May 2016

May saw us back from New Zealand and into our normal ‘routine’. Helen resumed her English teaching and the pub quiz participation also re-started. The weather had been very hot and dry for the first three or four month underwent a dramatic change and now we have a lot of dull sultry weather with rain at night. I usually walk around 6.15am so I can see the sunrise....the last few days it has been rather gloomy.

On the family front; Nikki received a couple of very good reviews for her MSc thesis and Dani showed a talent when being interviewed on their local radio station.

We have been trying to consolidate our pub quiz team and we followed a 5^th and two 4ths with a 2nd placing last week.

On the photographic front it has again been quite quiet. My Kingfisher pair that provided many opportunities earlier in the year have now lost contact with the chicks that fledged and were supported for several weeks until quite independent. The adults were checking out another nesting site several times but precedent suggested they would not raise another brood this year. 

This left the main action shots to be provide by the Blue-throated Bee-eaters. Their numbers are also rather reduced this year and their action is intermittent at best. They dig a nest hole, mate and lay eggs. The incubation takes 28 days so there is an inactive period followed by feeding of the chicks in the nest for a further 28 days. The nest-feeding has just started so I hope to get some action shots in the next few weeks are cargo is ferried to the nests. The last few weeks have been quiet although other birds are around and I even had two wild boar on my last visit. Bee-eaters bond with their partners and there are several occasions where gifts are exchanged but they can also be quite fierce in protecting their territory…..I witnessed …and recorded quite an aggressive fight between two protagonists.

and this one was worth a red card

The Bee-eaters are just starting to provide tossing shots as they bring in larger prey for the chicks.

At Air Hitam Dalam the Ruddy Kingfisher have made an appearance as well as the Blue-winged Pitta and a Buffy Fish Owl.

 I located a nest for a Lineated Barbet but you would have to be a 12 foot contortionist to get any decent shots. I amuse myself shooting light playing on vegetation or monkeys being mischievous when there is no bird action.

I usually get a couple of requests for images from various people during a month. Most of the requests are for academic pursuits therefore the images are provided for free. A recent request was for an image of a Prevost's Squirrel taken in Taman Negara a few years back.

I also have a number of images deposited at a German Photo Agency specialising in birds. I get the occasional payment for images sold.

The family celebrated two birthdays during the month...in fact days apart. Helen was followed two days later by our little 'hamster' we welcomed home just under 4 years ago.

The recent rain has done the garden a lot of good. We had to do a lot of watering for the first 3 months to keep everything viable. It has paid off as the rains have done the watering for us. We have added a bit more colour recently along our wall with the neighbour...and replayed some scruffy plants that always seem to be struggling. We note it is always best to plant renown local plants that thrive in very hot sun.

My main motivation for staying with the Bee-eaters and Kingfishers is not only thoroughly understand them but these subjects provide opportunities, given the cooperation of the weather, for action shots. You need high speeds, understanding of the subject and a smidgen of patience for these.