded before. It was taken while walking the road in Bukti Tinggi. These little birds were criss-crossing the road with nesting material and I had managed with difficulty to take a couple of pictures. They gave the appearance of being like clown builders.
Silver-breasted Broadbill Serilophus lunatus
12th July 2007
When I downloaded the picture yesterday of the male Silver-breasted Broadbill, all of you insisted that his beard was longer then mine..lol. Well before you say anything more, her MOUSTACHE IS LONGER THAN MINE..lol. I never remembered taking this picture, but after seeing them again it all came back to me, and I had got pictures of the male and the female carrying nesting material. I remember hiding behind a tree, and first the male bird came into view and collected some dried grassy thread like material in his beak and flew to a branch in a tree about thirty feet away. He then looked right and left before diving down the hill to the thick jungle below, then after waiting about ten minuets, along came the female who also collected nesting material and perched on the same branch as the male before diving down to the jungle. I am hoping for the weather to clear for my lunch break so that I can go birding. Regards people. I didn’t crop this picture, I just reduced it to 800x600 with 85% sharping in Easy Thumbnail. I wanted the whole background to be shown because the bird is in it's natural habitat.
Silver-breasted Broadbill (Female) Serilophus lunatus
13th July 2007
Since Monday I haven’t been birding and I’m getting a claustrophobic feeling along with strong withdrawals. My consultation room is becoming closed in and ive had no birding fix. Just before I was about to scramble up the wall and jabber like the Ape in the jungle, my God decided to be kind to me and yesterday evening the clouds vanished and the sun smiled and I was off to my patch and sat on the edge of the pond and let the soothing sounds of nature permeate my soul and a gentle breeze wafted the hair on my forehead like a soft caress.
I saw a Swallow on a tree,
And the look in its eye,
Shouted the joy of being free.
And as it flew up high in the sky,
I heard, “Manjeet, you will never be free
Like me the swallow on the tree”.
”But little bird” I said, “I am free, yes free when I watch you and your feathered friends flying free” Yes free when we have time to be free. Well these are my feeling's when I sit in my patch at lunchtime in my hour of freedom.
Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica
16th July 2007
Today I went looking for the Brahminy Kite, he and I have the relationship going on, “if you catch me Dr Singh, you can take pictures of me” he seems to say. I keep telling this canny, snobbish, scrub-feather bird, “that when I get you ,you will know about it”. I reached the end of my patch and heard the familiar meowing sound and I knew my friend was around. I stalked in and as I reached a tree which was towering over an old half broken palm oil tree, made eye contact with him. I could see the vicious grin on his face as he flew off and heard him say, “sorry my friend try again” I gave a laugh and waved, and for a moment thought he was going to return. I rested there, refreshing myself with a sip of water and allowed the gentle breeze to cool me, then I had that feeling of being watched, and my eyes were drawn to a small branch on my right, and then to a hump like something sitting like a broken branch of the old Palm-oil tree. It slowly dawned on me that I was looking at a Large-tailed Nightjar and believe me if the eye had not winked I wouldn’t have seen it. It was a bit lighter today so I was able to get a better picture than the ones before. I regard it a privileg to get pictures of this bird because I feel its quite a challenge to see one.
Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus
17th July 2007
Well after taking the picture of the mocking swallow, (Feeling of Freedom. my picture in the gallery.) as Digi-321 said I started for home with poetry in my mind and a heart full of peace. As I reached the Indian temple and just about twenty yards from my car I heard a growling and snarling sound coming from a stunted tree to my left. What kind of creature was that I thought, some kind of animal in the tree or could it be a dog in the bushes beneath. I stood there and got my camera switched on and waited ready to take a picture of the monster if it showed. Then suddenly out pop's the mean-eyed, growling chap, and he perched there staring at me and as I stared back he didn’t give a inch and it was a Face Off, of course I just had to take pictures. Then another head popped out beside him and I swear I heard the other guy say, “Oh its only that crazy Singh birder. The first bird promptly turned his back to me and let go with whatever he had ate. I bolted from there, laughing, “hmmm theirs no respect for a Doc this days”.
Philippine Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis
21st July 2007
Well people today was looking wonderful as I left for my practice, humming the song, “Every body do what you are doing a smile will bring a sun-shine day”. it was blaring on my car radio. About a hundred yards before my practice a funeral procession was passing, so I stopped at the side of the road out of respect and watched. The procession slowly crawled towards me. The coffin sat on a sort of wheeled cart that was pushed by eight people, followed behind by a band and a long line of cars. The eight people wore blue clothes and on their heads wore, inverted brown sacking. The first two had their hands on the edge of the coffin then the next two had their hands on the shoulders of the first two, thus two by two till the last. Every few minutes the leader would let out a heart wrenching cry and a loud moan and would say in his language, ”OH WHY DID YOU LEAVE US IN YOUR PRIME” As they drew alongside the leader turned his head towards me and my heart sank because I knew the family and this chap has been coming to my practice since he was eighteen years old. He raised his head and rendered another wrenching wail and a loud moan. and the same was repeated by the other seven people, then the band also wailed.
Almost in tears I got out of my car and ran towards him and as I reached him the procession stopped. Then once again the heart wrenching wail and moan and “why did you leave us in your prime” by the eight people. I put my hand on his shoulder (by now the road was lined on both sides with the shop keepers around my practice) “I am truly sorry my friend, who passed away” I asked. I was truly feeling very sad by then. There was a startled look on his face as he again gave another pain filled cry and a moan and said out loud, “Oh why did you leave us in your prime” and again the seven followed in unison. By then I was feeling absolutely distressed for this guy. I’ve known this family for a very long time. Then suddenly he turned and on leaving the procession came over to me because I had moved away. The band struck up again and he had to shout in my ear. “Hi Doc, It’s not my relative maah. this is my profession. lah. these seven people are my workers maa, The family hired us to cry for them, lah. we get paid hourly. WE ARE PROFESIONAL MOANERS. lah.”
Oh what a blunder I made, and in an effort to maintain some sort of dignity I stammered, “He was young wasn’t he”. he replied, “In my race Doc, leaving this world at the age of ninety five years is considered old”. maa. Then he went back and started pushing the coffin and with a sad look on his face gave a heart wrenching moan. and said, “Oh why you -----“ and his workers repeated it. They continued on down the road, leaving me in a daze. “Oh my God” I noticed all the people around and I felt my face turning as red as my complexion would allow, there was at first a pin drop silence and the shop keepers who were looking at me suddenly let out a roar of laughter and everyone else around became doubled up with laughter. I bolted for my practice. All the patients sitting there were also laughing, so I sat down beside them and took a long breath and collapsed howling with laughter with them. What a start for the day and I wondered with apprehension what else was going to happen to me. It was at my patch when I went birding did I discovered what it was going to be. It was that I never saw one single bird, not a hidden feather, so I decided to up load this picture. You know why, see the look in the bird's eye, this is how the shop keepers were looking at me before they collapsed laughing. I hope at least you will have a laugh. but the bird is also nice.
Juv.Blue-Throated Bee-eater. Merops viridis
21st July 2007
I have been trying to get a bird uploaded for the competition. and searching through my files. I found this one and started laughing. I can still remember the time the bird tried conning me. I had gone to my patch in the evening and had walked around the patch twice and didn’t see anything. I decided to sit on a grass verge at the end of the pond and watch from there. As I plonked myself down I saw from the corner of my left eye. What I thought was a head raised and vanish again. Using my old binoculars I checked this side of the pond but couldn’t see anything, I did however see some dead leaves that looked like they had just recently been disturbed. I still couldn’t see the bird but then I noticed a slight movement of the reeds and quickly focused my kowa and started trolling the scope towards me. Then I saw this unbelievable bird, contorted in such a way that it resembled a reed and its colour blended with the green stems. I was still not sure and waited for some time before it slowly retracted it's head and through that one eye it looked at me, and I instinctively snapped the shutter. The bird gave out a loud, “kawak” and after giving me a dirty look it flew away and I collapsed with laughter. There’s no conning a patient Singh for long. I knew this one wont be even considered for the final thirty but what the heck this bird deserves to been seen at least. a bird with such bright colours that still can fool some people some of the time.
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis.
23rd July 2007
This bird is going to be a pain in the behind for me, “Oh yes he is”. Yesterday after closing the practice I went home and it was raining cats and Singhs, “I love dogs”.When I reached home I was greeted by a huge poster attached to the gate, saying, “A Yellow-vented Bulbul is nesting in the flower pot hung on the side of the car porch wall, (my wife has put some artificial flowers in the hanging pot so as not to dirty the wall when watering real flowers.) please park the car under the tree on the left of the gate. by order of Roshani. (d/o Dr Manjeet Singh.). “Oh my God”, I rang my sweet daughter to ask her, “why honey it's raining. do you want your pappa to get wet”. She replied, “Shame on you, and you a birder”. I parked the car and dashed to the house only to be greeted by another poster on the front door, “use the back door to come in”. Around to the back I floundered, crossing the lawn to reach the back door and there she was waiting for me with a chilled ale in her hand. ((((((((((Sunday people. have you’ll enjoyed a chilled ale in the rain. fantastic)))))))) I forgave her there and then and she took me by the hand to the big French windows of my sitting room and showed me the tail of the bird peeping out from the nest in the basket. A few minuets later my wife came back with my son, and would you believe it! the rain had stopped falling, it certainly looks like my God is up to his old tricks again. It looks like from now on till the eggs hatch me and my car are going to get wet. But that’s not all, This morning I once again had to tip-toe out the back way and around to my car, watched by my daughter to make sure I didn’t disturb the nesting bird. The children are on Holidays. “poor me”. When I reached my car I nearly had a seizure, the whole car was smeared with bird excrement, ((SHI.***)). The car was parked under the tree, and, Oh those birds. I gave a loud scream and left for my practice with my resident kingfisher laughing as he always does at me. During my lunch break I went to my local patch and who do you think I met, none other than the Yellow butts brother, I was determined to take his picture and after getting it I then shook my fist at him and abused him and his relatives.
Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier
26th July 2007
It sounds crazy, but this song has been in my head since yesterday, “Every body do what you’re doing a A SMILE WILL BRING A SUN SHINE DAY”.
It was raining heavily in the morning but by eleven thirty it stopped and at twelve thirty I left for my patch. The freshness of the rain and the smell of the various herbs and grasses, and the sky, bright blue with a warm sun bathing the land. How refreshing from streets and buildings. I roamed my patch with peace in my heart and a smile on my moustached lips. Then I stopped in the middle of nowhere, to rest and allow my whole being to be tuned into the harmony of my surroundings. As I stood there I heard this little gem of a bird singing sweetly away to itself deep among the shrubbery. At first I couldn’t see it and as if reading my mind it popped out and sat on the crown of the tree, then it sang again, and my friends, the words of the previous song just vanished and the beautiful two-tone whistling infused me with so many variations and pitches that I was lost in the song, then as if to remind me, the bird gave a long harsh whistle as if to say, “Manjeet aren’t you going to take a picture of me, you goof”. With a crash. I realised I hadn’t taken a picture being so wrapped in the song. Although the distance seemed too far I did manage to get a reasonable picture and the colours through the scope reminded me that, “this was my sun-shine day”. It’s a distance shot, but haven’t you heard, distance make's the heart grow founder.
Common Iora Aegithina tiphia
27th July 2007
After getting the Male Iora I had gone birding again in the evening and experienced a very embarrassing moment which I would rather forget, but when looking at the picture today and with the rain pouring down outside, I took the Singh by the horns and decided to post it. “Yes I know”, the only thing you will do is laugh, hope your ribs hurt. On reaching my patch I parked the car about two feet from a tree by the road and got out my equipment and dashed off into my patch. Moments later on looking at the sky I noticed some very angry clouds were gathering and I didn’t like the look of them. I was about half way round and not wishing to get soaked I turned back hoping the rain would hold before I got to the car. In my haste with getting my equipment into shelter I didn’t notice an eight inch depression behind the vehicle and my foot went into it and I fell onto my knees, as I was holding the kowa and tripod tightly I keeled forward and ((((wambed)))) my head on my car's back mud guard. “Wow, aren’t those stars brilliant, they twinkle so brightly. I heard a passing car stop with screeching brakes and three people dashed over and one of them, an old lady shouted, “The Doctor is hurt, call a Doctor”. Although a bit dazed I jumped up as they reached me and when I was checking myself out I looked up and there above me about twenty feet away was a female Common Iora. Immediately I said,” freeze” to the three people and quickly adjusted my scope and took two pictures. The light wasn’t too good but a reasonable picture was taken. I then turned around and laughed and said “funny me fancy head-butting my car. The three of them started laughing and when I said I heard the old lady yelling, “The Doctor is hurt, get a Doctor” the four of us almost became hysterical with laughter. As I was leaving the lady whispered, “This Doctor has a steel head”. I drove off laughing all the way home. Not a bad picture even though the light was not good. yes good enough to show my Birdforum family the female of the species of the Common Iora. Next time I’m going to wear a hard hat Turban while birding.
Common Iora (Female) Aegithina tiphia
30th July 2007
Had gone to West Port.(Pulau Indah) in the afternoon it was quite cloudy but with no sign of any rain. I was really on an exploration trip because I had never been in this area before. I went off the main highway and chose a road that I assumed was a dead end and looked like it was heading into a mangrove area. I went as far as I could go and parked the car and got out my gear. It was then I heard the loud chatter of a Red-wattled Lapwing and I swear it kept on saying, “GET OUT OF THIS PLACE PLEASE YOU SINGH”. I headed towards a bund that I could see through the trees, but before reaching it I noticed a five foot wide drain running along beside it, and this had to be crossed before getting on the bund. Luckily I saw two planks placed across the drain, presumably for people to cross over on. I was feeling a bit nervous about this crossing so decided the best way was to leap for the centre of the planks and then it should be only another leap to the other side.(There is a saying, “that there is an IDIOT born every half an hour in this world” I guess I could be classed as one of them.) I leaped onto the planks and literally flew in the air because the planks had acted like a trampoline, luckily my momentum threw me right over the drain and I landed on the bank on my feet. Of course my silly tilly had chosen to fall forward and jam itself on my stupid head and when I finally got the hat off and checked to see if all my limbs were working, I gave a silent laugh because I didn’t want to scare away any birds that might be on the other side of the bund. Just as I was saying to myself , “Not bad for a fifty three year old man”, I heard the call, “TOO-WIT, Too-wit, it and there on a nearby tree was the Brown-throated Sunbird, posing for his picture to be taken. I snapped away and as it flew off, the blighter started shouting, “Just for you old man”, I swear it did, and then it laughed. Of cause I was also having a big laugh, probably through relief of not falling into the drain or sustaining some serious injury. Hope you like this cheeky bird.
Brown-throated Sunbird (Male). Antbreptes malacensis.
30th July 2007
Well people it has been raining since morning therefore my load of patients was considerably less, they don’t like to visit when its raining. At my usual lunch time break I fixed my kowa to the tripod and covered it with my bin-bag and asked my staff to check in my small bag to see if the umbrella was there. I had asked my brewery to get me one from the supermarket, he’s been birding with me for the past two years so I knew he would get me an appropriate coloured one for going around birding. The staff said after checking that there was one, so away I went to my patch.About fifty yards away from the entrance to my patch I parked the car and saw a huge crowd of about a hundred people, most of them were children with ladies and all of them were dressed in their most colourful attire. It must be prayers at the Temple today. As I got out of the car a group of these people came running over, carrying umbrellas. Just as they reached me I noticed in the tree above the temple the White-throated kingfisher was sitting there on a branch out in the open. Quickly I stopped them with my raised up hand and took out my tripod and groped in my bag for the umbrella, I wanted to impress them with the one button press that opens the thing. Without looking at the umbrella I pressed the stud, and “Good grief” out opened a parasol. A Parasol of a shocking pink colour with orange spots and all around the parasol was a two inch lace of bright yellow. There was a gasp from the crowd, then silence. But then from the tree came the call from that Low down, Dirty laughing Hyena, who laughed with his Kak, Kak, Kaking. The whole crowed then gave a howl and collapsed laughing, ladies were seen wiping their eyes and falling like nine-pins, “Grrr”. Gathering my dignity with a wide, brave smile I trotted off to my patch.The mud was up to my ankles and with every step I slipped, but bravely I continued on, still carrying the stupid parasol over my head while my set up was covered by the bin bag. I reached the shed where a chap leaves his cows to shelter at night, and from behind the shed came that idiotic laughter of my nemesis. I peeped around the corner and saw him sitting on a dead tree just behind the shed. Thankfully the rain had stopped and I quickly got my camera sorted and slowly crept forward and got a picture of the “The dirty low-down critter”. I only managed a couple of shots before he saw me and flew off laughing but it was my laughter that was the loudest, and I yelled, “Got you, you low-down laughing Hyena”. Please now don’t you wipe his beak clean people but I’m sure you will be laughing with him.
White-throated Kingfisher. Halcyon smyrnensis
1st Aug 2007
Once again It's been raining since yesterday and again by four thirty it stopped for no apparent reason, so taking advantage of the moment I dashed for my local patch and as I expected, it was saturated, every step I took was an effort through the squishy mud. As I was wearing my big construction boots my feet soon became sore and tired.
When I reached the edge near the big trees and high canopy I saw a dark bird fly to my left so I started stalking as quietly as I could. Imagine it, a burly, hairy man sloshing through the mud and water trying to convince himself that he’s being quiet. Suddenly two small birds flew from behind me and the larger brown bird followed them. I followed but as I approached them they took off again and this happened for ages and this old man was becoming exhausted and almost gave up. I was actually getting a bit annoyed with the failure but then I told myself, “Why do these pesky birds keep on moving on just when I was getting close. Finally I managed to get about twenty five feet away when I saw the large bird was being fed by the smaller ones.
You can imagine how excited I became because I was watching a pair of Long-tailed Tailor Birds with their large offspring, a Plaintive Cuckoo. I managed to get a couple of pictures before they, with a rapid disyllabic trill moved on with their charge in protective custody.
Plaintive Cuckoo(juvenile). Cacomantis merulinus.

3rd Aug 2007
Well today I was not able to go to my local patch, the mud-flats and pond is closed to me till Sunday. There are prayers going on in the Indian Temple. and of cause I don’t want their Gods to die laughing. “lol”. Mind you I had heard a vague rumour of some birds seen on the highway to Telor Gong, so I made this a good excuse to get out there and take a look. At first I couldn’t see any entrance to the flat lowland that consists of many dead coconut palms and sand, and had to retrace my steps till I saw a mud road just wide enough for my car to squeeze through, my car's springs were really tested today. “Oh yikes” suddenly ahead of me was a huge lorry pounding towards me, Oh God, what am I to do? I stopped there waiting as he drew up and stopped. A tall dark Indian chap climbed out and walked towards me. Is he going to give me a hard time I wondered. I leaned out of my window to explain and saw a huge wide grin split his face and he shouted, “DOCCCCCCtor wait there” and he clambered back into his cab and then like one of those dare devils in the movies, drove his huge lorry onto the mud wet swampy ground and by-passed me and back onto the main track behind me, how he didn’t get bogged I don’t know. I decided to park the car at the first place I could find off the road near the tall reeds that were blocking the area. It was a huge reed bed about two miles long and about a mile wide with water about two to three feet deep. I trudged through the sandy area to the edge of the reed bed and saw a movement of two birds swimming about sixty feet away. I dropped like a stone and started crawling on the sandy soil and when reaching the reeds set up my tripod, focused and waited. When the ducks got to about forty five feet away from me I clicked the shutter and could see the alert look, then with my second click they took fright and flew away. (I think I heard them say, “Doc I’m no Quack” “lol”) Its been a long time since I last saw these Ducks so I was quite happy with today’s efforts. They are also called Tree Ducks and they lay their eggs in a hollow in a tree, usually near water. .
Lesser Whistling Duck. Dendrocygna javanica
7th Aug 2007
For this past three days I haven’t been able to go birding, I’ve been buried with patient after patient. (((((Blimy, what a choice of words for a Doctor.))))) It has became a race of sorts, first a quick look in at Birdforum for about ten minuets or so and then back to my patients. At the next lull I would dash back to my computer and check out your wonderful pictures of birds, then just as I am about to make a comment I hear my staff call out, “patients Doctor”. This has been going on for the past three days, and on top of this I have the war at home. My children are on holidays, the boy age fourteen and the youngest girl, aged ten, fighting over the T.V. programmes, or who will take grandmother down for lunch or dinner. If it gets serious then its, call pappy and complain. YOU UNMARRIED PEOPLE IN BIRDFORUM, you don’t know what you’re missing. It’s called, “Family, fun and Games”. but you know I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Tim Wootton, hope you’re having the same at your home. “lol”).Today I promised myself, “come hell or high water” I’m going birding, But just as I thought I had seen the last patient another one was brought in, it was an eleven months old child, the son of a Doctor friend of mine. Do you know that when a women marries a Doctor or a Army officer, her status changes and she thinks she knows more than her Doctor husband or Army officer, because since they are married to one it is an automatic promotion. If married to a G.P, then she becomes a specialist and if a specialist she becomes a super specialist, it’s the same as in the Army. My friend is a paediatrician, and he never treats his child he has always sent the little one to me since its birth. She sat down with the child on her lap and said, “Dr Manjeet, errr, his little hose has a problem”, at first I wasn’t sure what she was saying and asked her to repeat the question. She started blushing and said again, “you know, his little hose has a problem”. I gave a laugh when it dawned on me what she meant. She removed his pampers and said pointing at the hose. “see Doc, there is a blue patch on his hose”. I asked did you show it to your husband. “yes but what would he know, I have most of the books and have gone on the internet but couldn’t find the condition”. I looked at her with a serious face and told her not to worry because its a condition called, “PIEBALD GENITALIA”. She whispered, “is it serious”. I said, “no not at all, he may even became famous when he grows up”. She left me with a huge smile on her face, and as soon as the door closed, I and my staff couldn’t control our laughter. I rang the father and told him of my diagnosis, that was, his son has a beautiful birth mark on the LITTLE HOSE. I could hear his staff laughing after he told them. Looking up after wiping the tears from my eyes, my staff said there are five more patients to be seen. with a groan I continued seeing them and only now am I free to check into B.F. and post an old picture of mine because I just don’t have time and too tired to go birding. Sorry ladies and please forgive me for saying that ladies get promoted when they marry a professional man. “Well they do, don’t they”?
Large Wood-Shrike.(Male) Tephrodornis virgatus
9th Aug 2007
Yesterday I went birding for, “soul searching”, yes soul searching, because out of my seven terminally ill patients, three were fading fast, I wondered if they were struggling for life or were they gasping for peace. When I reached my birding place I strolled around with the hot sun behind me. I just walked aimlessly with my kowa over my shoulder. I was in a very morose mood and had no heart in taking pictures, I only wanted to be alone with nature. Around about twenty minuets later when I had reached an area beside a shallow pool of water, I saw the Little Heron searching among the vegetation, and out of habit I rested my tripod and focused on the bird. I was quite surprised at the birds indifference to my presence because I was only about thirty feet away from it. While I watched I saw it catch a small frog and swallow it. As I view the bird, I felt nature's touch, a bubbling laugh, and it was as if the heron spoke, “Manjeet, Life and Death is a struggle, each gives peace at it's own time” and my friends, peace washed over me and these words came into my mind. I wonder if this is poetry or words of nature, I don’t profess to being a poet but I do believe that poetry can be a ((((way of expressing ones feelings)))) an extension of your feelings?
I saw a soul today beside a bird today,
Then I saw a bird today beside a Rose today,
As the Soul was wilting the Rose stayed whole today
I saw soul today beside a bird today
As the Rose was wilting the Bird stayed whole today
I saw Soul today beside a Bird today.
(I dedicated this to all my patients who found peace these past twenty years with me) All three of my patients passed away last night and I was there with each of them at the end, but you know the strangest part was that I felt no sorrow but peace for all three of them.This is a bird which isn’t a fantastic bird, not even a pleasant looking one compared to the other birds, but it is a special bird because it was a bird that! “SHOWED ME A SOUL TODAY”. My regards my friends, I hope you like it and I’m sorry if I made you all sad, but remember, It's my job to see life as it is and I just wanted to pass onto you whom I consider my Bird Forum family, what I have learned about the truth of life. For me, peace and joy always follows. Not forgetting what I have mentioned before, “Nature keeps me sane”..
Little Heron Butorides striatus
13th Aug 2007
Today was Monday and I had some good laughs today at my practice. Yesterday one of my young patients got married and my staff and I were invited to the wedding dinner. My family and my staff met at the grooms house for the dinner. It being a Muslim house, all we had was soft drinks and good food. My youngest daughter was laughing behind my back and making those tipping signs with her hand, meaning pappy is dry today, and on a Sunday. We saw the bride and groom get married and wished them well, of course my wallet was lighter after we left. Today while I was attending to a patient at eleven o clock, I heard my staff laughing and as I was seeing my patient out of the door my staff said, “the next patient has been put into the minor Operating Theatre”. When I opened the door I was shocked to see that it was the young married boy of yesterday, he was bent over and had a sarong tied around the waist but was still wearing his jeans. I asked him, “what has happened”, he turned red and refused to look up. I was beginning to get a bit annoyed and in a stern voice said, “yesterday was your wedding day and you were well and happy, so what is wrong with you”. He panicked and dropped the sarong. “Oh my goodness” how on earth did I manage to keep a strait face. He explained, “Last night after dinner he and his wife had retired to bed to enjoy the bliss of marriage and we got a wee bit excited and in my hurry In taking off my pants, the, the, excited hose got caught in my zip”. Ah the folly of youth, NO UNDIES. He had waited throughout the night in that predicament, not saying anything to anyone because he didn’t want to cause embarrassment. The way I saved the situation was with surgical precision, I cut the zip from the pants and as soon as that was done the zip opened and the bruised and cut member was then treated with antibiotic cream and I told him, “no wedding night hanky-panky for at least a week”. As he disappeared out of the door, my staff and I collapsed with laughter and we could hear twenty or so members of his family outside also howling with laughter. There’s a Moral to this story, “Wear underwear”.So still laughing I went for my lunchtime birding at my local patch and decided to go and sit behind the shed. Just as I made myself comfortable, in flew a group of birds to land about thirty feet from the edge of the pond. “Whoopee” I said to myself, they are back, the Wood Sandpipers and Little Ring Plovers. I had only time to take three pictures before they were away again, calling with a loud, “teeeee-teee” as they flew to the opposite side of the pond.As I watched them I swear they were nodding at me. With a laugh that startled the Asian koel I left for my practice. I hope you like their picture and my story of the newly wed that still brings a smile to my face.
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
15th Aug 2007
Well after my lunch session of birding I went back to my practice and had quite an amusing afternoon with some of the patients. Then at my tea break I dashed back to my nearest patch. This patch is sometimes frequented by a pack of about nine dogs, they have never bothered me before so I trudged on without a care in the world to the wet scrub area at the centre of my patch. Suddenly about two hundred yards away the pack of dogs started barking at me, then, “my God”, they started charging towards me. All thoughts of horrible visions flashed through my mind and I became convinced that I was to be badly mauled, if not killed by them. I quickly removed the camera and put it in the bag as I had decided to defend myself with the tripod. Onwards they came and I stood there poised ready to fight to the death. All of a sudden about fifty feet away they stopped, and started snarling and growling at me. Then for no apparent reason they stopped and started wagging their tails and then turned and dashed away. My friends, can you imagine the relief I felt. I never questioned why they left me alone, Maybe a hairy Singh is so frightening that even a pack of wild Dogs are afraid. (Lol). I saw my Serpent Eagle friend cruising in the sky and a feeling came over me that maybe he had something to do with protecting me. Numerous Yellow-vented Bulbuls, flew from branch to branch, shrieking and chattering in their usual noisy way. I paused for a rest in a gully at the west side of my patch, an area of about two hundred feet in diameter with tall trees surrounded by smaller shrub and vines. This is a cool area to rest in because only at midday does the sun penetrate through the foliage. Suddenly I heard a soft, “Pinggg”, and I knew right away what had produced that sound, then out it came from the tangled vines and posed for me about twenty feet away. It was the Forest Wagtail and as many of you know its not easy photographing this species of bird because of the ((((cock screw))))) motion of it's body, the movement makes a blur in the picture. I waited ten minutes before it called again with another, “ping” and it was as if it was saying, “Hi Dr Singh take my picture”, of course I did. The last time I saw this bird was on the fifth of February this year in the same general area and I am wondering if they migrate through here, if so then I can expect to see this bird regularly, I will have to make a note of that.
Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus
15th Aug 2007
Hello Mrs bartokroodborst of our Joy of Birdforum. I have noticed these past couple of years that, “you tirelessly upload comments on all our pictures, day in and day out (yes people do check your pictures). Your comments are a joy to us and you know it motivates us to do better. Although the pictures vary from bad (like some of mine) to excellent, you are there with your comments. I TAKE MY TURBAN OF TO YOU. yes..lol.. For the past six months I have wanted to dedicated a picture to, “YOUR DEDICATION”. At last I have found with this yellow-golden bird with the melodious voice is the one for you. To me your comments are so golden-yellow and melodious. It isn’t a great picture Mrs Wilma, I am no Nigel Blake, Nigel pye, Clive, Keith, psilo and so many excellent other photographers in Birdforum. This is from the heart and I’m sure everyone who has uploaded a picture in the gallery will agree. Oh, and I liked the bird's look and angle and of course the cheeky bumbling birder photographering it. That was the good part Mrs Wilma, now the bad, I sneaked in and caught him eating his lunch, see the insect in the beak. Just as I clicked my shutter it looked up and I shouted BOOOOOOooo..you know what it did! It gave me a disgusted look and continued eating. Birds don’t care about me any more, they look on me as one of them or is it because I’m a birdbrain case. Always your clown my friends.
Black-Naped Oriole(Juv.)

Tanny · May 14, 2010

Continued 3

SueO. Read till my eyes were wobbling ( and teary from laughing). Thank-you for condensing this Tanny. Dr. S., you dispense the best medicine known. I'll tune back in when I come back from vacation. I can't wait to start reading these to my husband while we have coffee in the morning.
Sue
Christine.thanks,Tanny,your posts are a tonic.
naturistbird. These are so very funny. Thank you for finding them and giving them to us
16th August 2007
Hilarious Misspelled Comments in the Photo Gallery. (lol)

I have been viewing the gallery for a couple of years now, and have had some good laughs from the miss-spelled comments. I will start with comments that I remembered the most, one of them is MINE & the other is from, A. Dancy's. (lol)
1. I was viewing a picture of a bird which was really excellent and the details were fantastic, (I cant remember who's picture it was) then I scrolled down to read the one comment by Dancy and it said: EXCELLENT SHIT and . I collapsed with laughter but immediately emailed Dancy and said, “my soul friend you misspelled the word --- and waited laughing for about thirty minuets but got no reply even though I knew he was on line. I went back to view the picture again and ‘Oh my God’ the person who had uploaded the bird had replied. “ARE YOU SURE Dancy”, I imagined him slowly writing the reply. I at once wrote a comment, saying that dancy has misspelled the word, or the O is missing in his key board, and I started laughing again. I’m sure he was laughing too. Moments later I got the yellow flashing sign on my monitor, it was from Dancy, “My God Manjeet, I typed it wrong”. I told him too late my friend and howled with laughter, remember that Dancy.

2. 2nd was my own blunder. I had gone birding, and had got my first twitch, the Chestnut-winged Cuckoo. Then I returned to the computer to unload my pictures. I was so happy with the result of the picture and more so because our Bird forum member JAMES EATON was here in Malasia and on Sunday we were to go going birding together. As usual I had to write a short story to go with the picture and I wrote, “Hi people I had gone birding today, “I was HORNING MY SKILLS” I had misspell the word “HONING”, so that tomorrow James may be impressed. (lol). There were many comments on the picture, but it was LIMA . who ran me rugged with the comments. “Oh guys I collapsed with laughter. It is still there.
Now I am sure there were many more comments like these which you have seen and it would it fun to share them in this thread. I am sure you are still laughing. Regards people.

deborah4 Can't remember any from the Gallery BUT ... Oh Doctor! This sounds like a very serious medical condition - (I've heard it's highly contagious too)

Marmot
Sorry Manjeet but it one of yours. From your write up on the photo "I slipped, stumbled.....""The land there had lots poodles filled with rain " ---------------- I smile every time I see a Poodle.

