Coppersmith@work

I was under an old durian tree when  i heard a soft knocking sound. Looking up and thinking it should be a woodpecker, i was surprised to see a coppersmith barbet excavating a hole in the durian tree.

Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala)

Looks like the males are the ones making the nest while the females lay the eggs. This bird was not calling but was actually panting - probably exhausted or lack of oxygen in the hole.

After returning to the durian tree two hours later the bird was still seen busy with his 'work' but it was no longer around the tree the following morning. The inner tree trunk was probably too hard and thick to excavate.



Red-Whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus)

I was observing some yellow-vented bulbuls in my hometown recently when i heard a familiar call. When i look up i saw a bird which is more often seen in the cage rather than outside on a coconut tree.

Red-Whiskered Bulbul



 Despite been skittish and wary of my presence, the bird could still been an escaped caged bird.

It was nevertheless an enjoyfull sight to see the bird singing from outside a cage.



Kuala Muda Mudflats - Nov 2012

I went to the same mudflats again to see whether there are different birds in November. I started in the afternoon and here are some of the birds seen:

Collared Kingfisher - with a meal

A Great Egret, an Intermediate Egret and a Little Egret foraging together on the mudflats.

A juve Brahminy Kite (left) chasing away a juve Osprey (right)

Tired been chased around, the juve Osprey landed not too far away.

  

The juve Brahminy continued to patrol his territory.

Common Sandpiper

Not satisfied with the photo qualities and curious about more birds led me to return to this mudflat in the following morning.

 Some of the birds were still far away. These are Little Egrets foraging on the opposite bank. Its feets are black due to the mud.

A Great Egret swallowing a big fish

Hard to tell whether this fellow is a little egret or an intermediate. A good topic for a prolong debate.

A mean-full stare from a Little Heron.

On the way back, we stopped at a small patch of paddy field.

A Pond Heron (unidentified)

Another unidentified Pond Heron

This fellow is most likely a Little Egret - it has a slight pinkish color at its lower mandible.

So the conclusion is that morning is still the best time for birding.