Birders Of Sabah Borneo Island

Bilit Rainforest Lodge

2009-07-04T11:25:00.011+08:00

1st - 3rd July 2009

Spent few days at this lovely new lodge which begun its operation last year and has been receiving constant visitors to enjoyed the wildlife such as Orang Utan and Proboscis Monkey along the Kinabatangan River and the facilities offered by the lodge itself is superb !

Internet room plus Wifi (Wifi didn't work well unfortunately, hope they will fix it soon).
Optional caterpillar shoes and leech socks for visitor chargeable daily RM 15 per person for trekking at oxbow lake.

Each building that houses 2 rooms is connected by walkway

View of the restaurant from the pier

Pier with boats for cruising along the river

Map of the lodge plus trails to Oxbow lake

View of the forest and good place for birds such as Dusky Munia, Crested Serpent Eagle and Blue-eared Barbet

Spacious room with 2 twins and 1 single bed with air condition and fan

Living room with satellite television

Dining area

The bird life around the lodge and surrounding areas is good and the closest smaller river from the lodge is the Tanegang Besar. Heard Bornean Ground Cuckoo and saw a Hooded Pitta on the 2nd day in the morning but it was only brief.

Aboundant Raptors such as Lesser Fish Eagle, Bat Hawk and Crested Goshawk together with 5 species of Hornbill i.e Rhinoceros and Bushy-crested Hornbill.

JD the boatman, Alven and Chai waiting for the Bornean Ground Cuckoo

Wrinkled Hornbill

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha

Lesser Fish Eagle seen daily

Green Broadbill digiscoped at Oxbow lake

Common resident at the lodge, Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Lesser Adjutant

Blue-eared Kingfisher

Oriental Pied Hornbill

Crested Serpent Eagle caught sleeping

Images digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn Mk II adapter and Fujifilm F31D

The lodge is situated at Bilit village which is around 120 km from Sandakan city on the east coast of Sabah. Daily direct flights from Kota Kinabalu is available and for journey via land, it takes 5 hours drive passing through one of the best landscape scenary in Borneo.

For more info, please visit their website at http://www.tropicalg.com/

Thanks to Chai Cherong Absolute Borneo for the trip and Alven for the laugh hahaha :)

Nikon Photography Workshop And Fieldscope EDG 85

2009-06-26T09:05:00.016+08:00

20th - 21st June 2009

The 1st Nikon Photography Workshop in Sandakan held at Rainforest Discovery Centre was a big success with more than expected last minute participants registered on the first day even though all seats was booked a week before the event.

At the same time, Nikon Malaysia decided to unvield the new Nikon Fieldscope EDG 85 in Malaysia with a selling price around RM 13k for body and the eyepiece. It was officiated by the Honourable Mr. Au Kam Wah, State Assembly for Elopura Parliment during the workshop.

From a quick test done by me and few others friends, it is cleared that the EDG 85 is brighter, sharper and more contrast than the ED82 using the same 38x eyepiece on both scopes. The test lasted until sunset and colour fringing is invisible for the EDG 85 while looking at bird against the grey sky.

Now I need the EDG 85 and compare it with my friends's Kowa 883 and 884 to see who is the king of spotting scopes !

Some of the pictures taken during the workshop and courtesy of my best friend, John Prudente and Tee from Nikon Malaysia.

Registration counter

John Kong with Landscape Photography and Capture Nx2

Participants throughout the state

Kavid Yan from Nikon Malaysia for Nikon Creative Lightning

Jollence Lee in Wedding Photography

Seng, Mark, Me and Syakila

Mr. Sim (middle) Regional Manager for Nikon Malaysia with Kelvin Chan for Portrait Photography

Group Photo

John Kong with his new Mac !

Cede Prudente for Nature Photography

From left to right; Kavid, Irene, John Prudente, Carol Prudente and Mr. Sim

Hahaha future Nikon ads ? :p

Crested Serpent Eagle captured with 18-70mm lens !

John Bakar

Gary Albert

Dan Fiel @ Dulce

Dan and Carol

Birding and Digiscoping in Sabah by me :)

Officiating the new Nikon Fieldscope EDG 85

Enjoying the view from the new scope

The straight EDG 85 construction is similar like Nikon Telephoto Lens and getting on the target if faster than the old ED82

Pied Fantail

Rufous Night Heron

Special thanks for Irene and her staffs from Sandakan Foto for the workshop. See you on the next workshop hehehe :)

My next birding tour is on the 10th until 25th of July and at this moment, attending my brother in law wedding ceremony until this Sunday.