Marmot
Taken from yesterdays "Look who is back...Lol.....
"...people it isn’t easy to photograph this bird. The ((cock screw)) motion of it's body. makes a blur in the picture.
Thanks,Tanny.You are doing great work with this thread.
================
25th Aug 2007
It's been raining for the past seven days so obviously no birding but my works goes on and on, the rain keeps many away but it also makes many poorly. As I sat in my consulting room I suddenly heard my staff shouting, “Mrs Monroe is here” and they quickly put a sign on the door outside, saying eighty five years or above is free. You see this lady was the wife of Dr. Monroe who had passed away many years ago before I came out from medical school. He was an Irishman in Port Klang and was my father's friend and our family doctor, so obviously I don’t take money from her and the sign outside stop's her from paying. Mrs Monroe is eighty five years of age and outrageously smartly dressed as always. Every three to four months she will pop into my practice and say, “Manjeet I have got the wind trouble again”. Because it was raining she was carrying a parasol. And as my eyes fell on it I started laughing and although she didn’t know what I was laughing at she also started laughing. Laughter was her trade mark, a peel of musical laughter, yes musical, everything about her is music, she wears the most outrageous colours and get's away with it. Today she was carrying a bright red parasol with big green spots and lined with a pale green lace. I got up and gave her a seat and quickly went to my room were I keep my camera and things and brought out the shocking pink parasol, remember the one that my brewery bought me and the Kingfishers laughter. I said, “this is for you”, she took it with a laugh and said, “getting rid of it aren’t you, “oh my God Manjeet” don’t tell me you used it”. My ears turned red, and I told her the story. Our laughter could be heard outside the building and over the road. She told me, “I have wind again” and as I began prescribing a medication she said, “As you say, you do a lot of birding, but do know my husband was an avid birder also”. With a far away look in her eyes she continued on, “we had this whiskered bird in our tree those days, green with a big beak and whiskers with a red top. Your Dr used to sit for hours and draw and write about the bird. I quickly got up and took her to my computer room and showed her the Coppersmith Barbet. With a joyful laugh she said, “yes this the bird”. As she was leaving she said, “You are still as naughty as you were before, and you know, Dr Monroe would have been proud to know that you turned out to be a doctor, and yes you cant fool me I know about the sign outside”.
She gave me a quick hug and left smiling carrying two parasols. So in memory of Mrs Monroe I have decided to down load this bright and sunny picture, it’s a bit old but I haven’t put it in the forum before.
Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala
29th Aug 2007
It was almost High Noon the blazing sun was high overhead. I was in a clearing in the heart of the mangroves swamps, as I wandered through I became stuck with mud up to my waist and found myself sinking slowly. I looked around wildly for a tree or scrub by which I could pull myself out.
How had I got myself into this situation. Well it started at the OK bird Identification thread in the No 1 web site. Bird Forum. I and Cyber Doc had put up a picture of a bird for identification and were facing each other with drawn guns in hand and then our gun totting Marshal David B..stopped history from being made by just one word. “ASHY”. So now I had come into this hellish swamp to get a better picture.As I desperately looked around for anything that would help me get out of this mire my eyes fell on my kowa scope and tripod which was just a foot away, they were also slowly sinking. Oh why didn’t I think a clearing like this in the mangroves would be so sinister and dangerous. Sweating and with terrible fear I reached for my beloved camera and dragged it towards me and held it close to my chest. Slowly we sank deeper and deeper and the deeper we sank I held my kowa out of the slimy mud until eventually it was right infront of my eyes. I took a deep breath hoping a miracle would save me but only blackness surrounded me and I felt myself go under the mud including my Tilley. I held on to my breath knowing man will struggle to the very end With lungs bursting I let go and I found my peace.

NEW YORK TIMES ..best seller list.
First there was Mike Hammer, then Bourne Identity. followed by Da Vinnci Code. now this thriller has taken the world by storm. Birding Dick.?.(opps..) he goes were no man has gone before. with romance and laughter in his heart and blazing guns (kowa) pouches beware, no bird escapes him.

“Phew” I was alive, I had fallen asleep reading this thriller under a tree just at the edge of the mangroves. A bell like sound had woken me up and just above me on the power cable was this beauty looking down at me. I turned my kowa and took this picture. yes I am sure you’ll be laughing at this new thriller, I was when writing it. The only bird picture taken this day because the rains came again and I bolted for my home. Sorry for the poor picture but the lighting was rather strange.
Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus
30th Aug 2007
These ten days the rain has been a constant source of the blue's for me, too wet for birding. I did have a bit of time on Sunday but the rain came again and once again I didn’t manage to get out. Today there is a little drizzle but still heavily cloudy but I risked it and went birding to my patch. The pond was full up to overflowing and apart from a couple of Common Moorhens pecking around the edges bird life activity was almost none existent, but just by being out in the patch with the green vegetation all around and the sounds of distant crows and hidden mynas made me feel alive. Yes my friends, alive, and I thanked the Creator for this blessed sanctuary. As I ideally walking in the mud that clung to my Boots and gave out a slurpee, sucking sound as I lifted each foot, Who do you think I saw? It was none other than that colourful joy of mine, whistling it's melodious song. This wonderful bird brings the colour of the sun and joy to my patch, and to me. I know you will have seen this bird so many times before, I am sorry for that but whenever I see this bird my heart flutters with excitement. I still hope to take that special picture that shows you the true colour of this bird, one day I will succeed, till then I hope you will like this example.
Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis

4th Sep 2007
I still haven’t been birding because of the rain, but occasionally the showers lesson and I did manage to get out for a short while but I was unable to get a picture for posting. Last night the rain clouds gathered into a massive storm, such a storm like I have never seen before and the rain was torrential. Today a miracle happened and I woke up to bright sunshine. Frustratingly I couldn’t get out at lunch time because of so much work but at four thirty I made a mad dash for the patch, and my friends, what a shock awaited me, the whole area was like a war zone. At the end of the patch a huge tree had keeled over and some younger trees had just split. I sniffed the air but did not detect the smell of sulphur, but obviously something evil had come through in the night. I discovered the tracks that I have used these past two years were gone and the whole area was waterlogged, no birds were seen except my nemesis, the White-throated Kingfisher who as usual was laughing at me. Just to show him I took his picture and then shook my first at him. I trudged back to my car through the mud and flood and went back home. I haven’t processed the picture of that “laughing hyena” yet and decided to upload this picture taken in August, the reason for posting this picture is to show you the huge tree above the Bee-eater, it was about fifty feet high and sadly today it is laying on the ground like a shattered giant. I wonder how the birds are faring after such a traumatic time, I didn’t even see one of them throughout my walk.
Blue-throated Bee-eater Merops viridis
naturistbird. Thank you, Tanny,for all the hard work. Reading these little gems really does make you feel better, lift your mood and add a sparkle to your eyes!
Thank you also to their author,Dr. Manjeet Singh, whose surgery must be a tonic to attend. Lucky patients!! Do they always come out laughing, I wonder? Just thinking of seeing the Doc is enough to lift everyone's mood!
6th Sep 2007
Aki don’t panic, I am not going to strangle you with a bow-tie, “lol”. I bow to you for your fantastic pictures of insects and birds, though insects aren’t my in thing but it brings joy to see pictures by you, but honest I love your bird pictures much more. lol.) It was not easy for me to get this picture of the butterfly with my Kowa T.D.1 at less than twenty feet, the camera doesn’t focus due to the scopes minimum distance. Like an idiot. When I saw this Butterfly sitting on a leaf I turned back to get about twenty feet from it, when I turned I found the butterfly had moved away and I carried on chasing after it. The ground was still soaking and as I ran the mud splashed up and over me and I really got soaked after I jumped over the fallen trees from the storm. Puffing and panting I stopped and said, “there must be a easier way”. I took out a sweet and crushed it in my mouth, then smeared a leaf with the crushed sweet and waited about twenty feet away. I didn’t have long to wait before this guy came and sat on it and happily fed on the sugar sweetness off the leaf. Now I haven’t entered pictures for an insects competition before, but WHY NOT IT'S FUN, WHO CARES ABOUT WINNING, I ONLY CARE THAT AKI and my Friends like the picture lol. So Aki a bow to you and keep your pictures coming my friend. Regards everyone and hope you like this picture.
Butterfly ???..no idea
7th Sep 2007
My regular patch was so wet with the tremendous storm that I decided to come to this place where it is reasonably dry. This patch is at the Temple in Pandamaran were there is a pond on the land of the Temple. I don’t usually go there because it is always crowded with people. I saw no one there from the front of the building and went in and parked my car, then I saw twelve guys playing majong, they play with stone blocks. One of them lifted his hand and I gave him a smile and got out of my car and walked to the pond area. I looked across the pond, it was filled to the brim and saw a couple of Moorhens swimming at the edge. There are some stairs leading down to the pond with a concrete barrier, and on them I spotted this beauty sitting there. Suddenly there was roar of laughter, the majong players were enjoying them self. I quickly went back to my car and got my camera ready and then sneaked twenty feet closer to the bird, just behind a huge flower pot. Thankfully there was no more noise from the players and when I was ready I took a step out from behind the pot and started taking pictures, on my third shot it saw me and off it flew. In my excitement at taking pictures at last after not being able to these last few days, I jumped up and with my hand raised, shouted, “YESSSSSSSS” suddenly there was another roar as twelve YESSSSSS issued from the guys who had sneaked up behind me, then they doubled up with laughter at me, one of them in Chinese said , “DUKON” which mean's, “Doctor” in Chinese, “can we see the picture”. I said, “come” and showed them the pictures, then they went back to their game and as for me, I dashed back to my practice. I know it is only a Common Sandpiper but I rarely see waders around here so I am always glad when they do appear.
. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
8th Sep 2007
I went to see my patch in the evening. The one opposite was still flooded but the mud-flat was wet through but not muddy, I walked in about 60 feet then saw this beauty about 250 feet away on the edge of the pond about 150 feet high in a tree. I was also about 150 feet away and although I had good cover at first I couldn’t get closer because of the clearing. I rushed back to the temple where I had seen some cut branches and picked up one about 6 feet high with a lot of smaller branches with leaves at the end, thankfully it was not too heavy. On reaching roughly the 100 foot mark I started edging forward across the clearing with my portable hide towards the bird. My dear friends, have you ever tried walking with an extended tripod you tend to trip every now and then. On reaching the 25 foot mark and with the bird still busy eating the tiny seeds I started pushing the branch into the wet ground, not easy to do without rustling the leaves. I finally managed to fix it; suddenly I heard a buzzing sound and just five inches from my nose was this Fat, Hairy, Black Bee who had landed on the branch I was holding. I could see my faces in the multiple images of his compound eyes. I pleaded with it as one hairy one to another, to go away, it didn’t move, I then started blowing on it, (..puff..puff..puff..). No it didn’t move, in fact the buzzing got louder. Manjeet I said to myself, you are going to be stung and with the loud shout the bird will fly away, then I felt a huge “BURP” coming up, (Chilli sardine sandwiches) eaten before coming to the patch. With a huge blast of air I swear I could see the antenna of the bee wilting. It turned its head with misery written all over its face, (the smell I guess) and bolted like bullet being shot from a gun. I relaxed and then peered out at the bird. The Pigeon was alerted. Oh no, it’s going to fly, but then suddenly three glossy starlings came and landed on the same tree. The bird relaxed and I focused my scope, I then carefully took one step to one side of the branch and placed the tripod, followed by myself and there I was crouching behind the scope taking wonderful pictures. On my fourth click the bird looked up. I gave a laugh of pleasure as the handsome lad flew off into the distance. I don’t think I have done it justice, but close enough I think.
Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans)

8th September 2007
Today I was feeling happy with my Mr Handsome in the Bird forum, (The Pigeon) and had some howling cases in the surgery too. (I will sort out the stories for next time) I worked through my lunch with out a pause, but people every now and then would burst out laughing. I was waiting for some blood tests to arrive before I rang my specialist friend in the hospital to tell him what a boo-boo has been made by the people under him from his unit. By the time I finished my last patient I noticed the time was 4.30pm. I changed and bolted for my patch, laughing all the way. I reached there and the first thing I saw was my portable branch hide still standing in the mud, looking now a little weathered but still serviceable (the branch which I used to get pictures of the Pigeon.) I trotted on and reached the branch, I plonked down my tripod and bent down to peer through the branch, my eyes fell on the tree just opposite, the same place where I had seen Mr Handsome. “Oh my” there was my Little Bronze Cuckoo, happily gleaning caterpillars. I did what any birder would do, I snapped away. As the bird continued on with it’s foraging, I decided that it had been a good evening so I bolted for my practice, chuckling with laughter over my find, and with happiness at being out in nature with the birds.
Little Bronze Cuckoo (Chysococcyx minutillus)
10th September 2007
As I was leaving after taking picture of the Unbelievable eyes, (Little Bronze Cuckoo), I heard this, “growling and sneering” I looked up and saw these three Philippines Glossy Starlings looking down at me with angry stares.I swear I heard them say, “This guys Such a LOUT, yesterday we helped him get the Pink-necked Pigeon and he didn’t even take our picture, ungrateful so and so?” With a sheepish look I turned back and took this picture of the boss bird, but I tell you, they kept on growling at me. Best thing for me was to bolt out of there and get away from those “DRUNKEN BIRDS” before they attack me.
Philippine Glossy Starling (---)

11th September 2007
My Bird forum family, today was a day that I will remember in my practice, the conjunctivitis is here in the schools so everyone comes to the practice in sun glasses like James Bond. I was busy till 4.00pm and my last patient was a child of five years wearing the most colourful sun glasses ever seen. He was a boy, and when these young ones come to my practice their personality changes because they know this my domain and they can do what the like and their parents can’t do any thing because I will stop the parents from speaking. As he came in through the door he was carrying a rolled up paper scope, he came right up to me and believe me he copied my standing stance when I am birding, then he looked at me with eye and shouted “Got him”, we all collapsed laughing, then in a man to man type of voice he said “I got EYE SORES”. Oh my goodness, when God made little children he made them clowns. I gave him a hug and of coarse a fist full of sweets. Off he went strutting out with his behind jutting out like mine, the patients in the waiting room howled with laughter again. So with the small tyke's walk I went off to my patch. I had decided to go today to the opposite side of the pond and mudflat. There are a couple of hundred Glossy starlings among the trees with an unbelievable sound of their voices. Myna birds also, and yellow-vented Bulbuls, all warbling their songs. We human kind are blessed to have nature around us. I felt the whole days tension easing, a feeling of freedom permeated through my body and I started walking and yes I saw a yellow-rumped flycatcher (female).I let it go, there is always tomorrow, they are back. It was then among the Yellow-vented bulbuls I saw a surprising sight, an Asian Paradise Flycatcher, I took a picture but it was too far and it vanished among the scrub, no worry I will find it again, then I spotted a slight movement on the edge of the tree-line, the sun was going down. My friends, when I put my eye to the scope to check out the movement a wonderful Golden Tiger Shrike greeted me in the fading sun. I watched it for some time, the beauty of this bird was just fantastic, I don’t know if the setting sun effected the bird’s colouration but it brought joy and laughter to my face. I hope you all will like the Tiger in the sun, my first this season.
Tiger Shrike (Lanius tigrinus)
15TH September 2007
Well people I’ve had lots of work so I couldn’t go for my lunch break birding, then in the afternoon I had quite a few patients. It was four thirty when I bolted for my patch but an amusing incident in the practice caused me uncontrollable laughter. Before reaching my patch and while carting my things I was still chuckling uncontrollably with laughter. When passing the Indian Temple, the priest and a few guys were standing there, and from the corner of my eye I saw the priest lift his index finger and make a circular motion against his head. (He must have thought I was a nut case because of my laughter). I stopped about fifteen feet from them and raised my right index finger and told him in Tamil, (while still laughing) this is MY P.R.Examination finger. You know what I use it for. The poor chap bolted inside the temple to hide among his Gods, while the people outside the temple doubled up with laughter, and then still laughing I started singing. (“I AM BAD, I AM BAD”.) I reached my patch and rested on the bank of the Aur River. It was very windy today. And this caused me to laugh even more as I reflected on the incident in the practise. This chap who is G/M. of a company in klang was sending his wife to see me (he is an Ex-pat from Europe).After seeing a few patients, her turn came around (she has been my patient for the past two years) “Dr Manjeet” she said I got this terrible. WIND” so I said “don’t worry I will give you some tablets to void the wind”. Blushing she said “Doc it’s the peculiar sound that worries me, please wait I will show you, don’t worry Doc its Odourless”. When checking her last month's blood tests, there emitted from my patient a phenomenally loud “Meeeeeeeew” sound. I was startled and started looking for the Brahminy Kite. (I told my self,”Manjeet your doing too much birding man”) Then I noticed she was blushing, and said “please look and hear again” Suddenly there was this LOUD “Meeeeeeew”, again. She had this wicked grin on her face and I just couldn’t stand it, I collapsed in my chair howling, and her laughter like bell sounds accompanied me. After we had wiped our tears, I told her. I wish I could send you to U.K next year for the Bird Fare, and when you sit among my friends with me and your wind acts up I can imagine my friends, Clive, Dancy, Johnnyoxgen, Psilo, Marmot, Ian, Jaff, and the rest suddenly grabbing cameras and shouting.” did you hear it a Brahminy Kite. where is it”, then me howling with laughter will say ”people it's a Designer Wind or Fa lol”. Now I was still laughing about it in my patch when suddenly I heard this Trilling laughter. As I turned my head my friends it appeared that this little one too was laughing at the Designer Wind. After taking a few pictures and with its trilling laughter ringing in my ear I bolted for my practice. Sorry again for showing the little one but it was the only bird I could get, because I was laughing too much. Next time I think I will call the Little Bronze Cuckoo, “Designer Wind”.
18th September 2007
Do you my friends have memories of a place where you spent pleasurable moments alone? Yesterday I was woken up by the son of a new patient (terminally ill); the son said that his father’s catheter was blocked. I looked at the time it was Two am. This is a patient that was sent home just one day from hospital. He’s in a semi-coma. The hospital had advised me to keep an eye on him; he gave me the house address. It is about five minuets drive from my house by car. I passed a huge mile long Mall under construction. I felt I knew this place but after taking two wrong turnings I eventually found the house. I saw the chap and removed the catheter because it was blocked completely, and put in a new one, then sat and chatted with the son, I told him to keep turning the patient every two hours to prevent bed sores. Since there were nine people in the family, each would be taking their turn to help him. ((((((.made sure they made a rooster?) then I left))))). To me these early morning times are the best times of my life, when you have soft music playing and you are driving home with a job well done. On reaching the gate of the Giant Building, (just planks to keep people out,) I saw the small house on stilts out side the gate. I screeched to a halt and walked over. There were three guards sitting there brewing tea. Oh my God the timber barrier of the gate was the hide in which I had spent so many good hours photographing the Purple Swamphens and other water birds. I asked the chap who had made the barrier. “Oh”, they said, “it’s the Dr Singh who used to watch birds in the pond here, but now the pond is under the mammoth”. I sadly went back home and I remembered a comment on the purple Swamphen by: Erwin Dresses. “Manjeet enjoy it while it last.” ‘So true’. I haven’t seen these birds since. So today I checked out the old files and found this photograph which I hadn’t uploaded before. Memories linger on and never to be forgotten for the pictures are there to remind you People. Hope you like this memory of mine, regards. Strange when you ask people what happened to the pond; they say, “It is progress”. “Is it”?
Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
Manjeet. Thank you for your kind comments naturistbirder...i dont know if they are laughing after they leave my room..but i amLAUGHING WHEN I HEAR THE RINGING OF THE TILL...wont you ..seing the green things coming...lol..
i just couldnt resist answering your question....Thank you very much...if one person in this world laughs while reading what I have written i am greatful to God..(my God...you know the guy with the Turban Tanny thanks again my friend..for writting this...damn...it I wonder is it realy me..who has written all that and not YOU TANNY.REgards..and people Happy New Year to all.
naturistbirder. PLEASE keep writing, Dr Manjeet,as it is such a TONIC to read. I really do NOT believe you about those green things! I think you love all your patients, even the odd and grumpy ones!!(And they wouldn't stay that way very long with laughter as their medicine from an eccentric, kindly doc.)
I notice you have not joined in the thread about Psychic Birdwatchers (under thread for new birders) but I must ask you your views and /or experiences on this subject...possibly this could be the subject of another piece of writing???
Thank you, Naturistbird.
PS Do you have any psychic patients??
Thanks Manjeet and a Happy New Year from all your readers, Just one more good story and we will have made it 200. Thanks again for all the laughs and tears. No my friend, I couldn't be the author of these stories, there's only one person who could write them and that's, "a total Cadbury Fruit and Nut Case like a Singh" Ha-ha-ha, Heee-heee-heee, Hoo-ho-ho, splutter-splutter.". "Coff-coff-coff. Ooops, sorry, chuckle-chuckle.
20th Sep 2007
Today was a good day and I came to work light hearted and with a smile on my face, I had been to see my terminally ill patients and they were all doing find, yes a great feeling to start the day. I reached my practice and there were eleven patients already waiting to see me. There were the usual good mornings as I passed them in the waiting room. Just as I was about to enter my consulting room a little four year old boy came running in from the main entrance behind me and grabbed my pants. This child has been a patient of mine since he was born. The boy’s father is a fitness freak, always racing around on his mountain bike though I don’t see any mountains lying around this area, Lol. The little lad had dashed about four hundred yards up the road past the shops to get to my surgery, and was almost out of breadth but on grabbing my pants he still managed to yell out in English, (the language I insist all my patients teach their children) “Dr Uncle, come quick (he always miss-pronounced the words) My Dad broke his testicle”. I was stunned and looked at the waiting patients and said, “Wait I will be back”. I hung my stethoscope around my neck and grabbed my medical bag and galloped out of the building and down the road. “Oh my God”, I thought, he must have ruptured his testis due to a fall from his Bike. I heard a sound behind me and looked back and saw the eleven patients were running behind me to help, one of them took my bag; the little boy was way ahead of us and still running while we were huffing and puffing after him like steam engines. When the shop keepers saw us running they joined in and I could hear them asking what happened. By now there were fifty to sixty people running behind me. I finally reached the house after the end of my stethoscope had hit my eye a couple of times due to the running. Huffing and puffing I stopped in front of his gate, his dad was standing there with his wife, and both of them looking very shocked as all the people caught up with me. I said are you OK, and just as I opened my mouth to ask about his testis. One of the shop keeper shouted, “BUah O.K kah”, (crudely put in Malay, “how is your fruit (testis)”. Both parents turned beet red and then all of us turned to look at the little one and he wasn’t even breathing hard. He looked at us and walked to his dads mountain bicycle and the dangling chain, and said again, “My Dad's testicle is BROKE” While patting the bicycle. I just sat down on the road and laughed until I had tears in my eyes, and all my followers were also howling with laughter and rolling on the road. Wiping tears from my eyes I got up and the little one run's over to me and says, “Dr Uncle fix dad's testicle while holding the bicycle chain which had snapped”. There was another roar of laughter from behind and I bolted for my practice with all the people running behind me laughing, and now shouting, “Dr is a Mechanic too”. There was laughter throughout the day and even when I went birding I was still laughing. I saw the Blue-tailed Bee-eater and after a bit of stalking under the cover of a tree I managed to get a decent picture, unfortunately a portion of the tail was covered slightly with leaves blowing with the wind, but I liked the effect so much that I decided to upload this picture. I’m sorry if I have annoyed anyone with the word Tesicle or testis, but being a doctor it’s just a medical terminology, nothing vulgar. But don’t forget people if the testis wasn’t here, we wouldn’t be here and neither would be Birdforum, ‘lol’.
Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops superciliosus
22nd September 2007
This bird and I have had a running feud for the past two months, me to take his picture whilst for him to make a monkey out of me. Every time I go to my patch I see him gliding above me as if marking me for something unpleasant. (His Night's load. lol). Every time I sneak in to get a shot when he is resting he always sees me, and with a loud “MEEEEW”, he glides off laughing, that was until yesterday when I was under the canopy looking for my migrant Asian Paradise Flycatcher. I heard this bird’s loud mewing call, unfortunately he sits at the most inaccessible part of my patch, however this time I decided to really try my luck at photographing him, so it was through the mud and mozzies that I crept until among the leaves I saw his tail. To get a better view I pushed a branch that was infested with red ants slightly out of my way and there he was in full view. You can imagine the joy and awe I felt at seeing this majestic bird so close. Though the light was bad, (It was mid-day but down on the ground beneath the trees it was gloomy) I waited for him to turn his head, when he did so I clicked my shutters, on my second try he (I think it was a male by it’s smaller size) saw me, but strangely he didn’t fly off but just stared down to a spot on the ground about ten feet away, next thing I knew he had dived down and had and grabbed a medium size monitor lizard. I was struck dumb, I could see his huge talons grabbing the lizard, yes, I could see them going into the lizard's body. It was all so very quick and exciting. I only wish I had a hand held DSLR then I might have got some better pictures. I think the lizard had become disturbed by my presence and had tried to cross the clearing to get away.
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur Indus)
Broc. Thanks Tanny for showing me the way to get to this thread!! ....and what a thread it is too! An amazing undertaking on your part. Well done!
No worries mate, I'm glad you've made it especially as you're mentioned a couple of times in the stories. "Making advances to some old chuck if my memory serves me right". You say in your pm that you're heading back to see Manjeet in the near future, if so, then don't forget to post a report about the meeting, we're all fascinated with finding out just what he's really like. Manjeet pm'd me the other week to point out I had missed a story from the past, an easy thing to do considering how many there are. I found the story and am posting it now. Enjoy the reading everyone.
egret3
Tilley Hats. Comments please
Hi everyone: At first, it seemed only birders were wearing these Tilley hats. Now, lots of people have jumped on the bandwagon. I priced these last week down at our Harbour front at the Tilley Store, and they start upwards of about $80.00 plus tax. What do you people think? Do you wear one? I can readily see they are very well made, not flimsy. Are they not a bit too hot for right now? Was Tilley a birdwatcher?
Egret3
CJW
There is a perception, NOT MINE I HASTEN TO ADD, that anyone wearing a Tilley hat isn't a serious birder.
Trevor
POP
Just remember Egret3 if you want get ahead get a hat.
Steven Astley
What’s a Tilley hat? I know bird guides often recommend wearing hat to hide your eyes. I usually like wearing my bush hat and shoe polished face
Rick Wright
Tilley hats ARE often considered sort of uncool by real birders, including me; but having won one in a big day competition, I wear it pretty much all the time now. Of course, I make good and sure it's as dirty and as obviously abused as possible, lest I be mistaken for one of those who think LLBean and the latest Austrian glass are all it takes to be a birder. But I must admit that it's surprisingly lightweight and does a great job of keeping the sun from my already addling pate; it's also rumoured to be water-repellent, which is interesting in only an abstract, intellectual sort of way to those of us enduring June in southeast Arizona.
Rick Wright
egret3
Hi everyone, I am back. Well there are some interesting comments here. I can tell you I have seen them at Point Pelee and other birding spots here and often when out I see birders wearing them, they all look pretty serious to me. They are very durable. Anyhow I can't afford one right now but have tried one on and my goodness they have so many styles. I just wear a cap for now and don't go out in the real heat. Definitely, later on I will get one though. I am allergic to sun and require good coverage. I also like them. I bet they are a lot cheaper in the U.S.
Katy Penland
I've had my Tilley for at least 10 years now, and I got it originally for wearing on pelagic birding and whale watching trips because if it should ever blow off, the silly thing floats! And I can attest that they do. I rarely wear any kind of hat birding, except when it's really cold, so it doesn't get as much wear as I'm sure it deserves for its price ($65 back then). But I love it and I don't give a rat's pyjamas what it says about me or my birding proclivities on either side of the pond. So there!
DavidP
Seems to me the main advantage for the Tilley is that it comes in a range of sizes. Since I've got a rather large head and even the XL hats and one size fits all adjustable don't fit well, I know that a Tilley 7 7/8 will fit perfectly. I don't know of another hat that will do that and out in 100 degree heat with the sun burning down you definitely need something.
John Jackson
Tilley hats are superb: they stay on your head, shield the sun effectively and are guaranteed with replacement if they blow off or fall apart. Anyone who judges birders' abilities by what's on their head needs theirs seeing to. Having a laugh birding is much better than being serious about it – and funnier.
Geoff Brown
Being pretty bald (not pretty & bald) mine does a good job of keeping the sun off in the so called English summer. Chin strap is useful too in any sort of wind. It stops it being blown into any passing elephant’s throat, if that advert is true about the hat passing through the animal's intestines.
Bill Atwood
The vast majority of folks I see wearing these are what I consider "Tourists". I believe an equivalent British birding perspective would be "dude with a passport". That being said, they are very durable and well made
Grousemore
I wash mine regularly, as I spray it with Mozzie repellent before wearing it. You can't buy a better hat in my opinion
Trevor
Bill Atwood
In Brit birding jargon "dude" means inept, bungling, or clueless. I don't know if its use is exclusive to males. I probably should have said "dork (or dorkette) with a passport".
Hey I'll admit it, I had one, may still have it somewhere. It was the first hat I wore that wasn't a ball cap. When I discovered through experience that most Tilley people I ran into didn't have a clue about wildlife I quickly retired it. I've also found that Tilley people have a propensity for extensive chattering while on the trail. The main problem I have with them, (other than their excessive price) is that they are white or very light beige. I suppose for pelagic trips or some waterfowling/shorebirding this isn't a big deal. However, for scrub or woodland birding, medium to dark earth tones are much more appropriate. Nowadays for a wide brim I usually get a $20 one at the farm supply store. They are easier to part with (versus an $80 Tilley) if it blows off while on a boat or vehicle; or if you want to give it to a local in a foreign land.
arthurgrosset
I wear a Tilley hat AND I tuck my trousers into my socks!
Dr Manjeet Singh
Where can I get a Tilley’s Turban please?
Alastair Rae
I used to own a green Tilley hat. Don't believe them when they say they don't shrink
Also, does anyone leave in the silly flotation device?
Mike Young
I have been wearing Tilley hats for over 20 years. I am on my second replacement because of deterioration of my original hat, with no cost for the 2 replacements. I recommend this hat to everyone. Not only does it keep the sun off of my large forehead and out of my eyes, but it works as a rain hat preventing the rain going down my back. It also acts as a substitute for a sweat band. As you can see I wear it all the time. I wash mine very often so it looks new (to help keep the band from deteriorating). I really don't care what other people think of me when I wear it. It is the most functional, And in the long run cheap and the most well made hat I have ever purchased, and no I don't work for the company, just a very satisfied costumer.
Mike

Nigel G
Bought mine about 15 years ago for fishing in the summer definitely before I could be classed as a real birder - perhaps I still can't as a consequence of wearing one but I don't care because it’s a good hat. It keeps the sun out of your eyes, off your ears and helps shield the LCD when digiscoping. Mine is definitely green and as for washing it I don't think I ever have - which probably explains why it is now various shades of green. Oh yeah - and I do keep the flotation bit in which is quite handy when you drop it in the river and no mine has never shrunk. Bottom line = good summer hat!!
NIGEL
Scholekster
Tilley hats are superb in stopping UV rays hitting your bald areas. I unfortunately lost mine, through my own fault, and must buy another, as I currently have to use sun block to stop the UV rays - my skin burns very easily because of a heart drug I'm taking.
Clive
snowyowl
The Tilley hat is great. I'm on my second one (I lost the first one). They really became popular here when they were issued to the Canadian troops and sailors deployed to the Gulf during and just before the Gulf war. All of the news pictures of the Canadian troops seemed to show them wearing Tilley’s. I was given my first one by the QM of HMCS Protector because of help I gave in getting her ready to go to the Gulf.
The Tilley is a Canadian product made by Tilley Endurable in Don Mills, Ontario. They also make shorts etc, all of which are much too expensive for me, but I do love the hats. I use the wider brimmed variety because the way that I burn, I need all the protection I can get. Buy Canadian! Happy Canada Day!
Dan
Snowy Owl
jay1964
I've worn a green Tilley hat for 10+ years now and would recommend one. Mines been sailing in the Baltic, kayaking in Greenland, mountaineering in the Alps, trekking in the Namibia desert Oh and birding too. It's the first thing I pack.
Here in Blighty if you wear a baseball cap you are considered a 'Chav' or 'Hoodie' chip shops and shopping centres (malls) won't let you in.
MikeB.
Tilley hats - there's a good number of them in this part of West Africa!
Given one as a present about 10 years ago by Canadian friends in the UN, and used it ever since running about in the bush, in Angola mostly. It has regular trips to the washing machine, still comes out white, and back in when it's going brown again.
Always needs stretching over your knee to make it fit after a wash - not sure about leaving it in your will though!
Mike
baccalynnwv
I have a Tilley hat and Tilley shorts, but have used them mostly for horseback riding... they were given to me as a gift. Fits wonderful, comfortable, functional, and best part, replaced free for various reasons..... Never had a problem with it shrinking... or the shorts for that matter. I did have a little problem with gaining some weight though. LOL!! Unfortunately I have packed them in some box, some where, during my latest move and can not find the box now. I think all of their products come with detailed directions for cleaning and care. And they have all kinds of neat pockets to stuff things into as well!
cavan wood
My wife just bought me a Tilley. Tilley is a Canadian chap apparently. I've been wearing a fake Tilley for years. It looks pretty rough and I've had to keep it dirty on purpose because it's white. I too am a little concerned about the tourist/LLBean look. But the famous hat eating elephant lives right near where I work, and I plan to feed my new Tilley to the elephant to take some of the tourist out of it (the hat that is). Apparently the hat was first designed as a sailor's hat for shedding water and sun without falling of in a wind. Mine was $60. My wife got it in Cobourg Ontario (not too far from you Egret3) and it comes in white (Yuk) and olive kaki (mine).
Scott
Leicaman
I love my Tilley. The straps don't get in the way if you tuck them inside the hat when not used, but they are a godsend in windy conditions. My only disappointment is the way that, after 6 years of wear my sweaty, bald head has stained the white fabric yellow.
egret3
Tilley Hats
Terry:
I am the one who started this thread and today am celebrating.. Today is the day I got my new Tilley hat it is not a huge hat, name inside label is: Tilley Airflow hat. It cost $72.00 Canadian and came with an insurance document Lest it be stolen. I have to put my name in it right away, and an EXTRA cord for
under the chin. I am very lucky to have been given a gift certificate by a good friend So off I went, or should say, we went, and he also bought a Tilley.
It looked good on him. So, my day was made YIPPPEEEEEEE!!

In regards to the strap I shall just tuck it in underneath. as for the brims, you can get a hat with a smaller brim, check it out. CEASAR: They give you a little instruction booklet regarding the straps, but you has good input here. I just don't know about washing the hat though

Dr.Manjeet Singh
14th July 2006,
Tilley Hat’s.
Me and Terrorist Surveillance at the Airport.
Hilarious facts.

