A bird I’ve been wishing to photograph for years, finally crossed off the list thanks to a specific birding spot found. We had almost zero wait time before both the male and female, along with a few other birds, came right up to us. This beautiful, rare, and shy Kingfisher is a stunning sight. The lovely female here is visibly different from the male Malayan Blue-Banded Kingfisher, as she completely lacks the signature “blue band.”
I first saw this bird years ago but couldn’t get a picture. This time, using a bird hide made everything so simple and easy, and it showed up almost without any wait. It is such a beautiful bird, and just like other babblers, it moves incredibly fast.
It’s definitely not a new bird for everyone—especially with the amazing feeding and nesting spots in Vietnam and Thailand recently—but who could ever say no to this beauty? It just popped up while we were enjoying quality time with the Javan Banded Broadbill, Black-banded Barbet, and Violet Cuckoo. In an instant, everyone shifted focus to photograph this stunning bird.
One of the main targets of this tour! We only had to wait for less than 20 minutes in a very comfortable weather hide. This turned out to be one of the most rewarding hides of the trip, bringing in around 10 different species. It was a massive relief and excitement for us, especially after the previous days where the hides were quiet with very few birds.
It was another relatively quiet day with few new birds, but our quick decision to hike down the main road definitely paid off. While we were struggling to spot the small, fast-moving birds high up in the canopy, Xing Hui suddenly shouted, “Fast, fast, raptor!” We ran over, looked toward a nearby perch, and managed to get some shots. We were initially confused by its appearance, but thanks to its long crest and confirmation from local experts, we verified it. It is definitely one of the top bird highlights of our East Java tour!
This was our very first target bird of the East Java trip, and we didn’t have to wait long after getting into the hide! Since we had a long checklist of other species to find, we only stayed for two rounds before moving on to the next birding spot. It showed up quite early, which made getting a great photo a bit of a challenge with the lighting, but it was an awesome start!
My very first photograph of this Pitta was taken exactly 10 years ago in 2016. I still remember the temporary bird hides we used back then, and how incredibly shy the bird was, appearing for only a split second. This time around, almost every bird hide and photography spot yielded an amazing show. Nobody can resist a bird as colorful as a Pitta, so everyone just kept pressing their shutters for this lovely creature.
Its behavior is remarkably similar to our Malayan Black-capped Babbler, spending most of its time walking along the ground. However, its plumage is distinctly more rufous overall. We were fortunate enough to encounter and photograph this bird on multiple occasions during our East Bali bird photography trip.
It was such a challenge to get a full view of this bird when we first heard and tried to spot it. Ironically, at our next site, one just walked right out to feed in front of us! However, it didn’t show its crest while eating, so I still prefer the first one we worked so hard to see. Huge thanks to our guide, Raul!
Our Costa Rica birding adventure is officially underway. We spent a pre-tour day at the hotel to adjust to the time difference and managed to photograph about 25 species right on the grounds, including this charming little owl. On the first official day of the tour, we spotted and photographed 65 species, featuring this same owl in an impressively spirited pose. We have encountered so many incredible species and captured so many great shots already. Stay tuned for more updates.
Day 5 of our Costa Rica birding expedition and we have already photographed 151 species. We have encountered so many incredible birds, including this remarkable, secretive Lesser Ground-Cuckoo. Its behavior reminds me of the other two species I have photographed; it calls and then moves like a ghost—approaching silently, but jumping into the trees to call again once it is alert. What an amazing day and a stunning bird. I am so grateful to our local guide for their expertise and for giving us a second chance to track down this bird.
On our way back to the hotel after a boat ride, our guide heard an owl calling. We rushed over with limited light and soon spotted this beautiful Black-and-white Owl perched right by the roadside. Such a stunning bird.
This is one of those common yet incredibly beautiful birds to photograph. On the second day of our tour, we managed to spot it twice, capturing lovely moments both times. It is now day seven, and we have photographed 206 species. As we begin the highland portion of the trip, we just successfully found the primary target for everyone on the tour: the Resplendent Quetzal. More to come soon.
