A Fungi and a handsome fungus beetle.

At Botanic Island Two I came across a huge thick fungi that had a beetle below it. The beetle belongs to the Endomychidae family and are commonly called 'Handsome Fungus Beetles' due to their association with fungus. The four yellow dots on its black elytra (hardened forewings) were in striking contrast.

Breakfast on wings

In between flights the birds takes a breather while battering the bees on the branch to a knock-out before devouring them
Location : Botanic Island Two

Malay : Berek-berek Tadah Hujan
Blue-throated Bee-eater
(Merops viridis)

 At around 7.00 am,  I took an early morning walk in the park before the sun has risen over the horizon.  The greenery and cool morning air was invigorating.  On nearing Botanic Island Two the atmosphere above the canopy sounded noisy with cluttering sounds, somewhat familiar.  It has been a while since swarms of bees get blown to the park.  This morning was another occasion of this much awaited phenomena.  There were hundreds of the Blue-throated Bee-eaters circling and making sallies as they grab the bees with their beaks in mid-air.  The lighting conditions for photography were not so ideal but nevertheless the opportunity of seeing with my own eyes some fierce battle in the air was an amazing experience.  These birds pass by the park everyday in a north-south direction but seldom do pay a pit-stop unless swarms of bees are present like this morning. Well, they had an early breakfast on wings at the park.  Thank you for dropping by and come again soon whens the lights are better.

The bees taking a breather while battering their prey to a knock-out
Location : Zone C

Battering the bees on branches

August is the month of Malkoha

A male Chestnut-breasted Malkoha identified by the pale blue iris.
Location : Botanic Island Two

 This month the Malkohas seemed to be coming in droves.  The uncommon Black-bellied Malkoha was sighted the other day.  On many occasions the sounds or calls of the Malkoha have been heard at many locations in the park this month.  Today was special in that a male Chestnut- breasted Malkoha was caught in good sight.  He came along with a partner but the female was not so easy to photograph.  The pair was seen moving around the trees and branches at Botanic Island Two.  They glided between the canopies with striking glossy blue-green bodies.  What is attractive of the bird is the pale green bill and its medium sized body.

Malkoha in flight

An early morning birding and a lifer

A pair of Black Magpie

 I started early to do birding today by concentrating on the botanic island areas.  Attracted to the calls of the Black Magpie I moved quietly below the tall trees at Botanic Island Two.  Through the trees and leaves I noticed a small party of four  hanging out noisily and reverberating their loud calls over the neighbourhood.  Today's encounter has been one of the closest I had with these birds and thus was able to get better pictures of the bird especially the characteristic red iris against a dark face.  I next came across what I thought was a malkoha and my experience so far has been the Chestnut-breasted Malkoha. But today I met a different malkoha and a lifer at that.  It has  a bluish green back with a grey throat and breast.  Upon closer observation I noticed it has iris of pale blue surrounded by a red patch around the eyes.  Another interesting detail is the under-tail feathers showing broad white tips.  At Licuala Hill I noticed from a distance one black dot at the tip of a branch and guessed it must be the Borean Falconet.  I moved in closer to the tall tree and took a few random shots for the record.  The Bornean Falconet has been seen perching on this same tree before.  Finally after about two hours of birding at the botanic islands area I decided to go home and on the way met a Little Spiderhunter busily enjoying the nectar from the flowers of the Chinese hat plant.  It has been a successful early birding with a lifer.

Black -bellied Malkoha at Botanic island Two -  a lifer!

Bornean Falconet see at Licuala Hill

Little Spiderhunter at Zone C

"Murai Rimba" or White-rumped Shama - a lifer!

White-rumped Shama - Murai Rimba (Malay)
Copsychus malabaricus
Location : Botanic Island Two

"Murai Rimba" perching on oil palm leaf.

 I saw some movement on the leaves of the oil palm tree just outside the Botanic Island Two.  My curiosity was answered when a bird flew down on the open ground.  It was no ordinary bird.  It is a lifer for me.  Fortunately I had the camera in my hand and quickly tried to photograph it.  The bird did not remain long on the ground and in a matter of seconds it flew away.  Lucky me, I have on record the sighting of a White-rumped Shama at the park.  It is my fervent hope that in future the bird will come back again so that I could get better images of it.

View of the jungle from which the White-rumped Shama flew out.
Location : Botanic Island Two.

The common gliding lizard

 From a distance it looked like any ordinary house lizard.  I thought I just get a shot of it since it was found crawling up a tree at the Botanic Island Two.  After transferring the picture into the computer I saw something interesting.  Zooming in at the image I was taken aback.  It was in fact a gliding lizard (Draco sumatranus) which I have seen in many occasions  gliding from one branch to another tree or branch at the park.  On closer viewing I found another interesting feature.  The camera caught the lizard's 'gular fold' which is a triangular flap or skin under the chin.  This special feature is used to communicate with other lizards, mostly for mating purposes.

Common gliding lizard showing its yellow  'gular fold' and the sides of the body with  the skin flaps (partly seen) .  The flaps when open will allow it to glide between tree trunks.

Flushing today at the park - 3 Dec'15

White flushes of a jungle tree (unidentified)
Location : Botanic Island Two

 Looking like white flowers from a distance I was enticed to get closer to the tree.  At Botanic Island Two a jungle tree which is still unidentified surprised me with white flushes, a very rare occurrence at the park.  It appeared silvery when hit by sunlight. This phenomena of intermittent leafing is an  on going affair in the park due to the many tree species available and each one of them having differing flushing periods.  Today's white  flushing is a  lifer.