The First thread that I stumbled on in the Bird forum was, “Tilley's Hat comments please” by egret3. I had never heard of this hat before but after reading all about it in the thread, I wanted one.) I’ve worn a TURBAN ALL LIFE, BUT a TILLEY"S HAT, ‘NO’.
Last year 7th of April 2005 My Wife decided to go England with my children to visit her Brother in, South-End-on the Sea, Essex, but before she left I told her, “don’t come back with out a Tilley Hat-you hear”. During the conversations when I called her on the phone I enquired if she had got my hat yet. Before she was due to return home I enquired again and she told me they couldn’t find the hat. I felt very depressed about that, then I got a brilliant idea, I emailed Ian at Bird forum. Poor chap, by now he must be considering disabling his email address because I have been a bit of a pain in the behind to him with all my questions in the past. Forgive me my friend but I must tell your part in this story). Within three hours he had sent me all the retailers of Tilley in Essex and faxed it to my ((Out-Law)) in Essex. (THANK YOU Ian).Then I went home at 11.30pm and dozed off with my shoes on in bed. The phone rang, “Oh God”, not a patient please, the time was three am. My wife was on the phone and she told me she is in the shop and the Tilley hat is too expensive. I asked her to pass the phone to her brother in my most sexy voice; I’m sure some of you do the same when you want something from your wife. I told my brother-in-law, “you must buy this hat for me, do you understand, or do you want me to speak more slowly”. (In our tradition, the brother of your wife can’t refuse anything you asked. (I LOVE THIS TRADITION) he quickly handed the phone to my wife.I kept on saying hello but no answer but I could hear my wife talking to her brother, then I heard her asking the salesman. “PLEASE WHEN YOU READ THIS LINE, USE A TYPICAL INDIAN ACCENT PLEASE” For how long it is Guaranteed. I then heard this typical British voice saying, “FOR LIFE MADAM” then I heard this huge thud and the line cut off. Then as I was drifting of to sleep I released the thud was my wife fainting, well who had ever heard of a life guarantee, I haven’t, well no problem my brother in-law is a doctor and he is there to bring her around. Next day I went to work and called a senior officer in the Immigration department at the Airport. We go back donkeys years together. “Hi this is Manjeet my friend-are you busy”, he replied, “no but our mutual friend is here would you like to talk to him” even before I could ask. “Who”, he passed the Phone to him. “Hello I said”, he replied, “and how is my sword welding friend”. Oh no the chief of Security at the airport. We passed a few pleasantries and I asked him to pass me back, “Look my friend my family is coming back from the U.K. on 4th Sept, and they are bringing my new Tilley hat with them, and I wonder if I could wait for them at the disembarking area to greet them off the plane. He told me to wait and he will call me back in five minuets. He called me and said, “Only on two conditions, 1, no sword in the airport” I told him “I was only joking with the sword” “oh” he said, “I heard how you threatened your neighbours with a sword while birding. 2nd there will be three junior officers accompanying you”. “Come on” I said. “WHY”. “Well Manjeet I know what can happen when you are around, you can, by just walking passed a crowd, cause a fight among that crowd”. So I agreed to the three accompanying me. Next day I reached the airport at 10.35am and went to the Immigration counter and there were these three new squeaky clean guys with huge grins on their faces waiting with six other staff all grinning. Must be some joke they were sharing I thought, they pinned the pass on my left breast. I felt that he would have liked to push the pin into my chest. So after they nailed me to the pass they then took me inside, one of the chap's took my car keys and told me that he will collect the baggage ticket from my wife and take my luggage to the car and wait for me there, still grinning, he walked away. Now I have been to the Airport many times before but this time I felt that something was wrong but couldn’t pin it down. The sweepers passed me a couple of times but didn’t look at me, then a few times the custom officers passed me and the people, when seeing me moved back and started whispering as I passed. “Damn it” I thought, “some thing was going on here”. Then as I passed a TV screen, it showed us passing, I looked around for the camera but didn’t see any. We reached the disembarkation area and sat down on a seat waiting. We had to wait for over an hour and in that period I nibbled my finger nails down to bedrock and was going to start on my toes when I saw people coming out. Among them I saw my family and the youngest was carrying a green plastic bag with the words Tilley's Affordable. My family saw me and ran to me with outstretch arms and I also ran to them with outstretch arms and as I reached my daughter and the plastic bag I tried to grab it. Then with a sheepish grin held out my arms to all four of them, they were hugging me and crying and were saying they missed me and I was hugging them and crying because I couldn’t see my Tilley hat. By that time a lot of passengers were around us, about fifty or sixty of them. Then my little one took me to the lounge chair and made me sit down, then she bowed and handed me the Tilley hat bag. I took out the Tilley's and took a deep breath and put it over my head. “IT WOULDN’T FIT, IT JUST WOULDN’T FIT”. Oh no, I almost burst out in tears, they have brought me a small size one. Then while turning red with anger and with my beard and moustache bristling like an angry bull I tried again and I still couldn’t get it to fit my head. Turning my angry eyes towards my daughter and was about to say something bad. My little one shook her head and then cupped her dainty little hands around her mouth and shouted. “PAPPY YOU ARE SILLY, YOU HAVE TO TAKE OFF YOUR TURBAN BEFORE YOU CAN WEAR THE HAT”, and her voice was heard everywhere in the airport. There was pin-drop silence for a minuet, and then the passengers around me collapsed with laughter, and I could hear the whole airport ringing with laughter because the speakers were on. I grabbed my Tilley, my children and my wife and bolted for the exit and car park. As I was galloping through I saw people pointing at me and they were collapsing with laughter. I reached the car park puffing and panting and saw the junior officer bent over the bonnet with a pain in his stomach with laughing so much. I was angry and demanded what was going on, he wordlessly handed me his walky-talky and I heard my daughter's voice, “Pappy don’t be silly etcetera. Then I asked “Who did this I yelled at him, he wiped the tears from his eyes and said, “OUR BOSS, Your friend Dr.Manjeet, he told us that today they were putting a Terrorist suspect under surveillance, and told everyone that it was a exercise to see how well you all can do it without the suspect knowing. It was on the Airport T.V., everyone was told about it except the suspect and everything he said should be heard on the speakers. Then he said there will be a replay of it at three pm would I care to watch it. I bundled my family into the car but before driving off we all collapsed howling with laughter. That’s how I got my TILLEY HAT and I LOVE IT
LAUGH- LIFE IS SHORT

Marmot. You start smiling before you even start reading these, then the smile suddenly gets bigger to a laugh.

Thanks Tanny for taking the time to do all these.....And of course Manjeet for making it all possible.

I think we will have to start a campaign for Manjeet to attend the Birdfair in August....he could have his own stand or even let BF share it with him.....I am sure that even Bill Oddie and Simon would come and check him out.
25th Sep 2007
Today I thought I would spend another day at F.R.I.M. so with brewery carrying the important Ale, it was Birding we will go, “Singhing” all the way. When we reached the place I decided to visit the Tea house which has just been opened recently, I remembered that the house was vacant before and we had spotted some good birds there. I parked my car and with my brewery I started walking towards the place, and was pleasantly surprised to note that there was not a soul around, and then I heard this melodious sound in many voices coming from a tree just sixty feet away at the jungle fringe.
((((((.oh guys a bird wave. well what do you think I did? I WAVED BACK, ‘lol’. ))))
Then I saw these three or four birds eating the fruit of a tree and I quickly ran behind another tree roughly thirty feet away from them, of course, huffing and puffing as usual.
The colours of these birds are unbelievable, shocking green shining in the early morning rays of the sun, this is what birding is all about, viewing natures unbelievable beauty. I took a sighting and pressed the trigger on my bazooka and I was off shooting away, I forgot how many pictures I had taken but when I saw tendrils of smoke arise from my ‘bazooka’, or was it my breath in the morning sun shine, I stopped.
When I edited this picture in Photo shop, I was in awe at the beauty of the bird.
Now I wasn’t too sure of the identification of this bird. I had taken two clear pictures of one bird and had taken another picture of a different bird in the same flock.
With this first picture and the other two, James Eaton, Lost-in-Japan, says is a Greater Green Leafbird. Everyone seems to lean towards the Greater Green Leafbird in all three pictures and I do also.
But Dave B, my favourite expert agrees the third picture is the Greater Green Leafbird..but he doesn’t lean towards the first two pictures as such. “Hi Dave B can I push you towards this and the other pictures and get a yes, ‘lol’.
Greater Green Leafbird (Male) Chloropsis sonnerati
26th Sep 2007
Continued from yesterday at FRIM After leaving the tea house in the morning we walked and walked like demented old men till we finally returned to the tea house area at three fifteen in the afternoon and the weather had become cloudy. I think my God was planning something; I just had that ominous feeling. Moments later the heaven’s opened up. Previously I had fixed the harness for the kowa around my waist and pulled my poncho with the hood over myself. The kowa was safe, then I realised the my brewery had forgotten to bring the padding that I tie around the waist so that while walking the 1.5 kg kowa doesn’t hit my private parts below my groin. It can get very painful. To prevent this I held the camera portion of my kowa outside the poncho against my crotch with my right hand, and by bending foreword a little I could shuffle along without the thing banging against me.
We reached the tea house in the pouring rain and on walked in I could see it was a full house with about sixty per cent of them sitting there being foreigners. The only free table was right through the room at the far end wall. As I slowly walked through bent over and with my right hand tight against my private parts, all conversation stopped and everyone sat there glaring at me. When I reached the table I realised that all eyes were on my right hand so I lifted my left hand up in a peace sign and pushed my hood back and removed the poncho still holding my hand against my groin. There was a roar of laughter and some English wag said, “I say, we thought that you had injured your family jewels” causing another roar of laughter. I gave a neat bow to the people and still blushing explained. I was birding and the rain came so I had to cover up my favourite toy. Then I saw the owner of the establishment, a Dr Hakim, a PhD. doctor coming towards me, I had met him in the morning. “Dr Manjeet, would you care for a tea” he asked, “of course” I said, “after all the entertainment I deserve a free tea from you”. I noticed that most of them had finished their tea but where still looking at me, probably expecting me to go out the same way as I came in. When I finished my drink I fixed my kowa to the tripod and strolled through the room and as I reached the door I turned and held my hand towards my groin and shuffled out. There was a roar of laughter behind. On a tree outside the building I saw these two birds, a Red-eyed bulbul & a Barbet sitting opposite each other, I got my rig set up and snapped a few pictures. It was still cloudy but no rain. I swear I heard the bulbul ask the barbet, “seen a ghost”, and the barbet replied, “NO just saw a Singh”, and they both collapsed laughing. Chuckling to myself I continued on birding.
Mable. Brilliant.

Another thing I'm finding out is the actual birdlife of SW Asia. I am horribly ignorant of the region's birdlife and this thread has it all... the birds the humour and the man... Dr. Singh!
naturistbirder.Funny, funny, funny! Manjeet certainly could give talks about his life/birding/patients/family.Failing that, I suggest a small book....I'm sure it would have the potential to become a best seller! Please think about it, Doctor Singh!
28th Sep 2007
I hadn’t been birding since Sunday so on Wednesday I decided to go to my local patch. When I reached my practice in the morning I noticed that the car was in a filthy condition and called my brewery and asked him if he would get the car washed and polished. It cost Rm.200 all in, (((yacks)))) but seeing as I haven’t polished the car since I bought it two years ago I considered it worth it. My good brewery knowing that I liked to go birding at lunch time returned the car in an immaculate condition and off I went to my patch and parked the car on the side of the road. As I got out I could see my handsome reflection on the body of the gleaming vehicle. This car has a detachable ten inches long Aerial on the top of the roof just centre of the back windshield, I didn’t detach it and walked away into my patch, looking back every so often at my gleaming car and saying to myself I really should have it cleaned more frequently. After seeing if any new birds were there, and not finding any I headed back to the car. When I reached the vehicle I was aghast when I saw the back wind shield and top of the boot was covered with bird excrement, and believe me the whole glass and boot was completely covered with this obnoxious substance, it was in streaks as if some one had changed positions just to make sure the area was covered. I drove back to my practice and asked my brewery if he would get it cleaned and polished again for me. In the evening I returned to my patch for another spot of birding and on returning to the car I found that some filthy mongrel of a bird had splattered its body waste all over the back window just like the morning. The next day I had to have it cleaned and polished again.
(Oh yes I know, you’ve had the same thing happen to you and now you’re starting to smile).
I went back to the patch but this time I parked the car at the side of the road and about fifteen feet from a tree where I hid behind with my kowa and waited to see what was defecating on my car. Within forty minuets along came that low-down dirty Kingfisher who sat on my cars aerial, and my friends I saw him peering through the back window looking inside to make sure that this was Dr Singh's car. I quickly stepped out from behind the tree and took two pictures and shouted.” You, Grrrrr”, and off he flew. I stood there laughing my head off thinking my car was safe this time, but then I saw shadows passing over me and on looking up I watched a flock of Crows flying over and as they passed over my car, they let go their day LOAD of “slimy, puking excrement, all over my gleaming clean car. In utter disbelief I sat down at the side of the road and shook my fist at them.
As for that fiendish Kingfisher I’m going to show you in Bird Forum so the world can see what a low down dirty @**#***#@ you are. I know you’re all laughing, but isn’t he a beauty. (Look at the eye of the bird, you may see me and my kowa reflected there.
White-throated Kingfisher. Halcyon smyrnensis
Tanny...might you be able to add the photo to the text?
You are doing a fab job...just thought that might be the "icing on the cake" as Manjeet is so often disparaging(humorously) about the birds concerned.
Thanks..!
Hi naturistbird! "blimey what an unusual name". I hadn't thought about putting the picture with the stories but now that you mention it I am glad I didn't because if a person is really interested then all they have to do is go into Manjeets gallery and scroll through to the date and then find the bird mentioned.
The same goes for the stories themselves because although I haven't detracted from the main theme I have in fact put in some subtle differences, I've had to do this because Manjeet uses a lot of abbreviations and to make the story flow I had to interoperate what the meanings are and adapt to the story. I have also deleted all the smilies and the use of that annoying, "lol", a "hee-hee, ho-ho, ha-ha and "giggle-giggle" would be more suitable but, "lol" is one of Manjeets trademarks and I'm sorry if by deleting them I spoil the story, I personally don't think so but possibly some readers might think it does. Todays story is the 180th so I'm catching up on all stories written, then what are we going to do for our medicinal kicks each morning, mind you, Manjeet might have a brain storm and churn out another abbreviated hundred for me to sort out. "I hope so".

30th Sep 2007
I was going to have a day off today but my Locum Doctor took sick so I was called out and had to work at my practice till one pm now most of my patients knew I was not working, but believe me within a few minutes they knew I was back and they were at my practice in droves. As I was seeing a patient the door was slowly pushed open and in pops the little one from down the road, remember the child who claimed his Dad had broken his testicle, see my blue on green picture (Bee-eater) in the gallery. “Dr Uncle, My Mom broke her EGG.” I gave a loud laugh and asked him to come in, “I gave him a hug and some sweets and said, “it’s o.k. I am sure your mom has lots of eggs in the fridge”. My staff took him out, but suddenly returned and said “Dr a head injury”. Quickly I told her take the patient to minor surgery and I followed her to the Operating Table and saw the child's father carrying his wife, she had a nasty laceration on her forehead eight inches long and bleeding profusely. I quickly got it stitched up and cleaned, then the father brought the boy in and sat him on his mothers lap and the little one said “Mommy I told Dr Uncle Mommy has broken her EGG,” .but Dr Uncle said, “Your mother has lots of eggs in the fridge”, all of us started laughing, I really felt like a heel, and told him, “Next time whenever you come I promise I will listen to you, even though I may became the laughing stock of my neighborhood”. I have no patients at the moment so ! decided to upload this picture. This bird is a first for me sadly its not a good picture but I am hoping to get a better one in the future.
Brown Barbet (Calorhamphus fuliginosus)
halftwo.Thanks very much for all your hard work, Tanny. Just re-discovered this wonderful thread.
8th Oct 2007
Well people after a hard think I decided to upload this picture for the competition. Unfortunately I haven’t been birding for at least ten days and won’t be birding for another two weeks, the reason being my lunch break time for the next two weeks is taken up by my medical commitment to various companies. I have to medically examine the companies senior staff for their well being, and sadly to weed out those who are considered medically unfit to carry on with their work, this is the one aspect of my job I dislike doing.
Today while seeing my patients I get a call from the Manager of the Crystal Crown Hotel, “Doc, I’ve got a problem, a guest at my Hotel has been taken ill and he is from Manchuria, China and doesn’t speak one word of English. I told him to bring him in immediately and not long after my staff informed me he had arrived. Since he didn’t talk in English, the card on which I write the diagnosis was marked with a big question mark. As he stepped through the door I was astounded to see that he was huge, at least six foot eight in height but was bent double with what seemed to be a pain in the groin, he had both hands jammed between the thighs and sweating profusely and giving a moan every so often. He couldn’t sit down so I quickly asked with hand signs, “what is wrong” and pointed at him and imitated his groining and then pointed to were the pain was. He had at first a blank look on his face but then with a tiny smile he brought his right hand out and gave me a much creased paper.
Good I thought, someone may have written what is wrong with him, I laughed to myself when thinking my God never gives me easy patients. I opened the slip of paper and it said, “One Hung Low”. Oh my God he may have a twisting of the gut which slips down into the sac and gives an appearance of one hanging low. The twisting can lead to gangrene and extreme pains so I quickly made him sit on my examination table, remember the patient is almost bent double. I inserted my hand from above and started groping around because I was unable to see but damn it all, I should be able to feel the gross swelling. After a while of groping around I withdrew my hand with a baffled look, everything appears normal. I gave the patient a second long look, he was still moaning every few seconds and sweating and his back was arched back towards the right. “Eureka” Got it, the Right Renal Colic. I thumped him on the right lumber region and he gave out a yell. With my diagnosis confirmed I quickly gave him a pain killer injection. It is written in our surgery books that renal colic pain is similar to giving birth. In a short while he was smiling and his hands were on his lap and then it dawned on me as to what the slip meant. I pointed at him and said, “Mr Won Hung Low” and he nodded his head. His friend had written ‘One’ instead of Won. As you can imagine all of us burst out laughing and even the patient started laughing even though he didn’t know what we were laughing at, probably thinking, “What have I got myself into with this mad bunch of people”.
At the first chance I got I hunted through my collection of pictures and I swear I heard the Red-bearded Bee-eater say. “Upload me Dr, you had a good laugh today and now it’s my time to laugh at you”.
Red-bearded Bee-eater (Juv.) Nyctyornis amictus
12 Oct 2007
Being cooped up isn’t doing me any good, I’m getting irritable and starting to suffer from the withdrawals again because I haven’t been bird watching for over three weeks. It’s work-work-work and my room of 25x25 feet is becoming a prison to me. The chattering of patients and their pains is a constant reminder that I need to go birding; still there are moments in my practice when I praise God and say, “thank you” For I have discovered, when there is pain there is also joy and when there is sadness there is also laughter, like today when after seeing plenty of patients this morning along comes a young nineteen year old youth whom I have known since he was born. “Well my handsome friend what can I do for you”. He replied, “Dr Uncle the HOSE DOESNT WORK”. “What” I said, damn it you’re just nineteen years old and it doesn’t work, o.k. then remove your pants and lie on the couch so that I can examine the problem”. He looked bewildered at me then bolted for the door and headed outside; I quickly ran after him and caught him just outside the main entrance. “Come on young fellow, inside and let’s get this sorted”. He shouted, “Please Dr. Uncle listen to me” “O.K., no need to shout”, I said.
”Dr Uncle I came here and asked the nurse if you were in and she said yes and I said I would like to see you, she (Nurses. know him and will automatically take out his card) told me to sit and when your named is called to go in When my name was called I went in and told you my problem. But I think uncle you misunderstood what I said.
I meant our water HOSE DOESNT WORK and dad told me to burrow your water hose, so that I can wash his car”. I couldn’t help it, I just flopped down on the doorstep and howled with laughter until I had tears in my eyes, soon it dawned on me that no one else was laughing and I looked at the patents who were sitting in the waiting room, they then they all stood up and one of them said to the lad, “Good for you boy, you are one up on the Doc” and then all of them burst out laughing.
I went back to my consulting room still with a big silly grin on my face and when I had a spare moment I went through my old files and found this picture. I know it looks gloomy but you know the luminous eyes and your laughter will lighten up the picture.
Asian Drongo Cuckoo
16th Oct 2007
Once again I headed for one of my favourite birding places, the jungle of the F.R.I.M.
Many of you might not know what lurks in a tropical jungle, there are mosquitoes the size of dragonflies and they swarm in great clouds. There are Centipedes a foot long that can give a really nasty bite, also Leeches that sneak beneath your clothing and latch onto the tenderest parts of your anatomy and suck pints of your blood and you don’t even know they are there. Rotted branches fall from the ancient trees, they are made weak by the damp and beetle larvae. There is also the fruit from these trees that can hurt and even knock a person out as they hit you on the head from that great height. Beneath your feet there is the mud and rotting, decayed leaves that are slippery and can cause you to fall and injure yourselves. Last but not least is the Snakes, those slithering, sneaky reptiles that seem to be in the wrong place most of the time, for instance when you have just focused onto a rare bird and up pops the snake to startle you and the bird flies away with your yell of fright.
Into this dank and alien wilderness I ventured, becoming wet with the dripping water from the canopy above and looking rather incongruous with an umbrella over my kowa to keep it dry. (I did say an umbrella, not a “Parasol”. “lol”) about 100 yards ahead of me I saw a flutter of wings and I pushed my way through the entanglements and there it was sitting on a branch laughing at me. I got everything ready and was just about to take the first picture when it flew away, I plodded after it and again the same thing happened, then again and again and it was about an hour later when I decided to take a rest and took out a can of chilled Ale from my pack and leaned against a huge tree and drank half of that can in one gulp, I tell you my friends, It’s thirsty work chasing birds in the Jungle. Just as I was about to continue on I saw another glimpse of the bird and I knew I only had the one chance of a picture. I looked through the telescope and adjusted the focus as fast as I could, then stepped out to the right from behind the tree and planted the tripod and took the picture. I swear I could hear the bird saying to itself, “where is that Dr Singh”. Many times out in the field we just don’t have time to focus correctly, unlike a hide where we can adjust everything to our satisfaction for a good picture. After getting the picture the bird flew away and I decided to get back to the road, only then did it dawn on me that in my chasing of the bird I had become oblivious of where I was going and had no idea which way to go to get out of this jungle. A strange fear overcomes you and you start to sweat slightly and the adrenalin begins to flow and you fight the panic that is welling up in your mind. I saw two Pit Vipers during my chasing of the bird and at the time wasn’t too concerned because of focusing on my objective. But now the dread of meeting them terrified me, especially now I don’t carry my Sword. I strained my ears hoping to hear sounds of people on the road and nearly trod on one of those foot long Centipedes that crossed my path. When I did reach the road again, all in a dither and sweat I checked my watch and realised I had been in the jungle for over two hours. I then had the undignified job of stripping off all my cloths to check if I had any Leeches on my anatomy, and found three of them attached to me, not saying where, it’s too embarrassing. I removed them with the salt I always carry for such an occasion and after getting dressed made my way to a secure area to have my lunch and another can of Ale. When inspecting the picture I thought it could have been better but no way was I going back there to get another one.
I LOVE ALL BIRDS
Gold-whiskered Barbet Megalaima chrysopogon
20th Oct 2007
Today I had some good laughs in the practice, and it was the Mother-in-Law of one of my patients who took the grand prize in laughter for the day. I had been working for about an hour when in comes this thirty year old woman escorted by her Mother in law. This old lady is the know it all of my area. Her daughter in law has been sick for the last four days she said, (she never lets her daughter-in-law speak for herself). This time I began to get a bit annoyed so looked at the old lady and I said, “are you the one who’s sick or your daughter in law”? She said, “My daughter-in-law”. Then I said, “Would you mind keeping quiet then and allow your daughter to speak to me, after all she is my patient”. The old girl knew I was becoming irritated and with a strained smile kept quite. I asked the young lady what was the problem and in a small husky voice she tells me she’s had the “Runs” for the last four days. “Good grief, why have you left it for four days before coming to see me” I asked, and right at that moment in comes the young ladies husband, who gives his mother a dirty look and says, “My know it all mother has been treating her” I started to laugh then wondered why he wasn’t laughing and asked, “come on tell me what has she been doing” and he said, “Let my mother tell you”. I turned to her and wriggled my bushy eyebrows at her and said, “Go ahead aunty I would like to hear your treatment”.
Taking a deep breath she said, “God rest his soul, meaning her father who had passed away many years ago, he told me how to stop the runs, so I treated her the way I was taught and that was for her to wear red panties”.
“But then”, I said, “she is still having the problem, please; I don’t have much time to waste so get on with it.” I could see that she was visibly in trouble and she said, “Always when I had the runs he told me to wear RED PANTIES, well he used to say, if the traffic on the road can stop when the red-light is on, SO WILL THE RUNS”. For a second there was A pin-drop silence, then starting by me, followed by her son and my staff we all burst out howling with laughter. I examined the young lady and treated her and as they were leaving I told the son, “My friend, make sure your mother washes the RED Panties”, and the old lady bolted from the practice with her face a panty glowing red. Thank you for putting up with my long winded tales, they’re absolutely true though.
Large Wood-Shrike.(Male) Tephrodornis gularis

16th Nov 2007
The rainy season is here and every day it rained but we do get some hours of sunlight during the day. This morning when I got up I remembered that today was the birthday of one of my terminally ill patients, although still half asleep I got dressed and dashed down the stairs and my wife was waiting there with the maid, they had just seen the children off to school. My wife was holding a cake for my patient. God bless my family, my wife never fails to get a cake for these special patients, in fact she always insists in knowing the birthdays of all my terminally ill patients. I grabbed the cake, gave her a kiss while leering at her and went trotting out to my car. I put the things into the car and then ran back to the house and opened the door and there she was still standing there, I shouted in Punjabi, my family language, the maid doesn’t understand it. “Did I kiss YOU or the maid”? I quickly closed the door and heard her slipper hit it. Laughing I dashed back to the car and jumped in and drove off. I reached the patients house and with a flourish like a five star waiter I presented them with the cake. His wife cut up the cake with the children and after singing the birthday song I left for my practice. (((NOW PEOPLE WONT YOU CALL THIS A BEAUTIFUL DAY))). It continued to rain until about twelve thirty and my last patient went home at the same time so I took advantage of this and bolted to my patch. My patch was waterlogged and I ended up sloshing through hundreds of (((Poodles))) ((Sorry mate I just had to put that in, its one of your classics)) puddles. When I reached the end of my patch and still keeping one eye on the weather I rested in the shelter of a big tree and looked around. Then I heard a high pitched “tweettt” sound and saw this tiny little bird hawking in the air for insects. To get closer to the bird I had to walk along a plank across a four foot wide drain and I tell you I was feeling very nervous about it. I reached about thirty feet away from the bird and had to wait a while and as I waited the mozzies had a field day with me. Thankfully the beautiful bird was there before me and the sun was shinning through the canopy, and one of the rays of the sun was hitting the trunk of a tree near the bird, reflecting its light onto the feathers. It looks like the bird appeared kissed by the sun. I took three or four pictures and with a laugh saluted the bird. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY WITH THE GRACE OF (MY) GOD I hope you like the picture it was another first for me. I put it up for identity in the forum for confirmation which was given by Kctang, marie b and Lost in Japan (thanks people). Remember life is beautiful. There may be ups and downs in it but joy and laughter will take care of that.
Ferruginous Flycatcher: Musician ferruginous
24th Nov 2007
The morning was beautiful and the skies clear and the sun was peeping out like a girl of sixteen when I left my house and when I saw my ill patients they were well and wonderful. God bless them always. I reached my practice with the bright sun over head and as I entered I (((groined))) aloud when I saw that all the chairs occupied, then one smart-alec shouted, “Good morning Doc, don’t worry by twelve thirty we will be gone and you can go birding”. All of them laughed, and only the nurses were giving me dirty looks (more work) I twitched my eye-brows at them, now don’t get sore, it’s only twitching of eye-brows not birds. In I went and ploughed into my work and it was eleven am when I came up for air. Only to have the phone ring and my staff said it was the police. Oh no, did I run a red light this morning. I picked up the phone and heard this voice, “Tuan (Sir) Karim here” (the patrol car around my area). “Oh Karim what is it”. He said, “I have a patient of yours in my car who is unable to breath, and the lady insists that I bring her daughter to your place, is that alright”, “of cause Karim what a silly question”. I told my staff there is a urgent case coming please let them in, and carried on seeing the remaining patients. Suddenly there was a lot of commotion outside and four people came through the door carrying the patient in head first. “Oh no, good grief” showing on the top of the head was a couple of long curved horns going backwards, it was a GOAT. (The Goats owner was a little old lady who had brought it into my surgery two years ago on my birthday because it had a cough, at that time it was only a young Kid but now it was as big as a pony.) Right away I could see that the Goat was choking, its tongue was hanging out and was coloured blue. “OH WHY ME MY GOD”. I yelled to my nurse to get the huge vaginal speculum, it was given to me by my brother the O&G specialist as a joke. It's about a foot and a half long and about four inches wide with a screw on the side. I think it was made somewhere in 1900's. You had to tighten the screw and the jaws opened so that you can see inside. I rammed it into the goat's throat and started turning the screw. This got the moth open and I used a torch to peer inside and immediately saw that there was some grey thing partially covering the tracheal tube and the oesophagus. I shouted to my staff foreign body and quickly she handed me the long tooth forceps. With this I got hold of the grey thing and started pulling, and kept on pulling. “Oh Wow” eventually I had extracted a three foot grey plastic bag and the goat started breathing and scrambled to its feet and just shrugging the four guys off. Quickly the old lady went and held the goat lightly by the ear and the goat quietened down and the bloody goat was as high as her shoulders. Then the rotten hairy monster promptly cocked its tail and scattered a bowel full of pallets onto the floor of my consulting room. I gave that Goat a really dirty look and the guys standing there wanted to laugh but wasn’t sure I would murder them if they did. I told the old lady to take the goat outside and wait for me. Then I asked my nurse to get the mop, broom, disinfectant and a water bucket and handed them to the two policemen to clean up the mess. Both of them hiding their grins started cleaning and I went out side. Still holding the three foot plastic bag, I showed it to my patients and told them the danger of throwing things away like this where birds, animals and even children can get hurt. I went outside the building and the little old Lady stumped up to me and shoved her fist up in my face. I looked at her and she slowly opened her hand and there was a RM 100 bill crumpled inside, then she said with a catch in her voice, “for saving my daughter” I then glared at my patients who were crowding around the door and then closed her fist over the money and told her no charge, “but please remember, NO MORE BLOODY GOAT IN MY PRACTICE” As the two of them trundled down the road the goat and the little lady looked back, and believe me there was a HUGE SMILE on both there faces. Only then did I sit down outside the door on the floor and started laughing. Then I noticed that all the patients were getting down on the floor and all of them were rolling around laughing, and the Smart Alec shouted, “That’s our doctor”. Finely when all the crying and laughing was done I bolted for the patch and soon reached it still smiling. I immediately saw two long tails jumping like Malchoa in the scrub under the canopy. Even though the beautiful sun was shining down, the light there wasn’t too good. It’s not easy to get a shot of these birds’ people. My God must have said, “Manjeet you saved a life so I will show you the birds you wanted to photograph”
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo Clamator coromandus

24th Nov 2007
Unbelievable, as I retraced my steps and reached the outer fringe of the trees with the high canopy there was this special bird posing for its picture. How could I refuse so I took a few shots and continued on my way and to discover that today was a truly unusual day in my patch, because I saw four new species in an area of about two hundred feet.
1: A pair of Chestnut-winged Cuckoos.
2: Crow-billed Drongo.
3: Asian Drongo Cuckoo
4. Black-capped Kingfisher. This bird was a very exciting sighting for me. It was over a hundred yards away when I spotted it and as soon as it discovered my presence it dived into the jungle and out of sight, fingers crossed that I will photograph this bird in the near future. What a wonderful day this turned out to be.
Crow-billed Drongo Dicrurus annectans

naturistbirder. Lovely,lovely, lovely. Thanks, Tanny.
27th Nov 2007
Well Donald I knew your birthday was today. Being so far away.what could I give or send. So on Sunday being my day off I went early to my patch for a few hours birding while my family was snoring away to kingdom come. I told myself the first bird I see and photograph will be for Donald & Jo.Well here she is, now nothing to get jealous about JO, I just checked Donald's gallery in the birdforum and seventy five percent of the pictures are of female birds. As I stepped into my patch there was this female Magpie Robin singing her heart out. I swear I heard your name in the song. They do have a melodious voice my friend. I know I couldn’t get a clear view of the white feathers but still I hope you like this beauty for your BIRTHDAY to CHEER YOU UP. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY FRIEND Jo regards to you too. Laugh life is short..
Oriental Magpie Robin (Female) Copsychus saularis.

