– it is an old picture, another not a good memory to have .. too many pressure to cause the chick fledged too earlier …. it still not really able to fly, fall into the river few times and safe back … can’t do much beside wish them good luck
2. Slaty-backed Forktail, 灰背燕尾, Enicurus schistaceus, セアオエンビシキチョウ,CEGAR BESAR
– sub-montane , found near stream/rive longer tail and more grey instead black-white
Slaty-backed Forktail , 灰背燕尾 [Enicurus schistaceus]3. White-crowned Forktail, 白冠燕尾, 白额燕尾, Enicurus leschenaulti, frontalis, エンビシキチョウ, CEGAR RAYA BIASA
– very shy bird to be photograph
– at Borneo, found lowland and montane mostly Bornean Forktail (depend checklist)
update 202508
One of Malaysia’s shyer birds—still remember how we used to rely on a hide in Selangor years ago just to get decent photos. But this time at Danum Valley, they came incredibly close to us—no hiding needed! Not just one, but around four birds came in for a great photo session. 😄
What a morning surprise! While walking along the main road, this bird suddenly jumped out just about 10 feet in front of us.
真是个清晨的惊喜！当我们走在主路上时，这只鸟突然跳出来，距离我们大约只有十英尺远。
update 202506
What a morning surprise! While walking along the main road, this bird suddenly jumped out just about 10 feet in front of us.
真是个清晨的惊喜！当我们走在主路上时，这只鸟突然跳出来，距离我们大约只有十英尺远。
202505, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
#####
update 202408
– a very shy bird to have good view and photo, it normally found near small stream or wet ground near “water area”. a lowland species
– 非常害羞的鸟，通常见到。没办法拍好。通常在小溪边可以找到它。
202407, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
#####
update 202403
– it is a bird that always avoid me, I didn’t got many chance to take photo of this common but shy bird. But this month within same tour, I got both Borneo-Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia-Pahang version … and surprise they are tame and allow us approach them ~10m
– Peninsular Malaysia only White-crowned at lowland without Bornean
update 202506
It was a great morning at Kinabalu National Park—we spotted nearly all of our target species. We then decided to try our luck with the forktail, and besides this shy bird, we were also rewarded with a Crimson-headed Partridge shortly after!
The weather shortened our trip to KNP, but we were lucky to spot most of the endemics with great views. For example, this shy forktail was just about 10 meters away and stayed for a while, giving us a perfect pose!
– another lucky moment have this bird close and feeding.. managed to captured with R3 slow motion mode too
– a Borneo montane endemic
– 非常幸运用佳能R3慢速度拍下它捉到小鱼。
– 婆罗洲特有种。
#####
update 202403
– another bird that easy confuse and found at KNP, always found near road side and near stream
– 在神山就这一种，也蛮容易见到。在路旁或小溪旁都可以看到
202308, KNP, Sabah, Malaysia
#####
update 202308
– went here first morning, no bird around. 2nd visit make me able to captured some pictures before it flew away
– 第一天都没听到这鸟叫。今天，竟然让我拍几张照片。
202308, Sabah, Malaysia
####
51. Sunda Forktail, 姬燕尾, 姬燕尾, Enicurus velatus, ヒメエンビシキチョウ
– as other forktail, a small and very shy bird. But it is a beautiful one with rufous head instead ovarall black-and-white.
– 与其他燕尾一样，都是很怕人。也很不一样，大部分燕尾都是黑+白
update 202312
– while we walking on the trail for Ground Cuckoo, this bird always infront us but keep a distance. We didn’t spent too much time for it as rushing for the main target
“Short North-Thailand trip goals achieved! 😊 On our river adventure, our guide asked if we wanted to spot the elusive Black-backed Forktail. I said why not? 🤔 What followed was pure patience-testing magic! 🙄 We waited on a rock, and with some playback, the bird kept coming back for more… giving us an epic photo op 📸. Not sure who got the perfect shot, but I’m pretty sure C got it and the others got zilch 😂👍.”