In comparison - red and white flushes
Botanic Island Two

View inside out from Botanic Island Two

Oil palm integration with Botanic Island

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

Yellow splendour of a jungle tree

Jungle tree in full flowering
Location : Botanic Island Two
Note: Identity of tree unknown.

Today, another jungle tree came out in full colours.  I have not noticed it earlier.  The yellow flowers are terminal.  The tree is located at Botanic Island Two.  This tree and the one which I'm following closely its flowering stages situated at Botanic Island One  are flowering about the same time , that is in May.  This second tree flowers have no fragrance, unlike the one at Botanic Island One which has the mild fragrance of vanilla and camphor  mixed.

Bright purple flowers of a jungle treelet

Purple flowers of a jungle treelet
Location : Botanic Island Two

CU of the purple flowers
Species unknown.

 I was amazed at the bright purple flowers of a jungle treelet while passing through the Botanic Island Two this afternoon.  It did not produce any scent unlike the jungle vine I encountered yesterday which had flowers mildly scented.  The Botanic Island Two has come out with more surprises lately.  The vegetation island has a rich collection of tall forest trees, treelets, palms and vines.  Among the palms, the climbing palm species or 'Rattans' of various species are also found within the area.

Jungle treelet with bright purple flowers
Location : Botanic Island Two

Vines or lianas at Botanic Island Two

A jungle treelet with atttractive pale yellow flowers

Flowering jungle treelet
Location : Botanic island Two

 There are four botanic islands at the park.  These islands are areas where the original lowland dipterocarp forest characteristics and habitat are preserved. Occasionally I would venture carefully  into them in order  to discover new plants, animals, fungi, birds or any form of wildlife.  This morning has been a successful search.  I bumped into a treelet which was having pale yellow flowers.  It was a magical moment  in a jungle preserved here.  The location was at Botanic Island Two.  Below is shown the flowers in closer range.    

Close-up of the flowers.
Identity of the treelet is presently unknown.
Location : Botanic Island Two

The Chestnut-breasted Malkoha

Partial view of Botanic Island Two.  Inside the island are tall trees, jungle climbers and climbing palms (rattan)

 I went to Botanic Island Two this morning.  Inside this vegetation island are many original trees of the park.  Amidst the tall trees, lianas, and climbing palms i.e. rattans are to be found many types of wildlife.  It is in this safe sanctuary that I encountered today the Chestnut-breasted Malkoha ( Phaenicophaeus curvirostris).  Judging from its orange-red iris it is the female of the species.  This malkoha species is the largest of the malkohas in Borneo or Sarawak for that matter.  They are occasional  visitors to the park.  Their visit to the park is proof of the conservation quality of the botanic islands and integration of the oil palm cultivation with  native agro-forestry practice here.  Their visit always brighten my heart....

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus curvirostris), female of the species.
Location : Botanic Island Two

Mr. and Mrs Malkoha coming to town...

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha gliding in flight
Location : Botanic Island Two

 I am excited today because Mr and Mrs Malkoha came in to town.  The pair must have found staying at the western hemisphere boring and decided to checkout what's up at the park.  Down below they saw me gardening.  No big deal.  They moved quietly among the branches like trained detectives.  They wished not to be seen in clear sight.  However my 400mm zoom lens managed to catch its pale-green beak.  Below is a picture of Mrs. Malkoha identified by her red-orange iris. The Chestnut-breasted Malkoha is the largest of the malkoha on this big island of Borneo.  I guess the sighting of a malkoha is a good litmus test result for a richly bio-diversified eco-system because they feed on a very rich diet of caterpillars, various insects and small lizards.

Note the her wings with its glossy blue-green feathers and red-orange iris.

The Malkoha is one of the large birds found in the park

In Plain Sight - Provinsi Rattan (Part 6)

Partial view of Botanic Island Two, looking north
Location : Provinsi Rattan, Zone E

Botanic Island Two, showing rattan
trailing at the center.

 Of all the Provinsi or Plain areas, the Provinsi Rattan is the most wild in nature.  This is because in the Provinsi are located two Botanic Islands viz Botanic Island Two and Three.  At the Botanic Islands are preserved many forest trees for posterity.   At the inset is a view of Botanic Island Two , looking south.  Both Botanic Islands have rattan growing naturally in them, besides original jungle trees, unique palms, lianas and forest climbers. Presently there is one wild Rambutan tree that is fruiting profusely.  Seen also is a wild forest climber belonging to the Bauhinia species that is flowering in orange glory.  Below are more pictures of the attractions at Provinsi Rattan .....

Provinsi Rattan - home for rattan collection -  7 rattan species are available on site

Botanic Island Two - showing lianas and climbing rattan, at center

Stream at Provisi Rattan
Location : Botanic Island Three

The big tree at center is the wild Rambutan tree
Location : Provinsi Rattan, between Botanic Island Two and Botanic Island Three

Wild rambutan fruits

Colourful Bauhinia spp. climber growing wild over the forest canopy
Location : Botanic Island Two, Zone E

The beauty of forest trees

Jungle tree in full flower in May

 This lovely forest tree is located at Botanic Island Two.  I have been observing it for the last two months.  In May it started to produce beautiful yellow flowers.  The flowers were intact for about a month.  For the last two weeks I observed that it has produced fruits that are in a leaf-like form (see inset)  Today a gust of strong wind blew plenty of the fruits down to the forest floor.  Imagine if the  tree is close to a river or stream.  The fruit with its seed encased in the leaf-like pod will float down river and thus aid in its propagation.

Jungle tree in full flower in May

Fruiting in red in June

CU of leaf-like red ruits

Today  - majestic colours of red and orange...
The orange flowers belong to a bauhinia species.
Location : Botanic Island Two