Taking a break

Its been a while that I have birded at Kinabalu Park. It was a public holiday on the 8 Dec 08 and managed to take some decent pictures. Some were heard and did not managed to get pictures and the list as follows.
*Trogon - female (not sure what sp) flew across.
*Chestnut headed laughing thrush - 2
*Temminks sunbird - male & female
*Yellow breasted warbler - flocks
*Yuhina - flocks
*Green leaf warbler - 4
*Borneon treepie - 4
*Indigo flycatcher - 4
*Pied flycather - 1
*Ashy drongo - 2

Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus)

Taken along Penampang-Puun Tunoh road.
It was rainging but managed to get a decent picture.
I am adding some video shots for today post.
Enjoy everyone

Mt Kinabalu - Another View

Mt Kinabalu

General

I was down on a flu from the 1st Nov and finally recovered from it yesterday. However made an effort to visit my usual site but weather was not favourable, anyway met Karim @sinooorita and he was already set up to take some pictures.

Nothing much he says, so I decided to drive further up the road to check some new areas but the rain was starting to come down. Eventually decided to go home.

Note: some late pictures posted for viewing purposes.

Chesnut Cheeked Starling-Sturnus phillipines

Today the weather is holding, cool and sunny. Arrived at the same spot at 0715 and park the car. Patience seems to be paying off today, Chesnut Cheeked Starling appeared on the same tree where I digiscope the Pink-Necked Green Pigeon. And Karim @sinooorita inform me that tree was the same place he photograph it two days earlier. So now I have some leads because this tree is fruiting and it seems to enjoying it.

It was moving so fast it was quite difficult to photograph but anyhow I just took some.
Not the best of pictures but managed to get it for identification purpose.

Not long later Jason @horokuru arrived and inform him of the starling and both of us tried to take some picture.

I tried to get in on video but it was just to fast maybe I will try my luck tomorrow.

Today's list: Chestnut Cheeked Starling, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Pink Necked Green Pigeon, Crested Myna, Yellow Vented Bulbul, Straited Grass Bird, Tailor bird (heard only) , Sandpipers, Black Shouldered Kite, Spotted Dove, Lesser Egret, Little ring plover

Trying my skill

Today was fine weather, I was supposed to met CK but I was late, did went to the Black Collared Starling site. Park the car at the same place and only notice that CK van was park ahead at the old site where we tested my scope. I should have inform him that I was park at the back of the road, again my sincere apology to you CK.

I actualy arrived around 0705 and was birding around until I realised CK was gone around 0800. I guess he must be dissapointed that I did not keep my word (should have been there early) again my apologies to Him.

At about 0750/0800 when I was about to move back to my car, Karim @sinooorita was already setting up his scope and we waited and waited for the starling to appear but instead only the norm was seen (leser sand piper, cattel egret, cinnamon bittern, yellow vented bulbul, spotted dove, juvenile green heron and a pair of pink necked green pigeon. Spotted the heron and ask some tips from Karim how to actually get a better focus with digiscoping and with several tries, I finally managed to get a good picture of the pigeon. Thank you Karim.

Waited until the sun was getting hotter, we decided to make it a day and head for breakfast to a mamak shop. When the Nescafe arrvied, Karim received a call from Jason B, told him that Changable Hawk eagle was at the Likas bird sanctuary (road side) pearching on a dead tree. Without hesitation we headed to that direction but the bird had moved to a higher tree and was out of sight. While waiting for the bird to return, we change views and ideas how to improve our birding and photography here in Sabah in general.

At 1130 am, it was time to make our move and we departed our ways. Promised to make another visit tomorrow at Penampang road.

Starlings

Weather today was the same as yesterday morning,thinking it would rain so decided to take a longer sleep but the phone rang and Thomas was already at the site. So jump I went and met him and after looking and waiting for an hour, then boom right in front was this two big birds wondering around the dried part of the rice field.

Very noticeable was the prominent facial skin yellowish and white band across rump and uppertail-coverts and prominent white wing markings.

This is my lifer for this month.

I have also added a video. Check it out.

Weekend and Depavali Day

Thinking it will be a long weekend and with the coming of Depavali celebration, birding was the first thing in my mind. However it rain, rain, rain from Sunday until morning Monday.

It was really a gloomy day but on the Monday noon time, called Karim aka sinooorita and found out that he was already at the Penampang road side where we spoted the Phalarope and Ruff. Again this time it was the Pranticole. They were 4 birds at the road side, approximately about 100 meters from the roadside.

Tried to take some digiscoping but the rain was in the way, only managed a sorry picture but at least it was recorded of its presence.

Macro Canon G9

Finally did some photography with the new G9 Canon. As mentioned in my earlier entry, I tried using it for digiscoping but some so promising.

However the G9 did work well with other subjects. Fortunately for me , I love orchids and its been my passion to get good pictures of rare or endemic orchids of Borneo. So here are some pictures for sampling.

Finally did some digiscope with Canon G9 / Kowa TSN 603 x 45 x. but the final result was not impresive.

I was advise that just maybe the camera was not compatible for digiscoping.

The bird pictures was taken during the Waders workshop conducted by David Bakewell, organised by Nazeri Abghani, MSN Sabah - Ali, Jason and Karim (slide contribution).

The workshop was quite educational and hopefully there will be more to come.

Note: the orchid and pitcher plants was photograph earlier.

Cheers

Sunset

The picture was taken with G9 canon camera. This is the first posting with this camera.

Looking forward to take more pictures with it.

This morning around 0720 am , took a drive using the Dongongon bypass and some rice fields ready for planting. A curious figure was bobbing in and out of the drainage. Took a quick video shots of it but a very bad one. This is only a snapshot. Video cannot download. Do not not why? Anyone can help?

Besra - Tambunan

With greet interest I decided to join with good friends to look for the Besra nesting with 3 chicks.
Unfortunately the nest was empty. Meet few friends who had camp for the 3 nights just to catch a glimpse of them but confirmed us with bad news.

Changing New Job / New Office

Having time to sort out with the new company. Things are a bit slow.

Did some birding last month with Jason and CK at Mt Kinabalu Park, did not see much but wonderful sigthing of the Whitehead Spider Hunter.

I am relying pictures from CK or Jason to support my entry.

Cheers!

NEW YEAR '08

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Been very lazy updating my blog, it is new year but nothing seem to new.

Anyway, 29 December was okay, few friends came to the house for a dinner.

C.K, Jason, Andrew, Karim, Lence, Gwenda, Jack, Melisa, Reza, Edy and his girlfriend.

That was the closing chapter for 2007.

LOOKING FORWARD THIS YEAR BIRDING AND PHOTOGRAPY.

CHEERS