Birders Of Sabah Borneo Island

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Birding with Fernando and the gang

11-24th September 2022

The trip supposed to commenced in 2020 but due to the Covid19 stuff etc, the group arrived early September and birding started around Tempasuk Plain and Kuala Abai, Kota Belud and we got the Common and Black-naped Tern with Temminck's Stint, Oriental Pratincole. Then a must visit garden at Tg. Aru Beach for the Blue-naped Parrot and Long-tailed Parakeet, Collared Kingfisher, Dusky Munia (endemic) and Green Imperial Pigeon.

The next few days at Danum Valley Field Centre proved to be a bit tough for those Pittas but Striped and Black-throated Wren-Babbler gave some compensation for the group including Bornean Bristlehead, Chestnut-naped Forktail, Green Broadbill and Great Slaty Woodpecker.

They continued the trip at Kinabatangan River with Romzi and got the Large Frogmouth and along the access road to Gomantong Cave, we nailed the Bat Hawk in the open, Rufous-collared Kingfisher and their first Black-headed Pitta!

Hooded Pitta and Copper-throated Sunbird showed well at Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sepilok and Whitehead's Trogon, Everett's Thrush, Mountain Blackeye, Fruithunter and Crimson-headed with Red-breasted Partridge were the star birds at Mt. Kinabalu and Mt. Alab.

The trip ended with Nankeen's Night Heron at Sembulan Waterfront, Kota Kinabalu with a total of 200++ species were recorded.

Sabah Chestnut-necklaced Partridge digiscoped with Swarovski Optik STX95 + smartphone

Thick-billed Green Pigeon taken with Swarovski Optik STX95 spotting scope + smartphone

Short stop at Zudir Platform, Taviu Hill, Telupid

At Mt. Kinabalu for the Whitehead's Broadbill :D

John and Ron admires the sunrise from Mt. Alab, Tambunan

With Fernando and Jose

Looking at the Malay Civet under the truck

The common migrant; Asian Brown Flycatcher

Waiting for the Rufous-collared Kingfisher

Bat Hawk from the roadside at Kinabatangan River digiscoped with Swarovski Optik STX95 spotting scope + smartphone

Swarovski Optik cap

Watching the Black & Yellow Broadbill from the tower at Danum Valley

Fernando points at the Mountain Blackeye to the group

Short footage of the Sabah Chestnut-necklaced Partridge

Happy birding everyone!

Thursday, September 8, 2022

Birding with Sergey and the gang

24th August - 4th September 2022

As the continuation for my Sabah Big Year 2022, I led a group of bird photographers from Russia for 12 days trip around Sabah and my current list at 440 birds out of 500 species so far. During the trip, we got some of the key species seen and photographed such as;

Blue-banded Pitta
Blue-headed Pitta
Mt. Wren-Babbler
Striped Wren-Babbler
Black-throated Wren-Babbler
Whitehead's Broadbill
Whitehead's Spiderhunter
Mt. Blackeye
Fruithunter
Bulwer's Pheasant
Crested Partridge and
Bornean Peacock-Pheasant

Heard the Bulwer's Pheasant and Rail-Babbler but still no luck for these elusive birds. Quite surprising, did not get to see the Whitehead's Trogon and Mountain Serpent Eagle during the fine weather at Mt. Kinabalu and Mt. Alab...

I will be off for another 15 days birding in Sabah with clients from Spain. Hope I will be able to get around 460 birds before October...

Gary scans the mudflat with Swarovski STX95 spotting scope

Taman Harmoni mudflat for migratory birds

At Gomantong Caves

Birding from the canopy walkway

With fellow tour guide Lily and Chloe at Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sepilok

Red-naped Trogon

Buff-necked Woodpecker

Swarovski Optik...

Shooting the Rhinoceros Hornbill during the 10km dusk drive

Night drive at Tabin considered one of the best in Sabah!

The shy Brown Wood Owl

Walkway connecting the rooms at Tabin to the Otter Deck, Suspension Bridge and to the restaurant

Tomanggong Road, one of the best place for birding in Tabin

Bornean Pygmy Squirrel, the smallest in the world found in the lowland rainforest

Striped Wren-Babbler, so photogenic!

Tabin Wildlife Reserve has the biggest mud volcano in Sabah and act as an important source of mineral for wildlife such as Sambar Deer, Large Green Pigeon, Wild Boar and also Civets

The rare endemic Black-throated Wren-Babbler

Wild mushroom grows on the death log

Short briefing before the walk to the Bornean Peacock-Pheasant hide in Telupid

Another endemic the Pale-faced Bulbul were split from the Flavesent Bulbul

Golden-naped Barbet, one of the endemic birds found in Borneo

Snowy-browed Flycatcher, one of my favourite from the mountains in Sabah

Hide for the Partridges

End road for Mt. Alab, best place for Orange-headed Thrush and Crimson-headed Partridge

With Sergey on the roadside of Tambunan Rafflesia Centre

Watching the Golden-bellied Gerygone

Dark Hawk-Cuckoo near the gate at Mt. Trusmadi

Mahua River where I normally see the Bornean Forktail and Dayak Blue Flycatcher

Upgrading work in progress now for the Kaingaran-Trusmadi road

Happy birding!

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Birding with Mel, Trinket and Adrian

12-17th July 2022

We drove at midnight from Kota Kinabalu International Airport to Mt. Kinabalu and stayed for 2 nights and saw the Fruithunter on our first morning at Kinabalu Park HQ. Whitehead's Broadbill and Trogon were visible as well including the tiny Bornean Stubtail with its high pitch tone captured on the phone by Mel!

On our way to Sepilok, we tried the Blue-banded Pitta but no respond were heard then upon reaching the My Nature Resort, we were greeted with Lesser and Greater Green Leafbird feeding on the fruiting tree in front of the lobby with Red-eyed Bulbul and also Malaysian Pied Fantail. Bornean Bristlehead were seen on the next afternoon and it stayed until we left the viewing platform with another bonus of the rare Greater Mousedeer!

For Kinabatangan River, no sound of the Bornean Ground-Cuckoo but it was compensated with White-crowned Hornbill, Bornean Falconet, Bat Hawk and Sabah Chestnut-necklaced Partridge seena and photographed less than 5 metres from the boat!

I managed to get 6 new birds for my Sabah Big Year 2022 and with a total of 177 species recorded for the trip: