“Over a 100days period (29June- 06Oct) in 2017, a total of 51 visits were made to monitor migratory Blue-winged Pitta (Pitta moluccensis) on mainland Penang, Peninsular Malaysia.
“Successful fledglings from 4 different batches were observed during those field days covering an area approx. 11/2 sq. km. It became my designated location in Blue-winged Pitta’s monitoring for northern P. Malaysia.
“Thankfully, I had exclusive use of the area with no disturbances of any kind of beings/predators to compromise the many challenging observations encountered with these elusive birds.
“In addition to putting on record and proving that fledglings do stay hidden around until they grow out their post natal moult, some took extended summer vacations.
“Very few images of juveniles in moult are available in field guide books or on-line websites.
“Here are some photographic records to show progress of post natal moult from fledgling to juvenile age to reading audience.
“Not necessary in strict sequential moult order but at best I could, for selected images comprise of several fledgling-juvenile species of different batches taken in 2017 migration season.
“Note: Any person/s intending to reference, quote/use any of these images is/are kindly expected to provide the credits under normal courtesy usage.
I do apologise, in the best of birds’ welfare and promising results achieved monitoring in solo, exact breeding locations will not be provided.”
Avian Writer Daisy O’Neill
Penang Malaysia
22ND November 2018
Copyright article and all copy images – Courtesy of Daisy O’Neill Bird Conservation Fund
Note: Mail communication with Dr David Wells – a veteran ornithologist exponent cum author of ‘The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula’, intrigued by my findings, suggested I could have solved a long standing mystery with post migratory Blue-winged Pittas (Pitta moluccensis) in P. Malaysia.