Happy birding !

Rajah Brooke Birdwing Butterfly Vs Plain Pygmy Squirrel

2009-06-17T12:52:00.004+08:00

16th June 2009

As I walked back from the Kingfisher spot yesterday heading to my car, I couldn't believe I saw clean perched and eye level of this biggest butterfly in the world ! Hahaha after many years seeing this beauty in flight resembled like black colour bird, now I got the shot using my scope :p (Almost impossible to digiscoped when it was flying around)

And one of the smallest squirrel in the world is this resident species in Borneo, Plain Pygmy Squirrel measuring from head to taill, 13 inch. Feeds on algae that grow on a tree trunk and one of the fastest squirrel i have seen moved and jumped from tree to tree.

As usual, birding a bit slow nowadays with less activity in the forest. Only 2 species of birds was digiscoped recently.

Large Woodshrike

Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot

I will be off to Sandakan this Friday attending workshop and giving talk about birding and digiscoping in Sabah during the Nikon Workshop at Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sepilok.

Happy birding and hope to see you there :)

Green Broadbill

2009-06-01T09:58:00.003+08:00

31st May 2009

Spent the Harvest Festival with Andrew and Gwenda at Lok Kawi hoping for the Black-backed Kingfisher. Despite arriving in the afternoon, action only begun after 3pm hahaha :p

This is the shots of Green Broadbill and considered as uncommon species in Borneo. The female yesterday was more cooperative than the male and while digiscoping the female, I did not realized the male was only less than a metre below ! So I got the female and Andrew had the male :)

Digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn Mk II adapter and Fujifilm F31D

Metallic green colour of this male

Female

Happy birding everyone.

Rufous-collared Kingfisher

2009-05-26T19:04:00.006+08:00

26th May 2009

Thanks to Chai for the info of the Rufous-collared Kingfisher at Lok Kawi Park. Today I went there with Karim and less than few minutes waiting, suddenly the male flew past us and landed exactly in front of me :p

Enjoy the pictures and digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn Mk II adapter and Fujifilm F31D

This particular male was seen at one time perched only a metre from Karim !

Female was a bit shy for the camera. Hope can get better angle next time hahaha :p

Good birding :)

Nikon Photography Workshop 20th - 21st June 2009

2009-05-24T16:40:00.010+08:00

In conjuction with Sandakan Fest 2009, Sandakan Foto and Nikon Malaysia will be conducting a Nikon Photography Workshop for the public. Talks will be conducted by experts in their respected fields and details of the program as shown below :

Location : Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sepilok, Sandakan

Dateline for sign up : 13th June 2009 (Saturday)

20th June 2009 Workshop A

0830 - 0930 hrs : Registration & Tea Reception (RDC Balcony)
0900 - 1700 hrs : Basic Digital Photography by Kelvin Chan (Kuala Lumpur)
1200 - 1300 hrs : Lunch (Lakeside Pavilion)
1500 - 1530 hrs : Tea Breal (RDC Pavilion)

Registration Fee : RM 25 (With Voucher RM 25 Redeemable at Sandakan Foto)
Limited Participants : 50

20th June 2009 Workshop B

0830 - 0900 hrs : Registration & Tea Reception (RDC Corridor)
0900 - 1200 hrs : Introduction To Landscape Photography by John Kong (Kota Kinabalu)
Nature Photography by Cede Prudente (Sandakan)
1200 - 1300 hrs : Lunch (Lakeside Pavilion)
1300 - 1700 hrs : Post Production With Capture NX2 by John Kong (Kota Kinabalu)
1500 - 1530 hrs : Tea Break (RDC Corridor)

Registration Fee : RM 40 (With Voucher RM 20 Redeemable at Sandakan Foto)
Limited Participant : 30
Prerequisite For Participants : Laptop with Nikon Capture NX2 installed & few own images to work with

21st June 2009 Workshop C

0830 - 1000 hrs : Photography Business by Jollence Lee
1000 - 1030 hrs : Tea Break (RDC Balcony)
1030 - 1200 hrs : Nikon Creative Lighting System by Mr Kavid Yan (Nikon Technical Support)
1200 - 1300 hrs : Lunch (Lakeside Pavilion)
1300 - 1700 hrs : Portrait Photography by Mr Kelvin Chan (Kuala Lumpur)
1500 - 1530 hrs : Tea Break (RDC Balcony)

