Birding & Bird Photography Tours In Sabah, Borneo. Click below.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Borneo Bird Festival At Sabah, Malaysia

10th - 15th October 2009



Was a great success due to joint-efforts between the State government through Sabah Tourism Board, a well known NGO- Malaysian Nature Society, Birdlife International and two local bodies, The Sabah Society and Borneo Bird Club together with the volunteers. Visitors came and enjoyed the talks by experts about birds and the rain forest at Rainforest Discovery Centre during the 5 days event.

Some of the shots taken during the festival with courtesy from Jollence Lee as the official photographer during the event.

Equipments : Nikon cameras and lenses.




Setting up the booths.


Arleene (middle) from Sabah Tourism Board and Susan Shahira and Norkatah of Sri Pelancongan Sabah.


Official videographer, Raymond recording some of the pictures on display at Nikon booth.


Tired birder's function !


Comparing the new bird books by Susan Myers and Quentin Phillipps.


Tee from Nikon Malaysia explaining about the usage of binocular.



Chien looking through his gear for something ?


With the author of Birds Of Borneo, Susan Myers together from left to right, Salam, Cede, Hamit, myself, John B., Alphon and Andy.


Susan, Tee and Cede after testing the new Nikon EDG 85 scope.


Nikon booth displaying latest gears for birding and digiscoping and display of photos taken with the gears.

Dan Fiel.


The Honourable Datuk Masidi Manjun, Minister of Tourism at Nikon booth.


Testing the Nikon Fieldscope ED82 with D5000.


VIP Guests at the Borneo Bird Festival launch.


Sabah Society booth selling caps, key chains, t-shirt and etc.


Books on sale at Keruing Cafe.


Susan Myers with Datuk Masidi Manjun.


Press at work.


Lovely staff from Rainforest Discovery Centre.



Future birders at one of the nature trail.


Colouring contest for kids.


Resting for the next talks.


Quentin Phillipps.


Andrew Siani.


The famous Mr. Durai representing Fraser's Hill Park from West Malaysia.


Cede saw the Bornean Bristlehead !


Dr. Robert Ong presenting bird books to me and Cede after the talk about Birdwatching In Sabah.



Morning walk at Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary.


With Mr. Kitajima, assistant general manger for Nikon Vision Japan during the morning walk.



Yes we found the Raffles Malkoha :)



Tee with his favorite shooting position hahaha !


Looking at Long-tailed Parakeet.



Time to shoot !



Breakfast time !


Mr. Kitajima, Assistant General Manager from Nikon Vision, Japan, Irene from Sandakan Foto and Tee.


Noredah, Halimah and Josephine with Zulkifli Mohammed from Tourism Malaysia KL.


I cannot remember what was the discussion about with Noredah hehehe.


Geoff Davidson.


Jollence is the man !


Maps, Noredah and Josephine.


Waiting for the Red Giant Flying Squirrel and it appeared from its roosting tree hole around 6pm.


Denis checking his video of the Flying Squirrel.



From left to right, Dan, John B, John Prudente, Kenneth and Thrope.


Borneo Bird Club booth.


With Irene at the lake.



Sketching session.


Prize giving ceremony for the Bird Photography competition.


Ben Duncan.


Alphonsus aka The Beastmaster.


Last morning walk at Rainforest Discovery Centre.



Staff from Borneo Nature Tours.


Bird guides.


Dr. Robert Ong at the closing ceremony.


See you on the next Borneo Bird Festival :)

Monday, November 9, 2009

My Lifer, Collared Owlet !

5th - 8th November 2009



Didn't expect to get a lifer while walking along the nature trails at Kinabalu National Park, this elusive and rare resident at the mountain was seen quite close and within a range for my lens hahaha :)


Collared Owlet (borneense subspecies)




Video taken with Nikon D300s



Spent nearly 30 minutes admiring these beauty, one of the smallest Owl in the world. Other key species seen during the tour with Rex and Anne from England was:
  • Oriental Honey Buzzard
  • Peregrine Falcon
  • Red-legged Crake
  • Golden-naped barbet
  • Whitehead's Trogon
  • Orange-headed Thrush
  • Mt. Wren-Babbler

Mt. Kinabalu


Trilobite Beetle



Not sure what species of beetle is this ?


Whitehead's Trogon


Bornean Treepie


Pale-faced Bulbul


Anne and Rex

At home now recovering from bad fever while at the mountain. Happy birding everyone :)

Monday, November 2, 2009

Birding Trip With Patrick and Ute Nash

27th - 31st October 2009



As a pre-birding tour for Pat and Ute Nash in Sabah, took them birding for few days around Kota Kinabalu city and also Kinabalu National Park before joining their group with Birdtour Asia lead by James Eaton on the 1st of November.

The weather has been bad on the 2nd day at the mountain while trekking up to Langanan Waterfall for Banded and Blue-banded Pitta plus the Hose's Broadbill. But it was compensated with an excellent view of female Rufous-collared Kingfisher.

Visit to Kota Belud district and Lok Kawi beach for migratory birds produced a Terek Sandpiper, Grey-tailed Tattler and Long-toed Stint plus the rare Little Egret with black feet E. g. garzetta race.

Other key species seen and photographed :
  • Tabon Scrubfowl
  • Chinese Egret
  • White-fronted Falconet
  • Common Ringed Plover
  • Malaysian Sand Plover
  • Golden-naped Barbet
  • Mangrove Blue Flycatcher
  • Mangrove Whistler
Taken with Nikon D300s with 70-200mm 2.8 VR


Pacific Golden Plover


Sulug Island


Rufous Night Heron


Pacific Reef Egret


Blue-naped Parrot at Tanjung Aru Beach


Mt. Kinabalu


Eyebrowed Jungle Flycatcher, endemic to Borneo


Grey-chinned Minivet


Black and Crimson Oriole


Water buffalo


Pat and Ute at Kota Belud


Paddy field


Next birding tour is on Thursday at Kinabalu National Park. Happy birding everyone :)