A lovely Tiong pair

A pair of Hill Myna at rest, play and fun
Location : Licuala Hill, Zone I

 Between 5.30 pm - 6.00 pm, the pair of Hill Myna bird ( 'Tiong' - Malay) would regularly return to their nesting home.  They must have gone far to look for food but would normally return home before night falls. Today, even though they rested on the second favourite perch which is not their nesting tree, I still could get a good view of them as they played and whistled loudly against the evening light.  From my experience they would normally fly in to their nest between 6.30  pm - 7.00 pm.  at an adjacent tree.

Location: Licuala Hill, Zone I

The nesting tree for the Hill Myna birds at a nearby location
Location : Licuala Hill

On, off and away!

The male Black Hornbill is seen leading the flight off the perch to be followed by the female of the species later(  seen at the apex of the tree). Note a pair of  Hill Myna birds sharing the same perch at bottom of picture.
Location : Licuala Hill

A pair of Black Hornbill

Black Hornbill - male at top of picture and female, bottom of picture.
Location : Licuala Hill, Zone I

 Hearing the loud brays and grunts originating from Zone I,  made me hurry for my camera.  Within minutes, I  quickly climbed the  Licuala Hill at Zone I,  My focus was on the loud calls and next thing I could see was  a pair of hornbill perching on the tallest dead tree at top of the hill.
I took pictures of the birds from a distance of about 150 meters and the lighting conditions was not ideal but this shot is largely for the record.  This is one of the rare times when the Black Hornbill drops by in a pair.  The male has a white to pale yellow bill whereas the female bill is dark brown to black.  It is interesting to note that the Black Hornbill is a bird of the primary forest of Sarawak or Borneo. It is overall covered in black plumage with the female having a long band of white flurry feathers from head to nape.  In the middle of the band is a thin strip of black (by zooming in the picture).

Favourite perch of the Black Hornbill at Licuala Hill, Zone I.

Female Ruby-cheeked Sunbird

Female of the species - Ruby-cheeked Sunbird (Chalcoparia singalensis)
Zone I

Note the ants being preyed by the bird.

I was pretty excited this morning after a short jungle trekking at Licuala Hill.  Just out of the jungle and into the open area my attention was directed at the 'Senduduk' plant where a tiny bird was actively attacking the ants at the terminal buds.  I quickly zoomed my camera at the target which seemed oblivious of me.  Since it was very early in the morning the lighting conditions were not that perfect but it does provide some 'environmental or mood' content to the picture.  For the record this is the first time that I encounter the female of the Ruby-cheeked Sunbird. Malays call the bird 'Kelicap Belukar'.

View of the 'Senduduk' plant (Melastoma malabathricum)  in the early morning light.
Location :Licuala Hill,  Zone I.

Kelicap Belukar ( Ruby-cheeked Sunbird) - female of the species

The Black Hornbill sighted again

Black Hornbill (Anthracoceros malayanus) - male of the species
Location : Licuala Hill, Zone I

Botanic Island Two in the background.

 It was another rare moment I encountered today. The Black Hornbill suddenly flew overhead while I was relaxing from work at Zone E, next to the Botanic Island Two,. I thought I saw some black object flying above the trees and was heading towards Zone I.  Fortunately, I had my camera handy.  Without wasting time I rushed towards Zone I making sure I was under cover of the jungle canopy.  At about 50 meters from my hideout I saw the Black Hornbill perched on tallest tree located at Licuala Hill.  My camera went clicking away.  The sighting of the Black Hornbill made my day.

View from sunset point

View of sunset on 9 Jan'15
Zone I

Tiongs in loving gesture

Tiong (Malay) - Hill Myna
Location : Licuala Hill, Zone I

Loving gesture

 In the distance I could see the Tiongs broadcasting their regular calls  over the neighbourhood.  Their calls would normally alert me to go to Zone I especially to the tall dead tree which is becoming their penthouse. Before the sunset,  I slowly  climbed up the Licuala Hill to catch a better glimpse of the couple.  Once at my hideout I took my camera from the bag and started to aim.  Today it seemed to me they were very loving.  Apparently they did not see me in my hideout and this enabled me to observe their behaviour closely.  They were seen preening  and grooming one another.  They were in playful mood and were eager to return to their nest before the night falls.  It's another happy day for me to see them back at the park.

The Tiong's penthouse - a hole in a tall dead tree
Location : Licuala Hill, Zone I

Falconet on the hunt

Borneon Falconet (Microhierax latifrons)
Location : Licuala Hill, Zone I

 This morning the weather was a bit cloudy and taking pictures can be problematic especially when taking long ranges.  The Borneon Falconet came early looking for breakfast and was well-rewarded on this trip when I saw it devouring its prey on the branch of the tall dead tree.  I saw it making short sallies down and even circling around a group of trees before making a swoop and then rushing back to the branch to enjoy its catch.  Falconets are the smallest raptors of the world.  It's only this year that I stumbled or 'discovered' its presence at the park.  I guess they love the intact environment of the lowland dipterocarp forest ecology here, tall dead trees, and its forest edges that support a myriad of insects, bees, lizards etc. I hope they visit the park  more often because food is plenty here.

