Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)

15th December 2009

It was a bit late when I arrived at Penampang paddy field for the Great Bittern yesterday. Denis and Karim with 2 other friends has been there since in the morning. Sky was a bit dark too and decided to check if any Sand Martin around as I have seen this species at Kota Belud and Tuaran district last time.

And yes ! There were a single Sand Martin perched on the electric cable mixing together with the Pacific and Barn Swallow hehehe. No Great Bittern for me but a lifer for the gang :)

Other key species seen here:

• Common Kestrel
• Great Bittern
  
• Buff-banded Rail
• Slaty-breasted Rail
• Ruddy-breasted Crake
• Watercock
  
• Dunlin
• Temminck's Stint
• Black Drongo
• Black-collared Starling

Record shots and digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, FSA-L1 adapter and D300s.

Penampang paddy field.

Rare winter visitor and only in small number seen in Sabah.

Good comparison between Sand Martin and Barn Swallow and the latter is a common winter visitor arriving in big numbers.

Barn Swallow.

Wood Sandpiper.

As a celebration for the new lifer, I was treated with free lunch hahaha :p and happy birding folks !

Aleutian Tern In Flight Mode

18th November 2009

Correction - This is a Whiskered Tern instead of Aleutian Tern corrected by Chris Kehoe :) Thanks a lot my friend hehehe :o

New record for Sabah, first seen on the 11th September 2009 between Sipadan and Mabul Island on the East Coast and photographed by my friend, Wong Tsu Shi. And recently after recovered from my fever, spent few hours around the fish market and at the Waterfront and managed to grabbed few in flight shots of this pretty looking bird mixing with Whiskered and White-winged Tern.

Taken with Nikon D300s and 70-200 2.8 VR lens. Cropped 50% and processed with Capture NX2.

Dark trailing edges to under wing secondaries is the main ID for this bird.

Aleutian Tern (Onychoprion aleuticus) in non-breeding plumage.

Happy birding folks hehehe :)

Borneo Bird Festival At Sabah, Malaysia

10th - 15th October 2009

Was a great success due to joint-efforts between the State government through Sabah Tourism Board, a well known NGO- Malaysian Nature Society, Birdlife International and two local bodies, The Sabah Society and Borneo Bird Club together with the volunteers. Visitors came and enjoyed the talks by experts about birds and the rain forest at Rainforest Discovery Centre during the 5 days event.

Some of the shots taken during the festival with courtesy from Jollence Lee as the official photographer during the event.

Equipments : Nikon cameras and lenses.

Cede Prudente

Setting up the booths.

Arleene (middle) from Sabah Tourism Board and Susan Shahira and Norkatah of Sri Pelancongan Sabah.

Official videographer, Raymond recording some of the pictures on display at Nikon booth.

Tired birder's function !

Comparing the new bird books by Susan Myers and Quentin Phillipps.

Tee from Nikon Malaysia explaining about the usage of binocular.

Chien looking through his gear for something ?

With the author of Birds Of Borneo, Susan Myers together from left to right, Salam, Cede, Hamit, myself, John B., Alphon and Andy.

Susan, Tee and Cede after testing the new Nikon EDG 85 scope.

Nikon booth displaying latest gears for birding and digiscoping and display of photos taken with the gears.

Dan Fiel.

The Honourable Datuk Masidi Manjun, Minister of Tourism at Nikon booth.

Testing the Nikon Fieldscope ED82 with D5000.

VIP Guests at the Borneo Bird Festival launch.

Sabah Society booth selling caps, key chains, t-shirt and etc.

Books on sale at Keruing Cafe.

Susan Myers with Datuk Masidi Manjun.

Press at work.

Lovely staff from Rainforest Discovery Centre.



Future birders at one of the nature trail.

Colouring contest for kids.

Resting for the next talks.


Quentin Phillipps.


Andrew Siani.


The famous Mr. Durai representing Fraser's Hill Park from West Malaysia.

Cede saw the Bornean Bristlehead !

Dr. Robert Ong presenting bird books to me and Cede after the talk about Birdwatching In Sabah.

Morning walk at Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary.

With Mr. Kitajima, assistant general manger for Nikon Vision Japan during the morning walk.

Yes we found the Raffles Malkoha :)

Tee with his favorite shooting position hahaha !


Looking at Long-tailed Parakeet.



Time to shoot !

Breakfast time !

Mr. Kitajima, Assistant General Manager from Nikon Vision, Japan, Irene from Sandakan Foto and Tee.


Noredah, Halimah and Josephine with Zulkifli Mohammed from Tourism Malaysia KL.


I cannot remember what was the discussion about with Noredah hehehe.


Geoff Davidson.

Jollence is the man !

Maps, Noredah and Josephine.


Waiting for the Red Giant Flying Squirrel and it appeared from its roosting tree hole around 6pm.


Denis checking his video of the Flying Squirrel.

From left to right, Dan, John B, John Prudente, Kenneth and Thrope.


Borneo Bird Club booth.


With Irene at the lake.

Sketching session.


Prize giving ceremony for the Bird Photography competition.


Ben Duncan.

Alphonsus aka The Beastmaster.

Last morning walk at Rainforest Discovery Centre.

Staff from Borneo Nature Tours.

Bird guides.

Dr. Robert Ong at the closing ceremony.

See you on the next Borneo Bird Festival :)