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BIRDS are beautiful creatures that always entertain us with their behaviors and bright feathers. And photographing birds is for sure a fun thing to do (not with limited lens capacity). Last Hari Raya I brought home my new Canon EF-S 18-200mm, without really knowing what to shoot at the first place. By the way, this is not the real equipment for birder to shoot birds, this is only my trial-n-error attempt. :)

My house is a typical Malay kampung house. Surrounded by farm and bushes with lot of birds. But now, population has decreased. Not as many as I saw them when I was a child. About 12 year ago, a group of hornbill is just a normal sight, it can be seen almost every day...resting high on the coconut tree then sometimes jumping down to rambutan's branches. But now, what locals called a Burung Kelekeng is one hard sight, only left some small fella mingling around house.

Seating on the front pouch with my cigarette lighted, I spot some species that can't really recall their names. After my late noon cigarette, I still can't figure out exactly their names. But what I do is try to sneak and spy their favourite location. So then, I wait and start shooting.

This is permanent resident at the back of my kitchen. Looking out through the window with 200mm focal length, I still couldn't get close (maybe I have to sell my car to get proper lens). Anyways, Canon 18-200mm Image Stabilization works well, this picture show 100 percent crop from Adobe Photoshop.

Couple of days later, I recall it's name as Murai Gila (sorry I don't have scientific name). Gila which means crazy maybe refer to it's way of flying. Flying short and fast, circling in a small area and fly low from the land. No other birds fly like them.Going in crazy direction. Besides Murai Gila, there are other types of Murai, like Murai Kampung (black and white) and Murai Cherang (brown chest)-producing beautiful sounds.

Murai Gila are smaller size compare to Murai Kampung. As days passed, one thing I noticed is that their playing time is between 3.30pm to 5pm. Seen in a couple, flying and chasing each other. Always seen spreading it's tail (peacock style) and wing quite often.

Click for bigger image, cloudy white at the bottom frame is a window's mirror

This is different species called Merbok, in Terengganu it's called Ngobok. Merbok favourite food is banana.

The long tail and red eyes Kerak Nasi

This is one hard to see. I was lucky on my 2nd day of photographing birds from my window to spot this 'biggest resident' on the rambutan tree. Kerak Nasi however not easy to photograph, their like to hide in crowded branches, and move steadily slow. Never know it's relationship with rice anyway.

Essential lens for trip traveler. Light and great coverage as wide as 18mm to 200mm.

A compact one-lens-does-it-all solution is ideal for many travel needs. The Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens' arrival was timed well with some of my own travel plans with great focal length as the big attraction for this lens.
Also nice is the Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens' size and weight. It is not as light as the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens, but similar to many other mid-range zooms.

Model	Weight		Dimensions w/o Hood		Filter	Year
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM Lens	16.8 oz	(475g)	3.3 x 3.8"	(84 x 97mm)	77mm	2003
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens	22.8 oz	(645g)	3.3 x 4.4"	(84 x 111mm)	77mm	2006
Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens	16.8 oz	(475g)	3.1 x 3.6"	(79 x 92mm)	67mm	2004
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens	7.1 oz	(200g)	2.7 x 2.8"	(69 x 70mm)	58mm	2007
Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens	21.0 oz	(595g)	3.1 x 4"	(79 x 102mm)	72mm	2008
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens	19.1 oz	(540g)	3.1 x 3.8"	(78 x 97mm)	72mm	1998
Canon EF 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 USM Lens	17.6 oz	(500g)	3.1 x 3.5"	(78 x 90mm)	72mm	2000
Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 L IS USM Lens	59.0 oz	(1670g)	3.6 x 7.6"	(92 x 194mm)	77mm	2004
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS Lens	13.8 oz	(390g)	2.8 x 4.3"	(70 x 108mm)	58mm	2007