We had 4 Beijing, China guests for this customize bird photography tour. On the arrival pick up, seem like each of everyone has different target … but all have common interest on raptor and owl … than immediate fine tune the location again to try to cover most the possible owls
We are lucky enough to have most the plan targets picture except a missed on Silver Breasted Broadbill .. missed the good chance while looking for another target 🙁
almost can conclude this is a owl tour where we search for owls almost every night and day time 😀 , guests really enjoy to see and photograph the owls ..
This trip, we follow KL-Kuala Selangor-Fraser Hill-Bukit Tinggi
DAY1
for start , we tried to search for Buffy-Fish Owl… we got 2 in the day time but too bad they are bit shy and playing hide and seek with us
very soon , we also found another Owl day roosting . where we got 2 in same tree .. a Brown-Hawk Owl
with extra effort at night , we were lucky to have another 2 owls ; Barn Owl and Spotted Wood-Owl…
in same day make it 4
When we almost end our day, Large-tailed Nightjar stand still for us for a good view
DAY 2
we spend morning inside a mangrove . lucky to have Crested Goshawk, little late for Crested Serpent-Eagle feeding when we stop our car. We actually saw the male bring the snake to the female .
we also got various woodpeckers nearby mangrove e.g. Rufous Woodpecker ,Common Flameback+Greater Flameback fighting for same stand
after morning walk, we heading Fraser Hill… on the way we got various bird like Whiskered Treeswift, Red-bearded Bee-eater stand close and long for us
immediate arrive Fraser Hill, we actually got Malaysian Hill Partridge family
as usual , we tried quick night walk for owl again.. very lucky we got our 5th owl : Brown Wood-Owl in less than 30minutes
we end our day with laugh and smile 😀
DAY3
in the Morning, we had our Red-headed Trogon displaying for us ~1 hour make guests fill up almost card for single beauty
we also had our Fire-tufted Barbet fill up guests another card again
beside the 2 star birds, we also have pygmy Wren-Babbler, lesser short wing, long-tailed sibia , SIlver ear mesia etc .. but we still missing our SIlver Breasted Broadbill.
at Night , we managed to see another Brown-Wood Owl and also a gray nightjar
DAY 4
we rushing from Fraser Hill to Bukit Tinggi. we able to had Mountain Peacock-Pheasant displaying and Ferruginous Partridge in pair …
Banded Kingfishers (both male and female), Rufous-Collard Kingfisher,Blyth’s Hawk-Eagle etc seem show customer good view
most the pictures captured using handhled .. and am too busy sharing all .. and birding season here seem getting active .. let’s birding
We start 2017 with previous 2 short bird watching tours which with very limited target . follow by this 14 days tour from Kuala Lumpur-Kuala Selangor-Fraser Hill-Bukit Tinggi-KRAU forest-Taman Negara. Quite a lot of miss due to raining almost every evening especially Bukit Tinggi-KRAU-Taman Negara (think mostly we lost 3-5 days due to rain L)
with 2 Switzerland guests , we have very good start from Kuala Lumpur, got few very special target hit and we got first pitta (hooded pitta) and Frogmouth for guests. A lucky day where rain stop ~830pm and we reach there 845pm and got the buffy fish owl, Blyth’s frogmouth and another very special target (guests just saw it flying hmmmm and they mark it count as this is so special owl) .. 54 species for day 1
Next morning, we heading to Pulau Indah for another target, struggle a bit but we still finally got the Mangrove Pitta after 3-4 hours tried for few locations.
Following to Kuala Selangor, spend evening walking nearby mangrove … got most the targets hit again and customer favor is Common Flameback woodpecker … how I wish everyday got such easy target 😀 . it was heavy rain after dinner, but we still try our luck and YES. Got the Spotted wood owl just before another heavy rain hit …
Day 2 : 46 species
Morning, we heading to Natural Park. A long walk , got most the target again but missed out Copper-Throat Sunbird L … after lunch slowly travel to Fraser Hill, on the way… what a lucky under a fruiting tree easily hit few target : Yellow-Crowned Barbet, Gold Whiskered Barbet … follow Chestnut-naped Forktail , Dark-Sided Flycatcher , Temminck’s Sunbird, Scaly-Breasted Bulbul etc …. Ohh forgot Rufous-Bellied Swallow and family of Silver-Breasted Broadbill make our day .
