The Kambatik Park, Bintulu.: June 2015

Monday, June 29, 2015

A surprise from the deciduous tree

A tropical deciduous tree, Zone C.

It is not common to see tropical trees shedding all its leaves and then refresh itself with new generation of leaf growth. Recently one such tree revealed its qualities at Zone C. Once totally bared it revealed a surprise. All this while not seen was a Disc Stag's Horn that has survived unnoticed clinging to the tree.

Disc Stag's Horn fern growing on a deciduous tree
Location : Zone C

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Sunset time at the park

Sunset as seen from entrance of the park
28 June'15

What's for lunch?

Kunyit Kacat (Malay) - Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia)
Location : Zone C

She was moving about the Mango tree, branch to branch and to the end of branches. Within seconds she has a mouthful of a young insect snatched from the underside of a leaf. It could probably be a juvenile praying mantis or a stick insect. Well, lunch is served.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Tiny but beautiful bird

Orange-bellied Flowerpecker, male. (Dicaeum trigonostigma)
Location : Zone C

The daily visit of the Orange-bellied Flowerpecker allows for interesting close observation of its beautiful colours. It has a dark blue face. Its chin and throat is grey. Its breast orange. Its bill, legs and feet are black. It is a tiny but beautiful bird.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Highlights today at the park - 23 June'15

A tiny blue fungi
Location : Zone A


The Cempedak tree ( Artocarpus champeden) starting to bear fruit- a hybrid variety (Cempedak Madu). The fruits (aril) are very sweet and juicy. Location : Zone C

A large white fungi
Location : Zone D

A Rufous lifer

Rufous-backed Kingfisher ( Ceyx erithaca)
Location : Botanic Island Two

I was having a walk-through the Botanic Island Two when all of a sudden I heard a strange sharp sound among the trees...tseeeet....tseeeet. Amidst the confusion of jungle trees, trunks. twigs and branches my eyes were caught by a kaleidoscope of colours. It is a lifer for me. This has been my lucky day. Click..and it was away. But one click is good enough for a lifer even though the image did not appear clear. It's marvellous for the record. It is the forest kingfisher - Rufous-backed Kingfisher. It made my day. Days like this doesn't come often and the Kambatik Park is blessed for another day.

The Rufous-backed Kingfisher is a small bird, but colourful.
Location : Botanic Island Two

Monday, June 22, 2015

Young Ashy Tailorbird


Ashy Tailorbird, young chick. Location : Zone C

Obviously it was following its parents. Saw this young Ashy Tailorbird making music to my ears, in joyous mood, dancing and hopping on to the twigs and branches of the Eugenia oleina tree. Its beak was not fully formed yet. The parents were trying to teach the chick a lesson or two on how to prey for the small caterpillars at the tips of leaves. Learning young.

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Highlights today at the park - 21 June'15

Eugenia oleina trees in flushes

A wild orchid species (Phaius?) blooming again

Red-headed (Ashy) Tailorbird

A butterly resting on a bracken fern

Thursday, June 18, 2015

The beautiful Balem tree

Balem tree in flushes, seen in the morning
Location : Zone C

Balem tree in flushes, seen in the late afternoon
Location : Zone C

It is one of the tallest trees at the park. The Balem tree (Mangifera pajang) was full of young leaves with varying colours from yellow to orange to red. It is a beautiful sight to behold. These young leaves are good to be eaten raw with the great Bintulu belacan. It has been a number of years since the tree last bore fruits. It is difficult for me to say whether this year it will bear fruit. But what I like about this tree is its age. At this height the tree is more than 70 years old and still standing tall. May Allah bless me with a ripe old age like the Balem tree.