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) 

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

A park of many returns

Malkoha in flight
Location : Paya Point

'Tiger Butterfly'
Location : Provinsi Yellow Palm

 This morning seemed exceptional.  I had a walkabout at the park between 8-9 am  and upon reaching the Paya point  met many surprises.  Firstly, I noticed the flight of the Chestnut-breasted Malkoha as it changed places to a nearby tree. Secondly, it was slightly more than a year ago that the 'Tiger butterfly' visited the oleina flowers here.  Its re-appearance was spent sometime at the flowers of a creeper in the wet and swampy area of  Paya point.  Unfortunately its wings were badly damaged and the real beauty of why I call it the 'Tiger Butterfly' was not clearly illustrated.  However, please go to this link to see the true beauty of this butterfly among the list of pictures here... The Black -headed Bulbul after missing in action for quite sometime decided to show itself too at the same location.  The striking yellow body contrasted with the forest greenery.  Climbing up the Cempedak Hill, I was greeted by the Yellow-vented Bulbul, a female Green Pigeon and a male Chestnut-breasted Malkoha.  Today's brief walkabout was comforting because it re-inforced confidence in me on the planting plan of the park with its linkages of forested or green passageways allowing for the return of many birds and butterflies to the park.

Black-headed Bulbul
Location: Provinsi Yellow Palm

Female Green Pigeon

Yellow-vented Bulbul

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha - male of the species
Location : Cempedak Hill, Zone G

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

A pair of Chestnut-breasted Malkoha

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha - male

 Today is the third time the malkoha birds dropped by at the park within this year.  They are the largest malkoha species on this great island of Borneo and fortunately can be viewed at the Kambatik park. However, what's significant today is the fact that the Chestnut-breasted Malkoha came in a pair.  The malkoha birds moved silently.  I only noticed them when I was walking near Botanic Island One.  I saw something big passing in front of me in colours of blue.  I immediately focused my camera lens on a moving object among the thick cover of leaves.  It was the female of the species that I managed to photograph first.  Later I walked to Botanic Island Two to watch the male of the species hopping from branch to branch .   I am glad that I have preserved the original lowland rainforest ecology at the park by creating three ecological enclaves termed Botanic Island One, Two and Three.  In the islands are thousands of insects like bees, caterpillars, and small animals like lizards that the malkohas can feed on.

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha - female
The female malkoha has red-orange iris and a broader band from chin to ear-coverts.

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha - male
The throat and underside of body is a rich chestnut colour.
It's back, wings and tails are a glossy blue-green.

MY facebook cover page depicting the Chestnut-breasted Malkoha