Birding In Labuan Island

27th - 30th October 2011

My last visit to this island was in 1999 with friend after high school and I remembered there were not many cars on the road than now. More shops lining up along the waterfront and the best thing is, the island still retain its cleanliness :)

The purpose of my visit was to check interesting migratory birds especially for vagrant species as found by Chris Kehoe recently at Pulau Tiga the Forest Wagtail. I was hoping to get lifers for this trip but unfortunately luck was not on my side, but I did enjoy the beauty of these Duty Free Island with cheap liquors and cigarettes plus mouth-watering chocolates !

Stayed at Global Hotel right in the middle of the town and from my room at 4th Floor, I could see small patch of mudflat from the Patau-Patau water village. Saw Chinese Egret and Greater Sand Plover together with Pacific Golden Plover and Whimbrel.

Then I move to one of the beach near University Malaysia Sabah and got a pair of Malaysian Sand Plover with few Kentish Plover and Common Sandpiper. The beach was nice though for swimming !

Tips from friend who used to work at the island mentioned about the resident Oriental Darter at the Botanical Garden which I saw and digiscoped but it was still far to get good shot across the river bank. Waited for the Stork-billed Kingfisher on its favorite perched, but no luck too.

List of birds seen and heard :

• Rufous Night Heron
• Little Heron
• Purple Heron
• Little Egret
• Intermediate Egret
• Great Egret
• Cattle Egret
• Chinese Egret
• Pacific Reef Egret
• Oriental Darter
• White-bellied Fish Eagle
• Brahminy Kite
• White-breasted Waterhen
• Kentish Plover
• Lesser Sand Plover
• Greater Sand Plover
• Malaysian Plover
• Pacific Golden Plover
• Whimbrel
• Grey-tailed Tattler
• Common Sandpiper
• Whiskered Tern
• Spotted Dove
• Zebra Dove
• Rock Pigeon
  
• Pink-necked Green Pigeon
• Asian Palm Swift
• House Swift
• Glossy Swiftlet
• Blue-eared Kingfisher (Heard)
• Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker (Heard)
• Barn Swallow
• Pacific Swallow
• Yellow-vented Bulbul
• Glossy Starling
• Oriental Magpie Robin
• Olive-backed Sunbird
• Eurasian Tree Sparrow
• Black-headed Munia

Digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope EDG85, 30x eyepiece with Nikon P7000

Car Ferry at Menumbok Jetty about 2 hours drive south from Kota Kinabalu. Then another 1 hours 30 minutes on the ferry itself to Labuan Island. More info about Labuan Island http://www.labuantourism.gov.my/

Rock Pigeon !

Oriental Darter

Patau-Patau Water Village

Views from the hotel

I will be back in March next year for the Marine Park to check if seabirds and waders is around before the end of the migratory season in April.

Happy birding !

2nd Borneo Bird Festival 2010

15th - 17th October 2010

Another successful event organized by Sabah Tourism Board, Sabah Forestry Department, Sabah Society and Borneo Bird Club recently at the world famous site for Bornean Bristlehead, the Rainforest Disovery Centre, Sandakan, Sabah.

Pictures credit Jollence Lee :)

Borneo Bird Club members

Nikon Malaysia is one of the main supporting corporate ind developing birding and digiscoping activities in Sabah under Sandakan Foto.

Judges for Bird Race

Kids testing the demo unit of scopes at Nikon booth

Bornean Bristlehead just above Borneo Bird Club booth !

Winning images for the 2nd Bird Photography & Digiscoping Competition

Checking images

One of the speaker, Prof. Sheldon

Birding along the canopy walkway

Digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope EDG85 via Nikon FSA-L2 DSLR Photo Adapter on Nikon D300s

 

Crimson Sunbird

Prevost's Squirrel

 

Crested Serpent Eagle

 

Rufous-collared Kingfisher

 

Ruddy Kingfisher

 

Red Giant Flying Squirrel

Nikon & Borneo Bird Festival Roadshow 2010

9th - 10th October 2010

Roadshow at Giant Hypermarket, Mile 5, Sandakan to promote new product from Nikon Malaysia by Sandakan Foto, Nikon D3100 and P7000 plus for the coming 2nd Borneo Bird Festival scheduled from the 15th - 17th October 2010 at Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sandakan, Sabah.

The roadshow was well received by shoppers mostly kids for bird tattoo and face painting done by Sepilok Junior Ranger. Souvenirs from Kadai Ku also on sale that time, pictures exhibitions showcasing the beauty of Sabah by members from Borneo Bird Club and many more.

Pictures taken with Nikon D3100 and Nikon P7000

Bird tattoo

Checking videos of Brahminy Kite perched on a death tree next to Giant !




Photo for memory




At Nikon Booth on 2nd Day










Batik Painting




Exterior view of the booth




Digiscoping demo for customers










Demo unit of binoculars and scopes with cameras by Sandakan Foto

Talk by Jollence in capturing Star Trail images

See you all at the 2nd Borneo Bird Festival !

Asian Bird Fair, Davao, Philippines 2010

23th - 26th September 2010

The first Asian Bird Fair held at Davao city recently attended by 47 exhibitors both local and foreign bird clubs etc at Insular Waterfront Hotel. The purposed of the fair is to promote birdwatching activites around Asian countries at the same time creating awareness about birds via Bird Fairs.

The 2nd Asian Bird Fair will be held at Taiwan next year. Hope to see you all there.

The famous Jeepney at Manila

Very interesting electric cables setup :)

Buses for delegates decorated with 1st Asian Bird Fair 2010 logo

Volunteers on briefing for the next day opening ceremony

Melanie :)

Testing the Nikon Fieldscope EDG85 via Nikon FSA-L2 DSLR Photo Adapter on their Nikon DSLR

Exhibition of wild birds of the Philippines by Bird Photography Club, Philippines

With traditional costumes for the opening dinner ceremony by the Mayor of Davao

Me & Bob Kaufman

Delegates from Balanga City, Bataan where my Mum was born !

Key people in creating the Asian Bird Fair

John inviting guests to the 2nd Borneo Bird Festival from the 15th - 17th October 2010 at Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sepilok, Sandakan

Cocktail at Garden Eden Resort

Watching the moon and stars

Great people, great place ! I will sure be back for the Philippine Eagle !