We’re offering a special tour led by expert local guides to track down one of the region’s rarest owls. Our latest outing was a huge success—in just two hours, we spotted two mammals, one owl, and one nightjar. Although the owl was vocal, it remained shy and difficult to spot on the forest trails. Fortunately, through persistence and teamwork, almost everyone in the group managed to capture photos of it at different locations. Great effort by the whole team.
It was a freezing morning at around –6°C. We went to Napa Lake mainly to revisit some good memories from years ago. After waiting for a beautiful sunrise, I was almost ready to return to the car when I suddenly heard a bird calling very close by. The bird stayed low to the ground, barely moving—likely due to the cold—with ice clearly visible around it.
I managed to capture some close shots, and that moment became the happiest highlight of this casual, relaxing trip to Yunnan.
This bird was one of our trip’s main targets! We initially found one on its nest, but everyone was hoping to see its famous wing display. We decided to spend some extra time searching, and luckily, it didn’t take long to find another one. It put on a spectacular show, spreading its beautiful wings for us several times.
Two months after returning from Costa Rica, I still find it hard to believe that a bird this magnificent actually exists. The Resplendent Quetzal, with its stunning metallic plumage and iconic long tail, is undoubtedly one of the top species to photograph when visiting the country.
This was another primary target of our tour. We successfully located the bird on our first attempt in the evening, securing fantastic views and photos. Despite the initial success, the group wanted to visit a second site, which provided even better photographic opportunities for this spectacular species. With 8 days remaining, our photo count has reached 308 species, with many more to come.
Day 13, we photographed 351 species of bird and managed to have some very excited targets and few more days to go ..
it is one of very special look target of ours Costa Rica 2026 Birding our, we didn’t find one at first location and managed to got this bird at 2nd location almost immediate we start ours river cruise. Such a special look bird ..
This is the second Manakin species we have encountered, and watching its display was truly amazing. While we didn’t manage to record a video of the performance this time, we will try to share its unique calls and movements with you in the near future.
This species was one of our main targets. Although we couldn’t get close, it was a joy to watch it swimming around the same area for quite a while. It is a wonderful bird, though I truly hope to see it perched in the future.
With four days remaining, our count is currently at 360 species photograph. Everyone is feeling the exhaustion from the constant rain and trekking. I hope we all stay strong and healthy to push through these final four days.
Our Costa Rica trip is almost at its end, and we have photographed 34 species of hummingbirds. This particular bird made everyone very excited. We had hoped it would perch for a clear shot, but it only allowed us to capture it in flight. Our current count stands at 375 species photographed, with about 10 more seen but not caught on camera. Today is our final opportunity to add new species to our list, and we are hoping for the best.
We photographed nine owl species during this trip, and this pair was one of the easiest encounters — we had them almost immediately upon reaching the location. A local guide led us straight to the tree; he is also a talented local artist with an impressive collection of wildlife photographs and artworks available for sale.
We are now on the way back, rushing to the forests of Malaysia for another assignment. There may not be many opportunities to share photos from this trip, but I will try my best to post a few special highlights.
This bird keeps its distance from us. While there are one or two spots where Toucans visit feeders, the presence of bananas and papayas in the frame often makes the photos look unnatural. Because of this, most of us struggled to get a good shot until the last few days when this bird finally came down low for us at the forest edge. It was such an excitement for everyone to see this beautiful creature. Most importantly, thank you to everyone for prioritizing the bird’s well-being over the photo. You guys are the best.
Time has flown by, and it has already been a month since I returned from Costa Rica. I am currently on my third birding tour without any rest. April has been a whirlwind, taking me from Costa Rica to Borneo, back to Peninsular Malaysia, and now back to Borneo again. The absolute highlight of April 2026 was encountering this bird just 2-3 meters away at eye level. Watching it sing for a full minute and perform its display was truly the best moment of the month.