Registration Fee : RM30.00 (with Voucher RM20 Redeemable at Sandakan Foto)
Limited Participants : 40
Prerequisite : Nikon DSLR with optional speedlight (Hands-on
models shooting at 3-4pm to be held at the RDC Pavilion)

21st June 2009 Presentation And Demonstration

1530 - 1700 hrs : Bird Watching Equipment : Digiscoping & Binoculars by Jason Reyes (Kota Kinabalu)

See you there :)

Blackberry Bold 9000 For Birding

2009-05-22T17:40:00.008+08:00

22nd May 2009

Blackberry Bold 9000 which is good with emails especially for birders on the move and at certain area where I need to access the Internet with only GPRS coverage, the speed is unbelievable hahaha much better than other operators I have used last time.

What I like about this Blackberry is:

Big screen for browsing the Internet and replying emails.
QWERTY keypads which is good for typing hahaha :p
Faster Internet connection especially with GPRS.
Wireless capability. (Twitter and Facebook updated daily while birding at Borneo Rainforest Lodge recently).
Connected for 24 hours with Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, Goggle Talk, Twitter, Facebook and Yahoo ! Go services.
Blackberry Messenger which is free among Blackberry users around the world !

For birding, this device is capable to delivered my need because:

As a backup for my Ipod Video with included 1G memory card (up to 8G). Adding bird songs from my laptop into the memory card is easy with card reader.
2 mega pixels camera and good for landscape shot.
Good quality recording from the Voice Notes recorder for a short distance birds.
Wire free from my Blackberry using bluetooth to my Philip speaker via Bluetooth dongle by I.tech.
Using the built in 3.5mm stereo input for connecting my Philip speaker with Blackberry in case my bluetooth dongle is out of battery while on the field.

Blackberry Bold 9000 connected with my portable Philip Speaker via 3.5mm stereo input

Blackberry Bold 9000 transmitting sounds with bluetooth to my portable Philip Speaker via Bluetooth dongle from I.tech

The results:

Impressive recording from the Voice Note recorder using the built in mic and sound from the speaker.
Much better sound from my Blackberry connected either via bluetooth dongle or with the 3.5mm input to the Philip speaker.

Well done Research In Motion company, you are the best ! Good tool for birders.

More info regarding Blackberry smartphones, check this websites:

www.blackberry.com - Official website for Blackberry.
www.crackberry.com - Forum for Blackberry users.

For those who need my Blackberry PIN for inquiry regarding birding tours and etc in Borneo, kindly email me at horukuru@crackberry.com

Happy birding everyone :)

Digiscoping with Nikon Fieldscope ED50 and FSB-U1

2009-05-13T21:17:00.011+08:00

4rd - 10th May 2009

Irene from Sandakan Photo passed me the ED50 together with a new universal adapter FSB-U1 from Nikon Malaysia when I was in Sandakan last week hehehe as I've been eyeing this scope after trying it last year during the Sandakan Bird Fair and impressed with the sharpness and colour renditions the little scope delivered.

Nikon Fieldscope ED50 with 13-40x MC II zoom eyepiece while cruising along Kinabatangan River

My current digiscoping kit now which is lighter than the big brother, ED82.

After tested it heavily on rain and shine, the Nikon Fieldscope ED50 lived up to its reputation as being the best compact scope at this moment which is waterproof up to a metre when immersed underwater, fogproof and uses ED glass to minimized colour fringing.

Using the 13-40x zoom eyepiece with the ED50 allowed me to get lots of details on 40x max, even though the field of view is a bit narrow, but for IDing birds from the distance, the scope did not disappointed me hehehe :)

Check this website regarding comments and reviews of the ED50 at Bird Forum;

My only concern with this little scope is the tripod mount which looked like a cheap plastic. There are few birders who had a problem with broken tripod mount and discussions regarding this is available here;

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=80876

The scope is selling less than RM 2500 body only and the weight without eyepiece is around 460g and came along with its stay on case. Light carbon fibre tripod is a nice combo with this scope :)

Meanwhile, the new universal adapter FSB-U1 which I tested on the field needs to be improved in order for Nikon to get their share in universal digiscoping adapter market with other brands such as Swarovski, Kowa and SRB-Griturn;

The hinge is a bit loose when I swung out the adapter. Felt a bit unsecured while carrying the scope in case you knock on something i.e tree trunk or branches.
It swings out for 90 degree only to the right which is a bit troublesome for left sighted birders. They won't be able to use the adapter and it would be much better if it swings out to 180 degree like my SRB-Griturn Mk II adapter.
Only usable with Nikon DS eyepiece and the eyepiece sleeve is not changeable. So if you are using your Zoom or MC eyepieces for viewing, you need to purchase the DS eyepiece to start digiscoping.
Pricey for local Malaysian market, selling for more than RM 1000. If the price around RM 500 - RM 600, I will buy it first !

