Sunday morning walk

 Sunday morning and taking it easy.  Having a leisurely stroll around the park to watch nature early.  Sometimes it is best to take photograph between 6.30 am to 8.00 am making use of the soft effect of early morning light.  Here's what I managed to shoot this morning...a squirrel goes out early to hunt, the moon is still seen in the early morning sky, broad jungle leaves against thin long leaves, Inul - my lovely cat that was born in the park, the ' tekukur' bird in the distance and the spiderhunter happily singing and enjoying the nectar from the yellow ixora flowers...Such is the beauty of nature in the early morning light.

Eugenia oleina tree flowering and a butterfly

Eugenia oleina flowers are white, while the pink colour flower is the Tabebuia rosea (Poui)

 The Eugenia oleina tree is flowering but throughout the park it is the only eugenia tree that burst into flowers today.  And there is one beautiful butterfly with contrasting colours of black, yellow and white that visited it as early as 7 this morning.
She must be having a great feast.
The eugenia tree is a signature tree at the park.  It is planted as a roadside tree along the  park road and grown on open spaces to add colour to the evergreen wash and very attractive to wildlife especially birds, butterflies and bees.

( Note: All images taken on 29 June'13, Location: Zone C )

The Sambar deer hooves prints

Location : Zone C, along the Eugenia trail, at the foreground is where the hooves prints were located

Last night the sharp and loud barking of the deer broke the cold silence.  This morning I answered its call by checking on the wet areas and muddy sections of the park.  Along the Eugenia trail at Zone C,  I stumbled upon the Sambar deer hooves prints.  They were many and well imprinted in the soft earth. The Sambar deer is a very regular visitor to the park, eating various plants  like young leaves of the tapioca, shrubby dillenia fruits, cempedak leaves .etc. But most of all I think the deers like the park because of its relative safety, the presence of the stream , and the hills that provide relative cover when there is a need to escape from danger.

Branches in the sunset

Photoshooting - 28 June'13, view from lookout point Zone I, nearby  Licuala trail

Trigger-happy at the park

Shooting date - 28 Jun'13.

"Punai Daun" or the Little Green Pigeon.

 I am watching the Little Green Pigeon (Treron capellei magnirostris) or what the Malays call 'Punai Daun' this morning.  He came by in return trips to gather the little Eugenia oleina twigs.  It is my belief that he must have been working hard this morning to build a rest somewhere at the park.  What thrilled me was his attempt to break off the ends of the branches and then flew away carrying it in his bill. It is a very colourful bird with its back and wing-coverts in a striking maroon colour.  Its feet light red and iris white makes good contrast to the greenery around.

Punai Daun (Malay) or the Little Green pigeon...the cock bird is full of colours and does the gathering of twigs for building its nest.

Note : All pictures taken on 28 June'13, Location : Zone C

Kulat Jelutong ( Lentinus sajor - caju)

This old Jelutong dead tree stump is home for the fungi 'Lentinus sjor - caju' or Kulat Jelutong in Malay.  This is a delicious tasting edible fungi or mushroom at the park.

When you walk around the park you may bump into some edible mushrooms.  A good example is the "Jelutong" mushroom which caught my attention this morning. The Jelutong mushroom gets its nutrients from the Jelutong tree which apparently is an old dead stump but provides just the right eco-system for its survival e.g. rotten tree bark, organic tissues and organisms, moss, etc.. Because it is commonly seen on old and dead Jelutong tree stumps  the Malays conveniently call it 'Kulat Jelutong'.  Kulat is mushroom in Malay.  I love this mushroom when cooked with other green vegetables or jungle shoots like the Midin, bamboo shoots, young cucumber leaves and many more.

Kulat Jelutong (Lentinus sajor - caju) , location : Botanic Island One.

Two that flew past ..a plane and a Tiong

 As usual towards the day's end I would climb the hill at Zone I (near the Licuala trail)  to watch the sunset as well as the two Tiong birds. Today I managed to click away a plane that just took off the Bintulu airport runway about one kilometers from the park.

                                Another view of today's sunset with dead branches as subject.

I was so happy to watch the Tiong bird flew away from its nest.  I believed they noticed me now but being a friendly party to them they seemed not bothered with my presence....My wish is to see their chick peep out of the hole soon......
                                                        ( All images taken on 26 June'13)

The Little Spiderhunter

 It was another joyful moment to capture the Little Spiderhunter this afternoon.  The yellow Ixora flowers were in full bloom and that must have attracted the bird to the heavy flowering bush at the park. Watching it at a distance of about 20 feet I was able to photoshoot it while it was hovering in flight to obtain the nectar with its long black bill.  On closer look I love the distinctive soft yellow colour of its belly.

(Inset : Little Spiderhunter - Arachnothera longirostra)

Little Spiderhunter ( Arachnothera longirostra)

All images taken on 26 Jun'13, at Zone C.

Wildlife - far and near

Note : All images taken on 26 Jun'13

Nature discovery at the park

Orange cup fungus with white hairs seen at Provinsi Rattan area.

 Today I decided to check out the Provinsi Rattan area to enjoy some shade in deep rattan territory of the park.  It was a worthwhile excursion.  The place was rather damp, well-shaded and close-by the stream.  Here can be found many rattan species. wild exotic palms, lianas or climbers, and many natural organisms that feed on the thick forest floor of humus, dead plant tissues etc..One particular fungi attracted by attention.  The fungus were living of a small dead branch and they hard a striking orange colour with white hairs.  Many things can be discovered here...here's a tiny sampling of fungi types, rattan species showing fruits as well, fern and and an exotic palm.

Fungi at Provinsi Rattan area.

Fungi at Provinsi Rattan area.

Fungi at Provinsi Rattan area.

Fungi at Provinsi Rattan area.

Fern at Provinsi Rattan area.

Rattan fruit at Provinsi Rattan area

Rattan fruit at Provinsi Rattan area.

An exotic jungle palm - Pholidacarpus sumatrana , located at Botanic Island Three, Provinsi Rattan area...

A raging stream

Zone C, looking east...

The Kambatik stream starts here...

What's happening at the park?  Well, yesterday there was a very heavy downpour for about an hour at midday which was accompanied by loud thunderstorm and lightning.  When such a natural phenomena occurs, within about half an hour's time the stream would swell out and create flash floods on its banks.  The heavy rain was a much needed relief after a dry spell of about 2 weeks at the park.  Here's some pics of the stream that grew into a 'raging river' for about an hour's time and then quickly downsized itself later.....

Zone C, moving downstream...

Zone C ...

Zone C...

Zone D

Zone D , taken 24 Jun'13...