A lovely Orange-bellied Flowerpecker couple

A pair of the Orange-bellied Flowerpecker

It was the moment of truth today.  I was hoping the other day (in a previous posting) that the male would bring along its female counterpart to enjoy the Jackfruit.  My wish was answered today, 30 July'16, when both sexes of the species dropped by the  Jackfruit tree, thereby giving me plenty of opportunities to gather stock photographs of the bird in close range. Unlike the bulbuls, the flowerpecker seemed to be less disturbed to see me.  Indeed the sweet fleshy pulp of the fruit was a major attraction attracting not only the flowerpeckers but also bulbul.  They were too focused on eating the fruit that quite oblivious of my presence.   I noticed that after the squirrels bit off the thick fruit skin the birds would come next enjoying the exposed pulp.  There seemed to be a mutually helpful co-existence between the birds and the squirrels.

( Note: This is a re-posting from this link...>>>>http://kambatikpark.blogspot.my/2016/07/a-lovely-orange-bellied-flowerpecker.html )
Date of posting : 30 July'16.

Shooting the Tiong before sunset

A 'Tiong ' bird resting on a nearby perch before settling for the night at their nesting home some 50 meters away
Location : Licuala Hill, the Kambatik Park, Bintulu.

Hill Myna or 'Tiong' (Malay)

 The 'Tiong' birds or Hill Myna have been seen coming back again to their favourite nesting home at Licuala Hill since about a week ago. Habitually, once they start making nest at the old dead tree they will be seen regularly from now onwards especially towards the end of each day to return to their nest after a long day's outing over the land looking for food.  Their daily return before sunset afford me opportunities to study their behaviour.  Adjacent to their nest is another tall tree that they used as a convenient perch to rest temporarily before settling for the night at their nest.  They will normally call it a day past sunset time.

The Tiongs hanging out at one of the tallest tree in the park which has a hole they call home.
Location : Licuala Hill

Two Tiongs have a rest before settling in their nest which is a hole inside this tall dead tree.

Enjoying today's sunset

The Tiongs are welcomed here

Hiil Myna bird or 'Tiong' (Malay) perching on their favourite nesting tree
Location : Licuala Hill

 It has been a while that the Tiong birds have not checked in at their favourite nesting tree.  Today, however, I found them back at the tree and checking out their home which is a hole in the tall dead tree at Licuala Hill.  Over many years now this tree has become the favourite spot for nesting by the Hill Myna birds at the park.   At late afternoon, I saw the pair of Tiongs perching and at the same time grooming each other.  They were not alerted to my presence because I was staying put in my hideout earlier than their arrival at the tree.  This gave me lots of opportunity to study their behaviour and took lots of pictures for record purposes. 

Long shot view of the Tiongs from my hideout
Location : Licuala Hill, Zone I

Checking out their nest which is a hoe in the tall dead tree

An uindentified leafbird?

 Last June when the Eugenia oleina trees were fruiting, many birds that were never seen before at the park appeared for the first time.  The three lifers were the Red-crowned Barbet, Blue-eared Barbet and the Brown Barbet.  There was however another bird that remain unidentified and today I have  time to re-look at the pictures I took on the 22nd of June.  My best guess at the moment is that the bird is a leaf bird. But on this third largest island of the world i.e. Borneo, there are many species of leaf birds and upon checking the internet sources for images close to the ones I took, there seem to be none that is the same.  So for record purposes, I'll leave it to time to tell and probably some readers or birders can suggest a name that is true to the pictures. Or could it be that I have found a lost species? (LOL)
( Note : This is a reposting from another blog of mine as in here...>>>>http://kambatikpark.blogspot.my/2016/07/an-unindentified-bird.html  )

Little Blue-eared Barbet

Little Blue-eared Barbet - Megalaima australis duvauclii
Location : Zone C

This month of June has been rather special in that I have encountered three species of barbet within a week duration.   First came the Brown Barbet, followed by the Many-coloured Barbet and today's sighting has been the Little Blue-eared Barbet.  All seemed to be attracted to the ripe fruits of the  Eugenia oleina tree.  From my observation it is a small bird about 10 -12 cm long.  It has a patch of red below the eye, a pale blue chin and throat, black bill and slightly greenish feet.  Even though it is a common barbet in the lowlands of Sarawak or Borneo, today's sighting is a lifer for me.  It came in as a  pair, unlike the Many-coloured Barbet which came singly.  I noticed its mate seemed to appear from nowhere to join company once its partner makes a call.  The sighting of many barbets this June makes me think that probably June is the breeding season of these birds.

( Note: This is a re-posting from another blog of mine and the link is here.  )

A Many-Coloured Barbet

Red- crowned Barbet or Many-coloured Barbet ( Megalaima rafflesii rafflesii)
Location : Zone C

I felt very fortunate today for having met one of the most colourful birds that visit this park.  This is my first encounter with the Red-crowned Barbet.  The colours around its face resembles an artist palette.  Striking red crown, blue throat, brilliant yellow at the cheek and a soft pastel green for its underparts and jungle green for its upper parts.  It is a darling when I first saw it, a quiet bird that can remain still for a considerable length of time and did not produce any call.  It is a medium-sized bird and came singly.    Just the other day, it was the duller Brown Barbet that came by and got  me overly excited. Both birds seemed to have a liking of the ripe black berries of the Eugenia oleina. Today's sighting caused me overwhelmed with joy, happiness and amazement at nature's beauty.  Truly the park has attracted many unique Borneo birds which previously I could only see in books.  Today's sighting I hope is a prelude to more surprises and amazement in this humble wildlife sanctuary.

(Note:  This is a re-posting from my blog, The Kambatik Park and the link is here. 
For a complete compilation of pictures of the Red-crowned Barbet please follow also this link ....>>>>http://kambatikpark.blogspot.my/p/best-album.html  )