29th Nov 2007
Yesterday I was very tired and slightly sad when I came to my practice because the night before I hadn’t got much sleep, my three terminally ill patients were taking a turn for the worse, but thank God they improved by the morning. For one of them it was touch and go for a while and the look on the faces of his family can be gut- wrenching. But when I told them, “he will be fine”, I then saw the sun come back into their eyes, (they truly love him very much.). I find that when sadness comes, the joy and laughter is just behind. If you take a weighing scale and load sadness on one side, and laughter and joy on the other, the side where joy and laughter is can never be lifted up by the weight of sadness. I shrugged off my own sad thoughts and tiredness when I reached my practice and soon settled down to seeing my patients.
Throughout the morning the sun was shinning and many times my thoughts were on my lunch break birding and when twelve-o-clock arrived I was unfortunately still examining a patient. Suddenly there was a banging at my room door. My staff opened it and in tumbles that little tyke, Roshan. Remember the little lad from down the road who miss-pronounces his words. As I was taking the blood pressure of the patient the little one stood at the other side of the table and all I could see was his forehead, so every second he jumped up and said, “Uncle Doctor. I want to do pishing, my whip is stuck”. “I am busy Roshan hold it my friend I will attend to you soon”. He kept on bouncing up and down and repeating his complaint until I removed the cuff from the patient's arm, then I heard him say, “ohhhhhhhh oh Doctor uncle, I did already”. Quickly I ran around my desk and saw him standing there in a (((poodle))). My patient looked at me and me at my staff and we all collapsed laughing. The poor little lad wanted to urinate and his zip was stuck. I got my staff to remove his jeans and wipe him down and asked her to take him home. As soon as the patient left I checked the clock and saw it was twelve thirty so I dashed out and drove off to my patch. While driving to my patch, this “phishing” word kept running through my mind, the first time I heard about it was when Tanny mentioned it at the beginning of this thread, then Digishooter mentioned it in one of his gallery pictures. Dig said, “I started pishing and out popped the bird in the bush”. I decided to do a bit of pishing today in my patch although I don’t have much idea of how to go about it not having heard anyone doing it before.
As soon as I entered my patch. I started loudly shouting, “PhISSSSSSSh. PhissssssH every few minutes, “lol”) A few moments later the stupid Black-capped Kingfisher flew off laughing from just ten feet away from me. I nearly fell down crying because I’ve been trying to get a picture of that bird for ages. I bravely carried on phishing but then after another hundred feet a pair of Chestnut -winged Cuckoos flew away. By now I was feeling rather despondent about this pishing idea but I still carried on but more silently now because my throat was getting dry. Then just thirty feet away on a tall dead branch I saw this beautiful Black Baza sitting there and it looked at me as if I was a stark staring Looney and with a huge grin on its face, took off. “Waaaaa”, I couldn’t stand it, I sat down and started crying. You meanies, Tanny and Digi with your “pishing” word. You know I almost made a ((poddle)) myself with all the phishing.
I was sitting on an elevated area and got out my water bottle for a drink, it was a baking hot day and with all this pishing I was getting dry. It was when I took a long swig of water that I noticed a strange mound on the branch close to where the Black Baza had been perching. I looked again and my heart began palpitating with excitement. I quickly got up and focused my camera onto it, and, “Yeeha” it was a Large-tailed Nightjar. Well Tanny and Digishooter, your phishing did work for me at last. I took a few pictures but had to do some adjusting to compensate for the shaded light. Have you stopped laughing yet, then please take a look at my phishing Nightjar. “lol” P.S. I do know what phishing is “lol”, but its fun playing at being ignorant.
Large-tailed Nightjar. Caprimulgus macrurus
Dec 1st 2007.
Each day in my practice is a new day, sadness is there but there’s immense laughter also and being a half-loony I seem to attract other full blooded loonies, like some of my patients. Today started out like a perfect day with the sun gently drying out the land after a rainy night. I reached the practice at eight thirty in a jovial frame of mind. The waiting room almost full with patients waiting there. I said, “Good morning” and then a sour odor wafted up my nostrils. I wrinkling my nose as I passed my patients and all of them had their noses pinched except one little old lady and her seven year old grandson, beside them was an old pre-war battered bucket with a half-bent lid and I gave it a suspicious look as I passed into my office. Even in my office the all pervading odor was in here also, I called to my nurses and asked why the smell and did you spray this foul fragrance around, they just refused to answer my question but ushered in the first patient. As each patient is in a queue from the time they enter the practice, it was around about eleven thirty when it was the turn of the old lady and her grandson who was carrying the bucket, then it hit me in more ways than one, the obnoxious smell was coming from the bucket. The grandson lifted the bucket and plonked it on my table and “oh God”, the smell made me gag. I asked the little one, “What is this”. “Oh doctor, it’s my grandmother's urine”. I asked her what is this all about. “Yesterday you asked me to collect my urine sample and your staff gave me a bottle”, she took out a small slim tube 4inchs long and 1cm wide, a test tube with a stopper, “and can you please tell me how can I pi*s in this”. Flabbergasted I looked at the bottle and shouted to my nurse, “who gave this bottle to this patient”. My new nursing aid came and said, “I did Doctor”. I thought about it for a moment then with a straight face I picked up the test tube and said to my nurse, “I wonder if you wouldn’t mind going to the toilet and get me a sample of your urine in this bottle”. With a bright red face and in a small voice she said, “How can I in this”. The old lady had a bright twinkle in her eyes and said, “I couldn’t do it either so I brought you a twenty four hour bucket full”. These old people always wait for a chance like this to do me in, “lol”. Both of us collapsed laughing and I sent her away with a urine bottle and asked her to come back tomorrow. As they were leaving the grandson said, “Doctor the bucket is a present to you from my grandma”. There was another roar of laughter outside and I asked my staff to get rid of it. I looked up at the clock and saw it was twelve thirty and asked my staff if there were any more patients, they said no so I left for a spot of lunchtime birding. As my staff saw me leaving I shouted, “Make sure the test tube sample of my nursing aids urine is ready by the time I get back”. I reached my patch and the fresh air cleared the ghastly smell out of my sinuses and I started trudging silently along the path but still chuckling to myself. Then I saw a Grey colored bird fly to a tree about a hundred yards away and since it had rained heavily in the night the dead leaves were wet so I could sneak closer without them crackling. I got to about twenty five feet away before taking a peek from behind a large tree, the bird was still sitting there so I adjusted the scope and camera and stepped from behind the tree and started taking pictures like there was no tomorrow and you know what! This cuckoo kept on posing for me. After satisfying myself with the amount of pictures I gave a laugh and strolled on and when I looked back the bird was still sitting there. I knew it was an Indian Cuckoo but wanted to be certain so I asked for conformation in the Forum and Rob was kind enough to identify it for me. “YEEEEEEEEs it was another first for me”.
Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus

Tanny. Thanks Christine and Naturistbird, so glad you are still with me and enjoying the stories, also thanks to all you other silent seventeen to twenty who come in daily to have a laugh or cry. Yesterday I put Dr Manjeet Singh into key word and discovered that there were quite a few Doctors with that name. The only reports I got of our Doctor was those mentioned in BF. and on sifting through I discovered this report by Weatherman about his weekend trip with Manjeet. I also discovered a report about the F.R.I.M. Patch through another link. I hope you all enjoy this posting.
Birding weekend with Dr. Manjeet Singh in Malaysia
________________________________________
Field report by Weatherman. Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th November 2007

It was a greatly anticipated trip to see the Malaysian doc of the bird forum. I was nearing the end of my stay in Malaysia being 3 months away from the UK, my home. I drove down from the northern coast of Penang, where I have my 2nd home, to Klang and stopped in a local hotel. My first choice hotel in Port Klang was full so I could not stay in a more convenient location for our good doctor who lives in Port Klang about 20 minutes away. Within an hour of arriving at my hotel and eyes so tired after driving 5 hours I was sat in Manjeet’s car, warm greetings exchanged and on the way to the famed “local patch”. It is indeed as described by him as you can see in all of his gallery pictures. I copy it here:
Location: opps mud-flat & ramp; pond, Pondamaran-jaya, Port Klang, Selangor, Malaysia. Habitat: forest, forest edges, mangroves, open country, plantation and wooded gardens. As can be seen from the photo’s the habitat is as described by Manjeet. A short sleeve shirt was worn anticipating the short time spent in the “local patch”. I should have known better as my arms were primed for attack from local mosquitos and indeed they were as they all told their friends of my arrival. It was a rather quiet start, roaming into scrub and marshy areas with plenty of tree cover. Not much doing here, but a chance to look at the camera and tripod used for Manjeets excellent pictures. He uses of course a tripod and attached is a Kowa TD1, a combined scope with camera attached to its rear. After waiting around for something to happen we decided to head back across the road to a more open environment with shallow water on one side and higher elevated scrubland on the other. Soon, the eagle eyed Manjeet had Identified a white chested pea hen, an arctic warbler much to my surprise, a honey buzzard, a pair of blue tailed bee eaters, spotted Pigeon, scaly breasted munia, a moorhen wading in the shallow waters and a flock of Asian swallows soon followed in the hour or so we had been observing. It was a good 2 hours and was already eagerly awaiting the next day. It was Sunday, up at 5.30 a.m and awaiting the pick up early to our next destination Ulu Langat. It was hill country about an hour from Kajang town. I was introduced to Manjeets brewery man, Areu (hope my spelling is right) and then picked up another friend of Manjeets Malik, who knew the area well. We headed for a beautiful village near Pangsoon with a river and abundant trees making for a lovely rural setting and breakfasted in a local food outlet. We ate and stocked up on foods before setting off up a steep climb into Orang Asli country, the Orang Asli being the original indigenous inhabitants of Malaysia. Unfortunately it was a very quiet climb looking above but more interest was added by removing leeches from our clothing every 15 minutes and awaiting Malik and Areu to catch us up after waiting for a large python to make his way from left to right across the muddy path just 2 minutes after Manjeet and I had just made our way past. Thanks go to the python for waiting for our passing. It was eerily quiet and not too surprising for skilled Orang Asli somehow managed to ride up the muddy pathway on motor bikes with such noise as to alarm every bird in the vicinity. So the decision was made to descend and make our way to our next destination. This area is called Sungai Congkak. Here we saw a scarlet minuet, lesser green leaf bird, an oriental magpie and a most beautiful Green broadbill which waited till camera and tripod was brought to the river edge and steadied before frustratingly flying off into the undergrowth. On the whole it was quiet again, but it was a nice long walk amongst some lovely scenery. There was wetting the feet across the bridgeless river and over illegally felled trees ready for transportation next to the river. In fact the illegally logged trees stopped us going much further as any pathway upstream was covered by felled trees, so we headed back to base, the car park. I rinsed out my soaking wet socks and saw 4 bites from leeches and a blood soaked foot as two bigger leeches, well fed, fell off my socks when removing my boot. They must have got in from the river crossing and fell inside my boot unbeknown to me. We had a short break for lunch as Nasi Lemak was shared and curry pasties for myself. A Clean pair of socks were put on and then off to our final destination of the day, Gunung Nuang a national park whose mountain peak is the meeting place of three Malaysian states of Negeri Sembilan, Selangor and Pahang. The mountain is in fact part of the Titiwangsa mountains and is the highest part of the state of Selangor. The steep climb gave us nice views below but at times it was eerily quiet. We trekked a well trodden path upwards. Despite it being quiet and with the help of another local friend of our guide to show us around we did come across a tiger shrike, a dollar bird, blue tailed bee eater and a zebra dove. We came back down a different way across virgin undergrowth led by our fearless young guide whose feet were covered in only flimsy sandals. Snakes were living around here but thankfully none were seen.Overall it was a great day for me, to experience my first treks into the Malaysia rainforest, yes even with mosquito bites, leeches and a kind python, it was all part of the adventure and experience for me. I’d seen some lovely birds, heard lots more, seen some lovely scenery, made some new friends and got to know more about our special B.F member, our Dr. Manjeet Singh. It was a pleasure to have met him, see first hand his enthusiasm for his hobby and love of nature. The tripod and Kowa TD1 in use and just overall an amazing day and a half for myself who I admit am naive on Most Malaysian birds and their identity. It is amazing to see Manjeet know so many birds on our trek, just by hearing their call, even though most were out of sight.The day also confirmed that being in a birding area does not mean you will catch a sight of many birds, nor confirm in fact you will hear many. It does though show that sometimes, birding is hard work, there is the preparation involved, the sweaty walking in such a climate, and the frustration of not having those moments wished for, the observation of the bird itself, the ultimate objective. But this is more than compensated for by those magic moments, those brief seconds when the bird appears, when nature allows the brief window of a bird in full sight to repay back the effort involved for those who search for these moments. That is the magic of bird watching, that buzz, for all the efforts to look, wait patiently and move on. Nature often gives us the few special moments that make us want to do it again and again. For confirmation of this just look at the many excellent galleries in the B.F and in my particular case a closer look at Dr. Manjeet Singh’s. I hope this is the first of many trips to be had with him and his crew, it is an experience to be had and enjoyed and which I want repeated. Thanks go to Manjeet for his hospitality and guidance and to his crew, Malik and brewery (Areu) for their support and friendship. To the pictures, well from left to right, the first is Manjeet on his famed local patch, the shaded scrubland side, the 2nd taking a break next to the cow shed on the more open land the other side of his local patch. Middle picture is the start of the days birding, 4th picture is up river amidst beautiful scenery, and the final picture, from left to right: our guide Malik, Manjeet's "brewery" Areu, and yours truly Keiron (B.F member weatherman).
Keiron (weatherman) 30-11-07

Marmot Well sounds as if you enjoyed yourself and Manjeet did as well. I think Manjeet should go into semi retirement and you sound so enthusiastic with all the birds and happening of the days you spent with him. PS Was Manjeet holding his stomach in on the 1st picture.

John N
You certainly had a fantastic time, a very interesting and enjoyable read complimented with some great photo’s. I cannot imagine a better birding trip with a nicer person and as for "Manjeets birding tours"! Definitely a winner.

joannechattaway I'd go on one. When do they start? Nice report Keiron.
Joanne

gmax
Good report. A tour led by doc must be something to be proud of, well done!

Mark Bruce
Lovely.

Larry Lade
Sounds like you had a great trip!

Tim Taylor
My thoughts exactly, Marmot, but I'd never have said it. “Lol” Sounds like a great (trip except for the leaches). A shame about the illegal logging but I guess it's going on all the time even in protected areas. No easy solutions while hardwoods remain such a valuable commodity.
Yes, I like the idea of Manjeet's Malaysian Birding Tours. I think he'd be missed as a doctor though
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Forest Reserve Institute Malaysia (FRIM) Found on the Internet by Tanny

I’m not sure if this is the same F.R.I.M. reserve that Manjeet visits but there is some resemblance here to some of his stories.
There are not many public jungle trails found in the urban Klang Valley that are maintained by the municipals or authorities. While I have yet to climb a mountain, the public parks offer a short excursion to nature, away from the hectic city life. Some of the popular ones I have been:
FRIM Kepong is one of the best, if not the best place to get your dose of fresh oxygen. An entrance fee of RM1 per person is well worth the money. The Rover Track is very popular with walkers, runners (though the signboard says not safe for jogging) and mountain bikers. This unpaved trail takes you to a waterfall and an option to divert to a climb or hike Bukit FRIM, 1000 feet above sea level. Many Pacesetters members do their hill training on asphalt roads during weekends and late evenings.
The smaller roads are quite free of cars and motorcycles. It is indeed an ideal place to run safely with no sniffs of the toxic carbon monoxide. There is also a canteen and sports centre washroom where you can shower (spring water?) at no extra cost after your workout!
Bukit Gasing
Located near La Salle PJ Section 5 and adjacent to the famous Indian food shop, Rajo. Bukit Gasing showcase some of the oldest bungalows with many renovated to huge modern mansions. Starting from the playground entrance, the trail gives the impression the jungle is deep but it is not really the case.
A steep ascend to the observatory tower provides an unspectacular view of PJ. The trail here is rather narrow. A runner must have good balance and strong knees to stop abruptly to give way to the opposite hikers. Tall hikers have to be wary of the low overhead branches.The rope section is super steep and may be dangerous if it’s muddy after a downpour.
((((((((((( There is an interesting Canopy Bridge unlike any other I have seen.))))))))))) Manjeet mentioned a Canopy Bridge in one of his earlier stories. I’m not sure if this is the same bridge.
The platform of the bridge is just a single piece of steel cable, no planks. You are practically doing a netted “Rope Walk” on the V-shape bridge. Takes approximately an hour to complete the full length of the trail.

Taman Rakyat – Klang
This recreational park is packed and a favourite amongst the locals
everyday.
In the open field, families, associations and volunteers conduct Yoga, Tai Chi, cultural dances, frisbee, badminton, football, etc. It is truly a public domain park.
Majority stays within the main open area and do not venture to the hill.
A telecommunications tower seats at the top of the hill surrounded by trails.
The multiple semi-jungle trails (semi because 80% is tarred road) runs like a roller coaster.
Do not be alarmed if you end up lost in a ((((((Malay cemetery ))))or a dead end because there is not a single signboard to guide you.
Running is possible here and there is a stretch behind the hill, coming from the petrol station entrance is a straight forward 1 km no nonsense uphill road to the peak, perfect for the hill trainee. Malaysia being a tropical country is naturally a place where foreigners expect to see many unspoiled parks. It never fails to amaze me how thick our rainforest is when the landscape is bird-eye viewed from the plane. When I first move to my house some eight years ago, my neighbours chopped down tree after tree as they find the withered leaves a nuisance. Not me. I kept my crooked tree alive. Today it stands tall and bends as if to say, “I survived”. So did my 13-year-old “Save Our Forest” T-shirt.
naturistbirder. Thanks, Tanny. Are there many stories to go- or will the Doc have to pick up his pen again??
Christine & I are continuing to enjoy these epistles. Many thanks!
There 's not many more to go Naturistbird, then I will take a rest, or maybe start a new thread on another subject, I notice there are some very interesting educational subjects in the Forum that I think need combining together.

7th Dec 2007
Well people while you’ve had bad weather across the pond, we here have also had a continuous deluge each day, but that’s normal at this monsoon time of the year. Since Tuesday and every morning when I leave my house it rains, I hope today it clears by four thirty when I knock off so I can go to my patch and do a spot of birding. I reached my practice at the usual time of eight thirty and as I got down from the car I saw about eighteen migrant workers with their Manager waiting outside with grim faces, all were wearing sarongs, and all of them were holding the sarongs with their thumbs and index finger just below the waist and with the sarong pulled outwards, causing a tenting effect. (I swear I think I heard the song, “a tenting we will go”). Then it dawned on me that these were the patients that I had sent for circumcision to my good friend the surgeon, and he has sent them back to me for dressing, “the idiot”. As I walked in with my eyes averted, the patients inside got up and saluted, (the clowns) and one of them shouted, “Doc, the flags are up” and they collapsed laughing. With a dirty grin on my face I went in and before seeing my first patient I called my staff in and asked the senior nurse to go and see to the dressing for the chaps in the sarongs. She replied, “sorry Doctor they insist that the Male doctor do the dressing, they are quite shy.” and she went back outside, by then all my staff were howling with laughter. I was left standing there using expletive words that I cannot repeat. After I had finished with my regular patients, I asked my staff to get all the migrant workers inside my minor Operating Theatre, and to get eighteen dressings trays ready. I then got my staff to line them up against the wall in a row and I went in and without looking at their faces or counting how many there were, I shouted, “ATTENTATION, Drop sarongs” in my loudest Sgnt Major voice. Glory-be they dropped them. I started from the first on the left and undid the previous bandage and after cleaning the wound I re-wrapped with a new bandage. Thus one after the other without looking at their faces I continued until after a long time I released I had reached the last patient and being rather tired at this stage I fumbled out the dressing and was about to reach out to clean the wound when I Looked, and then looked again, it was an un-circumcised hose, I looked up and the Manager was standing there in the line up, my face turned red and I could smell the smoke coming out of my ears, and just before I blasted all hell out of him he spoke up with a small, almost sobbing voice, and said, “Doctor, please forgive me, these workers were afraid to go in alone and they insisted that I must go in with them and then Sir you came in and shouted Attention and drop sarongs, I was so frightened that I dropped my under wear and pant's. I almost bellowed with laughter there and then but managed to control myself and asked him to get dressed and to all the others to put their sarongs back on and leave. I rested my hand on the manager’s shoulder and went into the waiting room and sat down with him. It was then I couldn’t hold it any longer and collapsed laughing. Wiping the tears from my eyes I saw the migrants were also howling with laughter but were holding on tightly to their sarongs. Of cause the rest of my patients were also rolling about laughing, I then stood up and shouted, “Attention, quick march”, this time not as loud though, and the Manager with his men bolted out of the building. I didn’t go birding after that, my poor old back was giving me heaps, so I decided to upload this picture taken in November, just to curb my twitch and give my poor back a rest. Try not to laugh too much you may hurt your back. “Lol”.
Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus
11th Dec 2007
Well folks on Saturday night I explained to my family that I was going to sleep in late on Sunday and seeing as I have no plans to go birding I will take all of you out shopping (“Ouch”, how I hate that word.) so please don’t wake me up. In my sleep I was admiring a “Tit”, wow what beauty, I focused my camera and admired the shape of that tit. “Woe-woe” you guys. I was only dreaming of a long tailed tit. Suddenly I was rudely shaken and the vision shattered and disappeared. I opened my ((((blurry))))) bleary eyes and saw it was seven am, then I noticed my wife's smiling face. Now here’s a word of advice to you guys, “if you find your wife waking you with a smile, pretend you’re sick”. Because there will always be some kind of work she’s wanting you to do. With a groan I told her I was just going to take a picture of a most beautiful Tit and you woke me up. Oh boy, you should have seen that smile turn into a scowl. “Hold it wife”, I said. “I meant a Long-tailed Tit, a bird. “Phew”, that was close, her face lit up again likes a ray of sunshine and I asked her what was the problem. “Please Manjeet, my very good friend's mother is very ill, please as a favour can you go and see her” “Wow, was I hearing things, a please after such a long time. I just lay there waiting for those other magic words. “Why don’t you see my friend's mother and then go BIRDING and be back by eleven am in time for us to go shopping. That’s the magic word and in a jiffy I was ready with my medical bag, and started looking for my birding equipment and that’s when my daughter Roshani told me that she had already put them in the vehicle. I gave them a kiss and trotted off to the car and as I got in I heard Roshani say to her mother,”See, I said if you mention birding to dad he will even go to see a sick devil.” I closed the door and noticed my breakfast packed beside my things. The ladies in my life certainly know me. I reached the lady's house and saw to her mother who thankfully was only suffering from a bit of wind. I gave her some medication and ran back to the car with their thanks ringing in my ears. I decided to go to Telor Gong and when I reached the bridge which separates the mangroves and the village I parked my car. It was close to where the plump lady lives, the one that Broc took a fancy to, ((LOL)). I walked across the bridge and although it was cloudy the fresh air and the sound of birds woke me up and I soon saw my first exciting birds, a Black-shouldered Kite, Purple Heron, a Little Egret and Little Herons. I didn’t take any pictures right away because I was just enjoying the air and the shear pleasure of being out with the birds. I even saw a pair of common Flame-back Woodpeckers and I think they were laughing at me as they flew away. I returned to the car and was about to drive away when I looked across to the old lady's place. “Why not”, I said, let’s go and have a look around there so in I went, there was no body around, and village life is a laid back life. When I reached the back of the house I saw close by an Asian Drongo Cuckoo and I quickly got my camera focused and managed to get some close up pictures then I moved backwards and took some more pictures. Then my God I heard a terrible snorting and pawing of hoofs on the ground. I turned to look and there about a hundred feet away was a monstrous hairy Goat with long spiky horns and he was about to charge me. I swiftly searched for an escape rout and saw on my left a big drain, far too big for me to jump over and probably deep enough to go over my head. On the right and going around the house was an inpenenatrable Sugar Cane patch. I was trapped, all I had left was to defend myself, after all, even a rat will fight if trapped, so why not a Singh. Quickly I detached my camera and hid it behind an old tree trunk, then got my tripod legs together and as the goat charged I held the tripod like a lance and charged towards the Goat, yelling with fear and anger. I aimed the tripod at its head. As we drew close to impact I stopped and leaned forward with the base of the tripod wedged against my chest and waited for the impact, at the same time I closed my eyes and my yelling changed to hysterical screams. I stood there frozen for what seemed ages and as I felt no pain I momentarily wondered if I had died. I opened one eye and saw no Goat, I immediately opened both eyes and spun around and around searching for my antagonist and saw the tail end of the blighter vanishing into the sugar cane patch. At that moment my knees turned to jelly and I flopped down beside my camera and as my panic slowly subsided I heard the sound of laughter and looked up to see, Broc’s lady friend and fifteen of her brood rolling around on the floor laughing fit to burst. The old lady said, “The Goat got you didn’t she”. I said, “You didn’t have a goat before”. She said between laughs, “my sister has gone for Haj for a month and she left the goat here, and the goat really got you going didn’t it”. “What do you mean” I said. “This Goat loves to tease and it pretends to charge and just before impact turns and runs into the sugar patch, my husband got caught three times before he realised, and the children have been caught also”. I just had to join them in laughing especially when one little one with a stick showed them what I looked like. I quickly headed back to the car and when I looked back I saw the Goat peeping out of the cane patch and it then gave out a loud laughing bray and I shook my fist at it and still laughing drove away.
To all in Bird forum. MERRY X-MAS & a HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU. (Just for fun the entry.)
Asian Drongo Cuckoo Surniculus Iugubris

naturistbirder. I love the way everyone in these stories is happy and laughing all the time!! We could do with a bit of that in the UK.!
12 Dec 2007
Hybrid Crow can any one tell me please.
There are quite few crows at my patch. Mud-flat & pond, Pandamaran-jaya, Port Klang, Selanor, Malaysia. ..I assumed they were all House crows. Until I saw this single bird with the other crows. It looked like a house crow but the size was bigger and the bill shape bigger then the house crow. Could this be a hybrid! It may be a silly I.D. but the bill has confused me. Regards and thanks in Advance.
Attached Thumbnails

Jern Lehmhus
Hi Manjeet, does Jungle Crow occur in your region?

Manjeet
Joern, I don’t think so because both the guides. Craig Robson and Allen
Jeyarajasingam don’t mention Jungle crow, but do mention the Carrion Crow. So what do you think it is! I am stumped. Regards.

Jern Lehmhus
Could be, but I don’t know the carrion crow races and distribution in your area.

Pianoman
That's a HUGE bill, even for any race of carrion crow...

Lostinjapan
I think it might be a Large-billed Crow, also known as Jungle Crow.
I think the only other two regular all black species in your region (apart from House Crow) are Slender-billed Crow and Carrion Crow and I don't think it is either of those species.
Slender-billed has a longer, more slender bill, while Carrion has a shorter stubbier bill. Slender-billed anyway is only found in mainland Malaysia and I am not sure if Carrion Crow is found in Malaysia either.
See the shots below for comparison Large-billed Crow
http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/se...ID=&pagesize=1
http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/se...ID=&pagesize=1
Slender-billed Crow
http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/se...ID=&pagesize=1
Carrion Crow
http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/se...ID=&pagesize=1
The only thing that seems a little odd for a Large-billed Crowe is the grey on the nape, but that may be reflection and doesn't seem pale enough to be a House Crow.
Sean

Manjeet
Lostinjapan. The pale area isn’t a reflection; it is definitely pale because I viewed it for some time before I took the pictures. As for the Slender-bill Crow, I don’t know if they have them in West Malaysia. Regards.

Lee J
Definitely not the Slender-billed. I was in Indonesia over the summer and saw plenty of them. The bills nowhere near that chunky. Wouldn’t like to comment on any of the other options though

Chowchilla
I saw Large-billed Crow in Malaysia when I was there and this looks like this species to me.

Teunissen
I would think it's a Jungle crow also called Large-billed crow Corvus macrorhynchos
http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/se...ID=&pagesize=1

Chowchilla
I forgot to mention in my earlier post that Large-billed/Jungle Crow also has very glossy plumage (like this bird) that can reflect in a way that makes it look paler in a certain light, perhaps giving the impression therefore of being paler on the nape say,
Like a House Crow.

Lostinjapan
Seems Carrion Crow can be ruled out on range. So that leaves you with two options and I would still go for Large-billed/Jungle Crow. As I said, I think though the nape may have appeared pale, it is the light reflecting off the very glossy plumage. Slender-billed is apparently found in Peninsular Malaysia only out the areas mentioned in Robson, so not sure they would occur in your area anyway.
Cheers Sean

Manjeet
So it is a Large-billed Crow. Thank you very much for all your input and Identification.

Dave B
Hi Manjeet Just had chance to view your pictures and they are interesting. Although I think it's possible for Large-billed to show some grey on the nape (see for example this one (assuming it isn't a hybrid!), I've never seen one showing this much. Not only are the nape and rear crown grey, but the head shape seems wrong for Large-billed, though this can obviously vary with stance. So I would say that this could well be a hybrid. Large-billed is the original native of open country in Malaysia, but it has been displaced wherever the introduced House Crow has spread. Hybridization might be one reason for this, though I must say, in my experience, it's unusual for Large-billed to associate closely with House Crows.

Manjeet
Dave B. Yesterday at four thirty it was raining, but I went back to my patch and sadly couldn’t take any pictures but I saw the same crow with nine others and only three looked like this the bills of others were not massive at all. Hopefully if the rain stops today I will go and get a group picture. The reason I asked if it was a hybrid was the pale nape and neck and the massive bill. I still don’t understand. As its unusual for large bill crows to be seen with House crows. Nine of them out of which three looked like this and the rest definitely looked like house crows. I wonder if its possible for house crows to breed with Large Billed Crows.

Manjeet
Today I went to my patch and met up with the same group of crows and managed to get another picture. The grey is quite large and the bill huge, do you think it is the same type of crow that I have shown previously in this thread. To me it appears to be so. Eleven Crows together today and all of them similar like this one.
Attached Thumbnails

Lostinjapan
Hey Manjeet, In the latest picture, although it is very heavily billed, this bird seems a lot greyer on the back of the head and neck, as well as the breast, as well as less glossy purple than the first pictures you posted. It seems to me that this latest picture shows a different bird to the original picture and looks more like a House Crow, although the bill is a bit large and it seems very glossy on the mantle, so could be a hybrid. Sean

Manjeet
Thanks Sean I think you are right, funny thing is this group of crows all seem to have different bills, very confusing. Thanks.
__________________