– a rare Borneo Borneo Endemic which prefer feeding on a small stream
update 202607
Another lucky day in the field. Right after the heavy rain stopped, we headed out to search for this special Bornean endemic. It wasn’t a long walk at all before we landed incredible views. We were even able to slip back to the vehicle, grab the camera, and get close enough to secure some fantastic shots.
I’ve been missing out on this bird for the past few months, but when we finally sighted it today, the excitement was completely beyond words. It’s one of those rare Borneo endemics that everyone is searching for. Honestly, I think we have the rain to thank for this lucky encounter.
Almost every trip this year, we’ve only managed to see this Borneo endemic without getting any photos. But this time, we were lucky—two birds stayed around long enough and allowed us to get close for some decent shots.
– it getting difficult to sight this Borneo Endemic again, use to be so easy just walking in the morning should see 1-2 of them but recent trip to KNP make few challenge search before had it. We walking to search last 4 targets and thick mist without any big hope but this guy just came and not far for everyone good view. Lucky …(also happy for a small Photographer able to capture this not so easy photograph bird in such a close distance)
– another Borneo endemic easier to see but difficult to be photograph but recently getting much easier compare old time. a bird active in dusk and dawn ..
– we arrived KNP evening and it was misty … but we still trying ours best to look for some bird… first session looking for Bulbul failed… but follow by Whitehead’s Broadbill and this amazing endemic. it feed infront of us ~10-15m for quite long until some car passby
– as usual morning session, but lucky today have 1 pair still feeding with quite good available light.
– a shy Borneo montane endemic
– 婆罗洲高山特有种。不很稀有，就是有点害羞。
– 如常，我们一大早就找这鸟。好幸运，遇上一对在还有光线的时候还在。
202308, KNP, Sabah, Malaysia
update 202307
– a bird that always make us wake up early. This special bird come to us dusk, which still have quite good light. CANON R7 with 400mm F2.8 still working perfect for lowlight
– we normal look for this bird dusk/dawn with almost no light situation. A very lucky moment while we walking, got this bird came out for very close for picture (not this) but love this while it standing
– pretty common winter visitor range from lowland – montane
– male dark blue with white browed , female brown
update 2020 May 30
– female
update 202502
This is our very first bird of this long tour. There’s so much rubbish around, unfortunately. But on a funny note, it seems “he” also enjoys Starbucks coffee!
这是我们这次你啊团遇到的第一只鸟。可惜这里垃圾很多。不过有趣的是，似乎“它”也喜欢星巴克咖啡！
202502, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang, Malaysia
#####
Siberian Thrush, 白眉地鶇,Geokichla sibirica, マミジロ, Murai Hitam Siberia
update 2020 May 13
Siberian Thrush, 白眉地鶇,Geokichla sibirica, マミジロ, Murai Hitam Siberia
It is always a thrill to see the Fruit-hunter, even when it stays high in the canopy. While this perspective is a great find for birdwatchers, it can be a challenge for photographers who often wonder why they stay so far up. Regardless, I am very excited about this sighting.
It was raining when we arrived at the national park, so we stayed near the hut and continued birding while waiting for it to stop. To our surprise, a Bornean Green-Magpie appeared during the wait. Not long after, the rain stopped—and we were rewarded with a Black-sided Flowerpecker perched perfectly for photos. As we continued on in search of more target birds, this beauty showed up again—right at eye level for everyone to enjoy and capture. A truly lucky day!
One of Borneo’s most sought-after birds had remained quiet for the second morning in a row. However, shortly after we began our walk, we had a close encounter—though not a clear view—of both this elusive bird and the Bare-headed Laughingthrush. Not long after, David called out that he had heard the Fruit-hunter about 500 meters away. Everyone rushed to the spot, and soon enough, we all enjoyed excellent views of the bird.
– after a tired morning, hiking and keep looking for fast moving shy bird… decided make a move to other place try some lifer for my buddies. After we got the Bornean Shortwing, this bird show up when heavy mist 🙁 but still a lifer for them .. happy men ….