About 100 meters away on a tall dead tree is the falconet.
Location: Licuala Hill
Zone I

The Hornbill is seen again

Seen at a distance, the Black Hornbill at Zone I
1 Dec'15

The hornbill is seen at the center of the picture, 100 meters away
Zone I

At a distance of about 100 meters I could only get a glimpse of the Black Hornbill.  The last sighting was in October when I was able have  a closer view of the hornbill.  However, today's sighting is for record purposes.

View of the sunset from Licuala Hill

Views of the sunset from Licuala Hill
Zone I

Hiding from the Tiongs

Perching at one of the tall trees at Licuala Hill area

Closer view of the Tiong

I have to hide among the bushes and ferns to get a closer view of the Tiongs (Hill Myna).  From a distance of about 50 meters from the tall dead tree situated at Licuala Hill, I waited for the birds to show up.  At around 6 pm as if by appointment they flew into frame.  In order not to scare them away I had to hide and remained quiet.  Unaware of my presence  they took time to roost, check out the 'nest' and made calls that rang loud and sharp over the neighbourhood.  After seeing them comfortable perching, I then started to shoot them with my camera. Here are today's shots....

The 'nest' is a hole in the tree.  A Tiong bird perching next to the nest.

View of the tall dead tree from my hideout.

Location : Licuala Hill

The Tiongs presence is nature alive and well

Note the white wing-patch at the primary wings.
Location : Zone I

Tiong (Malay) or Hill Myna
Gracula religiosa

 It's great to see the Hill Myna birds perching at the tallest dead tree at Licuala Hill this afternoon.  It seemed that the two birds are looking good as mature adults.  I'll be following their story again this November and December.  The park is now home to the Tiong birds primarily due to the presence of tall perches especially those with holes acting as 'nest'.  The Tiong is a resident of lowland forests like what we have here.  I notice they will leave their nest early in the morning and would return before sunset.  This has been their routine from my annual observation.  I very much welcome their presence here for the loud calls they reverberate throughout  the neighbourhood, a sure sign that nature is alive and well.

In the distant are seen the two Hill Myna birds perching on the tallest dead tree at Provinsi Licuala
Location : Licuala Hill

A pair of Tiong in silhouette

A pair of Hill Myna bird.
Location : Licuala Hill, Zone I

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

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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)

Hill Myna or Burung Tiong (Malay)

The Tiong bird through the maze of leaves
Location : Licuala Hill, Zone I

The Greater Coucal dries its wings

But-But Cari Anak (Malay) - Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis) spreading out its wings to dry.
Location : Botanic Island Three, Zone I

The Greater Coucal with its long tail,
bluish black head and chestnut wings

There was a brief heavy rain early this morning which was a boon considering the long drought which we experienced for the last few weeks.  After the rain stopped I took a walk to Botanic Island Three.  At the edge of the forest that is part of the Botanic Island, I saw a large bird perching on a small tree branch.  It was the Greater Coucal taking a rest on the branch while spreading out its wings to dry after the rain shower.  The Greater Coucal is often heard with its characteristic 'But-But' sounds, but seldom seen.  It prefers to move quietly among the trees and branches from where it scouts for small animals like lizards, frogs and insects.  It usually makes short flights interspersed with gliding.

The Greater Coucal  takes short flights interspersed with gliding.

Busy battering the bees

Blue-throated Bee-eaters battering the bees on to the branches before devouring them
Location : Zone I

Have a Monkey Cup

Nepenthes gracilis

 It is one of the most unique plants in Sarawak or the island of Borneo.  It is represented in the park by the Nepenthes gracilis. Commonly called the Monkey Cup, these pitcher plants can be found in the highlands or lowlands of Sarawak.  A few lowland species grow naturally or in the wild at the park, especially the open areas at Zone I and H, where they intermingle among the Resam ( Gleichenia linearis) or the Bamboo orchids (Arundina graminifolia).  Peculiar with the Nepenthes are the pitchers that nature has perfectly crafted.  The pitcher has a body, a mouth and a cover or lid.  The linings at the mouth and little ridges that curve into the body are leading signages or traps  to unsuspected ants to enter the body of the pitcher.  Inside the body somewhere at the bottom are produced liquid glands or enzymes.  These enzymes help break down the ants and other insects that fall into the body which  in most cases are filled with water to help also drown its prey.  For that matter it is said that these plants are ant-harbouring or in the old terminology 'hospitating' plants.  The pitcher plants in modern corporate terminology provides inducements or incentives to ants and other insects by its bright colour (some have beautiful red or bronze colours) and liquid glands.  The insects once attracted to the mouth or rim of the pitcher will edge into the body and down they go assisted by the slippery and waxy surface inside.  They is no way up for safety.  The pitcher takes time to digest the ants and insects using its digestive fluids.  It is for this feature that these plants are considered 'carnivorous'.  I have in another blog a good picture of the colourful Nepenthes bicalcarata which is native to Sarawak as in here. and the Nepenthese longifolia as in here.