These were near impossible images to get, high up in thick foliage and observed in overcast weather with light rain, but worth reporting. Bay Woodpeckers (Blythipicus pyrrhotis cameroni) are noted to forage singly and partners do not forage close to each other (Handbook of the Birds of the World 2018, Wells 1999). We spotted 3 birds together in the same tree. I suspect this is a family unit as one bird was waiting expectantly (not foraging), possibly to be fed.
The female (seen in both images) was very industriously hammering into a trunk of a live tree for a long period of time and created a deep hole. The presumed juvenile and male who was foraging nearby came to join her.
Amar-Singh HSS (Dato’ Dr)
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Location: Fraser’s Hill, Pahang, Malaysia
Habitat: 1300 m ASL, primary montane jungle
Date: 190th November 2018
Equipment: Nikon D500 SLR with Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD, handheld
