there are many lovely, beautiful, cute, shy, birds from MALAYSIA (included Borneo) . TROGON always one of the target from birder and photographer due to the colorful.
2 of my favorite trogons, Red-Headed trogon (Harpactes erythrocephalus) and White-Headed trogon (Harpactes whiteheadi)
both trogons seem share behavior and montane/sub-montane … White-headed trogon is Borneo endemic one of main trio white-head family .
it is like shining fire-red in the forest always shy and quiet in the forest
We had USA guests spend 9 days in Borneo from KNP, RDC, Sukau to Danum Valley … good trip, we managed to records ~250 birds and some highlights
1. Giant Pitta for few rounds
2. Bornean bristlehead
3. all Borneo Hornbills
4. Whitehead broadbills
5. Whitehead Spiderhunter
6. Large Frogmouth
7. Black Headed Pitta
8. Bornean Wren-Babbler
9. Bornean Banded Kingfisher
10. Black-throat Wren-Babbler
etc
we have tired walking and river cruise day and light …. lets start sharing some pictures that I managed to capture . (will be slowly update here due to tired to run through all the pictures )
– when I first found it .. it fly like a raptor !!!! and we found 3 birds keep surrounding us and guests say .. ohhhh may I have other pitta rather than this ? 😀
both of me and Ahli were busy for whole Aug – Sept and finally have time sharing some highlights for this month 2016 Sept … with mixture of bird watching and photography guests we got some chance to record or request picture share by our guests
– happy to see few new chicks feeding by adult which mean we have more new generation of these birds 😀
Yellow Bellied Bulbul
– black–throated babbler
– Malayan Banded Pitta , Juvi female
– Marble Wren-Babbler,石纹鹪鹛 not very open picture but happy to see the family growth
– one of the beautiful endemic for Peninsular Malaysia . Mountain Peacock-Pheasant, 山孔雀雉
– very good view of the shy Marble Wren-Babbler,石纹鹪鹛
– this beautiful Rail-babbler,白眉长颈鸫, Eupetes macrocerus still show up constantly
– Garnet Pitta , 榴红八色鸫, Erythropitta granatina – another beautiful and shy bird from Malaysia ..
– Large Scimitar Babbler,大钩嘴鹛 , Pomatorhinus hypoleucos another bird that make us look left right front and back 😀
we have more birds cover for either bird watching or photography but not all birds we have pictures from guests or capture by us ..
**** we will keep this update as today just 9 sept 2016
Another 6 days photos hunting outing, we have good weather for few days. difficult hike for some to the Ijen for blue fire and sunrise but glad all make it to peak .
28 Aug – noon arrival so we decide stay in town and shoot sunset nearby
29 Aug – Long travel distance but we managed to stop by for some slowshutter and good food
Aug 30 – leaving to Pantai Pulau Merak for slowshutter and sunset
Aug 31 – relaxing morning and night hiking to Ijen
Sept 1 – drive back after hike down from Ijen and on the way reach town we managed to stop for sunset
Sept 2
we spend morning sunrise near Sanur area
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update 2016 Oct 20
beautiful low tide beach with right time we shoot without lunch
update 2016 Oct 1
no one at this beautiful beach , and most of us attract by the green moss with rocks on the other site .. i am alone here to enjoy the nature mirrow ..
… no One here …
recommended view@
update 2016 sept 8
– a beautiful beach , good for slow shutter and reflection depend on tide
Update 2016 Sept 5
– highlight of the outing , Mount Ijen Blue fire … happy we saw it and capture it close and far
recently, we witness how Mountain Peacock-Pheasant displaying to attract female . the bird just simply awesome with the beautiful action … after month of displaying, the female seem more accept the male and the male seem trying to protect the female as much as it can ..
update 20191022
new family 201904
thanks Danny Wong for support on 1 of the closer picture capture to show the beauty of the bird
– another shy and beautiful partridge found from 600-1000m sub-montane
update 202409
– after long missing this bird at Bukit Tinggi, finally it is back to the common spot. Luckily to have it calling in front of us
– 这鸟几乎不见了，可是最近又出现了。这次很幸运，在我们面前叫不停。
#####
update 202407
– from last first back, it become more brave willing to come open and slow walk. even with the bigger Pheasant arrive it still feed together. Sad it still looking for his mate, making his call bit weird and tired.