Day 3 : 50 species
For Day 4, very good weather at Fraser Hill … but we missed the Malayan Whistling-Thrush Hill Partridge in the morning !!! But with the half day, we got back some star Birds : Collared Owlet, Malaysian Nightjar, Fire-tufted Barbet, Rufescent Prinia, and very good view of Marbled Wren-Babbler … at night we also got Sunda Slow-Loris .
Day 5, misty+raining ohhhhh … and we got brief view of Malayan Whistling-Thrush in the morning. Than follow by very good view of Large Scimitar Babbler, Bay Woodpecker, Black-Browed Barbet, Black-and-Crimson Oriole, Black Laughingthrush, Malayan Laughingthrush, Brown Wood-Owl and what surprise Barred Eagle-Owl show off here too …
Day 6, again !!! MISTY+RAINING … but luck is on our site, with limited hours … We managed to got some main target like Yellow-vented Pigeon, Silver-rumped Needletail, Bamboo Woodpecker, Long-Tailed Broadbill + Blue Nuthatch (under the heavy rain !) … and very lucky to have pair of Collard Babbler stay long for us for very good view and photo …
Day 7, we had almost everything we need … but we missing those common bird like mountain Bulbul, little cuckoo dove (joke from customer… it is a must and how can we missed it , lets stay few more days for Mountain Bulbul ) .. no joke we really missed this bulbul for 4 days @Fraser Hill .
Before we heading to Bukit Tinggi, we record Scarlet-Rumped Trogon @890m (think may be little too high but it show up there) and a pair of Banded Kingfisher …
Day 8, from Genting Highland to Krau forest. We didn’t get much target meet but Cinamon-rumped Trogon is our favor of the day .
with 2 fruting trees , we managed to see some barbets, bulbuls, etc but to our surprise. We saw local climb up to a tree may be 30-40m height to hunt for birds !!!!!! L
Day 9 : full day raining at Bukit Tinggi, guests enjoy red wine 80% of the day
Day 9 : 7 species
Day 10 : we have beautiful Moutain Peacock Pheasant displaying 2 hours for us , before we leave. Got a very good view of Rhinoceros and Helmeted Hornbill follow by heading to Taman Negara with raining full 2nd half day.
Arrived Taman Negara Dusk, both Great Hornbill and Great Argus welcome us at lobby area
Day 10 : 21 species
Day 11-16 : we spend few days at Taman Negara but 40% of the time raining or cloudy make the whole birding slowing. But within few days of tracking in the mud, pond etc . We cover a lot of Bulbuls, barbet, parrot, hornbill but the 10 star birds over days
1. Dark-throated Oriole, 黑喉黄鹂, 黑喉黃鸝, Oriolus xanthonotus, ムナフコウライウグイス, KUNYIT-BONGSU BIASA
– lovely bird found normally secondary and primary forest and mostly canopy
– 非常厉害唱歌。通常都在树顶上。
update 202103
update 2020 April 2
update 2017 Jan 16
2. Black Oriole, 黑鹂, 黑鸝, Oriolus hosii, スミゴロモ, KUNYIT HITAM BORNEO
one of the rare oriole or bird in the world .. it only can found near a small village at Sarawak, Malaysia (as for now) ..
update 202309
– a good moment with this special target bird, this year may not see it again but still hope to plan few days there to look for few other good birds there…
– going to be another busy months after short break, and can’t stop thinking how lucky we were with such close encounter … this was 560mm with minimum crop !!! a very rare Borneo endemic but not difficult bird to be seen but it is always high up on the tree with “small” size almost like a black dot
– another visit of this amazing place Paya Maga, but this trip we had a bad weather . Arrive hiking with heavy rain, missed one evening and night for anything just hearing the lovely natural music and good rest. Following with on and off rain. But this main target still show well for us and even come low and stay long for us to take picture.
– 再次到这美好的地方，Paya Maga . 可是这次天气真的不是很给力。几乎都下雨。上山时还下大雨。天气冷，下雨，鸟没活动还有比这差吗？还好我们到这的主打鸟还是拍到了。还下来低+久让我们拍好好。
202307, Paya Maga, Sarawak, Malaysia
update 202306
– this is a special Borneo endemic why we were at Paya Maga. The weather is wet almost everyday, muddy trail, cold shower, no electricity, sharing big hall for sleep. But good birds as usual, managed to have this bird first afternoon, and see it almost every day.
