Borneo Sevens 2013 International Clubs

26th - 27th October 2013

Addicted for action shots, I went to Sandakan and spent for few days photographing The Greenest Sevens In The World. Depending champion, Daveta from Fiji won for the 2nd time beating local team Borneo Eagles by 29-0. For more info, go to http://borneoeagles.com/borneo7s2013

Some of my best shots below taken with Nikon D300s + 300mm 2.8 VR II + Nikon V1 + 10-30mm VR

Sabah Eagles vs Oscar Warriors A

 Malaysian Universities vs Pally Pirates

RMAF Blackhawk vs Borneo Eagles

Sabah Eagles vs Southern Lions

 

The reason to watch the games hahaha

Oscar Warriors A vs Oscar Warriors B

The Outlaws Vs Malaysian Universities

Borneo Eagles Vs Daveta

Borneo Eagles vs Daveta

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Digiscoping Workshop With Canon Sabah & Swarovski Optik

I will be conducting the above with Canon Malaysia at Lok Kawi Zoological Park on the 23rd November 2013. Seat is limited and registration is via www.eosworld.canon.com.my

Lok Kawi Park is managed by Sabah Wildlife Department and some of the wild birds found such as Rufous-collared Kingfisher, Banded and Black & Yellow Broadbill, Ashy Tailorbird, Rufous-bellied Eagle and many more. Other native wildlife such as Orang Utan, Bornean Gibbon, Proboscis Monkey and the smallest Bornean Pygmy Elephants

The workshop will emphasize the usage of the latest Swarovski STX 95 Spotting Scope and Digiscoping adapters the TLS APO built for mirrorless and DCB II for point and shoot cameras by Canon to capture still images and videos by participants during the workshop.

See you all there!

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Birding With Ornitholidays Group

6th - 17th October 2013

The day started at Mt. Kinabalu for few nights and upon arrival, saw the Whitehead's Spiderhunter through the scope at the same time the Sunda Cuckoo-Shrike were next to it, and only a brief view of few the fast moving Bare-headed Laughingthrush while it was drizzling along the Power Station road.

Unfortunately, bad weather continued until the 8th because of the typhoons from China and Korea, causing missing some of the common species at Mt. Kinabalu such as Bornean Forktail and Chestnut-crested Yuhina. Birds were quiet as well at Poring Hot Spring while looking for the Rafflesia flower.

On the 9th, good weather greeted everyone at the mountain and started the walk from Power Station down to Silau-Silau Trail. Along the way, managed to get the Golden-naped Barbet, nesting Pale-faced Bulbul, several Fruithunter and Mountain Blackeye.

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

Indigo Flycatcher

White-crowned Shama

 Whitehead's Broadbill, one of the must see birds for visiting birdwatcher to Sabah

Unexpected bonus of Collared Owlet during daytime, a rare bird in North Borneo

 

Short flight to Sandakan on the 10th then took a van to Gomantong Cave. Saw few Bat Hawk chasing the bats near sunset also a pair of Rhinoceros Hornbill flew quite low then perched at one of the tree next to the office. While at Kinabatangan River, missed the Helmeted and White-crowned Hornbill. The response from Oriental Bay Owl one evening get things excited but after a while, it flew back deeper to the forest.

Close up view of Wallace's Hawk Eagle at Gomantong Cave

Pacific Swallow 

Purple Heron

More than 10 pair of Rhinoceros Hornbill were seen coming in and out from these fruiting Fig tree together with the Long-tailed Macaque

At Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Danum Valley, some of the highlights were, Blue-headed Pitta, Bornean Banded Pitta and Black & Crimson Pitta seen along the access road. Giant Pitta was responding to my playback on the last evening but too far to get a view.

At one morning, while looking at the Yellow-eared Spiderhunter near the Canopy Walkway, Paul heard the Bornean Ground Cuckoo calling from the nearby hill. But after waited for 30 minutes, it went quiet and replaced by a pair of Asian Paradise Flycatcher just above my head.

