The Long-tailed Shrike

 On this 52nd trip to Kuching, I have another opportunity to see the Long-tailed Shrike.  This bird has been seen flying about the Kuching garden, but hardly resting on the trees.  Preferring to perch on the electric cables near the neighbourhood.  However, for the record it is good to have seen them again.  It is noted that the bird is common in areas around Kuching Division, but not so in other parts of Sarawak especially the central and northern regions of the state.
I hope in the short days left of this visit, I'll able to capture it resting on the trees in the Kambatik garden here.  Hopefully.

Long-tailed Shrike ( Tirjup Ekor Panjang - Malay)
Lanius schach bentet

A lifer of the White-Eye

White-eye hanging down from the acacia branch

 Today's capture is a lifer for me.  At the Pustaka Sarawak grounds I was able to have  a good glimpse of the Everett's White-eye or in Malay - 'Mata Putih Belukar.'  It was seen preying on some insects among the leaves of the Acacia auriculiformis  growing by the side of the big pond. The most distinguishing feature of the bird is the big round white eye-ring.  At another location in the the surrounding greenery I stumbled upon a Common Iora guarding its nest.  It is also the first time I come across the nest belonging to the Common Iora in plain sight.  A few hundred meters away I managed to have a good view of the female Olive-backed Sunbird finding food at the coconut inflorescence.  Finally, to end the afternoon adventure I met a White-breated Woodswallow perching on a dead tree stump near the pond.  The afternoon was well-rewarded I thought, in view of the fact that I brought along  my camera for only about less than a hour's walk around the library grounds (4.30 - 5.00 pm).

Everett's White Eye

Common Iora tending its nest

Female of Olive-backed Sunbird

White-breasted Woodswallow

Close-up and personal with the female Orange-bellied Flowerpecker

Orange-bellied Flowerpecker , female of the species with olive-green upperparts.
Kambatik garden, Kuching.

Sepah Puteri Bukit

 Been a while since I tried to obtain a clearer picture of the female Orange-bellied Flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma).  I finally got the chance to come close to it today at my Kuching garden.  It was seen alone and enjoying the ripe fruits of the Eugenia oleina.  Obviously the size of the fruit was too big for its mouth to gulp.  Thus she had to break it down into small bites to enjoy it fully.  The female has olive green upper parts with grey chin and throat and the rest of the underparts  pale yellow.

Female of the Orange-bellied Flowerpecker enjoying  a ripe Eugenia oleina fruit

White-breasted Woodswallow

White-breasted Woodswallow - Tirjup Layazng-Layang Dada Putih (Malay)
Artamus leucorynchusBirding place : Kampung Jepak, Bintulu ; 10 March'15

Its grey body and white breast is all too characteristic of the bird.  Saw three this afternoon at a beach location near Kampung Jepak.  They kept on doing their respective sorties but would finally perch on this particular dead tree.  Woodswallows seemed a strong and hardy bird.  They will harass birds, animals or even human that are in the way of their hunt.  They are seen normally in small numbers perching on electrical cables along village or country roads.  They are a common resident throughout Borneo from Bintulu to Kuching.

Early morning captures at the park

Little Green Pigeon from a distance
Cempedak Hill, Zone G
Kambatik Park, Bintulu.

 This morning was a wonderful time for birding at the park.  The clear blue sky made the pictures like postcards.  A pair of Little Green Pigeon was perching on their favourite perch at the Cempedak Hill.  They saw me but did not seem to be bothered with my presence.  I too respected their cooperation and left the scene with them still spending the early morning hours on the perch  while I moved to another location. At the Pazau lookout I saw  a few Blue-throated Bee-eaters resting on the perches in between their sorties.  Finally to close the early morning birding which took me between 7 - 8.30 am I stumbled upon a Philippine Glossy Starling.  It has been a worthwhile walk around the park.  More photoshoots below....

Lovely pair of Little Green Pigeon, colourful male is at left.

Philippines Glossy Starling

Blue-throated Bee-eater

Bee-eaters seen from a distance
Pazau lookout

Common Snipe

Common Snipe

The Common Snipe is as the name indicates 'common', but not so.  It is an elusive bird to catch a glimpse because it habitually moves among tall grasses.  One day I was lucky to have a glimpse of it when it decided to scavenge out in the more open areas...Check out the story here...>>>http://kambatikpark.blogspot.com/search/label/Common%20snipe