– 我们到Paya Maga 的原因（在这没电，冻水凉，湿泥土，下雨，大家睡在一个大空间）可是好鸟原因大家都没投诉。这非常稀有的婆罗洲特有种，到的第一个中午已拿下。之后每一天都看到。
202306, Paya Maga, Sarawak, Malaysia
###
update 2020 Sept
Black Oriole, 黑鹂,黑鸝, Oriolus hosii, スミゴロモ, KUNYIT HITAM BORNEO
1. Straw-headed Bulbul, 黄冠鹎, 黃冠鵯, Pycnonotus zeylanicus, キガシラヒヨドリ, BARAU-BARAU RAYA
– bird make very nice songs , that’s why always main target to be trap
– critical endegered species
update 202405
– it is a hot afternoon while we trying to find a Black-and-Red Broadbill nest which gone after the water level is over the nest. But all of sudden I saw these 2 birds just stand infront of us … wow wow .. it was so close for us to get some shot compare to normal high up at the canopy
look like Pen Malaysia Black-crested Bulbul, this sub-montane endemic … many years ago, I ever say to my friend … “Black-crested Bulbul very common at Pen Malaysia la, I don’t need ”
update 202208
– another sub-montane Borneo endemic, which overall yellow with black crest
– depend on the checklist, some have split as Pale-faced Bulbul which is montane Borneo endemic
– look very similar to Yellow-vented Bulbul
update 202308
– a highland, bulbul that pretty common but recently gave me some hardtie to looking for it. previous trips just need more tie on this bird. Not sure what happen .. but last trip, it just show there when we arrive …
– some checklist already split this as Pale-faced Bulbul as Borneo endemic
– 高原的鹎，其实蛮普通可是最近不知道怎了，还是要点时间看到它。
– 有人已把它分成新婆罗洲特有种。
202306, KNP, Sabah, Malaysia
update 202011
201905, KNP, Sabah, Malaysia
5. Spectacled Bulbul, 小褐鹎, 小褐鵯, Rubigula erythropthalmos, コアカメチャイロヒヨ, MERBAH MATA MERAH KECIL
– small brown’s Bulbul, which with Yellow eye ring
– a Buff-vented look-alike bulbul (Peninsular Malaysia) which absent from Borneo island.
– a “brown” bulbul, Borneo lowland endemic
– white eye, steak dark brown head
– 婆罗洲没”黄臀灰胸鹎“。把它分出这特有种。
– 白眼，头部明显暗纹
– very common brown bulbul endemic, it is Buff vented Bulbul (peninsular Malaysia) look alike
– 非常普通的婆罗洲特有种
update 202208
– a common lowland Borneo endemic. overall brown with darker brown-black on head
– a newly split from Ochraceous Bulbul, special to Borneo. additional of Borneo Endemic.
A brownish-olive bulbul with a wispy crest and a puffy, glowingly white throat. Inhabits lowland and montane forests, where it prefers primary or well-aged secondary growth. Forages in the middle and lower levels of the forest, usually in small, noisy flocks. (Ebird)
– 之前与西马的白喉褐冠鹎同类。之后分为婆罗洲特有种。
update 202308
– a new split Borneo endemic, which normally found Sub-montane or montane of Borneo. it look very Ochraceous Bulbul.
