A little 'golden' bird

As I was about to step into my car, a tiny image flew past me, and then again.  Then it fluttered as it tried to pick at the tip of the pine needle and I got a clearer image of the Golden-bellied Gerygone.  I was thrilled as I've been trying to get better shots of this bird since my first encounter with it in the taman, and now it's practically at my doorstep.
This 10cm bird is a common resident but generally not easy to spot or encounter, and even more difficult to photograph because it moves speedily and continuously but stands out because of its yellow underside.

A little 'folk' of a raptor

When I saw the little exquisite Black-thighed Falconet from afar, I was hoping that there would be more than one because falconets do hang out together.  And indeed one more joined most promptly, and never mind that these two were so far away.

 

 

And as usual the dearest wish was for it to come closer, and one certainly did!

And even closer ... could not have asked for more when it spent a little time to preen too.

But I was most intrigued when I noticed how it was perching, like a little man, especially in the way it had its wing folded backward, and I have to add that this was truly the first time I noticed its posture.  Well, it may be feared as the smallest raptor but it's truly an adorable one!

The same Bulbul

The Stripe-throated Bulbul could be a common park bird yet might not be because it's not so widely sighted.  There are still many who would love more ideal images.
However in the taman the birds are pretty easy to spot.
Here is one not looking too elegant whilst preening.

Photographed a while back in another part of the taman, this one IS a striking bird no matter how it presented itself!

As I was passing by

Thanks for the pose!

Quietude in the taman

It looks like it's 'business' as usual in the taman now that the number of migrant avian sightings has dwindled.
The two Brown Shrikes are still in the taman and I hope to be able to catch them in breeding/richer plumage before they head home.

This lone Asian Brown Flycatcher has stayed on till now but normally keeps to mid canopy nowadays.

Another surprise sighting is the Ashy Minivets which usually come and go but instead have been regularly sighted here.

Sad to say every birder's favourite area where stood the birds' favourite trees or what we called the magic trees (because these trees seemed to attract such a range of birds) has seen a loss when the middle one fell and so did one direct to it, and since then this area has been terribly quiet.

A performing Sunbird

When the Brown-throated decided to fly right in front of me and 'performed',  it was simply a pleasure to go on on clicking.  It's not an uncommon situation but it's also not a regular opportunity to have it this way.
This is a gorgeous bird but rather taken for granted because of its ubiquitous presence.

A thrilling moment when watching the sunbird is to catch it with it tongue out!

Lone starling

Tried as I could, I could only spot this lone Purple-backed Starling down foraging.  And then as suddenly I saw two flocks of about 20 and 30 each fly past.  Sometimes bird watching is indeed baffling!

The other winged ones

When there are no significant avian sightings, these lovely creatures will do, even if one is a stink bug, the other being a gorgeous Yellow Glassy Tiger butterfly.

The Yellow Glassy Tiger
Parantica aspasia aspasia

Wet wet Goshawk

Strange but the Crested Goshawk looked like it just popped out of the drain, totally drenched.  I would have thought that it would have gone to any of the ponds for its dip.

It looked rather lost and vulnerable in its wet stage.

And then the aggressive stance.

Perhaps it worked to scare off whatever it was that tried to intimidate it.