Birding With Ornitholidays Group

6th - 17th October 2013

The day started at Mt. Kinabalu for few nights and upon arrival, saw the Whitehead's Spiderhunter through the scope at the same time the Sunda Cuckoo-Shrike were next to it, and only a brief view of few the fast moving Bare-headed Laughingthrush while it was drizzling along the Power Station road.

Unfortunately, bad weather continued until the 8th because of the typhoons from China and Korea, causing missing some of the common species at Mt. Kinabalu such as Bornean Forktail and Chestnut-crested Yuhina. Birds were quiet as well at Poring Hot Spring while looking for the Rafflesia flower.

On the 9th, good weather greeted everyone at the mountain and started the walk from Power Station down to Silau-Silau Trail. Along the way, managed to get the Golden-naped Barbet, nesting Pale-faced Bulbul, several Fruithunter and Mountain Blackeye.

Images were taken with Swarovski STX 95 + TLS APO + Nikon V1 and Nikon D300s + 300mm 2.8 VR II + TC1.4x

Indigo Flycatcher

White-crowned Shama

 Whitehead's Broadbill, one of the must see birds for visiting birdwatcher to Sabah

Unexpected bonus of Collared Owlet during daytime, a rare bird in North Borneo

 

Short flight to Sandakan on the 10th then took a van to Gomantong Cave. Saw few Bat Hawk chasing the bats near sunset also a pair of Rhinoceros Hornbill flew quite low then perched at one of the tree next to the office. While at Kinabatangan River, missed the Helmeted and White-crowned Hornbill. The response from Oriental Bay Owl one evening get things excited but after a while, it flew back deeper to the forest.

Close up view of Wallace's Hawk Eagle at Gomantong Cave

Pacific Swallow 

Purple Heron

More than 10 pair of Rhinoceros Hornbill were seen coming in and out from these fruiting Fig tree together with the Long-tailed Macaque

At Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Danum Valley, some of the highlights were, Blue-headed Pitta, Bornean Banded Pitta and Black & Crimson Pitta seen along the access road. Giant Pitta was responding to my playback on the last evening but too far to get a view.

At one morning, while looking at the Yellow-eared Spiderhunter near the Canopy Walkway, Paul heard the Bornean Ground Cuckoo calling from the nearby hill. But after waited for 30 minutes, it went quiet and replaced by a pair of Asian Paradise Flycatcher just above my head.

Little Spiderhunter on top of the wild Ginger flower

My best images of this bird so far! Black & Yellow Broadbill 

Marie were taking picture of the Pill Milipede

Very wet Whiskered Treeswift taken in front of the restaurant at Danum Valley

 Yellow-bellied Bulbul

Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher

The elusive Bornean Bristlehead near the Canopy Walkway

 

 Another endemic for North Borneo, Black-headed Pitta

Yellow-eared Spiderhunter seen feeding the seed from Alocasia that grows along the access road

The trip ended with a single Paddyfield's Pipit seen at Lahad Datu Airport after the downpour.

I will be away to Sandakan for the International Borneo Seven Rugby match next week. More info at https://www.facebook.com/borneo.eagles

Happy birding!


This post is Supported by Sandakan Foto: