Birding With Lee and the Gang

14th - 21st June 2015

8 days birdwatching with Lee's group from Australia, it was a good and fun trip exploring parts of Sabah on its usual hotspots that teemed with abundant wildlife, the people and excellent scenery. The creepy part was at Mt Kinabalu after the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that claim 18 lives last June the 5th. Walking down from Timpohon Gate to the HQ, the usual sound and sight of vehicles driving along the road is almost non-existent! We were the only visitors that time and saw 2 more others walking down on the road too. Highlight was the Bornean Ibon, Crimson-headed and Red-breasted Partridge seen through the Swarovski STX 95 scope!

Saw many at Sepilok Forest Reserve such as Rufous-collared Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Eagle and also Violet Cuckoo. At Kinabatangan River, no sound of the Bornean Ground Cuckoo but a bonus of an excellent view of the Bornean Chestnut-necklaced Partridge!

Images taken with Nikon D300s + 300mm 2.8 VR II + TC1.4x and Swarovski STX 95 + TLS APO + Nikon V1 ~ All Rights Reserved ©

Majestic Mt Kinabalu from Kinabalu Pine Resort

As part of the program, a visit to Kundasang and Sandakan War Memorial to honoured those who perished during the WWII

Rain the whole days at the mountain...

At Sandakan War Memorial

 

Cruising at Kinabatangan River

  

Little Cuckoo Dove

 

Black Hornbile female

Blue-eared Kingfisher

Green Agamid Lizard caught a Cicada

Record shot of these shy Bornean Chestnut-necklaced Partridge!

Little Egret

Stork-billed Kingfisher, the largest of its kind in Sabah

 

Pretty looking Wrinkled Hornbill

Happy birding everyone!



For birdwatching/bird photography tours, please check my other blog http://birdersofborneo.blogspot.com/

This post is Supported by Sandakan Foto

Yellow-vented Bulbul

4th June 2015

One of the common birds found up to Mt Kinabalu in Sabah. Other similar looking is the Pale-faced Bulbul, endemic to Borneo at the mountain. These particular species has a black stripe on the crown and short crest erected when it gets excited!

Digiscoped with Swarovski STX 95 + TLS APO + Nikon V1 ~ 30x = 2430mm. All Rights Reserved ©

Usually in pair and both are identical in sexes.

Happy birding!

For birdwatching/bird photography tours, please check my other blog http://birdersofborneo.blogspot.com/

This post is Supported by Sandakan Foto

Scaly-breasted Munia

1st June 2015

Another common garden birds in Sabah which is found mostly at the paddy field mixing with others such as Dusky Munia and Black-headed Munia. Considered a pest too when it formed big mixed flocks during the harvesting seasons.

Digiscoped with Swarovski STX 95 + TLS APO + Nikon V1 ~ 30x = 2430mm. All Rights Reserved ©

 

Male and female is identical.

Happy birding!

For birdwatching/bird photography tours, please check my other blog http://birdersofborneo.blogspot.com/

This post is Supported by Sandakan Foto

Asian Glossy Starling

28th May 2015

One of the garden birds found in Sabah and diets includes Papaya that is commonly grown around by the locals as ornamental plants. These Starling also lives in flock and known as a Burung Selangkir in Malay language.

Digiscoped with Swarovski STX 95 + TLS APO + Nikon V1 ~ 30x = 2430mm. All Rights Reserved ©

 

Happy birding!

For birdwatching/bird photography tours, please check my other blog http://birdersofborneo.blogspot.com/

This post is Supported by Sandakan Foto

Fun Birding With Alex, Alison and Katie from USA

16th - 25th March 2015

It was fun having a young birdwatchers to Sabah, Borneo for the rainforest, birds, mammals, the people etc. Despite the unusual warm weather experienced during the trip, we did well with wildlife such as Bornean Bristlehead, Orang Utan, Whitehead's Broadbill and the awesome Mountain Serpent Eagle perched on the electric cable at Mt Kinabalu!

We struggled a bit for the Pitta at Danum and the water level were low too at Kinabatangan River, but we didn't managed to get any nocturnal mammals during the night cruise. Mt Kinabalu is excellent as usual and the changes of weather from too warm to chilly cold was very obvious.

Images taken with Swarovski STX 95 + TLS APO + Nikon V1, Nikon D300s + 300mm 2.8 VR II and Blackberry Z10

One of the rarest bird in Borneo, this could be the first documented image of Mt Serpent Eagle up close! 

Mt Kinabalu from the plane to Lahad Datu in the morning...

Rhinoceros Beetle waited for visitors on the water refilling station, Danum Valley

Katie, Alex and Alison enjoying the view of tropical rainforest on the first morning at Danum Valley

Birdwatching with Swarovski STX 95 along the access road at Danum Valley

Canopy Walkway with Lister

Danum river

Looking at the Scarlet-rumped Trogon

Cruising at Kinabatangan River for mammals and birds

A visit to Gomantong Cave for the bird nests

Waiting for the vagrant Siberian Rubythroat at Mt Kinabalu

Coffee + Kit Kat at Timpohon Gate!

Majestic Mt Kinabalu from Kundasang town

Bornean Spiderhunter on the banana flower @ Alex

Pacific Swallow, resident in Sabah

What a treat seeing a pair of Red-bearded Bee Eater near the canopy walkway at Danum

Diard's Trogon

Small but loud of this Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher

Dark-sided Flycatcher, visitor from North Asia

Popular cage bird, this White-crowned Shama is native to Sabah

Buffy Fish Owl, during the night cruise at Kinabatangan River

White-breasted Waterhen

Blue-eared Kingfisher

Salt Water Croc

Stork-billed Kingfisher, the largest in Sabah

Fast flying Long-tailed Parakeet

 

 Oriental Darter aka Snakebird

The girls continued their trip to Mulu National Park and Alex flew back to Las Vegas. Thanks guys for some of the best trip I have ever had!

Happy birding!

For birdwatching/bird photography tours, please check my other blog http://birdersofborneo.blogspot.com/

This post is Supported by Sandakan Foto