Best things about this adapter is;

Quality materials used for making this adapter.
Feel heavy which is good to minimized vibrations as seen from my digiscoped pictures.
Can used it while raining too without worrying it will get rusty.
I setup my Fujifilm F31D camera on the adapter took me less than a minute hehehe. Adjusting the vertical and horizontal knobs is easy and fast. Once I got the exact centre for my camera lens on the eyepiece, it stay put forever.
No vignetting at all with my Nikon DS16x eyepiece on the ED50 (24x on EDIII and 30x on my ED82 Fieldscope).

Overall I like this universal adapter and useful for birders who preferred to view and shoot at the same time rather than the fixed adapter which required to unscrew the adapter to view through the eyepiece.

Highly recommended !

For those who are interested, this scope and adapter is available at

Sandakan Foto (S) Sdn Bhd
Labuk Road: Ground Floor, L12, Block C,
Bandar Kim Fung, Batu 4,
Sandakan.

Tel : 089-238728
Fax :089-216728
Email :sknfoto@pc.jaring.my

Look for Irene, and you will get discount for the Nikon Fieldscope ED50 if you mentioned my name :)

Price list;

Nikon Fieldscope ED50 = RSP RM 2358
Nikon DS16x eyepiece = RSP RM 1108
Nikon DS27x eyepiece = RSP RM 1258
Nikon MC II Zoom eyepiece = RSP RM 1428
Nikon universal adapter FSB-U1 = RSP RM 1238

90 degree position without the camera

On the Nikon Fieldscope ED82

Few images taken with the ED50 and FSB-U1 :)

Bornean Blue Flycatcher

Hooded Pitta

Red-naped Trogon

Rhinoceros Hornbill

Happy birding folks

Bornean Bristlehead Mission

2009-05-01T21:20:00.008+08:00

28th April - 1st May 2009

Stayed at Sepilok Nature Resort for few days together with John and his wife Carol. John's mission of this trip was for the Bristlehead which proved to be too difficult this time at Sepilok Forest Reserve than usual.

On Tuesday when John arrived, one of the Ranger on duty during the feeding time of the Orang Utan saw 8 Bornean Bristlehead nearby the Platform A in the morning. Earlier before, Gabili saw Giant Pitta trapped among the fallen logs under the walkway !

Spent early morning until evening at Rainforest Discovery Centre and heard it responding to the call once late Wednesday from the Trogon Tower, but could not see the it. Another day passed by without the bird ...

On the very last day this morning, decided to walk along the Bird Trail together with James who accompanied us and luck was on our side when we heard the bird calling from the canopy of Menggaris tree on the way back to the platform.

So we walked as fast as possible to the platform and exactly at 0800 hrs in the morning, saw 3 Bornean Bristlehead with perfect view through my scope after intense search and waiting since last Tuesday. The hard and smart work paid off hahaha :p

It was one of my best trip so far and managed to record new lifer for me, the Rufous-tailed Shama singing nearby the old Bird Tower at Sepilok and total species seen was 99 birds altogether.

John need to complete another 17 families :)

Some of the shot during the trip digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn adapter and Fujifilm F31D from the Bristlehead and Trogon Tower :)

Female Rufous-collared Kingfisher

5 Slender-billed Crow looking after their nest

Oriental Pied Hornbill

Grey-capped Woodpecker

Crested Serpent Eagle with its meal, Bronze-backed Snake

Red-eyed Bulbul seen daily

Purple-throated Sunbird

Black-headed Bulbul

Dusky Broadbill

Violet Cuckoo quite vocal these time

Green Imperial Pigeon at the same perch every morning

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

Yellow-eared Spiderhunter

One of the nest of this Black-naped Monarch and has 2 chicks now hehehe and thanks to Alphon

Wild Orang Utan

Rufous-tailed Shama :p

This is John enjoying the view of his dream bird !