– another long plan and excited Borneo Photography with Taiwan group and thanks for the trusted continue book for 2025 … very dramatic tour, cannot arrived to Kota Kinabalu on time due to Volcano eruption at Sulawesi North but finally arrived but 2 days late. But we still catch up most of the plan and got many good birds such as Dusky Eagle Owl day roost, 3 Whitehead’s, Fruit-hunter, Bristlehead, Helmeted Hornbill and etc ..
– we were lucky on this, we got Everett’s Thrush, Whitehead’s Broadbill, Bornean Green-Magpie and follow by this super close and low Fruit-hunter … and still like a dream everything happen within an hour.It came low and chase away many other bird and stay long.
– misty, rain morning. Dec definite not a good month birding here.
– 每天下雨，雾大。12月真的不是来这看鸟好时侯。
update 202210
– a very dramatic day, raining, heavy mist follow by lucky encounter Bornean Green-Magpie, Whitehead’s Trogon than this “rare” endemic and we had 7-8 birds in one tree for long time
– before getting busy, a very special bird got from previous tour. This is a 2nd bird of the trip and lucky to have the male bird close and female slightly higher for photo
8. Island Thrush, 岛鸫, 白頭鶇, Turdus poliocephalus, ハイガシラツグミ, MURAI-BELANDA GUNUNG TIMUR
update 202407
– a bird that never though to be sight and photograph before I make some plan to hike up to Laban Rata for missing 2 birds of Malaysia. But today while we looking for missing 3 birds .. Azmil message me he sight the Island Thrush.. without any wait we move to the place .. we try to locate but seem missing while I heard Fruit-hunter calling and trying to locate it but seem still bit a distance to see this bird… Hugo call us … Thrush … and bingo make my Malaysia lifer. (683)
– it is not really shy, it just moving around even many people walking around .. beautiful bird …
– 这是一只我完全没想过的马来西亚鸟（在我安排爬上去神山的路上）。今天但我们在神山寻找3只还没看到的鸟时。朋友Azmil 让我知道这鸟出现，没等我们立刻到了那个鸟点。找了10-20分钟是没找到，我听到食果鸫叫，找了很久还是蛮远没办法看到。在远方，Hugo向我们招手。这就拿下我的马来西亚新鸟种。（683)
– 这鸟很不怕人。
A spectacular chestnut-backed thrush with striking white facial patches, black-and-white wings, and bold pied markings below. Juvenile shows buff streaks on crown and back and buff throat. Terrestrial, feeding on the forest floor singly or in pairs within the lowlands and low hills. Unmistakable within its limited range on islands of Sulawesi and Kabaena. Mournful song is a phrase of several high-pitched whistled notes, “deee-der-doo” or “deee-der.” Calls include “chak” notes and a high-pitched “peep” call. [Ebird]
update 202511
Compared to all my past visits, this bird has been surprisingly easy to photograph during the last two trips to Tangkoko—both within just two weeks! Still took some effort to get a clean shot, but it was definitely worth it. Such a lovely and stunning Sulawesi endemic!
52. Sumatran Cochoa, 苏门答腊宽嘴鸫, 蘇門答臘寬嘴鶇, Cochoa beccarii, スマトラミヤマツグミ, Ciung-mungkal sumatera
update 202610
I’ve run into this mystery bird a few times before without getting a clear look—in fact, I’d never actually managed to see its signature pink eye-ring. This time, however, our luck changed. We initially spotted a small flock of 3 to 4 birds high up, giving us the best and closest view we’ve ever had in this area. After securing a few good shots, the mist began to roll in, so we decided to head back. Right around Pos 1, a mid-sized bird—roughly the size of a thrush—perched at eye level. Everyone in the group immediately snapped photos, and sure enough, it turned out to be the same bird, providing us with an even closer, crystal-clear view right where we hoped to find it.
