Happily caught in between

 Neck stance ... to the left and to the right, and I did too, for the right perspective!

And both were loud, which easily got my attention.

A Banded Woodpecker that looked like it just finished a meal, cleaning its beak.

A young Black-naped Oriole, perhaps simply curious as I took aim at it.

CMCO! O oriole!

Archive image 

With the implementation of another Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) for two weeks from 14-27 Oct, and all public parks closed, here's back to dipping into the digital stock for a re-appreciation of recent sightings.

And also lost opportunities to stake out the Common Kingfisher sighted flying along the river!  So there goes migrant visitor no 10/2020, only sighted.

The Black-naped Oriole is always a favourity subject for its striking colour, a challenge to get too because it's always alert to human proximity and its colour sometimes a defiance for focus.

This young oriole was picture perfect as it enjoyed its pick of the palm fruits, all alone.

CMCO Day 1

Celebrating Oriole's chick (cont'd)

I was not to know that this would be my last day and opportunity to observe the Black-naped Oriole and its new chick (being law-abiding I did not venture to the now-closed taman due to the lockdown although I guessed I could still have tried to venture there, peep beyond the fence to that tree!).

A close-up and a thin gooey pull suggested that feeding was going on.

Left alone, a little head popped up to reveal an adorable healthy chick, my first distinct sighting of an avian ear.  And fine wisps of hair standing visibly.

The chick was not left alone for too long before a parent arrived with food.

Crying for food even before its feed could be digested, and this pattern was to be seen for the next two hours, ie. being fed, crying for another one immediately after.

When left alone again, the hungry chick managed to haul itself up to call out.

This round, it was simply fascinating to see how the chick did not even turn round to be fed, instead merely reaching out its beak backward, and not get choked!

Obviously the feed was insufficient and the parent had to leave in search again.

When one returned, not sure if it's the same one, it was without food but it turned out this one was seen to do some preening on the chick.

My attention was diverted and I missed the changing of guards.
When I next zoomed in, this parent was seen with a fruit this time for the chick.

Naturally when there was input there would be output!

And the feeding went on and one, one parent leaving only when the other flew in to replace.

The most interesting was when a parent returned with a huge worm, and I thought it would be a struggle for the chick to take that one in.

Again that awkward reach, at least it seemed to me.

Hardly a problem I guessed!

Was that a look of reprimand for asking for another so promptly?!

Well, unfortunately this tale got to stop here when the parent took off leaving the chick alone and it was not seen to clamour any more for a feed, for the rest of the duration I was there.

Nevertheless, just as it was fascinating to watch the chick's behaviour it was too with the parents'. Both Oriole parents were indeed seen ceaselessly rotating duty to feed the young one.

And one would always be around for the young one - 'manja' moments I called these.

Young Oriole 'bares' it

Whilst wandering around hoping for an interesting avian encounter, I had to be contented with this sub-adult Black-naped Oriole preening itself.  Entertaining nevertheless!
Preening time is indeed the best time to view any bird as it will afford some amusing antics and intimate perspective.