CONTACT me if you need advice or Bird Watching/Photography related services
Medium-sized slender bird, pale gray above, white below, with a small dark bridge between the bill and eye (lores) and faint partial white eyering. Immature lacks distinct mask of Black-faced Cuckooshrike. Dark morph shows large but variable black bib and breast, mottled or barred at the edges. Inhabits eucalypt forest and other woodlands in Australia, Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. Call a high-pitched, two-note squeak. [Ebird]
– off season, finally home to look at all the pictures… this was one of the most amazing moment with my group .. special bird, special moment and special peoples …
– one of the star birds of Peninsula Malaysia and it was there for years … just wish no much disturbance because of any reason. And it is no one spot it is a national park for years .. just enjoy the nature and birding
– if everyone have a bird to attract you to Birding ? for me this is one of them, many years ago a garden nearby house… this bird build their nest same location for almost every years.. I spend many many time to look at them .. monitor especially with my love one (family, best buddies …)
– happy to see the chick still always looking for it’s parent before roosting
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]
– it is a season where most of them not roosting at common area. We stay until dusk (~5pm) and managed to have good view of a pair of them .. just wake up with stretch wing
– a special owl, seem everyone wanted to have a look at Sulawesi (included the local) as believe lucky ? but it is always challenge to looking for one.
– a lovely Hornbill but sometime just tricky to have a sight but this year seem very stable at few location.. but any how still good to see this beautiful Hornbill
– arrived owling location earlier, trying for this nightjar .. and YES , it flying really low but today weather just bad .. ISO already up 32000 .. but show the CANON R3 no problem to focus and track .. .. hihi someone Z9 not focus 😀
– busy months 2023 end … now left over special target tours.. next one hope have luck to have good view of this bird again .. stress actually to find this bird ..
– arrived Halmahera, before anything go for this main target … due to long travel everyone seem tired but luckily the bird appear not that long compare to other waiting 😀 and it is huge in size, some with 800mm little bit suffer to take whole bird into frame
update202310
– as usual, even special target tour. we still spend some time for my lovely owls. Arrive here, not very long. There are 4birds calling and 2 of them perch near for us to take pictures.
– 如常，目标鸟团。我们一样晚上找找我喜爱的猫头鹰。到达折后，没等很久。4只鸟在叫，2只还让我们拍好好。
– a special almost represent Sulawesi as almost any where you can see symbol
A massive black-and-white megapode with a rose-pink breast and a diagnostic prominent knob on the nape. Found in lowland and hill forest, in areas near beaches or areas with volcanic sands in which they lay their eggs. Immatures show a blacker head with a white throat and a tufted crest. Occurs in pairs that forage on the ground and roost in trees by night. Often best seen at known egg-laying sites, either during laying sessions, or roosting in trees nearby. Generally silent, but occasionally gives a loud, bubbling “waow.” [Ebird]
update 202310
– another main target for a short Photography tour, not really a difficult bird to be seen but it stay far from the hide and very alert with sounds. But there are few individual come to the ranger area which gave some close pictures.
– another trip another good view of this bird after longer wait compared to previous trips. I didn’t have best angle but still trying to show the beauty of this bird .. 8km bird .. worth ? YES definitely
– will share some funny video about this bird … may be finish this trip
– 4 years ago 5 of us went to West Papua for Photography and today 3 out of 5 we back to same airport and same Starbuck ..good memory … and hope tomorrow we have same good experience for the photography tour
– our simple no target day at Tomohon, come across this best spot for all the small birds .. good photography spot … so close and good lighting and background
– 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
– 2nd trip to Halmahera 2023 and see you next week … never get bored to see it making noise and dance even the journey there bit challenge … I am coming
– I didnt update any pictures for 2023, even I went to 2 feeding station for multiple times. This bird is amazing and I recommended look at yourself … the color and whole bird is un-real.
– it is always good to see this bird perch and most of the time we always tell guests .. see it is Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot flying … haha such a tiny bird flying …
– just another common heard, or high up view bird. but today it decided to come low and making call to allow us to capture some good photo of this endemic
– another tiny bird from far … but still amaze who can find this owl (me !!! haha I also wonder how I found it). no choice to be part of environment shot
– 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
– lucky night, ours activities start with this weird creature with baby
– 幸运的晚上，好是带小孩。
update 202403
– it is another lucky night, managed to see this cute animal feeding on leaf .. and next night with young .few months ago actually managed to see or record how it drink water on tree.
