Smoking the Fernery

 At the Fernery, Botanical Island One.

Spent a good two hours at the Fernery this morning.

Did more clearing works and a bit of additional planting.

Did also smoking to the place to get rid of mosquitoes and at the same time to produce burnt earth.

A lifer of the Raffles Malkoha

Raffles Malkoha (Rhinortha chlorophaea) - male of the species

After a slight rain in the morning was over  I decided to explore the jungle behind where we stay. At Botanic Island One I,  my attention was directed to some movement in the branches above me.  I quickly get my zoom lens ready and then it was a series of clicks, clicks, clicks.. Checking in the camera later and counter referencing with my birding guide book I was pleasantly elated to discover that I had come across a lifer.  It was the Raffles Malkoha (Rhinortha chlorophaea).  On this encounter I was not able to meet its female as it is commonly reported that this species prefer to foraging with its partner.  The main characteristics that strike me was its white-tipped tail and its beautiful rufous upper parts.

The Chestnut -breasted Malkoha pays a visit

It was another thrilling encounter this morning when I stumbled upon the Chestnut-breasted Malkoha ( Phaenicophaeus curvirostris)   I could sense its presence about 20 meters away by its peculiar low call when I was approaching Botanic Island One.  After a while of looking its whereabout and keeping still beneath the tall trees and dense canopy, my eyes were suddenly attracted to a dark moving figure among the leaves and branches.  My patience was rewarded when the Malkoha came out more in the open.  Here are a few shots on this morning encounter.

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha ( Phaenicophaeus curvirostris) 

A natural herbal sweetener called "Lemba'

Juicy white pulp of the ripe fruit  with black seeds.  The fruits are in a bunch.

"Lemba" at left of pix

 After having cleared the top-hill, mid-hill and valley footpath of dead leaves yesterday, I took some time today checking out some of the plants at the Botanic Island One.  One herbal plant caught my attention.  It was the 'Lemba" or Curculigo latifolia.  Apparently they have grown well after I have transplanted some of them about a year ago at the location just nearby  the 'Belian " log.  I have previously planted it for posterity and as a landscape plant.  Its luxurious growth have encouraged me to plant more of them at the Botanic Islands here.  The ripe fruit of this herbal plant has juicy white pulp that is sweet.  It is a well-known trick among the peoples of Sarawak that before eating sour things eating these fruits will turn sour taste sweet.  For some eating the fruits before drinking plain water will make the water tastes like sugar water.  It has tiny bright yellow six-petaled flowers.

Note the 'Belian" log at the middle of the picture( Mid-hill footpath) and the "Lemba" growing on the slope in groups just slightly above it .  This is the micro-climate most suitable for its growth i.e. sheltered light and in cool forest setting.
Location : Botanic Island One

Fruit bunch opened showing the elongated oval fruits. Fruits and seeds are edible and can be taken fresh.

Yellow flower of the 'Lemba' and fruit bunches

Smoking the jungle

Botanic Island One - burning of dead leaves in progress

 It has been a while since I haven't cleared the footpaths at  the Botanic Island One..  There was  an abundance of dried leaves that  have accumulated over many months that needed sweeping.  Some of the collected leaves were heaped and then  burnt causing massive columns of smoke.  I always look forward to doing this activity because 'smoking the jungle' will keep clear the mosquitoes away.
 

Special effects created by the smoke

'Smoking the jungle' help clear the place of  mosquitoes
Location : Mid-hill footpath

Closer view of the disc

Disc Stag's Horn Fern - Platycerium coronarium
Location : Botanic Island One

Disc Stag's Horn Fern - Platycerium coronarium
Location : Botanic Island One

Two rare jungle fruits at Botanic Island One

Pandanus affinis with spiky fruits
Location : Botanic Island One

Pandanus affinis at front and in the background is the Anisophyllea disticha.
Location : Botanic Island One

At Botanic Island One recently are seen two species of jungle plants that exhibited their rare fruits.  One is the Pandanus affinis and and secondly the Anisophyllea disticha which the Penans of Sarawak call " Kayu Penahan Badan". I have elsewhere written about the use of the Kayu Penahan Badan as a plant for bodily welfare here.  

Anisophyllea disticha - "Kayu Penahan Badan" ( Penan)

Tidying the footpath at Botanic Island One

Botanic Island One - view towards north-west.
Note the thick layer of leaves needing sweeping and a little burning.

Mid-hill footpath
looking west

Took a whole Sunday to do some clearing and tidying works to Botanic Island One footpath.  The weather was just ideal, windy and cloudy.  Thus the burning of dried leaves and other debris went out well.  It has been a while since I have not done the necessary upkeep to the island.  Today is a start and will continue the works whenever time permit.  Pruning of trees included the Traveler's palm, Oil palm, and jungle shrubbery.

View of lower hill footpath
Botanic Island One

The story of me (Part 4) - The best of me

24 May'15
Location : Botanic Island One

 

The Story of Me (Part 3) - Changing me

8 May'15

20 May'15
Location : Botanic Island One

The jungle tree showing off its flowers

Jungle tree flowering
Location : Botanic Island One

It has been about three weeks since I last took a picture of its flower buds.  Today, the jungle tree's flower buds burst out their yellow flowers.  I think tonight the flowers will release their vanilla-like scent.  I know through experience that the flower buds will gradually open up and it would take about a month to see the tree in full flower.  This is a real jewel of the Botanic Island One.  I think this year flowering would be at its best due to the distinct drought felt through out Bintulu area now.

Location : Botanic Island One

Sunday walk in the park

Road linking Zone B and C

Jungle footpath viewed from above

 Sunday.  Just felt like relaxing and having a fun walk around the park.  There has been no rain lately.  Probably now the dry season is showing signs that it has become a reality yesterday.   The dried leaves kept falling on the jungle floor.  I prefer to walk through the jungle footpath with its chorus of bird's songs, crickets, and thrilling moving objects - stick insects, squirrels, tree lizards, butterflies and a filtered light.  The colourful and shy Ground Pigeon was seen flying past ahead of me as it rushed for cover.  I had only on one occasion caught it in picture and am always hoping for a day when it will give me an opportunity for a full photoshoot session. 

Jungle footpath laden with leaves
Location : Botanic Island One.

The many bird's nest ferns

The making of a bird's nest fern collection... proposed site

Asplenium nidus - removed from oil palm
temporarily nursed

 I would not have done justice to the oil palm ecology if I don't have a mega  bird's nest ferns collection at the park.  It is an ongoing project now to collect as many young bird's nest ferns from the oil palm trunks and re-group them in one location.  The oil palms produce ideal conditions for these epiphytic ferns and as such sourcing is of no real problem.  They grow here from spores that are blown by the wind.  It is at the sporophyte stage that we recognize the bird's nest fern by its tightly clustered leaves forming a funnel or 'nest'.  Among the Berawans of Sarawak, the slightly older leaves are heated for about 1-2 minute and applied to the area meant to cure cancer and tumour.  But for now we are focussed on making it an ornamental landscaping potential. 

Bird's nest fern growing in ideal conditions at Botanic Island One

Bird's nest fern (Asplenium nidus)
Location : Botanic Island One

Young bird's nest ferns on oil palm, attached to the cut bases of oil palm leaves

Coconut Groove

Coconut Groove, looking east.
Note the greenery of the Botanic Island One at the background.

Feather-like leaves of the coconut
This is a yellow variety.

 I thought it would be a good idea to just transplant one coconut tree as an instant plant this morning.  This is a yellow variety of the coconut palm.  It was installed at the Provinsi Borneo and would become the center piece of the Coconut Groove.  It is planned to add more facilities to this location because it would act as the center of attraction for enjoying coconut fruits and coconut water.  Probably a shed or two would serve the purpose well.  All around this Coconut Groove are already planted many other fruits trees e.g. Lumok, Jering and Durians.  The place is next to the Botanic Island One, thus the temperature of the area is moderated in large part by the greenery of the botanic island. Towards the south of the groove is a row of Eugenia oleina trees which are currently producing young leaves in beautiful hues of the sunset and autumn.

Instant coconut tree (center)  just planted this morning at Coconut Groove, looking north.
Location : Provinsi Borneo

Row of Eugenia oleina trees in flushes...looking south