Brown thrush with bold dark spots on the underparts, white spots in the wings, and black facial stripes below the eye. Occurs in pairs or singly, on or near the ground, in forest, forest edge, and gardens, mostly in the Wet Zone, but also locally in the Dry Zone. No other thrush on Sri Lanka shows distinct rows of white spots on the wings, and bold spotting below. Gives very high-pitched “sweeeee” call; song is a highly variable collection of rich, rising and falling, melodious whistles and warbles. [ebird]
update 202312
– another very common endemic, which found most of the lowland urban areas, forest edge, forest
– a bird that told me weeks to just have few look, few seconds for picture ….
– walk non stop inside canopy
– when it call, the throat “blue” appear
– 3+1 locations, multiple visits ……
– VERY SHY bird ….
update 202606
It is hard to believe that we managed to spot our main target within the first hour of our walk into the forest. It was incredibly kind to us, offering a fantastic 10-minute encounter. Although the bird kept moving, making photography quite challenging, it was an amazing experience to watch it walking and displaying, followed later by what we believe to be another male.
It’s a busy start to the year! We kicked things off with a very long drive due to the holiday traffic, followed by a specialized photography tour with two lovely and incredibly patient guests. One of our main targets for this trip was this beauty—it’s a shame they’re still a bit shy this season, but what a wonderful bird to start off 2026.
This was a truly special tour for us, focusing on a very important target species. After two days of only hearing it without any sighting, we finally had an amazing view—right in front of the four of us, and even calling!
Such a memorable family trip—got all three special bird families: Rail-Babbler, Crested Jayshrike, and Bornean Bristlehead, all with photos too!
Just another moment captured with this beautiful yet shy bird. I’m accustomed to situations where people alter the environment—making it brighter and more open—just for the sake of photos, which can affect the bird’s natural behavior. However, that doesn’t diminish my happiness, especially with my birding buddy back in action after finally deciding to get his 400mm F2.8 following a slowdown in birding. Exciting times ahead, as I have more personal birding trips coming up soon!
– it is a special request to have this bird just for single day.. real challenge for this rare and shy bird
– 非常特别要求，在一天哪要看这么一只害羞，稀有的鸟。
#####
update 202408
– it is a tough day, been assign with a 1.5 days (actually just one day for Rail-babbler as main target). After meet Hermina & Shannon, they really keen to see the Rail-babbler… so we make a early move and have a long coffee stop before we go into forest due to some early morning rain. Immediate arrive the area, after got 1 frogmouth calling, and sight the Banded Woodpecker. I heard the Rail-babbler calling, immediate trying to track it down and we spit the bird less than 10 minutes … ring my buddy and hope he is happy man now ..
– within 24 hours, we got this bird again with much better view this time. All have perfect view of the shy bird..it is really fun to see this bird walk slow infront of us.
– a shy bird always difficult to spot and walk almost close to ground only
– another special target birds tour (5th this year for Rail-Babbler), this time with big group.. little bit challenge to get 1st target .. Malaysian Rail-babbler … but today morning, managed to heard it and wait a while before locate it calling. Happen for 2-3 minutes .. everyone see it from limited angle 🙁 but relieve …
– it is a long plan request from “friend”, a bird family need Rail-Babbler… last for him and another Jay-shrike for better view .. and we make this happen within 2 days while we actually plan it for 5 days … day1 arrive afternoon nothing much but still got Finsch’s Bulbul & Scarlet-breasted Flowerpeckeras new birds and with many woodpeckers with good view … follow by lunch and a quite bored afternoon … but still able to have good view of Crested Jayshrike and ~10m close Rail-babbler without any sight …Day2 morning nothing much even with some good view but no Rail-babbler close heard .. raining afternoon after lunch even still rain.. as Bill seem worry we missed the bird just decided walk into forest with raining gear … not far after we walk I heard “to to to” real close and ask every one backward … YES me and Bill saw the bird circling and walk across the trail but Karen & Miki missed … hmmmmmm .. so we decided go to a slight open space to wit for the bird…. not that long the bird came into view and making “balloon” call show for us more than 2 minutes .. smile for everyone …
– a good month to start to have good view of this special bird, total 4 good view of this birds 2024 June. And twice we special come to this special location for 2 special birds family. Both trips got the bird on day1/2, hope it stay for next few visits.
