Back garden

Back garden, showing mixed planting of palm, wild banana, cassia alata, calathea lutea and ixora coccinea ...

Cassia alata

 Just the other day, I managed to dig out some tapioca tubers and cook them.  They tasted good because they are of a variety that is soft to be eaten.  At the back garden are many herbs and shrubs that produce fruits, tubers, flowers or leaves can can be consumed as salad, dessert, juiced drinks, condiments,medicine, and not forgetting added appeal for wildlife and garden beauty.  Here's more views of the back garden....

Back garden ...mixed planting mainly herbaceous plants

Costus woodsoonii - Red button ginger

Back garden...view towards south-east

The nesting pair stays at the garden

Male Olive-backed sunbird (left)  and female at right...on the "Lumok" leaves (Artocarpus odoratissimus Blanco)

 The Malays call the tree as "Terap" and the Bintulu Melanaus call it "Lumok".  the Lumok tree is planted at the side garden facing south.  It has grown to about 7 meters now.  The Olive-backed sunbird couple is seen resting and perching on its broad leaves often to have a commanding view of their nest.  I noticed this whole week that the nesting pair is very frequently seen around the nest area.  The female flies very regularly to visit and then hide in the nest.  It would appear to me that she could have laid eggs already.  Unfortunately I would not have time to see them hatch because tomorrow we'll be on the way back to Bintulu.  Whatever it is this visit has been most memorable for the chance it has given us to witness the pair building their nest and then making use of it for its intended puropose i.e. to lay eggs.  I wish more chicks will be borne in our garden in future.

More birdlife seen

Asian glossy starling

 Besides a nesting pair of Olive-backed sunbird, the other birds that are dropping by at regular basis at the garden are the Perling or Asian Glossy Starling and the Pipit.  Here are some pictures of the birds seen within the last two weeks.

Olive-backed sunbird - female

Olive-backed sunbird - male

Pipit

Side and back garden

Back garden - showing the Cassia alata leaves at left and red flowers of the Ixora coccinea at right

 The Laman Kambatik (Malay) or Kambatik garden is providing much shade, greenery and colours now.  It has developed a micro-climate attracting many birds, butterflies, bees and various insects.  Its bio-diversity network is broadened.  Indeed on this trip I was especially pleased with the behaviours of a nesting couple of the Olive-backed sunbird of which I have blogged in previous postings.  Below are some pictures of the back and side garden.  I have included the Perling bird which I saw this afternoon having a rest on the Tabebeuia rosea branch.

Coconut trees at left and in background is the Mango tree
At center is the Starfruit tree and at right is the White chempaka (Michelia alba)

Side garden - looking south
At left is durian tree and right is the Kedondong tree, with lots of fruits

A Perling bird resting on the branch of the Tabebuia rosea tree...

The male Olive-backed Sunbird

Male Olive-backed Sunbird

Female Olive-backed Sunbird

 The male sunbird had a watching brief over the nest area.  It gave out repeated calls to the female and soon after the female bird appeared with a mouthful of feathers to the nest.  It rested on a branch close by before attempting to make a direct approach to the nest.  She carefully placed the feathers in the nest.  It seemed to me that the feathers would made good bedding material.  After she placed the feathers she rested on a branch outside the nest to swipe her beak on the twig and then had a little rest from a busy afternoon schedule (see picture at the inset left).

Approaching the nest with a mouthful of feather...

At the nest entrance ready to place the feather inside...

Placing the feather....

View of front garden...from outside the fence, looking north.
3 Nov'13

Planting of tall palms and Eugenia oleina trees at back garden..looking south

Planting of Eugenia oleina trees and yellow bamboo at back garden, corner side..looking south.

Olive-backed Sunbird making nest

Olive-backed Sunbird (Nectarinia jugularis)

 On this trip to Kuching, we are fortunate to have the chance to see the Olive-backed Sunbird darting to and fro in the garden in its attempt to perfect its nest.  I could see the male watching her from a vantage point in the garden.  It is the female that is busy bringing in the finer material to do the finishing touches.  I discovered that the nest is hung from a small branch of the Eugenia oleina tree which is planted at the back portion of the garden.  The nest is flask-shaped and is composed of twigs and glass blades.  Below are pictures taken today of the female bird in flight, inside the nest and hovering just outside it too.  With the presence of the nesting behaviour it shows that the garden is attractive and comfortable to the birds.

The Eugenia oleina tree is just next to the tall Carpentaria palm.  Presently the oleina tree is in flushing stage, giving out a range of beautiful young leaves in colours of yellow, orange to red.