Hoopoe - Beyond Rarity, A Story of Friendship

 For many Hoopoe sighting lately can be a good tick of a rarity and a good opportunity for a photo. On the other hand for myself Hoopoe carry a different meaning. My first sighting of Hoopoe in Malaysia dated 20 years ago much earlier than Taiping Lake Garden. This was back in Juru. It was here and back 20 years that I meet a great senior couple Mr and Mrs Hum. I still remember the couple who come with their 2 door  Suzuki Vitara and Mrs Hum was so eager to show the bird. At that point it was my lifer. Life have its way, I got a job in Penang which I spend some wonderful time in the Island and soon mr and mrs hum were birding companion. I remember the time to Chuping in day trip, Bukit Wang Sg Sedim and many more. We got many lifer during the time there including Wallaces Hawk Eagle, Ruff, Imperial eagle (which adult still remain the only record I have) and more other species. It was a great time birding with them.

In time I departed myself searching for batter opportunity and my wife (girl friend back then) was working in Penang. Both Mr and Mrs Hum always invited her for short birding trip. She did have a great and wonderful time. A part from having wonderful time birding,  Mr hum remain a great teacher (also by profession) for photography. I do not believe I would have improved so fast with impromptu photography without his guidance. I still remember change your setting before you start shooting was his advice forcing us to continuously see the lighting condition as we move our way into the forest. Back then we do not have port or feeding station as what we use to have today. Therefore to walk the entire forest and photography required faster movement and no preset. Shooting in manual mode we constantly adjusting our shutter speed and other setting ensuring we get the shot. From using flash to using sunny f16 rule was all thought by Mr Hum. My first flash was also assisted by Mr Hum. Metz flash was the brand and although I hardly used it or not at all these days, but I kept it serving as a reminder of people who have help me in hard times. 

My recent visit to them we did bring up the Hoopoe story. I told my wife now that that was my first time meeting both Mr and Mrs Hum. 

Today I get my opportunity to take the shot of the Hoopoe. One which I have seen and did not do any photography back then. I was happy as this was not a hard one. Recovering from my major surgery this was a bonus, a very small excitement for me. Got it from feeding its chick to personally observed 2 chick fledge.

Below are the shot for our enjoyment. Again Hoopoe is a story more than just a tick but a story of friendship.