Rare Birds of Borneo

4-22th July 2018

Robert and wife decided to spent their wedding anniversary in Sabah for the 2nd time after 2009 visit and this time to clean up some of the Bornean specialty which they missed last time such as below:

• Roulroul
• Bornean Peacock-Pheasant
• Crimson-headed Partridge (Kinabalu)
• Red-breasted Partridge (Kinabalu)
• Dulit Partridge
• Storm's Stork (Kinabatangan River)
• Bornean Falconet (Nesting at one of the eye level tree at Danum Valley)
• Jerdon's Baza
• Mountain Serpent Eagle (Paya Maga)
• Large Green Pigeon (Feeding with the other Green Pigeon at Danum Valley)
• Barred Eagle-Owl (Tabin Wildlife Reserve during the Dusk Drive)
• Eastern Grass Owl
• Reddish Scops Owl (Klias)
• Large Frogmouth
• Dulit Frogmouth (Bakalalan)
• Sunda Frogmouth (Dipped at Tabin Wildlife Reserve)
• Bornean Frogmouth (Bakalalan)
• Malaysian Eared Nightjar
• Malaysian Hawk-Cuckoo
• Moustached Hawk-Cuckoo
• Bornean Swiftlet (Kinabalu)
• White-throated Needletail
• Cinnamon-rumped Trogon (Showed well at last at Tabin after failed to locate the bird at Danum Valley!)
• Rufous-collared Kingfisher (Gomantong Cave)
• Bornean Banded Kingfisher (Sepilok)
• Blue-banded Kingfisher (Tabin)
• Wrinkled Hornbill (Danum Valley)
• Yellow-crowned Barbet (Danum Valley together with the Large Green Pigeon)
• Red-crowned Barbet (Scope viewed at Klias)
• Bornean Barbet (Tambunan)
• Mountain Barbet (Tambunan)
• Hose's Broadbill (Paya Maga)
• Whitehead's Broadbill (Final evening at Kinabalu with the helped from Hamit!)
• Giant Pitta (Excellent called by Rafel at Tabin)
• Blue-banded Pitta (A pair came from the hill at Tabin)
• Bornean Banded Pitta (Paya Maga)
• Blue-headed Pitta (Danum Valley)
• Bornean Leafbird (Paya Maga)
• Malaysian Honeyguide
• Black Oriole (Paya Maga)
• Bornean Bristlehead (A bit disappointing and missed it at Danum, Kinabatangan River and Sepilok)
• Black & White Bulbul
• Puff-backed Bulbul (Danum Valley)
• Hook-billed Bulbul (Replied a few times and managed to get a good recording of this bird, but it didn't come into view at Klias)
• Cinereous Bulbul (Tambunan)
• Pale-faced Bulbul (Kinabalu)
• Scaly-breasted Bulbul
• Bornean Bulbul (Tambunan)
• Friendly Bush Warbler
• Bornean Stubtail (Kinabalu after the Everett's Thrush)
• Temminck's Babbler (Kinabalu)
• Rufous-crowned Babbler (Danum and Tabin)
• Grey-breasted Babbler
• Bornean Wren-Babbler
• Black-throated Wren-Babbler (Sang and showed well at Tabin)
• Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler (Paya Maga)
• Chestnut-backed Scimitar-Babbler (Danum)
• Rail Babbler (Paya Maga)
• Bornean Bald Laughingthrush (Kinabalu)
• Bornean Ibon (Paya Maga)
• Everett's Thrush (Kinabalu)
• Chestnut-capped Thrush
• Chestnut-naped Forktail
• Rufous-tailed Jungle Flycatcher (Bakalalan)
• Fulvous-chested Jungle Flycatcher
• Grey-chested Jungle Flycatcher (Danum Valley)
• Dark Blue Flycatcher
• Large-billed Blue Flycatcher
• White-browed Shortwing
• Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker (Klias)
• Brown-backed Flowerpecker (Sepilok)
• Copper-throated Sunbird (Sepilok)
• Whitehead's Spiderhunter (Kinabalu)
• Pin-tailed Parrotfinch

Some recordings during the trip (click on the links):

• Red-crowned Barbet 
• Hook-billed Bulbul 
• Grey-chested Jungle Flycatcher

At Danum Valley Field Centre, it was a bit quiet and tough than usual with the only Blue-headed Pitta seen. Missed the Bornean Bristlehead a day before by other group. Not even the common Moustached Hawk-Cuckoo were heard! But the great momentum started again at Tabin Wildlife Reserve with excellent view of Blue-banded and Giant Pitta then the Cinnamon-rumped Trogon!

At Paya Maga, they cleaned up most of the hard to find endemics and rare birds in Sabah such as Rail Babbler, Hose's Broadbill and Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler.

Images taken with Swarovski Optik spotting scopes and Huawei P10 Mate Pro. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Morning at Danum Valley

Little Spiderhunter

Bornean Colugo

Blue-throated Bee Eater

Misty morning at Danum Valley Field Centre

Leaf Insect sp.

 Henry joined the group a few days at Danum Valley

Swarovski Optik spotting scopes at Danum Valley Field Centre

Scanning for the Bristlehead at Danum Valley Field Centre

John Bakar, one of the well known wildlife guides in Danum Valley 

Late afternoon birding at Global Atmosphere Watch Tower, Danum Valley

Sunrise

With Rafel at Tabin Wildlife Reserve

 Menggaris tree at Tabin

 

Hibiscus, national flower of the nation

Watching the Bornean Barbet with Swarovski Optik STX95 scope at Tambunan

Hamit, who found the Whitehead's Broadbill after several days trying!

Angel's Trumpet

Mt. Kinabalu

Bornean Colugo, halfway before the two branches seen with Swarovski BTX95 spotting scope at Borneo Nature Lodge, Kinabatangan River

Busy Termites at Klias Peatswamp Field Centre

For more info on birding/bird and wildlife photography tours in Sabah and Sarawak, please check my other birding blog at http://birdersofborneo.blogspot.com/

Happy birding!