13th Dec 2007

These days my practice has been quite tiresome with more and more patients and the continuous rain doesn’t help. At eleven am I had just stabilized a case of Bronchial Asthma and the ambulance was wheeling him out from my Operation Theater for admission at the Hospital for observations. A sixty year old patient of mine kept hopping and peering through the gap between the patient and me as I took the patient to the ambulance. He was making urgent signs and still hopping up and down in his sarong. My nurse told me that the man said it was an emergency and urgently requires treatment. When I returned I found him in my Operating Theater. “What’s wrong” I asked. He replied, “My pipe has something growing at its tip” With being a bit tired and concerned about the previous patient I was a bit edgy and not really concentrating so I misunderstood what he meant and said, “why didn’t you call a plumber, and why are you bothering me”. Almost in tears he said, “Doctor, it’s my private part”. “Oh” I said, “please lay down on the table”. I then flipped his sarong up and immediately realized what a ‘silly, Billy’ I am, I should have known, that any patient who comes to the practice wearing a sarong has a problem of either the anterior or the posterior kind. “Wow”, there was this black glistening thing on the tip of his pipe and getting bigger as I watched. I asked him, “did you go to any jungle area just now” and he said he had visited his palm oil plantation about twenty minuets ago. The plantation is about fifteen minuets drive from my surgery. “Well my friend”, I said, “It’s a leech, but don’t worry once it has gorge's it’s self it will drop off. He started shaking and pleaded with me to remove it. I called the nurse in and she brought me the local anesthetic (Lidocain-10%). I sprayed a liberal amount of it onto the area then took some 20% normal saline in a syringe and sprayed the leech and the member and ‘Hay presto’ the leech fell off, but with leech bites they tend to bleed for some time because they inject a anti-clotting factor which stops the blood from clotting. I took a piece of gauze and pinched the bleeding pipe tip between my thumb and index finger and asked the nurse to hold it for a moment and the bleeding will stop due to pressure. I started to remove the gloves after putting the leech in a small container and was going to give it to the patient as a present. Just as I started washing my hands there came a loud scream from the nurse behind me and she yelled for me to help her. I turned to see the patients, pipe standing up proud and long and my nurse holding the tip for dear life. The patient being aware of what was happening had flipped his sarong over his face. My nurse in a whisper while blushing said” Doctor, I didn’t do anything except pinch the gauze. I took over from the nurse and removed the gauze and saw the bleeding had stopped and controlling my laughter. I lifted his sarong and whispered. “You dirty old man”. And he blushed bright red, but still the pipe was upright. Then I realized it was the effect of the local anesthetic and also with a little help from the holding by my attractive nurse. I ushered him out and told the nurse to charge him double, she asked why! “The extra is for the pinching”. As he was leaving he turned around and asked, “Doctor, how long will this last”! I said about an hour”. Then my staff and I collapsed laughing. Wiping the tears from my eyes. I took out the pamphlet in the box and in fine writing just below the last line, it said, it enhances and prolongs erection. I showed it to my staff and told her it was partially her fault but the rest was the spraying, then I collapsed howling on my Operating Theater.By the time I left my practice it was twelve forty five. The rain had stopped and still laughing I reached my patch. “Oh my”, what a wonderful Day. The lonely cry of the Crested Serpent Eagle above me was soothing to my soul and I went trudging into my patch. Near an old palm tree with dense vegetation I saw a flicker of orange and grey and I quickly sat down and reduced my tripods height. Slowly I peeked through the leaves and saw this small bird sitting on a twig and then it hid again. These hide and seeks continued for about ten minuets I’m sure the bird was doing it deliberately. I managed to get five pictures of the bird and I was sure it was an Orange-headed Thrush. Although it was cloudy and grey, this sighting made it a wonderful day. I headed back to my practice and after a bath and a change of cloths, the phone rang and I hear a whispered voice telling me, “Doctor, its still up”. “Oh is it, well don’t worry, have some fun” and I put the phone down. I know the picture isn’t good but I wanted to upload it because it’s my first sighting of this bird and wonder of wonder in my patch.
Orange-Headed Thrush (Male) Zoothera citrina
20th Dec 2007
As you all know it has been raining here rather frequently, it’s the rainy season but it does stop sometimes and when it does during my break time I bolt for my local patch to do a spot of birding. Today I am lucky as it has stopped raining although still cloudy but when I reached the place, the weak sun was shining down on me. It look's like my God is in a good mood today, “famous last words”, read on and discover how he always manages to stick a thorn in my backside. “Sigh”. I parked my car and walked across the road and as soon as I took the first step into my patch I heard this loud, “rattttttttttt, rattttttt” my head whipped to the right and there was this tough little guy shouting at me, “get out of my patch” he seemed to be yelling. I ignored him and kept on walking and you know something, the noisy little blighter kept pace with me and continued tattling to every other bird in the district that Dr Singh is here. The Black-capped Kingfisher bolted away laughing, while the Brahminy Kite above was doubled up with laughter. Throughout my walk this tough little chap kept shouting. I eventually gave up and returned back to the car still with this menace following me and tattling. When I stepped out of my patch he came and sat down under small tree with big leaves and said, “ratttttttt, ratttttttttttt, don’t come again”. To me that was too much so I returned and took a few steps into the patch and set up my kowa and waited for him to show himself again. Sure enough out he popped onto a branch in front of me and I rattled away at him till my camera started smoking. Then I shouted at him, “see you again, you tattler, I’ve now got you in my files, and I bolted back to my practice. This is a tough little guy, and although not a tiger, he behaved like one. The green tinge is the colour reflection from the leaves.
Tiger Shrike Lanius tigerinus
27th Dec 2007
I was on call at Xmas, even though my practice was closed, and at two am in the morning I got a call out. The wife of one of my terminally ill patient’s was calling, “Doctor, sorry to bother you. I know you are supposed to come at seven am to see my husband. But he is in pain. Could you please”? I laughed and told her never say please, “It’s my duty, I will be there in fifteen minuets”. Her husband is only thirty three years of age and is a father of three little children, an awfully sad case. Last week I had printed out some of my favorite pictures of birds and had made some Christmas cards out of them for my patients. On my way out I picked one of them up to bring to this patient. When I reached the house I could see all the Christmas buntings were everywhere and all the lights were on. Even though it was raining all of them were outside waiting for my arrival. On getting out of the car I shouted, “Ho-Ho-Ho, Happy Christmas” and the patient’s three little children came running over to give me a hug. I took three chocolates from my pocket and gave to them, saying, “Happy Christmas”. There was a small Christmas tree with twinkling lights and a song which always tugs at my hear string was playing, “silent night, Holy night”. I Believe me, I found the Xmas spirit had infuse me, and I felt wonderful, (and I’m a Sikh.) My patient was on a bed in the hall with presents around him, and all his brothers and sisters were there. In all of this he smiled even though he was in great pain and I could see the sweat beading on his forehead. In a whisper he asked me to come closer and as I leaned over I asked, “What can I do for you my friend”. He said, “Happy Christmas Doc, and can you just reduce the pain a little”. I laughed and said “That’s what I’m here for, your wish is my command” and I gave him a jab of pethedine and in few minutes the pain was gone and the smile was there, yes a pure smile of pleasure and delight was on his face and he said, “Doc, I love them very much”, looking at the children. “Yes I know” and I took out the card and gave it to him. Everyone gathered around to see the picture of the bird and the delight and pleasure in his eyes was payment for all the three months I have been looking after him. To see a happy face amid the suffering is a priceless gift. Then the forty odd people insisted that I tell them something funny that had happened in the practice, so with a loud, “Ho-ho” I started telling them the story of the time many years ago on Xmas eve. I tell you my friends; everyone there sat down around the patient and stared in rapture, and with baited breadth for the funny story. This story is true, it did happen and I always wonder! Why me? A young lady brought into my surgery a baby of eight years of age; I had known her husband as a patient many years before he got married to her. She was a girl from Canton, China and she couldn’t speak any English or Malay and even the Chinese dialect she speaks very few people can understand. To help her she takes out a piece of paper and handed it to me. It read, “Baby hic hack hack”. She stood there looking expectantly at me. “Oh my God” I said to myself, “if I a get five patients a day like this I will land up in the funny farm. Then she speaks what is on the paper and I am still puzzled. Is the baby drunk I wonder, then the baby starts, “hic hack hack”, and it dawns on me the baby has a cough. I smile and show her my thumb up sign. The lady then continues reading the rest of the note. “Hot fanning herself and start’s to unbutton her blouse. Quickly my nurse holds her hands then she points to her son and said, “Hot” Of cause, the baby has a fever so I started examining the baby and told my nurse to tell her or her husband about how to take the medications when he comes to pick them up. Then the lady still reading from the notes say's, “Doc, you got boobs, baby needs”, then puts her thumb in her mouth and starts sucking. Good grief, this would definitely be beyond the call of duty, me feeding a baby, damn it, “Could any of you imagine me producing milk from my hairy chest. I almost jumped up to chase her out when I saw the bewildered and lost look on her face. I asked the nurse to bring in all the patients waiting outside; I thought maybe some of them could understand her. In came the fifteen odd patients and I asked her in sign language to repeat what she said, with a big smile on her face she repeated the statement and all the patients collapsed laughing and even I started laughing. Whilst wiping my eyes I saw Mrs Wong pushing through, she’s a tiny seventy eight year old and she said, “Hay Doc, can I talk to her, I said you can but I am not feeding any baby from my boobs. There was a rapid fire communication between the two, (“blimy”, Mrs Wong spoke her language) Then with a peel of laughter, Mrs Wong collapsed with laughter and then wiping tears from her eyes, she said, “She doesn’t want your boobs to feed the baby, she says, DO YOU HAVE A SPARE BIB so when she feeds the baby he doesn’t mess up her cloths”. All of us collapsed laughing again and I escorted the lady out. When I finished the story there was a pin drip silence and I could still hear the song, “Silent Night”. Then there was a roar of laughter and everybody was rolling on the ground. I turned to look at my patient and his eyes were on his three children and he was watching them laugh. The glow on his face was one of love, yes love, then he turned to me and said, “Thank you”. I checked my watch and it was five o clock in the morning so I got up and said good buy to them and patted the patient's hand. He looked at me and said, “Doc. this is the best Xmas I’ve ever had”. People we tend to forget sometimes the simple pleasure of our sibling’s laughter. I haven’t, have you? Hope you like this picture it is old one taken last month but I have been very busy this week. I haven’t even been able to make any comments on your pictures because of my work
Asian Drongo Cuckoo Surniculus Iugubris
Christine. Thanks,Tanny.Did not know that you were stationed at Arnold Lodge.We lived in that area.I used to hear the Jays and Woodies in Bestwood Country Park.
naturistbirder. What a beautiful story. I imagine the patients LOVE their humorous Doctor for his warmth & humanity....as well as his humour!
Thanks, Tanny....this project has been a lot of work for you....and we have ADORED it!
Wishing ONE AND ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR
Tue January 1, 2008

I thought I saw a Bird last night
when I looked up to the stars above,
Yes, “was it you God or the stars above
Who brought PEACE & JOY to the souls below”.
I thought I saw a Bird last night.

Last Night I was sitting on my lawn with my family and mom at midnight. I saw the year 2007 passing. Just to let you all know that the past year was full of joy and happiness with Birdforum.
MAY THIS YEAR BRING Peace, Happiness and JOY to ONE & ALL OF YOU. HAPPY 2008.
Flowers. Frangipani

We have just reached a milestone, this posting for the first of January is number two hundred of Manjeets stories in this thread. Well done
To add to these stories I have discovered on the net some of the places Manjeet mentions in his wanderings after birds, and I thought it might be a good idea to post descriptions of them here. I do hope all of you reading this thread will enjoy reading about these places that so many of us will never get to see, places that we can only dream about. Thank you Manjeet for introducing us to your country and showing us all those wonderful pictures of birds in -- "YOUR PATCH"--.
KUALA SELANGOR
What seems to be a sleepy town, steamrollered by the more dynamic metropolis of Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Selangor retains some memories of its glorious past and the charms of an old life that is still alive and well in certain pockets. 67km southeast of KL, Kuala Selangor began as a small settlement inhabited by the “Bugis” people who sailed from Indonesia and settled on the estuary. Before interference from Malay Sultans and rulers from other states, the settlement lived in peace and tranquillity under the guidance of a female leader called “Upu Chendera Burung”. Such adoration the villagers had for their leader They vowed to elect only leaders of Bugis origin to replace her in her time of death, believing that only a Bugis leader can lead them into a better life. For a time after Upu Chendera Burung's death, no suitable candidate came forth to take the seat as the village head. Ambitious individuals came from Perak, Kedah, Thai, Penang etc. to contest for the village head position. Failing to claim the seat, and already having travelled from afar and perhaps too proud and foolish to admit defeat, they decided instead to open up areas around the vicinity for themselves. Hence, evolved the names of nearby villages such as Kampung Kuantan, Kampung Kedah, and Kampung Siam. A strategic location, Kuala Selangor prospered during the early years of the 14th century. Brisk trading with seafarers and trade merchants made the town a household name and an important docking point. Trading route maps of the early Chinese merchants indicated the locations of the Klang River and the Selangor delta. It was believed that these were the maps used during the days when Admiral Cheng Ho (1405-1433) was sent to Melaka by the Ming Emperor to seal diplomatic relationships with the Malay rulers for a safer trading route. So, having established the strategic importance of the delta, as with all strategic locations comes with a jostle for power. Kuala Selangor went through a series of transitions. Great battles were fought, blood of foreigners and locals alike were spilt for the sake of economic and political standing. Today Kuala Selangor caters largely to tourists passing through on their way to Kelip-Kelip or Kampung Kuantan and the local travelers on the trail of seafood binging. Kuala Selangor town is not particularly big and one can easily walk around without a map or a guide. There are a number of cheap food outlets and a couple of fast food joints. It is also possible to walk to the Kuala Selangor Nature Park and Bukit Melawati for a visit. The Malaysian Nature Society and the Selangor State Government establish the Park as a cooperative effort. The intention is to study, conserve, and allow the residence to enjoy the Malaysian natural heritage. The whole area is equivalent to a giant showcase where visitor can enjoy an on-the-spot report of the happenings to their own habitat. It is a place to educate the younger generation on our natural heritage. Urban dwellers should feel the ambiance in the park and to reflect it with the quality of life that they are living. What else can they do? Their contribution to improving the overall living standard! Along the shore lines of the Peninsula, the Mangrove Forest is being gradually depleted from uncontrolled harvesting for logs. Industrial Parks and housing estates have move in to swallow up the lands from these dying forest. For a long stretches of coastlines, it is not surprising that there is hardly any refuge for wildlife and birds to rest! The Malaysian Nature Society with assistance from the Selangor State Government jointly push through a project to salvage what is left. The Kuala Selangor Nature Park is thus created. To say, it offers a wide variety of appropriate environments to serve as habitats for the birds and wildlife. There is the Secondary forest and a brackish water Lake system to complement the existing Mangrove Forest, Estuary of the Selangor River and mud flats. All these are important to support the living things assembled in this narrow strip of protected enclave. Counting the life forms, the Park recorded the sightings of about 156 species of birds [residence and migratory], a variety of insects, spiders, molluscs, crabs, fishes, reptiles and mammals. Kuala Selangor Nature Park is situated at the mouth of Selangor River, in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. It covers approximately 800 acres of mangroves and mudflats and is the home to various wildlife such as otters, monkeys, birds, mudskippers and crabs. It has chalets for overnight visitors, hostel for study groups, and a visitor’s center to provide information and sell souvenirs. Birdwatching is perhaps the most exciting activity here. Over 140 species of birds have been sighted. Among the rare ones are the Nordman Greenshank and the Mangrove Pitta. The park is also involved in the Milky Stork reintroducing programme thanks to a contribution by Land and General. The park has a lake that provides roosting and feeding sites for various birds. From the bird hides and the towers around the lake one can view otters and birds feeding in the lake. It is the home to a large colony of Grey Herons. This park is under the management of the Malaysian Nature Society. The mudflats in front of the park are also rich with life. Various fishes and shellfishes can be seen on the flats confirming the importance of the mudflats and mangroves as a breeding and nursery ground for fishery. The mudflats are also important feeding grounds for the migratory birds on their stopover from Siberia to Australia. The sector, dominated by Mangrove trees covers an area of about 234 acres [95 hectares]. This area is the focal point of the eco-system for the Nature Park. This relatively "young" forested area has attracted 13 species of Mangrove trees. Here, you will get to see amphibious inhabitants from crabs to snakes. To give visitors a better opportunity to taste the ambiance deep inside the Mangrove Forest, raised boardwalks are built and permeate through to the crowded woods and over the mudflats. While on the boardwalk, inhabitants on the mudflats can be watched, you can see them moving around in their daily activities. Enjoy the scenic sight! Feel your own mood to be in the midst of the Avicenna forest. The 2 artificially created lakes get its fresh supply of brackish water from the Selangor River. The water level is controlled by sluice gates. To compliment the setting up of the lakes, few bird hides are built and strategically located. These watch towers are raised and one of them is at ground level. With these facilities visitors can wait and see the water birds and waders. The setting will put you in the mood to experience the joy of bird watching.
Christine. Well done,Tanny,not long to go now,keep it up.Good reading
3rd Jan 2008
I didn’t do any birding on the first because I closed the surgery just after one pm and seeing as it was a bright sunny day I went out with my family. On the second I once again failed to go out during my lunch break because of the amount of patients to see to. It was still bright and sunny in the afternoon so I thought I might get time to go birding. I looked up at the clock at three pm and there were no patients in the waiting room. I had just about finished my medical report when there was a loud thumping on my door. The door was opened by my staff and in falls Roshan. (Remember him people, yes I know you do.) “Oh my God” I said, “not again”. The little lad jumped up and down and yelled, “Happy New Year Doctor Uncle, please come quick my Dad has torn his Sex, come quick. This time I thought I’m not going to make a fool of myself and told him, “You go first and my staff and I will come in ten minuets time”
Off he shot like a rocket, but first telling my staff as he passed the desk, that I will leave first and she was to follow with Doctor Uncle’s bag. I went out of the practice with hands in my pockets and nonchalantly started strolling down the road whistling a pleasant tune, and looking up at the feral pigeons in the trees. As I was passing the first shop the shopkeeper came out. “Hi Doc, were you going”. Still keeping my dignity I casually said, “Just taking a break and looking at the birds” But there was no fooling these guys when one after the other shopkeepers kept coming out as I passed. The blighters must have seen little Roshan passing and when they saw me they knew they were in for a good laugh. As I reached half way to the house, Roshan came racing back and shouted, “Quick Dr Uncle”. That was the cue for all the shopkeepers to race after me, especially when they then saw my staff following. Oh boy, there went my dignity and I just shook my head and shrugged my shoulders and continued strolling down the road. By the time I reached the little boy's place, sixteen chaps were following me. I rang the bell and the boy's grandmother came out. I asked her, “where is your son”. She said, “Sleeping”. Now I ask you. How can any guy sleep with damage to that precious part of his anatomy, and again how am I to tell a seventy year old mother that her son’s sex is torn? I stood there fumbling for the right words, then blurted out, (((( “Roshan says that your son's wee wee is torn”)))). The serious look on her face slowly changed before me and the wrinkles of worry changed slowly to mirth, her eyes started to sparkle and a big grin spread into a full blown laugh and she hugged her stomach and laughed and laughed. I felt such a fool standing there watching her although the laughing was becoming infectious and I could feel a laugh welling up inside me. Then Roshan rushed out of the house holding something long in his hand, his father's FOOT BALL Socks, “see Dr Uncle, Dad’s SEX is torn”. I looked at the grandmother wobbling like a jelly with laughter and then noticed behind me all the shopkeepers standing there with faces going purple with suppressed laughter and I lost all my dignity and holding my ribs I keeled over laughing, followed by the mob behind me. After a while I composed myself and started trotting back to the surgery, then that smarty-pants behind me shouts out, “Hi Doc, I didn’t know you were a tailor too”, followed by another blast of laughter.
By the time I reached the practice it was four thirty, the time I go for my evening birding. I couldn’t help myself laughing all the way to my patch but I soon shut up when I alighted from the car and heard a loud click from my knee. Every step I took the knee clicked and I realised I was getting older. My joints have started clicking. Not long after entering the patch my attention was drawn to four Black Bazas flying overhead. I attempted to take a snap shot of them but when checking the shot on the L.C.D. screen I realised I had only got a tail. I continued clicking my way through the patch and on reaching the end I rested and was delighted to see my old faithful was there. This eagle knows whenever I am around and usually fly's away on spotting me, but wonders of wonder it just sat there as if telling me, “Manjeet Go ahead take a shot and let me be your first bird for 2008”. How could I refuse such a generous offer? This bird looked so majestic as it sat there allowing me to take picture after picture. When I was satisfied I waved to the bird in thanks and you know, it waved back at me, and laughing as if it knew I had seen Roshan. Hope you like this picture, it filled me up with admiration, and deep down I knew “this is going to be a wonderful year”.
Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela

David Roach
Oh Doc, you really know how to bring in the New Year right!!!!! Thanks for the laughter and the majestic stunner above!!!!!
Birdeye.
That's a majestic bird to start the year with Manjeet! And a somewhat less majestic medical case! Great work - although a short course in darning might make it greater.
Jimmclean
Very impressive 1st bird of the year.
Broc
What a cracker! Tell you what Manjeet, you're in big trouble when I return if I don't get to see for myself all these marvellous birds you've been posting in my absence....and no excuses like "rain" I know you have the ability to see dark clouds off on their way with a wave of your sword! Cheers old' friend.
Eastwood
Lol, your first 2008 bird is a Raptor! Scary, my friend! Yes, it is going to be a wonderful year
Adalia
A beautiful majestic bird to start the New Year off Manjeet
Digiscoper321
A bird worthy of your sword, Manjeet. Amazing...the sheer amount of different species you get. Keep it up and 2008 will be a great year,Doc.
Bartokroodborst
Beautiful
julie61
What a bird, what a shot, what a story....Brilliant stuff Manjeet
Nigelblake
Ha-ha, a great story and a fine shot to go with it, Happy new year!
ken1940golf
Hello and Happy fist image Manjeet!! Superb capture my friend!! Lovely story again!! Yes 2008 is going to be good, Cheers.
gillian
Trust you Manjeet to start the year giving us all a laugh! Hope 2008 will indeed be a great year for us all. Lovely shot of a great looking bird
bru.b
Superb and majestic! an other great portrait,Doc!
Mali
What a great first post of 2008 Doc, a really magnificent regal looking creature, good work. I don’t think you should take up tailoring, stick to taking these beautiful bird images. As for creaking bones Manjeet, mine have been creaking for years. Happy New Year to you and your loving family, friends, and patients Manjeet.
Marmot
Perhaps in your medical bag as well as the needle you use for doing stitches on bad cuts, maybe you should put a darning needle and some wool as well.
Can I swap the rain for the snow that is coming down really quick at the moment
Super photo.
Johnnyoxygen
stunning shot of this magnificent bird Manjeet, I love it, a great story too, keep them coming mate, cheers.
keith Mitchell
Excellent. Happy New Year.
Nora
Thanks Manjeet for a wonderful start to 2008! Brilliant capture and an ever entertaining narrative! Thanks for sharing both! Happy New Year to you and yours! Nora
Tcollins
Excellent story and 2008 raptor I agree 2008 looks very promising.
Geoff Pain
Wow! wish my first bird of 2008 was as good.
Dr Manjeet Singh
hank you all for your comments....and don’t forget...LOVE..LAUGH..&..LIVE...
aussietrev
What a way to the start the year, fabulous shot Doc and a great first story to get us
Marian Alvarez
h! I was wondering if you had posted some birds during these last couple of days and here I find the answer! A mega-cool looking raptor to start the year, thank you very much for this stunning portrait, doctor!!!
Saphire
A wonderful start to 2008 with a fantastic photo of the eagle, congratulations Manjeet. Thank you for starting the year off with a good laugh.
Rajiv Lather
Magnificent bird!! Manjeet you seem to be getting closer and closer to the birds. Well done! regards, Rajiv
Tim Taylor
Let's hope all the other birds and your patients are as obliging as this eagle for 2008 Manjeet.
Lima
Looks like your humour is rubbing off! What a fantastic start for 2008.
Donald Talbott
Another stunning capture from you Manjeet. Love it!!!
Clive Timmons
Dr I am just getting up from the floor you Knocked my Sexes off with this fantastic shot reminds me of when I had a bad reaction to an injection and an Old Lady neighbour asked me what was wrong with me I told her I HAD A BAD ERECTION from an injection
Julien
Great shot Manjeet, wonderful looking bird and an even greater story than the last one. I think your patients are the luckiest (having you as their Doc.)
weatherman
Great picture and story Manjeet, up to the usual very high standard.
a.dancy
Wicked shot and so good to get the bird to pose. I change my sex twice a day!!!!!
7th Jan 2008
Sunday was my day off and I decided to pay a visit to the F.R.I.M. but first I picked up my brewery but then decided to have breakfast first. When I noticed the fuel level in the car was low I went to my usual pump and as I was giving my car its breakfast I heard this loud shout, “OHHHHHHH Dr, it’s me remember, the baby in the car.” There I saw this chap and his radiant wife and their seven children, the last one was a baby, and they all seemed overjoyed to see me. I sat down near the pump and the lady promptly dropped the baby in my lap. (((On reflection I think this story is for you Tanny my old friend. Manjeet told me this story on the phone when wishing me happy Christmas.))) The story goes like this. It was Christmas Eve and at three p.m. my nurse rushed in and said.”Dr, there is a man outside the practice shouting his baby is coming in the car” I quickly told her to bring the delivery tray and bolted outside. The husband was jumping up and down shouting, “I’m having a baby in the car”. I caught him and gave him a good shake. “Is this your wife's first baby”? He said, “No it’s the seventh” and he continued jumping up and down in his excitement. I then turned my attention to the car and immediately saw it was a Mini Minor. Oh good grief, why me, I thought, fancy trying to deliver a baby in that little thing. I shouted to my staff and shop keepers to bring some bed sheets. With these sheets my staff and the shopkeeper’s wife had rigged a cover around the car to prevent inquisitive eyes. I ducked into the open door, or rather had to squeeze in and right away saw the crown of the babies head was visible. My senior staff opened the opposite door and I told the lady to lay her head on my staff's lap outside the other door. In my usual calming voice that I use in emergencies I told the lady not to worry, I am here and I started guiding the crown out and told her to breathe in and breathe out please, just breathe in and blow out. Suddenly I felt someone blowing on my neck from behind. As the head came out I told her to push now and breathe in and out and push. I then felt someone pushing my butt from behind. In that confined space I managed to turn my head enough to see the idiot husband was pushing me. I shouted out for someone to get the chap off from behind me. I then continued coxing her to push. (Usually Multi-gravid women who have delivered more babies are easy to deliver unless there is a complication) Moments later out came the baby and I Legated the umbilical cord and turned the baby over and gave it a swat on the bottom. The, “WAAAAAAAAh..from the baby blew my beard and moustache back, STRONG LUNGS”. As I held the baby with tenderness and joy I remembered my own children being born and it also brought back memories of the day I got married. ((when eight huge burly bearded Singh’s with swords escorted me to the Sikh Temple as a sacrificial lamb. You people who are not married remember this. )) I passed the baby to my staff and waited for the after birth, once that was out I cleaned her up with the help of my staff, the three of us still in the car. If anyone thinks its easy delivering a baby in a mini, you should try it. I then told the lady it was a boy and now your husband will take you and the baby to hospital for a check-up. Oh you should have seen the big smile on her face, it was like the moon had just come out and was smiling at this hairy Singh. Then in a husky tired voice the lady said, “Thank You Doctor”. Now came the difficult and amusing part of the story, I was truly stuck. The stupid small car had clamped onto me, well that’s what I think and I’m sticking to that. I asked my staff to pull me out and felt someone grab hold of my belt from behind and started pulling me, and when he gave a massive heave and I shot backwards like a cork out of a bottle and landed sprawling on the floor with my helper. I checked for any injuries to both of us and the only ones were some skin that I lost from my elbows on the side of the door.
I looked around and was amazed to see the husband tied to one of the trees outside my practice. “Oh no” the well meaning shopkeepers must have done it. I asked the ladies to remove the sheets from around the car and as they moved away the crowd of people who had gathered around began cheering and laughing. With my hands pressing into my aching back I walked over to the husband who by now had come to his senses. “Is it a boy or a girl”? Were his first words to me? I deliberately denied knowledge as to what gender his child was, telling him it was because I didn’t have time to see. Then the nurse came out with the clean little one and all the people began cheering again. The nurse handed the wee one to me and I saw a bicycle parked near the tree and went and sat on it holding the baby. The husband had been released from the tree and he dashed over to see his little child and asked me again if it was a boy or a girl. The poor chap has so far fathered six daughters. As I held the baby he un-wrapped the cloth and the first thing he looked at was the little bird, his face was hardly three inches away from the bird, and he shouted, “It’s a BOY Dr”. Promptly the little bird got up on its hind legs and anointed the father with water. Every one watching collapsed laughing and cheering. I wiped the laughing tears from my eyes and told him to take the mother and baby to the hospital, because I felt there is a bit of jaundice in the baby’s (conjunctive. ?). He took the baby and handed it to his wife and drove off with the crowd cheering. Then all of a sudden they became quiet and I felt a tugging near my knee. I looked down and saw Roshan standing there looking up at me, and in the silence he shouted, “Dr Uncle, the baby's whip was stuck and baby pisshed on his daddy” Well that was it; I will leave it to your imagination to what happened next. All of this came back to me as I handed the cute little baby back to its mother and warned the husband, “If there is a next one, please take it to the hospital”. As I drove away I mused to myself about how cute that little baby was and I knew then that I was in for a lucky day. When we reached the F.R.I.M. I decided to go into the thick jungle area and hardly had we taken a few steps when I saw this small flittering little bird. I quickly hid behind a bush and in a few minutes this lifer of mine was there. I call it my colours of the rainbow.
Orange-Bellied Flowerpecker..(Male). : Dicaeum trigonostigma
8th Jan 2008T
After chasing around the jungle and succeeding to get pictures of my new lifer, the, Orange-bellied Flowerpecker, my brewery and I came out onto the path. Immediately my brewery started jumping up and down and stripping off his cloths, and before I knew it he was down to his underpants searching for those horrible slimy black Leeches that inevitably crawl onto us when we go into the deep jungle. I did tell him this is the main road and people will come, but he carried on in that half naked state pouring salt over the gruesome blood swollen critters, this is the quickest and easiest way to remove them. I took the salt shaker and removed two more from his back, and when I saw these evil, creepy creatures on him I knew I would have them on myself also but no way was I going to disrobe here out in the open, when knowing my luck, I would meet up with that troop of girls again. I looked around and saw not far off the male and female sign on a small building. I told my brewery to take care of things and bolted for the toilets. I barged through the first door on the right and noticed all the cubicles were empty and dived into the nearest one and slammed the door shut and bolted it, then with a sigh I stripped off all my cloths. I discovered three of the obnoxious creatures on me and threw them into the toilet and then flushed them down with a vengeance. Just as I had completed dressing myself I heard a commotion outside, a babbling of ladies voices and it sounded like the group of them had entered the toilets I was in. Then it dawned on me I was in the wrong toilets, I had come into the ladies. “Oh my God” if they discover me here I am dead. Then I had a brainwave and remembered the time when I was a medical student. One of my pastimes then was practicing ventriloquism and I remember when I was in first professorship and this girl in our class had the biggest boobs imaginable. One day she came and sat in the front (I was always a back bencher) and one of my friends went and sat beside her. I know right away what his thoughts were when seeing him pass furtive glances at her chest. I threw my voice and said, “Wow you got huge Boobs”. For a moment there was dead silence then the girl got up and promptly slapped my friends face. He jumped up and said, “It wasn’t me I didn’t say it”. She replied. “At least you were thinking about it”. Then the whole class collapsed laughing even the professor. I wondered if I was able to do it now and after a moments hesitation I spoke up in my best hysterical female voice and said, “There are leeches in the toilet”. There was silence for a moment, then came the sound of stampeding feet and screaming and then silence apart from the sound of running feet going into the distance. I attentively opened the door and seeing the coast was clear, quickly walked out and saw my brewery waiting there with a worried face. “Sir” he said, “Did they see you without your cloths”, “No” I said, I just shouted “leeches and they all bolted”. We looked down the road and the ladies were still pounding away to the next toilet about a mile away, and then both of us collapsed laughing. Oh I do feel a little bit guilty but after all it wouldn’t be right to see the “Singh Bear” nude. We strolled along the road for a while until reaching one of the fringes of the jungle area where we sat down for a rest and searched for birds. In a moment my brewery had spotted some movement just in the jungle and refused to come in with me, so I was left on my own to stalk the bird, and was I delighted to discover that it was my second lifer for the day. The bird was a beauty and it even posed for me. Of course it still could hear the ladies pounding away. This Nature's gift to us is just a miracle, isn’t it?
Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii

8th Jan 2008
Thankfully I had no leeches on me this time and for the rest of the day after seeing this second lifer I had a silly grin on my face. I find this one a real beauty and am glad I was able to add the back profile. But this wasn’t the end of things for the day I also saw and photographed the Asian Fairy Blue-bird, a female, and again another one, the Crimson -winged Woodpecker. So in all I got four lifers for the day “YESSSSSSSS he says with his fist in the air” When we returned to the car I specifically avoided the ladies, just in case they realised it was me. Rob confirmed the identification of this bird for me in the B.F. Thank you Rob.
: Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii sonneratii
11th Jan 2008
After loading my pictures of the Banded Bay Cuckoo and still with the feeling of joy cursing through my veins because I had four lifers in one week, the Asian Fairy Blue-bird, Banded Bay Cuckoo, the Orange bellied Flowerpecker and the Crimson-winged Woodpecker under my turban. But when I made my way to my local patch I suddenly became apprehensive, a nagging feeling that something was going to go wrong. I shrugged the feeling away by saying to myself; “at least it couldn’t be worse than anything I’ve been through in the past”. (Famous last words) After parking the car I started walking and at one spot I had to step over a hump of dirt on the road and as my right foot came down, I heard a splat and on looking down saw I had stepped up to my ankle in Cow “excrement” (Polite Ghost writer) I looking at it and said, “If this cow pie is this big then how big is the cow”.
Pulling my foot out with a ‘sucking glug’, I looked around for the owner of the mess but the bovine was nowhere around, but I did notice a (poodle “lol”) I mean a puddle of water about ten feet away and I went over and stepped in to wash the ‘gunk’ off my boot. What a mistake, the puddle was deep and I went up to my knee in the water. Now all the muck had washed into the boot. I almost felt like crying. Well I said to myself, “What else could go wrong” I wish I hadn’t said that, me and my big mouth. Taking my usual footpath down to where I usually have a rest under some tall trees and it was when roughly three or four feet from the place where I usually sit, I heard a creaking and cracking sound from above, I glanced up and saw a branch was falling down. I stumbled backwards and fell onto my behind. “Ouch” I yelled and then thanked my God the branch had missed me. I was still hanging on to my treasure, my kowa on the tripod and when I was about to get up from the sodden ground I looked up into the tree and saw about thirty feet away this magnificent Hawk sitting there laughing at me. Everything was forgotten a Hawk was in my patch. I focused and started taking pictures. On my seventh shot the sign came up in the L.C.D. telling me the batteries were low. “Oh shivers”, where was my spare batteries, got them and struggled to get them installed and when I was about to take a picture the blessed bird flew away laughing. It’s true I tell you and I swear I heard the chattering laughter of all the other birds in the vicinity. I just had to check the pictures and “Yesssssss, my fifth lifer. I thought at first it was a Chinese Goshawk but the others and Dave B in bird forum said. “Made in Japan”. The picture isn’t one of the best because the sun was from the back, but you know, I went back to my practice singing like a lark. It looks like it’s going to be a Wonderful Year for me. Provided I can survive the mishaps.
Juvenile Japanese Sparrowhawk: Accipiter gularis

