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

Beautiful flowerpecker and woodswallow

Above are results of a brief birding visit to the Pustaka grounds on 12 Nov'14.
It is interesting to see the White-breasted Woodswallow on the lawn and the Orange-bellied Flowerpecker picking up the ripe fruits of the 'Senduduk' (Melastoma malabathricum)

Pink-necked Green Pigeon

 On the 6th of September'13, a small group of my birding friends met at the Pustaka Sarawak as meeting point before embarking on a birding trip outside Kuching city.  While at the car parking area we saw a male Pink-necked Green Pigeon busy flying to and fro to collect twigs from nearby trees presumably for building nest.  It was still early in the morning.  Here are more pictures of the bird in action....

A Waterhen bathing

Large water bodies around the Pustaka are conducive to wildlife preservation.
Of special interests are the Stork-billed Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Straited Heron, Great Egret, Common Sandpiper and White -breasted Waterhen that are commonly seen there.

 The White-breasted Waterhen is a tough bird that loves to live close to human habitation.  They prefer the waterways, streams, ponds and ditches where they forage for insects, fish and grass seeds.  At Pustaka there are many water bodies and channels that are attractive to these fast moving birds.  On the 10th of August'14, I chanced upon it having a good bath on a shallow section of the drainage channel.

White-breasted Waterhen - Keruak (Malay)
Amaurornis phoenicurus

Birds at Pustaka

Collared Kingfisher at the compounds of Pustaka

Stork-billed Kingfisher

 I spent just a mere one hour for a quick tour of the Pustaka Sarawak grounds on the 16th of August.  There is  large landscape compound around the Pustaka (Sarawak State Library).  On many of my earlier trips I frequently bump into the Stork-billed Kingfisher and on this trip it was there as usual. Two other birds that interest me on this trip was the Pied Fantail and the Striated Heron.  The tiny Brown-throated Sunbird was of no surprise and so was the Common Iora.  By the pond I noticed the Common Sandpiper and nearby the rockery the little Oriental Tree Sparrow.  The Red- Headed Tailorbird was also seen among the leaves and branches of the Bungor tree.  For a brief one hour visit to the park, I dare say the visit was very fruitful.  The Pustaka can generally be reached in about 20 - 30 minutes by car from the Kuching City centre.

Brown-throated Sunbird - Kelicap Mayang Kelapa (Malay)
Anthreptes malacensis

Common Iora - Kunyit Kacat (Malay)
Aegithina tiphia

Common Iora - Kunyit Kacat (Malay)
Aegithina tiphia

Common Myna

Common Sandpiper - Kedidi Pasir (Malay)
Actitis hypoleucos

Pied Fantail - Sambar Murai Gila (Malay)
Rhipidura javanica

Oriental Tree Sparrow

Red-headed Tailorbird - Perenjak Kelapu
Orthotomus ruficeps

Striated Heron - Pucung Keladi (Malay)
Butorides striata