Of Bulbul, Butterflies and Goats

Stripe-throated Bulbul was very cooperative that late afternoon. Singing away whilst perched and this was not a performance to be missed. According to Wikipedia, the word Bulbul derives from Hindi (बुलबुल) or Persian or Arabic (بلبل), meaning Nightingale, but in English, Bulbul refers to Passerine birds of a different family, the Pycnonotidae.  It would be quite easy to see the association with the Nightingale, since this Stripe-throated Bulbul had very melodious songs. An even more melodious bulbul that shares a darker fate than this Stripe-throated, is the Straw-headed Bulbul, which is listed as a Critically Endangered species by the IUCN. One of the Straw-headed Bulbul images, is published in Oriental Bird Club website HERE. The Straw-headed bulbul species was once abundant in the National Parks of Pahang, easily heard and seen but sadly this is not the case for the past few years. Beautiful pair of butterflies, fluttering all over the flowers of this plant in Hulu Selangor. The minute I sat down, one butterfly alighted on flowers and appeared to start feeding on nectar. It looks like a Swallowtail Butterfly species, and there are 18,000 species of butterflies found worldwide (except in Antartica). Swallowtail species are sadly being traded in the black market. World Swallowtail Day is celebrated online through the World Land Trust website HERE. The Great Mormon species featured in 75 cents stamp of Malaysia is published in website. It is described as occurring in 13 subspecies in different countries within South Asian and Southeast Asian region.No wonder Robert Frost described butterflies so poetically as "Flowers that fly and all but sing"Hulu Yam, the old town was worth a stop whilst I was on my way to Kuala Kubu Bahru, Selangor. The uncle selling the cakes, noodles and fried vermicelli was quite difficult to spot that day. If only his stall had a bright signboard across emblazoned with the words "UNCLE'S ULU YAM CAKES & NOODLES", I'd bet no one would miss it:)  I like the pandan-flavoured mochi, Ma Lai Kor (Steamed Brown Sugar Cakes) that he sells. Hulu Yam has a rustic old town charm to it. A herd of goats were grazing on the football field just behind a row of shophouses.  Amongst the hilly backdrop, this herd of goats was just missing the bells tied around their neck.Healthy-looking goats, with very little fur. Look to be well-adapted to hot, humid weather of a tropical country like Malaysia. Seeing this herd in Ulu Yam reminds me of the Jamnapari goat breed, which were being raised in a farm down south in Johor that my family last visited in UK Agro Farm in Kluang, Johor.