Olive-backed Sunbird on Lantana Camara

Olive-backed Sunbirds are frequently seen on my Lantana camara shrubs. They are ingenious in the way they collect nectar from the flowers. Being small-bodied, light and possessing a long, narrow, curved beak helps.

This sunbird alights on a slender stalk ...


and insert its curved beak into a tiny flower.


It then flips up to approach a flower facing upwards.


See how its fine beak can be inserted into the teeny weeny florets.



These globular heads are left behind when all the flowers drop.


 

Lantana flowers non-stop and add dashes of colour to the garden where ever the seeds disperse and take root.



This variety has touches of pink.

In this variety of orange-yellow florets, the buds first appear pink.

Red Hornet on Lantana Camara

The colourful flowers of Lantana camara are always top favourites with insects.


The flowers after the evening shower 


and under bright sunshine.


This hornet visited each and every floral inflorescence in the bush whether ample or ...

with scant flowers.

It was very meticulous in its collection of nectar. Each and every flower was picked through.



Even these denuded heads were not spared the inspection.

Leaves were also checked through.

Tibouchina granulosa - Senduduk

The name refers to the grainy, granular texture of the leaves. This shrub can be found growing wild but thrives well under cultivation. It blooms frequently.

 Each blossom is five-petaled and about 2" wide. 

 The petals are delicate and is a deep rose-violet to deep purple 

 in color.  

The flowers are borne in erect terminal panicles.

The stamens are gnarled and are a favourite of pollen-collecting bees

  Flowering panicles at branch tips can completely cover the tree with rich, velvet-like blossoms.


The dark green leaves are elliptic in shape and pubescent.

 

New growth is covered in a reddish bronze felt. 

Aphids having a field day on the flower buds.

 

Grasshoppers have a field day too.

Tibouchina granulosa and a silver tribal neck accessory.

An Orange-eating Bulbul

The Yellow-vented Bulbuls eats berries and small fruits. They also sip nectar, nibble on young shoots, and take some insects.

I saw this Yellow Vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier) on a branch of the casuarina tree and decided to lure it closer to me for some near shots. 


Taking a leaf from a post by lronglim, I planted a sliced mandarin orange on the wall. It soon flew down and did not waste anytime indulging itself.

I placed the other half on the ground, but what appeared was a monitor lizard skink (as pointed out by Ang 1, thanks).

It ran off when I approached with my intruding lens.


 

 
Having satiated its apetite, the Bulbul flew up to a post to enjoy the view of the garden without any fear of predators.

Hibiscus-seeking Bulbuls

Yellow Vented Bulbuls (Pycnonotus goiavier) love to visit Hibiscus plants, to partake of its sweet offerings or merely to perch and chill out.


To access the sweet nectar, the Bulbul will perch on the stem just behind the flower stalk. It then insert its beak into the base of the flower and drink long and hard.

  A red Hibiscus rosa sinensis from a bush in my garden.

When satiated, they like to perch on its stems and branches to soak in the filtered sunlight.

They often hang out in pairs. Male and females birds are  similiar in plumage.

Most of the time it is really easy to spot them as I have many Hibiscus plants. 


This bush was propagated from a cutting.


Its flowers point upwards while ... 

the flowers of this species (our national flower) point downwards.