Birding With Jim

23-26th February 2018

Jim was with me in 2013 for the montane endemics at Kinabalu. After a few years, he decided to try the lowland specialty such as Pitta and Bristlehead. Stayed for a few days at Kawag Danum Rainforest Lodge, it was a bit quiet than usual. Managed to get 2 Pitta and Trogon with other species too.

Highlights were:

• Bornean Banded Pitta
• Black and Crimson Pitta
• Large Frogmouth
• Orange-breasted Trogon
• Speckled Piculet

View of the tropical rainforest in the morning at Danum Valley Field Centre

My favourite Whiskered Treeswift! 

 

Donny were waiting for the Black & Crimson Pitta along the access road at Kawag

 

Danum River at Field Centre

Birding around the lodge

 Morning view of the tropical rainforest from Global Atmosphere Watch Tower, Danum Valley Field Centre

Jim will be back next time with his wife for the Bornean Bristlehead and Bornean Ground-Cuckoo!



This post is Supported by Sandakan Foto

Birding With Nick & Family

21st December - 2nd January

The trip started around Kota Kinabalu for the locally Endangered Blue-naped Parrot at Tg. Aru Beach including Dollarbird and other garden birds. In the afternoon, went to my local patch for Wandering Whistling Duck, Stork-billed Kingfisher and Oriental Darter.

Despite the weather in the rainforest, we managed to get around 250 birds and 21 mammals with highlights such as Bornean Bristlehead, Storm's Stork and Mt. Serpent Eagle and Orange-breasted Trogon at the usual places, Tambunan Rafflesia Centre, Mt. Kinabalu, Sepilok Forest Reserve, Kinabatangan River and Danum Valley.

My lifer was the Oriental Bay Owl after hearing it for many years!

Images taken with Nikon D300s + 300mm 2.8 VR II + TC1.4x, Swarovski STX 95 + TLS APO + Nikon V1 ~ All Rights Reserved ©

Orange-breasted Trogon quite low this time at Mahua Waterfall

Thanks to Jack for finding these Barred Eagle Owl on the busy road at Mesilau village

Black-winged Flycatcher Shrike

Oriental Honey Buzzard

Bearded Pig along the access road, Danum

Asian Paradise Flycatcher, a treat for few minutes outside the Canopy Walkway at Danum

Roosting Scarlet-rumped Trogon from the Hornbill Trail, Danum

Black-headed Pitta, endemic to Sabah on the New Year Day :D

Majestic Mt Kinabalu in the morning from Cottage Hotel

Outdoor Nursery at Orang Utan Sanctuary, Sepilok

Afternoon cruise to Tenegang tributary for more Hornbill and Monkey

Waiting for the Bornean Bristlehead at Danum

Brown Wood Owl at Menanggul tributary

Happy birding!

For birdwatching/bird photography tours, please check my other blog http://birdersofborneo.blogspot.com/

This post is Supported by Sandakan Foto

Birding With Geilvoet Family

12th - 21st June 2014

Last minute request, drove to Lahad Datu town with John on the 11th and stayed at a newer My Inn Hotel located at Bandar Prima. Met them the next day then started birding along the access road at Gomantong Cave. Saw 3 species of Echo-Location Swiftlet inside the cave plus an Orang Utan with a juvenile were seen feeding on the Jackfruit too!

Stayed at Kinabatangan Nature Lodge for 2 nights and tried for the Bornean Ground Cuckoo, but no response. Hornbills were many as usual and in flight shots of the rare White-crowned Hornbill was a treat during the morning cruise.

Then moved to Sepilok Forest Reserve and the main target was Rufous-collared Kingfisher which showed well but no sign at all of the elusive Bornean Bristlehead. Partly due to the dried weather and also post breeding season. Got a lifer, Large-billed Crow along the Sandakan-Telupid road :D

At Kinabalu National Park and Crocker Range,  we got the Whitehead's Trio and other endemics except Bare-headed Laughingthrush and Everett's Thrush. Short stopped at Mahua Waterfall, a pair of rare Orange-breasted Trogon was another surprised!

Total species seen: 191 and few heard such as Great Argus, White-browed Shortwing and also Sunda Cuckoo

Images taken with Nikon D3s + 300mm 2.8 VR II + TC1.4x, SJ4000 Action Camera and Swarovski STX 95 + TLS APO + Nikon V1 ~ All Rights Reserved ©

Juvenile White-bellied Sea Eagle at Lahad Datu Fish Market

White-crowned Hornbill sending fruit to the nest

Rhinoceros Hornbill

Endangered Storm's Stork

One of the resident Rufous Woodpecker at the lodge with Grey-capped Woodpecker

 

Endemic Proboscis Monkey

At Rainforest Discovery Centre canopy walkway while waiting for the Bornean Bristlehead

Successful nesting of the Wallace's Hawk Eagle at Rainforest Discovery Centre

Female Verditer Flycatcher from the canopy walkway

Rufous-collared Kingfisher

Whitehead's Trogon

 Whitehead's Broadbill

White-browed Shrike Babbler

Golden-naped Barbet

My favorite Indigo Flycatcher

 Flying Lizard at Kipungit Waterfall

Orange-breasted Trogon

At Mahua Waterfall

Rajah Brooke Birdwing Butterfly

Whitehead's Pygmy Squirrel, endemic to the mountains in Borneo

On final morning at Mt. Kinabalu, saw a pair of Bornean Forktail including the Temminck's Babbler.


Great trip! Happy birding everyone.



For birdwatching/bird photography tours, please check my other blog http://birdersofborneo.blogspot.com/


This post is Supported by Sandakan Foto

Orange-breasted Trogon Mission ...

23rd - 26th August 2012

With the gang recently at Sinua Village that sits on the foot of Mt. Trusmadi, stayed for few nights with Denis Ikon, one of the well known birder with excellent in vocalization of birds and wildlife, with the mission of seeing one of the rarest Trogon in North Borneo, Orange-breasted Trogon !

Key species seen and heard :

• Helmeted Hornbill
• Rhinoceros Hornbill
• Wreathed Hornbill
• Blue-banded Pitta
• Bornean Banded Pitta
• Orange-breasted Trogon
• Pygmy Ibon
• Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker (Seen last year by Dennis)

Images taken with Nikon D300s + 300mm 2.8 VR II + TC1.4x + 28mm 2.8

Road construction expected to be completed in 2014. Means the journey to Sinua Village will take lesser 1 to 2 hours !

A bit chilly after the rain while waiting for the generator set. From left to right, John, myself, Hazel, Ron and Andrew

Climbing up the Summit Trail up to 1000m elevation for the Orange-breasted Trogon and Bornean Banded Pitta

The elusive Orange-breasted Trogon, similar size with Scarlet-rumped Trogon and very shy too. My Trogons for Borneo now completed.

Grey Wagtail, a common winer visitor from North Asia and also used as an indicator for the villagers to start planting their hill rice

Red-billed Malkoha

Borneo Bird Club President, Gary checking his pictures of the Red-billed Malkoha while waiting for the river to subsides

Sinua Village with well maintained landscape etc and majority here is the Dusun tribe.

Happy birding !