– one of the most beautiful partridge for Malaysia.
– another bird that everyone still hope to see while looking for while visiting one of the feeding spot. But it is never easy to meet this bird … finally it is active last few weeks and I managed to see it for 3/4 trips there.
update 2017 Nov 11
just another bird … same behavior as the previous one .. too tame 🙁
update 2017 Jan 28
– very good sighting of this rare bird and able to shoot with my SONY RX10 m3
4. Sabah Partridge, 沙巴山鹧鸪, 沙巴山鷓鴣, Tropicoperdix graydoni, クリチャミヤマテッケイ, SERUK-BUKIT SABAH
– also call Sabah Partridge, the look slightly different on the chest & head.
– behavior, environment very similar
– comparative common or more sighting compare to the Arborophila Charlton
update 202408
– this bird seem not really easy to have picture in Danum, but it is a lucky day.. the bird just stand there for so long .. but it is under the dark area .. ISO16000 used 🙁
– after got the Bornean Bristlehead, this bird soon come and make loud call for us .. really beautiful and loud call
– 看到棘头鵙后，这鸟就来很近+叫的很大声。这鸟也很漂亮虽然叫的大声恐怖。
update 202310
– as usual, one of the very tame bird to be seen and photograph, never missed over the years .. sometime I am just worry of the bird behavior
– 这鸟有时间，到对的地方。几乎没错过。可是就太乖了，我真的有点担心这鸟的安全。
202208, Sukau, Malaysia
#####
update 202305
– a noisy and lovely Partridge, with the name of Sabah Partridge ** . We got it at Sabah and as usual this bird come to say “hi” to me again over the years same location.
– found and seen 2 birds at 2 locations. lucky group
– a very similar to Pen Malaysia, same call, same behavior and it is a good bird that never miss so far for 2022
– 正式被名为沙巴鹧鸪。
– 与西马的非常像，叫，”脾气“都一样。2022美好的一年，没错过这鸟。
202209, Sabah, Malaysia
update 202208
– shooting this from boat, the R7 just auto lock focus on the bird eye even this was at quite dark environment and shaky boat (7 people moving for better view). But almost all picture focus lock on
– last bird for previous Sabah trip, we can’t wait for better view as we are rushing back to airport. But this bird never failed as I told my guests, it is always here since years back.
– Sabah and Sarawak (Center of Borneo) race seems a bit different
update 202311
– it is off season for here now, after all Malaysia tours… time for some rest and process some 2023 pictures for sharing.
– this is one of the best encounter at Bakelalan, which look different from the Sabah race.
– 进入“雨季“+鸟安静的季节。我们马来西亚的鸟团都停了。是时候休息或看看2023的照片。
– 这是沙捞越的亚种，与沙巴的不一样。有机会看看吧。
202307, Bakelalan, Sarawak, Malaysia
update 202307
– just another not good weather day, we stucked and cannot proceed to ours destination so we birding where the car can reach. This bird is the only bird calling and very soon we have very good view and some picture of this Borneo endemic
Red-breasted Partridge, Arborophila hyperythra (Sarawak , center of Borneo)
At the center of Borneo (Sarawak) all the birds seen with white or light grey supercilium, brighter throat, chin …. which never seen at Kinabalu National Park, Crocker Range.
– a colorful, shy, noisy, moving in group partridge.