This is a bird that sits at the top of everyone’s bucket list, but upon our arrival in Costa Rica, the local guides informed us they weren’t active. We had nearly given up hope and put this strange-looking species out of our minds. However, as we neared the site, we received an update that they were active again. We decided to take a chance. To our absolute surprise, after only a short walk, we found them. The view improved from twenty meters overhead to an incredible eye-level encounter just two meters away. It was the amazing feeling of a lost opportunity turned into a found treasure.
The rain was closing in, so we rushed to see this bird immediately after spotting the Crested Owl. Luck was on our side as we found another pair roosting together. We managed to see our Potoo right after this, just before the rain started. What an incredible day for everyone.
This is a truly unique falcon. It has a very fixed routine when leaving its nest. We visited twice, and it followed the exact same method and path both times. It is absolutely amazing to see. This was my first time learning that falcons can nest in tree holes.
18. Great Tinamou, 大䳍, 大共鳥, Tinamus major, オオシギダチョウ
update 202604
While some birders prefer solo outings, birding in a group can be a major advantage. While we were all focused on photographing a Great Curassow in the dense forest, Xin Hui spotted a smaller bird that everyone else had overlooked. Once I finished with the Curassow, I quickly helped the group locate this elusive find. It was such a thrill to hear everyone shouting “Where? There!” in excitement. Although this species is rarely seen, it wasn’t shy at all, moving slowly even with nine of us standing just a few meters away. Having fun companions really makes the experience.
After a wonderful morning, we skipped our rest to keep the momentum going. Our local guide, Raul, took us for some easier birding along a flat grassland trail. We were lucky enough to witness a Tropical Kingbird chasing a Gray Hawk, and we also spotted this stunning Yellow-throated Toucan. It was truly a fantastic moment.
This bird was at the top of my wish list, especially because I wanted to see its famous moonwalk display. We were fortunate to witness it at eye level in a pristine environment. Although we were at an excellent feeding station with great opportunities to photograph owls, toucans, and other species, we chose to skip those to focus on this Manakin. While we were on the jungle trail, heavy rain forced us to stop and wait in silence. Fortunately, the rain ceased after about ten minutes, and we immediately heard the bird calling from the exact spot where we had taken shelter. Shortly after, Raul signaled us over, and there it was. We had an incredible session capturing both video and photos of this amazing creature.
We photographed seven species of trogons at eye level and at close range during our birding trip in Costa Rica. It was truly incredible how each individual bird approached us and stayed long enough for everyone to get a great look. This particular bird was one of three trogons we captured in a single morning, making for a fantastic second day of our trip.
When we first spotted this bird high in the canopy, everyone captured hundreds of photos of this common yet stunning species. After a few days, however, most people lost interest regardless of how well it posed or how perfect the lighting was. I still make sure to capture it whenever a photo opportunity arises.
This is one of the bird families we have been hoping to see and photograph. We were fortunate to have several close encounters with them in the open, giving us wonderful opportunities for photos.
Today is Woodpecker Day. This is one of the 12 woodpecker species we photographed during our March 2026 bird photography trip to Costa Rica. Most of them were quite easy to spot, especially this one, which visited several feeding stations. It is truly another beautiful bird.
25. Common Potoo, 林鸱, 灰林鴟, Nyctibius griseus, ハイイロタチヨタカ
update 202604
It is a very special bird that we have been eager to see and photograph. We were fortunate to have a great team that helped us find it right by the roadside. It is such an adorable bird, sitting there with its egg out in the open.
The Tanager family is truly remarkable. No matter where we travel, we encounter these birds, and most of them—like this one—are breathtakingly beautiful. The variety of colors on this bird is simply incredible.
We were incredibly fortunate to photograph three different species at a single location, all at a great distance and eye level. One of them was a fascinating bird that looks like a cross between a nuthatch and a woodpecker. This particular species is one of the larger ones; usually, after the first sighting, they tend to stay high in the canopy and far away from us. We feel very lucky to have captured it at such a perfect level and close range this time.
It was a rare stroke of luck on our route. This bird is a rare sight, but it made a brief appearance at the feeding station, grabbed a piece of banana, and was gone in an instant. Only two or three of us were lucky enough to witness it; the rest of the group just missed out. Despite being everyone’s top target, it never returned.
