Date: 11/01/2010
Time start: 1:10pm
Time end: 4:10pm
Weather: Sunny
Location: Prince George’s Park, Kent Ridge NUS (Spot X – 6)
Observations: No feeding noted
Within the 1st half an hour of the session, bulbuls could be seen flying back and forth from the Melastoma patch to the tree that’s right opposite. When destination was the Melastoma, the birds seemed to prefer the spacey gaps inside the patch. They were seen to perch, for approximately (give or take) 5 minutes before taking off. And no feeding attempts could be seen.
It was sunny right up till about a quarter past 2 when the cotton candy-like clouds started rolling in. That provided a little relief from the scorching heat of the sun. I have always met the sun head-on. Sunblock? Nah, no thanks. Well that was until today. Say no more, it’s lesson learned – the hard way. Skin peeling due to dead skin – not a problem. What made me go purchase a bottle of SPF30 is the heat rash – that has got to go. Seriously, it’s worse than the mozzies on a sunny Semakau day. >_<
But this got me wondering, do birds and their feeding activity get affected by the heat? Yes, they do feel the heat and they way they rid themselves of it is very much like man’s best friend (sans tongue-lolling). Anyway, that will come in a later post.
So while observing the bush, I noticed (if I am not mistaken, it’s a couple of them) some hopping within the patch. I was right. The binoculars confirmed the rufous head and the olive upper body of the Common Tailorbird (Orthotomus sutorius). A few minutes after it showed 2:30, the sun was out back again. At 3:15, the sun-hide n’ cloud-seek ensued once more before a slight drizzle occurred 5 minutes after.
Another avian which I got to see real up close was the White-Throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis). And here’s why (see last picture at the bottom): 
The kingfisher was one very skittish animal. Not even 3 meters away from it, the bird looked my way before taking to higher branches a moment later. But this were the closest I have gotten to a kingfisher to get a relatively clear, sharp shot before it decided my presence was becoming rather unnerving.
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* Additional notes:
Bird calls heard from 1 – 4pm.
1) tchip-tchip
- the calls sounded like it was made with the mouth pursed; very thick-sounding
2) tzi-uit tzi-wit; tzwit-tzwit-tzi-wit
- the first 2 calls were 2 secs apart from each other; calls were sharp, thin and the entire repertoire lasted at least 5 minutes.
3) chonk-choink-choink-choink-choink @ chu･nk-chu･nk;
tchink-tchink-tchink-tchink-tchink
- the “chonks” and the “tchink” were heard together.
4) chut-chutchutchutchut (also chu(n)k-chu(n)k)
- a long series of calls (5- 15 times) respectively
5) chiu chiu chiu
- White-eyes?
6) hee-yuh hee-yuh
- Hill Myna was heard on the 2nd hour after noon.
7) kyaih kyaih kyeeh
- this I am (probably) certain that it was made by the Black-naped Orioles.
8) prill prilll prilll prill prilll
9) And here’s the call of a Brahminy Kite that sounds very much like the crying of a toddler.. creepy… clip