I will be off again this Sunday to Kinabatangan River, Tabin Wildlife Reserve and Danum Valley Forest Reserve until the 10th May.

Happy birding folks !

Birding With Colin And Pam

2009-04-25T08:07:00.007+08:00

17th - 23rd April 2009

Had a great time birding with Colin and Pam at Kinabalu Park, Kinabatangan River and Tambunan Rafflesia Centre for a week and during that time, managed to see 182 species with 28 endemics for Borneo.

Key species seen :

Bornean Ground Cuckoo - Twice seen within 2 days in row at the river ! Thanks to Kecil, the boatman who navigated along the river perfectly for this species.
White-fronted Falconet - A pair along the river.
Red-breasted Partridge - Few individuals seen and then crossing the trail.
Whitehead's Trogon - 2 males and 1 female.
Giant Swiftlet - Saw twice in a day at Timpohon Gate flying very low and my lifer too hahaha :p
Bornean Barbet - 1st bird seen at Tambunan.
Whitehead's Broadbill - Nearly gave up on this. Thanks for the help from Andy and Cameron :)
Fruithunter - Saw the nest and while walking on the other trails after breakfast, saw a juvenile being fed by the parents.
Everett's Thrush - No luck at the usual stack out trail, on the way back from Power Station in the evening, saw 1 hopping on the side of the road and Colin managed to get a record shot hahaha :p
Whitehead's Spiderhunter - Seen twice in flight only ...

Some of the shot taken during the trip, digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn adapter and Fujifilm F31D

View of Crocker Range from the Timpohon Gate

Mt. Kinabalu in the evening from Kundasang Town

Nice hotel with excellent rooms and wireless Internet too :p

Juvenile Fruithunter

Whitehead's Trogon

Whitehead's Broadbill on nest

Kecil, the boatman has an Eagle eye !

Cruising along the longest river in Sabah, Kinabatangan

Scarlet-rumped Trogon digiscoped along the access road to Gomantong Caves

Buffy Fish Owl, the commonest species found on the river

Gunung Alab road

Happy birders, Colin and Pam from England

My next trip would be in Sepilok for the Bornean Bristlehead from the 27th April until the 1st of May.

Happy birding eveyone :)

Birding With Kontiki Group From Finland

2009-04-07T16:05:00.009+08:00

3rd - 6rd April 2009

Went to Tabin Wildlife Reserve one day earlier before the group arrived, I did not waste any opportunity to search for fruiting trees and birding around the restaurant and at Tomanggong Road the next day with Maldin.

The big surprised was, when I checked in to my room, Malaysian Blue Flycatcher greeted me with a smile hahaha :p

Malaysian Blue Flycatcher

But it rained the whole afternoon until 5pm, but few birds still active that time such as Lesser Green Leafbird, Black-winged Flycatcher Shrike and this Buffy Fish Owl suddenly perched not far from the restaurant and back to to forest after few minutes.

Buffy Fish Owl with one eye opened

The next morning, started early in the morning with Maldin and birded until 10am before I met with the group at Lahad Datu town together with my best friend, Osman who are leading the group from Mt. Kinabalu then to Kinabatangan River.

Maldin

My favorite hill for Raptors !

Hehehe enjoying bird from the pickup and this is me with new lifer, Tiger Shrike !

On the way to the lodge, saw Oriental Darter, Crested Serpent Eagle and Brahminy Kite with a pair of White-crowned Hornbill, Lesser Coucal and Bornean Pygmy Elephant as a warmth welcome to the group as we were approaching the resort.

After tea break, drove to Tomanggong Road and walk back to the lodge around 6pm. After dinner, searched for Brown Wood Owl and Barred Eagle Owl did not yield any result.

Using a truck as the main transportation between the lodge to Tomanggong and Core Road

Access road to the Core area

Looking for Green Imperial Pigeon

Next morning, more birds were seen such as Lesser Cuckoo Shrike, Little Bronzed Cuckoo, Purple Throated Sunbird, Rhinoceros and Wrinkled Hornbill with Verditer Flycatcher and Fiery Minivet.

Black-capped Babbler and Black and Crimson Pitta really gave the group something to cheered up after waited nearly 30 minutes for both species to appeared hahaha and then my first Hose's Langur was spotted by Osman as another addition for the group :)

A pair of Black Hornbill

Rain ...

