To all birders to TRK - a Court acknowledgment

 In the recent judgement of the Court of Appeal on 27 Jan that revoked the development order of the proposed monstrous 8-block integrated commercial residential complex that would have impacted negatively the taman, it's most heartening that the court took note too of  Taman Rimba Kiara as follows:

And indeed for birders, year after year the taman never fails to delight with sightings of regular and rare migrant avian visitors.

This year too has seen the regular migrant birds to the taman, and more, a rare and first record visit from a ruddy kingfisher.

And on this note, we say goodbye to the current migrant avian season, the only migrant bird that has yet to leave seems to be the Asian Brown Flycatcher.

I take pleasure in seeing this last one off on a dreamy note, and look forward to the next season later in the year.

Hey birders, I'll be back!

Just another day

 Just another day - Oriental Magpie Robin

It was very much just another walk in the taman, and then the magpie robin, our very local songbird whistled and whistled.  And I recall how excited I was when I first sighted a magpie robin during those early birding days, captivated by its midnight blue gloss, at least in the male.

And today, it was just another magpie robin, almost.  

And a walk away a young one was releasing an itch.

A preen, an itch made a difference, and the day was not just another day, at least not for me.

And for you and you and you

Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.

Winston Churchill

Finally the fight has paid off.

TAMAN TUN DR ISMAIL RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT WITH
SAVE TAMAN RIMBA KIARA WORKING GROUP

This morning the Court of Appeal delivered its decision on the Taman Rimba Kiara matter via an online Zoom session. The Court of Appeal panel, comprising 3 judges, unanimously decided that the Development Order obtained in 2017 by the joint venture of Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan and Developer Memang Perkasa Sdn Bhd for the Taman Rimba Kiara project is null and void. The Court of Appeal panel issued an order of certiorari quashing the development order.

This decision is a major victory for our community and neighbouring communities who have been relentless and unwavering in their fight and commitment to preserve Taman Rimba Kiara. Many of you may recall our first protest in 2016 and the many subsequent protests held throughout the years since. This long and difficult struggle has been possible because of our collective unity, perseverance and commitment to protect our green space against the might of commercial interests, coupled with the staunch support of our Segambut MP YB Hannah Yeoh.

Concurrent with today’s decision, we reiterate our desire for new housing for the longhouse families and we will continue in our efforts to get a proper and fair resolution to permanent housing for the families. They are our neighbours and partners in the TTDI community and we will stand with them.

In light of today’s decision by the Court of Appeal, we call on DBKL and the FT Ministry to finally do the right thing. Let us work together to deliver affordable, low density, permanent housing for the longhouse residents within the existing 4 acres of the Rumah Panjang and leave Taman Rimba Kiara to be the wonderful public park that it already is.

We thank you for all your support, in words and action throughout this journey.

Dated this 27 January 2021

It is with a prayer that the taman will continue to host, undisturbed, in the natural order of living, both local and migrant birds, todate numbering more than 100 species (by my personal record).  These are avian residents and visitors that have made this taman a unique hub, both permanent and transit.

Koel's mating move, almost

 The Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) will certainly win hands, eh claws, down when it comes to owning distinct differences between the male and female.

Whilst the gentleman is glossy-blue-black with distinct red eyes (and could easily be mistaken for a crow in unflattering light), the lady has dark brownish plumage with whitish spots on upper-parts and barrings on under-parts, lovely and striking overall.

Unfortunately the male is one that many love to hate for its incessant 'love' call, or more simply, wake-up call for many who are 'privileged' to its loud repetitive Ku-oo crescendo especially in the early morning. 

And this morning the lady bird was found to play hard to get, or simply flirting?

It had flown in quietly from somewhere whilst the male had been calling for a pretty prolonged period from one corner of the taman to another (which made me wonder if that is a characteristic of the koel courtship which explains why the male always calls out continuously and loudly because the female plays hard to get?)

The female obviously knew that the male was around the way it scanned about.

I had earlier seen the male across the river and thought that it was eyeing a fig fruit for its lady.  Seen against the light, this is indeed one black bird, dark on both the outer and under-parts.

Then its bluish-black plumage was revealed when the light flattered.

