Did it or did it not

 In view of the height of the tree and nest, and that the nest has been reused more than once, it was expected that the chick would grow safely to fledgling, providing some delightful moments of its movements and growth. 

First sightings - tiny, white, active, alert, sharp, ability to sense being watched even from a distance, possibly at least 2 weeks old at this stage.

7 days later, ie 3 weeks old.

Another 7 days later, 4 weeks old.

12 days later, almost 6 weeks old.

7 days later, 7 weeks old.  

By comparison of past nesting report, this one looked terribly small for a 7 week-old.

The female parent as usual was keeping a close watch over it, and constantly calling out to her mate, for feeding or perhaps watch rotation.

I returned after being away for more than 10 days, hurried to the nest, full of anticipation as the chick should be almost 9 weeks old now, possibly playing outside its nest.  

However, all I found was an empty nest, and distant calls, perhaps of the adults, perhaps the juvenile (which were difficult to discern without sighting) in the vicinity.

Past reported sightings recorded a CHE juvenile taking flights around its nest and close-by at 9-10 weeks.

But it was not so for this one.

All in all, I've had almost 2 months to observe this chick.  

So did it survive, did it fledge whilst I was away, are still questions on my mind as I've still not sighted the juvenile even after repeated visits to the nest for more than a month now after my last sighting.

Unmistakable and predictable

Unmistakable size, unmistakable colour, unmistakable and predictable haunt, berry fruits diet of the Orange-bellied Flowerpecker.

 

Commonly heard, commonly tireless

 Commonly vocal, occasionally, briefly halts ....

The other beauties

 

Banded Yeoman (Cirrochroa orissa)

Tropical Swallowtail Moth (Lyssa zampa)

Man's envy

 Capturing deftness of these big ones as they manoeuvre through denseness, silently, neatly, fleetly.

The Changeable Hawk-Eagle taking off ....

'Myna' worry, nayy

 The taman could proudly claim to have hosted umpteenth broods of Lineated Barbets over the years.

And the following are already familiar sights to one and all, both human and avian beings - feeding, clearing of the young's discharge, leaving the young behind as the parents go forage for food.  

And it looked like the parents certainly had no qualms leaving their young alone behind following feeding.

However, much later I was drawn towards the urgent and anxious distinct trills and calls of both parents perched close to the nest.

And then the reason was there for all to witness.

A raid by a very bold Common Myna that played no heed to the desperate calls of the Barbet parents.

And then strangely, the parents decided to leave in the midst of this raid, but I started to feel rather anxious now, as there were no cries from inside the nest to suggest the well-being of the young ones.

Suddenly, the Myna paused in its act, to scramble away.

It was a most speedy entry for the Barbet as it headed straight into the nest, and then, what a relief, I could hear then the young's characteristic clamouring.

The parent finally popped its head out, to leave again (not a graceful exit though!).

I guess it takes one avian to recognise the behaviour of another, and know that there was no imminent danger in the first place.  After all this pair of Lineated Barbets are surely not first time parents.