Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush

12th July 2012

Final day at Mt. Kinabalu with John Lobel, still failed to see the Whitehead's Trogon even though John have seen it a week earlier with his group, but the desire for better view that made the walked in the trails enjoyable despite seeing only few usual birds such as Mt. Leaf Warbler, Bornean Whistler, White-throated Fantail etc

Below is one of my favorite shot taken with Nikon D300s + 300mm 2.8 VR II while waiting for the Blacks-sided Flowerpecker ...

Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush, a common endemic found at the mountains in Borneo

I will be away again from the 16th - 20th to Sandakan, hope to get Bornean Bristlehead and Bornean Ground Cuckoo !

Happy birding !

Birding With Bjorn Olesen & Fanny

3rd - 6th May 2012

Spent another few days at Kinabalu National Park to get some of the endemic birds in Borneo for Bjorn Olesen, an award winning wildlife photographer from Singapore with collection over 40k++ images taken throughout the world.

Weather was great in the morning but at lunch time, heavy rain lasted for few hours with thick mist at the mountain. Only managed to get few good shots of birds together with Nephentes Rajah and luckily there were 2 blooming Rafflesia Keithi at Poring Substation, about 45 minutes drive from the Headquarters.

Digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope EDG85 via FSA-L2 DSLR Photo Adapter on Nikon D300s and 80-400mm VR lens

Shooting the Pale-faced Bulbul at Mesilau Substation

Regional endemic of this beauty, Black-capped White Eye

Nephentes Rajah, the biggest Monkey Cup in the world only found at Borneo

Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush, one of the 3 Laughingthrush at Mt. Kinabalu

Pale-faced Bulbul, endemic to Borneo

Mini gallery at Vivianne Garden

   

The entrance to see the biggest flower in the world !

Healthy looking flower and on the left top petal is the Blue Carrion Fly the main pollinator. This flower could last only for few days ...

Soon will bloom. It takes up to 9 month from bud to become flower.

Little Pied Flycatcher

 View of the Crocker Range from my room at Lily's Lodge

Golden-naped Barbet, another endemic to this island

Happy birding !

Birding With Paul and Ruth

9th - 10th January 2008

Stayed for a night at Kinabalu National Park and on this particular trip, I've missed the Whitehead's trio (except for Spiderhunter which was heard along Silau-Silau Trail). What surprised me too is the absent of Little Pied Flycatcher and Eyebrowed Jungle Flycatcher which i always see while birding. Probably another sign of declining species at the mountain ?

The good news is, saw my lifer, Red-throated Flycatcher which was seen and digiscoped by my friend Ck last November hahaha but only Ruth missed it as she was a bit far that time.

Saw and heard:

• Red-breasted Partridge (heard)
• Crimson-headed Partridge
  
• Oriental Cuckoo (heard)
• Large Hawk Cuckoo (heard)
• Mountain Imperial Pigeon
• Little Cuckoo Dove
  
• Barn Swallow
• Glossy Swiftlet
• Golden-naped Barbet (endemic)
• Maroon Woodpecker
  
• Ashy Drongo
  
• Black and Crimson Oriole
• Bornean Treepie (endemic)
  
• Grey-chinned Minivet
• Sunda Cuckooshrike
• White-browed Shortwing
• Grey-throated Babbler
• Chestnut-crested Yuhina
  
• Ochraceous Bulbul
• Flavescent Bulbul
• Short-tailed Magpie
  
• Chestnut-hooded Laughtingthrush (endemic)
• Sunda Laughingthrush
• Bare-headed Laughingthrush (endemic)
• Bornean Whistling Thrush (endemic)
  
• Orange-headed Thrush (heard)
  
• Everett's Thrush (endemic)
• White-crowned Forktail
• Mountain Tailorbird
• Yellow-breasted Warbler
• Mountain Leaf Warbler
• Bornean Stubtail (endemic)
• Indigo Flycatcher
• Snowy-browed Flycatcher
  
• Asian Brown Flycatcher
• Red-throated Flycatcher (lifer)
  
• White-throated Fantail
  
• Mugimaki Flycatcher (Did not see this bird last year)
• Bornean Whistler (endemic)
• Grey Wagtail
  
• Plain Sunbird
• Olive-backed Sunbird
  
• Temminck's Sunbird
• Whitehead's Spiderhunter
• Black-sided Flowerpecker (endemic)
• Black-capped White-eye
• Mountain Blackeye (endemic)

Non-bird seen:

• Giant Squirrel
• Bornean Black-Banded Squirrel
• Treesrew

Mt. Kinabalu

Pretty looking Butterfly landed on Paul's shoulder

Liwagu River

Golden-naped Barbet



Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush nesting near the restaurant

Hahaha

They are on their way to Sepilok and Kinabatangan River then at Danum Valley Field Centre. Before they came, they've been touring around West Malaysia and saw many birds especially at Fraser's Hill.

Planning for trip to Mantanani Island this month with Ck hehehe hoping to see the Mantanani Scops Owl and Nicobar Pigeon :p

Digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Gritun Mk II adapter and Fujifilm F31d

Happy birding !