Birdwatching at the side garden

A small flock of Asian Glossy Starling perching on the Poui tree.

 Just this morning  I realise how many birds one can shoot just a step out into the garden.  Here is the list of common garden birds I saw this morning, two of which were seen busy building their nests, viz the Pipit ( Chestnut Munia) and the Tekukur (Spotted- necked Dove).  Both of them had their nest built in the bamboo thicket.  Then there was a small flock of Asian Glossy Starling seen roosting on the branches of the Poui tree (Tabebuia rosea).  Of exceptional beauty in contrast was the Orange-bellied Flowerpecker.  Its brilliant orange breast appears  striking against the green leaves.  In the line-up was the Pipit or Chestnut Munia, confidently building its nest by flying in and out of the bamboo thicket carrying dried specimens of leaves and grasses in its beak.  All in all, it was a fulfilling moment of birdwatching in the garden.

Tekukur - Spotted-necked Dove

Pipit (Chestnut Munia) bringing material for its nest

Orange-bellied Flowerpecker

Side garden showing the coconut leaves (bottom right), purple flowers of the woody vine Congea velutina (center) scrambling over the broad leaves of the Lumok tree ( Artocarpus odoratissimus)and bamboo clump (top left ) .

Side garden showing at the center , the tall branching  Poui tree (Tabebuia rosea)

There's life at the front door

 The yellow bamboo clump at the front garden has grown tall and dense.  Among its stems and leaves a pair of nesting Chestnut Munia is seen busy flying in and out of their sanctuary.  I was able  to get a closer look of the birds this morning.  It is no wonder why people call it the Chestnut Munia.  The hood is black but the body is a rich chestnut brown colour.  The bill is bluish grey and stands in stark contrast to its black face.  Their presence at the front garden makes nature a step closer to the front door.

Chestnut Munia (Pipit Rawa- Malay)
Lonchura atricapilla

Common garden birds (Part 2)

Spotted-necked Dove or "Tekukur"  in Malay

 The trees at the Kuching garden are now nicely maturing.  Their column of green volume provides shade to the garden and home to many of the garden birds too.  The bamboo clumps are home to the Spotted -necked Dove and the Chestnut Munia.  The Eugenia oleina trees are home to the Olive-backed Sunbird.  Other birds are mainly day trippers. They include the Yellow-vented Bulbul, Brown-throated Sunbird, Oriental Magpie Robin, Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker, Asian glossy Starling. Plaintive Cuckoo, Eurasian Tree Sparrow and Zebra Dove.

Yellow-vented Bulbul

Chestnut Munia

Nesting at the back garden

Back garden, view looking east
Taken 7 August'14

Pipit Rawa or Chestnut Munia

 I have been watching closely the Chestnut Munia that is working hard to build a nest at the back garden.  It is starting to bring in grasses from around the garden as material for the job.  Short grasses and long grass blades or stalks, all dried ones are slowly being weaved at the Eugenia oleina tree for home making by the Pipit Rawa (Malay) or Chestnut Munia.  It is clear that in urban settings the Chestnut Munia is  fairly comfortable living in close proximity to human habitations, provided humans take the trouble to plant suitable trees for them and not to catch, eat  or kill them.

Chestnut Munia with a long dried grass in its beak at the oleina tree.