Asian Fairy Bluebird with Cicada

Raffles's Malkoha enjoying the morning sun

On my last day with the group, saw Wreated Hornbill, heard Helmeted Hornbill and a pair of Changeable Hawk Eagle with a juvenile. The smallest raptor in the world, White-fronted Falconet was another bonus for one of the birder which he did not see when they were at Poring Hotspring.

Stopping at the lake, Lesser Adjutant seen soaring high up on the sky then drove to Lahad Datu town in rain.

Crested Goshawk

Diard's Trogon

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha

Good birding as usual at Tabin Wildlife Reserve. The management did a very good job maintaining the lodge after big flood that happened in early February. Thanks to the Manager, Fernando and other staffs for ensuring the enjoyment while birding at Tabin hehehe.

I will be birding with the group again this Friday for their target, Malaysian Plover and my friend recently informed me, the parents has 1 chick now ...

Happy birding !

Grey-streaked Flycatcher

2009-03-31T19:14:00.005+08:00

30 March 2009

Busy with work, met with Ben and Karim at Sugud Forest Reserve yesterday morning after sending my brother to the airport.

When I arrived, they were busy shooting a very tame Red-bearded Bee Eater and by the time I've set my kit, the bird was gone ! What the heck ...

But it did returned in the afternoon and only managed to get record shot of this beauty

Hohoho :p

Because of the breeding season at this moment, less birds seen, mostly heard from the distance. Found this Grey-streaked Flycatcher after I missed the Red-bearded Bee Eater earlier.

It might be gone anytime now back to its breeding place ...

Can anyone guess this person ? Find the answer here

I will be off to Tabin Wildlife Reserve this Friday with another birding group from Finland. Hope can see the Clouded Leopard while on night drive after 3 unsuccessful trips at Danum Valley Forest Reserve !

Happy birding everyone :)

Common Moorhen Chicks

2009-03-22T00:35:00.006+08:00

22nd March 2009

With migration season coming to the end, I stopped for few minutes at my favorite patch to check for any uncommon migratory birds around the lake. Nothing special except for single Chinese Pond Heron assuming breeding plumage and another 2 Pond Heron sp. preening and enjoying the late sun ...

Then these chicks emerged from the tall grasses together with the parents and it was my first time I saw the juvenile and it looked a bit similar like the juvenile White-breasted Waterhen except it has a small red colour on its crown.

Hehehe hope the new ones will get through !

Digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn and Fujifilm F31D

Patiently waiting for food from the parents

Pied Triller

Striated Grassbird

Yellow-vented Bulbul

Pond Heron sp.

Almost sunset taken from the paddy field nearby

Happy birding !

Blue-throated Bee Eater Territory

2009-03-20T13:24:00.007+08:00

20th March 2009

Visited one of the empty lot around Likas and seen at least more than 10 Blue-throated Bee Eater perched on the electric cables and few trees around it. Suspected they are breeding now because the plot itself is covered with sand soil, good place for the birds.

Some of the shots taken on different days and digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-griturn Mk II adapter and Fujifilm F31D

After the rain

Winter visitor to Borneo

The owner of the lot has covered it with blue zink, sign of new building is going to be construct soon ...

Happy birding everyone and thanks to Eugene for the birds hehehe :p

Birding With Sander And Ben

2009-03-17T14:00:00.006+08:00

16th March 2009

Had fun with Sander and Ben birding for a day around Kota Belud, Tuaran, Kota Kinabalu and Lok Kawi with Tanjung Aru Beach. Seen 24 out of 33 target species for Sander and the main highlight was 2 Little Egret (race nigripes has black feet), 1 Temminck's Stint and my lifer, Red-legged Crake hahaha seen at Tempasuk Paddy Field.

Birds seen :