29. Common Tody-Flycatcher, 哑霸鹟, 普通啞霸鶲, Todirostrum cinereum, ハシナガタイランチョウ
update 202605
Out of more than 380 bird species photographed during our March 2026 Costa Rica birding tour, this particular bird leaves me with some of the fondest memories. It is completely tiny, has distinct long legs, and looks incredibly cute.
The Scarlet Macaw is truly an impressive sight. As one of the largest macaw species, they are quite common to hear and spot soaring through the sky if you visit the right habitats. True to their nature, they always make their presence known with their trademark loud and boisterous calls.
We have sighted this bird a few times, but the conditions never seemed right for photography. On one occasion, it hopped into the open for less than 10 seconds, so I doubt everyone managed to get a shot. This time, it stayed for a while, but it was during the final light of the day. Everyone was already preparing to head back to their rooms when it perched right above us. Most of the shots were taken handheld.
It was such a challenge to get a full view of this bird when we first heard and tried to spot it. Ironically, at our next site, one just walked right out to feed in front of us! However, it didn’t show its crest while eating, so I still prefer the first one we worked so hard to see. Huge thanks to our guide, Raul!
It was a rainy and heavily misty morning. We were supposed to hike the trail to look for a few target species, including this bird. Instead, it decided to come right to us, flying around and giving me a great opportunity for some bird-in-flight (BIF) shots.
It is one of the most common and beautiful birds we encountered, first spotted right after driving out of our hotel. The moment I laid eyes on it, I shouted “Motmot!”— mesmerized by its stunning racket-tail. Throughout our 18-day trip across Costa Rica, we were lucky enough to spot this species many more times.
One of the closely resembling kingfisher species found in Costa Rica, distinguished by its larger size and more extensive rufous chest patch. We were fortunate to get close views of this bird during both cruise sessions.
After 10 months, I’m back in Africa — and this time, Kenya offers a completely different experience!
We were already thrilled by a few species from this bird family in South Africa, but here in Kenya, we’re seeing several up close, almost daily. And the best part? They are truly stunning birds!
This is one of those birds that always managed to avoid our group — even some of our best birding friends missed it. But after three trips to Africa, we finally had an amazing moment with this special species. It came close and walked slowly right in front of us!
3. Green Woodhoopoe, 绿林戴胜, 綠林戴勝, Phoeniculus purpureus, ミドリモリヤツガシラ
update 202512
It was raining and nearly the end of the day. Just as we were getting ready to head back, I spotted a group of birds with curved bills feeding in a tree right in front of us. I shouted, “Woodhoopoe!”
Everyone was thrilled to see this stunning species up close!
It’s always a joy to see this long-tailed, fast-moving bird. So far, we’ve seen it twice — once a white morph on day 1, and it was actually the second bird of the tour! It moves quickly, so not everyone may have gotten a perfect shot, but I’m sure everyone managed to capture at least a few photos of this stunning bird.
After so many days here — honestly lost count — every day has been filled with excitement from birds, wildlife, food, and endless photography. But this species has always been high on my wishlist.
It’s one of my top targets for this trip, and we were lucky to spot it a few times, not too high up, giving us great photo opportunities. Now just hoping we can still get the “Grey-headed” too!
One of our team members discovered this beautiful sunbird repeatedly returning to the same flower to feed. Even though there were many other birds to look for, we still spent some quality time at this spot. I also took the opportunity to capture some BIF shots of this lovely bird.
Besides discovering many new bird families, even the familiar ones here in Kenya feel extra special. Many are incredibly colorful, and some—like this one—have long, elegant tails. When the light hits just right, their feathers shine beautifully. Truly a stunning bird from Kenya.
As of day 12, we’ve photographed 366 bird species!
After seeing this common bird in South Africa a year ago, I’ve always hoped to see it again.
And now, on our second last day in Kenya, we finally got the chance! This male was actively displaying—trying hard to impress nearby females (though it didn’t seem to work even after an hour!).
