another new collection from Lombok, Indonesia 202412
1. White-tailed Tropicbird, 白尾鹲, 白尾熱帶鳥, Phaethon lepturus, シラオネッタイチョウ, Buntut-sate putih
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1. White-tailed Tropicbird, 白尾鹲, 白尾熱帶鳥, Phaethon lepturus, シラオネッタイチョウ, Buntut-sate putih
A medium-sized white seabird with black marks on the wings and a yellow beak. The long white tail streamers are visible from a great distance. Nests on coastal and inland cliffs on the main islands. Often seen flying over canyons and along cliffs. At sea usually flies high above the water. Calls are loud clucks and squawks. Smaller and more graceful in flight than Red-tailed Tropicbird [Ebird]
One of the target birds can be found here, making it an incredibly beautiful location to observe this species. The view is breathtaking, and I hope to return again. While waiting for a better sighting of the bird, I was fortunate to also spot a Dugong, Green Turtle, and Spinner Dolphins. Watching this bird gracefully soar through the air is truly mesmerizing.
The dugong ( Dugong dugon) is a marine mammal. It is one of four living species of the order Sirenia, which also includes three species of manatees. It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae; its closest modern relative, Steller’s sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas), was hunted to extinction in the 18th century.
A typical pitta: plump, short-tailed, long-legged, and primarily terrestrial (sometimes perches up to call). Bright green above with electric blue shoulder patch and rump and black head with conspicuous pale brow. Underside golden-buff with black and bright red on the belly. Juvenile duller, with little blue in wing, an orange-tipped bill, and a pinkish belly. Resident in woodland, forest, scrub, and plantations in the lowlands and hills of the Lesser Sundas, from Lombok east to Alor. Formerly regarded as a subspecies of Elegant Pitta, to which it is very similar; Ornate averages more extensively black on the throat and lower belly, and has a fairly evenly divided rufous-and-white “eyebrow.” Also note Ornate’s whistled two-note call [Ebird]
A special arrangement was made with Ramesh for a relaxing birding trip focused on collecting a few endemic species. As usual, pittas, owls, and woodpeckers were our primary targets. Upon arriving at the airport, we had a ~1.5-hour drive followed by a short walk to the feeding spot. After less than 15 minutes of waiting, the bird showed up beautifully, allowing for this “pre-poo” moment to be captured perfectly.
A small brown owl with feathered ear tufts and yellow eyes, restricted to Lombok. Mostly brown with scattered white and pale markings on wings, sparsely streaked underparts, and a clear “double” facial disk with both blackish and white borders. Found in various forests and plantations in the lowlands and foothills. Distinctive: the only small owl on Lombok, and the only owl there with ear tufts. Gives a single note song, “woot,” ascending slightly at the end [Ebird]
This special, quick, and relaxed trip to Lombok, Indonesia, focused on our second main target. We spotted a few birds, but only one came reasonably close and perched low. It resembled other scops-owls, offering another great sighting enhanced by modern technology.
3. White-tailed Tropicbird, 白尾鹲, 白尾熱帶鳥, Phaethon lepturus, シラオネッタイチョウ, Buntut-sate putih
A medium-sized white seabird with black marks on the wings and a yellow beak. The long white tail streamers are visible from a great distance. Nests on coastal and inland cliffs on the main islands. Often seen flying over canyons and along cliffs. At sea usually flies high above the water. Calls are loud clucks and squawks. Smaller and more graceful in flight than Red-tailed Tropicbird [Ebird]
One of the target birds can be found here, making it an incredibly beautiful location to observe this species. The view is breathtaking, and I hope to return again. While waiting for a better sighting of the bird, I was fortunate to also spot a Dugong, Green Turtle, and Spinner Dolphins. Watching this bird gracefully soar through the air is truly mesmerizing.
A small finch with a striking white head and dark body. Rich chestnut brown above, with reddish tail and pale peach-washed underside. Juveniles much duller and browner, but usually show a paler head. Gregarious, found in terrestrial flocks, often with other finches, in open country such as marshes, croplands, grasslands and scrub, in the lowlands. Juvenile has a paler head and a noticeably smaller bill than juvenile Five-colored Munia. Gives weak, high-pitched “weee” and stronger, metallic “wit-wit-wit” notes [Ebird]
This munia is very common in the open areas of Lombok Island and can be spotted almost everywhere. It resembles the White-headed Munia but features a darker back and front.
It is a fairly common species found in Bali, Sumba, and Lombok, but this beautiful fantail is truly captivating. We were searching for the Five-colored Munia, but this bird appeared just before we could get a good look at the munia.
It was a fortunate moment while waiting for our target bird—we spotted a Dugong, a group of Dolphins putting on a show, and a few Green Turtles. Although they were at a bit of a distance, it was a joy to witness their display.