CONTACT me if you need advice or Bird Watching/Photography related services
update 20231001
– it is quite difficult to have good photo before pandemic 2020 but it seem pretty common and tame overall since than … it is noisy active bird and good thing sometime it move together with other bird
– just another special moment of this Borneo endemic, it is happy for everyone to managed to have good view of this bird think more than 20 of us. After ours boat spot it and we told other 3 boats all still managed to have a good view of it.
– a common heard and seen canopy view bird today decided to come down for us have quite good view sad missed the chance photograph when it was low.. but happy to have this last bird of the tour even not the target
– special target tour, suppose to be last day target but when after ours “chickens” target.. it is a fruiting tree full of barbet calling. very soon we tick both Mountain and Bornean barbet
– not sure my note correct or not, but seem the breeding season ? within 10 days, 3 pair spot and reasonable tame (still shy when trying to take photo)
– Hoi Ling, finally I got the head of the bird .. but no tail yet
– this is one best moment of 2023 or my life for this bird. This particular bird stand 20m above ground and for more than 1.5 hours ! (after we spend 30minutes and back breakfast and told Dean – another bird group.. and the bird still there !)
– 2nd trip to Halmahera coming soon, can;t visit this amazing place again. Hope get some better pictures of night birds this time .. and this Pick up service Pitta sure another highlight of the tour soon
– a special target tour, heavy rain before we go out for river cruise. When rain stop, we went out and got many good sight and finally got the Wrinkled Hornbill. When we trying for other, saw this weird looking Silvery Lutung.
– 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
– it is so tame, 9 people standing 10feet from it.. it still coming back same area just slow and display a bit for picture … so amazing to see this behaviors again
– special targets tour, this is one of most easier target overall but it still make us wait for more than 2 hours until it came and displaying while female get close – 这算是目标鸟最容易之一。可是也没很乖，也等了2+小时才出来。可是这次带着母的还表演了一次。“孔雀开屏“。。慢动作哦
update 202302
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
– it is weird this bird seem disappear from all common sites, especially almost not found at Danum Valley BRL, Kinabatangan River and etc… but this family found quite near to KK town ..any how, due to location, not all visit can be make there but for last special targets tour. We special arrange to be there and award with 2 in one frame
– when we arrive Fraser Hill, immediate I step down from car. I heard and saw this bird so low … and immediate I ask guests to have a look at this beautiful bird. It is “900” world life for one of them .. beautiful bird for beautiful number
– a new game change, found this with Thermal camera, bought this months ago but just too busy to explore but finally with a very close friends group and use it for few occasion and found colugo and this pair owl from total dark
– just another short targets trip to Sabah, managed to have almost all main targets (except Bulwer Pheasant) included this special Borneo endemic. We had good time >3 minutes to have good view but still little block from my angle .. any how am happy to have light hit on its’ body and show the color of its’ body
– Matthew had this last few years ago with me at KL so this not the tour target, but it calling so close just try to look for it and very soon (less than 2-3 minutes) it just sit there …
– Matthew 已在几年前在吉隆坡拍到了。（希望那鸟还健在）所以这不是我们目标鸟，可是它叫的很近我们就随便找找。没几分钟我们就找到他了。
– another main target of the tour… the owl seem calling each other in the forest. walk slowly and managed to found where it perch and calling .. thanks for the group, we got some pictures and leave the owl alone
– one of the very few target for this small group, very soon in the morning we have very good view and some rain. After rain stop we have even better picture opportunity
– 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…
– lucky and very lucky moment meet single elephant after heavy rain and got wet. it feed alone and slowly on the river bank – 非常非常幸运遇上单只象在河边吃东西。慢慢的吃
update 202309
– for me to choose one of the most common wide spread but difficult bird to be seen in Malaysia… this is one of them .. and finally got one really close and stay but never want look at ours; angle….
