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)

Enjoying the garden with birds and wildlife

Tekukur bird (Spotted-necked Dove)  at the side garden
1 June'15

Orange-bellied Flowerpecker
2 June'15

 It is something priceless when you can reap beauty that does not belong to you.  The garden is well established now and the fun is just about to begin.  Its time to begin to enjoy the garden with birds and other wildlife.   The joy of having the garden visited by these beautiful creatures is unspoken happiness.  The morning air today was filled with the twitter and calls of the Orange-bellied flowerpecker, Spotted-necked dove and Magpie-robin.  Closer to ground there were butterflies and dragonflies.  I noticed one dragonfly was resting on the Cape gooseberry plant (Physalis peruviana) belonging to the Tomato family, that has been growing luxuriously on this 53rd trip to Kuching.  I guess I'll have the gooseberry fruits for lunch later.

Lime Butterfly

Dragonfly

Dragonfly at the Cape gooseberry plant

The Cape gooseberry plant growing luxuriously

Ripe fruits will turn orangish yellow.

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