– 非常漂亮，害羞，吵的鹧鸪。通常群体行动。
update 202310
– 2022-2023 so much rain across Borneo – Pen Malaysia … I forgot how many times I got all wet when in the forest .. how many times we cancel our drive due to heavy rain .. but bird still coming for food while heavy rain
– when I am at the feeding station (without feeding, how we can see it so well), it is boring so I am trying to have some “small like mosquitoes” series support one of my friend always like to shoot environment shots
– love to have slow motion 4k recording. R3 still good option overall for me . compare to R7, R6II for the moment. Fast AF, Accurate AF, button orientation, battery, speed, video format etc
– a lovely and shy bird captured in control environment(feeding station in wild jungle). It is real tough to have it in wild environment.
– sometime really need to give some respect to Bird photographers that really have patient. I don’t have any good photo for this bird before this group of birds that never stop come even heavy rain.
– Smaller than Himalayan snowcock, this species has a grey head and neck with a white patch behind the eye and above the dark cheek. Chin, throat and breast are white, with two grey bands on the breast. Grey wing coverts and tertials have a white trim. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_snowcock
52. Green Peafowl, 绿孔雀, 綠孔雀, Pavo muticus, マクジャク, MERAK HIJAU
– lovely big bird and freely move around at Chiang Mai, Thailand
– lucky to see the displaying
– 在泰国,清迈.保护工作非常好。它们自由自在的活动。也幸运的看到它们开屏。
202212， Chiang Mai, Thailand
101. Indian Peafowl, 蓝孔雀, 藍孔雀, Pavo cristatus, インドクジャク
An unmistakable, large ground bird. The unmistakable iridescent blue male spreads out its ornamental upper tail feathers when courting females. Females have a shorter tail, an iridescent green neck, and browner plumage. Found in forest, forest edge, and agricultural land. Often seen on paths or alertly feeding in the undergrowth. Can be fairly confiding especially when found close to human habitation. Its loud screaming “may-yow” calls are heard incessantly during the rainy season. [eBird]
– in Sri Lanka, the most common bird to be seen is not sparrow, crow .. but one of them is this beautiful and big bird which can found almost any where, urban, forest edge, forest etc.
– 在斯里兰卡岛上，这鸟几乎哪都看到。大+漂亮
202312, Yala NP, Sri Lanka
151. Red-billed Partridge, 红嘴山鹧鸪, 紅嘴山鷓鴣, Arborophila rubrirostris, アカハシミヤマテッケイ, Puyuh-gonggong sumatera
a very beautiful dark, highland partridge, saw it move it pair
update 202401
– another bird suppose to hope come to feeding station but not, but we managed to heard and found the bird. Again this is another reason setup customize button for my R3 which can shoot in complex environment (just like this) point the focus points (I using 5 point) on to any part of the bird and eye will be lock focus ..very useful and suitable for people like shooting wildbird in move
A 12 days liewwk Nature Photohunters to Sichuan, Qinghai – CHINA … we mostly passing by and surrounding with glass land , and out main targets are Qinghai Lake and Chaka Salt Lake … both locate Qinghai Province .