– a casual canopy walk at Danum, this bird is there for few weeks… and the adult or another pair continue building another nest again near by.. must be a well known nesting area for this species of bird
– before we start ours day, this bird just stand at eye level outside ours’ hotel. spend few minutes to have good view and picture for this common bird of Fraser Hill
– someone say this bird is ugly 🙁 … I really like this bird big and near (for 2023) it is so much easier in Danum Valley … lovely male and still looking for his lady
– a revisit a same place after 10 years +, the bird still same spot but now handling and feed by local Photographer Subki & Ambo. Make chance to have picture of this beauty of Borneo much easier compare those day… It is quite challenge too, you need patient to sit and wait ….
– sometime I really thing, without disturb how long a bird will stay at nearby active area for how long.. this bird seem active here (Panti) since 2013 and each time I am there sure it will show up…
– after 11 years of first visit with you, and after you left… my first time here again … not really a good visit every step I move remind us .. same accommodation, lake, jungle trail … river …
– ours’ last day at the Tawau, just want spend a morning for anything as main target ticked. everyone seem happy with yesterday Blue-Banded Pitta show, and today almost not really in mood for anything and raining… we just walking around but all of sudden this bird make a call and with little bit of wait and searching .. it stand at eye-level for us.. but sad one of outs’ team fall down with minor injure hope he recover soon
– another good find at this short trip to Sabah, it look angry when we walk pass . one of great found by Low, he keep say Yellow+blue birdand we stop to search for it ..
– it is a start of the month with this bird even high view compare to the previous sightings. But this bird keep making call make other sightings different.
– a special trip to Tawau for specific Photography target, but the bird does not show up last evening, so morning we decided to have casual birding and for me this guy show up is better than any other. it move fast but I manage to got few shots of the beautiful primate.
it is a long time after this very special light and low price lens for me to test. finally while I take opportunity to test while I am having Gitzo-CANON special Bird Photography know what – Borneo Workshop.
I having it with me whole day, trying at low light and bright are with both R7 and R3. very small size and weight (635gram) !!! i think I can have it walking any time any where without any problem.
below is some real field test with full size pictures (click it to see full size)
The CANON RF100400 come with some interesting specification I like
0.41x (at 400mm)
635gram
79.5 × 164.7mm size
sample 1
CANON R3, Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM Lens
ISO10000, F8, 1/100
without denoisewith default Adobe Camera RAW denoise
sample 2
CANON R3, Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM Lens
ISO10000, F8, 1/250
without denoisewith default Adobe Camera RAW denoise
sample 3
CANON R3, Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM Lens
ISO10000, F8, 1/250
without denoisewith default Adobe Camera RAW denoise
sample 4
CANON R3, Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM Lens
ISO10000, F8, 1/250
without denoisewith default Adobe Camera RAW denoise
sample 5
CANON R3, Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM Lens
ISO800, F8, 1/80
sample 6
CANON R7, Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM Lens
ISO800, F8, 1/1600
without denoisewith default Adobe Camera RAW denoise
– so far think Kinabatangan river is a best place for this bird, we never missed it even for picture. lovely blue and very common at river bank but the vibrant blue always attract any one
– no one checking and no one disturb, it should be have new generation for this rare Borneo endemic. Fount the nest ~2 months ago and managed to make another trip there last month and the bird sitting on nest and sleeping
– at one of the feeding station, this bird keep secretive walking around but still possible to get good picture. Very common but normally difficult to get good picture
– 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
– 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
– a last day on the boat after have all target ticked. But happy to see new bird of the trip. This smaller overall and see the tail banded after you flying off.
– almost time to finish off Malaysia tours, and time for lovely places again. I am going Sulawesi and Halmahera again Oct. Anyone interest on 2025 ? 2024 full 😀
– hopefully see this owl again, lovely and wait for me.
– while the tour ended, everyone talking about bird of the tour. Garnet Pitta, Giant Pitta, Bornean Ground-Cuckoo, Blue-headed Pitta, Whiteheads’ Broadbill. But think only me choose this, it is a rare occasion or minimum for me to see it ~10 feet away and ~10 feet from ground and stay for long 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
– same month again, the bird active late, 3 weeks ago when I am there no bird call or sight. But yesterday, it is so active to gave us everyone very good view. and I only have this angle view after first found it and brought all other guests over to have this bird. last bird of the group..
