Grey Wagtail

 And so the season has started, with a first sighting of a migrant Grey Wagtail in the taman.

Trivia

Scientific Meaning
Latin Name: Motacilla cinerea 
Motacilla means "to move about" (linked to tail movement), and cinerea means "ash-grey".

Why Do They Wag Their Tails?
Constant Motion: Scientists are still unsure of the exact reason, but they believe the tail wagging serves a purpose.
Predator Signal: One major theory suggests the movement shows predators that the bird is alert and healthy.
Flushing Prey: Another idea is that the motion scares hidden insects into moving so the bird can catch them. 


Incredible Adaptability

City Life: Wagtails live comfortably near humans. You can spot them in urban car parks, city parks, and gardens. 


Big Winter Roosts: During cold winter nights, these small birds gather in towns. Large groups can include thousands of birds sleeping together to stay warm. 


Unusual Nests: They build nests in odd places. Pairs often choose holes in old buildings, bridges, and even abandoned cars or machinery. 

(Source: AI)

Black-thighed Falconets

 It was their home for more than a few months.

It was their playground.

It was their hunting ground.

It was not so easy to let go or give up after all, with their home now gone.

This pair that looked like young adults was sighted again at their favourite perch, their favourite waterhole.

Oriental Magpie-Robin

 A juvenile Oriental Magpie-Robin sunbathing, epitome of self absorption and self-indulgence.

And you think that's it?

Hardly, as it decided to flop down to bigger expanse, the grass.

And as flat out as it could do so.

Then, enough was enough.

Lynx Spider

Lynx Spider (Oxyopes sp)

 

Paper Wasp

 

Paper Wasp (Ropalidia variegata)

Giraffe Weevil

 

Leaf-rolling Weevil/Giraffe Weevil (Paracycnotrachelus cygneus)

Sunda Scops-Owl

 A morning call, and a rescue of a Sunda Scops-owl was underway.

Report was that it was sighted on the ground early that morning on the opposite side, hopped across to where it managed to perch securely on a broken branch, perhaps thinking that it was well camouflaged on the slope.

And many thanks to Dr Jalila Abu of Avian Vet Unit of UPM for her in-situ advice and guidance on how to handle this bird (what will we do without Whatsapp, enabling immediate exchange of information, photographs and advice!)

As it didn't come across as visibly injured, it was decided that it should be moved to higher ground away from intense scrutiny of over-enthusiastic morning park walkers (we humans easily forget how we would feel if we were to have a camera thrust into our face).

Many thanks to Dr Shahridan Faiez for his presence and excellent handling of the Scops-owl, and for the following photo and videos, after its move to an adjacent more secluded location.

On a followup check-in that evening, it still looked fine (for the advice was to send it the next day to the clinic if it still came across as immobile).  In fact it had moved to conceal itself under a leaf from overhead Long-tailed Macaques.

The next morning we were hoping not to see it (how could one wish not to see a Scops-owl again!!!!) for it meant that it was well enough to fly off; indeed it was not there (already much missed!!!!).

To ensure that it was really well and that perhaps it was still around, an inevitable brief 'callout' was undertaken, and to our relief, it flew out from about 5ft away, right in front of us, and off!  Phew!