Bulbuls Frenzy !

15th - 18th February 2011

On my recent trip at Tambunan Rafflesia Centre and Kinabalu National Park with Rob, saw few fruiting and flowering trees that attracted many birds and one particular tree at Poring Hot Spring Sub-station, lots of Bulbuls such as Black-headed, Streaked, Puff-backed and Cream-vented Bulbul plus other species; Asian Fairy Bluebird, Whitehead's Spiderhunter (picture above) etc

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

Streaked Bulbul

Black-headed Bulbul

Cinereus Bulbul

Scaly-breasted Bulbul




My lifer, Black & White Bulbul !

Happy birding !

Long-tailed Broadbill (Psarisomus dalhousiae)

12th February 2011

A day visit at Tambunan Rafflesia Centre with Joe and Sis produced few interesting birds with pictures especially the Long-tailed Broadbill as seen here with Whitehead's Spiderhunter and my lifer the sub-adult Rusty-breasted Cuckoo :)

These pair was seen feeding nearby and then flew into their nest just above my head on the same tree with the elusive Whitehead's Spiderhunter feeding nectars on the reddish colour flowers.

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

500mm ~ Cropped with Nikon Capture NX2

Sometimes birders referred this bird as wearing helmet !

Feeding the female

Happy birding folks and I will be away on birding tours until the end of March. Will update my blog while on the move :)

Black-capped Kingfisher (Halcyon pileata)

7th February 2011

One of the uncommon visitor to Sabah, North Borneo seen recently at Kinarut paddy field about 30 minutes drive from Kota Kinabalu city.

Taken with Nikon D300s on 80-400mm VR

Happy birding !

Mission Completed - Hook-billed Bulbul !

22nd - 23rd January 2011

At last !

2nd achievement by finding these elusive Hook-billed Bulbul with the gang from BBC @ Keting2 :)

Digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope EDG85 via Nikon FSA-L2 DSLR Photo adapter on Nikon D3s

Taken at ISO 12800

Happy birding !

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

13th January 2011

Common winter visitor from September - April in my place and some of the shots taken yesterday while waiting for the Eurasian Teal for some action shot.

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

It caught 2 Damselfly !

Happy shooting !

White-breasted Wood Swallow (Artamus leucorynchus)

One of my favorite bird in North Borneo and can be seen easily around the paddy field hawking for insects and bees. Territorial bird and lives in pair, sometimes formed a big flocks up to 20 birds. I have seen it attacking bird of prey especially Brahminy Kite and Osprey !

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

Happy shooting !

Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca)

9th January 2011

Series of images captured at Tuaran district after being informed by friend the present of a pair of Eurasian Teal nearby the Chinese Temple. Considered vagrant visitor to North Borneo and making up total 6 species of Ducks has been recorded in Tuaran district.

• Eurasian Teal
• Garganey
• Tufted Duck
• Northern Pintail
• Northern Shoveler
• Wandering Whistling Duck

My new lifer for 2011 together with the gang yesterday observing and trying to get some good images of this elusive duck but unfortunately, it spent most of its time sleeping the whole day !

Digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope EDG85 via Nikon FSA-L2 DSLR Photo Adapter on Nikon D300s and edited with Nikon Capture NX2

The female on the right showed more rufous on the underparts ? Anyone idea ?

Happy birding !

Tufted Duck Behavior

Observing the Tufted Duck while getting the best shots is pretty interesting. Below is some of the example both by male and female after feeding.

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

Time to cool down from the heat of the day

I like when they stretched their wings !

Then feeding time again :)

Happy birding !

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passur montanus)

Commonest and the only Sparrow recorded in North Borneo. It was first sighted in 1964 and slowly establishing around Sabah. These was digiscoped at home at one evening ...

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

500mm ~ Cropped 33% and edited with Nikon Capture NX2

Merry Christmas for all my readers and thanks for your supports !

Waders At Lok Kawi Beach

On my recent visit to Lok Kawi beach hoping for White-faced Plover, only saw common winter visitors at the beach such as Kentish Plover, Malaysian Sand Plover, Grey Plover, Greater and Lesser Sand Plover, Terek Sandpiper, Little and Great Egret

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

Grey Plover

Greater Sand Plover

Ruddy Turnstone

Lesser Sand Plover

Happy birding !

Hook-billed Bulbul Mission

7th - 8th December 2010

A short visit to Klias Peatswamp Forest Reserve with the gang recently searching for the elusive Hook-billed Bulbul, only seen and photographed by Seng before the rained that lasted for an hour !

Total of 55 birds seen and key species recorded at the Centre :

• Chestnut-bellied Malkoha
• Common Goldenback
• Red-crowned Barbet
• Bornean Magpie

Pictures digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope EDG85 via Nikon FSA-L2 DSLR Photo Adapter on Nikon D300s together with 30x eyepiece and Nikon Coolpix P7000

Hostel provided by the Centre with air condition and WiFi

Waiting for the Hook-billed Bulbul

3 km long boardwalk with shelters every 100 metres

Then it rained ...

Shooting at Dragonfly

Alven and Chai busy with the Sticky Frog

Common Goldenback

Chestnut-bellied Malkoha

Black-naped Monarch

Long-tailed Parakeet

Sticky Frog sp.

Pacific Swallow

Interesting lookin Dragonfly & Damselfy seen during the trip. At least 4 species was recorded there

Good birding !