Purple Heron
Cattle Egret
Pacific Reef Egret
Great Egret
Intermediate Egret
Little Egret
Javan Pond Heron (assuming breeding plumage)
Black-crowned Night Heron
Rufous Night Heron
Yellow Bittern
Cinnamon Bittern
Wandering Whistling Duck
Osprey
Black-winged Kite
Brahminy Kite
Red-legged Crake
White-browed Crake (Sander missed this)
White-breasted Waterhen
Common Moorhen
Purple Swamphen
Grey Plover
Pacific Golden Plover
Little Ringed Plover
Kentish Plover
Malaysian Plover
Lesser Sand Plover (assumming breeding plumage)
Greater Sand Plover (assumming breeding plumage)
Grey-tailed Tattler
Ruddy Turnstone
Marsh Sandpiper
Common Greenshank
Wood Sandpiper
Terek Sandpper
Common Sandpiper
Temminck Stint
Long-toed Stint
Black-winged Kite
Oriental Pranticole
Whiskered Tern
White-winged Tern
Little Tern
Pink-necked Green Pigeon
Rock Pigeon
Spotted Dove
Zebra Dove
Blue-naped Parrot
Lesser Coucal (immature)
Glossy Swiftlet
Common Kingfisher
Collared Kingfisher
Barn Swallow
Pacific Swallow
Pied Triller
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Magpie Robin
Oriental Reed Warbler
Straited Warbler
White-breasted Wood Swallow
Brown Shrike
Asian Glossy Starling
Brown-throated Sunbird
Olive-backed Sunbird
Dusky Munia
Black-headed Munia
Scaly-breasted Munia
Eurasian Tree Sparrow

Mt. Kinabalu

Ready for next planting

Whiskered Tern

Ben Wisla and Sander Pietrese

Lok Kawi Beach

Collared Kingfisher

By the way, Sander Pieterse is the administrator for xeno-canto website specialized in Bird Songs throughout Asia and South America. Their website is good as a reference for birders searching for specific bird songs for research purpose and etc.

Check the website at www.xeno-canto.org

They are currently at Tambunan Rafflesia Centre searching for montane species and if time permitted, I will be joining them on the 24th at Poring Hot Spring for the Hose's Broadbill.

Good birding !

2009-03-11T22:45:00.004+08:00

11th March 2009

A bit busy at home for proper birding until Sunday, on the way from the Airport, stopped for a while at Tanjung Aru before picking up my lovely wife from her office. Dave saw and digiscoped Caspian Tern during their Advanced Waterbird Census Course in Miri, Sarawak recntly, hoping to see who knows it might be flying to Sabah as well hahaha :p

Dark clouds from the distance ...

Usual birds seen and heard, nothing special except this cooperative Collared Kingfisher allowed me to get few frames

Before it flew and perched here ...

Green Imperial Pigeon against the gray sky and can you guess the bird on the background ? Click on the picture for bigger image hehehe

Happy birding everyone :)

A Pair Of White-fronted Falconet

2009-03-06T19:50:00.006+08:00

5th March 2009

Climax from yesterday's trip with Ben and Karim, White-fronted Falconet perched exactly on the same big death tree where Ben photographed last week hahaha and as a bonus, not only 2 but 3 birds with the single one perched not far from the other pair :)

Digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn Mk II adapter and Fujifilm F31D

It feed on Dragonflies and smaller birds

This Falconet considered the smallest in the world and found only in the northern part of Borneo Island. In the south of Borneo, this species being replaced by the Black-thigh Falconet which is found in mainland Malaysia and other countries too.

Short video

Ben :p

View of Kota Kinabalu city and surrounding villages around Penampang seen from Sugud

Happy birding !

Close Up Shots Of Rufous Night Heron

2009-03-04T21:58:00.006+08:00

3rd March 2009

After paying a visit to the Brown Booby at Wetland Centre, went to Sembulan again hoping for getting clean shots of the Black-crowned Night Heron with Ben and Karim. But this is what I've got hahaha :p

Digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn Mk II adapter and Fujifim F31D

A bit far

Best of digiscoping hehehe when the subject is really close ! This Rufous Night Heron taken around 8 metres away from where I was standing under a small shelter with my friends.

Black-crowned Night Heron with nesting material on its beak. It perched for a while before flew to another direction.

Always blocked by branches ...

Happy birding my friends :)

Close Up With Brown Booby

2009-03-03T15:35:00.005+08:00

3rd March 2009

My friend Eugene alerted me last nite by posting picture of Brown Booby at Flickr and it was found by the local on the sea near Kota Kinabalu struggling its life to survive from drowning ! So this morning, I went there with friends to see the condition of the bird.

Slow moving Booby while Denis and Karim took pictures of it

Tag no. 351

Brown Booby digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn Mk II adapter and Fujifilm F31D

One of its hind toe on the left is gone and lack another skin on its webbed right foot. On its left leg, huge size tag by unknown resource. Could anyone help to find the origin of this bird where it had been tagged ?

This Booby considered the commonest species in Greater Sundas Island compared with the other three species namely the Red-footed, Masked and Abbott's Bobby and the nearest breeding colonies are on Tubbataha Island in the middle of Sulu Sea, 150km southeast of Puerto Princesa City Palawan, Philippine and been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Probably this bird flew from there ?

