Infrequent Wagtail vistor

I was delighted to have another opportunity to get better images of the Forest Wagtail, this time managing to move closer to it, as it was busy wagging tail, i.e. looked like it was having alone time.
It's truly a beautiful bird.

This time it was relatively easier to tail it, but because its plumage almost merged into the background, the only way to keep up with it was to track movements in the grass.

To each its own

When co-habitation is peaceful, each one lives and goes its own way.  The Striated or Little Heron and Monitor Lizard have lived in the taman long enough to leave each other alone, not the least bothered with each other's presence.

Unfortunately the next day I came across someone who had caught a Lizard and was very happily and proudly walking about with his catch.  Wonder if it could be this one.

The Heron is more lucky as it's more difficult to catch.

Beautiful Oriole

One of the most beautiful birds in the taman has to be the Black-naped Oriole, whether an adult or sub-adult.

This sub-adult showed its curiosity as it sought the best fruit.  It looked like it was going for this one, but perhaps not, as it turned away, looking down and up.

And then off it went, obviously that fruit was not quite ripe yet.

On a previous occasion, this other sub-adult, or could it be the same one, displayed acrobatic moments as it foraged.

This bird looked adorable for the way it perched, or 'stood' on its two, with wings or 'arms' folded behind!

Flycatcher at the bukit

While walking down Bukit Kiara after the encounter with the beautiful amur paradise flycatcher, I had my first sighting of the more common Asian Brown Flycatcher, which has not been seen in the taman yet.

It would not have been easy to spot this tiny bird if not for its persistent calls, almost sounding distressed, and then I found out why as I walked further on.  This Crested Goshawk, just meters away, must be making it nervous.
The positive side of this was that the Flycatcher was so preoccupied that it allowed me ample time to get close-up shots, even to the point of encircling below it whilst it was hardly disturbed by my movements.

The little Kingfisher is back

It was great to really confirm the return of the Common Kingfisher, even if it's with a record shot.  I had recorded my first albeit very very brief sighting a couple of weeks ago but couldn't track it since.
Similar to last year, it's very skittish. Here's looking forward to future close-ups of this gorgeous bird.
10/2018

Rare sightings of APFC

Last year there was a only one-day sighting of the Amur Paradise Flycatcher in the taman.  When I heard that both the white morph and brown morph were sighted in Bukit Kiara, I just had to walk up that hill for them, also hoping that the pair would venture down to the taman, perhaps, perhaps.
Up the bukit, I was not disappointed as the birds did appear on cue, following a tip-off from a senior birder as to its location and time, and very noisy appearance too.  Unfortunately, being a Sunday with ceaseless hiker traffic, the ability to get satisfactory images were not quite possible as the birds were sensitive to such presence and movement but I did manage a couple of record shots. These birds could be from South-eastern Russia, China, Korea and Japan.
The birds are considered passage migrant, i.e. sighted for a couple of days only before they move on elsewhere and it could be further north like Myanmar or Thailand or even Indonesia, therefore much sought-after for sightings because their transit stops.
9/2018

I believe the brown morph is more widely sighted.

   
I almost missed this white morph if not for taking a chance shot at a flash of white at the upper canopy, and lo and behold it's it!

Another opp with the Flycatcher

I was extremely delighted to spot the female Yellow-rumped Flycatcher again, as the first image I had was hardly satisfying.  Wonder if this bird would stay here for a while yet.  Will be looking out for the male again.

And this was the gorgeous male that I encountered briefly a couple of weeks ago, definitely on transit in the taman as it has not been sighted since.

Another bird tale, closer to home

With the taman as my backyard, I'm surprised that any bird will seek a condo balcony to nest, not once but todate, three times.  It's obviously the same bird as it kept using the same Dracaena Fragrans.
Now, a month after its chicks fledged, this Yellow-vented Bulbul (ref posts 18-19 June) came back and I was surprised to observe that it was brooding, indeed a productive bird!  Two nesting sessions within only 4 months.

When this Olive-backed Sunbird suddenly made an appearance, I did fear the worse.  Fortunately, nothing happened although the defensive Bulbul parents were fretting close by.

Some images of the parent with feeds.

This was common behaviour, one calling out to the other whenever it wanted to leave the nest alone, as if for the other to take over watch.

I was happy to note that there were two chicks as before.

Unfortunately eventually there was only one left.

The first glimpse of the chick emerging from the nest.

It decided to emerge completely and stood on the nest but I guessed it was not prepared for what was to happen next.

It dropped right before my eyes and by the time I bent down to look for it, it had disappeared.  Worried, I scanned the balcony floor and was relieved that it had managed to recover to perch on the wire pipe, beneath a pot, well hidden from view.

The frantic parent looking for its young, by which time I had retreated behind my sliding door, to leave the parent to its search.  Looked like the chick had disappeared.

Much to my pleasant surprise, the chick had managed already to fly to the nearest tree.  So relieved that it's fine.

A parent and chick reunion.

A couple of days later, I sought the chick out and was so glad to see that it was still doing well despite the daily showers.

Already sharp as it sensed my presence.

A cute moment when I captured its output, looked like it couldn't processed fruit feed yet, the output looked exactly like its input!

Enjoying a relaxing moment in the hot afternoon.

Two weeks later, I unwittingly stumbled upon these Bulbuls at the edge of the taman and knew immediately it's the same family.  And the chick was now a sub-adult but looked like it was still being fed.

Guess it's not too happy with its feed.

Demanding again, like a spoilt brat?!

The young flew off and the other parent flew in, perhaps some peace at last!