The wild and ever flowering pioneer species

A pioneering plant species that is seen everywhere at the park in newly opened areas.
Location : Zone I

.

The 'Senduduk' (Malay) or Melastoma malabthricum is a wild plant that produces purple flowers. Here the plant is being helped out in its pioneering ways by the Yellow-vented Bulbul that love its ripe fruits.  Ants and many other insects are attracted to its sweet tasting fruits.

CU of the Senduduk flower

( Note: It took me 3 hours to upload this picture due to the extremely poor internet connection provided by Celcom company in Bintulu.  But what the heck, passion is more important, even though it means too tons of patience)

It's harvesting time

Pick-up fully loaded with ripe oil palm fruits
10 April'15

( Note: Internet by Celcom in Bintulu is back to its snail pace again..This picture took 2 hours to upload.  There goes all the marketing promises of Celcom..Hah!! " It's a Celcom territory")

Taming of the shrew?

A juvenile tree shrew enjoying the Jackfruit for breakfast
Zone C

(Note: We all alive and kicking at the park.  But the Celcom internet service is considered dead.  This image took 1 hour to upload.)

What has Shrubby Dillenia got to do with Celcom?

Shrubby dillenia - Dillenia suffructicosa
Family : Dilleniaceae - Dillenia family
Zone A

Note: Very much I wanted to share more pictures of the park, the internet reception using Celcom service is extremely poor in Bintulu.  This image took 1hour 30 minutes to upload.  It makes me feel that the Celcom internet service has shortchanged us in Sarawak.  Yet the Ministry involved on telecommunications just doesn't seem to be bothered with Celcom, primarily because it is a government-owned company.  This is the situation that we in Sarawak have to face with regards to Federal - State relations.  But one thing saved the day...it is the people of Sarawak.  They are very patient people, after all the South China Sea is there and the immigration laws specific to Sarawak to protect Sarawakians from being mistreated is still functional.  It is a well-known fact the many West Malaysian politicians and others like religious teachers or Ustaz  are prevented from entering the state if they are found to be insensitive of Sarawakian harmony or extreme in their religious and political mission or teachings.  Thanks for the tight immigration laws, Sarawak is at least independent even though the Federal Ministries adopt a negative, almost 'down-looking' attitude towards Sarawak and its people.  The Celcom service is a case in point.

January clouds and rain

A January sky

 The January rains have been at the park for about two weeks now.  In the first half of the day, the sun is bright and sunny but come afternoon, the skies turn cloudy, from drizzle it pours heavy till evening time and continue in the night till next morning.  We are still in the season of the north-east monsoon and historically the rains will fade only in February.  There is little time to do field work during the rainy season.  Whatever little sunny hours and bright daylight need to be used wisely because once the rains come there is little outside work that can be done.  Very much I want to do more blogging and research work in the afternoon when it rains, there is yet a major problem.  The internet connectivity in Bintulu for the last few months  is extremely poor and sees no light of day.  Thanks and no thanks to Celcom for its poor service in Bintulu.  Like tonight it took me three hours to load these three pictures.  Surprise is too soft a word. 

Highlights today at the park - 22 Dec'14

( Note: Malaysia's internet service provide (Celcom)  service is so bad in Bintulu that the above three pictures took 4 hours to upload!)

Celcom Service is Bad, but the story must go on....

A short note is wanting.  While the Butterfly garden is taking shape nicely, it has taken me tremendous patience  to upload this picture.  With today's ( meaning in a month there is only at the maximum about 10 days of relatively satisfactory internet connection) extremely poor internet service provided by Celcom in Bintulu  and even the capital city of Kuching, don't jump up from your seat when I say that this picture took me 4 hours to upload.  But what the heck! The story must go on....

Higlights today at the park - 23 Nov'14

( Note : The internet service n Bintulu especially at the park is a snail pace.  This is all that I can upload today.  No much writing because these pictures take about three hours to upload!! Xtremely poor Celcom service!!)

A lifer - Lesser Cuckoo-shrike

Lesser Cuckoo-shrike
Location : Licuala Hill, Zone I

 Three days ago something amazing happened.  I saw a new bird.  Unfortunately the heightened interest gradually evaporated and finally diminished because of the very poor internet reception at the park.  For the last three days I tried to upload pictures but to no avail.  Tonight there appears to be a window of opportunity as the internet by fluke was able to carry some pictures.  So I am able to tell the story that excited me three days ago tonite.  The story happened when I was birding at Sunset point located at Licuala Hill (Zone I).  While my attention was directed at the Tiongs or Hill Myna birds, I heard an unfamiliar call and tried to search among the tall trees the source of the call.  By a stroke of good luck my eyes were caught by an unfamiliar looking bird perching on a branch some 15 meters away.  I zoomed my camera lens  towards the bird and caught a glimpse of it.  It gave me less than five minutes after which it flew away.  Upon closing in the image I discovered that the bird was a Lesser Cuckoo-shrike, a female of the species for its extensively barred dark grey underparts.  Another identifying feature was the white-tipped feathers  on its dark grey under-tails.  This sighting is  a lifer for me.

Lesser Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina fimbriata)

Not so great Celcom! We are online only after 4 hours of uploading time!!

For the last 10 days, Celcom service at the park is like a snail pace.  If not for the passion for wildlife we'll never be seen reported..... Malaysia Oh Malaysia!!