Still, everyone was thrilled to capture some great flight shots and videos.
For those who came for specific targets, we’ve got all the key species too!
So far, we’ve photographed 414 bird species over the past 17 days (though this number might grow as not all photos have been checked yet!).
Every birder has their own focus—you can always tell what a birder is watching, even if something else exciting is happening nearby!
In this moment, both the bird and the lions were locked onto what interested them—a group of lions feeding, which is why the vulture flew in and waited nearby.
We were lucky to see it land and stay on the ground right in front of us.
After 18 unforgettable days in Kenya, I’m finally back in Malaysia. This birding trip truly opened my eyes—aside from Sri Lanka, Kenya has become one of my favorite places. Even without any feeding stations, birds were easy to find and photograph. On just Day 1, we photographed 98 species! By the end of the tour, the group had recorded 414 species—and I got about 10 more during solo walks in free time. I’ll definitely return, though 2026/2027 is already fully booked… and I’m too tired to think about 2028 now. Time to relax. More photos coming soon!
It’s not a lifer, but this time we had several close encounters with this seemingly common bird. The two distinct spots on its wings stood out beautifully, especially when the light hit just right. Moments like this remind us how stunning even familiar species can be.
We first saw and photographed this kingfisher at Lake Baringo, but it was either too far or perched on the resort roof—not ideal. Of course, everyone wants a great shot of a kingfisher!
Today, we rushed to Lake Naivasha hoping for a better chance, but under the hot sun, it was still either too far or too high.
Luckily, we spotted some nice birds at the car park before heading for a late lunch. After lunch, I suggested a casual walk by the lake—and to our surprise, the kingfisher was feeding right near where we stayed.
It kept diving for fish—around 10–15 dives, but only caught fish 3 times (maybe not the best fisherman!). Bingo !!! He got the fish !
We first saw and photographed this kingfisher at Lake Baringo, but it was either too far or perched on the resort roof—not ideal. Of course, everyone wants a great shot of a kingfisher!
Today, we rushed to Lake Naivasha hoping for a better chance, but under the hot sun, it was still either too far or too high.
Luckily, we spotted some nice birds at the car park before heading for a late lunch. After lunch, I suggested a casual walk by the lake—and to our surprise, the kingfisher was feeding right near where we stayed.
It kept diving for fish—around 10–15 dives, but only caught fish 3 times (maybe not the best fisherman!). Still, we got some lovely close shots to enjoy.
At the current pace of posting, there’s no way I can share all — or even half — of the photos from Kenya.
Kenya is truly one of those must-visit birding destinations. Absolutely incredible!
This was one of the bee-eaters that got everyone excited!
We only saw it once during the entire 18-day trip in Kenya, but what a moment — such a stunning bird with its bright red color. Truly unforgettable!
This was our very first partridge of the trip — it crossed the road right in front of us, and I was quick enough to get a few shots before it vanished.
Partridges in Africa seem much easier to spot than those in Asia — they’re generally not shy at all, unlike the ones we usually struggle to see back home.
We waited quite a while hoping the Silver Cat would come out from its “nest,” but eventually gave up and only got a few head shots. Just as the car started moving, I spotted a large raptor flying nearby and asked the driver to reverse. At first, we took some record shots through the window glass. Then, due to a small miscommunication with the driver, we ended up stopping just about 5 meters from the bird—resulting in this amazing close-up!
I really enjoy seeing vultures up close.
We were on a long drive, and unexpectedly spotted this “new bird” along the way. Thankfully, I kept my camera ready even while driving — managed to snap this shot just in time!
This was one of my main targets for our Kenya birding trip, and I’m so glad we got it—our very first owl of the trip! As expected, it was sleeping during the day. Of course, we all wished for a shot with its eyes open or in a better pose, but I’m happy we chose not to disturb it just for a photo. Big thanks to my amazing team—you all are awesome!
Such a beautiful bird. I always thought barbets mainly feed on fruit, but we observed this species many times feeding on termites, ants, and other small insects. That likely explains why we often see them foraging on the ground.