– a birds came close to us and make special “balloon call” style.
– finally finish a long tour, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo & extension to South P Malaysia. We had this very special target bird twice all of us saw the bird well and long. We had this bird walking across the trail after 2-3 hours search through the forest.
– a mystery bird that can be very shy or sometime just appear in-front of you and walk slowly.
– it is amaze that outs’ main target just walk Infront us ~10 feet away .. it walk so beautiful and record with CANON R3 4k 100fps – 这么神奇，我们的主要目标鸟。在我们还没准备前提下。就在我们面前10尺走猫步
update 202309
– it is another good year to have many view and photo of this bird. This particular experience simply amazing where bird just infront of us walking pass
– a special targets tour begin with first target bird – Malaysian Rail-babbler. All of us have very good view of this bird
– 目标鸟团。第一天第一只目标-白眉长颈鸫。 每个人都看得很好。
202309 – Bukit Tinggi, Pahang, Malaysia
update 202308
– are you looking for me ? amazing moment with the special group. have a great time on day1. so close and so long for us
– 你在找我？非常特别的组，特别来找这鸟。第一天就找到这么乖的。让我们看很久也很近
202307, Lenggor, Johor, Malaysia
update 202307
– a quick check before few Rail-babbler groups, arrived welcome by rain (YES, raining again) after Malaysian-Eared Nighjar, Crested Shrikejay… begin my Rail-babbler quick tour. very soon I arrived my friend “spot” put a hide and wait. not long wait the bird calling but it keep quiet after few call. Not a long wait, it stand near the bush edge. – 为了接下来的“白眉长颈鸫”团，到了马来西亚最好的点之一（其实还是觉得吉隆波的鸟点比较有把握）。一大早到了，可是没办法出去。（下雨，对又下雨） 先看到马来毛腿夜鹰，可是没停。之后很快与5只冠鸦玩了一会。就开始慢慢找这非常高需要的鸟。先到朋友给我。等没多久，鸟叫了。可是很快又没声音了。可是我也不大意。周围看看，很快看到这鬼鬼祟祟的站那看我。
202307, Lenggor, Johor, Malaysia
####
– a special Rail-Babbler tour, lucky to have it present 4 times show. last appear is like walk left and right for more than 3 minutes. 100+ species first day..
– it is a hot day, this bird is calling any where… only 1 bird willing to give good show and cat walk for me
– 炎热的一天。很多只在叫，可是就只有一只出来走走让我拍拍。
202307, Lenggor, Johor, Malaysia
####
– a quick check before few Rail-babbler groups, arrived welcome by rain (YES, raining again) after Malaysian-Eared Nighjar, Crested Shrikejay… begin my Rail-babbler quick tour. very soon I arrived my friend “spot” put a hide and wait. not long wait the bird calling but it keep quiet after few call. Not a long wait, it stand near the bush edge.
– what a lucky group to sighted 4 rail-babbler and last one even stay long and close for us to capture some picture with all have good view
– 非常幸运的客人，尽然在同一行程里见到这鸟4次。最后一次还站了很久与很近让每个人都看到。
202306, Paya Maga, Sarawak, Malaysia
202112
– another surprise found at this “urban area”, as usual i having my casual birding and all of sudden I heard a long missing sound and by waiting and finally saw it and got a split second picture..
– very first attempt to have good picture of this bird @2013
Malaysian Rail-babble,白眉长颈鸫r,白眉長頸鶇,Eupetes macrocerus,クイナチメドリ, Burung Gembala Kera
update 202105
– seem like no more chance to have a better view of this rare and shy bird in the near future.
– years ago, I told my buddy I got this bird in this location but he never believes until he got leeches to bite, and record a shot of the bird.
