Another failed nesting

29th January 2010

So very often, bird watchers were reminded "leave the birds alone especially when they are nesting". There is enough hostility around and don't add on more stress.

That's in cases where the parents have taken extra precautions and having a nest, in accessible or undetected by human. No one can intrude into that privacy.

But in Malaysia, there are exception too. The Yellow-vented Bulbul when it comes to choosing a nesting site, has the impression that human is the least of their worries. Nest were built in places within the built up areas our houses - far way from the garden trees which we thought were more appropriate!

This latest incident, the nest was built within the thicket of a lone ixora scrubs, hardly 4 feet tall, beside the car park.

All I needed was to find an unobstructed view of the nest where I can peep at the going on in the nest. That was easy! And so I got the first picture of a newly hatched chick with eyes still close. Very satisfied!

With my past experiences, Yellow-vented would hatch 2 eggs at each nesting. This time I was unable to confirm that having seen one moving chick. Only time will tell, I anticipated. Something not so right, the lone chick was fairly large and with grey downs - could this be a chick for the Cuckoo?

 
 
 
The mother of course detected my interest in the nest, perched nearby and watched.
 
 
 
 
 
All set, I was all prepared for a fortnight of vigil to seeing the chick fledge. But some business in Penang forced me to be away for the weekend.
Quite happy in having made a start, I looked forward in seeing the eyes of the chick opened and more action in the days to come.
When I returned to the nest on Monday, 1st February, the chick was gone.
The nest was still intact with no sign of having broken into but the emptiness just a reminder for me of another failed nesting. I was so disheartened that even though there were signs of another pair of Bulbul visiting their nest nearby, I think this lession was a wake call for me. I better stay clear from this species.
The nest is so vulnerable to raiding and possible destruction by curious on-lookers. Gardeners who attended to the plants daily, who may not share our intention to protect the nesting process.

By staying near the area of nesting, just like the exposed nesting site attracting problem, I too may invite unwanted attention and led myself to be a perpetrator for its failed session.

What's new in Rimba?

27th January 2010

I had made arrangement with Gilbert and Yoke Sim to be in Bukit Tinggi to follow through the moths filled botanical garden. But since that meeting I had in Kuala Selangor on Sunday just too much tody. For the next few days, I was feeling below par.

Have to be out! My itch was getting the upper hand, so come Wednesday, where else can I be but Rimba Kiara. When it comes to Rimba, one cannot never be sure. Not surprisingly returning empty handed. So this bunch of birds got the privilege of filling up the 1st picture.

By the time I walked to the pond I thought I saw a familiar figure but when I drew nearer he was someone I never met before. Quickly he introduced himself as Henry Goh. We were looking at a pair of Kites guarding their nest. Suggested that at that distance, best done with a stand. He was off to retrieve his stand from the car.

By the time , he returned the Kites too had other thing better to do. They broke courtship and flew else where. During this short period a Large Woodshrike came perched, moved about and gone. Not much that he missed as the bird had a very bright sky as background and the picture taken by me was nothing to shout about.

All the while when I was shooting the Woodshrike, I didn't even notice that there was a large shadow just above my head. When it was time to move out, I had the Raptor at the corner of my eyes. I stopped and point same time the bird was also making its way to another branch further away. This time he stood motionless for another 10 minutes. We were lucky in able to record our encounter. Though my images made by me were large, were made under hostile lights.

More walkabout in the Rimba - the regulars who are always there and they were indeed. The "Pink Necked" are quite common with the Javan & Common Mynas. They together with the White-breasted Kingfishers had kept or gave an impression that the Park was always full of bird life.

 
 
 
There was this unexpected visitor too. Perched very high up and far away as well, on the upper fringes of a dead tree. Thanks, nature helped, the morning bright lights helped in getting a decent image.
Also an important record that this bird do come to the urban area. It was last seen in Bukit Lanjang, across the road years ago.






While introducing Henry to my favorite haunts, the Coppersmith decided to show himself, but our friend too some time to zero in his location. Then inspecting the old site of the nest turned out a surprise.A freshly done new entrance! can only be an indication that a new round of nesting is imminent.

A very fruit FULL day in Ampang

The 1st shock upon the arrival, was the massive human intrusion in an area beside the river at the entrance. I have not been visiting the Ampang Recreation Forest Park for some months now. It is managed by the Forestry Dept, taking over from the Ministry Of Tourism.

The surprise scene that I received after seeing the fruiting tree in Rimba, that's my barometer as to when I should be in Ampang. Those are trees from the same species, it is a matter of -are the fruits ripening at the same rate.

Now that surprise turned into an awakening shock when I was at the car park just before sunrise. There was not one tree but a whole forest of trees just beside the car park. Any day now, the fruits will be ready for picking!



Yet another pleasant surprise, it was one type of tree fruiting, there was more. The pictures here shows. This one favoured by Red-eyed Bulbuls, Flowerpeckers, Starlings and Mynas

And flowers, could not tell what this female Minivet was picking off among the Saraccas

Look at this female Red Jungle fowl again, certainly look quite different from our standard domestic mother hen. The robust grey legs. This one is close to the original blood line and suffered little cross breeding

This is the time to top up my archive of Red-eyed. They were very tame though may not stand still to have their picture taken. Good for macro practise.

This female lured me to follow her for pictures. The male was also with her but I manage many shots of half the bird.

The Barbet was bold came down rather low but the pickings was fast and few moments of full exposures.

This Bluebird was treating the session as its main course of the day. Stayed for a long time. Went away and returned several times.

The morning kept me that busy I did not make any effort in checking out the going on inside the park but stayed only near the entrances. the Black Magpie called for long time, but did not come into view.

Birdlife in Rimba - January

How nice it would be to have a home next to the birds? You get to know who came calling and how often!

Naaa! I think that rationale came about not because of the birds but really a silent wish to get away from the concrete jungle of Petaling Jaya. While I may not walk into a real forest that easily but I have got a nice park next to a near forest environment - Kiara.

The birds I get to see there range from trash birds to the beloved migrants - plus a couple of Hornbills thrown in.

When I need to escape from the mundane routine, especially from spending too much time not blinking my eyes on the computer, it is a 10 minutes drive.

This "Yellowface" after suffering from a very wet night was out early to greet my arrival

Time to meet up Tan a on a Saturday. Sure enough he was there. Nothing spectacular but some follow up needed. The weeds had overgrown shielding our sight from the favorite squatting spots of the Common Kingfisher - need to have that cleared.

The Brahminy started building their nest.








Most important of all - the fruits that attracted Bulbuls and the whole lot were almost ready for harvesting. In fact, a Yellow-vented and a Common Iora were having their breaskfast on the early ripen few.