Never more confiding Hornbill

The iconic Oriental Pied Hornbill of the taman is one bird I cannot walk by without a shot, or more.  It was late evening and I was heading home when I spied it sitting low.  And it was so confiding this time, or more in a world of its own without nary a concern that I was approaching, clicking away and even when I was just feet away.

This was how un-self-conscious it was, tending to itself even as I was clicking away.

A smart-looking one whichever way one looked at it.

 

Eventually it simply flew right past me to a neighbouring tree before it shot off out of sight.

Hornbill gone pensive

Indecisive?  Disturbed?  ... the reaction of the Oriental Pied Hornbill as the adjacent temple bell clanged steadily.

What would I give to peek into the thoughts of this winged one as it looked contemplative?!

Free feeding

They came, big and small.  After all it's free for all.

juvy oriole

juvy

Dear old Hornbill

Going through an August album, I came across these images of the Oriental Pied Hornbill, and I have no hesitation posting these as the OPH is and will always be the star bird in this taman.
    On this occasion I remembered how it allowed me to approach it within yards, that I could admire its eye-lashes!

Then it flew around, as if posing for shots.

An unusual visit from the Hornbill

It was rather unusual to see the Oriental Pied Hornbill at this fruit tree, certainly not her kind of fruits.  And true enough she did sniff around, found that the fruits were certainly not to her liking, flew off very soon after.  However, it was not before her presence caused some alarm to the smaller birds which were already here, going by the cries around.
     I can only be grateful that once again, she gave me ample opportunities to admire her, from so many angles!

So good to be back

It's so good to be back after being away for about two weeks, to walk the taman again.  The usual tweeting and chirping could be heard although it was more difficult to sight the owners.
     Ahh, this is a taman like no other!  If I could put words into their tweetings, I would, and I certainly would (more of this to come later!).
     What could be better than to be greeted by the star resident of the taman which was seeking shelter from the still blazing sun.

     It was a late afternoon walk in the taman, not much seemed to have changed except for a couple of trees brought down by a recent thunderstorm.  
     Further down, another resident was busy drinking from a hole in a tree, so the Common Flameback Woodpecker had made a timely appearance.

The banks of the stream that flowed by the taman are truly cleared now, as it was in the process before I left.  Not a single fish can be seen, and because it was so cleared of undergrowth and any human presence could be easily detected, no winged fellas were seen except for across the stream, an adult Stripe-throated Bulbul and its juvenile, probably because its nest must be close by.  It was great nevertheless as it was the first time I had seen a juvy of this Bulbul.

Sub-adult

OPH and its twists

Always a pleasure to encounter this fella, the Oriental Pied Hornbill, especially when it's preening.