Penampang Paddy Field Part II ~ Black-tailed Godwit

22nd October 2012


I was planning to visit Tempasuk at Kota Belud last Saturday after Jonathan and CK saw the Black-tailed Godwit and Asiatic Dowitcher ! But it was raining the whole day and postponed to next week with the gang. But my instinct was telling me to check again the Penampang paddy field for the Northern Lapwing.

But I go this one upon scanning the field for interesting birds than the usual stuff !

Black-tailed Godwit !

I have only seen this once in Tuaran few years ago and considered scare visitor and passage migrant to North Borneo than the Black-tailed Godwit.

Below is the link for video recorded with Nikon Fieldscope EDG85 + FSA-L2 + Nikon D300s

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151094598857055&set=vb.688052054&type=2&theater

By the way, Andrew saw again the Black Drongo on the same area with this Black-tailed Godwit this morning. Will try to see if I can get a pics of it tomorrow.

Happy birding !

Penampang Paddy Field Part I ~ Black-winged Stilt

21st October 2012

Spent 2 hours watching birds at one of the hot spot for migratory birds in Penampang paddy field yesterday hoping to see Northern Lapwing ! Despite the rain, from my car, birds were seen feeding as usual. Last year in October, there were Oriental Plover, Ruff and Little Curlew plus Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Tufted Duck and Northern Shoveler ...

The list of visitors seen :

1. 2 Grey Heron among the flocks of Egrets
2. Juvenile Rufous Night Heron
3. Striated Heron
4. Great Egret
5. Intermediate Egret
6. Little Egret
7. Cattle Egret
8. Wood Sandpiper
9. Marsh Sandpiper
10. Common Greenshank
11. Long-toed Stint
12. Black-winged Stilt ~ Mostly juvenile
13. Whiskered Tern
14. Common Kestrel ~ It was attacking the flocks of Black-headed Munia few times with Black-shouldered Kite

 Ready for the next planting

Recently harvested 

Good comparison between Marsh Sandpiper (top) and Common Greenshank (above)

Juvenile Black-winged Stilt, used to be rare in North Borneo according to my friend CK. Now you will see them every year from September - April during the migratory season.

As I mentioned on my last posting about the 4th Borneo Bird Festival, check this posting belong to Jessie http://jessie-kan.blogspot.com/2012/10/borneo-bird-festival-2012-kinabalu-park.html. 

Happy birding !

Birding With The Synders

28th September - 3rd October

Working in Asia provides opportunities for The Synders to visit some of the exotic birding places such as Taiwan and after spending a week in Thailand, Borneo was their next destination. During the trip, it produces some of the finest birds found in my place such as Rufous-collared Kingfisher, Brown-backed Needletail and Whitehead's Trogon.

The Synders both equipped with the latest gadget from Canon !

Weather was good except it was raining heavily on the way back to Sukau Greenview Bed & Breakfast Lodge, Kinabatangan River at one afternoon. All wet ! The trip ended at Mt. Kinabalu.

Images taken with Nikon D300s + 300mm 2.8 VR II

Black & Red Broadbill

Rufous-collared Kingfisher

Converted to Glow in the Dark with CS5 ~ Purple Heron in flight at the river

With the boat man Asi at the river

Sun rise at Kinabatangan River ...

Indigo Flycatcher, my favorite !

Eyebrowed Jungle Flycatcher, one of the endemic at Mt. Kinabalu

From left to right; John, myself, Hal and Kirsten at Kinabalu National Park

 My next posting would be the recent 4th Borneo Bird Festival held at Mt. Kinabalu.

Happy birding folks !

Orange-breasted Trogon Mission ...

23rd - 26th August 2012

With the gang recently at Sinua Village that sits on the foot of Mt. Trusmadi, stayed for few nights with Denis Ikon, one of the well known birder with excellent in vocalization of birds and wildlife, with the mission of seeing one of the rarest Trogon in North Borneo, Orange-breasted Trogon !