Such an adorable bird family. We were lucky to capture four different species in Kenya. I absolutely love the way these birds look, they are incredibly charming.
Day 1 of our Kenya birding tour, and this was the fifth bird we photograph. It was incredibly close, completely ignoring our presence while feeding calmly on flowers near the ground. So far on this trip, we have photographed three different long-tailed sunbird species, a very rewarding start to the tour.
This was the very first bird we sighted the moment we stepped off the plane. They were everywhere around the airport area. An incredibly beautiful bird, very common and surprisingly tame in Kenya. But honestly, who cares how common it is? Beauty is beauty.
This is a hornbill quite different from the hornbills we are familiar with. Unlike most species, this one usually feeds on the ground, which is why it is known as the Ground Hornbill. We were very fortunate to have it walk straight toward us, giving us an excellent close view and a great photo session.
This was our very first Sandgrouse of the Kenya tour, standing right in the middle of the road after sunset. The light was extremely low, but we kept pressing the shutter to capture this rare moment. Truly a beautiful bird.
Another bird that is very common in Samburu—we see it almost every day. Look a bit closer, and it actually looks a little scary too, especially with that bald head.
Not the best-looking bird, but definitely a weird and attractive subject to photograph, with its impressive high crest. Hard to miss thanks to its large size and the way it moves in groups. We watched it feeding on the ground and flying all around us.
This was our very first Barbet of the tour, and it couldn’t have been better. The bird perched unusually low and very close to us. I still remember my first Tinkerbird sighting—way up in the canopy, 20–30 meters high. This cute fellow, however, stayed low and fed calmly just a short distance away.
It is always a joy to encounter this “big-eyed” bird, but this sighting was especially memorable. The bird was staying around a small pond in an extremely hot and dry area, surrounded by thorny vegetation.
Image quality wasn’t ideal due to strong heat haze, but the experience of watching and photographing this cute and beautiful bird made it truly worthwhile.
A bird that’s hard to miss — large in size, moving in small groups, with a long, curved orange bill. Such a strange-looking bird, but I absolutely love seeing it.
Such a beautiful bird! Unfortunately, we only managed a single sighting during a rushed midday drive. The intense heat waves badly affected the photo quality, but we had no choice and still tried our best to capture the beauty of this bird.
We arrived too early to check in, so we squeezed in a quick birding session. What a great decision! This stunning bird came down low and close, giving us fantastic photo opportunities. Within the first hour alone, I think everyone easily shot more than 500 frames of this beauty!
Out of the 455+ species photographed during our previous Kenya birding trip, this is one of the birds we came across frequently and simply couldn’t stop photographing. Its vibrant blue plumage really makes it stand out against the predominant green and brown backdrop of the landscape.
Birding in Kenya is filled with unforgettable stories—I’ll share more once I’m back in Malaysia. For now, every day has been full of excitement. While we’re focused on finding new birds and getting better shots, we never miss out on amazing animals or stunning scenery either.
We’ve seen lions three times already! The most recent sighting was a group of seven, though we didn’t even stop (for a funny reason I’ll share later).
This one was incredible—at first, it looked like a typical sleeping lion, but suddenly it stood up, walked to drink, and came straight toward our vehicle—just 15 meters away!
Four more days to go, and we’ve photographed 390 bird species so far!
One of our group members wished to see this, and what a wish—it made everyone happy!
The world’s fastest animal slowly walked toward us, getting as close as 1–2 meters from me. Before that, it looked like it was about to hunt, pausing about 10 meters away as if ready to sprint… but then it stopped.
Still, what an incredible and beautiful sight!
One of the largest animals here—can look quite intimidating, especially when it approaches with alert sounds. But the young ones are just adorable! Always full of energy, running around their mother nonstop—such a lovely sight!
We came across this adorable little animal while walking between the restaurant and our rooms at Masai Mara. It’s an incredible jumper—really reminds me of a Tarsier!
