Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava)

17th March 2011

It is a matter of time who will get the best full frame shot of these beauty ! It was first seen 15 years ago by Andrew Siani then recently after many years, Ron, Hazel and Wins saw it again at Penampang paddy field next to the busy road in early March.

From the observations among the gang, it has 2 groups and by the time of writing, each group has 1 still in breeding plumage and the rest in post breeding and non breeding plumage. The highest number seen roughly around 20 birds feeding on the grasses at one time

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

In breeding plumage

Non-breeding plumage

At this moment there are road work repairing the main drain nearby the only site for these bird. Not sure what will happen next but I'm hoping it will remain there for a while until the number expand and become secure :)

Happy birding !

Birding With Y Bird Japan Group Part II

21st - 24th April 2011

Spent few days with Ken and his group from YBird Japan at Sepilok and Kinabatangan River. Heard the Bornean Ground Cuckoo at Gomantong Cave but too far inside the forest from the access road.

Total of 120 over species of birds seen and some of them were Digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope EDG85 via Nikon FSA-L2 DSLR Photo Adapter on Nikon D300s, 80-400mm VR and Coolpix P7000

Shooting the Black-backed Kingfisher

Newly open lodge operated by Borneo Nature Lodge with open glass concept applied on the rooms and restaurant and has bird tower too.

Oriental Pied Hornbill seen in the morning feeding around the lodge

Stork-billed Kingfisher

Orang Utan having siesta in the afternoon

Black-nest Swiftlet at Gomantong Cave

Crested Serpent Eagle

Looking at the Storm's Stork

Black & Red Broadbill

Female Red-naped Trogon

Visiting Ruddy Kingfisher at Sepilok

Fiery Minivet

Morning mist at Kinabatangan River

Happy birding everyone !

Bornean Forktail (Enicurus borneoensis)

9th April 2011

While waiting for the Whitehead's Trogon with Joe and Sis, suddenly a pair of these elusive and rather shy Forktail appeared from the nearby stream right onto the busy road leading up to the Power Station. It was seen feeding around the area for nearly an hour providing excellent opportunity for pictures !

Bornean Forktail (Enicurus borneoensis) (BF) was split (Moyle et al 2005) from White-crowned Forktail (Enicurus leschenaulti) (WCF) based on the followings :

• The white shield stop on top of its forehead whereas WCF extended on the crown.
• Much bigger in size than WCF with longer and has 4 pair of white patches on its tail
• Different vocalizations
• Different habitat with BF mostly found at the mountains e.g Kinabalu National Park and WCF further down lowland forest e.g Danum Valley

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

Happy birding !

Birding With Keith & Maureen

11th - 27th March 2011

Had an enjoyable trip with Keith and Maureen searching for endemic species around Sabah recently plus managed to see wild Orang Utan, the rare Bornean Ground Cuckoo and a pair of very confiding Whitehead's Trogon with pictures !

Total species seen : 280 over and key species :

• Bornean Ground Cuckoo - A pair seen well for more than a minute !
• Dark Hawk Cuckoo - Enjoying the morning sun at Kinabalu National Park
• Mt. Serpent Eagle - Seen soaring from Mempening Trail
• Crimson-headed and Red-breasted Partridge
• Blue-headed and Black & Crimson Pitta - At Borneo Rainforest Lodge
• 8 species of Hornbills
• Whitehead's Broadbill
• Black-throated Wren-Babbler
• Fulvous-chested Jungle Flycatcher - A pair seen at Poring Hot Spring
• Thick-billed Flowerpecker
• Whitehead's Spiderhunter - Usual place at Tambunan :)

Digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope EDG85 via Nikon FSA-L2 DSLR Photo Adapter on Nikon D300s

Paul with Keith and Maureen waiting for the Black & Crimson Pitta

Morning cruise on misty Kinabatangan River

Whitehead's Trogon

Black-sided Flowerpecker

Pale-faced Bulbul

Long-tailed Shrike

Dark Hawk Cuckoo

Indigo Flycatcher

Little Cuckoo Dove

Rufous-winged Philentoma

Common Kingfisher

Thick-billed Flowerpecker

Fiery Minivet

Ruddy Kingfisher

Red-bearded Bee Eater

Bornean Ground Cuckoo

Malaysian Blue Flycatcher

Bornean Crested Fireback

Blue-headed Pitta

Striped Wren Babbler

Happy birding !

Birding With Erik's Group

20th Feb - 5th March 2011

Total species seen : 269 at Tambunan Rafflesia Centre, Kinabalu National Park, Kota Belud and Manukan Island, Sepilok, Kinabatangan River and Danum Valley. Dipped on Whitehead's Trogon and Whitehead's Broadbill with Bornean Ground Cuckoo plus the Blue-banded Pitta but had a good view of Mountain Serpent Eagle, Whitehead's Spiderhunter and Everett's Thrush.

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

Waiting for the Orang Utan and eventually after more than 1 hour, it came out from its hiding and seen feeding along the roadside

Scarlet-rumped Trogon

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

Chestnut-naped Forktail

Eastern Marsh Harrier, uncommon winter visitor from North Asia

Oriental Pratincole, breeder visitor mostly seen at paddy fields

Malaysian Blue Flycatcher

Resident Ruddy Kingfisher has brownish plumage and these one was seen feeding on termite nest at Kinabatangan River

Wrinkled Hornbill, one of the 8 species in North Borneo

Western Tarsier

Proboscis Monkey, endemic to Borneo Island together with its baby

I will be away from the 11th - 29th March with another couple for birding tour. Hope this time I can get the Blue-banded Pitta's pictures !

Happy birding folks :)