8th Jan 2008
I need an Accipiter confirmation..please..
Today I had visited one of my favourite patches, the one opposite the Pond and Mud-flats at Pandamaran-jaya, Port Klang, Selangor, Malaysia, and have been seeing this accipiter from a distance for the last one and half months. Today I managed to get some pictures. I would like to know if it is a Chinese Sparrowhawk or a Crested Goshawk although I did not see a crest. The pictures I hope will show you that there is no crest, although it might be a juvenile. I wonder if any of you could help identifying this bird. I think it is a Chinese Sparrowhawk The size was small and it is a very compact bird, and also a fast flier, and it did well in the middle canopy, ‘flying I mean’. Regards and thank you in Advance.
Hanno
I'd second Chinese, but then I have real difficulties with Accipiters.
Tun Pin
Hi Dr, I am not good in Raptor id. Based on my Fergoson-Lees&Christie "Raptors of the World-A Field Guide" and Craig Robson's "Birds of SEA", I vote for Japanese Sparrowhawk. Reason is that Chinese female's underwing is very lightly spotted. Your 3rd bird photo showing its strongly spotted underwing, which fits closer to Japanese Sparrowhawk. Let's hear from more opinions from others.
Hanno
Anybody?
Manjeet
Any Body please.”lol”.
Dave B
Interesting streaky head, but I'd go for Japanese (juv?)
johnallcock
I'd also say this is a Japanese Sparrowahawk, based on small size and wing/tail proportions (and, as previously mentioned, patterning on underwing)
Underpart pattern would suggest a juvenile.
Manjeet
“Phew” “lol”finally my friends. Thank you very much Dave B and johnallcock, tunpin and Hanno I am surprised that it is here in my patch. Yes my first. Regards people. Thank you
Motmot Jap Sparrowhawk underwing along with other pics can be seen here:
15th Jan 2008
Ever since Friday it’s been raining continuously, and in my practice my staff are behaving as if a bomb is about to go off. When I can’t go birding it seems I am unfit to work with. Even my patients would come in with sheepish looks on their faces and commiserate with me, and then wouldn’t hang around like they usually do but quickly leave. Then a little boy came in of about four years old who had a fever. After checking him over he turned to me and said, “Dr Uncle, I have prayed to my God to make it sunny for my favorite doctor so that he can go birding”. I looked at him, and my friends he had such a serious look in his face. I said, “Come here” and picked him up and gave him a big hug and then I started laughing because the smile on the little one's face was enough to dispel my miserable mood. Then my staff came in with big smile on her face and tells me it has stopped raining. I turned to the boy and said, “See your God listened to you”. Moments after the child left I bolted for the patch. It was still cloudy with a stray streak of sunlight showing through now and again. As I approached my usual parking place I noticed a huge Trooper parked there along with many other cars stopped nearby. (Strewth, I thought when Manjeet said Trooper he was talking about a policeman, not a vehicle) The lady sitting in the Trooper was leaning out of the window and was explaining something to the waiting crowd. I parked behind her vehicle and walked around to speak to her. “Hello Mrs Chong, (her whole family are my patients) what are you doing parked at my place”. She looked down at me and said, “Sorry DR Manjeet, the clutch of my car is stuck”. I have already phoned the mechanic” “When did you notice the trouble” I asked. She said, “As I was coming down the steep slope from the bridge, I wanted to press the clutch. And it didn’t move, and she stood on the clutch to show me. I wonder if I might have a look, maybe I can see what the trouble might be”.Mrs Chong opened the door and descended and I looked at the clutch peddle and just couldn’t help starting to laugh. I staggering to the side of the road and sat down and howled, then all the other guys had a look and they started laughing also. Poor Mr Wong, she came over with an embarrassed blush on her face and asked what we were laughing at. I took her to the vehicle and showed her and she stepped back with her hand to her mouth with shock after seeing one of her wooden clogs jammed under the clutch. It must have been when she came down the hill; the clog had rolled under the clutch. I removed the clog and said to her, “Mrs Chong you owe me RM100” and started laughing again, and still laughing I headed into the patch wondering how on earth she is going to explain that to the mechanics. I wandered along enjoying the serenity of the place and when I reached the cowshed area I leaned against a post and stood there looked around. The usual common birds were there but all the cooped up feelings I had these last days had gone and I took a deep breath and marveled at natures beauty around me. Then I heard the beating of wings and my head whipped around like an owl’s, and just across the pond I saw a flock of more than a hundred small birds flying towards me. I ducked behind the pole and prayed to my God that they will land on the tree in front of me about twenty or more feet away. They did land there and my friends there were so many of them I didn’t know whose picture I should take first. Then I focused on the nearest one and with the first click of the camera all the bickering among the birds stopped. I quickly took another shot and blimey they were all looking at me with those intense stares. Then I heard this birds say, “believe me, DR Singh it has been two years isn’t it old man.”, and before I could raise my fist, off they flew laughing. I just sat down and laughed with the joy of it all. Thank you for listening to these ramblings of an old man.”lo”.
Purple-backed Starling Sturnus sturninus
29th Jan 2008
Once again my server has let me down; it’s been down since last Thursday. The weather hasn’t been that brilliant either, one minute the sun is shining and then next it’s raining again. The only birding I managed to do was for just a few hours. Today I am determined I would get out come rain, hail or snow. I had just finished the last lot of the patients when my phone rings; it was a call from my specialist friend from the Government Hospital. “Hello Manjeet he said, do you have a spare minute” “certainly my friend, what’s the problem”. “Manjeet do you remember Mr.Klang, the A.K. body-building champion, you know, the one who fainted when you were taking his wife's blood” (The story is in this thread). “Yes I remember him, what’s his problem this time”. “For the past two weeks he’s been coming in for admission because he’s feeling sick, and he stays for most of the day till he’s well enough to be sent back home again, but the next day he’s back again and vomiting non stop, and is dehydrated within sixteen hours, I’m stumped with this one, do you have any ideas”. Now a bell started ringing in my turbaned head and I asked him, “When did all this start” and he answered, “Oh, about three weeks ago”. “How’s his father-in-law taking this because he hates him and is forever moaning about why his daughter had to pick such a muscle bound cretin as a husband”. While my friend was talking about this chap my thoughts were running to certain things in the history of this family, then I asked my friend if he’s done any hormonal studies. “Why” he exclaimed. “Well my dear friend, is the wife pregnant”, he quickly went through the history and said, “Yes, three weeks ago she was tested positive for pregnancy” I started laughing and I could imagine my friend turning red, because a fellow G.P. was laughing at him. He shouted, “Come now Manjeet, control yourself and explain”. I stopped my laughter and said, “Not to worry, the vomiting will stop in three months time”. “Do you have any idea as to how we can prevent it during the three months”, He asked. “Send him to stay with his father-in-law for the three months, and ask the mother who loves her daughter-in-law to stay with her because she would take better care of her than the husband. “But damn it, what is the diagnosis” my frustrated friend asked. “Elementary Dr Watson, ‘lol’. Sympathetic pregnancy, there have been three cases like this in the past in Malaysia. Check his hormonal levels they will be quite high”. I continued, “He will stay like this till the 1st trimester is over for the wife, (I hope!) With a laugh I said “goodbye” and put the phone down. I noticed the time was twelve thirty, time for my lunchtime birding. I walked into my patch and all worries and frustration vanished with the first bird song, even though it was only a Koel singing. I looked up when I heard my friend the Crested Serpent Eagle calling as he circled high above. I had seen a Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo on the eighth of this month and wanted to get a better picture of it. After a careful search I saw it sitting under the canopy and got as close as I could, but before I could put my tripod down it flew away. With a sigh I trudged on until finely reaching a small area of trees with a carpet of dried leaves on the ground. One or two of the trees had been cut down with only knee high stumps remaining. As I was passing about ten feet away from these stumps the handle of my tripod gouged me in the neck. Now some people, like those in Australia, use a stick to divine for water. I think my kowa and tripod do the same for me when looking for birds. It gouged me to say there is a bird around, ‘lol’. (((Very interesting, check out the thread, “Psychic Birding”))) I squatted down with a niggling feeling that something was watching me. Slowly I scanned the area and first noticed about three cows grazing close buy, Then I stared at the tree stumps about twenty feet behind me and as my eyes wandered over them I could see there was a strange knob on the top of one and I became very excited as I realised what it was. I kneeled on the ground and shortened my tripod and focused my kowa and in full screen I could see it was a Large-tailed Nightjar. I was trembling with excitement as I took picture after picture and all those pent up emotions of the past week faded away and every thing was beautiful and right in the world. With a bird that is normally a ghost in the canopy I just had to take advantage of this one and decided to get a little bit closer, and I managed to take a close up picture. With this last click of the shutter the bird flew away and I sat down on my haunches and started laughing and a couple of tears ran down my cheek with my happiness. As I sat there in this blissful frame of mind still looking at the tree stumps a strange slurping, raspy sound came from behind me and I felt a huge hot tongue scraping my back. I swivelled around and there was this moon eyed cow with love in her eyes licking my shirt from behind. “Ye Gods”, I was up and away as fast as my hairy legs could take me and without looking back I could hear that crazy cow trotting after me. Huffing and puffing I reached the road and thank the Lord there wasn’t anyone around. Just imagine if there had been people there and they enquired, “DR Singh what is chasing you”, and I would have had to say, “An Amorous Bull”. I know you’re all laughing, I think I should join the Olympics because I’m sure I did the fastest 1mile lap from my patch. There will be a few more pictures of this wonderful bird in the future, providing my server doesn’t play up again. My friend the (((speediest))) specialist called today and the Hormonal level was high. Which confirmed my diagnosis? The husband and wife have to live apart till the first trimester is over for the wife because the hormonal changes in the wife triggers his vomiting and nausea. He’s acting just like a pregnant woman. ‘lol’.
: Large-tailed Nightjar.: Caprimulgus macrurus

Here’s a close up of a relation of mine, check out the whiskers, can’t you see the resemblance to a Singh.
: Kin of Singh...lol.. Caprimulgus macrurus
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I have found some more places on the internet mentioned by Manjeet so I hope you all get a better picture of where he does his birdwatching.

Klang
A former capital of Selangor, Klang was once the old royal capital where the British had placed their first Resident in Selangor in 1874.Gedung Raja Abdullah: One of the oldest Malay buildings in the country, it was once used by the Sultan to store tin from the mines in the area. It is currently a museum with displays of local history and tin that was once important to Malaysia. Sultan Sulaiman Mosque: A classic Islamic architecture that blends colonial with Asian features, it is a unique and memorable image in Klang. The mosque was presented to Sultan Sulaiman by the British colonial administration in the 19th Century.

Shah Alam, is Selangor's state capital and is a modern township surrounded at its periphery by Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, and five other major townships including Klang, Bangi, and Kajang. It enjoys a vantage location being ideally located halfway between the national capital, KL, and the viable Port Klang Bukit Melawati: Atop Melawati Hill, the highest point in the area, is the site of the 200-year-old Fort Altingsburg. Here, one can enjoy the panoramic view of the Straits of Malacca and the surrounding areas. It was from this spot that the Dutch surveyed the surrounding countryside before capturing it in 1794. In the past, the hill lured only the hardy and determined visitor as it meant a stiff climb. Today, there is a tram car service that takes you to the top. In the vicinity is a royal mausoleum where past Selangor sultans were buried.

Forest Reserve Institute Of Malaysia (FRIM) Kepong Selangor
FRIM covering some 600 hectares of tropical forest, experimental plants and arboretum, Forest Reserve Institute Of Malaysia (FRIM) serves not only as recreational park with canopy walkway, jungle trails, herbarium, and other facilities, but also provides invaluable knowledge about the flora found in here. FRIM promotes sustainable management and optimal use of forest resources by generating knowledge and technology through research, development and application. FRIM’s wide-ranging expertise, award-winning research and international collaborations have earned the Institute a name for itself in tropical forestry. FRIM consists of five research divisions. The Forestry Division provides data, standards and guidelines for managing our natural forests on a sustainable basis. The Product Development Division focuses on the development of forest-based industries. The Biotechnology Division involves in creating new planting material through genetic engineering. Among the services provided by the Institute are the arboretum which serves as reference for forestry education, a herbarium established in 1908 with over 200,000 specimens, training courses from landscaping to wood identification, rattan and bamboo product manufacture, a nursery, library and venues for local and international conferences. The Institute also offers a wide range of facilities for research, including managing six field research stations in areas of different forest types in various parts of the country. FRIM’s ‘forest tour packages’ provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and public education in its grounds. It is a popular spot for picnickers, joggers, cycle’s, tourists and nature study groups, for family day events, treasure hunts, camping, bird watching, jungle trekking and nature photography. The grounds, which began as degraded land in the form of sterile mining pools, scrubby wasteland and barren vegetable farms, long-abandoned, is today a treasure of relatively unpolluted air, cooler temperatures and quiet serenity.

Bird Watching With almost 600 species inhabiting Peninsular Malaysia and about 580 species in Borneo, Malaysia is a natural attraction for bird watchers. Due to the diversity of the habitats, there are many places with abundant bird life to choose from. Many birds are common to both geographic areas, although some species, known as endemic species, are unique only to a certain location. Birding activities are concentrated in three distinctive habitat types - mountain forests, lowland rainforests and mangroves. Mountain forests generally occur above an elevation of around 2,952 feet, while lowland rainforests remain the most extensive habitat for over 200 species. The Mangrove forest ecosystem is a coastal habitat where salt and freshwater environs meet with coastline fringe. (((Bird life abounds at Fraser's Hill and Cameron Highlands))), which feature lush green surroundings, panoramic views and hiking trails. Also, for a pleasant day trip, try the Kuala Selangor Nature Park. Located at a mangrove swamp along the west coast, the park supports 130 bird species and seasonal migratory birds. Another interesting location, which may need more thorough planning, is Taman Negara - a dense lowland forest that is more than 150 million years old and home to over 200 bird species. Migratory birds use Malaysia's west-coast flyway to travel to Sumatra and beyond, with peak movements in April and October. Tanjung Tuan in Malacca is a favoured spot that attracts bird watchers from all over the world, who hope to catch a glimpse of these birds. The tropical climate of Malaysia allows bird watching to be a year round activity. Rain usually falls heaviest from September to December in the West Coast of the Peninsular and from October to February in the East Coast, Sabah and Sarawak. As excited as they are, bird watchers must show utmost care and respect to the birds and their habitats during bird watching sessions. Permits from Forestry Department of various states may be needed at some bird sanctuaries. Your travel agent or tour guide may be able to advise you on this.

Kuala Selangor Nature Park : The Kuala Selangor Nature Park is approximately 2km from town below Bukit Melawati. The park consists of more than 250 hectares of coastal land and has well-marked trails for jungle trekking. With over 150 species identified, bird watching is a popular activity. Both local and migratory birds frequent the mangrove swamps along the coast. The rare spoon-billed Sandpiper and Nordmanns's Greenshank can also be seen in this nature park. Two watchtowers and hides have been constructed to aid in bird watching. Visitors may be fortunate enough to spot leaf monkeys, otters, and nocturnal leopards, among many other animals. Fireflies: Ever watched the scintillating display of fireflies? Fireflies are found mostly in groups of dozens to thousands in estuarine mangrove swamps. This unique nature's wonder can be seen at the lower reaches of the Selangor River banks, at Kampung Kuantan. As the sun sets, these fireflies begin flashing something akin to what glow-worms do but at a rate of three flashes per second. In doing so, a fascinating spectacle similar to Christmas tree lights is created. Fireflies' shows can be seen at Kuala Kuantan,

Melawati Hill is located in the coastal town of Kuala Selangor, a 30-minute drive from Kuala Lumpur. In the late 18th Century, the second Sultan of Selangor had a fortress constructed on Melawati Hill to protect the state from intruders. The hill provided a vantage point to monitor ships in the Straits of Malacca. Even with a strategic hold, the Melawati Fort yielded to the Dutch cannons. It was again destroyed during the Selangor Civil War, when warring factions fought for tin-rich lands. All that remains of the fort now are its cannons, its original foundation stones and fabled execution block. The landscaped hill offers a panoramic view of the Selangor coastline. Visitors will be delighted to watch the free-roaming Silverleaf Monkeys in the area. The adults are dark-haired with a tinge of silver, while the young ones are a bright orange. Gentle and adorable, they graciously wait for bread or fruits from visitors, unlike the mischievous Long Tail Macaques. Other attractions here are a lighthouse, a royal mausoleum and a quaint rest house.

Bukit Melawati is situated in Kuala Selangor. Bukit Melawati or also known as Bukit Selangor is now a tourist place and is well known in the history of Selangor. During the 19th century, there was a fort built on Bukit Melawati The purpose of this fort was to defend the state of Selangor from its enemies which came from the river mouth. Sultan Ibrahim Shah, the second Sultan of Selangor that reigned from the year 1778 until 1826 instructed that a fort be built at the peak of Bukit Melawati for defence. The purpose of building this fort was an effort by Selangor to avoid attacks from the Dutch. As the Dutch was trying to capture Johor - Riau and Selangor had strong relationship with the government of Johor and Riau, the Sultan of Selangor was afraid that the Dutch would retaliate and attacked Selangor.
The fort was built with solid stones arranged closely and almost half of Bukit Melawati was built with stone pillars and decorated with several cannons. In order to avoid erosion of the hill, rain-trees were planted. The fort has a big entrance about 3 meters wide facing the east and has a staircase leading to the courtyard. From the courtyard if you go down the staircase which consisted of twenty steps made of solid stones it will lead you to a small hill called Melawati Hill. This entrance has been used by the Sultan and other dignitaries to hold their ceremonies.
The second entrance which was about two meters wide was situated on the east side near an existing rest house. The third entrance faced the west and was used as an entrance from the defence fort at Bukit Tanjung Keramat. This entrance was equipped with several cannons measuring about 2 to 5 meters facing the direction of Kuala Selangor. During the 18th century, fighting broke out between the Dutch who were based in Malacca and the people of Selangor who were defending their land. In the year 1758, the Dutch who were ruling Malacca made an agreement with Sultan Salahuddin. In the agreement, the Sultan allowed the Dutch ships to sail into Kuala Selangor for the tin trade. Ships who requested for permission from the Sultan of Johor were also allowed to sail into Kuala Selangor as the Sultan of Johor was on good term with the Dutch. During the Anglo-Dutch war between 1780 and 1784, the status and influence of the Dutch became weak. The Sultan of Johor and the Sultan of Riau conspired to overthrow the Dutch as they wanted to get control of Malacca again. The Sultan of Selangor at that time was Sultan Ibrahin Shah, the second Sultan of Selangor who replaced his father, Sultan Salahuddin. On 13 July 1784, the Dutch army which consisted of 11 ships and several vessels belonging to the Raja Muhammad Ali of Siak arrived at Selangor and a war broke out between the Dutch and Sultan Ibrahim. The war lasted for two weeks and the fort was nearly destroyed. On 2 August 1784, the fort fell into the hand of the Dutch. Sultan Ibrahim, his son Raja Nala, Sayid Jaafar and the other royal families retreated to Hulu Selangor. The Sultan further retreated to Bernam and from Bernam to Pahang. In Pahang the Sultan managed to get assistance from the Prime Minister Abdul Majid to recapture Selangor. The Dutch who had captured Kuala Selangor appointed Raja Muhammad Ali from Siak as the regent of Selangor. The Dutch also made a peace agreement with Raja Muhammad Ali thereby further strengthened its stronghold in Kuala Selangor. After the war, Fort Malawati was repaired by the Dutch and equipped with better cannons. The Dutch named the fort at Bukit Malawati “Altingsburg”, which was the name of the Dutch Governor General at that time, that is Governor General Alting. The fort at Bukit Malawati was further strengthened and the area around the fort was lighted up so that enemies can be seen from the land and the sea. However the victory of the Dutch in Kuala Selangor does not mean that the war was over. In fact Sultan Ibrahim who had retreated to Pahang was building up his army. The Sultan’s followers who were left behind at Kuala Selangor made attacks on the Dutch. The followers of Sultan Ibrahim did not recognized the Dutch and Raja Muhammad Ali from Siak as their rulers. The Dutch tried to made peace with the followers of Sultan Ibrahim but failed.
On 27 July 1785, a year after the Sultan Muhammad Ali ruled Kuala Selangor, war broke out again in Kuala Selangor. Sultan Ibrahim came with 2,000 followers from Pahang to recapture Kuala Selangor. In Kuala Selangor, Sultan Ibrahim’s army build their defence fort at Permatang which was further strengthened when the people of Permatang joined the army. On the night of 27 July 1785, war broke out when Sultan Ibrahim launched a surprise attack on the Dutch. The Dutch were defeated the following morning and they fled from their forts in Kuala Selangor in their ships. On 28 June 1875, Sultan Ibrahim with the help of Pahang succeeded in capturing Kuala Selangor and Fort Malawati. The Dutch did not have the time to destroy the cannons in the fort. When Sultan Ibrahim passed away, he was buried at Bukit Selangor which is now known as Bukit Malawati whereas the Regent of Selangor was buried at Bukit Tanjung Keramat. Today, Bukit Malawati offers a panoramic view of the Selangor coast and the Klang Valley. Besides Fort Malawati, there are several other fascinating historical attractions such as the Altingsburg Lighthouse, the Royal Mausoleum, the fabled execution block, children’s playground, the legendary 100 steps and a quaint rest house.
The view from the peak of the hill is lovely. The entire delta can be seen. Much of the mangrove swamps still exist, lining the coastal plains like blue tint mascara; and right at the foot of the hill lies 497 acres of the Kuala Selangor Nature Park, which is a great place for bird watching and a nice place for a stroll in the evening. Just further to the right of the estuary is a small fishing settlement built on stilts sitting pretty, above the shallow waters. In the evenings, boats can be seen bringing in their catches for the day. The fishing village itself is a nice place to walk around. The sundry shops here sell all sorts of weird sea produce, mostly looking as though they had been flattened under steam rollers, slapped about and thrown onto the hot tarmac to soak in a bit of the 'local' flavour before being packed for the odd shopper or two. There are also a few seafood restaurants that serve up scrumptious seafood dishes although the standards of hygiene could be improved a couple of notches or so. Bukit Melawati also has a lighthouse and several old colonial houses built during the British days. Just round the corner from the viewpoint, and to the back of the lighthouse is a car park area. Several families of Silver-Leafed Monkeys and Long-Tailed Macaques hang around here for peanut handouts from visitors. The Silver-leafed babies have golden fur as compared with the adults of dull-ashen grey. These Monkeys are a delight - they are gentle and seem to always have a thank you for every morsel of food given. The long-tailed macaques, on the other hand, are generally a little more mischievous and if you turn your back for a second - you'd never know what they would do. Always be careful when feeding the monkeys. Although they have had many interactions with humans, we must remember that they are wild and wild animals tend to be erratic sometimes. Cars are allowed up the hill during weekdays. There is a one way road system that winds all the way up and then down some. For weekends you will have to park your vehicle at the bottom of the hill and walk up. There is a restaurant with a balcony overlooking the town area. It states that there are chalets and rooms for rent and we did enquire but as of now, only the restaurant is functioning. The tram runs up the hill during weekends only and costs RM1.00 for adults; children: free.
31st Jan 2008
Hello my family in Birdforum, I would like to explain to you all that I blame all my problems on Clive Timmons. As you also know Birdforum has been very slow this month and to cap it all, my server crashed again. You would think my God would take pity on me and allow me to go birding. No way, he sent the rain to torment me, he allowed the rain to pelt down in torrents then the sky would clear and I would get excited and prepare to go out, then suddenly the rain would come down again. Time and again this would happen and you can imagine this has left me prowling around like a caged tiger. Then, what do you know, I manage to get into birdforam at last, and when going through all the hundreds of pictures I see one of our friend Clive Timmons. I know he is handsome and of course I was jealous but it was when I had finished writing a comment my stupid server crashed again. Now with no birding and the only memory I have of the birdforum is the handsome image of Clive's in my head. Talking about Heads, I was becoming a head case; I started seeing heads, big heads, Thick heads and headless wonders and just before I ‘head’-ed for the funny farm my staff shouted, “doctor there’s no more patients and its cloudy but no rain”. “Vzooooom” I was in my car and strolling along the path in my patch before you could blink an eye. Slowly I trudged along, breathing in all the fresh watered air and wading through all the (((poodles))). Then I saw not far away perched on the top of a tall tree, seven dark coloured birds. Without looking through the binoculars I knew they were the Black Baza’s, they have been here since the end of last October and every time I managed to get close enough they always flew away. This time six of them flew off but the seventh bird nosed dived into some stunted trees about a hundred feet away. Now I know my patch like the back of my hand and I knew just where that bird had landed and all I have to do is go to the right where there are two bush-like trees and behind that a half dead tree, and that is where I am sure the baza was sitting. Quickly I galloped to the bush, ducking between the bushes I had completely forgot about a low branch of another small bush behind the first two. I remember hearing a “thunk” sound, then the pain on my forehead and saw those “twinkling stars”. I was sitting on my backside in the wet earth but throughout these flashing moments, I remained conscious of the bird I was after, so I never made a sound and I slowly got up, and bending low I reached the tree where I could see the Baza was perched about thirty feet away and had his back to me. The bird was magnificent to me and when a stray ray of sunlight struck the birds back the sight was not only beautiful but fantastic. The problem I could see was that the birds head and neck were in the shade and the back was out of the shade. As I viewed the bird through the view-finder I noticed one dry twig sticking out from the bird's left and stopping just a few inches from its face and another twig from the right falling over it back. Beggars can’t be choosers I though and what’s a twig when a bird like this is in my sights. I took a couple of pictures and on the third one it turned and I got the picture I wanted. I swear I saw a startled look on it face as it flew off. The horrible headache I had before taking the picture had disappeared and I raised my hand in the air towards the bird and yelled, “YES, after three month I got you”. My patch shook with my shout and then the terrible pain came back to my head. Due to the twigs the picture isn’t that good and I don’t know how to edit them out. Clive I don’t think the bird is more handsome then you “lol”
Because of the lump on my head I called this picture, “Head's”. (The lump took some time to go away.)
Black Baza Aviceda leuphotos
5th Feb 2008
On Saturday after closing my practice I reached home at nine pm and the first thing my wife say's to me with a wink, “you are going birding to FRIM tomorrow because we have some girly things to do” I knew what the reason was and I gave her a big hug. Next morning I called Jason Tan and asked him if he would like to accompany me on a trip to the F.R.I.M. He said he would meet me there. When my walking brewery and I reached the reserve I received an s.m.s. message. I hate s.m.s probably because I don’t know how to read them. I gave the phone to my brewery and he deciphered it and he said, “Jason isn’t coming because he can’t start his car and is stuck in his mother-in-laws house. “HAVE A GOOD TIME JASON” “Ha-ha”. We reached one of the isolated house's on the hill and saw a group of students in white aprons and as I was passing I heard one of them shout, “Manjeet” I turned and there was Professor Chan in the group. He is a professor in one of the private medical schools, a very expensive place. “Hi Chan what are you doing here”. “Collecting some plants for the botany class” he said, and then he turns around and shouts to the students, “Meet Dr Manjeet”. He then tells me, “this is first year class in the medical collage” Suddenly I hear a loud whisper “HE DOESNT LOOK LIKE A DOCTOR” and I noticed among the group of youngsters the one who had made the comment, she was a long thin, lean young lady with a pair of binoculars hanging around her neck. I asked her, “Why are you wearing those binoculars” and she said, “Sir, my dad is a new birder and I brought his binoculars with me because I also like to look at birds”. I turned to professor Chan and asked, “Have they witnessed any short cases yet”. “Yes indeed” he said, “and I hope to send at least two to you for their elective posting. “Can I ask them a question” “Yes, go ahead my friend”. “O.K. you people, what is B.O.P”. All of them had blank looks on their faces. Then the tall lean one lifted her hand and said. Bird Of Pray. “Shaking my head I started walking away and then Professor Chan said, “Manjeet I know the answer is wrong but would you care to tell them”. I continued walking for a moment, then turned and yelled, “It means Boil on the Penis”. The professor collapsed laughing and then his voice came back, hollow like, “the lean one will be at your practice in two years time Manjeet. I could still hear him laughing as we disappeared over the hill. We reached the back of the house and slithered down the hill into the thick jungle and waited there. Then I heard a light drumming sound and although it was a bit dark under the canopy I was delighted to see with wonder a female Checker-throated Woodpecker. I managed to get three pictures before it gave a loud, “Ki-eee” and took off. It is always a pleasure for me to see a woodpecker. By the way, neither of us saw a single leech during out stay in the jungle.
Checker-Throated Woodpecker ( Female). Picus mentalis
5th Feb 2008
After taking the second picture I decided to nail the identification and took this picture to post. Did I ever tell you about my burning feet on that morning. It was due to the last patient on Saturday, a patient who lives in Telor Gong and had been talking to a doctor he met in the jungle. The doctor prescribed the use of TIGER BALM rubbed on the feet to deter the leeches. Like an idiot I bought the biggest jar available and in the morning before leaving I smeared globs of it on my feet up to my knees and then covered with my socks. Half way to picking up my brewery, my feet and legs started burning, the blooming balm stings like fire. So you see this stupid Dr reached FRIM with his feet burning like they were on hot coals. But after about two hours the stinging stopped but you know! I didn’t have a single leech on me all day although I will not forget the burning for a very long time. Oh Admin, there is a pathetic picture of this bird by a Singh in Opus. Admin you shouldn’t allow pictures like this pleassssssssssseeeeee..lol.
Picus mentalis Picus mentalis
naturistbirder. I wish I knew a doctor who shouted out such jollities! Thank you, Tanny.
Throughout this thread I have had some difficult times editing Manjeets stories but I have to confess this story has to be the hardest of them all. I would like readers to go into Manjeets Threads to seek out this story and compare that original version to this one and tell me if I have interpreted correctly his true feelings. Thank you. Tanny

