Only a second Tweedale encounter

I guessed I was just as surprised as the Oriental Honey-buzzard, Tweedale morph when it flew down and sighted me.  This was rare because this bird normally perched high, not to mention that it was not as regularly sighted, much to the dismay of many birder friends who had come over numerous times hoping to sight it.

I supposed it was reacting to my camera as I aimed at it, perhaps never so up close with one.

It continued to react.

Truly an uncommon occasion to view it up close, a stunning and gorgeous bird indeed!

The Kite drinks

Distant shots that reminded me of when a Brahminy Kite once literally walked past me into the pond for a drink, uncharacteristically unaware that I was just metres away: post of 27 Nov 21018 - http://rimbakiara.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-kite-needs-drink.html 

As I was passing by

Thanks for the pose!

Even if it's a flycatcher

When I sighted the Dark-sided Flycatcher again, it was certainly much ado over a common migrant visitor, in view of the lack of avian variety these days.

As I was passing by

Thanks for the pose!

Infrequent Heron visitor

When I saw the pair of Purple Heron circling above, I was hoping that they would descend, and one did but kept to the tree top.  
I had seen one a few days before, from a far (indeed very far), and when approached it had flown off.

Gorgeous bird, hoping to sight it on the ground soon.

Intimate turtle moment

First, it was pretty disturbing when I saw the discoloured shells, practically bleached, of these three Red-eared Sliders.  

This one looked like it would soon meet the same fate as the other two bigger (and older?) ones.

Fortunately I had the opportunity to creep up on them again, and was rather heartened to note that it didn't affect their body as these turtles did look healthy.
This particular one then drew my attention by the way it balanced itself on the rock, how adorable I thought!

And I would be in for a pleasant surprise when another crawled up slowly from the water.

And then it looked like some loving was going on!

Yup, for sure there was!  How terribly sweet!

 And then that horrible leaf blower noise, breaking into the intimacy!

It looked like one of them had decided to move off.

Nope, something made it decide to turn back.

And get back together, but unfortunately not for long with the increasing approach of the leaf blower.

Back into the lake eventually.

Drongo-cuckoo's skill

When this bird suddenly swished past me, I almost dismissed it as another black bird until I had glimpses of whites.  It was a Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo, a young one too going by its plumage.

I was pretty sure it must have a scent of its prey somewhere in the dense foliage to cause it to zoom in so suddenly, and voila, it was on target!

A hairy grub small enough for it to down in one gulp!

A tell-tale sign of a tiny hair in its beak told of a meal just finished.

Simply Flowerpecker

Sometimes an image may not be perfect but suffice to say, it simply pleases.

As I was passing by

Thanks for the pose!

Apprehensive fowls

I chanced upon them, but there was hardly any opportunity to sight them in the open.  Scurrying away as if for dear life, these Red Jungle Fowls came across as terribly fearful of human sights, and I guess rightfully so.  Sadly, these are favourites of poachers.
The moment it sighted me it was off and away.  Stalking them made me feel rather guilty.

Perhaps a cuckoo resident

The young Indian Cuckoo looks like it'll be around for a while.  Not a surprise, going by the abundant worm prey in the taman.  

Another catch.

And it gave me ample opportunities to admire its gorgeous plumage.

 

A little hop and it's back to its favoured perch.