Sunda Cuckoo

Cuculiformes - Cuculidae - Cuculus lepidus (Sewah Gunung Melayu)

Typical Cuculus cuckoo: most adults are gray with black stripes on a white breast and belly, but some females are “hepatic”; they appear rufous overall with extensive barring. Virtually identical to Himalayan and Oriental cuckoos, which migrate through and winter in Sunda’s range; look for Sunda’s more contrasting darker gray upperparts, wider bars on the underparts, and buffier unmarked vent. Juvenile is dark grayish black above with white edging to the feathers. Like most cuckoos, more often heard than seen; listen for its 2–3 note hooting song, which averages higher than that of Oriental. A species of montane and foothill forest.

More heard than seen

typical, similar

words that strike

yet uncommon.

Flash after flash

patience tested

by avian, by human

patience won

as Patience stays true.

Dusky Eagle-owl

Strigiformes - Strigidae - Ketupa coromanda (Burung-Hantu Bertanduk Kelabu Asia)

A very large, grayish-brown owl with yellow eyes and distinctive ears. Note the fine barring and dark streaks on the pale underparts, and white patches on the shoulders. In flight, wings and tail are strongly barred below. Perches in tall trees, usually near a water body, where it waits for birds and mammals to pounce upon. The call is a distinctive series of low, guttural notes that increase in volume and speed before trailing off towards the end.

In flight, in call, in silence

awesome, most awesome.

Stepping back, involuntarily

an unnatural shudder

One I could have reached, grasped perhaps

one smaller yet more awe-inspiring.

Crested Goshawk

 Accipitriformes - Accipitridae - Lophospiza trivirgata (Helang-Sewah Besar Berjambul)

Powerfully built hawk of forests, especially hilly woods. Namesake crest is usually held low and not very visible. Adult has a gray head, brown wings, whitish underparts with thick orange-brown stripes in belly and streaks in breast, and white throat with black borders. Juvenile similar but with brown head, sparingly marked underparts, and very short crest. Appears stockier and relatively shorter-tailed in flight than other accipiters. Flying adults may also show a fluffy white clump of feathers on both sides of the tail.

(ebird)

You summon grit,

gripping focus.

The wait was over,

The injury was overcome, almost

I renewed the passage I was on

I renewed grit.