– A highly localized species, found almost exclusively in the kerangas and peatswamp forests of Borneo and Sumatra’s lowlands (rarely in adjacent wooded habitats). Fairly plain overall; note brown upperparts, off-white chest, pale yellow belly, and elegant white eyebrow. Long and heavy hook-tipped silver bill is diagnostic if seen well. Forages singly, in pairs, and in small bands, typically in the middle and lower levels of forest. Gives a variety of harsh scolding calls, including a nasal “jyaw, jyaw” and a quicker, drier rattle. [ebird]
– a boring raining morning, almost nothing calling or action.. except this bird gave us some good view … any how main target ticked
– 郁闷的下雨早上，（还在下雨）几乎没什么鸟叫。就这鸟乖乖的让我们看/拍。目标鸟看到了还好。
202309, KLIAS, SABAH, Malaysia
update 202306
– a Borneo extension quick drop-by for 2 hour and lucky to have this close and clear view
– 婆罗洲行之加行程1，第一站停了2个小时。非常幸运看到这么近
202306, Sabah, Malaysia
18. Cream-eyed Bulbul, 白眼鹎, Pycnonotus pseudosimplex, MERBAH MATA PUTIH BORNEO
– a very similar look with cream-vented bulbul but it is newly know to be Borneo endemic
– 与白眼褐鹎有点困扰。是最近被分为婆罗洲特有种。白眼，褐色
Dull dirt-brown bulbul with pale button eyes. Currently only known from northern Borneo, where it is the only plain brown bulbul with white eyes. Pale-eyed forms of closely related Cream-vented Bulbul do not overlap in range. Found in a range of forests and forest edges. Like other bulbuls, often joins flocks at fruiting trees. Gives loud “pinks” and quiet sputtering trills. (ebird)
update 202404
– another species getting difficult to sight, may be we overlooked the “brown bird” .. pale white eye which very Cream-vented Bulbul look alike but absent from Borneo
– 另一种鸟越来越难见到，可能我们都饿没注意这鸟？与马来西亚的白眼褐鹎很像。可是在婆罗洲没有。
202403, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
#####
update 202307
– a recent visit to Danum Valley and used to see it quite common at RDC and Danum Valley. But than not really has good sight since ~2 years ago until now
olive above and yellow below with an especially pale throat. Like many other bulbuls, manages to be distinctive despite being utterly unremarkable-looking. Inhabits lowland and foothill forests, in both primary and secondary growth. Moves through middle and upper levels of forest in pairs or small flocks, sometimes with other species. Gives rough “wek” and “kwik” calls when foraging, but otherwise fairly quiet. [Ebird]
– a uncommon bulbul, for most of the location except South of Peninsula Malaysia & Borneo Danum Valley
– 蛮稀有的除了，西马南部与丹浓古
update 202401
– as the previous post, the same individual stay close, low and long for us to take so many good photo of this rarely seen bird Peninsula Malaysia
– a wonderful day to go out with buddy, still very quiet overall.. but surprise this bird so close to us. ~10 feet at eye level for us. Now can see so much clear on the crown view
– 与朋友去走走，森林还是非常安静。可是幸运地，这鸟站在我们10尺+地角度。它的冠是很漂亮的哦
20240111, Talang, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
#####
update 202307
– a raining afternoon, after some good flock of woodpeckers. This bird just stand at road side for us. lovely looking bulbul
– 下了一场雨后，来了一次啄木鸟的鸟浪。之后就发现这漂亮的鹎。
202307, Lenggor, Johor, Malaysia
20. Ochraceous Bulbul, 白喉褐冠鹎, 白喉褐冠鵯, Alophoixus ochraceus, シロハラカンムリヒヨドリ, MERBAH-BERJANGGUT GUNUNG BIASA
A brownish-olive bulbul with a wispy crest and a puffy, glowingly white throat. Inhabits lowland and foothill forests, where it prefers primary or well-aged secondary growth. Forages in the middle and lower levels of forest, usually in small, noisy flocks. Calls consist primarily of loud, dry “chek” notes; variable song is pleasant and warbling. Extremely similar in appearance to closely related Puff-throated Bulbul, but smaller Ochraceous has darker and browner upperparts, duller yellow underparts, and a shorter crest. [ebird]
– overall bulbul, leafbird and most of the colorful birds, songbirds are very low density at west Sumatra
– 一只非常有条纹的鹎，整体呈灰色。
– 在苏门答腊，鹎，叶鹎，鸠都几乎很难看到。
update 202401
– the famous Tapan road had few landslides so we mostly walking at the road (~15-20km) but overall Bulbul, leafbirds, dove almost not heard or visible … but this endemic came down to feed berry while we have good view of ~12 Blue Nuthatch.
3 out of the borneo endemic , whitehead’s trio always main target for birders … we were lucky to photograph all 3 whitehead’s which include Spiderhunter, broadbill & Trogon by 2016 sept.
the beautiful colors of the trio attract attention easily
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
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 202403
– 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 202402
– 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