14. Cinnamon-rumped Trogon, 橙腰咬鹃, 橙腰咬鵑, Harpactes orrhophaeus, ズグロキヌバネドリ, KESUMBA KECIL PINGGUL PERANG
15. Red-throated Barbet, 丽色拟鴷, 麗色擬鴷, Psilopogon mystacophanos, ノドアカゴシキドリ, TAKUR RENGKUNG MERAH BIASA
#####
update 202504
It’s a common and not particularly beautiful bird, but each time it’s spotted, its size and leaf-like appearance still spark excitement.
这是一种常见且不算特别美丽的鸟，但每次看到它时，它的体型和如叶子般的外形仍然让人感到兴奋。
202504, Sungai Relau, Merapoh, Pahang
2. Garnet Pitta, 榴红八色鸫, 榴紅八色鶇, Erythropitta granatina, ムラサキヤイロチョウ,BURUNG-PACAT DELIMA BIASA
Update 202505
It was exciting to spot one moving on the ground without being disturbed by our presence—there were ten of us constantly shifting around for a better angle. We were lucky to encounter this Pitta without a long wait or much effort.
We spent our morning at the canopy, enjoying many great views of different birds. One was especially memorable—at eye level, feeding slowly instead of just flying past. A lovely Malkoha.
4. Malayan Banded-Pitta, 马来蓝尾八色鸫, 馬來藍尾八色鶇, Hydrornis irena，マラヤシマヤイロチョウ, BURUNG-PACAT BELANG MELAYU
update 202508
Always a pleasure catching up with one of the best birders/guides I know—Matthew and Hoi Ling! He made a short visit and requested a few lifers, so we left KL at 2:30am and headed to Merapoh. Despite the morning rain, we managed to tick off two lifers soon after arrival. Once the rain stopped, we got lucky again with this special lifer—it showed up twice (I missed the first photo opportunity)! Such a stunning Pitta, and a great moment getting both Garnet and this species away from the usual “stage”.
5. Thick-billed Green-Pigeon, 厚嘴绿鸠, 厚嘴綠鳩, Treron curvirostra, ハシブトアオバト, PUNAI ARA BIASA
update 202508
This is one of the most common green pigeons in the region—medium-sized and easily recognized by its thick, pale green eye-ring.
With a fruiting tree nearby, spotting them wasn’t too hard. Although we hoped for more species, we’re glad our guests got to tick off two of their targets here!
This is one of those birds we often hear or briefly see, but rarely get a good photo opportunity with. However, last month we were lucky to enjoy two amazing encounters—one in Peninsular Malaysia and another in Borneo.
As we were walking out of the forest after getting our main target, we heard its call nearby. Moments later, it appeared almost at eye level, just around 5 meters from us. What a moment!
Had an incredible time birding with a patient group from Canada. After a quiet start at our first stop, we headed deeper into the National Park. Suddenly, I caught a familiar call—I couldn’t help but shout, ‘Jayshrike!’ We got so lucky when it flew out and perched right in front of us. What a spectacular view, absolutely brilliant!
After hitting guest 6,500th species milestone, we decided to keep the momentum going in search of more lifers—aiming to get as close as possible to the 7,000 mark. Upon arriving at the tree top tower, I was incredibly lucky to spot two
Upon arriving at the tower, we were greeted by a beautiful, fast-moving bird circling the structure without pause. I quickly made my way to the top of the observation deck to get an eye-level shot and capture its grace.
Modern camera technology truly makes capturing such fast subjects feel almost effortless.
202602,
Taman Negara Sungai Relau, Pahang, Malaysia
10. Malayan Peacock-Pheasant, 凤冠孔雀雉, 鳳冠孔雀雉,Polyplectron malacense, マレーエボシコクジャク,KUANG-CERMIN MELAYU
update 202602
Last year, right after we spotted the Great Argus, everyone else was busy looking for other rare sightings. That’s when I noticed a smaller bird quietly approaching the feeding spot. It didn’t take long for this little visitor to start showing up regularly, eventually becoming the star attraction of Sg Relau National Park in Merapoh.