More pictures of this bird can be seen at Birds Of Borneo database in Flickr. Click here.

Happy birding and thanks to Ben, Karim, Denis and Eugene and staffs at Wetland Centre for the company this morning :)

Crested Goshawk In Action !

2009-03-02T21:07:00.008+08:00

2nd March 2009

Series of shots of this nice looking Crested Goshawk captured today along the access road to the secret patch hahaha :p

Digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn Mk II adapter and Fujifilm F31D

I'm done !!! How about you ?!

The list is getting better now with more than 65 birds seen so far since last January with friends. Hope can get 100 species then next action will follow :)

Dalit Beach

2009-03-01T14:47:00.006+08:00

1st March 2009

Supposed to go and stay overnight at Teluk Usukan Resort with friends for birding, but could not make it last minute. I have to go next time probably next week ?

So i paid a quick visit to Dalit Beach where I used to go picnic with my grandparents, uncles and aunties when I was living with them in primary school. Lots of changes after with the Rasa Ria Resort was built few years ago. But what I like, the beach itself still in pristine condition hehehe no rubbish at all !

Nice weather for swimming

Walked around and saw 2 Lesser Frigatebird circling above the small hill where the resort is running an awareness program with few Orang Utan for their visitors. Other than that, single Yellow Wagtail with lots of Barn Swallow, Spotted and Zebra Dove and Collared Kingfisher calling from the bush.

Along the beach, I saw at least 25 Kentish Plover, 4 Red-necked Stint and 20 over Lesser and Greater Sand Plover. Some of them is in breeding plumage and few juvenile around too.

Pictures not very good due to the shimmer heat from the sand. Digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn Mk II adapter and Fujifilm F31D

Greater Sand Plover

Kentish Plover

Happy birding !

Portrait Shots Of Rufous Night Heron

2009-02-25T22:05:00.006+08:00

24th February 2009

This time, the adult decided to showed itself yesterday after my first visit where I digiscoped the juvenile Rufous Night Heron hehehe :p

Digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn Mk II adapter and Fujifilm F31D

Rufous Night Heron

While busy taking pictures of the Heron, saw one of the parent feeding a juvenile Yellow-vented Bulbul. Another juvenile Oriental Magpie Robin seen preening itself further in the tree, a bit dark for my camera hahaha :)

Juvenile Yellow-vented Bulbul

Nice place and I will be back again next time for the Black-crowned Night Heron, if it willing to cooperate with me :p

Happy birding everyone !

Juvenile Rufous Night Heron

2009-02-22T13:11:00.006+08:00

20th February 2009

From the tip given from Jordan and wife, I went one of the modern village in the city for the Rufous Night Heron. When I arrived, saw at least 10 adult and juvenile birds roosting together with the Black-crowned Night Heron at one of the tree surrounded by water from a nearby drain. Other birds seen, Oriental Magpie Robin, Yellow-vented Bulbul and Oriental Reed Warbler.

This Heron becoming uncommon now and a small colony also found at Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre. It is norturnal and feed on fish. Hope the birds remained at the small patch.

Digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn Mk II adapter and Fujifilm F31D

Juvenile Rufous Night Heron, still long way to go ...

Black-crowned Night Heron

Happy birding my friends :)

Family Of White-Breasted Waterhen

2009-02-20T11:31:00.005+08:00

19th February 2009

Few shot of this resident Waterhen together with four chicks at the Wetland Centre hehehe. During my birding years, I've never encountered tame Waterhen before, but at the Centre, they came quite close sometimes except for the chicks :)

Hope the new ones will survive !

Digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn Mk II adapter and Fujifilm F31D

Happy family

This Rail is found through out Sabah and considered common resident but a bit shy and they used to be hunt during the WWII by the locals to survived during the Japanese Occupation because food was scare that time.

Happy birding !

Best Of Rock Pigeon !

2009-02-17T19:20:00.006+08:00

17th February 2009

We are well aware of this commonest bird found in most cities through out the country but I couldn't stop my finger from pressing the camera's shutter button when I saw one resting on the lawn not far from where i was standing hahaha.

Presenting the faces of Rock Pigeon ! Captured at Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre :p

Digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn Mk II adapter and Fujifilm F31D

Rock Pigeon

Happy birding !