Woodpecker stories...

During the rainy season I didn't see many Woodpeckers in the forest but now it looks like they are everywhere and they seem to be having a busy time, I guess, like other birds, there is or will be new babies soon to be fed, so there is no time to waste...yes, the days are sunny now and there is food to eat in the rainforest!

Lately, when taking a stroll on my usual path at RDC, I bumped into this cute, speedy Buff-rumped Woodpecker couple ( 15cm) pecking vigorously into a hollow tree trunk...building a home maybe?

And just half-an hour later a very loud  and large (42 cm) White-bellied Woodpecker female arrived, again, starting vigorously (with stronger but slower movements) pecking into a tree trunk giving me that "mind your own business" look...Ok, just a couple of photos and I'm gone, friend!

 

 

 

As soon as I turned my back to this determined Woodpecker, I could hear a tapping sound -but no big bird around! - just this tiny ( 10 cm), but fierce Rufous Piculet-male pecking into some smaller twigs and vines for insects...such beautiful iridescent colors of green and golden-orange.  It's somehow a mysterious little Woodpecker...apparently,  an Iban omen bird.

 

 

 

 

 

Just maybe a few weeks ago, rainy season nearly gone, this mid-sized (27cm), colorful Checker-throated Woodpecker was busy pecking around all day. Only later afternoon I could see her finally disappear into the home nest for a well-deserved rest.

 

 

 

 

 

Soon, after her disappearance, this little (14cm), active Grey-and-buff Woodpecker made its way for some insects from the tree trunk.

 

 

 

 

 

...and much earlier, same day and nearby, this Rufous Woodpecker (21cm) was having after-breakfast rest in the shade of a lower tree branch keeping an eye on her mate still looking for that extra snack nearby.

 

 

 

 

 

...and as usual, ignoring me totally, the Buff-necked Woodpecker (21cm) was occupied with ants on the tree bark.

 

 

 

 

 

Must be just last week when this Maroon Woodpecker appeared on the roadside making its presence clearly heard for all - an omen call of the Dayaks, they say.  One day this week, actually, I could hear this loud chattering sound in the morning thinking first it must be a sound of a big bird...instead, this mid-sized (23cm) bird appeared in front of me.

 

 

 

Still so many Woodpecker species around...

 

Time to pack my photographing instruments and call the driver; my restless soul yearns back to the rainforest.

 

Enjoy,

 

Paula Camilleri

 

 

" Picking the food..."

Some birds are meat-eaters, some vegetarians - or occasional meat-eaters...just like us.

One pleasantly sunny day in the rainforest at RDC, when just strolling around in the need of some fresh air, like always, carrying my dear camera and tripod "in a case something comes up" I met this little Spiderhunter sipping nectar of a wild banana flower.

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing my walk down the silent road I bumped into my old friend, very hungry and noisy Purple-naped Sunbird feeding on some Ginger pollen, insects and berries for the lunch.  As usual, it seemed to be in a hurry, disappearing into the forest as soon as it had emerged.

The forest was fruiting and the trees were full of birds of different kinds...

This cheerful Bulbul was eating berries, taking time, clearly too much good food to be left behind.

While sitting down on a bench to have my very own, well-earned lunch-break, this fierce Crimson Sunbird male emerged in front of me, apparently, just fallen in love with this beautiful flowering Calliandra tergemina shrub - pretty much of the same crimson color- moving fast, up-and-down and -around and then disappearing into the forest again, leaving me stunned.

Not far away, near the forest edge and close to the entrance of RDC, this iridescent Brown-throated Sunbird male was indulging some flower nectar.  It seemed to be in a hurry as well; maybe there will be rain?

Just when it was time to leave back home, I had to stop to admire this lovely Asian Fairy Bluebird couple enjoying some freshly snatched figs on the road side.  Soon I was accompanied with some other nature-loving visitors.  Time, as always, seems to stop in the rainforest...

Another great day in the rainforest!

Enjoy,

Paula Camilleri






Paula Camilleri