A White-breasted Woodswallow came perching

The White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus) was seen perching on an electric cable just next to the side front garden.  It did not notice me in the beginning as I was hidden amidst the canopy of trees down below.  Being inattentive to my presence I could arrange to get a closer shot of the bird.  I am always excited to see the white contrast of its breast against a grey body.  Another feature of the bird that attracts me is the light blue bill.  This bird normally shows itself in a pair or in a small group.  Today it came alone.

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)

A uniquely Kuching bird

Long-tailed Shrike at the Kambatik garden, Kuching.

Garden colours

 There's lots of excitement at the garden right now.  One bird that's uniquely Kuching has been hanging around the garden since we have been here about a fortnight ago.  The Long-tailed Shrike not only perches on the branches of the 'Kedondong' tree but often times seen resting on the Tabebuia rosea branches.  The garden is a pleasure to be immersed in.  The greenery is superb and is brightened by flowers and colourful foliages.  The presence of the Long-tailed Shrike has added a new list to the garden birds around our home in Kuching.  This adds another feather to the Kambatik's  cap.

'Kedondong' fruits (Spondias dulcis)

View of trees at the side garden - in the line-up are mango tree (left), Eugenia oleina with yellow- orange flushes, Tabebuia rosea tree (tallest tree ni the picture and the Pinang palm or Betel palm (Areca catechu ) on the righ, partly shown is the palm fronds.
4 April'15

Brown-throated Sunbird at the Blood Banana

Brown-throated Sunbird at the Blood Banana inflorescence

Terminal inflorescence of the Blood Banana

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

Common garden birds

Asian or Philippines Glossy Starling.  These are adult birds. Resting on the branch of a Tabebuia rosea tree.

 The last two days was interesting.  I saw many common garden birds visiting the garden.  Chiefly among them were the noisy Philippines Glossy Starlings that gathered at the Tabebuia rosea trees and the Eugenia oleina trees.  They were kept busy by the fruiting Eugenia oleina trees.  The crowd of starlings were joined by many other species.  Others in the line-up were the Brown-throated Sunbird and Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker.

A female yellow-bellied Flowerpecker with a ripe Eugenia oleina fruit

A juvenile Philippines Glossy Starling

View of Kambatik garden, Kuching.
17 March'15

Sunbirds work smart

Male Olive-backed Sunbird

Female Olive-backed Sunbird

 Watching the Olive-backed Sunbirds having a go at the nectar of the Pink Poui was a memorable one.  It is interesting to see how they worked smart.  To reach at the nectar both made short-cuts.  Their sharp beak were effective as  weapon to pierce through the base of the flowers.  They kept on making return trips to the tree to enjoy the nectar and seemed pleased by their twittering calls. 

Male piercing the base of the Pink Poui

Male piercing deep into the base of the Pink Poui flower

Male Olive-backed Sunbird in flight

Trumpet-shaped flowers of the Pink Poui (Tabebuia rosea)
Flowering is accompanied by shedding of leaves.  The beauty is when the whole tree flowers without the leaves.

The peaceful Zebra Dove

 Up on the tall Poui tree a pair of Zebra Doves were seen relaxing.  They do visit the garden regularly though have not yet been seen nesting here.  The Malays call them 'Merbok Aman' to mean peaceful dove.  Another relative called the  Spotted-necked Dove is a permanent resident preferring to build its nest on the yellow bamboo clump at the back garden.   There are pleasant birds and get domesticated easily.  Many end up in cages as pets.  Compared with the Spotted-Necked Dove (Tekukur) it is much smaller in size.  In Sarawak these birds are commonly seen besides town roads and streets, public parks and playing fields foraging on the ground for food.

 'Merbok Aman' (Zebra Dove) at the Poui tree (Tabebuia rosea)

Merbok Aman - Zebra Dove
Geopelia striata

Olive-backed sunbird at banana heart

Banana inflorescence showing the banana heart (Jantung Pisang - Malay)

 The Malays have a nice word to refer to the heart of the banana - Jantung Pisang.  More images of the Jantung Pisang can be seen here  , showing  the wide varieties of food that can be created from this flowering head of the banana plant.  Today I got excited at photographing the Olive-backed Sunbird, a female of the species that came visiting the banana heart.  It was busy doing return trips to the heart to enjoy its nectar early in the morning.  The Olive-backed Sunbird has obtained a PR status at the garden here after it created its nest in the branches of the oleina tree  months ago.   It joins other birds that are fond of making nesst in the garden, namely the Chestnut Munia, Spotted-necked Dove and the Eastern Tree Sparrow.  Here's more images.....

Olive-backed Sunbird - Cinnyris jugularis  clinging to the banana heart

For more botanical knowledge on the banana heart, check it out here ..>>>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana

A Triller in the garden

Pied Triller (Lalage nigra) - Sewah Kapas (Malay)

This is male of the species Lalage nigra - Sewah Kapas (Malay)
It has black wings with large white patch on coverts.  Underparts are white.  Bill, legs and feet are brown.

Surprise is a mild word.  It's really thrilling to see the Pied Triller came by the garden this morning.  This is the first time in my birding experience to have met the Triller.  I have never seen it in Bintulu.  And of all the places it showed itself in the Kambatik garden in Kuching.  It is not really a common bird in Sarawak and it was merely coincidental that I managed to photoshoot it this morning.  It was having a brief rest on the Tabebuia rosea branch and I happened to be just nearby for a close range shot.

Peaceful doves in mortal combat

 It was a very interesting scene.  The first ever I have seen.  Two Tekukur were bent on fighting each other to death.  Was the reason terristorial, jealousy, or both?  They were sparring by the electrical line next to the front garden.  Both were in fierce attacking mode.  Never giving up the fight.  Every part of the body was used.  Beak, feet, wings and sometimes all three.  Attacks were made while resting on the cables and in mid-flight.  There were dare devil approaches as well as cunning and well-thought moves by both parties.  They remind me of Malaysian politicians, somewhat.....These pictures tell it all....

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.