Lets start with group picture at one of our main targets/hunting ground 😀 .. Qinghai Lake & Chaka Salt Lake
So far, we only had 1 day full raining day happen at Hongyuan County which we should look for sunset , reflection for river curves ….. too bad we didn’t able to capture anything as raining non stop for 14 hours
update 2020 April 4
update 2019 Dec 12
update 2016 Aug 24
one of the most memorise sunrise ever have … we actually stuck in jam to enter this place for >30min for less than 1 hr .. and we witness this beautiful sunrise together >1000 people together sharing the same view of sunrise
update 2016 Aug 23
– Zhagana, 扎尕那 a small village locate Gansu (甘肃) … the village locate surrounding with rocky mountains giving amazing view of sunrise .. with rays in
– beautiful location where it is not tourist spot, we were happy to witness beautiful rays too at this spot
update 2016 Aug 20
– a full pano Milky way at Chaka Salt lake , with the refection and without pano head make this slikt difficult .. but finally i able to make this
update 2016 Aug 15
– Chaka Lake, Qinghai, China
when dawn everyone looking at west direction I am with another photographer attract by light from East
– our main target location, Chaka Salt Lake famous with reflection … beside full sky mirror … we target clouds reflection, sunset, milky way… and this is an extra the ray appear only for few of my shots while I try to capture the photographer in action. very abnormal as this was capture 8pm at East direction which sun is opposite of this …
update 2016 Aug 6
– misty morning at HongYuan
Conclusion of the tour , we see various different environments, (glass land, mountain, biggest lake for CHINA, salt lake, glass land mountains etc)
We walk a lot due to the design of the park, shooting at odd hours …. But every walk , reward us with beautiful view so everyone no complaint on the walking (longest one way walk is 3.8km)
update 2016 Aug 6
– one of the most clear sunrise , and it is special moment we witness this sunrise together with >1000 peoples together 😀
– Qinghai Lake , Canola flowers 油菜花
– Glassland along the travel .. this was capture in the bus while travelling
– one of the most beautiful spot .. village with rocky mountain surround . we were lucky managed to witness beautiful sunrise, sunset and rainbow here just for 1 night stay
扎尕那 （zhagana)
– woke up earlier , stand in he cold …. and before the sun came out . my gang wonder why we wait as the view just so so .. the mountain dark off , sky just clear …. …. I keep tell wait wait (with worry) I believe with the mountain shape it should have light ray shine out … and when this show up everyone wow plus the mist just keep pop out from the village …
– Chaka Salt Lake 茶卡盐湖 － main target of the outing , we spent 2 days here … lovely sunset, milky way etc ..
– mirror of the sky show reflection from the lake
– night sky even beautiful with all stars on the lake
– as usual, this shy bird always hiding behind something. But this time with CANON R3, using single point to touch any part of the bird body. The bird eye will be lock focus and track. So simple compare to old time.
How I wish can spend more time with this beautiful bird, but guests still has targets.. lets move on.
– lowland bird that can found both 2nd forest and primary forest
– very beautiful calling
– small Wren-babbler with white breasted and normally move in pair
202409
– 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
– a difficult to miss bird in Danum Valley, it will come even from far and normally just stand quite still not far from us. A lovely Wren-babbler
– 丹浓谷非常普通也很少会错过的鸟。非常漂亮
202409, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
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update 202408
– almost never miss bird from Danum Valley, very first few bird for the morning. It just stand there for us ..but still dark .. ISO 10000
– 丹浓谷几乎不会错过的鸟。在第一个早上，这鸟一大早就跳出来让我们看个够。
202408, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
#####
update 202407
– a bird that never miss and bore to see and photograph again and again. This time, it just appear just ~100m from the lodge. very active to be calling non stop
– this bird seem not easy at any where, but Danum Valley, BRL seem very easy .. I almost never miss this bird even for picture … but not this time, day1…day2 we tried very hard even went into trail but this bird seem very quick show and gone no one seem have good view except me 🙁 …but this bird just sudden appear at main road after we got the Finsch’s Bulbul … it just stand there and sing+dance for us
– very lucky moment, I am suppose to look for ours last missing target. But I saw these 2 birds keep moving together and I decided to spend minutes to have some good video and pictures. After I got few clips, the Giant Pitta call and that’s the best moment happen. Got the Giant pitta calling for everyone of us
– this lovely bird always accompany me when I looking for some special targets for guests. As usual, think one of most easy place to see this bird is Sabah.
