Birds at the garden

Spotted-necked Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)

Common Myna

Little Spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostra)

Chestnut Munia ( Lonchura atricapilla)

Of the birds that are shown above, two are making home at the garden. The Tekukur (Malay) - Spotted-necked Dove (Streptopelia chinensis) and the Pipit Rawa (Malay) - Chestnut Munia ( Lonchura atricapilla).  The Javan Myna has just been recently spotted befriending  the garden.  It prefers to just hang around the electric post next to the garden fence.

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

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.

Town pipits

Birds free at the Kuching garden

View of back garden, showing the bamboo clump in the background.

 One of the criteria for the success of the Kambatik garden (Malaysian garden) is the prevalence of birds and other wildlife.  My recent visit to Kuching in July 2013 has prompted me to blog again about the garden after a lapse of writing in 2010,2011 and 2012.  The garden is maturing now and most of the trees are showing their best.  The bamboo clump has attracted the 'Tekukur' (Spotted Dove) to build its nest there.  Perched high on top of the bamboo clump I saw the red -eyed Perling or Glossy Philippine Starling.

 The Tekukur perches on the electric wire everyday, watching its nest from predators and occassionaly bringing food to its young.

Tekukur (Malay) or Spotted Dove, seen near new leaves of the mango tree.

 I was extremely delighted and thrilled to hold the young chick of the Bulbul just the other day.  Apparently it has flown from its nest and being still infant it didn't manage to fly well.  I held her in my palm to take some snap shots and after that let it free.  Other birds seen frequenting the garden now are the sunbirds.

View of garden facing north-west