The continuous shrieks pierced the wet afternoon and straining scans to the source revealed one hopping about up high, and to my surprise one that normally calls non too shrilly. It was least on my mind that it would descend for a decent shot as it seldom did on those occasions when it came to the taman.
But this time, the Grey-capped Woodpecker (Yungipicus canicapillus) suddenly did and to an area I've not spotted it there before so I naturally had to speed there. It must be the soft soaked bark that lured it.
Almost pygmy size, it's not easy to appreciate this beauty from afar.
And to my delight the tiny red streak that's normally invisible was distinct this time suggesting that it's a male.
The red mark hardly visible when its crown feathers flatten now ever so faintly visible again on the other side of the head.
It's such a treat to have it so low, and against a gorgeous multi-hued background.
With the light coming in at the right angle it was doubly thrilling to view it right to its stunning huge round eye.
It was another first for me to learn that its crown is actually of a fairer shade.
And finally just when I thought it was no longer around, it flew right in again as I was zooming in on another bird chasing it away, to afford another sighting of its striking red streak.
This time with the sun well down now and this part of the taman in the shade, its broken eyering could only be distantly appreciated.
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