Red-wattled Lapwing

肉垂麦鸡

My friend showed me where the eggs were, which I otherwise would not be able to find them. Right on the ground of an open field, with some weeds around them, the eggs with speckles on the shells, were surrounded with little stones which served as excellent camouflage for the eggs.

This is another good example of some birds using the strategy of what I called “the most dangerous place is the safest place” to protect the eggs. It works.

(Photos of eggs taken in Feb 2016. Birds taken Jun 2016, Kubang Semang)

Red-wattled lapwing eggs with speckles on the shells, were surrounded with little stones which served as excellent camouflage for the eggs

Red-wattled lapwing eggs. This is another good example of some bird species using the strategy of what I called “the most dangerous place is the safest place” to protect the eggs. It works.

Portrait of a red-wattled lapwing. The red wattle is clearly seen running between the nose and the eye.

Red-wattled lapwing

Red-wattled Lapwing

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Blue-throated Bee-eater

Blue-throated Bee-eater 蓝喉蜂虎 Blue-throated bee-eaters can often be found sitting on the perch in pairs or small groups. While scanning for flying preys or for other purposes, their heads are often found moving together, in synchronization, at the same time, in the same direction . (June 2016) The bee-eaters eat more diverse species of flying insects than its name suggests. They include dragonflies, moths, flies, flying ants, carpenter bees etc. After catching the insects in the bill, they often bang the preys on the branch they perch to injure and break them further before swallowing them. They may toss the preys into the air before catching them for further manipulation and or swallowing. (June 2016, Kubang Semang)

Streaked Spiderhunter

Streaked Spiderhunter 纹背捕蛛鸟 ( 俗名芭蕉鸟 ) In our young and early days, when we encountered a low banana flower bud at the end of a banana bunch cluster, we sometimes would pluck the finger-liked flowers, open its cover to sip a drop of clear crystalline nectar adhering deep inside at the base of the flower. It tasted as sweet and concentrated as honey. The older brownish looking flowers tasted even sweeter. Here in the early morning on top of Fraser’s Hill, we saw one of those targets the nectar is actually created for. An olive yellow streaked spiderhunter clipping on the flower bud with its sharp claws, was feeding on the syrup with a long-curved beak specially adapted for this purpose, a very satisfying and pleasing scenes to me. (8/5/2016, Fraser’s Hill)

Pitta

Blue-winged Pitta 马来八色鸫 Although easy for some, photographing this bird has been elusive for me for a year or more, and today, it just came out to the open. When it appeared, it was mostly on the ground or low branches. My friend said that it was quite likely having some chicks to feed, as such it was more willing to take risk looking for worms. Chinese named it 马来八色鸫, translated as "Malayan Eight-colored Pitta". I counted the colors, but I only got seven. Colors are subjective qualities. But few would argue much if we state that it is a colorful and beautiful bird. (29th Apr 2016 Air Hitam Dalam)

Feathers

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