Rufous Wooodpecker

I guess it's a case of mistaken entrance, and hasty retreat, naturally.

The Rufous Woodpecker flew suddenly into the residence compound, a most unnatural appearance, and fortunately, and unfortunately, just afforded enough time for a record image.

 

Much missed woodpecker

 When it's missed, any form of re-appearance will do.

So it is with the Rufous Woodpecker that has not been sighted, for too long, in the taman till now, briefly, before it flew towards the residential condo, uncharacteristically for one that's not a garden bird.

Much missed woodpecker

The Rufous Woodpecker (Micropternus brachyurus) seemed to have disappeared from familiar haunts since a pair put on a dazzling display with two healthy offsprings a couple of years ago, so much so that many more bird photographers sprung forth following that.

With this encounter, brief though it was, it's very much like catching up with an old acquaintance, much longed for, much missed for too long.

This lone male halted me in my track with its soft throaty calls, unusual for a woodpecker.  Thinking it was calling for another, I waited but none appeared and it moved on.

It didn't look like it was set on foraging as it quickly hopped off.

With its impressive plumage, it's easily one of my fave woodpeckers, yet the more stunning despite being partially blocked.

As I was passing by

 

Nature at camouflage play until a playback revealed the presence of the almost stationary Rufous Woodpecker against the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo.

Another woodpecker success story, Part II/II

 It was as usual regurgitation of food to feed their young till fledging for the Rufous Woodpeckers, as it is with any woodpecker.  It also looked like frequency of feeding was in the early morning and late afternoon, and in between, the chicks could sometimes be left unfed for as many as five hours.

It was observed that the parent need not enter the nest to feed the chicks which are about seven days old; a theory being that perhaps the nest was shallow so the still vulnerable chick could climb almost to the entrance to be fed.

At 11 days old, showing impatience to be fed.

At 15 days old, the chicks were seen healthy and upright.

At 18 days the chicks could be heard to call out noisily when any parent approached.

At 20 days old, two robust chicks displayed signs that they could fledge at any time.  The chicks would frequently approach the hole entrance awaiting the parents' return.

Feeding was mainly at the entrance and it looked like the parent only entered the nest to conduct housekeeping. 

At 23 days old, simply waiting to fledge, and they did two days later.

It was observed that this was the first time the dominant chick thrust its head out for feed from the male parent, an indication too that it was expected to fledge soon.

It also looked like the chicks took turns to be fed.

This looked like the weaker sibling, as it continued to be fed at the hole entrance.

It was reported that, as expected, the stronger juvenile flew out straight and away from the nest whilst the younger one did appear to falter when it finally emerged from the nest but regained strength to carry on under the watchful eye of a parent.

Another woodpecker success story, Part I/II

The recent success story of the Rufous Woodpecker (Micropternus brachyurus) family was heartwarming in view of the daily and intense attention it had to deal with.

It is hoped that this chapter will contribute to perpetuate the woodpecker population in the bukit.  

Both Bukit Kiara and TRK are certainly unique in that birders have been able to have, and still have, the rare treat of getting up close with the different species of woodpeckers found in these two parks. 

It was already into the first week of the first Movement Control Order (MCO) of the year when I received news of a pair of Rufous Woodpeckers building nest.  Fortunately the quiet site due to the park being closed augured well for the birds that had decided to build just along the roadside.

When I visited the spot for the first time, the pair was indeed seen to frequent their choice rotten tree, taking turns to excavate the cavity nest.

Just about five days later when the female was seen to enter the nest and not emerged for hours, it can be deduced that it's egg laying period.

The sign of chick or chicks came when a parent was seen to emerge with a fecal sac.

And by deduction it looked like egg laying and incubation period for the rufous woodpeckers was more than 25 days.

At approximately seven days old the chick could be seen near the hole entrance.

At this point it still couldn't be confirmed if there were one or two chicks.

At approximately 11 days old, the chick had grown tiny feathers.

At 15 days old, a pretty alert chick.

And sighting of a sibling chick.

About 18 days old now, visibly moulting.

20 days old, developing nice rufous colour, and snoozing at the entrance.  However, it was also possible to discern the stronger one.

23 days old and expected to fledge any time now which they did two days later, within hours of each other. 

And so, another chapter closed.

Recall the crimson-winged woodpeckers's nesting, this story was perhaps less imaginative because of the nature of the cavity nest whereby feeding of nestlings and fledglings, and housekeeping behaviours were clearly observed.

An interesting look at a couple of fecal sac sizes, which seemed to suggest the digestive capability of the chicks.

One of approximately a seven-day-old chick.

Of  an eight-day-old's.

Of an 11-day-old's.

Of an 18-day-old's.

Of a 23-day-old's.