There are birds on the hill

Birds on the Cempedak Hill....

There are birds on the hill,
But I never heard them singing,
No I never heard them at all
Till there was you.....

These verses kept ringing in my head when I saw many birds at the Cempedak Hill early this morning.  As is customary between 6.30 - 7.00 am I would do a little bit of morning climb up the Cempedak Hill.  At this commanding locality there will always be birds that take turns to perch and welcome the new day with their sweet melodies.  Today's line-up included the Pink-necked Green Pigeon, The Spotted-necked Dove ( Tekukur - Malay) and the Blue-throated Bee-eater. Very soon they'll fly off in search for food but I know they'll be back again tomorrow morning  before the sun rises up for they too would like to see the beautiful flushes and many shades of green that the sun smiles on another day.  Let the sun shines on me .....

Pink-necked Green Pigeon, male at bottom and female at top of picture.

Spotted-necked Dove

Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis)

View of the park from Cempedak Hill, looking north

Flushing at the park now...orange-red young leaves of the Eugenia oleina
Location : Provinsi Carpentaria, Zone F

More green pigeons at Cempedak point

A small party of Little Green Pigeon
Location: Cempedak point, Zone G

Male (below) and female (above)

 The Cempedak Hill is named after the group of Cempedak trees that are planted on top of the hill.  The trees provided convenient perches for many birds such as the pigeons, doves,magpie-robins, bulbuls etc.  The Cempedak point is one of the tallest spot for birdwatching at the park and provides a scenic view of the landscape and topography of the area.  This morning I observed a small party of Little Green Pigeons comprising of two males and two females trying to out do one another on the perches.  They were later joined by a threesome of Spotted-necked Dove called 'Tekukur' locally.

Spotted-necked Dove

Early in the morning

Up on the Cempedak Hill, Punai at left and Tekukur at right

Bromhaedia finlaysonia

 The early morning air is cool with a little breeze.  I climbed the Cempedak Hill at Zone G to check on the Punai Daun or Little Green Pigeon.  On the way up the climb I could see the orchid bush has given out its fresh morning flowers.  This bush is right below the Cempedak tree.  As expected the Little Green Pigeon was patiently waiting for me, so it seemed.  Resting at the very tip of the tree it was accompanied by a Spotted-necked Dove or Tekukur in Malay.  When the Tekukur flew away the seat was taken by yet another male Punai.  I realised I just had a wonderful morning and before I walked down the hill, a Yellow-vented Bulbul perched on the Cempedak branch not wanting to miss the  morning party.....

Two male Punai

Male of the species - Little Green Pigeon

Little Green Pigeon - male

Tekukur (Malay) - Spotted -necked Pigeon , image is enhanced to show the spots on its neck

Yellow-vented Bulbul

This orchid ( Bromheaia finlaysonia) is native to the park.  It has grown into a bushy form.

In the early morning light

'Tekukur' or Spotted-necked Dove

 In the early morning light when the rays are soft and gradually glowing, I would normally walk the park to observe the early birds.  At the Cempedak Hill I noticed a dove and a pigeon taking turns to rest on their favourite perch.  First was the Spotted-necked Dove which is more seen in the towns than in the forest environment.  Later a pigeon dropped by and it was not an ordinary pigeon.  On closer observation I noticed it was the male of the Pink-necked Green Pigeon which the Malays called 'Punai Gading'.

 The picture at right shows the Punai Gading (Malay) - Treron vernans.
It produces a very soft yet melodious whistle. Its legs and feet are coral pink with pinkish grey neck and head.  Its flight feathers are black.