Hot Coconut, Clamps and Durian!

 19-21st January 2024

Another short trip with Peter and Jia from Singapore and this time at Kota Belud for the migratory birds and got some of the rare and uncommon species during the few days excursion around Tempasuk Plains. On our 2nd day, visited Sayap Substation but a bit quiet this time of the year. Saw only the Black-and-Crimson Oriole, Bornean Ashy Drongo and Cinerious Bulbul and single Wallace's Hawk-Eagle.

Before sending them back to the hotel in KK, we birded for a while at Sugud Forest Reserve, about 30 minutes drive to Penampang district. Got the Cream-vented Bulbul, Red-bearded Bee-Eater, Diard's Trogon and Banded Kingfisher here for my Big Year list. So far got around 190 species out of 500 target birds.

They both also enjoyed the local cuisines offered at Kota Belud and Salut area for the BBQ clamps. Plus this time, they got the local durian!!!

Bird lists at eBird:

• https://ebird.org/checklist/S159251179 for Tempasuk Plains
• https://ebird.org/checklist/S159324598 for Tempasuk Plains
• https://ebird.org/checklist/S159324615 for Sayap Substation
• https://ebird.org/checklist/S159419467 for Sugud Forest Reserve

Having lunch at the plains...

Shooting the Sand Martin and Red-rumped Swallow

Capturing the morning sunrise...

At Sayap Substation

Durian!

View from the homestay of Tempasuk Plains...

Hot coconut

Clamps

At Sugud Forest Reserve

Yellow-bellied Prinia

Oriental Reed Warbler

Yellow-bellied Prinia

Black-winged Stilt

Wood Sandpiper

Great Egret

Whiskered Tern

Striated Grassbird

Black-winged Stilt

Whiskered Tern

Eastern Marsh Harrier

Banded Kingfisher

 

Yellow Bunting

 3rd January 2024

My Big Year 2024 started with a vagrant from Japan; Yellow Bunting at Tempasuk Plain, Kota Belud yesterday morning while searching for the rare Cotton Pygmy-Goose and Northern Pintail. Thanks to Ken Tanaka from Japan for confirming the identification and was told yesterday, it was the first record for Sabah and Malaysia.

My current list stands at 70 species and hoping for 500 birds this year. My first Big year in 2022 resulted in 479 birds out of the 500 target species https://horukuru.blogspot.com/2023/02/sabahsarawak-big-year-2022.html 

Japanese Yellow Bunting in non-breeding plumage

View of Mt. Kinabalu

I will be away for 1 week at Rundum Highland for bird surveys with the gang. Happy birding!

Birding at Tempasuk Plain, Kota Belud

 10th November 2023

After Gary sighted the vagrant Asian House-Martin yesterday, I drove early this morning to one of my favourite birding hotspots in Sabah. Waited for few hours but unfortunately, did not see the House-Martin but got the vagrant Long-billed Dowitcher! Will be back here tomorrow with the group from Sabah Birdwatchers Association.

Bird list:

1. Wandering Whistling Duck
2. Spotted Dove
3. Zebra Dove
4. Lesser Coucal
5. Black-backed Swamphen
6. Black-winged Stilt
7. Pacific Golden Plover
8. Little Ringed Plover
9. Long-billed Dowitcher
10. Common Sandpiper
11. Marsh Sandpiper
12. Wood Sandpiper
13. Common Greenshank
14. Whiskered Tern
15. White-winged Black Tern
16. Little Egret
17. Medium Egret
18. Eastern Cattle Egret
19. Great White Egret
20. Purple Heron
21. Grey Heron
22. Black-winged Kite
23. Eastern Marsh Harrier
24. Peregrine Falcon
25. White-breasted Woodswallow
26. Oriental Reed Warbler
27. Striated Grassbird
28. Sand Martin
29. Pacific Swallow
30. Barn Swallow
31. Yellow-vented Bulbul
32. Ornate Sunbird
33. Chestnut Munia
34. Eurasian Tree Sparrow
35. Eastern Yellow Wagtail

Yellow-vented Bulbul

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon

Wandering Whistling Duck

Juvenile Lesser Coucal

Peregrine Falcon

Black-winged Stilt

Marsh Sandpiper

Happy birding!