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

 

Birdwatch album - White-breasted Waterhen

White-breasted waterhen

 These birds are made for walking.  They are seen in grassy swampy areas, leaving clear imprints on muddy patches. The waterhen moves quickly when seen and darts for cover in an instant.  They make the typical sounds of 'Ruak-Ruak' and thus are called locally as Keruak in Malay.  On one occasion I was able to get very close to its young chick which is all black.  Both sexes are usually alike.

Young chick of the waterhen running for cover.