The firmiana malayana or mata lembu, remains here in testimony to man's care-less-ness - its tree had since been felled. Let not the birds leave too.

Wednesday, 10 December 2025

Common Iora

 Suppose I had let you go.  Suppose I didn't even try for a click.

What would I have missed. Perhaps nothing, perhaps something.  Perhaps I should move your beauty from my eyes to my heart.

The Common Iora, a common garden bird, by common understanding.







Sunday, 7 December 2025

Barn Swallow, Swiftlets

 The migrant Barn Swallows must have graced the bukit sky before but it's my first time recording them due to their numbers which caught my attention, not an east feat despite the numerous presence.

It was sheer test of focus and dexterity following their flights as these tiny birds performed acrobatics pursuing flying insects as if erratically to the human eyes, yet 'there is method in the madness'!

It was truly a fest in the sky as these swallows soared, swooped and dived joining the numerous local Aerodrammus sp such as the Germain's swiftlets present.






And could this one have polluted the air above?!



And they were high and they were low, even down to tree canopy level.




The local swiftlet sp.





Thursday, 4 December 2025

Blyth's Paaradise Flycatcher

Its distinct harsh calls preceded its arrival, and the next thing I knew it had landed on the branch.

The keen eyes of the Blyth's Paradise Flycatcher must have already spied its caterpillar prey from afar.







St Andrew's Cross Spider

 






St Andrew's cross spider (Argiope versicolor), possibly with a prey* seen to hurriedly cart away on its back when I closed in for better shots.



* From AI Overview
A cross spider wraps its prey in a silken "cocoon" after it becomes entangled in the web, delivering a paralyzing bite and then swathing the victim in silk for later consumption. This process preserves the prey, which is eaten by the spider when it is ready to feed.

Short-horned Grasshopper



Short-horned grasshopper/Rice grasshopper (Oxya japonica)




 

Spotted Green Grasshopper Nymph

 


Nymph of Spotted Green Grasshopper (Xenocatantops humilis)



Leafhopper



Leaf hopper (Cicadellidae tartessus sp)