Key species seen and heard :

• Helmeted Hornbill
• Rhinoceros Hornbill
• Wreathed Hornbill
• Blue-banded Pitta
• Bornean Banded Pitta
• Orange-breasted Trogon
• Pygmy Ibon
• Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker (Seen last year by Dennis)

Images taken with Nikon D300s + 300mm 2.8 VR II + TC1.4x + 28mm 2.8

Road construction expected to be completed in 2014. Means the journey to Sinua Village will take lesser 1 to 2 hours !

A bit chilly after the rain while waiting for the generator set. From left to right, John, myself, Hazel, Ron and Andrew

Climbing up the Summit Trail up to 1000m elevation for the Orange-breasted Trogon and Bornean Banded Pitta

The elusive Orange-breasted Trogon, similar size with Scarlet-rumped Trogon and very shy too. My Trogons for Borneo now completed.

Grey Wagtail, a common winer visitor from North Asia and also used as an indicator for the villagers to start planting their hill rice

Red-billed Malkoha

Borneo Bird Club President, Gary checking his pictures of the Red-billed Malkoha while waiting for the river to subsides

Sinua Village with well maintained landscape etc and majority here is the Dusun tribe.

Happy birding !

Helmeted Hornbill

7th August 2012

The largest Hornbill in the world and rare by its status in Borneo itself besides White-crowned and Wreathed Hornbill. My first sighting at Kinabatangan River in 2003 near Pangi Hill then after many years, heard and it was responding the playback after few minutes. A pair flew near the boat at Oxbow Lake providing excellent pictures with blue sky !

Other notable species seen with Daniel and Arlief during their 6 days trip with me and John Bakar recently was :

• Crimson-headed Partridge
• Red-breasted Partridge
• Wreathed Hornbill
• Fruithunter
• Bornean Pygmy Elephant

Taken with Nikon D300s + 300mm 2.8 VR II

Female with white throat

Record shot of this elusive Bornean Ground Cuckoo

A very healthy dominant male Orang Utan !

Happy birding !

Rhinoceros Hornbill

23rd July - 2nd August 2012

 

A pair or Rhinoceros Hornbill feeding at one of the Fig tree together with Green Imperial Pigeon, Pink-necked Green Pigeon and many more at Kinabatangan River recently on tour with John Bakar, Linda and John Mckean from US.

Managed to get over 150 birds with pictures for John started from Mt. Kinabalu and ended at Tabin Wildlife Reserve. Dipped on the Bristlehead at Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sepilok but excellent view of the female Rufous-collared Kingfisher, Barred Eagle Owl, Whitehead's Spiderhunter and Helmeted Hornbill with Bornean Pygmy Elephant.

They are currently at Fraser's Hill with Durai for more birds until the 5th August.

Images taken with Nikon D300s + 300mm 2.8 VR II and TC1.4x for certain pictures

Juvenile Black-sided Flowerpecker enjoying the Medinilla fruits at Mt. Kinabalu

Black-crowned Night Heron

Bornean Pygmy Elephant with their jumbo in the middle

Endemic Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush, one of Babbler at the mountain

From left to right; John, John Bakar and Linda looking at the Plaintive Cuckoo, Sepilok

I will be away again from tomorrow until the 9th August. Happy birding !

Buffy Fish Owl ...

19th July 2012

Saw this pretty Owl day time at Menanggul river while cruising for the rare Bornean Ground Cuckoo (with excellent view !) with John and John Seymour from Australia. The 5 days trip came out with Bornean Bristlehead, Violet Cuckoo, White-crowned Hornbill, Rufous-collared Kingfisher, Bornean Falconet plus 4 Orang Utan including one immature, albino Silver Leaf Monkey and the elusive Bornean Pygmy Elephant.

Taken with Nikon D300s + 300mm 2.8 VR II at f2.8, ISO 800, 1/100s

Will be on tour again this Monday until the 2nd August with a couple from US. Hope luck will be on my side for the Blue-banded Kingfisher at Tabin Wildlife Reserve

Happy birding !

Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush

12th July 2012

Final day at Mt. Kinabalu with John Lobel, still failed to see the Whitehead's Trogon even though John have seen it a week earlier with his group, but the desire for better view that made the walked in the trails enjoyable despite seeing only few usual birds such as Mt. Leaf Warbler, Bornean Whistler, White-throated Fantail etc

Below is one of my favorite shot taken with Nikon D300s + 300mm 2.8 VR II while waiting for the Blacks-sided Flowerpecker ...

Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush, a common endemic found at the mountains in Borneo

I will be away again from the 16th - 20th to Sandakan, hope to get Bornean Bristlehead and Bornean Ground Cuckoo !

Happy birding !

Birding With Bobby & Tracey

11th - 23rd June 2012

Had a wonderful trip with Bobby and Tracey recently at the usual hot spots for birding plus wildlife despite the dry spell and only had rain on my final evening at Tabin Wildlife Reserve. Some of the key species seen per Quentin Philipps's Bird of Borneo :

• Red-breasted Partridge
• Storm's Stork
• Lesser Adjutant
• Bornean Falconet
• Jerdon's Baza
• Thick-billed Green Pigeon
• Dark Hawk Cuckoo
• Short-toed Coucal
• Barred Eagle Owl
• Whitehead's Trogon
• Helmeted Hornbill
• White-bellied Woodpecker
• Bornean Banded Pitta
• Blue-headed Pitta
• Bornean Ibon
• Everett's Thrush 
• Whitehead's Spiderhunter

Mammals list as per Junaidi Payne's Mammals of Borneo :

• Lesser Gymnure
• Common Treeshrew
• MountainTreeshrew
• Maroon Langur
• Silver Langur
• Proboscis Monkey
• Long-tailed Macaque
• Pig-tailed Macaque
• Bornean Gibbon
• Orang Utan
• Giant Squirrel
• Prevost's Squirrel
• Bornean Black-banded Squirrel
• Plantain Squirrel
• Ear-spot Squirrel
• Jentink's Squirrel
• Whitehead's Pygmy Squirrel
• Plain Pygmy Squirrel
• Yellow-throated Marten
• Oriental Small-clawed Otter
• Masked Palm Civet
• Common Palm Civet
• Leopard Cat
• Bornean Pygmy Elephant
• Bearded Pig
• Lesser Mouse Deer
• Greater Mouse Deer

Images taken with Nikon D300s + 80-400mm VR

Mt. Wren Babbler, one of the endemic found at Mt. Kinabalu

Little Pied Flycatcher

The elusive Whitehead's Trogon !

Elmer and Tracey at Mesilau Sub-station

Lesser Gymure, a rare species mainly at the mountain

The commonest Bornean Black-banded Squirrel mainly seen along the Summit Trail

My favorite Whitehead's Pygmy Squirrel

The endemic Bornean Whistler

Prevost's Squirrel

Rufous Woodpecker, one of the commonest Woodpecker at Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sepilok

One of the diet for Little and Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter, the banana inflorescence

Grey-rumped Treeswift

Orang Utan

 

Black & Yellow Broadbill

Long-tailed Parakeet

The only resident Red-bearded Bee Eater at North Borneo

Juvenile White-bellied Fish Eagle

 

Near sunset at Kinabatangan River...

Lesser Fish Eagle

Wrinkled Hornbill

Oriental Darter in hunting mode

Lesser Adjutant

Crested Serpent Eagle

Bornean Pygmy Elephant, the smallest in the world

Brahminy Kite

Silver Langur

Wallace's Hawk Eagle

Scanning for Hornbill at the View Point, Tabin together with Ricky and Pailin, the resident naturalist

On my last visit to Tabin Wildlife Lodge in May 2010, it looked different now. More options of food for visitors plus the newly installed WiFi in the restaurant is a welcomed because everyone is using smartphone nowadays to communicate and it is useful for latest update of wildlife sighting in Tabin to the outside world.

Other features I like the new canopy walkway above the small river near the restaurant and also the bird feeder. But during my 4 days at Tabin, the feeder was empty. I will visit Tabin again next month and hope that time, food would be available at the feeder for photo opportunity !

Tracey and Bobby is currently at Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Danum Valley to get few more birds plus other mammals for their trip.

Happy birding !