Headland for the Kambatik stream

Headland for the Kambatik stream starting from swampy valley between Zone C and Zone B, looking east.

Kruak or White-breasted Waterhen.
Amaurornis phoenicurus

 There are three headlands that provide for running water to the Kambatik stream.  These headlands are storage grounds for freshwater from the daily or occasional tropical rains throughout the year.  The water storage spreads over a large area and is almost level thus the current is slight , though in continuous and heavy torrential downpours they would collect more rains than usual causing  flash floods to the surrounding areas closet to the stream.  But such flash floods come and go in a few hours time because the Kambatik park is situated at the upland area of the river system.  There are many wildlife that have created their own niches in the low lying areas especially where there are tall grasses and wet conditions.  Chiefly among them are the White-breasted Waterhen or Kruak that breed well here.

Headland for the Kambatik stream starting from swampy valley between Zone G and Zone F, looking south.

Pipit Rawa or Chest Munia
Lonchura malacca

Pipits like swathes of grassland where they feed on the grass seeds. They normally come in a flock and are a noisy lot.  They are not easy to photograph because there are so many eyes and it takes only a pair of eyes to give the danger alarm for the rest to fly away.  Many types of birds make use of the dried glass blades for their nests.  The sea of grass is an important element in garden ecology providing much needed micro-climate to the many organisms in the soil.

Headland for the Kambatik stream starting from swampy valley between Zone A and Zone G, lookingsouth-east

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dragon fly

There is a very diverse web of life in the headlands due to the presence of water in the ground that are either stagnant or flowing slowly. These headlands create the wet edges to the park that are home to lizards, frogs, mosquitoes, worms, bees, beetles, grasshoppers, snakes and birds.  However, what is particularly relevant at the park is the unique function of these tall grasses as safe passageways  and hideout areas for the regular big animal visitors to the park at night especially the Sambar deer.