The rains and birds

Flash floods at Zone F

 It rained the whole day.  The stream overflowed and there was flash floods for about one hour.  Despite the rains  and cold weather  the birds did show up but preferred to conserve energy by resting on branches.   Seen were the Oriental Magpie-robin and a small company of Little Green Pigeons.  At another location I noticed a Brahminy Kite was surveying the park from above the canopy of trees.  It circled with the aid of the strong winds and then left the scene.

Oriental Magpie-robin

A small flock of Little Green Pigeon resting at the Cempedak tree

Brahminy Kite

Birds - an essential component

A pair of Pied Fantail ( Sambar Murai Gila- Malay)
Rhipidura javanica
Zone B

View of park,
looking east from Zone G

 The annual fruit season is almost over and the drought season has been over too with at least two occasions of heavy rain since the last ten days to usher in the end of year rainy season.  Birding today was interesting for three captures.  Firstly, a pair of Pied Fantail was happily moving about the trees and branches in their typical suicidal flights and noisy twitters.  Secondly, a pair of Pink-necked Pigeon was seen perching quietly on the Cempedak tree at Zone G.  Finally, a lone Oriental- Magpie-robin was seen resting on the very tip of a branch at Zone G, broadcasting the best music for the morning.  The birds and their music are an essential component of the park.

A pair of Pink-necked Green Pigeon
Cempedak Hill, Zone G.

Oriental Magpie-Robin - Murai Kampung(Malay)
Copsychus saularis
Zone G

The bird is black, the bird is white

The bird is black, the bird is white,
It is here, day and night,

It's a wonderful sight.
Location : Zone C

A young pair of Magpie-robin

A pair of Oriental Magpie - robin (Copsychus saularis)

Left is female, right is male of the species

It briefly poured heavy this morning.  Soon after the rain stopped I noticed a young pair of Magpie-robin was flying about the low branches of trees just outside the verandah or 'Abag' in the Bintulu Melanau lingo.  These chattering birds make one of the best melodies in the park which can be heard just after daybreak till about sunset time.  I noticed that the pair was busy foraging for food on the wet ground.  Their feathers were drenched and I could see that both tried many times to shed the wetness by shaking and spreading out their wings to dry.  These birds are slowly increasing their numbers in the park as more and more are apparently born here. 

A section of the stream that received flash flooding because of the torrential rain early this morning.
Location : Zone F

The Oriental Magpie-robin

 In between the rains, I saw the Magpie-Robin hopping  around the open space at Zone F apparently looking for food.  Drenched but not beaten I saw a few of them perching from nearby oil palm fronds and Pong-Pong tree branches to quickly land on the wet ground searching for things to peck or eat.

A photoshoot session with the Magpie

Oriental Magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis)
Family : Muscicapidae (Thrush family)

 The Oriental Magpie-robin is not an easy subject to get close with.  But today was exceptional.  I had a good photoshoot session with this melodious bird.  She was partly drenched and that made her less eager to fly away, not till the session was over.  Her hairs were ruffled and at one moment her eyes were fixed on me.  Gotcha!! Here's some images for the remembrance.

Birdwatch album - Magpie - Robin

Magpie - Robin
(Copsychus satularis)

 They come to the park merry-making and  is among the best songsters here. In the Park they are wild compared with in the town gardens of Sarawak where over generations they are sufficiently tame.  They perch on tall dead tree branches and the males gives out a very melodious chatter that is broadcasted throughout the park.  I often see them in pairs and they feed on insects like crickets ants and caterpillars.