5th Feb 2008
In life there is happiness, joy, sadness, pain and laughter, a circle from which we cannot escape. Do you remember last Christmas Eve when I told you about my terminally ill thirty year old patient with three daughters, and as I was leaving he told me that this was the best Xmas he ever had. Well as I was getting ready to go birding at my patch, his wife rings me and say's, “Dr Manjeet can you come, I know you had come in the morning, but please come now”. I immediately forgot about birding and drove to their house and when arriving I saw the three little ones waiting at the door, they rush over to me and gave me a hug with tears in their eyes. The littlest one said, “Dr Uncle, Papa is no more, is he now free like birds”. I went down on my knees and hugged them and said, “Yes”. They then took me to their father lying on his bed. There was no loud whaling or sobbing, just silent tears flowing down their cheeks. I examined the father and told the grand mother and wife that he has indeed gone and we know he suffered a lot of pain but now he is free. I signed the death certificate and made to leave, but as I reached the door the eldest daughter said to me, “Does this mean Dr Uncle you won’t be coming again”. I turned and hugged the three of them again and said, “I promise I will come and visit you each week”. I went back to the practice and saw to the many various complaints of my patients but throughout the day the children's words kept ringing in my head. I have a question here; do we Doctors have a moral obligation to see patients after they leave us? Or for that matter, do friends and neighbors also have the same obligations. “YES, yes, I think they do. Because bereaved people need the support from everyone to get over the trauma of the loss. I made a promise to those little ones and I sincerely hope I can keep to that promise. It’s just a little of my time, time which the girls didn’t have with their father. I think that each and everyone should make an effort to give support to those who are grieving over a loss of a loved one. How nice it would be if all of us could do this and what a wonderful world we would be living in. With my mind full of troubled thoughts, at four thirty I dashed off to my patch to purge my brain. It was very cloudy when I got there and to me it looked like the weather was also feeling sad. I made my way to my favourite place, under a tree on the river bank and after getting my kowa organised on the tripod I sat there and just looked at the swallows flying here and there over the water, snatching at flies and taking sips of water from the surface. Then a kind of inner peace came over me and as if in union with my soul, the clouds parted above and the sun hit the area where I was sitting. Suddenly two brilliant birds flew up and down the river and the sun reflected on their bright colors and I realized this wonderful portraiture of nature was actually, “THE COLOURS of LIFE”. These Bee-eaters hawked up and down the fringes of the river searching for bees gathering pollen from the bank-side plants. Then one of them came and sat on a dead tree about forty feet away and when I looked through the scope I knew I had found my true colors of life. All the feeling of sadness and depression vanished and with a big smile I started taking pictures. I felt in my mind that I could read the birds thoughts, and it was saying, “Manjeet this is the Colours of Life”. Sometimes I feel one should know what we see and what we have to do and wonder if others could also do it and if they did then their life would be worth living also.
Blue-tailed Bee-Eater Merops philippinus
naturistbirder. This is so true. When you have been bereaved you never forget people who have helped you.And then, eventually, the sun shines through. Just as it did for Manjeet after his selfless act in giving of himself.
Thank you for these, Tanny.
8th Feb 2008
Continuing with my exploits in F.R.I.M.
After getting the Woodpeckers, we waited for almost and hour and half without seeing any birds. I think it was due to my ‘Hot Feet’ that was causing me to fidget and hop around. And my brewery wasn’t helping with his big silly grin that spread from ear to ear. I decided enough is enough for no more birds were heard and personally I think it was that stupid woody who had something to do with the birds keeping silent. That stool-pigeon must have passed on the message that the Singh was about and stinking to high heaven of Tiger Balm. We came out from the jungle onto the road and then decided to go to the west side of FRIM, about five miles away where there is an old house hidden from view up on a hill. Of course we had to walk it because the car was parked over three miles behind. ‘Oh my burning feet’ good grief I didn’t think an idiot could be so idiotic, Tiger Balm plastered on my feet in a hot, steamy jungle, Blimey Singh you’ve lost it this time you hear. “Lol”. Eventually we reached the house without seeing anything new and interesting to photograph. Behind the house is a small running stream, we crossed this and went into the jungle for about a hundred feet where there was a small clearing, huffing and puffing we sat down and I asked my brewery to take out the Ale. Wow, you should have seen his face; it lit up like a sunlight glow. I sat there resting with my back against a tree and took a long, slow swig of the cool Ale and then let out a tremendous burp. Can you believe it; the burning sensation vanished with that expulsion of gas. As we sat there silently, listening to the hum of insects and distant calls of different birds, we suddenly heard a loud rustling sound in the undergrowth about fifty feet away, then came a horrendous loud M-I-A-O-U call and the hairs on my arm and the back of my neck stood up on end. “What is it” I heard my brewery say in a terrified voice from high up in the tree. “Shush” I said with finger over my lips, and then asked him in a whisper, why is he hiding up the tree. His face peered down at me through the foliage and his eyes were as big as door knobs. “T-t-t-tiger” he stuttered. You idiot I exclaimed and shook my fist at him and had a hard time stifling a burst of laughter but if I did then every bird for miles around would fly away. Again there came two loud MIAOUS from the jungle and I could see the leaves shaking in the trees about forty feet away, then I saw them, two Malkohas flitting through the foliage. I waited till they were about thirty feet away before taking pictures. I managed to take five pictures before they heard the shutter and saw me, then like two mysterious ghosts they glided away to disappear into the deep jungle. I looked up at my brewery who stared down at me with a sheepish grin on his face. “Tigers” I said, “Tigers here in this place” words failed me and I just shook my head and checked my watch and saw it was lunch time. We trudged the miles back to the car looked at my pictures. YES I had got them, my first. Hope you will like the pictures. Well just to stop thinking of my burning feet. This was the last picture I had taken and I only wish the little twig and leaves weren’t there but this bird is very sneaky and difficult bird to photograph in the jungle. I know ((((((cloning)))))????? But I don’t know how to do it, and neither do I like it. Chestnut-breasted Malkoha Phaenicophaeus curvirostris Well people. I had to upload this picture I noticed it has Golden Eyes. According to Craig Robson's it is a female. At least we now know what a female looks like. Oh why do Females always like Gold? I know the picture isn’t too good but I couldn’t resist. I don’t want the females of the world to get annoyed with me.
Chestnut-breasted Malkoha ( Female Phaenicophaeus curvirostris
9th Feb 2008
You’re all going to love this story.
After coming out of the jungle with the Malkohas under my belt, I was feeling on a high, of course the Ale may have had something to do with that. I looked down the road and saw about a kilometre away a path that would save us at least a two mile walk. The path was only about thirty foot long and about a foot wide and it took us through to the other side of the hill. The sides are so dense with growth that you can’t even put your foot through. Not far into the path it bends to the right and when I reached the bend I got a shock of my life to see a young thirty year old chap of a small stature and thin neck with an over sized head was standing smack in the middle of the path fumbling with his belt buckle, his tripod and camera with a zoom at least two feet long and six inches wide was pointing upwards. Oh how lucky I am I thought, a Professional birder. When he saw me he quickly straightened up. Slowly I walked up to him and in a whisper said, “My friend, what bird is it that you are looking at”. He looked up at me with such a dirty look on his face. I explained to him that I was not an experienced birder and am interested in what a professional like you were looking at. He gave no reply but just stared at me. Now I was beginning to get a bit angry at this ignorant fellow. I stepped back a few paces and plonked down my tripod and camera and started doing physical exercises. Knees bend and swinging my arms. Then my brewery came up behind me and put down his load of ale and started imitating what I was doing. I was deliberately trying in my usual crazy way to teach that rude, ill mannered chap a lesson. Then I noticed his face turning red and he grabbed up his things and bolted out of there, now as I was going the same way and by now feeling a little “pished” off with the guy’s attitude, I shouted to my brewery to follow me and bolted after him. As I sprinted out of the path onto the road I saw the chap running down the long incline. The youth of today aren’t as fit as oldies like me so I soon caught up with him, and as I jogged beside him I almost choked with laughter at the sight of the little guy running for his life, he was huffing and puffing and his head was bobbing up and down. ((Can you readers imagine the sight! A big hairy white bearded Singh jogging beside a terrified little chap who’s clinging to his tripod and camera and running as fast as he can.)) “Why are you running” I bellowed, this caused him to increase his speed and as he drew ahead of me he yelled, “Singh I have got the runs and I wanted to do it back there but you popped up”. I then noticed a small building about three hundred yards away from him at the side of the road so I stopped jogging and cupped my hands around my mouth and in a echoing voice shouted, “Hope you don’t make it”. I watched him through my binoculars and about six feet from the toilets he seemed to stiffen and stop running, then with a strange stiff legged gait he slowly entered the toilet and I knew by that walk that HE didn’t make it ‘lol’. I collapsed howling on the grass. I know I am bad and my mischievous nature can get the better of me sometimes but if he had just said there was no bird then I would have passed him without another thought. When my brewery reached me, I told him the story and both of us collapsed laughing. As we passed the toilets, both of us were giggling like naughty schoolboys and I just couldn’t help myself as I started singing, “A birding we will go, a birding we will go, ee-I adio a birding we will go. We were still laughing when we reached an old house that had a steep slope at the back and at the bottom of the slope was a tall tree and among the foliage I saw a small bird. Quickly I focused and, “Wow”, it was a Buff-vented Bulbull, I have been searching for this bird for the last two years. I only had one chance of a single picture before it flew away and I was very anxious before I saw it on my screen, and when I saw the successful picture I gave a great yell, “Yes”. I know it's not a beautiful bird but still I love it and don’t you think I had an amusing time prior to getting it. After I had called it a day I reached the gate and another car stopped beside me and since my window was down I looked out and saw it was the chap with the runs who was in the other car, he saw me and ducked down. As I accelerated and passed him, I shouted, “You didn’t make it did you”, and howling with laughter I sped away.
Buff-vented Bulbul Hypsipetes charlottae
From Manjeet. It look's like you almost caught up with me. Well my friend, I wonder how you manage to persist day after day writting this. I bow to you my friend,(had to hold on to my turban before bowing, lol, it almost fell off thanks for every story that you re-wrote my friend.
Christineredgate.thanks,Tanny,thought you had finished this thread,but you are still posting more stories.Well done, good reading.
12th Feb 2008
On Sunday when I got up I found a small note by my wife left on the table and it said, “I will be back before midday and we will be having lunch at your Chinese friend’s house. I laughed and picked up my kowa and drove off to Telor Gong. By the time I reached the bund near the mangroves, the time was just after seven am and the sun was peeping out over the trees, the air was fresh and a slight mist drifted through the mangroves giving the place an air of mystery. I started walking along the bund accompanied by the Black-shouldered kites that wheeled above with their white breasts glowing orange in the early sunlight. The persistent chatter of sunbirds flitting through the trees and shrubs was like music to my ears. I plodded on along the bund taking in all the sights and sounds of nature and I felt all the pain and sorrow of the past week become uplifted from my mind. Sometime later I noticed a huge bird sitting on the top of a tree at the mangrove side of the bund about a mile away. I hastened towards the bird and through my binoculars focused on it from about two hundred feet away. “Oh my God”, I exclaimed to myself, it’s a Chestnut-bellied Malkoha. I approached it with as much stealth as I could but it dived away into the Mangroves. Today I brought a ball of thick string with me and after I had threaded the string through my key chain that was attached to my belt I then tied the end to a young tree that was growing at the edge of the bund, the ball of string was in my pocket and when I plunged into the thick, almost impenetrable mangroves the string of my lifeline threaded out behind me. Almost as soon as I stepped into the mangroves the sticky, slimy mud came up to my knees but today I had tied my tripod to my backpack and my kowa was attached to my belt. If you’re interested as to what I mean about this attachment I suggest reading my part two of, “Your birding day in Kuala Selangor”. So there I was with my kowa dangling downwards and my hands where now free to hold onto the branches of the trees. I kept the bird in view as I slogged through the mire and when about twenty to thirty feet away I rested hidden away from the bird against a half dead tree. I wedged my kowa onto a low branch with great difficulty but couldn’t get the bird in the view finder because it wouldn’t stop moving. Suddenly the stupid bird flew away leaving me stuck there knee deep in all that slimy mud. I sure felt like a fool right then. I took out my water bottle and drank deeply; yes its water not ale, it wouldn’t do to arrive at lunch in a slightly intoxicated condition. As I stood there drinking, a pesky little Pied Fantail arrived and perched there laughing down at me from about four foot away, I shook my fist at it, then suddenly it flew to the base of a dead tree just two feet above the tide line where I noticed a hole where the bird entered. Quickly I focused my kowa and waiting for it to pull its head out so that I could get a picture. Out came the head and I took the shot, but when I looked at the picture I saw only the tail, these birds are so fast. I tried a couple more times with the same results, then it sat upon a branch with it beak open wide like it was laughing at me. Suddenly out of nowhere this Red Turbaned Singh was there and when I looked through the viewfinder I saw its head was partially inside the hole but I could see the eyes, then he looked up you could hear my mind shout, “Yes got you my kin”. The Woodpecker flew away and I checked the screen and noticed I had got two picture of it. Moments later the Fantail returned and poked its head into the hole again. I told myself, “one last try and if I get it well and good, if not then I’m out of here.” The little blighter seemed to pose so nicely for me and I clicked my shutter, but when I checked the results all I saw was its back view and that was blurred as it flew away. Like an idiot I waited there for almost an hour but no other bird arrived. I removed my kowa from the branch and as I was leaving a squirrel came and also tried to poke his head into the hole. I wondered was this their, “Ale hole”. Laughing to myself I followed my lifeline back to the anchor tree.
Common Goldenback ( Male ) Dinopium javanense
13th Feb 2008
My brewery and I visited the Forest reserve Institute of Malaysia, FRIM, and after birding the whole day we strolled back to the car. Close to the car park was a steep grassy slope and I decided to just lie down with my feet pointing down the slope. I lay there admiring the fantastic scenic view when suddenly I heard a wonderful trilling and bubbling notes coming from a short bushy tree about thirty feet down the hill, there was another short tree like bush about twelve feet before it. I looked at my brewery and said, “you relax I will go and look for this, my one for the road bird”. I strapped my kowa that was attached to the tripod onto my back with my belt, and tightened at chest level, then face down I started sliding down the well cut steep grassy slope. Am I the only one or do any of you my readers act like a child sometimes. This was one of those occasions; I pushed myself down that slope and, “Weeeeeeeee”, as I gathered speed it dawned on me that I have no brakes. Just before the first bush I opened my legs and dug my toes into the turf and also tried using my palms as brakes, just about four inches from the bush I managed to stop and I lay there with my face resting on my arms and shivering with fright. “You stupid Singh, what an idiot I am” was all I could say. Slowly I got up and unbuckled the belt and adjusted the length of the third leg of the tripod enabling my kowa to be on an even keel. The trilling and bubbling notes emanating from the bird was still going full swing. On peeping out from the bush I could see the wonderful Red-eyed Bulbul right in front of me, I frantically clicked the shutter but there was no response. After more cursing I realised my kowa was on T-scope and the camera can only take pictures after twenty feet on that. Quickly I changed the camera mode. Now when changing to the camera mode the view finder turns blank and you can only adjust through the L.C.D, this was the first time doing it. I pressed the shutter and heard the beautiful sound of a click, on the third shot the bulbul looks my way and sees me, then off he flies, trilling and bubbling like I had molested him. Just as I picked up my kowa to walk back I heard the sound of clapping coming from up the hill, “Oh no”, up there stood a group of about nine or ten people clapping, and my brewery with a silly grin on his face was standing with them. I scrambled up that slope almost on all fours and as I reached them one elderly lady said, “Mr Singh, we thought you were going to ram into that bush”, and then all of them started laughing and I just had to join in with them. After introducing myself the lady asks, “Can we see the picture that you took after your ‘kamikaze’ slide”. After another bout of laughing I showed them the picture of the bulbul, they all agreed that it was a terrific picture but was it actually worth risking your life for, laughter again. .If I may, “ahmm” say so, it’s not too bad.
Red-Eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus brunneus
Happy Valentine's Day to Birdforum Members
14th Feb 2008
What a wonderful day it is today, the sun is out and filling everyone with warmth, friendship and happiness. Hold your horses because I have a funny tale to tell. As soon as I stepped into my practice I immediately noticed Mr & Mrs Ponniah, and Mr Ponniah had a large blood stained towel covering his nose. They are a delightful elderly couple in their sixties, and as I passed him I stopped and said, “Happy Valentine's day my friend”, he mumbled a reply, “Noo shassss hasspi, (not so happy due to the towel)” and I laughingly said, “Mrs Ponniah, did you hit him”? All the eleven patients sitting there laughed because the old couple were one of the most peaceful members of the community. Mr Ponniah answered for her with a loud moan and said, “Yshhhhhh(YES)”. With a shocked look on my face I quickly sat down beside him and removed the towel and found that there was a nasty cut on his nose.I turned to Mrs Ponniah and asked, “What happened”. Mr Ponniah shouted, “Let me speak Dr Manjeet”. Mrs Ponniah’s face was turning bright red with blushing. “So what happened my friend” I asked and he replied by saying that she (his wife) had a fight with him. “And the fight was about this”, shouted Mrs Ponniah, “He has never, ever given me a flower on Valentines day. Mr Ponniah retorted by replying, “I was wrong, but I promised you I will give you flowers today, now let me tell the story to the Doc”. “Today I went early to the market and after looking around I saw this huge flower with green leaves and with the biggest, whitish, yellow flower I had ever seen, I thought it was a perfect flower to present to my wife on this special Valentines’ day, so I wrapped it in a beautiful paper and wrote on the card and went home. She was still sleeping so I put the flower on her side of the pillow and said, “Happy Valentine's Day Darling” and kissed her awake”, (“Oh how so sweet” shouted all my patients.) “And then she woke up” he said. “Please, let me tell you what happened next” said Mrs Ponniah. “I was sleeping and almost sobbing with pleasure” she said “because I was dreaming about my husband coming home with a big bunch of flowers, and when I felt his lips on my cheek I jumped up and gave him a big hug and kiss. You know, this is the first time he has kissed me in thirty years; I then turned to look at the flowers. I looked at it and my eyes fell out with shock, I turned to him and he stood there with a silly grin on his face. I looked again at the flower, then picked it up and hammered him on the nose with it” she shouted, “The twit had given me a 1kg Cauliflower”. For a moment there was absolute silence in the waiting room, then pandemonium broke out as everyone there burst out laughing. With tears streaming down my face I escorted the old couple to the Minor Operating Room and after applying two stitch’s on his nose I again started laughing and she started laughing and hugging him and then both of them started laughing. I said, “What a memorable Valentines’ day you are having my friends” and then gave Mr Ponniah a bit of advice. “Next time, leave the card and the cauliflower on her pillow, kiss her and bolt out of the house, you won’t get hurt that way, I know because I just did the same thing to my wife today”. That got them laughing again and as they came out of the room the patients outside saw them holding each other and they all stood up and clapped. Then a couple of comedians dashed to the door and yelled, “Mr Ponniah, where did you buy the cauliflower, we want one for our wives”. Happy Valentine's Day to all of you, and you now know what to do.
Isn’t it a Wonderful Day.

Marmot
Happy Valentines Day. And yes I have someone sitting right next to me [mentioning no names - IAN] and the last time he got me some flowers was about twelve years ago. He got me red roses and they were all dead by the fifteenth. I told him that in future not to bother with Roses and just get Chrysanthemums and Carnations as they are cheaper. His reply was, “I am not going to get you anymore”, and he never has. Yes, a Cauliflower is more in his line. [maybe a turnip as well] So Manjeet can I put you on standby for a second casualty of the day if he turns up with either of these.
naturistbird
Thank you, Manjeet, for that cheerful tale about Valentine's Day. If only we could see what goes on in your surgery!! What about a book entitled, "Tales from the Surgery"?
Thanks again for all the things you have written that have made us smile. Please keep writing.
Peewit
Happy Valentine everyone
Hello there Manjeet, love your stories, and what you said made me laugh here (may as well OH is not here) Laughter, the best medicine for Valentine’s day and life in general - keep those super stories coming.
psilo
LOL well I guess it’s the thought that counts Great story Doc. Hugs form me on this Valentines Day
15th Feb 2008
I haven’t been birding since last Tuesday due to work, but this Tuesday I managed to get time enough to go to my Patch. I was just aimlessly strolling along, enjoying the blissful pleasure of once again being out among nature. At the extreme end of the area I decided to rest for a while and it was when I was sitting there quietly that I saw a male Asian Koel fly in and settled on a branch not more than thirty feet away, then a female arrived and neither of the birds noticed me as they began their duet singing. Suddenly out of nowhere a brown-grey streak came diving down and the female koel with a scream took off followed by a Japanese Sparrow Hawk who was just about a foot behind her tail. I stood there like a stunned mullet and couldn’t tear my eyes from the chase. About half a mile away the koel dived into a bush and the hawk was left clinging to the outer branches. Quickly I focused my kowa and confirmed it was indeed a Japanese Sparrow hawk. After a moment swinging there in a frustrated mood it took off. This has just been one of those memorable moments when one is out in the wild environments and the wonder of it can leave a lasting memory. Just before moving on I looked up and saw the male bird still sitting there shaking like a life in a breeze. Well how could I waste such an opportunity? I know, it’s one of the commonest birds to be found around here but isn’t it beautiful..
Asian Koel ( Male ) Eudynamya scolopacea

20th Feb 2008
In the blistering heat this birder bolts to his patch carrying his 5kg kowa and tripod plus his drinks and other things weighing another 7kg. Sadly he has no Ale because of it being a working break. As he steps into his patch with his construction shoes and football socks the bushes beside the path cling to him as he passes them and they laughingly deposit their sharp, thorny seeds onto his knee length socks, and as he continues on some of the seeds fall into his shoes and after a while these cause him to limp. Laughter echoes from the bushes but he pays them no mind though he lets out a occasional “OUCH” due to the pain in his heel. Then this eagle eyes sees a black shape gliding down into the lower canopy of his patch and he pauses, waiting, and while waiting and watching the sweat flows down his face and neck then down his back and starts to soak his underpants. He unpacks the water bottle and takes a huge gulp and curses the day, saying to himself, “Why wasn’t it Sunday, then he would be drinking Ice Cold Ale. As he reaches the path that leads to the end of his patch were the dark bird that he was stalking had landed, he finds the whole path covered with a huge pile of fresh, smelly cow dung and this mess spreads right to the low canopy. Weeping, he takes to the thick stunted bushes area which has no path and he has to battle through the tangle, trying to be as silent as he can, eventually he reaches a few feet from the canopy area and he’s forced to cover his nose and mouth with a handkerchief and with the gritting of teeth he plunges into the dank, humid atmosphere of the low canopy area and is immediately met by hordes of mozzies, all shouting, “LUNCH is here”. Undaunted by the sweat, thorns and bites he plunges on, nothing causes him to deviate from his objective, he carries on, hot, tired and panting, then he stops, searching for that black tail and wondering if it wasn’t just a Crow. As he stands there as still as a statue, down hops the bird about forty feet away onto a dead branch of a tree in full sunlight, sunlight that beams down through a hole in the canopy and that sunlight strikes the birds plumage, enhancing the magnificence of it. The birder gapes opened mouth at the bird and is frozen there as if time has stood still. Slowly the time starts running again and he desperately focus's his camera and has just enough time to take three pictures before the bird fly's away laughing and shouting, “Singh you under wear stinks”. The birder stands there enchanted by his achievement, almost benumbed by the thrill of the capture. All the Mosquito bites, all the sweat and smelly cow pies are forgotten, soon he recovers his senses and dashes back to his place of work to show his friends what he has captured. About a hundred miles away on a hill station in Malaysia a young birder is sitting on the terrace of his five star hotel with a huge umbrella overhead so that the sun doesn’t cause sunburn on his skin, and with a clinking iced lemon drink by his side he opens his laptop and views the gallery of “BIRDFORUM”. Beside the young man is his huge lens and camera already fixed, waiting for birds to pass and pose for him. The first picture he sees is this Black Baza and he posts a comment. “Manjeet, it is a fine picture my friend but you should have moved to your right about ten feet and used your exposure correction a tad, it would then have been a fabulous shot” After taking a sip of the cold drink he continued, “Anyhow it isn’t too bad a picture, thanks for sharing and my friend keep them coming you hear.
Weeping the old birder leaves this massage, or is it message, “I hope you like it people and thanks in advance for your comments. lol..
Black Baza Aviceda leuphotos

22nd Feb 2008

Me and my big mouth. Now please don’t start laughing yet. I knew James Eaton, a B.F.member, had gone to Vietnam & Cambodia, but I didn’t know when he would be back and I was beginning to get worried because I hadn’t heard from him, so I rang his Home Phone, and glory-be it was ringing. I said “hello” and as usual with a laugh, and he says that he is back home now. Your alive then I said, again with a laugh. Yes of course he said and being the eldest, (by many years) I have to ask some pointed questions,” saw many birds did you”. He laughs and knowing what I was referring to says, “See here Doc, only the feathered ones” I grumble and of cause I then asked about the feathered ones. “So when are coming over to my practice” I later ask, and he replied, “Doc, I’m not sick”. “Ok then, I will keep the two books sent to my address for you, one being the Birds of the World”. Quickly he says, “I will be there tomorrow and will bring my binoculars along”. I then called Jason Tan, another B.F. member and asked him if he would like to join us tomorrow because James is coming. He agreed to meet us at the patch. James’s knowledge on the Malaysian environment is vast and I like to pick his brains, mind you he does get a bit annoyed at all my questions, especially when he’s concentrating on watching something interesting to him. James and I left for my patch at about twelve thirty and while we were looking for birds Jason arrived dressed up like he was going to the war. James took his picture with my kowa and I will post it some time in the future. While silently stalking down the path, James suddenly grabs my elbow and drags me and my kowa to a tree and stop's there staring at the two butterflies entangled together. Then he says, “Doc, these are your patient looking for you I presume” and they both collapse laughing and howling. With a dirty look I took a picture so that I could study how to separate them. It looked to me as though this was going to be a bit of micro surgery. Suddenly I hear a shout from the butterfly, “Goodbye Doc, I am free”. Oh I nearly forgot, the birds seen. were the Black Baza, Koel, and Chinese Sparrowhawk Aki how is my picture, please don’t laugh, hope you'll like this couple.
Butterflies No Idea. dumb in Butterflies
26th Feb 2008
I was back here in one of my favourite birding places, the Forest Reserve Institute of Malaysia, “FRIM” and it was a hot day and I had just trudged up a steep hill and here at the top where the road levels out I sat beneath a large shady tree. As this is a busy road, any exhausted traveller just has to stop and take a breather before descending down the other side. The shade of this big tree cooled the air slightly and I lay back with my back against the trunk looking at the tree in front of me that was festooned by ripening fruit. The heat of the sun had sapped my energy and I sat there dozing. Some people passed and rested for a moment then continued on. I don’t think any of them noticed this hairy ape sitting beneath the tree. When in that drowsy state before dozing off I heard someone approach. I half opened my drooping eyes and saw that it was a youngish couple, they stopped and suddenly as I watched, the lady seemed to cock her behind and farted just like a bird whistling. I was instantly wide awake and I turned my head and stared at her. “Phew, I needed to get rid of that” she said laughingly to her husband. With a big grin on his face the husband cocked his behind and let out a tremendous blast. And said “Same here”, and they both started giggling. I just couldn’t keep quiet and shouted, “Well done” and started clapping, “It sounds as though you are practicing for the Olympics”. Their heads whipped around and there was a shocked look on their faces, then they instantly bolted down the hill and I shouted, “Oy, you’ve left your winds behind”. I picked up my gear and plodded on, grumbling to myself about the heat and the reason why I was here today. Well the reason is when I was going through my gallery yesterday and had stopped at the picture posted on the twenty fifth of September 2007; I called it Mr Handsome in Green. You can see the picture of the Male Greater Green Leafbird in Opus. I heard Mr Handsome say, “Doc, please I am lonely in your gallery, could you get my amour, the green light of my life, my gorgeous one, remember, the slim one”. I thought what a great idea so here I was sitting under this tree I FRIM waiting for his amour. Unbelievably there she was, the light of his life, I quickly took a picture just as she turned to look at me and I’m sure I saw her smile as if she was glad her husband wasn’t around. I went back home and started uploaded my pictures onto the computer ready to post this special one into the gallery. After writing this story I clicked the upload button and nothing happened. I did it again and again but nothing, it appears As though the door to my gallery was closed tight, almost as if someone was leaning on the other side. Then as I was still clicking I heard Mr Handsome yell at me. “You dim wit, numb skull, idiot of the first order; I told you to get my amour, my special one, the love of my life, meaning my mistress”. Suddenly my picture was unloaded but just before it was completed he screamed, “OHHHHHHHHHH NO, NOT MY WIFE”.
Greater Green Leafbird ( Female .) Chloropsis sonnerati

26th Feb 2008
This is another incident just after the two dashed away down the hill. I returned to relaxing beneath the tall tree, this time with a silly grin on my face. It was just after I’d had my second Ale and my brewery was sleeping soundly under another tree, when I heard a four wheel drive arrive and stop near by. Then, “blimy”, it too let go a blast of Wind, it was a miss fire. The vehicle crept onto the grassy area and stopped. I then heard a chirp call and I looked around, from the shaded area in the bush on my left I heard another chirp and, “Wow” it was a Scaly-breasted Bulbul. I grabbed my camera and as I clicked the shutter the bird vanished. From the four wheel drive vehicle a chap got out with binoculars around his neck, then a lady followed with a huge lens. I was tired of sitting so I went over to them; they were looking at some bird across the trees. The man turned to me and I pointed up into the tree and as soon as he saw the bird his wife swung the huge camera and started taking pictures of a Gold-whiskered Barbet, my kin. As I reached them they said, “Dr Singh I presume”. I started laughing because I had been recognised by Andy and Rachael Smith, our own Birder-formers. It was so nice to meet them, and then from the vehicle a tousled headed boy of about three tumbled out with little binoculars around his neck. He just waked up to me and stared at this big hairy one. His mother said, “Meet Dr Singh”. He shook my hand, and people all my tiredness vanished, he was the cutest one I have ever seen. I wondered, “Was I cute like this when I was little”, “NAAAaaaaaa, that’s too hard to imagine. Welcome Andy and Rachael to my country. p.s. they have three children and all of them boys and they were some lovely children I can tell you.
Scaly-breasted Bulbul Pycnonotus squamatus

29th Feb 2008
A couple of months ago I rang Jason (our B.F.member.), “what are doing on the coming Sunday” he said, “nothing much” so I asked him if he would like to come bird watching with me”, he pauses for a moment then said, “I will call you back in two days time”. Two days mean's Friday or Saturday but it was the Sunday when I was going birding. When he didn’t get back to me I called him, “are you coming” “oh” he says, “Sorry Dr, I forget I have promised a Lady Birder that I will go with her on Sunday. “But-but” I said as he put the phone down. A month ago I called him again, “Hello Jason, “are you doing anything on Sunday, and if not do you fancy going birding with me then”. He say's, “no I can’t make it on Sunday but I will go with you on Saturday”. At three pm Saturday he call's, “Dr uh sorry I can’t go with you, the lady wants to go birding” I spat the dummy and slammed down the phone. Just before I left for home Jason rings and said, “Dr, can I come birding with you”. I asked, “What happened to the lady”. She can’t come so I will meet you at FRIM in the morning”. Off I went home and got my equipment ready for an early start in the morning. In the morning I picked up my walking brewery and reached the FRIM just as it opened. We had just started birding when my phone vibrated, no jokes please, it’s a vibrating phone. ((i hate s-m’s...cant read them...lol...??.))) I handed my phone to the brewery and he said, “Jason isn’t coming his car cant start, he is stuck in his mother'-in-law's (out-law) house. I doubled over laughing and said, “Good for him”. He rings me this week and asks if he can come birding with me this Sunday and would it be alright if he can bring his lady birder along. Well, after all my recent disappointments, how could I refuse? My brewery reached FRIM to find Jason sitting and waiting for a Flycatcher that I couldn’t see. I focused my kowa and said, Jason, look here” and as he turned I took his picture. His lady birders name was Kim and before the day was out Jason said they had to go because she had to see a dentist so the last I saw of Jason was as he plodded dejectedly behind her.
Jason Tan Homosapian: Human Sg BuloH,Selangor,Malaysia during the rain. Habitat: Towns and Jungles.
6th Mch 2008
This is a back view...sorry that I have uploaded three pictures of the same bird, but I believe anyone seeing these pictures will not make a mistake in identifying this little beauty.
Rusty-breasted Cuckoo. Cacomantis sepulcralis

users gallery
I am sure you would like to see this bird from all sides angles, it was really beautiful and what a poser.

6th Mch 2008
Firstly-Thank you all for your concern. Everything is fine and my wife, (Pinkie) is at home. Thanks again.
I haven’t been birding since last week. So today with a lighter heart I reached my practice. And my staff said to me, “Your friend Andy Smith our B.F. member is coming to see you”, He’s Rachael's husband. I was short staffed this morning because two of my senior nurses have taken leave of absence for fifteen days. I had to hire a Nurses Aid to help out and she starts work with me this morning. My last senior nurse had to explain the procedures in my practice to her, and one of them being, “When doctor is examining a lady patient you should be with the doctor and if he ask's for an Alcoholic prep pad (swab), to clean the site first and hand it to him before he gives the injection, and she showed her the box they were kept in. During the day I had a patient who had very high fever and I decided to give him an injection to lower the temperature. I got the injection prepared and while standing near the patient who was lying on the couch I asked her to give me the prep pad. Surprisingly the nurse dashed out of the room closing the door behind her. I chattered to the patient for about five minutes waiting for her to return. Just before I began to get annoyed, in she barged and following her was most of the shop owners in my block. Without looking at the people I asked her”, Where is the stupid alcoholic prep pad”. She hand's me a small blue packet and written on it was, ‘CORTEX’ overnight pads, safe and smooth to use, six in a pack. I looked at the crowd of people, and the shop owners doubled over with laughter. I gave her a dirty look and told her not this kind of pads but the alcoholic swabs for injection, and then I too collapsed with laughter. I asked the shop keepers, “Why did all of you followed her” and they replied, “Your nurse said, Doctor wants to use the pads right now”. There was another roar of laughter as they trooped out of the surgery. Soon after I had seen to all my patients. Andy calls to say, “I am close, but am not sure of where your practice is”. I explained to him the way, then said, “Stay where you are and I will drive over and guide you” I soon found him and we came back to the surgery and then we went off to my patch. He’s one lucky guy because we saw three new birds for my patch, first was a Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, then a Male Jungle fowl and the third bird which is a lifer for me, a Rust-breasted Cuckoo. I was totally amazed, the bird just posed for me as I looked through the scope, and all the unhappy moments of the past week vanished. Old laughing me and Andy returned back to my practice, and the only sad thing was I couldn’t take him for lunch because it was two thirty and I had to start work again. I hope you can manage to come again Andy and next time I will make sure I can get the time off. “Oh yes”, I almost forgot, the Nursing Aid was missing when we got back to the practice. My senior staff said she had bolted out of here and isn’t coming back. I wonder why. Am I that scary?
Rusty-breasted Cuckoo. Cacomantis sepulcralis
15th Mch 2008
As you have noticed, I haven’t been visiting the forum recently; one of the reasons is because of all the rain we’ve been getting for over the past two weeks. Even today when I got up early to see my three terminally ill patents, it was still pelting down, yet after seeing them I felt it was going to be a beautiful day. As it was still too early for me to go to work I decided to go and see the three little girls whose father passed away early last month, I did say to them that I would visit but I delayed till now because I didn’t want to disturb they’re prayers that go on for over a month, they are followers of Christ. I checked my car and found three chocolate bars that I always keep for emergencies. Then I noticed the rain had stopped When I arrived at the house and stopped, I held the goodies in my hand and the next thing I knew, three shouting, laughing little ones were all over me, saying, “You came Dr Uncle” I gave them a hug and the choc-bars, then I noticed their grandma waddling out, she’s quite a well built lady and her back end is huge. Thankfully she has a wonderful sense of humour and because of my mischievous nature I take advantage of this. As she came towards me I brought in my toes with my heels flared out, and with an exaggerated push out of my butt I waddled towards her. Alongside of me the three little imps were also imitating my walk and giggling. Grandma stopped and started laughing, so to were many of the neighbours who had come out when hearing the children’s laughter. On reaching her I held out my arms and gave her a big hug and she said, “This is the first time she’s heard laughter since the fifth of last month”. I gave her another hug and said, ““Life is for laughing you hear”. I sat there with Grandma and the children and chatting to the neighbours for a while, and when it was time to go I said I will be back again soon. As I drove off I yelled, “Isn’t it a wonderful day”. By the time I reached my practice the rain had started again but at midday my staff said the rain had stopped, so I dashed out and reached my patch at twelve thirty. It was still cloudy and a distant rumble of thunder could be heard. Moments after entering the area and as I was about to walk down the path I saw a movement on my left and out pops this beauty. With trembling fingers I took a picture. The bird just strolled across the path and I took another picture, it was so close I didn’t even have to use the zoom. All the frustrations of the past two weeks vanished and I had a big grin on my face. That was until a great flash of lightning and a massive boom of thunder rang in my ears and I imagined hearing loud laughter in the sound. Then I noticed across the patch a sheet of water heading towards me. My car was about fifty feet away so I quickly slipped the bin bag over my kowa and tripod and ran. At about ten feet from the car I triggered the remote control to open the door. Too late, the torrential rain hit me and I just leaned my elbow on the car and shook my fist at my God. I swear I heard his deep rumble in answer, “Manjeet trying to beat God are you” and then more laughter. The rain pelted down on me for about five minuets and blimey just as it crossed the road it vanished. I looked up and said, “You my God will never change”
I sat in my car soaking wet and you know, I realised, it is a wonderful day.
Chinese Pond Heron-(Male).: Ardeola bacchus.
In this seconed Picture he is becoming a man isn’t he. Well I am sure it was well worth the soaking.
Chinese Pond Heron-(Male). Ardeola bacchus.

