Birding, Bali??

Birding at Bali?? Few years back the answer is no but situation are changing. One significant improvements will be the missing of cage bird trade from the market. Few years ago, wild birds are openly sold at market despite the ban.

I was at Bali last week and my guide told me that wild birds trade in market have been banned and no longer allowed. This explained why I couldn't find any stall that use to sell all kinds of wild birds in the market. With this improvements, the wild birds population will sure to increase.

However, while I was on the way to Mt Batur from Ubud for birding, I saw this small shop that still sell wild birds! Not sure the owner obtain the necessary approval.
Saw this Pied Bushchat at Mt Batur.

Spotted dove was very common and can be seen even in the hotel that we stayed.
Another common bird in the garden, Olive-backed sunbird.


Scaly-breasted munia is also very common and saw lots of nestling too.
Yellow-vented bulbul

Sooty-headed bulbul

Java munia

At Petulu, lots of cattle egret and herons are nestling.
Red junglefowl is also very common in remote area.

According to the villagers that I spoke to, cock fighting is history now. The fighting cock is now only as their pet.

With the enforcement from the Authority, Bali is sure on the way to become another birding area.

Ghost Shrimps Vs Brittle Star

Thalasssinidean (Ghost) shrimps are burrowers, they construct branching burrows in muddy and sandy sediments or living in crevices under rocks and corals. This burrowing behavior makes them an important part of the marine environment.

During feeding and burrow construction, their constant movement helps mixing and transportation of particles and gases. The presence of burrows ultimately increases the oxygen content of the sediment leading to a healthier system.

Ghost shrimp maintain their burrow all the times.
They sometimes just wait in their burrow for the unlucky prey that make a wrong step. This Brittle star step on the wrong place and was immediately grab by the ghost shrimp.
The Ghost shrimp trying to pull the whole Brittle star into his burrow.

Just before the whole Brittle star got dragged into the burrow, the Brittle Star detach the arm that was grabbed by the ghost shrimp and escape The Ghost shrimp is back at the burrow entrance waiting for another unlucky prey after.

Brittle star that lost their arm can generate new arms and this have help them to escape from predators.

Monkey Business on a rainy day

It has been raining since early morning and stay drizzle throughout the day. The rain are here to stay so I took my camera and set off to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
Perhaps is cold out there, I saw two long-tailed macaque behave like a couple deeply in love on a roof of a bungalow. They starts by kissing and follow by doing it in the rain!

The male just grab the female and turn in over to face the front and...


Looks like the population of the Long-tailed Macaque set to grow again!