Baby Sunbird

During lunchtime on 1 February 2013, I happened to be back home when I heard a persistent chirping of a sunbird. I thought one had perched itself somewhere on our balcony and was desperately trying to attract attention. Each time I parted the curtains in an effort to locate it, the chirping would stop, only to resume a little later.

Eventually, I noticed that the chirping seemed to be coming from within the living room. After some careful searching, I found a baby olive-backed sunbird hiding in the television cabinet.

I tried using a cloth rag to try to gently move it away but it then landed into one of the children's toybox. Then, it flew to the balcony and perched itself just under the railing. It appeared to be fledging. After some hopping around, it dropped off the balcony. Hopefully it managed to fly.

All the best to you, little birdy!


[The baby sunbird in the television cabinet]


[In the toybox]


[The baby sunbird on the balcony]


[Another shot of the baby sunbird]

MY Garden Birdwatch 2012

On 2 June 2012, between 9.00am and 9.30am, the boys and I did a count of garden birds for MY Garden Birdwatch 2012. We positioned ourselves at the shaded carpark area of our apartment overlooking a fruit orchard.

Here's what we counted:

• 1 yellow-vented bulbul
  
• 1 Asian koel
  
• 1 black-naped oriole
  
• 1 spotted dove
  
• 1 house crow
  
• 2 olive-backed sunbirds
  

We also spotted 2 rock pigeons, 2 Eurasian tree sparrows, and some Pacific swallows but these were not included in the count because they were either spotted at another location or they were seen flying overhead (these were the rules of the count, among others).

It was educational for the boys, and they were already familiar with some of the birds. They are especially fond of the koels as there are quite a few around our apartment and their calls are distinct and loud!

Here are some photos of the birds we spotted that morning:

[Olive-backed sunbird, female]


[Olive-backed sunbird, male]


[Spotted dove]


[Asian koel, male]


[Yellow-vented bulbul]

Birthday Birding

I was recently on leave on my birthday and decided that I would go birding. I headed to USM's Bird Valley (behind the Chancellory building, next to the School of Social Sciences). Was not very successful here... only managed to take a photo of a golden orb weaver spider.


[Golden orb weaver spider (likely a Nephila pilipes)]

I then headed to the circular road surrounding the School of Pharmacy. Had better shots here.


[White-throated kingfisher keeping an eye on a dragonfly]


[Olive-backed sunbird]


[Another shot of the olive-backed sunbird]


[Yellow-vented bulbul]

Some months ago, I caught this olive-backed sunbird on our apartment balcony.


[Olive-backed sunbird on balcony railing]

A Morning at the Arboretum

Last Friday morning saw me indulging in some photography at the arboretum behind the School of Pharmacy in Universiti Sains Malaysia.


[Pied Fantail]


[Pied Fantail: Showing off its "fan" and its vent]


[White-breasted Waterhen (or Burung Ruak Ruak in Malay)]


[Black-naped Oriole]


[Black-naped Oriole in flight]


[A stuck moth: This moth was flapping its wings in the water]


[Dragonflies mating]


[Dragonflies mating: From another angle]

Briefly Botanic

I managed to swing by the Botanic Gardens on 27 March 2009. The main objective was to indulge in some photography.


[Dusky leaf monkey (spectacled langur): mother with baby]


[A pair of yellow-vented bulbuls]


[Another shot of the yellow-vented bulbul]


[Greater racket-tailed drongo]

Alas, as soon as my shutter finger was just warming up, it started to drizzle. I preservered with the help of an umbrella but the weather got the upper hand as the drizzle soon turned into a downpour. Then, I left... dejected.

I drove home and baked a cake :o).

Matters of the Heart in KL

We were in KL from 31 August until 5 September 2006. We tended to various matters - visiting loved ones, learning new bus routes, attended concerts, shopping, photography, attended a work-related course, and matters of the heart...


[Twin Towers from the National Heart Institute]


[Twin Towers from the KLCC Park]


[Twin Towers reflections]


[Asian Glossy Starling: Birdie at the KLCC park]