Flying in for its female target the male was seen to forage first (I guessed the fig fruit was not suitable), and when it finally did hop on to where the female was, she decided to flee, so it looked like the male wasn't going to get it easy!

Or was the offering too miniscule!  Looked like a tiny insect!

Although the Koel feeds mainly on fruits, it is omnivorous, going after insects and caterpillars.

A rather dejected looking male.

And our ladyship has indeed flown to a nearby palm tree, returning backward glances to which unfortunately there were no responses as there was no pursuit.

The only pursuit being me as I tried for better images which promptly caused the female to flee way across into the tallest tree!

Just another day

 Just another day, a Yellow-vented Bulbul feasted alone, an ordinary moment, full of presence.

Once a upon a time ... barbet

 Archive image - May 2018

Once a upon a time ... when the Lineated Barbet nested in the same tree, twice, and more, and raised so many chicks, unfortunately for one to be seized, right before me, by a crested goshawk.

A MacArthur palm was conveniently located next to its nest tree, providing food for itself and its young then.

The young Barbet waiting for its parent to return with food ... I guess like many of us now, waiting for good times to return in this time of pandemic.

It's fortunate that the Lineated Barbet remains a regular sight in the taman although it has changed its nesting site, obviously for the better in view of the noise in particular it had to endure in its previous immediate surrounding.

And this made the taman special as it's one of the urban public parks that has the privilege of hosting lineated barbets for so long, till today.

Once upon a time ... brahminy kite

 Archive image - Nov 2018

Once a upon a time ... the Brahminy Kite made this taman home, nested more than once, raised its chicks ... experienced happy, and tragic moments too ....

It was easy to spot this one ... the pond its water hole

In the placid atmosphere of an urban public park like the taman, it's survival of the fittest too ... perhaps why the Kites have moved elsewhere to nest ... here it had to contend with the common crows and the crested goshawks for a place in the sun.

Once a upon a time ... hornbill

 Archive image - May 2018

Once a upon a time ... when the taman was this Oriental Pied Hornbill's hunting ground, playground, hideaway ....

At ease ... preening

Feeding

Being naughty ... attempting to raid the lineated barbet's cavity nest

Sad to say, I've not seen this one the entire 2020, perhaps it has found a mate and moved somewhere ... if so, so wish it all happiness for its survival.

And it's closure once again

 And so once again, the taman is closed for the third wave of Covid-19 infections that calls for a second Movement Control Order, enforced for 6 states among them the Federal Territory from 13-26 January, and the avian life in the taman will have another respite from human presence.

 A couple of days before the MCO enforcement, I had wandered about and thought that the taman was quiet, and rather dreary, except for the usual garden, park and a handful of migrant visitors.  With the current taman closure, even these avian creatures will be sorely missed now, so much for taking things for granted!

The only excitement was the territorial dispute between the two Greater Racket-tailed Drongo when one chased off the other.

A drongo that looked like it's regrowing its tail pendants, or could even be a young adult which could be why it was bullied off its perch.

It looks like the drongo population is healthy in both the taman and the bukit because these are the birds that are regularly sighted in these areas.

Among the other regulars of the taman that enliven the avian life here, a treat nevertheless for anyone who wishes to practise their photography dexterity.

Not sure what accounted for this dismal look, which incidentally does reflect my present feeling about the park closure, a rather unnecessary measure in view that jogging and cycling are allowed during the MCO.

The ever alert Brown Shrike that would take off the instance it felt spotted.

Another one, the Red Jungle Fowl, that always stays away in the undergrowth but good to know too, that there's a growing brood around.

One of the most abundant numbers in the taman, the Pink-necked Green Pigeon, and predictable too in terms of their hang-out.

An sub-adult White-breasted Waterhen that was in a hurry to get away, as usual, when spotted.

And finally the White-throated Kingfishers that breed actively here, the question that intrigues is where do the off-springs go, or are they chased off, as the ones that remain are the pair of adult kingfishers always seen in their respective territorial corners.

Insects 'lovers'

 A Blue-tailed Bee-eater and its catch, a bee, at last.

An Asian Brown Flycatcher and its catch, but not a fly.