The family Fringillidae encompasses 152 genera and 677 species of finches worldwide. They feed on fruits, seeds, and insects. The genus Passer, commonly referred to as sparrows, consists of small birds that are very similar in size and plumage. Typically, their upper body is mottled with brown and black, which is why they are colloquially known as sparrows. They have 9 primary feathers on their wings, with the pale feather edges on the outer feathers (except the first) slightly expanded at the base and near the tip, forming two faint crossbars, which become particularly prominent during flight. Their beaks are short, stout, and strong, shaped like a cone, with a slightly curved culmen.
One of the standout birds at Baihualing, Yunnan, China is often seen as a highlight by both locals and visitors. Whenever someone spots or photographs one, it becomes big news in the village, quickly drawing bird enthusiasts and photographers to the area. This one shows up unexpectedly, as it did this time to take a drink, it captivates everyone around. It is a beautiful bird, with the female being particularly striking.
Stenostiridae, or the fairy flycatchers,[1] are a family of small passerinebirds proposed as a result of recent discoveries in molecular systematics.[2] They are also referred to as stenostirid warblers. [WIki]
An active little bird with a bright yellow belly and a pale-tipped fan-like tail. Most common in foothill and submontane broadleaf forests, where it forages energetically and acrobatically in the middle and lower levels, often with fulvettas, warblers, and other small passerines in mixed-species foraging flocks. Very similar in shape to fantails but much smaller, and actually more closely related to tits. Song is a series of high “tsit” notes interspersed with twitters and trills. Call is often repeated at length, akin to a song, but much simpler, a series of high “tsip” notes. [Ebird]
An active little bird with a bright yellow belly and a pale-tipped fan-like tail. Most common in foothill and submontane broadleaf forests, where it forages energetically and acrobatically in the middle and lower levels, often with fulvettas, warblers, and other small passerines in mixed-species foraging flocks. Very similar in shape to fantails but much smaller, and actually more closely related to tits. Song is a series of high “tsit” notes interspersed with twitters and trills. Call is often repeated at length, akin to a song, but much simpler, a series of high “tsip” notes.
update 202412
One of the most active birds, behaving much like a fantail. While it’s not a lifer for me—I previously recorded it in Northern Thailand—it’s still a challenge to spot here in Yunnan, China. Thankfully, luck was on our side, and we managed to witness it spreading its tail, giving us a few great moments for some good photo opportunities.
Both the new Canon R1 and R5 Mark II cameras bring a host of innovative features, although their core specifications haven’t changed significantly. Among these updates, I believe the Pre-continuous Shooting function will revolutionize wildlife photography—and potentially sports photography as well.
Pre-capture functionality has already been available in cameras like the Canon R7 and R6 Mark II for some time. This feature allows photographers to half-press the shutter to focus and start recording, then fully press the shutter to save all pre-recorded images to the memory card.
What sets the Canon R1 and R5 Mark II apart is their ability to keep the pre-capture function continuously active as long as the shutter is half-pressed for focusing and fully pressed for recording, provided the buffer hasn’t reached its limit. This makes it easy to refocus on a new subject or stay locked onto the same subject for additional pre-capture sequences.
For example, the R1’s buffer can handle up to 200 shots before slowing down. In pre-capture mode, it initially records 20 frames, and over approximately two seconds, it can capture additional sequences, such as 20 + 40 + 40 frames. Unlike other cameras, the R1 and R5 Mark II transition seamlessly between pre-captures without any delay, offering unmatched efficiency and flexibility for capturing fleeting moments.
全新的佳能R1和R5 Mark II相机引入了众多创新功能，尽管它们的核心规格并未发生显著变化。其中，我认为“预连续拍摄”功能将彻底改变野生动物摄影的风格，也可能对体育摄影产生深远影响。
类似的预拍摄功能在佳能R7和R6 Mark II等相机上已存在一段时间。这项功能允许摄影师通过半按快门进行对焦并开始记录，而全按快门则会将所有预录的图像保存到存储卡中。
佳能R1和R5 Mark II的独特之处在于，只要快门半按保持对焦、全按记录，并且缓冲区未达到极限，预拍摄功能即可持续运行。这使得用户可以轻松重新对焦于新的主体或保持对原主体的连续预拍摄。
例如，R1的缓冲区支持最多200张照片的连拍。在预拍模式下，它最初记录20帧，然后在大约2秒内捕捉额外的序列，例如20 + 40 + 40帧。与其他相机不同，R1和R5 Mark II可以在预拍摄之间无缝衔接，没有任何延迟，为捕捉转瞬即逝的精彩瞬间提供了前所未有的效率和灵活性。
Let’s share some samples as we normally do.
Once Pre-continuous Shooting is enabled, a “pre” indicator appears in the top-left corner of the screen whenever you half-press the shutter button, confirming that pre-recording is active. After taking a shot, you can immediately half-press the shutter again to restart pre-recording or continue shooting as needed.
Below are some sample images captured with the Pre-continuous Shooting feature. These can be enjoyed as standalone photos or combined and converted into a video sequence.
– Another common woodpecker in Malaysia, resembling the Greater Flameback but smaller in size with dark eyes.
