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

“I have witnessed Javan Mynas (Acridotheres javanicus) fighting on a few occasions but have not managed to put them on record due to various reasons. Either the fight ended when the mynas were disturbed or I was simply without a camera. Then, on 24th July 2010, I finally managed to capture a few images and a short video of the action.

“I was passing by a town park when a noisy ruckus of scolding calls, recognised as from mynas, was heard. True enough, two pairs of Javan Mynas were having a fight on a grass patch some distance away (above and below). Quickly, I whipped out my camera and approached nearer. The mynas were engrossed in their dispute and ignored me as they continued while I started shooting. To better capture the ruckus and flowing action, I decided to switch to video mode. While recording in video mode, the fight ended abruptly when all four mynas suddenly froze and flew away within a second.

“Previous fights that I saw included a one-on-one fight where I was surprised to see a pair of mynas lying, almost motionless, on their sides in a school field. Approaching closer, I saw that they were entangled; with claws clutching to each other in a sort of a lock. Amazingly, no vocalisation was heard on that occasion. It was only later that I realised that they were having a fight when they remained locked together for a long time and were tugging and flapping their wings occasionally.

“Another fight that I witnessed involved probably ten birds with lots of chasing and pecking. They were making a ruckus with plenty of angry scolding calls. As this happened in a busy bus interchange, a few curious commuters gathered to investigate the noise. The mynas were oblivious to the crowd and continued with their fight. Their furious fight started from ground level and continued as they flew onto the roof of the bus interchange.

“Having witnessed a few fights involving Javan Mynas, I believe that such fights are common. Is fighting amongst birds common?”

Kwong Wai Chong
Singapore
15th August 2010

“It is not only the Spotted Dove that can show care and affection to its mate. I was up in Malaysia’s Frasers’ Hill recently and managed to make a short clip on the Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush, now known as Spectacled Laughingthrush (Rhinocichla mitrata), doing the same thing. They were perching so close to each other, that an atmosphere of love and tenderness seems to exude from the pair. Preening each other, preening themselves in such a satisfied manner.”

KC Tsang
Singapore
17th August 2010

Allopreening in a pair of White-crested Laughingthrushes (Garrulax leucolophus) can be seen HERE.

“The Scaly-Breasted Bulbul (Pycnonotus squamatus webberi) is arguably one of our most beautiful bulbuls. I have always observed it as part of a mixed foraging party at a fruiting ficus in primary jungle. In the past I have usually seen it alone.

“On this occasion saw a pair of adults, assumed breeding pair, who moved around together. I have seldom heard it call and on this occasion heard it twice only (it was choice of documenting feeding or waiting for a call, tough choice). It was a sharp “wit”.

“The pair foraged closely together, seldom more than 1-2 meters apart. They did not use calls to keep in touch. Even when I approached the tree at 4-5 meters distance there were no warning calls uttered.

“It is usually shy but on this occasion allowed me extended views and I saw many feeding episodes. It came to feed on the Ficus villosa fruit (above), but after a short time moved over to an adjacent fruiting tree with small berries where it spent a long time feeding (right).

“Unsure of the name of the tree – it is 3.5-4 meters tall, has small light green berries which turn purple when ripe. Many other bulbuls also like these berries including the Spectacled Bulbul (P. erythropthalmos), the Red-eyed Bulbul (P. brunneus) and the Cream-vented Bulbul (P. simplex simplex).”

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Kledang-Sayong Forest Reserve
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
15th June 2010

Red Data Status: Near threatened.