The monsoon rains and cloudy skies have arrived in time

 The monsoon winds and torrential rains it bring are consistently on schedule this year and so is the end of year durian season. Sarawak, on this big island called Borneo is pounded yearly since ancient times by the monsoon winds bringing a brief period of flooding in some areas and rejuvenation of life in the overall physical environment. Here this short wet period is called "Landas' and since ancient times it come and go from November till February annually. For that reason we are able to live under a green envelope called the evergreen tropical rainforest. On the ground level I saw the Tiong bird (Hill Myna) and the Prevost's squirrel sharing a tall tree. They were happily playing and hunting for little preys on the branches and leaves.It seems every creature on earth needs the rains. For that matter I can't imagine myself living in the Sahara. Borneo- I love you.

November in the park

View of Zone E facing north. Taken in the early morning light.

 Early November was a transitional period of the yearly monsoon season.  Soon, perhaps towards the middle of the month, the real North-east monsoon will arrive Bintulu's shores. From what I see so far, this end of year monsoon is arriving according to textbook timing, though its real impact and true story is yet to be unfolded in the coming days and months. All over the park the red ants (Kerengga) are seen busy building nests and after a light rain, I walked around the park to stumble upon the 'Kulat Jelutong' which is edible. I look forward to more rains in November and December.

Red ants (Kerengga - Malay) building nest at the 'Miding' fern

Edible "Kulat Jelutong" growing on a rotting 'Pong-Pong stump.

"Kulat Jelutong"

Rainy days and wet months ahead

 For the last three days, there has been occasional rain lasting for hours and hours on end.  Today (Sunday 26 Oct) it rained the whole day and evening.  I am more or less convinced that today's continuous rain marks the start of the monsoon season.  The park climate is typically equatorial with the heaviest rains and wettest months towards the end of the year.  This season of rains is called the "Landas" in Sarawak.  This phenomena is due to the North-East Monsoon winds (October to March)  that pick up the moisture and clouds from the open seas of the South China Sea and bring forth the heaviest rainfall between November to February to the coastal areas of Sarawak and Bintulu is not spared.  On top of it all, the forest cover at the park will make the nights even more colder and chilling to the bones during the above months.

December rains

The park looking south-west from hill at Zone C

Zone F

 The Kambatik Park is right in the midst of the monsoon rains which is from the months of November to February every year.  As usual when the rains are heavy the stream waters will overflow and creating flash floods.  Here's some images of the park in the rain today.

Zone F, Provinsi Carpentaria

Zone F, Provinsi Carpentaria

The Kambatik stream overflows...

Zone D, near Heliconia Valley

Eugenia oleina fruits

 Despite the rains, the bulbuls came throughout the day to eat the Eugenia oleina fruits that are in abundance at the park at the moment. The presence of an old dead tree provided convenient perches  for them to rest amidst their flight  schedules.

Bulbuls rest at an old dead tree

Bulbuls rest at an old dead tree

Flowers in the rain (Dillenia suffructicosa)

Flowers in the rain

 In light rain  the little spiderhunter  took to  the brief opportunity to search for food.  While the bulbuls kept themselves busy at the Eugenia oleina fruits the little spiderhunter was hurrying in bewteen the ixora and cream fruit flowers for their nectar.

Little spiderhunter at the cream fruit lowers...(Strophantus gratus)

Red flowers of the Drunken Sailor (Quisqualis indica) in the rain...

Eugenia oleina branches bending over due to the combined weight of the fruits and rain..