– 这鸟每次当我找目标鸟时，它总是在附近叫不停。在沙巴这鸟应该很容易看到。
202305, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
update 2017 Jul 18
update 2016 Sept 19
beautiful call
update 2016 Jul 10
3. Streaked Wren Babbler, 短尾鹪鹛, 短尾鷦鶥, Turdinus brevicaudatus, ノドフサザイチメドリ, KEKICAU-MURAI GUNUNG BIASA
– streaky breast small wren-babbler
– another small and moving non stop found near sub-montane and montane area
update 202403
CANON R3, CANON RF200-800mm
Pahang, Malaysia
– lucky to have this bird calling non stop at road side when we just arrive to check out
4. Large Wren-Babbler, 大鹪鹛, 大鷦鶥, Turdinus macrodactylus, オオサザイチメドリ, KEKICAU-MURAI BESAR BIASA
– big and active Wren Babbler
– many different calls
– lowland
update 202401
– another example to show .. my picture is different ? I am sure many say, why so bad quality, not an open picture, bla bla … but do you know ? most of my situation … the bird is in the forest, I need to make sure my guests have a view of it and gave them good angle than only my turn to look for “leftover” angle to have a photo … no complaint ahhhhh …give a like please haha
– and normally we see it mean we need to look for other bird soon .. not stay there waiting ..
– a day tour end up with this amazing active bird which stay at open for more than 25 minutes … good view, picture and video
– 一日观鸟，尽然遇上这么一只很“傻”的活跃+害羞的鸟。站着叫了最少25分钟。
202308, Lanchang, Pahang, Malaysia
update 202308
– a very tough trip at Taman Negara, even we had some good birds but most the birds really difficult to even seen. This bird make use suffer for 3 days, finally in the evening stand so long for us to have good view
– a very active bird, lucky to have few moment captured it calling but too bad I can’t handle the 400mm well with handhled. can see shaky
– as usual it making funny calls, it change call for more than 4 differents
– lucky guest to see this bird for 2 times in 2 days. He insist to have a better look at this target bird. But the first bird seem does not cooperate for him to have good look. Next day , next destination this bird stand long for us.
– so far, this bird just too difficult to capture video, saw them display before but inside dark area and deep in bush or else moving fast and calling .. finally one of the moment I want to share .. how this bird making this song and hope one day capture how it making the call .
– another good moment with this bird, it is difficult to while this bird love to moving near ground and very active. Some of us just see the bird jumping around … but after lunch I decide to check out again. Very lucky to have this bird just ~10 feet from me ..
– never want to missed this bird while I am in Borneo, one of my top 3 birds to be seen and photograph. It happen to my last bird of long main tour. Good view for all, record picture for this super active bird.
– a must see bird at Danum Valley, one of favorite. It is always active and good to have good view.
– 婆罗洲我最喜欢鸟之一。每次到丹浓谷，我都非常期待看到他。他的活跃，叫声是多么的吸引人。
202403, Danum Valley, Sabah
#####
update 202310
– 2023 is very good year, I didn’t missed any chance to look for this at Danum Valley. active and beautiful bird for photography
– 2023 我在丹绒谷，几乎没错过一次拍这鸟。很活跃，漂亮的鸟。
202307, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
udpate 202309
– Wren-Babbler always my favorite bird to photograph, it is just challenge , beautiful … this bird always my number 1 bird to be chase each time I am at Borneo
– 鹪鹛是我最喜欢拍摄鸟种之一。因为充满挑战+漂亮。特别是这一只，每次到婆罗洲我都要挑战他的。
202307, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
update 202307
– really like the front view of this active bird. most of the time on low near ground.
– 它的正面，真的很好看。这鸟，通常在很低活动。
202307, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
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– this bird seldom stop more than 1-2s. it always on the move and on low ground. I had tried long to get a video. But always failed, not even more than 3s so far .. finally this time I got ~10s even it is not really focus and good view but this is how the bird behave – hope one day can have better video … – 这鸟总是不停的动，几乎不停多过1-2秒。还要主要在地上，试了好几年还是没办法拍多过3秒的视频。还是觉得，不是这么容易。这次拍到好几秒它怎么动。虽然，没很好对焦。可是先加减看看。
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– when look close it is so gorgeous especially the front pattern
– most of them really shy, it is so difficult to have a open view this time. But I still meet one over the after lunch walk. managed to have some pictures and “walking” video
– as usual, a fast moving “ground” level wren-babbler come close to me but just quiet stand there looking at me while the Stripe Wren-Babbler calling non stop nearby,
– 这鸟如常鬼鬼祟祟的在附近看我，以为我看不到他。真的很喜欢这鸟。
202306, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
update 202305
– my favorite bird and this make another favorite picture for me as it look at me for ~1s just like the way it stand and sing.
