Taman Rimba Kiara is a little green gem located in a corner of the TTDI residential area. The above flowering tree, the firmiana malayana or mata lembu, flashes in testimony to man's care-less-ness - it's one of only two trees in the park that had flowered, since then the tree had been chopped down.

Wednesday 31 May 2017

Happy encounter

I was so happy to see this pair of Common Flameback Woodpeckers again, since that incident of the fallen tree trunk depriving them of a home.  Although they have been around I have missed them many times because they seemed to appear only when I was not around!
     As usual they moved about ceaselessly, nevertheless, I was able to get some satisfactory shots of them.  Unfortunately they did not move about in pair for me to get an ideal pair shot!

Male



Female



Terribly shy

This White-breasted Waterhen appeared so quietly that I almost missed it.  I had to stay pretty motionless to click away at it because if it sensed any human presence it would disappear even before one could cry 'Geronimo'!
     Thank goodness, it decided to wander about awhile looking for a catch, more than enough time for me to get decent shots of it.








Tuesday 30 May 2017

Pleasant surprise

It is always a treat when I can capture a small bird like this Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker in action.  Small birds are hyperactive.
   Furthermore, this sub-adult is a fantastic sign of the life and growth cycle of birds in this taman - one always comes across chicks, juvenile and adult birds here.


Bird moment

Birds do enjoy solitude time and this Pink-Necked Green Pigeon was no exception.  I found it perching for quite a long time, quietly and serenely.


Colours of TRK

Flashes of colours dot the park at different times of the year.  Today I was pleasantly surprised to discover purple bursts of flowers almost lost among the green foliage of the taller trees.
     The I turned around and was greeted by yellow and lime green foliage, even more thrilled when I saw splashes of brown and blue that belonged to the White-throated Kingfisher.




Sunday 28 May 2017

Not just common

Many feel that it's boring to watch common taman birds like Myna.  It may be simply because they are everywhere but when you observe these birds, they can turn out to be just as fascinating as the wild birds.



Not just another shot

When I thought that the take was just going to be just another common shot, I was pleasantly surprised when the bird turned round with food in mouth, probably, for its chick/s.
   The reward of bird watching!




Saturday 27 May 2017

It's the same

Beautiful Common Iora - both male and female, but the different colour and features (in the eyes) like bright yellow of the male and greenish of the female could have fooled us to believe they could be two different types.  And, juvy looks different too.
Always on the move, but gorgeous birds when you can sight them.

Male 
Female


Juvenile



Friday 26 May 2017

Another unpleasant encounter


Every time I walk past this spot, I feel very upset.  There was a lovely old tree trunk at the far end of this path where we saw a pair of woodpeckers, during the 7 May Garden Bird Watch, looking like they were trying to build a home.  It was actually a sturdy two-trunk tree.  One day later, the trunk was reduced to a stump!
     It was undoubtedly an old tree trunk, but looked healthy enough, no sign of decaying, had posed no danger to any one, tucked away in the corner.  In fact, it looked absolutely solid!  Many birds perched on it daily.
     Wonder if the authority understand what is habitat when order was given to take the tree down!










Thursday 25 May 2017

Resident bird

There are many birds in the taman that can keep one entertained. This Green-billed Malkoha is big but can be elegant as it hopped about from branch to branch.  Being a resident bird here, it will not shy away from human presence, but take heed, it does not perch but move about ceaselessly.
It's always a delight to encounter this big one.


Beautiful long tail


Quietly elegant 




Recollection

The joy of birdwatching.
When you think of bird antics, you think of this little fellow, the Blue-throated Bee-eater.  Unfortunately, you have to wait till November/December again to see it as it's a migrant bird.  But they do stay till April, so plenty of time to catch them whilst they are here.





First sighting

It was thrilling to have another first sighting, this time of the Little Bronze Cuckoo.  I have been told that it has been seen around ponds here.

This is the world’s smallest cuckoo, only 16 cm or 6 in long.  It is found in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand.  It is a lowland bird that prefers mangrove forest but can be seen regularly in secondary forest too.






Another productive morning

All in one morning - 'caught shooting' again, despite trying to keep my distance and standing behind trees and under drooping branches.
It was a delight to see the Brahminy Kite because I hope it's the same one that recently lost its mate.  It's rarely seen now perching, only flying over head, and its nest almost abandoned now.  Hope to determine soon if it's the one I'm tracking, and hope to see its Juvenile again, soon.
The Crested Goshawk was adorable although I wonder why it was standing on one leg for the entire duration I saw it.  A couple of kids and adults, in the taman at the same time, were simply thrilled to see this Goshawk for the first time.

Brahminy Kite

White-throated Kingfisher

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Green-billed Malkoha

Crested Goshawk