Oriental Magpie-Robin

 Did it fight with another?  Pretty sure.

Did it lose?  Quite likely.

Was it ostracised?  Perhaps.

Was it resigned to enjoy its own company?  Looked like it.

All alone, it skipped, hopped, jetted all over the field;  keeping up with it was sure challenging.

Pretty good looking nevertheless, despite its odd, worn-out looks.

Zebra Dove

 Upon sighting a pair of Zebra Doves, I recall and am taking the liberty to repost a lovely observation by Amar HSS of 9 Aug in the Wild Bird Club Facebook re the following:

Sexing in the Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata)

Kirwan et al. (2026) state that “sexes are similar in all plumages”. However, Gibbs et al. (2001) say that the adult female is “very similar to the male but the pinkish centre of the breast is narrower, barring extending further onto the breast”.

My personal observations, over many decades, favour the opinion of Gibbs et al. (2001). Whenever I have seen a courting or mating pair together, the features that Gibbs et al. (2001) state are sufficiently present to differentiate the sexes. Whether this is a breeding plumage change is uncertain.

Here is a composite image of a pair I saw courting this morning, so I was sure of the male and female. The male is on the left in the image. Note that in the female (right) the barring extends further onto the centre of the breast, whereas in the male (left) the pinkish centre of the breast is broader, extends further down and is richer in colour.

I believe we can differentiate sexes, at least when courting / mating.

References

1. Kirwan GM, Baptista LF, Trail PW, Horblit HM, Pyle P, Hansasuta C & Boesman PFD. (2026). Zebra Dove Geopelia striata, version 1.1. In Birds of the World (M. G. Smith, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA.

2. Gibbs D, Barnes E, & Cox J. (2001). Pigeons and doves: A guide to the pigeons and doves of the world. Pica Press.

Without the benefit of a mating ritual, the closest comparison in my images would be to say the male is on the left notwithstanding the lighting.

Dollarbird

 On a terribly terribly hazy morning, when dimness was the theme of the day, a Dollarbird high up albeit should be considered rather commonplace could still stir some excitement, and the arrival of a Banded Woodpecker could only be a bonus.

Rice Bug

Rice Bug (genus Leptocorisa)

 

Bees, Wasp and Hoverfly

 

Black-sided Small Carpenter Bee (Ceratina nigrolateralis sp)

Blue-banded Bee (Amegilla cingulata)

Hoverlfy/Band-eyed Drone Fly (Eristalinus taeniops)

Hairy Scoliid Flower Wasp (Campsomeris sp.)

Blue Pansy

 

Blue Pansy (Junonia orithya)

Banded Woodpecker

 For the past weeks, the family of Banded Woodpeckers had decided the taman would be its playground as they could be spotted and heard at different parts throughout the morning.

Then time seemed to stand still ...

... and trying to snooze came naturally.

... until rudely disturbed ....