ML608340819

Observation details

The most numerous songbird today, seemingly by a large margin. Perhaps the higher frequency of song here and during yesterday’s checklist is because these (forest) birds are less advanced in their breeding cycle than in the scrubby habitat (??). The first individual was heard singing from here at 6:11 a.m.: (-6.8587565, 115.4489453). Although we were in the edge of a cleared-out teak plantation at the time, the bird was likely singing from the forest edge. +3 (2+1) counter-singing (males?) here and one “duetting” scratchy calling bird: (-6.8596962, 115.4483609). These birds are clearly within forest. +1 singing here: (-6.8603876, 115.4479955). This individual was counter-singing with two adjacent males (the former and the following); these three territories proceed in quick succession (I need to follow up and measure this distance). UPDATE: This equals 86.5 m between this territory and the former and 71.8 m between this territory and the following. Habitat shot #1 for today. +2 (a pair “duetting”) here: (-6.8607528, 115.4474587). +1 or 2 more here: (-6.8614298, 115.4468850). +1 singing here: (-6.8615490, 115.4465149). +5 (3 singing birds and 2 scratchy birds) from here: (-6.8623076, 115.4457173). Habitat shot #2. We did a bout of playback here and had two birds respond vigorously. However, they seemed inclined to stick largely to the interior of dense vegetation in response to playback, seldom coming out into the open. We did manage some more photos of these birds, though. Again, I saw some bill “sky-pointing”, with this bird even sort of rolling its head to the side, perhaps to expose the pale throat (?). As we turned back and retraced our steps, I managed a quick recording of what seemed like scold calls (perhaps a mobbing response?, with three birds all agitated in close proximity to one other). + a group of 3 seen here: (-6.8615417, 115.4488726). Natural heights of ~2 m and 5-6 (maybe 7) m. +3 here (two counter-singing birds and one scratchy bird): (-6.8623053, 115.4503910). +2 here (one singing and one scratchy): (-6.8630609, 115.4514069) = 22 individuals