Mantanani Island Trip 7-9 April 2010

This a long over due posting. Firstly I take this opportunity to thank Mr Octavious owner of Mari-Mari Resort for inviting us to do a bird survey at both of Mantanani Islands. We were welcome with warmth atmosphere by the resort staff. The survey group consists of C.K. Leung, Naseri @Jason Bugay, Thomas Foo, John Prudente and myself.

It was a fruitful trip and our focal point of this survey was to determine the Mantanani Owl could be sighted every night if there is any birder who would like to bird at this island. I did not managed to get any picture of the owl but that will be the next group ( 11-13 May) task.

Cheers and happy birding.

Waiting for the boat to take us back to the resort. There was no real jetty to disembark or embark from the boat. It was best to wait low tide.

Taking a break and look out for Metallic Pigeon. It's the highest point of the Manatanani Kecil island and also serve as the mobile phone reception to make calls

View from Mantanani Kecil Island (background is the Mari Mari Mantanani Resort with big hump) The mari-mari resort is on the left.

Female Blue-rock Thrush. One of the birds sighted at big island. It was standing right in the middle of the village field. Did not even bother me when I came as close as 3 meters to it. Unfortunately the male was not sighted

Peregrine Falcon - a visitor. This guy was determine to get his meal before the sunset. It was him that made the birding harder on the smaller island. The bird was seen everyday when we were there.

Likas Wetlands Drying Up

Drying Pond

Great Egret

Black-back Swamphen

Purple Heron

Black-back Swamphen

It's been a while birding around Likas Wetland, left the house at 0600 am this morning. Visibility was marred by heavy haze and the birds was not that many in the pond. Despite the numbers this are some pictures to share.

Happy Birding.

Unidentified Subject

While walking back to my car this curious bird was turning leaves looking for something or insect. Well not sure what it was really trying to do but caught my attention and without hesitation set up my digiscope gear and took some hasty pictures. I have yet to figure out which bird is this.

Anyone welcome to id it.

Happy birding.

Sukau-Bilit Feb 28/March 1 (3days 2nights)

After the flood last year, the Kinabatangan river suffers some of the worst after floods effect. I was told by our boatmen Joel, that the width of the river has encroached more than 20 feet into the main land.

After check-in into our rooms, we head for the lover part of Kinabatangan after hearing that the elephants was around the south of Sukau village. The boat ride took us almost an hour before we got the sight of the Bornean Pygmy Elephants. It was an awesome sight to watch them feeding and trumpeting while having their tea break. It was almost half past five and we were told to make back to the lodge before it became too dark. We did manage to sight a lesser adjutant stork, a couple of rhinoceros hornbill, a couple of pied hornbill, few numbers of brahminy kite, a few numbers of oriental darter and 1 salt water crocodile( 2 feet long).

The next day, we took the earliest river cruise and the first bird was a roller, white-fronted falconet, blue-eared kingfisher, stork-billed kingfisher, pied fantail, black and yellow broadbill, a juvenile brahminy kite, perrigrine falcon, lesser adjutant stork and it was time to return to the lodge for our breakfast.

As the sun start to rise higher, so did the temperature. We decided to take rest for the rest of the morning. Later in the afternoon continue our birding to the ox-bow lake and we started from the river and then do a loop to reach the lodge. It was a quite afternoon however we managed to spot the black and yellow broadbill, common iora, yellow vented bulbul (commonly sighted), white crowned shama, chestnut wing babbler and the asian paradise flycatcher.

Happy birding.

Chestnut Wing Babbler

Black and Yellow Broadbill

Peregrine Falcon

Out of Boredom

Today's weather was hot as the previous weeks. It seems the dry season is coming earlier than anticipated. I heard that some areas are hit badly and water rationing are been applied.
Despite the heat, I decided to check out Sugud area (where we sighted the Banded Kingfisher in 2009) which was 30 minutes drive from my house. Surprisingly the road has been upgraded to certain percentage. It will be nice if the authorities will completely sealed it by this year.
Sugud was silent when I arrived but did sighted a verditer, hairy back bulbul, cream vented bulbul, red crown barbet (juvenile), crimson breasted flowerpecker, orange-bellied flowerpecker, Greater Leafbird, velvet nuthatch, little spider hunter, crested serpent eagle, blue-throated bee-eater, grey-rumped treeswift, chestnut bellied malkoha, However none of this were photograph unfortunately.

Birding was slowing at Sugud so decided to drive to Sugud and check out the waders and called Karim @sinooorita if he is birding there. Luckily for me he was there. Got some Kentish plover, a wimbrel, greater sand plover, lesser sand plover. Tried digiscoping them this was the result. After spending almost 1 hour under the sun, I decided to move to Tanjung Aru Beach. The Blue Naped Parrot was there as usual and took some pictures of other birds too.

The day ended with a very hot piercing weather and I was happy to be back home away from the scourging sun.

Happy Birding.

Semi leucistic Pacific Swallow

I just want to add on the subject "Semi Leucistic Pacific Swallow" posted by Sifu Wong at site www.borneobirds.blogspot.com . I was also curious about this bird and I would like to thank you Sifu Wong on the really informative information on the difference on the bird from being an albino.