– it show so well with 2 stand close and open, but need to show other to have a view so finally I end up with this best view picture I had .. any one I really like to see it shy with us
– 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
– another hot day, while we walking in the forest. I heard some weird call (never heard before) and very soon a brown bird perch nearby and very soon David say “Honeyguide” ! the bird flip the wing non stop and may be making some call but not able to record it… may be it is the “guiding” action ?
Tupaiidae is one of two families of treeshrews, the other family being Ptilocercidae. The family contains three living genera and 19 living species.[1] The family name derives from tupai, the Malay word for treeshrew and also for squirrel which tupaiids superficially resemble. The former genusUrogale was disbanded in 2011 when the Mindanao treeshrew was moved to Tupaia based on a molecular phylogeny.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupaiidae
lets sharing some Treeshrew
1. Large treeshrew, 大树鼩, 大樹鼩, Tupaia tana
– a overall bigger and more rufous Treeshrew found Sub-Montane and lowland
– we were looking at another flying squirrel flying like other tourist 10-20 minutes ago and while walking to the jungle for other subject. We saw some movement from far up and Nature guide point the “small torch” toward to the subject and shout “flying” .. what I did just point my camera to the sky and again #CANONR3 just lock focus and track the subject .. the picture may not best quality as it is shooting ISO16000 and picture is heavy under exposure.
(we don’t know flying behaviors before capture like nesting or some feeding spot)
– 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。
– a special Rail-Babbler tour, and what a bonus of so many special birds included this cool looking, active bird.
– 白眉长颈鸫特别团，也看到很多很特别的鸟。包括这只稀有，害羞，有形有款的黑鸟。
202307, Lenggor, Johor, Malaysia
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– an early morning with quite heavy rain, while I am waiting in the car a group of 5 birds keep flying around and making calls. I still walking out to captured some pictures and 2 sg Bird Photographers join me the raining chasing fun
– it was a quiet afternoon, on the boat we have nothing much except this bird come say help and eating in-front of us . One of most common trogon of Lowland
– very lucky morning, we decided to have a walk after got the main target of the “Rail-Babbler tour”. I heard a weird call, and saw something orange fly low, first bird I guess is Cinnamon-Rumped Trogon. But the call the bird consistent make is different from the ordinary call. But a bird just fly infront of us ~10feet away. Bingo.. it is the star bird. This bird very tame compare to other , stay calm, close and allow us move and get close to have some good photos.
– this beautiful girl standing there for long and low. male also nearby but ours’ target yet to been found so skip it but still have some chance to click few photo of the good model
– 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..
– a active bird that many birder like to have a clear view. This bird quietly stand behind us with call. Found it after heard it but not long and it keep moving. But still managed to have some photos before it keep distance from us.
– while checking up few birds for next trip, it is amazing to have 6 woodpeckers show up and 3 low and close enough for pictures. this is one of them just stand there feed for more than 10 minutes .
– a bird that not so common in most of the places but here Danum Valley few locations. It is always there for years. but still an active bird to be photograph.
– a quick day tour, after rain at the original location, make a quick detour to another location and when we arrive. group of them calling near and very soon we got it before rain arrive again.
– a very good birder from Canada (born Malaysia), “enjoy the moment”
– not a very rare bird, but it is a last request from guest. It calling deep in the jungle. light got dark and we decided to walk in to find it .. lukcy not that long found it and it allow us approach ~12 feet from it
– 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。
– As customer want different experience than birding . We had very late evening jungle trail walk . This bird just slow walk on the trail while we were there .. but it is too dark and this was captured with ISO16000
– still a big and beautiful bird to be seen and photograph
– 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。
– an early morning with quite heavy rain, while I am waiting in the car a group of 5 birds keep flying around and making calls. I still walking out to captured some pictures and 2 sg Bird Photographers join me the raining chasing fun
– 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
– 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.
– 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
– 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。
– it was a a misty day, after having our morning targets. We decided casual walking and all of sudden saw this bird stand just at roadside and moving toward direction of a trail. without any delay, we walk fast to the trail and got the bird with very good view even misty due to close and not very high up view
– a bird that every love to seen and photography. Before heading to no internet again, let’s share another good picture from previous tour. This bird just stand so low giving us a good view and picture.
– 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
– 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
– 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
