Whitehead's Trogon

30th June - 2nd July

Spent few days at Mt. Kinabalu with friend from US, Jack Appleton and were treated with excellent view and photo opportunities of the uncommon endemic Whitehead's Trogon. There were 2 females and a male on its usual spot feeding before it flew to another trail at Mount Kinabalu. One of my best images so far considering the distance when I took the photo :D

Digiscoped with Swarovski STX 95 + TLS APO + Nikon V1 at 30x = 2430mm

Male and female

Morning rainbow near Ranau town on the way to Tambunan Rafflesia Centre

Happy birding everyone!

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


This post is Supported by Sandakan Foto

Bornean Bristlehead & Whitehead's Trio Mission

5th - 15th September 2013

These was a tough one!

Despite the unusual heat and humidity, the number of sighting at Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sepilok were excellent! Saw the Bornean Bristlehead on the 3rd day at its usual feeding route in the morning. Then Daan on his 2nd visit to Sabah decided to move to Mt. Kinabalu for the cool weather etc.

Bornean Bristlehead, specialized feeding on the canopy and found only in Borneo Island

The next 8 days were spent looking for montane endemic such as Bornean Whistler, Crimson-headed Partridge, Whitehead's trio namely the Trogon, Spiderhunter and Broadbill. But unexpectedly, the mountain was so quite and rain before lunch causing the bird activity drop early too! 4 birding groups were looking for the Whitehead's Trogon on different trails everyday and only saw the Trogon on the last morning together with a good friend of mine, Ron and his family!


Images taken with Swarovski STX 95 + TLS APO + Nikon V1 and Nikon D300s + 300mm 2.8 VR II + TC1.4x

 

Another endemic of the Black & Crimson Pitta seen calling from the Sunbird Shelter

 

Dragonfly

Rufous-collared Kingfisher

Mountain Imperial Pigeon

Endemic Eyebrowed Jungle Flycatcher

 Horsfield's Babbler at Poring Substation

 Dark Hawk-Cuckoo at Mt. Kinabalu

Juvenile Snowy-browed Flycatcher

And finally, Whitehead's Trogon!

My next tour would commence on the 6th Oct and looking forward to shoot the rugby game for Borneo Eagles vs Kowloon RFC this coming weekend!

Happy birding everyone

This post is Supported by Sandakan Foto

Whitehead's Trogon...

30th August 2013

My best shot so far of this elusive endemic Trogon at the mountain yesterday evening with Andrew and Ron.

Taken with Nikon D300s + 300mm 2.8 VR II + TC1.4x ~ All Rights Reserved ©

This post is Supported by Sandakan Foto

Mt. Kinabalu at Its Best ...

31st May - 7th June

Spent few nights at the mountain with a good friend of mine, Iain from Singapore and for this trip, Iain managed to get 12 new lifer such as, Bornean Banded Pitta, Everett's Thrush, Mt. Wren Babbler, Bornean Barbet and Pygmy White Eye which he missed last time on his previous visits here.

Pictures taken with Nikon D300s + 80-400mm VR

 Indigo Flycatcher, common resident at the mountains

 Chestnut-crested Yuhina, quite lucky to an eye level shot of this fast moving endemic at Tambunan Rafflesia Centre !

Whitehead's Trogon, Jewel of the rainforest ...

 Bornean Banded Pitta, recent split from Banded Pitta

Mt. Kinabalu view from the hotel at Mt. Kinabalu Heritage & Spa

 Common type of vegetation at Mt. Kinabalu with growing ferns, orchids etc on the tree trunk

Butterfly sp. at Tambunan Rafflesia Centre

Heading back to Kota Kinabalu today and will continue for another trip from the 11th - 23rd June. By the way, testing the new 7.2 Mbps broadband from Maxis and the speed from my hotel room is awesome !

Happy birding !

Birding With Greg & Terri

27th - 29th July 2011

Spent few nights at Kinabalu National Park to get some of the montane endemic for Greg & Terri and managed to get excellent view of Whitehead's Spiderhunter, Trogon and Broadbill ! Other species seen such as Grey-headed Babbler, White-browed Shotwing and Mt. Wren-Babbler. On final afternoon, visited Lok Kawi and Tg. Aru beach and saw Little Tern together with Greater Sand Plover, Grey-tailed Tattler and Blue-naped Parrot. Total species seen over 150 birds including their visit at Danum Valley.

Digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope EDG85, 25xLER Eyepiece via Nikon FSB-U1 Universal Adapter on Nikon P7000

Happy birding !

mt. kinabalu trogon :p

23rd april 2008

wahahaha now i got my record shots a pair of whitehead's trogon this morning after my best friend, osman who currently leading another bird group with susan myers informed me about their finding yesterday afternoon :)

had only 2 hours to spend birding at the mountain today, after 15 minutes walked, saw the female flew in front and perched not far away from the trail. took few frames and heard the male calling.

female much cooperative than the male ...

when i saw the male, it took off quite fast and perched at other tree but unfortunately too many leaves and twigs blocking my scope's view and it was a bit dark as well :p

found only in borneo, this male actually much bigger in size than other trogons in greater sunda

bornean whistling thrush

while waiting for the trogon to came back (which it did not !), another endemic showed itself less than 10 seconds. this thrush was split from the sunda whistling thrush that is endemic to java, and eventually became bornean endemic hehehe :)

hope can get another pictures soon before my trip with ck to jakarta this coming may :o

digiscoped with nikon fieldscope ED82, srb-griturn adapter and fujifilm f31d