I took this picture at the RDC buidling as when it was trying to get a rest on the air-condition.

Happy birding.

Lifer 2010

This two lifer is a gift from above, my morale on birding was a bit low because we are not getting our normal birding work (assignments, as a freelance guide) as compare to last year. Until I received an SMS text from a good friend Sifu CK on the Common Coot. I was at Sandakan that time handling the Taiwan group. I was revitalised instantly with that wonderful news. So can't wait to take my scope once I get back to Kota Kinabalu.

This vagrant (coot) look like its still a juvenile because the frontal shield is not fully develop yet. It could be a while before its going home. Which is good for local birders who have not seen it yet.

As for the Long-billed Plover (non breeding plumage), it was a coincidence that I found it. I was actually intended to do birding at another area but I was held with my personal chores and time was not on my side. I just took a car and drove to my usual place in Penampang rice field before the sun start to set and spotted a Little Ring Plover dipping it beck searching for food. I nearly wanted to leave and find another place until I spotted another plover standing next to it and more larger and longer tail. I tried identifying it but just could not put my finger into it. I have to ask some help, and help came from Sifu C.K.. I called him right away and he told me to stay put and wait for him. Not long later he arrived but he too was finding it hard to name it and decided to take some pictures with the birds standing together and decided to ask some help from a Mr Richard Chandler author of "Shorebirds of Northern Hemisphere". However I only managed to get a picture of the Little Ring Plover. Now there is a group of birder flocking to try their luck to get a picture of this bird (Sifu Karim, Jason, Andrew, Ben D.) Watch out Mr Long Billed Plover.

With this new additional I finally reach my 400's birds of Borneo. Very happy and thanks to the support and encouragement of my friends, Sifu C.K., Sifu Andrew, Sifu Jason and Sifu Karim.

Happy Birding.

Little Ring Plover

Common Coot

Jan-Feb Birding 2010

Guiding was less compare to last year, so took the opportunity to add my list of birds (400's)which I was missing of 2.

Before the end of Jan 2010, I was booked for a birding tour to Sandakan to help a Taiwan grp that needed extra eyes to spot for birds at RDC. They were 16 in total. A mixed grp of professional to "retired" individual.

I was indeed looking forward to add my missing 2 birds to make to 400. This will definately give me the edge. However, RDC (Rainforest Discovery Centre - situated at Sepilok area) was not so happening. Birds was slow and the Bristle head was not to be seen. The group was really dissapointed. However I feel that they will get their 15 birds to make to 200 even without the Bristle head.

Luck was on our side, we did managed to get the remaining 15 and in effect we got more than we expected.

The list : Oriental Honey Buzzard, Thick-billed Pigeon, Large-tailed Nightjar (heard),Edible Nest Swiflet, Brown Needle Tail, House Swift, Rufous Woodpecker, Orange Woodpecker,Buff Rumped Woodpecker,Lesser Green Leafbird, Fiery Minivet, Velvet Fronted Nuthatch, Streaked Bulbul, Red-Eyed Bulbul, Yellow -vented Bulbul, Black-capped Babbler, Erpornis or White-bellied Yuhina, Javan Myna, Rufous-tailed Flycatcher, Orange-bellied Flowerpecker, Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker, Ruby Cheek Sunbird, Chestnut Munia, Dusky Munia.

The birding ended without any of Bornean Bristle Head..maybe next time.

Happy Birding

Wandering Whistling Duck

Black back Swamphen

Black Wing Stilt

Bornean Barbet

(coming out from the nest)

Ashy Drongo

A bold attempt capturing Black Shoulder Kite

(using digiscoping)

Bornean Barbet

Long-billed Broadbill

Little Ring Plover

Taiwan Birder's at RDC (lunch break)

Black Headed Bulbul

Brunei Trip

My first assignment outside Sabah this year, guiding for a tour operator in Brunei and this was my second tour.

This time it was more easy to guide after taking more time to learn about the country and the group was very attentive despite using a translator in the bus.

Took some pictures of the buses and a signage that took my attention and curiosity. The spelling is quite catchy for a Malaysian point of view.

Aerial pictures of the ground using my Samsung i780. This was my first time upload picture using the phone camera.

Happy reading.

Birding with Mr & Mrs Wolfgang

My first birding work for 2010.
Mr & Mrs Wolfgang was quite new in birding tour, they wanted to know how it is conducted and both decided to take a half day tour. We departed at 0530 in the morning and proceed to Tg. Aru.
Our frist bird was the Blue Naped Parrot - in flocks, Imperial Green Pigeon, Glossy Starlings, Little Green Pigeon, White Breasted Woodswallow, Collared Kingfisher, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Olive backed sunbird, Black Headed Munia, Zebra Dove, Spotted Necked Dove, Koel (heard only), Yellow Vented Bulbul.
When the birding was slowing at the beach, we moved to Likas Wetland Sanctuary. Little Egret, Intermediate Egret, Cattle Egret, Green Shank, Common Iora.

Happy Birding.