Upon completion of the big project that I was working, I finally had the chance to make up for neglecting the two things that I love most in life - birding and my wife. So I decided to have an overnight stay at this locality to please the two of them (and myself too). We stayed at the Colmar Tropicale resort as I thought the architecture and the atmosphere will go well with my wife. The resort was quite impressive in real life.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVARNuij54-y4mF03uqGWB3zPd9ycahAUZm6wGRzOkp4jDB3_NdXzAkKt_7gZj1UIhZ9YaeW8UyZswZ4xZo3D4b4M4VM4wMpR8kpRVHUQ3-vd0phdZVaWPwTBmGdy0fQHNdHPH_X06Ejg/s320/resort+%282%29.jpg)
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The view from our room did not disappoint us as well...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKY1j6MoA4v8CvZnwFc8omMbzmPFktLbmTS3UUXLpKRVCiSWb9L4JbZoNbDd74EjW4fUcKuYCPBqZgjRuepaATZoIMjEki9iOtup-WYcYwyYsOiIzBQQFIARZZOLSvxKd5vpqnkEMq_Q/s320/resort+%281%29.jpg)
On the first day, we decided to spend time here at this French theme resort. We came to a watch tower at the far end of the resort and to my surprise, it had an elevator. Well, that's a first for me.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8T2paUQTIDovyu9yfSThrLnfj76j5g_aY3SLeItnD6asvdoz-UP4Lez7bEeKnGtdRYHAJUXRBe0Dy7f-Ut8yVao4T3u0UyhczyCpEjKuO6GULc7LPBkEdRrffoRQaygbdav3B7-hjJtU/s320/d+lift.jpg)
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Up at the tower, I had a pleasant surprise in the form of an adult Rufous-bellied Eagle. The striking raptor alighted on a dead tree overlooking the golf course. Unfortunately, it was a little far for my liking but beggars can't be choosers.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9PdQyBzNIrZjidSBZ-Q3CD6GALu1ZQLyUlniAeXkzsBqhdGfxLufMPln-FE0EAXx45HLStCnj49ge4un9BmjElZKqwrkKhlVsznRMrTwCHQbwa0C5Msl83WBiQt20RmTDrhh9oonIbk/s320/DSC_0024bRufousbellied2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOOz9UMgTRpDvHp-5vhzK0bUa-9OrepErMb3TKTsODT0qJ2VaZKpvBx0mtBZ3Glh5y2Bhoxp-STwlHQgjXZwFw0ELBOFaKAm7e7TTvCci980PQD4VTKhk3jbsIWC7HAS-ycXVHosz5o8/s320/DSC_0024bRufousbellied.jpg)
A majestic Black Eagle was seen soaring above the resort but it was again too far to get any detailed shots.
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At the front portion of the resort, there was a draw bridge. The resident Glossy Swiflets decided to built a nesting colony there.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwV6um7tfNfkEZFKY6a3GLyRk14PJn0b38cAVaQ5zcvhtxQp0b1a7sj7D8qe6nZ0809HygfQeq64GKqA2PHZwvgCDCe1dnQPnptfIBhr5AvdO9icBlD7RWjn4t4EHUPEq26jBHO1EVV8/s320/GlossySwiftletDSC_0153B.jpg)
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And a pair of Black Swans on the other.
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My wife naturally took a liking to these graceful birds.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrj6759p_NXw1Dej51bIiFAcIxutngfhCoZ9cb5Z6y_J084XptcAh0bUf8gO6v69mNuL-NIScEj2saWBakpASpsO5Oc3YM6J6oA9SPbwDt4SmLSY86V6YTfb4sJzv1btuNoVxRAyOuAQ/s320/swan+dear.jpg)
Although this trip was more of a casual birding trip, I did managed to capture a few of the resident birds in the resort compound like this female Oriental Magpie Robin...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrznRZOzz_gARLJ5X_lZEDJRsRc4tmgRlcezea_v2YAAc_S4kGRfQ50wokWokLJCZVwRlEk5_CAymd8Xy5g90g9zkt-yJvO-J4TGZiLM2jA2bftFrhqSqYjYD_Zm3Oe31ndn5FtfT_cRs/s320/OMagpierobinDSC_0162b.jpg)
Attending to her chick...
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The Eurasian Tree-sparrows were foraging around the cafes and restaurant for left-overs.
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There was also a troop of Dusky Leaf-monkeys foraging near the pool side and they were rather confiding and bold.
At night, the resort really comes to life with the lights and band performances...![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXF7YeJtp3o5Y1RcSYOQoFnUPMiVBoMvT__9VpD7bDIjdbzg6N0_qAdhg3hfO5-aQE1rdUjkdSl3GTzPgXUmm-1s4Q5gJwnC3wYFOo0cgIr1UWMVHAE1xUWsPHR3GJsF7ygiF6hCnh9PQ/s320/resort+%285%29.jpg)
The next morning, we went up to the Japanese Garden and this is where most birders will go. However, I did not have much luck here. My wife, on the other hand, had a great time.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94vu4Ctd1Yr5iiBvPmkAxFnzcMQ_QQXfiS8h7Uf2n09jai9b7n08YIYYX43tlVucPHhOPxQTBvDaYU8Evm_-QRS4vZtj1MtXbrb-K0oYxPStrDQ4dSlQdmlwPB4ASLWch3p5WZf-gHpQ/s320/jap+garden+%282%29.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tF_Cni65mJDBuPnUkIi2VyaIAOrJ9YsgcP4Qry-7Vo1hP9jsQ483q74T57EUbpN0ADq5c3BkQvVLxbuzcKsSaXX1nVnPgh53aOeEc6v9yqgQLm3oZtdnb7aP6TS3VvGkQKoFWBz5JHY/s320/jap+garden+%281%29.jpg)
A Malaysian birder looking rather lost in a japanese garden...
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I did managed to capture a decent shot of a foraging male Orange-bellied Flowerpecker...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-g3KhFaJmfVuwRlmHMl9ubVffXE0hloHqZgG-S1_oUAe1XsfP9wpAivTYbN3IKJqpuS6ZNevC8T7u-hBm2ClAzl-OQAfNx-arMIwY6AvtgxcPCbhw9cH_eQaZYP2ANGwLNGSnGDbLk0A/s320/ObflowerDSC_0202b.jpg)
And a Oriental Honey-buzzard in flight.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2T_cslbhrHiL5z_fMV1ALFX1udIo7uiLLD33mrbKoGZfFCQ2DOcl_obo52QUUt0wEcsCBJzUBlVFiR1ZwfPdk3C9UAXmD7kip0z7kdlyeXD8hSIDayVoYfmK0KVUKtBfXS02zDOF-mlI/s320/HoneybuzzardDSC_0176b.jpg)