Highlights today at the park - 28 Nov'15

Great Mormon (Papilio memnon agenor)
Zone C

Ong Lumok (Bintulu Melanau) - Artocarpus
Zone B

Oriental Magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis)
Zone B

Yellow-bellied Prinia (Prinia flaviventris)
Zone C

Two birds and a chick

Magpie- Robin or Murai Kampung (Malay)
Location : Cempedak Hill, Zone G

 On a Sunday morning, I thought how pleasant it would be to have a stroll around the park.  I was trying to look for a surprise.  Any surprise.  The surprise came in the form two birds and a chick.  Firstly, the Magpie Robin was singing her heart out to the denizens of the park.  Pitching her voice to a melodious tune, her song ran for a couple of minutes but stopped when she spotted me.  Later, at the same tree a lone Blue-throated Bee-eater took  to the perch unnoticed by me but soon as I took a glimpse of it, the colourful bird flew away.  It has been a while since the bee eater has been spotted perching on the Cempedak tree.  Finally, as I was about to finish my morning walk, my eyes were focussed on a black object that moved about the short grasses near the Kruak Wetlands.  And sure enough it was a young White-breasted Waterhen, but because it was still very very young the white breast didn't show.  She was all black.

Blue-throated Bee-eater

Young chick of the White-breasted Waterhen

Young chick running for cover
Location : Kruak Wetlands

 

A photoshoot session with the Magpie

Oriental Magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis)
Family : Muscicapidae (Thrush family)

 The Oriental Magpie-robin is not an easy subject to get close with.  But today was exceptional.  I had a good photoshoot session with this melodious bird.  She was partly drenched and that made her less eager to fly away, not till the session was over.  Her hairs were ruffled and at one moment her eyes were fixed on me.  Gotcha!! Here's some images for the remembrance.

Birdwatch album - Magpie - Robin

Magpie - Robin
(Copsychus satularis)

 They come to the park merry-making and  is among the best songsters here. In the Park they are wild compared with in the town gardens of Sarawak where over generations they are sufficiently tame.  They perch on tall dead tree branches and the males gives out a very melodious chatter that is broadcasted throughout the park.  I often see them in pairs and they feed on insects like crickets ants and caterpillars.