Sunda Pygmy Woodpeckers (Dendrocopus moluccensis) were seen by Steven Chong in October 2010 flying around the trees in front of his residential area at Bukit Batok, Singapore. At times there were three to five birds on the trunk of the Pometia pinnata, chipping away at the scaly bark, no doubt foraging for insects (below left, centre).

The woodpeckers were foraging on the trunk of the several trees that were around the area. However, in early August the birds were seen around the branches high up the trees (above right). This was probably because there were people around.

1. “I was with Elena who spotted the Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) with her sharp eyes in the front garden. Elena stood fascinated, looking on intently at the bird. We could not identify whether it was a centipede or a millipede in its mouth. Upon clarification, it turned out that the Oriental Magpie Robin had a centipede in its mouth. A wonderful friend of mine, Shawn Lum, commented, ‘The Magpie Robin has a centipede in its mouth – you can tell this because each segment of its body has one pair of legs (millipedes have two pairs of legs per segment). It’s amazing how the bird has grabbed the centipede by the head (can you see the centipede’s ‘fangs’ – its mouth parts, actually protruding just beyond the bird’s beak?), and thus cannot be bitten by the centipede. That’s really cool!’ Elena was ever so thrilled as this was one of her first birding experiences. I could not have spotted this bird if it wasn’t for Elena Goh’s razor sharp eyes.”

2. “While sitting in the garden one day, I heard this rather unusual noise and suddenly, this bird flew past me. I could not identify what it was but I was surprised to see it land and calmly perch itself on a tree. Amazingly, it was so well camouflaged with its surroundings that it was close to impossible to spot unless someone looked very carefully. It turned out to be a green parakeet. Its feathers were beautiful shades of green and its beak, a lovely orange shade. It was truly intriguing to see it sitting on the tree as though it was specially posing and inviting me to take a photograph of it. I am so lucky -beautiful birds in my backyard.”

Georgina Tanya Sandhu-Chin
Singapore
20th August 2010

“It had been a long tiring walk up hill and I was on my way down. I had one scare with some humans who were not pleasant and I thought I might get robbed (one of the perils of bird watching alone in the jungle). Suddenly the air was filled with the strident warning calls of the Dark-necked Tailorbirds (Orthotomus atrogularis atrogularis).

“As I have alluded to before, this is the friendliest tailorbird I know. After a brief period of adjustment to each other on the trail, the two adults (above: male left in full breeding plumage, female right) accepted my presence and continued foraging and feeding their two juveniles (below: notice the chestnut is just beginning to appear in this juvenile, but not the other). The parents split up (usual behaviour) and each took care of the feeding of one juvenile. They were about 3-7 meters apart most of the time and kept in constant contact with calls.

“None of the pictures I post here can describe their beauty and the experience that I have had many times with Dark-necked Tailorbirds. They often allow ‘naked-eye’ viewing at 1-2 meters and cameras/lenses just do not work!

“The male was the braver of the two and the juvenile with him, possibly because the parent was not afraid, allowed me close observation. The male would occasionally pop his head out to check on me and occasionally even seemed to show me a prize he had captured for the juvenile – usually a catterpillar.

“We spent a pleasant half hour together but unfortunately I had to move on downhill. This family really made my day and renewed hope in me.”

Two calls are posted: One is the juvenile soft mewing for food (I have amplified this call) HERE. The second call is by the adult male, of two different calls and a response by adult female HERE, they used these to keep in touch as they foraged and fed a juvenile each.

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Keledang Sayong Forest Reserve 400-500m ASL
Perak, Malaysia
27th May 2010

“It was at Yala National Park, Sri Lanka, that we observed how a Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala) caught its prey. As the bird waded along, it used its feet to feel the ground, or was it using its feet to disturb its prey on the ground and under the water.

“As one can see, the bird is not able to see anything under the water so it must be feeling around for the prey. And or it must have very sensitive sensors in its bill to detect its prey. Whether it is detecting very faint electrical pluses emanating from the prey, at the moment we don’t know. And how is it that the bird is able to clam onto its prey with such ease and accuracy is really fascinating to witness.”
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KC Tsang
Singapore
8th August 2010

“Tambun is a small town on the outskirts of Ipoh that has, in the past 10 years, been engulfed by the city. Now considered a suburban area with large properties and garden.

“Came across this sprawling Ficus benjamina that was fruiting extensively. Full of ‘common’ birds feeding together. There was some minor conflict, but generally enough food to keep everyone busy.

“I have grouped the birds seen over a two hour period into three groups as below:

“Birds seen feeding on Ficus benjamina ‘fruits’:
1. Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans): 4-6 (2-3 pairs) (above left).
2. Black-naped Oriole (Oriolus chinensis maculates): 10-12, 2-3 were juvenile feeding independently (above centre).
3. Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis strigata): a flock (more like a swarm) (above right).
4. Yellow Vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier analis): 6-8 (mostly adult pairs) (below left).
5. Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala indica): 4-5, 3 were juvenile feeding independently (below centre).
6. Lineated Barbet (Megalaima lineata hodgsoni): one pair.
7. Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius madoci) feeding on fallen ‘fruits’ – they forage on the ground and do not seem to pick ‘fruits’ off the tree.

“Birds suspected to feeding on Ficus benjamina ‘fruits’:
1. Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis tristis): one pair, seen checking out ‘fruits’ in tree, actual feeding not seen (above right).
2. Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica): one adult noted in tree but not seen feeding, flew off soon after I came.
3. Peaceful Dove (Geopelia striata) – seen picking on old ‘fruits’ that had dropped on to the pavement below (below left).

“Birds using the Ficus benjamina ‘fruits’ feeding frenzy to get other animal prey:
1. Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia horizoptera) – one pair foraging for caterpillars (above centre).
2. Pied Triller (Lalage nigra striga) – one male foraging for animal prey (above right).”

[The above images show the Coppersmith Barbet's feeding behaviour - pecking off a piece from a fig and then taking the remainder between its mandibles to squash it before swallowing.]

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Tambun, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
16th May 2010