A Nesting Spotted Dove

The Spotted Doves (Spilopelia chinensis) often nest in my garden. They are quite bold and are not too shy of human presence. 

I took a ladder and clambered to the top to take this photo. This one sat serenely atop its nest and simply ignored my intrusion. 


I was actually very close to it. The bird was merely inches away from my lens.

These were her two precious eggs - pristine white.

This is how the Spotted Dove accessed its nest, its tail a tell-tale sign of its domestic activities.


This is the Juniperus chinensis where the nest was lodged.

Bauhenia kockiana vine tends to be invasive. I kept it under control with constant pruning and shaping.

Nearby is this elegant casuarina tree is around twenty years old. Birds of all varieties love to perch on its branches.

Alocasia macroorrhizos - Giant Elephant Ears

Alocasia macroorrhizos, (Upright Elephant Ears, Giant Taro, Wild Taro) is a stunning plant that can be found growing by roadsides and in jungles, more often next to jungle streams.  Its should be watered well especially in hot weather and as the plant grows larger. However, too much water will rot the tuber. To avoid this, well draining soil is imperative. 

When planted in the ground and fed regularly with organic fertilisers, it will easily grow up to ten feet high.  If grown in a container, it will not reach its full potential, unless the pot is very large. Over time, it will develop a tree-like stem. Offsets (plantlets) are produced from mature plants. These baby Alocasias can then be easily transplanted.

 

It can be planted in either sun or in shade. The plants here grow in full sun together with the Bougainvilleas.

A leaf bud unfurled over about three to four days from ... 

 
... the stalks of older leaves.
 

When the leaf first make its way out, it is held stiffly upwards, with prominent veining on the underside of the leaves. The large emerald green leaves are glossy and can measure up to three feet long.  

Over time, the leaves bend over.


On the underside of the large leaves, insects abound.
A pair of ladybugs huddled together for some coziness.


Close-ups of the playful pair.

I was curious about a whitish film until I saw this many legged arachnid and immediately identified as a tiny spider.

This is the elaborate web strung up by this little fella to trap unsuspecting and unfortunates critters.

 
Tiny larvae moving away from the nest to make it on their own.



The young spathe standing tall and erect in its sheath.




An autumnal-looking leaf is a sure sign that it had reached its golden years 

 

 
An elegant looking fly with a blue iridescent coat was deeply attracted to the golden colouring.

Colourful Sun-nourished Bougainvilleas

Bougainvilleas are sun worshippers and are some of the most colourful plants around. The array of colours is diverse while many cultivars come with variegated leaves which enhance its appeal.

 

The colourful 'flowers' are actually bracts while the tiny flowers in the centre are generally pale cream to yellow

Bougainvillea 'Golden Glow' 

 

Ocher-yellow bracts

 

Orange bracts

This Bougainvillea' Mrs Eva' exhibits a non-foliage day.

 

Soft pink bracts with variegated leaves.

Bougainvillea 'Barbara Karst'

 

Yellow Vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier) on a branch of Bougainvillea 'Raspberry ice'

Pure white bracts.

White bracts with variegated leaves. The lavender bracts are from the original stock plant.

 

Tasha

A golden dragonfly  turned up on the trimmed-off ends of a bougainvillea stem. It stayed on this stem the whole day. It flew off when it rained, only to return to the same stem as soon as the showers ended.

As I went snapping away, it turned around in disdain to give me a traditional 'Kiwi insult' by showing me his full posterior. It's an utterly rude shot but I simply can't let this pass.

An issue featuring Bougainvillea, called Bunga Kertas in Malay (paper flower) from the postal department.

I Spotted A 'Spotted Dove'

Spotted doves (Spilopelia chinensis) are known as Tekukur in Malay. They are easy to recognise from the 'white spots on black' patch found on their nape. Their colours are shades of pink-browns with dashes of black on the wings and tails. The lower belly and underside of the tail is light cream in colour. Its presence in the garden is often accompanied by a pleasant crooning.

I spotted this one sitting sedately on ... 
 
a branch of the casuarina tree.

Soon the serene look was broken as it started to preen. It pecked the upper thorax region ...

before it turned to do its back.

Next, it did the left 'armpit' under the wing.

In between, there's time for a pause and some reflection. 


 
Then its time to move away to another spot for some diversion.

After settling on its new niche on this section of the branch, it then cast a bird's eye view on the activities far below this tall tree.

It now focused on the right 'armpit' that was missed out in the earlier preening session.

To indicate the end of preening, a flapping of the wings was executed with flourish.

It then did an about-turn and begin to ...

stride up the branch, back to its original niche.

This is the tall casuarina tree with its multitude branches that are ideal for the birds to perch on - for rest, respite from the heat and safe from predators.

Bougainvillea 'golden glow'

My 'pluck and plonk' floral arrangement - Bougainvillea 'golden glow' with bougies of other hues.