The Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis) or Murai Kampung in Malay is a small bird with distinctive black and white markings. As they perched or hopped around foraging for food, their tail is held upright. They carry a good tune and because of this are sometimes kept as cage birds.
hopping down on to the ledge of a long planter box.
From here it continued to survey the surroundings and when it thought the coast was clear, proceeded to ...
take the plunge towards ...
a pot nearby.
It sat among the leaves of the Ruellia Elegans with eyes still intent.
It sat among the leaves of the Ruellia Elegans with eyes still intent.
It next hopped to a second flower pot containing a Dieffenbachia.
It cranied its neck all round to check out its new surroundings ...
before it takes a breather.
Then very quickly, it flew to yet another pot containing Portulaca grandiflora
and Alocasia macroorrhizos (Elephant Ears/Giant Taro)
Among this more verdant surroundings it seems to have found its niche and settled down for quite a while, looking very serene.
A close-up of a deep pink Portulaca grandiflora.
A pleasing cascading effect is achieved by planting it inside the rim of a tall container.
One day I spotted these feathers under a tree where the grass grew sparsely. There was strong evidence of violence. I do not know the fate of this unfortunate magpie. However, efforts at forensic investigation strongly indicated that culpable homicide had taken place.
Oh dear, it looks like a sad end for a lovely bird. Your magpie seems so much nicer than those here, which eat eggs and baby birds, and make a horrible ratcheting noise!
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that among all of your beautiful tropical plants you have a Ruellia. We have one of those in our garden. Here it loses its leaves for the winter, and has just formed new buds that will hopefully burst into leaf in the next few days, once the frosts have subsided.
I really have no idea concerning the cannibalistic traits of the local magpies. As you can see from my photos, it appeared quite benign. Strangely, I've always thought that the Ruellia is a tropical plant as it seems to thrive here.
DeleteHi Stiletto :)
ReplyDeleteIt's good to be back in your garden! Another bird story huh? The tree outside my bedroom window is a home for many birds! Can't see them but they sing beautifully. I can't tell who is who..LOL!!
How come you know so much about birds? That poor bird. Was it a cat or dog who ate it? Any forensic findings on this?
I have the same portulaca like yours but it stopped flowering. Don't know why, probably pests :(
Hi Ash, I'm sorry that you have about enough of my bird stories, but I've several others in draft form. The birds in my garden are competing to sing their two cents worth, so just like you, I can't identify them from the tunes. Its impossible not to know anything about the birds as there are so many of them visiting.
DeleteA dose of fertiliser and bright sunshine are the push for the Portulaca to start blooming.
Hey! Don't get me wrong. I love your posts about birds. I'm impressed actually that you knew so much about them. Haha..two cents worth?!! Poor fellas, lol!
DeleteThey can't make it to American Idol, that's why they come to our garden :D
Their presence in my garden is most welcome as they bring so much life and vitality to it. I promise that my next post would not be on birds ;)
DeleteNow I feel bad :(
DeleteHappy Easter !
ReplyDeleteBonne semaine!!
xxx Maria xxx
A belated Happy Easter to you to. Too bad I can't show you some bird eggs.
DeleteTo smutne, że ptaki padają ofiar innych zwierząt. Taka jest natura i nic na to nie poradzimy. Uwielbiam bugenwille. Pozdrawiam serdecznie.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that birds fall victim to other animals. Such is the nature and there's nothing you can do about it. I love bougainvilleas. Yours sincerely.
Yes, its the cycle of life and survivor of the fittest.
DeletePoor Magpie! It's such a beautiful bird and magpies are quite smart too. Anyway, I wish you happy Easter.
ReplyDeleteHi Satu, Easter blessings for you. Magpies look like they are very alert and sensitive of their surroundings, yet one fell prey to some predator.
DeleteI love your photo's of the bird they are beautiful. Great it wanted to model for you.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day Stilleto
Thank you Marijke. Birds are never willing models. I took the photos with long lens and hidden from view.
DeleteGreat post on the Magpie Robin, a bird I discover thanks to your gorgeous images!
ReplyDeleteWell done Stiletto and more happy birding!
Thanks Noushka. Your anniversary photos are truly great and inspirational.
DeleteAh, that's a sad ending. We have two magpies (the larger ones) building a nest in our garden at the moment. Plenty of other birds feeding, but the magpies seem to have put an end to others nest building in the garden.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know magpies can be so territorial and intolerant. However I've not seen signs of agression from them. Probably the local magpies are more benign.
DeleteBeautiful photos
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie!
DeleteThat happens here once-in-a while. We have a few of them here, in fact a pair always roost at the wire near the roof with lots of evidences every morning near the laundry area. They've been there many years but i don't know whether they already changed occupants. I love their many songs, and my niece even knows how to mimic them. Our 'love songs' when they are kids we copied from magpie-robin's songs: "ticorrt-ticorrt" reply is: kakahkahkah! They also love to go down the ground, and our cats were our usual culprits.
ReplyDeleteThe evidence of their stay sounds rather dodgy but their songs must make up for the mess they make as you have tolerated them for so many years. I see that you are very much in touch with Nature and its delightful feathered fauna.
DeleteGreat pics! Your "culpable homicide" bit made me laugh...as I am a lawyer (and gardener)!
ReplyDeleteOh, oh, next time I must be careful with my choice of words or terms. I didn't know there are lawyers on the prowl around gardening blogs. Anyway I appreciate that you can see the humour in this particular context.
DeleteSuch a pretty bird, sadly the cats do away with a few birds in my yard but they also do away with the rodents. I have put a bell on a cat but it made no difference.
ReplyDeleteYou thought it was a cat while I kept thinking that it was an eagle. Now that you mentioned it, I always see some cats loitering around.
Delete