– 最喜欢鸟种之一，这也是我最喜欢照片之一。这样看我很可爱。
202305, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
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– one of my favorite bird of Malaysia, I heard Blue-headed Pitta, Striped Wren-Babbler & this bird calling and while I am hiding and waiting for Blue-headed Pitta to show. This bird suddenly appear as this, shooting 500mm at almost no crop.
– another favorite bird of mine, active and beautiful Borneo endemic. But for last few months, seem difficult to have some photo of this bird. Lucky morning to have this small flock moving along the road side.
– very small wren-babbler no tail that move very fast
– split to different family Pnoepygidae, may make another sharing
– 被分鹩鹛属
update 202409
– one of my favorite birds of Malaysia, it is small, cute, active and lovely bird. It always moving with wing span open. But it almost invisible by naked eye.
– with the new canon Pre-continuous Shooting function, simple when see the bird stay still, half-press shutter .. and when see the wing open or move press the shutter .. than anything happen in before .5s will be record as raw into camera .. make this kind of picture simple
9. 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
– Borneo endemic
– few different calls
– can perch high up after alert
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
– a Borneo endemic pretty common lowland – sub-montane forest. It is a bird seldom miss at Danum Valley.. but still difficult to have a good photo.
– 一只婆罗洲特有种从低海拔-中海拔都能找到。在丹浓谷很少或看不到。可是拍好照片还是需要点运气。
202406, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
#####
update 20240324
– another reason to be at Danum Valley, as this bird is common here and difficult to miss it. active and with few different amazing “call”
– 另一个理由要到丹浓谷观鸟。这鸟在这蛮普通，几乎很难错过的。这鸟也蛮活跃+吵的。
202403, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
#####
update 202307
– all of sudden almost any where also heard this bird calling. very active moving as usual. but this bird seem willing to stand here for me take some good pictures and video
– 突然几乎每个森林都听到他叫。可是还是超活跃，可是这家伙。站蛮久。几乎全部都客人都看的非常好。
202307, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
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– a bird that make many different call, very active and shy for photography.
– as other Wren-Babbler this one same moving really fast and active surprise it is not very shy. Moving in pair and bush fast
– 与其他鹪鹛一样动作非常快，草丛中跳来跳去，可是好像不是很害羞。
update 202401
– almost not possible to get the picture of this endemic bird with bird watcher … but lucky or not so lucky the main target is no show … while we waiting, I personal looking for this bird and lucky to have this better moment for photo and I actually got 3 in 1 frame.
another very lucky USA guest managed to have both rare Wren-Babbler for open … this year almost 90% of the bird watching tour have the Marble Wren-Babbler but mostly not full open view … and also the Large Wren-Babbler for those visit the right spot …
for this tour, it is right time and place so we got full open shots for both difficult and rare Wren-Babbler
1. Marble Wren-Babbler,石纹鹪鹛, Turdinus marmorata
2. large wren-babbler ,大鹪鹛, Napothera macrodactyla
after long rest for Landscape photography, went for another quick long exposure, sunset and Milky Way shooting at Batu Pahat … and here few simple sample
– all picture use AV mode meter at same position
– just contrast , saturation add to each picture
1.without any filter
– obviously the top-right over expose without any filter use
2. use most standard GND filter than we recommended for here GND .9s
– sky exposure seem better after the GND even with little highlight
3. use RGND 2 stops
– the exposure seem more balance without highlight due to light concentrate on center of the frame
4. with RGND and 10 stops ND filters
– ND 10 stops to make the shutter speed much slower create different slow shutter effect (silky effect for this) . the calm and peace feel make the picture look different from the standard capture
Overall the GND/RGND is to balance the sky exposure with the foreground and ND can create different effect for composition.
