Birding with Harry and Nenita

9th - 13th October 2016

Spent a few days at Sepilok and Kinabatangan River for endemics of Borneo before they continued to Tabin Wildlife Reserve. Species list was around 180 by the time they left Tabin. Currently they are at Mt Kinabalu for more birds with friends.

Key species seen:

• Storm's Stork
• Grey-headed Fish Eagle
• Japanese Sparrowhawk
• Chestnut-winged Cuckoo
• Blyth's Frogmouth
• Rufous-collared Kingfisher
• White-bellied Woodpecker
• Blue-headed Pitta
• Giant Pitta
• Bornean Bristlehead

Images taken with Nikon and Swarovski Optik gears. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 

Wallace's Hawk-Eagle

Mouth of Simud Hitam Cave at Gomantong

 

 Waiting for the Bornean Bristlehead at Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), Sepilok

Saw the Black & Crimson Pitta at the bottom of the at RDC

Black-winged Flycatcher-Shrike

 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

Morning cruise at Menanggul tributary, Kinabatangan River

 

Bornean Bristlehead in the morning at Kinabatangan River

 The biggest White-bellied Woodpecker in Sabah 

Fellow bird guide Hazwan with his clients on the way to Tenegang 

Happy birding!

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BIMP-EAGA Birding Workshop

31st August - 2nd September 2016

Participants from Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan under the initiative of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) to discuss the current issues related with birding and also to seek out solutions. Dr. Ron, Cede Prudente, CK Leong, David Hogan and Alim Biun were the speakers during the workshop sharing their field expertise.

It was a nice treat by staying at Le-Meredian Hotel plus great food and excellent view of the South China Sea. Next workshop would be in Palawan, Philippines.

Images taken with Xiaomi MiNote and Swarovski Optik. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Swarovski CL 10x25

Day trip at Mt Kinabalu

Gear testing courtesy of Canon Sabah overlooking the South China Sea. We got the House Crow too hahaha

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Birding With Alpine Bird Tour Japan

4th - 8th August 2016

Led by the well know bird guide from Japan, Ken Tanaka, luck seems to be on the side of this particular group while birding at Mt. Kinabalu. We saw the commonly heard Crimson-headed and Red-breasted Partridge on the Power Station Road and a pair of Whitehead's Trogon. Their favourite bird of the trip was the Black & Yellow Broadbill at Sugud, Penampang!

Last stop at Tanjung Aru, the Blue-naped Parrot still around with Asian Palm Swift and also the uncommon Grey Imperial Pigeon feeding together with the Green Imperial Pigeon at one of the fruiting tree.

Images taken with Swarovski STX95 and ATX65 with Nikon D3s + 300mm 2.8 VR II and Xiaomi MiNote. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 

This Mountain Blackeye came quite close on the ground at Timpohon Gate

 

The Red-breasted Partridge

 

Snowy-browed Flycatcher

Little Cuckoo-Dove

White-breasted Waterhen

Bornean Mountain Ground Squirrel

Bornean Green Magpie

 

Morning birding at Likas Lagoon

 

Selection of green vegetables at Kundasang town

 

Along the busy road at Tambunan Rafflesia Centre

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Birding with Jay and Amy

8th - 23rd June 2016

They were on a 2 months birding trip in Asia and started the journey in Sabah, Borneo. Few days at Danum Valley Field Centre then to Kinabatangan River and the trip ended in Kota Kinabalu. We missed some of the endemics such as Mountain Serpent Eagle, Bornean Ground Cuckoo, Bornean Barbet, Fruithunter and Bornean Leafbird plus the Bare-headed Laughingthrush despite trying it on the usual spots for a few times.

They are currently in Thailand then to West Malaysia and last at Sulawesi. Good luck!

Images taken with Nikon D3s + 300mm 2.8 VR II, Swarovski Optik STX65 and Xiaomi MiNote. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Mountain Barbet on the road side at Tambunan

 

 Watching the Buff-rumped Woodpecker through the Swarovski STX65 spotting scope at Klias Peatswamp Forest

 

One way to ID Nest-Swiftlet at Gomantong Cave is with the Swarovski STX65 spotting scope. We managed to get the Edible, Black and Mossy Nest-Swiftlet.

 

Whitehead's Broadbill on the side of the road at Kinabalu Mountain Lodge

 

Another excellent finding by Jay for the Collared Owlet at Kinabalu Park HQ. Together with Osman from Borneo Eco Tours

 

Lesser Adjutant

 

Took extra boat ride to see the Bornean Pygmy Elephant at Batangan area

 

Super tame Blue-eared Kingfisher

 

Misty morning at Menanggul river with the Great Egret

 

Bornean Mountain Ground-Squirrel

 

Female Proboscis Monkey jumped with its baby to the other river bank at Kinabatangan

 

Orang Utan was seen almost daily while at Danum and Kinabatangan River

 

Bearded Pig near the Oil Palm Plantation at Tenegang river

Daily chores of the Pig-tailed Macaque

 

Sunda Bush-Warbler, one of the skulkers at the mountain

 

Golden-naped Barbet, one of the common endemic at the mountain

 

A party of 5 Bornean Green Magpie were enjoying its lunch of an unknown snake

 

Record shot of this shy Mountain Wren-Babbler

Happy Ramadhan and birding everyone.

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Sayap Sub-station, Kinabalu National Park

29-30th May 2016

Short camping trip with friends exploring the northwest side of Mt Kinabalu at Sayap Sub-station in Kota Belud district. It took about 2 hours drive from KK to reached the station at the elevation around 900m asl.

The planned was to look for the Bornean Frogmouth and Bonaparte Nightjar, but without luck and it was compensated by the Orange-breasted Trogon and Long-tailed Broadbill with the super tame Hill Blue Flycatcher!

Video made by Lance at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ7Fv0FAaDw and some of the images taken at the substation below.

Taken with Nikon D3s + 300mm 2.8 VR II. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Probably a Bornean Sunda Tree Mice

Access road to the station with Mt Kinabalu at the background

Camping facilities by Sabah Parks

Lance at work

Bornean Leafbird

 Long-tailed Broadbill

Next camping trip is from the 15-17th July 2016. Happy fasting everyone.




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