Brahminy Kite

 Accipitriformes - Accipitridae - Haliastur indus (Helang Merah)

A medium-sized raptor with a rounded tail unlike other kites. Adults are unmistakable with a white head and breast contrasting with otherwise brick brown plumage. Juveniles are a darker brownish-black with a paler head and prominent white patches under the wings. Usually associated with both inland and coastal wetlands in tropical Asia, but it is largely restricted to coastal wetlands in Australia where it is alternately known as “Red-backed Sea Eagle.” Call is a distinctive nasal, drawn out, “Kyeeerrh.”

(eBird)

A lesson in respite when one feels alienated, overwhelmed in a crowd.

Pied Harrier

Accipitriformes - Accipitridae - Circus melanoleucos ( Helang-Sawah Hitam-Putih)

A spectacular harrier patterned in black and silvery white. The male is distinctive with black head, striking yellow cere and eyes, and black shoulders, breast, and wingtips, contrasting with its silvery-white underparts and forewing. The female is gray-and-brown above and lighter below, with a small white rump. Females superficially resemble female Pallid and Montagu’s Harriers, but have a paler underwing with narrow dark barring and sparse streaking on underwing coverts. The species hunts by quartering suitable habitat on buoyant wings. It eats mostly small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and insects.

Patience is always a game when it comes to closer encounter with the avian kind, if one's game! 

Eastern Marsh Harrier

 Accipitriformes - Accipitridae - Circus spilonotus (Helang-sawah Biasa)

A common patroller above reedbeds, flying with wings raised in a shallow V-shape. Adult males are predominantly pale gray with a dark-speckled head, blackish back with pale-edged feathers, and black wingtips. Adult females are brown and streaky and lack the bold white rump patch of the similar female Hen Harrier. Juveniles are brown with paler heads and breasts. Extremely similar to Western Marsh-Harrier, but range overlap is minimal.

(eBird)

possibly immature male

Time when one plus one doesn't equal two, and a challenge lives rent free in the mind, and foolishly refuses to bow to counsel.

Black-headed Bulbul

Passeriformes - Pycnonotidae - Microtarsus melanocephalos (Merbah Kepala Hitam)

 Olive-yellow bulbul with a black head and unsettling sapphire eyes. Broad black band across the tail is especially noticeable when seen from below. No other bulbul in its range sports a crestless dark head, but look out for the slenderer and longer-billed leafbirds, whose dark throats may cause confusion when seen from below. Extremely rare gray morph replaces all yellow with gray, and intermediate birds have both yellow and gray patches. Inhabits broadleaf and mixed forests as well as edges, often in areas close to water. Usually seen in pairs or small flocks in the upper layers of lowland and foothill forest. Unlike many other bulbuls, not particularly vocal; gives occasional “chew” or “chep” notes, often while flying.

(eBird)

"Distance means so little when (you mean) so much."

Grey-headed Fish-Eagle

Accipitriformes - Accipitridae - Icthyophaga icthyaetus (Helang Kanguk-Besar)

Fierce-looking brown-and-white fish-eater. Note adult’s contrasting white belly and white tail with a broad black bar across the tip. Juvenile is paler overall, with a streaked brown breast and barred underwings. Smaller Lesser Fish-Eagle has a less contrasting tail pattern and typically a more jagged-edged white belly patch in adults; juveniles average paler below overall. Gray-headed forages around rivers, lakes, and swamplands. Vocal; often detected by its hoarse yelping screams.

(eBird)

Different but of the same, so, so what if we meet again? 

Greater Spotted Eagle

 Accipitriformes - Accipitridae - Clanga clanga (Helang-bintik Besar)

Adults are large and quite uniform dark brown eagles with very broad wings and short tails. Single white "comma" mark at the wrist of the underwing. Similar to the Lesser Spotted Eagle, which is smaller, paler, and more contrasting. Juveniles are more boldly patterned with numerous prominent dirty white spots on the back and upper wings. More tied to forests than Lesser Spotted Eagle, but still near rivers and bogs. Frequents humanmade habitats more often in winter, such as lakes, rubbish dumps, and reservoirs.

(eBird)

"Amazing the things you find when you bother to search for them."

Black-browed Reed Warbler

Passeriformes - Acrocephalidae - Acrocephalus bistrigiceps (Cekup-Paya Kecil Biasa) 

Dull brown reed warbler with a sharply marked head, found in a variety of wetland habitats with substantial vegetation cover. Namesake black brow line is not always apparent, but the thick and strikingly pale supercilium is distinctive in its clean-cut and squared-off appearance. Somewhat similar to the rarer Streaked Reed Warbler, but averages much darker and lacks the latter's black striping on the back and wings. Song is a scrambled set of chatters, chirps, and rattles, more musical and tuneful than Oriental Reed Warbler. Gives dry “chit,” often in series.

(eBird)

"Ask questions from your heart and you will be answered from the heart."