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

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.

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)

White-breasted Woodswallows and Large Egrets

Bathing by the Kemena River across Sebauh town

 Sebauh is easily reachable by road nowadays, a mere 15 minutes drive from Bintulu.  Sebauh is a district in the Bintulu Division.  It has been a long long time since I've not been there.  So today we decided to pay it a visit early in morning.  The Kemena River that was once the main and only means  of transportation from Bintulu passes by the former riverine town.  There were people still bathing by the river as was common in the 60's and 70's.  We saw a few White-breasted Woodswallows by the river bank and perching on a dead tree nearby.  On the way back to Bintulu we met a small flock of the Large Egret scavenging for food on a paddy field area.  Since this was not really a birding trip we were just as pleased to see at least two species of birds on a very brief outing. 

White-breasted Woodswallows

Large Egret in a paddy field

Long boats and a ferry seen just infront of the Sebauh town.

The old riverine town section of Sebauh with shophouses made of 'Belian' timber.

A fruitful birding at Likau beach

White-breasted Woodswallows on branches of the Ru tree

 Took the afternoon off to do birding at Likau beach area which is reachable by a 40 minutes drive from the center of Bintulu town.  At Likau (which is the entrance to the Similajau National Park) there is the Likau River which can be crossed  by a suspension bridge.  The Likau area  is also the site of the National Park living accomodation for tourists or visitors and their administration and maintenance staff as well.  The Semi-D chalets and hostels seemed new.  The place was generally well-kept.  There are tall Nibong trees around the park's buildings.  Tall Ru trees are typical of the place and more are seen growing gradually into the sandy beach.  The photos below are the result of a brief 2 hours birding around the Likau beach, between 1600 - 1800 hrs.  What's interesting was watching the Eurasian Tree Sparrow in the act of catching and eating the green caterpillar snatched from the needle-like leaves of the Ru tree. As an interesting sideshow a group of monkeys with their young were seen playing near the beach across the Likau river.  Overall, it was a worthwhile birding trip.

White-breasted woodswallow

Living accomodation for visitors and tourists

Living accomodation for visitors and tourists

Tall Nibong palms around the accomodation area

Ru or Casuarina trees colonizing the sandy beach

Eurasian Tree Sparrow caught a  green caterpillar

Spotted-necked Dove

Common Sandpiper on suspension bridge

Oriental Magpie-robin

A solitary Dollarbird

Barn swallow on suspension bridge

Suspension bridge across the Likau river

A small group of monkeys at the beach across the Likau river