Long-tailed Broadbill (Psarisomus dalhousiae)

26th January 2010

One of the attractive Broadbill species found in Borneo mostly above 1500m from the sea level. Best place to see this bird is along Crocker Range especially at Tambunan Rafflesia Centre about 1 hour 30 minutes drive from Kota Kinabalu to the South.

Found few pairs in the process of building its nest along the busy road together with Andrew and Neil recently. Other key species seen and heard :

• Mountain Serpent Eagle
• Crimson-headed Partridge
• Red-breasted Partridge
• Kinabalu Leafbird
• Bornean Bulbul
• Whitehead's Spiderhunter

Capture with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn adapter and Fujifilm F31D

Hanging cup type-nest

 

Bornean Bulbul

 

Ashy Drongo

Happy birding !

My Eastern Grass Owl (Tyto capensis)

24th January 2010

After failed in search of this species last year with the gang, what a luck today at Tuaran paddy field seeing this magnificent beauty hunting low for the first time hahaha together with Andrew and Neil from England :)

First recorded in Sabah in 1999 at Ranau town and in 2003, nesting with two chicks was found at oil palm plantation at Lahad Datu town. Uncommon species for Borneo and started to expand it range from the Philippines.

Other key species seen and heard today :

• Peregrine Falcon
• Rufous-collared Kingfisher
• Red-naped Trogon
• Red-crowned Barbet
• Malaysian Sand Plover

Some of the shot taken with Nikon D300s and 24-85mm lens, cropped 66.5% with Capture NX2

A bit darker overall than the Barn Owl

Mt. Kinabalu from Tempasuk Plain

Perfect habitat for the Eastern Grass Owl

Shooting at the Rufous Night Heron

Happy birding !

Floods at Kinabatangan River

16th - 19th January 2010

Familiarization trip with Sabah Tourism staffs organized by award-winning company, North Borneo Safari S/B recently but greeted with rain and floods at Kinabatangan River. Managed to inspect 11 lodges and homestays despite the rain but had a wonderful morning on the last day at the river.

Key species seen and heard during the cruise :

• Storm's Stork
• Bornean Ground Cuckoo
• Asian Paradise Flycatcher
• Lesser Fish Eagle
• Bornean Pygmy Elephant

Some of the pictures during the trip taken with Nikon D300s and 24-85mm f4 lens

Breakfast at Ajmeer restaurant with nice curry lamb !

River mouth of Kinabatangan River.

 

Brahminy Kite in flight

From left to right; Kevin, Noredah, Megawati and Arleen.

What a luck seeing this endangered Bornean Pygmy Elephant between Abai and Sukau village. Thanks to Megawati hahaha !

Debris washed away by the strong current during the rain.

Half submerged jetty at Bilit Adventure Lodge.

Morning cruise with award-winning widlife photographer, Cede Prudente.

Irene from Sandakan Foto kindly lend the group few Nikon binoculars and scopes for the cruise :)


Photo credit by North Borneo Safari



Yes we got the Asian Paradise Flycatcher !!!!




Proboscis Monkey on the other river bank. Thanks to the Nikon Fieldscope and binoculars which made the observation possible in the rain !




Me and the gang on the other boat. Credit : Megawati

 

Black & Red Broadbill

 

Lesser Fish Eagle

Great trip full of laughter and fun. Probably another trip with them in April at Imbak Canyon.

Happy birding folks !

26th Dec 2009 - 1st January 2010

Some of the pictures taken during my trip to Kinabatangan River and Tabin Wildlife Reserve recently with friend from HK searching for the Bornean Clouded Leopard.

Taken with Nikon D300s with 24-85mm and 70-300mm lens and Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn adapter and Fujifilm F31D.

 

Pacific Swallow

 

Lesser Bronze-Back

View of Tomanggong Hill from the restaurant at Barefoot Lodge, Kinabatangan River while waiting for the White-crowned Hornbill

Morning mist at the river

Cruising along Menanggul River for wildlife

 

Slender-billed Crow

 

Black & Red Broadbill

The endangered Proboscis Monkey which is only found in Borneo

A flock of Bushy-crested Hornbill

Unidentified butterfly ? Anyone

Maldin fixing the sport light at Mud Volcano Tower, Tabin while staying for a night waiting for the Bornean Clouded Leopard

 

Caterpillar from the restaurant

Happy birding folks :)

Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)

15th December 2009

It was a bit late when I arrived at Penampang paddy field for the Great Bittern yesterday. Denis and Karim with 2 other friends has been there since in the morning. Sky was a bit dark too and decided to check if any Sand Martin around as I have seen this species at Kota Belud and Tuaran district last time.

And yes ! There were a single Sand Martin perched on the electric cable mixing together with the Pacific and Barn Swallow hehehe. No Great Bittern for me but a lifer for the gang :)

Other key species seen here:

• Common Kestrel
• Great Bittern
  
• Buff-banded Rail
• Slaty-breasted Rail
• Ruddy-breasted Crake
• Watercock
  
• Dunlin
• Temminck's Stint
• Black Drongo
• Black-collared Starling

Record shots and digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, FSA-L1 adapter and D300s.

Penampang paddy field.

Rare winter visitor and only in small number seen in Sabah.

Good comparison between Sand Martin and Barn Swallow and the latter is a common winter visitor arriving in big numbers.

Barn Swallow.

Wood Sandpiper.

As a celebration for the new lifer, I was treated with free lunch hahaha :p and happy birding folks !

Aleutian Tern In Flight Mode

18th November 2009

Correction - This is a Whiskered Tern instead of Aleutian Tern corrected by Chris Kehoe :) Thanks a lot my friend hehehe :o

New record for Sabah, first seen on the 11th September 2009 between Sipadan and Mabul Island on the East Coast and photographed by my friend, Wong Tsu Shi. And recently after recovered from my fever, spent few hours around the fish market and at the Waterfront and managed to grabbed few in flight shots of this pretty looking bird mixing with Whiskered and White-winged Tern.

Taken with Nikon D300s and 70-200 2.8 VR lens. Cropped 50% and processed with Capture NX2.

Dark trailing edges to under wing secondaries is the main ID for this bird.

Aleutian Tern (Onychoprion aleuticus) in non-breeding plumage.

Happy birding folks hehehe :)

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.

Cede Prudente

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 :)