– Another moment captured using the CANON R1’s Continuous Pre-record feature.
– One of the most common woodpeckers in Malaysia, this species can be found in a variety of environments—lowlands, mangroves, sub-montane forests, and even urban areas. Its overall rufous coloration makes it hard to miss.
– While testing the Canon R1’s “Continuous Pre-recording” feature, the bird was perched as usual. I half-pressed the shutter to activate Pre-recording, and only fully pressed it when the bird took off from the branch. Every frame of the action was captured in full RAW and saved to my card.
– 在测试佳能 R1 的“连续预录”功能时，这只鸟像往常一样站在树枝上。我半按快门开启预录功能，直到鸟从树枝起飞时才完全按下快门。整个动作的每一帧都被完整记录为 RAW 格式并存储在卡中
。
202411, Kuala Selangor, Malaysia
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4. Half-press the shutter before the active warbler makes any movement. When the bird takes off, fully press the shutter to capture everything that occurred 0.5 seconds prior. Immediately after pre-recording, the camera will seamlessly track the bird in real-time.
1. Half-press the shutter before the small raptor shows any movement. When the bird takes off, fully press the shutter to capture everything leading up to that critical moment. At the same time, you’ll see the camera seamlessly tracking the bird in real-time.
2. Half-press the shutter before any movement from the Owl. When the Owl takes off, fully press the shutter, and everything leading up to that “flash moment” will be recorded onto the card. And you’ll also see the camera immediately tracking the bird in real-time.
3. Half-press the shutter before any movement from the kingfisher. When the kingfisher dives down, fully press the shutter, and everything leading up to that “flash moment” will be saved to the card. You’ll also see the camera instantly tracking the bird in real-time.
Another highlight of 2024—witnessing the bird showcase its fluffy and stunning display. With just two weeks left in the year, here’s to an even better 2025 ahead for all of us! Still, two more tours to wrap up the year—let’s enjoy the journey!
– few days of good rest, spend half day with buddies.. each time here also having some good moment … and today morning manged to have a quick moment for this bird .. finally how’s the name come from
– a big montane endemic of Borneo, not rare but not really a easy bird to get close .. beautiful much easier than the Sumatra Treepie very look alike
– 婆罗洲高山特有种，蛮普通。可是也不容易接近。
202409, Gunung Alab, Sabah, Malaysia
3. Dark Hawk-Cuckoo, 婆罗鹰鹃, 婆羅鷹鵑, Hierococcyx bocki, クロジュウイチ, SEWAH-TEKUKUR GUNUNG
update 202410
– a birds that very common heard at both Fraser Hill & KNP .. but it can be very difficult to have good view .. it can be confuse with some Hawk Cuckoo
– when we on the way to Breakfast, sudden saw this bird stand so nice with backlight .. got the bird real close view
4. Bornean Bristlehead, 棘毛伯勞, 棘头鵙, Pityriasis gymnocephala, ブタゲモズ, TIUNG-BATU KEPALA MERAH
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1. Black-throated wren-babbler, 黑喉鹪鹛, 黑喉鷦鶥, ノドグロサザイチメドリ, KEKICAU-MURAI BESAR BORNEO
update 202409
– long time never been Tabin Wildlife Reserve, this time come here for quick one and meet up my very first Guide from Danum Valley BRL .. Paul .. We spend 3 mornings and 2 evening for birding .. not really bad overall, got all 3 Wren-Babbler .. this is one active moving around
2. Blyth’s Frogmouth, 星喉蟆口鸱, 星喉蟆口鴟, Batrachostomus affinis, コガマグチヨタカ, CUCUR BIASA
update 202409
– it is excited to see this bird in the day time and so cute ..
– such a long time never at Tabin, this time with special request to be in here trying to record as much I can ..trying for this bird night time but failed but got it on day time ! theory work !
– a bird that usually quite difficult to be photograph at Peninsula Malaysia, seem easier at Borneo. Almost never missed this bird at Danum Valley. But when I am at another famous birding spot Tabin Wildlife Reserve, this bird seem same like Danum Valley. not really shy … easy to get picture too
4. Bornean Bristlehead, 棘毛伯勞, 棘头鵙, Pityriasis gymnocephala, ブタゲモズ, TIUNG-BATU KEPALA MERAH
update 202410
– an exclusive Borneo endemic, always one of the main target to Borneo
– another bird that I keep looking at is this, it is my first time sight it here … excite !!! too bad 3rd times of the trip so not much time spend on this …
Many of Bird Photographers really want to have high megapixels camera for many different reasons. But for me, most of the time I Birding in “dark” Rain forest. Most of the time I am using ISO 8000-30000 .. so ISO performance always my main concern beside AF performance.
I am honor to have the new CANON R5 markii few days, so I am using it to test things that Rain Forest photographers concern. AF, ISO .. .etc
so here I am using one of my very common ISO and sharing original pictures save from RAW and denoise version (with Adobe-Topaz)
