Black-browed Reed Warbler

 27th January 2022

Another vagrant spotted by Boris at Tempasuk Plain on the 26th January and upon arrival on the site, waited for an hour until the bird emerged from the tall Elephant Grass that grows along the waterway for the paddy fields. We suspected it came from Vietnam as the case with Black-faced Spoonbill after the double typhoons that hit Taiwan, HK, Vietnam and the Philippines late Dec and early January.

Great view with pictures taken on the reed next to the waterways and it was also singing but quite secretive. Sound at Xeno-Canto https://xeno-canto.org/699515. It was considered the first photographic records in Sabah and considered uncommon migrants in the Philippines too.

My #SabahBigYear2022 current list stand at 186 species. 314 birds to go! Other key migrant species seen on that day:

• Eurasian Bittern
• Northern Shoveler
• Black-faced Spoonbill
• Black Drongo

Images taken with Swarovski Optik. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

What a luck seeing another vagrant (Black-browed Reed Warbler) in January after the Black-faced Spoonbill!

 

Yellow-bellied Prinia

 

Together with Syamimi, Jupri, Ron, Win and Oliver

 

The small patch in front where the Warbler were seen flirting around and in the open

 

 

Sunrise at Tempasuk Plain, Kota Belud...

 

 

With the Swarovski Optik BTX95 spotting scope for the uncommon migrant Northern Shoveler

 

 

At last, Black-faced Spoonbill resting on the paddy field!

Yellow Bittern

Swarovski SLC and EL, the preferred optic brand in Sabah!

Happy birding and Chinese New Year!

Pied Wagtail

5th February 2014

After alerted by friends the presence of Pied Wagtail at Salut last Monday, I managed only to visit the place with Andrew late afternoon today. Not long after arriving, a pair landed in front but still a challenge for better pictures due to its constant active feeding on the mud.

Considered a vagrant for Sabah with only few records, the bird came all the way from Siberia.

Images taken with Swarovski STX 95 + TLS APO + Nikon V1. All Rights Reserved ©

Ocularis subspecies

Leucopsis subspecies

Andrew and the manager 

Happy birding!

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

This post is Supported by Sandakan Foto

Cotton Pgymy Goose

17th January 2014

Ducks are generally rare or considered vagrant particularly in Sabah except for the resident Wandering Whistling Duck. While debating to visit Tempasuk for the Hen Harrier (Vagrant) seen by Gary and John last week, I decided to go for another round of Duckling at my favorite patch, Lok Batik in Tuaran about 35 minutes drive from Kota Kinabalu to the North.

While scanning for the Northern Pintail etc, one particular bird struck me as being white and brown all over with the distinct yellow color on the lower mandible really excites me. Then I noticed my camera battery was out. Luckily my uncle was nearby and with his helped, we managed to record another vagrant Duck for Sabah, female Cotton Pygmy Goose and my 1st lifer for 2015!

Based on the records, last seen was around 50 years ago...

Images taken with Swarovski STX 95 + TLS APO + Nikon V1 ~ All Rights Reserved ©

Everyone got the Goose

Record shot of the female Cotton Pygmy Goose

Happy birding everyone.

This post is Supported by Sandakan Foto