20th Mch 2008
Yesterday morning I came to my practice singing a song, even though it was still raining. As I got out of my car and crossed the road to the door I saw there were already fourteen patients waiting to see me but they couldn’t go inside because the cleaner was mopping the reception area. After all the good mornings I also waited outside chatting and laughing with them. Suddenly we heard this unearthly scream coming from the back of my practice in the toilet area.
All of us stared into the building through the doors that are quite wide and we see this chap, holding his pants in front of him, with the belt and zip undone, and he was running towards us, screaming blue murder. Now before I continue, I must explain the history of this chap, he is forty years old and for the past twenty years he has been using my toilet first thing in the morning. It all started when his mother wouldn’t allow him to smoke at home and do the job at the same time, so my toilet was used. He would sneak in just as my staff opened the door and frequently made a mess of the toilet. When he got married, his wife wouldn’t allow him to smoke in their toilet either, so his second home in the morning has been my toilet. The sight of this huge, half dressed obese body with a contorted face heading our way made us promptly step aside, the screams, so blood curdling had our eyes popping out of our heads and mouths agape.
As he passed us with his pants below his butt we saw a Rat as big as a cat hanging on to the right cheek with its huge teeth sunk into his buttock, the whole rat was being swung like a pendulum. At the edge of a big drain on the other side of the road from the practice, the rat let go and I swear it stood on its hind legs and punched the air above, and squeaked, “SH#T on me would you”. The last we saw of the chap was him running down the road and the rat disappeared into the huge drain. “MAY GOD BLESS THE RAT” I yelled and all off us howled with laughter. Every month I have the pest control people in to check for any rodents and other creatures and for the past ten years we haven’t seen a rat in the building. Recovering from the amusing start to the day I wondered to myself, “would this be the last time we see him here”. Sadly just before midday my staff shouts, “Doctor he’s back”. By now all the shopkeepers had heard about the morning incident and were already waiting to see this specimen and big grins were on their faces as the man staggered into the practice with his wife holding him up. This time he was wearing a sarong. I took him to the Operating Theatre and cleaned the vicious wound, and believe me it was quite a torn wound for which I had to use five stitches to close, if I hadn’t seen it I would not have believed it. I slapped on a dressing after the T&S, and gave him the I/M ATT, and told him to take the medication. Then my staff gave him the bill, a hefty one of 185 Ringgit. She explained to him that the 100 was for the treatment and 85 ringgit for the use of our toilet for the last 20 years. All the watchers collapsed laughing and became hysterical when as he was going out he shouted, “Dr must have hired the Rat”. Still chuckling to myself, I reached my patch and the depressing rain was still coming down, and because of it there were plenty of ((Poodles)) along the path. That Heron I saw on the fifteenth was here again and I took its picture once more. Sorry for posting another picture of him but I couldn’t resist it. This bird seemed to relish the rain, probably because it brings out the frogs for him to eat. On the other hand I am getting totally sick of it. Chinese Pond Heron-(Male).: Ardeola bacchus.
20th Mch 2008
Forgive me Ladies and my sisters in B.F...I know all of you would want to scalp me bald after reading this story. It was a couple of weeks back and I’ve just now decided to write it to go with the picture. I had just returned home at six thirty in the morning after attending to one of my terminally ill patents, and as I closed the front door I heard a racket going on from the rooms upstairs. I dashed up the stares two at a time and discovered my three little angels were getting ready for school and they had huge grins on their faces. I asked, “What’s up kids” and they replied, “MOM IS BACK”, they then followed me to my bedroom where my wife was. My wife had a sheepish look on her face, and I, feeling a bit bewildered turned, and again asked the children what was up. They yelled, “The Nagging has started”. Then all of us started laughing. Wiping the tears from my eyes I told them that in medical terms we call it, “Recovery Index of Wife’s after Operations. When the nagging starts they are on the road to recovery”. I then went off laughing to take my bath, followed by dirty looks from my wife. Throughout the morning as I worked at the practice the rain continued to pelt down and I prayed for it to stop. At twelve thirty, my lunch break, I bolted for the patch, but a Nagging feeling was still there. When passing under dripping branches I saw a movement, a flash of yellow. I stood rooted to the spot till I saw this wonderful little bird sitting about thirty feet away and instantly realised it was a new species for me. These birds can be very flighty and it was with trembling fingers I at last got it in focus. As I looked through the view finder I could see that a palm leaf from the old tree had partially obscured the bird. I moved to one side slightly to get a better view and the bird saw the movement. I hurriedly pressed the shutter as the bird vanished.
Did I get a picture I wondered and on checking the screen I saw I had got a reasonably good picture of it. You know what? My nagging feeling just vanished like the bird. I have wanted to upload this picture for some time but. Something always came up. Then I wondered if it was good enough to be shown with your excellent pictures. it isn’t but it is my first picture of this male Flycatcher so forgive me if it isn’t up to the usual standard.
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher (Male).: Ficedula zanthopygia.

21st Mch 2008
A rare migrant for a rare person Margaret, You always have a comment for all our pictures and keeps the data base going. You even nag the brother to download some of his pictures, even though my silly old brother doesn’t know how to download. I hope you have a wonderful birthday, my sister. As we are half a world away from each other I couldn’t give you much, but I knew it was your birthday tomorrow so I was determined to get a picture of this special rare migrant bird for you. I chased him for an hour, slogging through (poodles) of mud and battered by strong winds, till finally he sat on a branch about sixty feet away and said, “You crazy Singh, go ahead and take a shot, I’m tired, but don’t you come any closer you hear”. My humble picture is for you sis.
Three cheers everyone, for Marmot, a lady who is always there for us.
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo. Clamator coroandus
Made in China “I am still here Dr Singh”.
25th Mch 2008
With so many things on my mind I forgot to tell you that Roshan, ( “My dad broke his testicular”) has gone to Kuala Lumpur, about forty five miles from here since the twenty ninth of February. I do miss the little rascal, but his father was transferred to K.L. from Klang, he found it difficult to commute from here to his new posting each day because of the constant traffic jams, so the best bet was for him to get a flat closer to his work place. He promised his mother he will come every Friday night and return on the Sunday evening. He hasn’t come this month because I think they are still settling in. Before they left, Roshan’s mother came to tell me that they will be living on the first floor of a twenty story block of flats and on the ground floor there is a resident General Practitioner. I told her ask the G.P. to call me, and I will fax him the case history of Roshan. When he did call, I explained to him about Roshan’s allergies and medication, I also warned him about his misspellings. The Doctor, who sounded much younger than me, said, “Don’t worry Dr Singh; I will take good care of him.
Today I came to work and realized I miss the imp. After seeing to all my patients and at about 11am my staff said all the shopkeepers want to see me. in they came 15 of them ,they parked wherever there was a place to sit and said, “Dr Manjeet, we miss seeing little Roshan, were is he”. “Oh my God”. I told them, even I missed him. They started telling me how he used to come here to the shops with his hands behind his back like an overseer and he would say, “Uncle, the shop is dirty, I will tell Dr Uncle”. They said how they laughed as they went about cleaning the shop. I told them he has gone with his parents but will be coming back every weekend to stay with his grandmother. Suddenly the phone rings and I pick it up to hear a lady laughing. Then she says between giggles, “Dr Manjeet, I am the nurse of the G.P. below Roshan flats. I knew then that something amusing had happened in regards to Roshan. With laughter in her voice she said that the Dr had just gone home to change his pants and shirt because a moment ago, Roshan had come running into the practice and shouting, “Doctor Uncle, my Whip is stuck, I want to pisshing, quick!” and he kept on hopping from one foot to the other. The Dr finally understood what the problem was when Roshan pointed between his legs. Quickly the Doctor squatted in front of Roshan and started struggling with the zip. Suddenly the zip came undone and out popped the little bird, and a jet of water drenched the squatting Doctor. “Oh Dr Manjeet you should have seen the Doctors face as he sprang backwards trying to avoid the drenching and then the race to the door to go home.” The nurse then collapsed laughing and couldn’t finish the conversation. I put the phone down and the shopkeepers with quizzical looks on their faces asked me what was so amusing. Laughingly I told them how Roshan had struck again and all of us howled with laughter, then one of them said, “Dr, had you ever had this happen to you”. Patting him on his shoulder, I said, “No, I’m more practiced my friend, more practiced”. They all left with big smiles on their faces. I then noticed it was my lunch time so I bolted for my patch. It was three days ago when I saw the Bazas flying high over the patch and I think they may have left the area, also the Japanese Sparrowhawk hasn’t been around for two weeks, that raptor seems to be gone also. As for the Chinese Sparrowhawk I haven’t seen it for two days, so with the absence of these birds of prey, my little birds seemed to have returned.When I reached the end of the patch and sheltering under the canopy I saw a dark grey shadow land about thirty feet away, I slowly sneaked closer and who do I see. ‘Mr made in China’, the blighter is still here. I focused the camera and took a couple of pictures. “Wow”, I tell you, up close this Hawk is a beauty, and it posed for me for at least ten minuets. I imagined him saying, “Dr Singh, I am still here”. Then it flew away, laughing. I went back to my practice with an up feeling of joy in my heart and thought what a wonderful day.
Chinese Sparrowhawk
28th Mch 2008
I felt that this was going to be a day filled with wonder and joy, and I had a huge grin bisecting my bearded face as I drove to my practice. As I galloped through the reception area I saw many patients waiting for me and my grin got wider, well wouldn’t anyone when one considers the revenue that comes in to pay the rent. Whilst attending to my patients I occasionally glanced through the window and the sun was out and I longed for twelve thirty, my lunch break to come around so that I might dash to my patch to do some enjoyable birding in that sunlight. “Oh those best laid plans of mice and men”. Isn’t it funny when we plan to do something and then ones God takes over? As my nurse brought in the last patient, I glanced at my watch and saw it was eleven thirty, time enough to see this patient and be away to my patch. The patient was a young lady carrying a boy of about six and a half years old. I asked her if there was anything wrong with the child and she said, “He’s having a fever”. I laughed and looked closely at him. On my eye contact with the child I was absolutely stunned by his beautiful, huge brown eyes, eyes that were so big and wide. I asked then if the child could sit on my lap while I examined him, “and by the way, why are you carrying him” she didn’t reply, then the child's hand reached across to me and lay on my face, with his hand resting there on my bearded face, he said, “Dr Uncle, I cant see”. I was shocked and for a minute. ‘I’, the chatty Dr Manjeet Singh had no words to say. I lifted the child from the mom and hugged him, and fumbling in the drawer of my desk I got out my piece of chock-bar and put it in his hand, and held him to me, I felt he was a part of me. I asked the mother why is he blind and how long has he been like this, she said, (with no tears in her eyes, only sadness on her face), “He’s been like this since he was born”. I asked her which doctor have you seen and she gave me the name of the Eye specialist in the University Hospital. This man is my junior and we were from the same school in Klang. I quickly called him and said my friend do you remember me, within second’s he said “Manjeet”, I was so surprised, “How did you know it was me”. He said, “Your voice can never be forgotten because whenever I heard in school it made me smile, it was a laughing voice, don’t be so surprised, many of us cannot forget your voice”. The last time I met this chap was in 1989. I explained the reason why I was ringing him and asked if he was treating a boy called Raman from Klang. He said he was and what is the problem with him, he has a Retinal Visual Defect from birth. I asked if he had done a mental test for this boy to check his intelligence, and he said, “yes, and it is very high”. After putting the phone down I examined the boy and said to the mother, “Please bring this boy here any time he is ill, I don’t charge children with defects. Then a strange thing happened, the boy asked his mother if he could talk to me alone, so she left the room with a quizzical look on her face. I sat him on a chair and said, “OK young man what you want to talk about”. “Uncle I had to come and see you, and tricked my mother to bring me here. Two weeks ago my father's sister came to my house and had a fight with my mother and she blamed my mother for my sightlesness. Uncle, I want to study and work and take care of my parents”. For the second time today I was stunned, here was a six year old boy telling me this, this at a time in a Child's life when he should be out playing childish things. “My neighbor told me to come to you for help, because I want to go to a special school. A school were they teach the blind to read, and you can help me uncle”. I then asked him what his father did and he said he a clerk in a office” A chap like that would be paid about 1500 Malaysian Ringit, not really a high wage, and what with keeping a young family and bills to pay he must be having a difficult time. Then laughingly he said, I heard you don’t charge children like me so you see I am already saving money for my parents. I hugged him again and he said, “I had to be honest with you Dr Uncle”. I called his mother back in and handed the boy to her and said, “You have a very sensible young man there”. I then called up the Ministry of Education, “Oh yes I do have some friends in high places”. I spoke to the department in charge of schools of this kind, and was told that since the child was six and half year old, he must register right now. My friend there said to send the boy tomorrow with the parents, and then he asked if he has had an IQ test, I said yes, by a specialist”. He told me to send the report with the parents because if the child has a high IQ the Government will give a monthly allowance to the child free of charge. When I told the youngster, he shouted, “See mom I told you”. I then rang my specialist friend and said I was sending the mother to pick up the IQ report and explained the situation and said, "do you know the Government charges to see a child for a visit is Rm75", I heard this loud smack of a hand on a forehead and then he said “from now on I will pay the Rm75 for the boy”. I laughed and said, “You’re laughing also”. I gave the boy another hug and ushered them out of the room, saying to the mother, “any problems then just call me”. What an unbelievable morning this turned out to be. There I was feeling so sad earlier when discovering the boy was blind and now so elated at what the future holds for him. With a feeling of satisfaction I bolted for my patch. The sun was above me filling the air with its warmth and as I wandered through the wooded area it dappled through the leaves leaving mottled shadows on the ground. Soon I saw the flutter of a small bird and before me was the Asian Brown Flycatcher. As I focused onto the bird I saw the eye, big, wide and innocent and my thoughts were on the boy. Laughingly I took the picture and left the Patch. I know it’s a common brown bird, but the eye, like the child with no sight makes this a special bird for me.
Asian Brown Flycatcher. Muscicapa dauurica
Christineredgate Tanny,thank you,a lovely tale from Manjeets threads.
LAUGH-LIFE IS SHORT. by Dr.Manjeet Singh

We Doctors too are human, and like everyone we have our ups and downs, we also experience sadness and painful moments, but unlike most people we experience humour in abundance, humour in the many people we see as patients. I am a humorous person and am an advocate in the power of laughing. If a person is suffering pain and sadness then I think anything that makes that person smile or laugh will ease that pain and sadness. This incident happened to me just two weeks ago, it deals with thermometers, and the story turned out like this! Doctors face many hazards in this our profession, and this I am certain would apply to all Doctors in the world. This Doctor's nemeses are the thermometers for rectal reading. All medical practitioners should know that the rectal thermometer is the most accurate tool for checking the patient’s temperature; however many times this process can prove to be very hazarders. Doctors are sometimes left trying to grab the thermometer which is either disappearing inside, or trying to dodge the thermometer as it is sent out like a bullet from inside the patient.The last straw for this doctor was when one day he had an obese patient who had come down with a fever. He asked the patient to bend over and inserted the thermometer inside. Immediately the patient inhaled and of course contraction occurred in the posterior. The poor doctor saw the thermometer disappearing inside, and he made a frantic grab for it, but in it went. Poor chap rolled up his sleeves and took his proctoscope and long forceps and started searching for it accompanied by grunts, yelps and groans of pleasure from the patient. After half an hour he saw the offending thermometer a mile inside, and as he tried to grab the back tip of the thermometer with his long forceps, he heard a loud rumbling sound and saw the thermometer coming back like a bullet with the accompanied gases towards him. He tried to dodge but couldn't and the thermometer whacked him on the cheek and bounced off, then broke as it hit the practice wall. After the doctor had recovered from the miasma of foul gases he found he had a huge lump on his cheek and that the patient had bolted! He threw down his gloves and rang the Medical Council and asked them if they had heard of a fool-proof rectal thermometer and the voice at the other end said yes and to please check the latest medical journal as a Dr.Singh has come out with a fool-proof thermometer. He bought the literature and that evening with a large glass of bitter in his hand started reading the journal. On page three he saw this - Quote:
NO MORE DODGING OF BULLET VELOCITY THERMOMETERS OR LOOKING FOR THERMOMETERS INSIDE A PATIENT.
WE HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE RECTAL THERMOMETER WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ALL THAT.
THIS THERMOMETER COMES WITH AN INSERTER AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SIT BACK AND RELAX AND WATCH THE PROCESS. HURRY ONLY 50 LEFT WITH INSERTERS -ORDER NOW.
(The company was owned by a Dr.Singh,)
He at once placed an order for all the 50 thermometers.A week later he gets a call from the Head of postal Services and also the Head of Immigration and they told him that his thermometers had arrived and that they will be delivering it personally by a double-decker bus. The head of both departments were friends of his. The bell rang and the doctor ran to open the door and found his friends were standing there blocking the entrance, they asked him to sign the release order for the thermometer inserters. On signing the form the friends moved back and he saw a long line of fifty six foot tall guys wearing turbans, suits and bow-ties. They were all big hairy Singh’s, and they were all holding a small package in their hands.The doctor gulped and shouted "ANYONE HERE SPEAKEM ENGLISH?"A typical Oxford accent replied, "SIR CAN I HELP?", and a TOWERING SINGH STEPS OUT OF THE LINE. The doctor then asks him, “Who are you guys?". The SINGH replied, "WE ARE THE INSERTERS FOR THE THERMOMETERS AND YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE US BOARD AND LODGING." THE DOCTOR FAINTED whilst his friends collapsed with laughter.
Ps, the Dr.Singh also owns a company in Malaysia, called, “MIGRANTS WANTED WITH JOBS WAITING IN THE WORLD”.
Don't Judge A Book By its Cover.

Tanny · May 14, 2010

Continued 4

Mch 28 2008
I felt that this will be a day filled with wonder and joy, so with a huge grin spread across my bearded face I parked my car and with a spring in my step enter my practice. As I bounded through the reception room I saw quite a few patients waiting to see me. My grin got wider, wouldn't yours as you thought of all that, " 'manna' coming in! You know, the green paper the you use to pay bills with. I started seeing the patients and day dreamed about lunchtime when I could trot off to my patch for some birding. Funny isn't it when we plan and do things, ones God directs us differently and changes everything. My nurse said, "Dr this is the last patients" I looked at the time, it was eleven thirty. In comes a young lady carrying a boy of about six and a half years old. As she sat in the chair I asked her if the problem was with the child. "Yes" she said, "I think he's starting with a fever" I looked at the lad and made eye contact with him and I felt lost at the sight of his, big, wide beautiful brown eyes, eyes that truly stunned me. I said let the child sit on my lap while I examine him, "by-the-way, why are you carrying the boy" there was only silence then I felt the child's hand move up towards my face and rest there on my beard. Then he said, "Dr Uncle, I can't see". For a moment this hardened Dr Manjeet Singh was totally dumb-struck, I just had no words to say. I reached for the child from his mother and hugged him. I held on to him and felt he was part of me. I took a chock-bar that I always keep in my drawer for special occasions and put it in his hand and then asked them what caused his blindness and for how long has he been like this. The mother, with such sadness on her face said "Since he was born" I asked what doctor have you seen. She give me the name of the Eye specialist in the University Hospital. I knew this specialist, he is my junior and we were from the same school in Klang. I immediately called him and said, "My friend do you remember me", Within a second he said, "Manjeet" I was surprised. "How did you know". "Hi M Singh, your voice can never be forgotten because whenever I heard your voice in school it was a laughing voice, don't be surprised there are many of us who will never forget your voice.I was quite amazed because I haven't met him since 1989. We talked for a while, then I asked if he was seeing a young boy called Raman from Klang. "Yes" he said, "What's wrong with him". I asked him about the boys blindness and he said it was, "Retinal visual defect from birth. I asked him about the boys mental health. He said he had done a mental test for this boy and his intelligence was very high. I examined the boy and told the mother, "Please bring this boy here any time he is ill, for I don't charge children with defects. Then a strange thing happened, the boy asked his mother if she would leave the room because he wanted to talk to me privately. I sat him on the chair and said, "O.K. young fellow, what is it you want to tell me. "I forced my mother to bring me here because I just had to come to you. A neighbor told me you were the best one to help me". "Two weeks ago my father's sister came to my house and had a fight with my mother and she blamed my mother for my sightlessness, and it was then decided I wanted to study and work and take care of my parents". I was utterly stunned to hear a six and a half year old with such mature thoughts, this is a time of a child's life for playing. "I want to go to special school were they teach the blind to read and you can help me uncle". I asked him how his father is employed. He said he is a Clark in a office. A clerk would earn about 1500 Malaysian Ringit. On that wage with bills to pay, he must be having a difficult time.Then he laughed and said, "I heard you don't charge children like me, so you see I'm already saving money for my parents. I had to be honest with you, Dr Uncle". I gave him a big hug and called his mother back in and said, "This is some son you've got". I then got onto the Ministry of Education, Oh yes, I do have some friends in high places. I spoke to the department that's in charge of schools of this kind. My friend said, "Since the child is 6 and half year old, he must be registered right now, so send the boy to-morrow with the parents, and has his I.Q. being tested". I said, "Yes by the specialist". "Then send the report with the child because if he has a high I.Q., the Government will give him a free monthly allowance."When I told the little one, he shouted, "See mom, I told you". I rang my friend the eye specialist and told him the news and he said to tell the mother to come right away and he will have the report ready to give her. I then said that your Govt charges Rm75 with every visit to see the child. I heard a loud smack of a hand on a forehead, and he said, "Manjeet I'm sorry, from now on I will pay the Rm75 for the boy". We were both laughing when I put the phone down. I escorted them out and gave the boy another hug and told the mother, if she has any problem to call me. My friends, isn't life unbelievable at times. I was so sad earlier for the blind youngster, but now I was filled with satisfaction at being able to help that wonderful boy. I still had time to do a bit of bird watching so I bolted for my patch and on reaching there I felt my whole existence was uplifted and full of joy. Taking a deep breath I started birding and immediately saw a flutter of wings and there was the Asian. As I focused I saw the birds eye, so wide and innocent, and my thoughts were of the boy. With laughter I took the shot and then dashed back to the car and home. I know its just a common brown bird, but the eye was like a child without sight.This picture is something special for me and I hope it is for you too. Asian Brown Flycatcher. Muscicapa dauurica
April 12th 2008
To Our Uns(h) ung Hero ..
Today as I woke up in the morning I felt really good and I knew the day will be fine, my wife was back at her nagging best because it was School Holiday time. On my way to work I stopped off to see my terminally ill patients and all of them were as well as can be expected.Then I popped in to see the three little girls, remember, "Colours of Life" I quite regularly drop in to see these children. I gave each of them a Chock Bar and sat chatting to them for a little while. Their mother works now, and grandmother takes care of them. There's always a hug and a kiss when I leave.For the past two weeks the sun has been hiding like a Indian Bride behind the vale cloud and rain has been constant, but today when I reached my practice the sun was smiling like a groom after his first night. Whilst seeing to my patients, I kept asking my staff, "Is the sun still there?" Then suddenly the door bursts open and in barged the, Grandson toting, bow-legged, betel chewing grandma followed by her meek son and daughter-in-law. Try to imagine, a seventy five year old grandmother in a sari, walking bow-legged, "Oh no, not again". I looked at her bulging cheeks and quickly moved the bin nearer to the chair she was going to sit on. She plunked down on the chair and started looking for the bin, saw it and stamped on the lever to open the lid. I quickly turned my head and shuddered as she spat a long stream of red betel juice into the bin, then she said, "Doctor my grandson is passing one drop of blood every time I change the nappy, my daughter-in-law has taken him to two or three doctors but still when I change the nappy there is a drop of blood on the nappy. I asked, "were does the blood come from" she said, "you know, from the wee-we thing" I didn't understand what she meant and asked her again. From his hose she shouted. I checked the little guy's 'wee-wee' thing, and found nothing, then I looked at the granny and her cheeks were bulging once more due to the chewing of the cud. I asked her to open the nappy and noticed a red drop on the material just where the little bird was supposed to rest. Then it dawned on me and I smacked my head and started laughing. I asked her, "Do you have a new nappy and change it now, she quickly removed the old nappy and left the child on the new one. Then since her cheeks were bulging, she spat a stream red betel juice into the bin, then bent her head and started tying the nappy. That's when I stopped her and said now you will see where the red comes from. As she looked at me a drop of red betel nut dripped from her chin onto the nappy just between the thighs of the little one. I pointed it out to her and then burst out laughing. As she was bolting out of the practice I heard her yell at her daughter-in-law, "See I told you my doctor would know what is wrong while your two doctors were useless". The time was 12.30pm and I headed off to my patch. After walking and walking I saw the movement of this little one and I haven't seen this species since I took a picture some time ago which wasn't very good. I sneaked in beneath the canopy and waited quietly till, there it was, and I was able to take this picture. I said it felt like a lovely day and capturing this bird proves it. Laughingly I went back to my practice.It is a beautiful bird and yes our Green Fields is always there when we need him, remember the song.
Some thing strange in the web, Who do we call.
When the screen is blank and the web is down, who do we call.
If our web is hung and we are about to cry, who do we call.
Not Ghost busters but! Green Fields@Ollie. Yes Olllie you are our own unsung Hero. Thank you very much for running the B.F. web site which we all love, and thank you for being there when we need you. Regards Hope you like this one Ollie it isn't a bug (like your avatar. Yellow-rumped Flycatcher ( Male ) Ficedula zanthopygia
April 19, 2008
The sun was out today and I was dying to go birding because for the last six or seven days it's been raining continuously and I was unable to go. So at the first opportunity I galloped off to my patch and on reaching there I took a deep breath 'AAAAAAAAAhh' At last some birding.I walked in silently, breathing in the scents of the flowers and my ears listening to the sounds that emanated from the bush. At the extreme center of the area I noticed a denser clump of bush that had a tall tree over twenty feet growing from the centre. Then I saw a flicker of movement from that dense bush and I blanched and said, "Oh no, not again". At the other side of that bush I had a fearful encounter just six days ago, and the thought of it made me tremble.It all started when I had come to my patch to get a picture of the flycatcher that I thought may be a Ferrunginous. I uploaded the picture in the I.D. section and my friends Dave B and rockfowl said it may be a Mugimaki Flycatcher. Since I only had the one picture they said, "Manjeet, go and get some more pictures" There I was trudging through the rain searching for the elusive bird. The rain was continuous so I just took my binoculars because taking pictures would be impossible. I reached this clump of bush and it was shaking back and forth. Full of curiosity I stalked to the right and not more than fifty feet away I saw a huge cow and a young bull about half her size. He was trying to get both back legs onto a low tree branch three feet above the ground in his endeavors to service her. It was such an amusing sight that I sat down in the ((poodles)) and with heavy rain pouring down on me, I laughed and laughed till my sides ached. Then the cow started bellowing and I didn't like the glint in her eyes as she stared at me. I jumped up and bolted for my practice "Who knows the cow may have thought that I was the right size". Now I was facing the same bush, and fearful of meeting that cow again I stealthily edged to the right, expecting to make a hurried retreat from there.Oh boy, what I don't do for a picture, and there before me was this beauty, and it was a Ferrugnious, I took some pictures, looked around, saw no cows, and bolted back to the car. I still haven't seen the Mugimaki yet again, but will keep trying. Ferruginous Flycatcher. Muscicapa ferruginea.
April 28, 2008
For these past ten days or so I haven't done much birding or been in birdforum, I've been so busy that at the end of the day I just went home and slept. So sorry I haven't been commenting on you pictures, but every time I prepare to pass a comment I had to leave and come back to complete it. Then on Saturday I was told from my "High Command" LOL, that Sunday was my birding day. High Command is my mother of course, and with my wife prompting her from behind.Oh it wasn't because of their goodness of heart, It was because I had become impossible to live with. Off I went full of joy and happiness and managed to get one lifer and a few other birds. So today when I came to work I had a huge grin on my face, that was until my nurse says, "Dr Manjeet, the child specialist's wife has brought her younger sister, and her son to see you". "Oh no", with a (((groin))) groan I said, "Send them in". You might remember the story about the lady whose son had a piebald hose' in my gallery. In they come and the super specialist say's her sister's son has a problem. I ask what kind of problem and she shout's, "I..S..O." "What" I said, "are you into camera's now". "What do you mean, I..S..O" She said, "Inverted Sexual Organ". The sister quickly removed the two month's old baby boy's nappy and point's! Just above the little hose there were two buds on either side on the pubic area. I laughingly told her, "These are partially undescended testis, they will need a small operation to bring them down in their respect sacs". With a laugh I ushered them out with a letter to the surgical specialist. Oh, the diagnosis I wrote for the specialist was, "I.S.O". I photo-shopped my pictures and although this Buff isn't my lifer it did seem to be a cheeky bird and is quite difficult to photograph because he swings around the tree and that reminded me of Tarzan the Ape Man. 'sounds familiar'.Buff-rumped Woodpecker ( Male ) Meiglyptes tristis
May 6, 2008
F.R.I.M..my Lifer
Deep in the lush tropical jungle I stood hidden behind the tree listening to the sounds of the jungle and various calls of the birds within.Was this how first man felt as he hunted for game to feed his primitive family. Sadly my day dreaming was marred by two things, My hot feet and two lanky twins (not identical) hiding behind another tree with my brewery. Before leaving for F.R.I.M. I put on a thick pair of socks and this time thinking I was being smart in combating those filthy leeches that inhabit the place I smeared great big globs of "Tiger Balm"all over the socks up to my knees, clever idea don't you think. There would be no burning feet like if I had smeared it directly onto the flesh. Then huffing and puffing I pulled on my construction boots, I prefer walking in these boots when in the bush. After I picked up my walking brewery who was as usual bleary eyed because it was early for him, I drove to F.R.I.M. At the gate waiting to go in, the guard stopped me and said, "Dr Manjeet, there's two youngsters waiting for you, and they are, "Finch", I swear that's what the guard said. Out came two lanky youngsters, aged about 15, Matt and Alice, and they politely said, "Good Morning".
((((Matt, Dr Manjeet Alice, Oh no they complete each others words)))))) (Not sure what Manjeet means here)
I asked, "Are you twins"."Yes was the answer in unison. "Bbuuuttt I don't know you"; "it's all right Dr Uncle, our parents left us here and told us to wait for you and to stick like glue to you, they will be back to pick us up at 1pm, we are from Finland". Oh now I know what 'Finch' means. Since time was wasting I told them to hop in and off we went (I swear the guard was laughing.) So now deep in the jungle I began to start sweating and due to the heat my feet were getting wet and began warming up. About fifteen minuets later I was in agony, my feet were on FIRE. The Tiger Balsam had seeped into my socks and spread over my flesh. Oh why me, burning feet and these two kids who finish each's words, I was being driven crazy. Here I was, hopping from one foot to the other, abusing myself as I waited for some bird to appear. Suddenly something jabs my knee and I almost scream with fright thinking it was a snake. I looked down and saw it was a long stick and found it held by the grinning Matt. He whispers, "9 'clock" I tell him it's only 10.06 am. He jabs me again and points up. 'Oh my God', above me was this beautiful bird sitting on a branch over fifty feet away. Trembling and holding my breadth I focused my camera and started clicking away. When it finally had enough pictures taken the wonderful bird flew away, and I howled to the moon and hugged Matt. My burning feet, pain in the behind twins, all forgotten. The parents came at 1pm to pick them up, I asked, " how do you know me", they said that the children are your son's class mates at the school, and Roshai your boy had told them that you were birding today. As the kids left, both of them walked towards their car with their butts out, and on reaching the car said, "Dr Uncle, isn't this familiar, Roshani had shown us the picture of you in Aunty old slacks". Laughing loudly they left (check out my picture, My embarrassment, in my gallery) After processing the pictures I peeped into Opus. 'Wow', the pictures there are fantastic, but you know what! It is my lifer and the picture give's me the feeling of wildness and freedom Black-and-Yellow Broadbill. ( Male ) Eurylaimus ochromalus.
May 12, 2008
It was Monday again and I was hoping for a quiet day because I wanted to edit the photographs that I took at F.R.I.M. As I got out of the car I could see all the local shop keepers outside the practice door doubled up with laughter.I pushed through the group and peeped in. Oh my God, a short, stout youngster with hair even on the ears, and a black eye, wearing a white-coat in the reception area.He looked like a kin of mine. He as standing right in front of a huge six foot patient who was sitting down with legs wide apart the knees of the patient almost reaching the lad's chest.This clown then made the patient cross his legs and still standing in front with his legs wide apart, started to test the big fellows knee reflexes , I swear the stout lad swing his long handle rubber hammer, while twisting his own upper body sideways with such a force that made the patients and myself winch.As soon as the hammer hit the knee, up swing the patients huge leg and the foot raced up between the youngster's legs and hit his family jewels with a thud. He collapsed and all the patients roared with laughter. I ran to him and knelt down and lifted his head. His pained filled eyes looked at me and he croaked in a whisper, "Dr Manjeet, I'm the 4th year medical student for elective clinical posting in your clinic" and then fainted. I looked around and glared at all the laughing people, at the same time controlling my own laughter. I picked him up and took him into the small operating theatre and examined his jewels. Some bruising but un damaged. I asked the staff to use cold compression down there and gave him a pain killer when he woke. I advised him to call someone to come and take him home and to start tomorrow morning. I also said, "You idiot while doing the reflexes never stand in front with the patient with your family jewels exposed".While the staff were doing what they had to do I went outside and all of them, especially the patient asked if he was alright. I said he is fine I know how he got his jewels bruised but can you tell me how he got the black eye, The same big patients answered by saying, "Doc, as soon as he came in he was swinging this long handled hammer and walked up to me and said, "I'm Dr Singh new clinical student, can I test your elbow and knee reflexes". I said "fine". He grabbed my left elbow and bent it, then facing me, you know he is a small size chap, my fist reached his face. Holding it lightly, he swung the rubber hammer on my bent elbow. Honest Doc, I was surprised and my elbow straightened out and my fist whacked him on the eye, the rest you saw". By that time I was also rolling on the ground laughing with them. Oh Boy the clinical students are back. After seeing to all the patients I just had time for a few comments and still laughing, uploaded this jewel from Fr.R.I.M.It;s a female. Note-Weatherman from U.K (our B.F.member) had come on Saturday and yesterday (Sunday) we went with him to F.R.I.M?.I hope (laughing) that he will come again with me.That's another story..lol.. Buff-rumped Woodpecker (Female) Meiglyptes tristis
May 13, 2008
F.I.R.M....11.05.08.
Here I was trudging through the trees with my brewery and weatherman tagging along behind. I was feeling the heat and on looked back I saw weatherman was huffing and puffing, that was a good excuse for a rest. I sat down and asked the brewery to pass me an ale and also one for weatherman who was very reluctant to take it. I glanced at my brewery and he had finished his in one gulp and was laying back with a satisfied grin on his face. With a laugh at him I leaned back against a tree and took a huge refreshing mouth full. My brewery shouts, "Took,took" Blimey, what is he saying, don't tell me one tin of ale makes him drunk. Then he made the sign of a bird pecking away and I realize he had seen a woodpecker in a tree not far away. I grabbed my gear and dashed over to the tree, the bird was my crimson Singh. It's one of the most difficult birds to photograph. Every time I focused on it the blighter moves. Time and time again this happened. Just as I thought Ive got you, he would go round the tree and I would follow. Round and around the tree we went for at least half an hour, or so it seemed. Finally with much huffing and puffing I plopped down my tripod and focused again, only this time I yelled, "You pesky yellow headed crimson Singh, can't you just stop for a second. Blimey, he stopped and quick as a flash I nailed him to the tree. You could have heard me in England when I shouted at the top of my voice. "YESSSSSSSSS" Then I heard sounds of clapping, it was my brewery and weatherman. I went back to my ale can and although it was very warm to drink I drained it in one gulp. The resulting burp sent all the birds for miles around to shriek and fly away. Crimson-winged Woodpecker ( Male ) Picus puniceus

christineredgate · May 14, 2010

You have put a lot of work imto this ,Tanny.Do hope Manjeet is soon up and around.

Dr Manjeet Singh's Malasian patch revised (1 Viewer)

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Tanny

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Tanny

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christineredgate

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