Little Spiderhunter on top of the wild Ginger flower

My best images of this bird so far! Black & Yellow Broadbill 

Marie were taking picture of the Pill Milipede

Very wet Whiskered Treeswift taken in front of the restaurant at Danum Valley

 Yellow-bellied Bulbul

Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher

The elusive Bornean Bristlehead near the Canopy Walkway

 

 Another endemic for North Borneo, Black-headed Pitta

Yellow-eared Spiderhunter seen feeding the seed from Alocasia that grows along the access road

The trip ended with a single Paddyfield's Pipit seen at Lahad Datu Airport after the downpour.

I will be away to Sandakan for the International Borneo Seven Rugby match next week. More info at https://www.facebook.com/borneo.eagles

Happy birding!


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Japanese Snipe aka Latham's

2nd October 2013

I have been busy for the last few days with Snipes in my local patch, Tuaran after the recent Typhoon Usagi from Japan resulting of heavy wind plus rain almost everyday since Thursday the 26th September except for today.

Every time I see Snipe sp. in my place, I never bother to put an effort to observe because of the difficulty in identifying them. Except the last Common Snipe I saw at Penampang paddy field during in flight which showed the white line on the armpit.

But one particular Snipe sp. took my attention. It looked much paler than other Snipes I have seen before and quite bigger too. So I pointed my scope for pictures and videos. Thanks to the wide Field of View from Swarovski STX 95 scope even at maximum 70x, I could clearly see and Digiscoped exactly as seen from the eyepiece! Below is the results.

Digiscoped with Swarovski STX 95 + TLS APO + Nikon V1 ~ at 70x = 5670mm!

 

As you can see, the bird above show mostly pale plumage overall. I sent this pictures to Dave Bakewell, one of the prominent Waterbirds watchers in Penang and his first impression was of Japanese Snipe!

Emails was exchanged between experts in Japan and Australia where this bird breeds in Hokaiddo and Russia then spend the non-breeding season in Eastern Australia. Mostly were saying it looks like the Japanese Snipe.

Ok hold on... Only 3 Snipes were recorded in Borneo namely the Pintail, Swinhoe's and Common Snipe. If these pictures were reconfirmed to be the Japanese Snipe, as Dave mentioned to me, it could be the first record for Sabah, Borneo!

Video of the Snipe at Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PZ0Dfz2FMA&list=UUqKA6Jvs2wo4S244reTVxzA

I'm still waiting for answers from friends in Japan and Korea. Any clues or answers is greatly appreciated :D

Good birding!

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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

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Mountain Imperial Pigeon

10th September 2013

One of the shot I have been waiting for this bird. Found at mountains throughout Borneo and I don't really see this bird nowadays at Kinabalu National Park HQ than last time.

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

Against the sun...

I'm still on birding tour and will be back to Kota Kinabalu soon. Happy birding!

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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 ©

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Birding With Bernard Family

19th-21st 2013

Spent few nights at Mt. Kinabalu with them and the journey started to Tambunan Rafflesia Centre in a great morning and saw a pair of Whitehead's Spiderhunter feeding at one of the flowering tree along the roadside together with the non-stop Bornean Leafbird. No response from the Long-tailed Broadbill then continued to Kinabalu National Park for the next few days exploring trails and the surrounding beauty of its landscape.

One afternoon were spent around Poring Hot Spring Substation and managed to get scope view of the Gold-whiskered and Red-throated Barbet, Violet Cuckoo, Crested Jay, Sunda Cuckoo Shrike and many more. But the Whitehead's Trogon and Broadbill proved to be difficult these time. Despite searching on its usual locations, no sign whatsoever and only on the final afternoon, saw the Trogon perched quite close to the ground at Silau-Silau Trail. That was an excellent closing!

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

Digiscoping the Bornean Swiflet

Waiting for the Everett's Thrush

Pale-faced Bulbul

The endemic Mountain Wren Babbler

Female Raffles' Malkoha

Buff-necked Woodpecker

I will be heading to Sepilok for another Bornean Bristlehead mission by next week. Plus, if I can get another lifer; Large Frogmouth as heard by John last time at one of the forest reserve nearby...

Happy birding!

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