We just arrived at the viewing tower and the bird calls are everywhere! We heard three of them right next to us at the canopy level. We were hoping for a glimpse, and soon enough, both the male and female flew right up to eye level. They stayed close enough for us to get some great pictures.
202602,
Taman Negara Sungai Relau, Pahang, Malaysia
We just arrived at the viewing tower and the bird calls are everywhere! We heard three of them right next to us at the canopy level. We were hoping for a glimpse, and soon enough, both the male and female flew right up to eye level. They stayed close enough for us to get some great pictures.
202602, Taman Negara Sungai Relau, Pahang, Malaysia
12. Brown Fulvetta, 褐雀鹛, 褐雀鶥, Alcippe brunneicauda, ムジチメドリ, KEKICAU-SAMPAH MELAYU
update 202603
Even though this bird has a modest appearance, its song is absolutely beautiful. I’m so glad we could successfully find and check this target species off the list for our guest.
虽然这只鸟外表平凡，但它的歌声动听极了。很高兴能为客人顺利找到这个目标鸟种。
202602,
Taman Negara Sungai Relau, Pahang, Malaysia
Back in Merapoh for the second time this month! We hit our targets—the
Garnet Pitta, Great Argus, and Malayan Peacock-Pheasant—within just three hours on the first evening. During a relaxed birding session the next morning, we spotted this bird again in the same area. This time, it perched incredibly close to us for several rounds.
202603,
Taman Negara Sungai Relau, Pahang, Malaysia
#####
Another milestone for the trip! We heard them calling and saw them fly off several times, but never got a clear look until last morning. This one was incredibly vocal and perched right in front of us.
202602,
Taman Negara Sungai Relau, Pahang, Malaysia
14. Cinnamon-rumped Trogon, 橙腰咬鹃, 橙腰咬鵑, Harpactes orrhophaeus, ズグロキヌバネドリ, KESUMBA KECIL PINGGUL PERANG
update 202609
We hosted a wonderful bird photographer from Japan in Peninsular Malaysia and encountered some truly remarkable rare birds, including this stunning Trogon. When it made its first call, it was so soft that I barely caught it, but I was pretty sure of what I heard. I quickly asked everyone to stay quiet and wait. Sure enough, it called again shortly after. Before long, we spotted it and managed to capture some beautiful photos of this gorgeous, rare bird.
15. Red-throated Barbet, 丽色拟鴷, 麗色擬鴷, Psilopogon mystacophanos, ノドアカゴシキドリ, TAKUR RENGKUNG MERAH BIASA
update 202609
What a wonderful morning in the field! We were treated to some incredible sightings, including the Malayan Peacock-Pheasant, Cinnamon-rumped Trogon, Banded Kingfisher, and Rufous-collared Kingfisher. Following a distinct drumming sound, it did not take long for this lovely bird to descend to a lower branch.
A large-bodied, small-headed, black gamebird perfectly lined with rows of hundreds of bluish-white spots. It has a ridiculous-looking plumed “toupee” above the naked face, which features an ivory-colored bill and a blood-red eye. The facial skin color varies geographically, and can be mostly blue-gray with small patches of red and white, or predominantly blue-gray with a large white patch on the back of the neck. A broad band around the base of the neck is unspotted black. It prefers forest and thickets, where it forages on the ground for berries, seeds, and other plant matter. The similar Helmeted Guineafowl differs by its lack of feathered crest and its having a bone-like casque on top of the head instead. The alarm call is a series of rattling, agitated notes that speed up and slow down; similar to the call of Helmeted Guineafowl, but with a tinnier quality. [Ebird]
Another bird that is very common in Samburu—we see it almost every day. Look a bit closer, and it actually looks a little scary too, especially with that bald head.
While busy recovering some accidentally deleted pictures, I wanted to share part of a full series capturing this beautiful long-tailed bird’s display and mating behavior. I really enjoy watching how this bird performs—it sometimes flies vertically, resembling a stick in motion.
CANON R1, CANON RF100500mm, 1.4x South Africa update 202501 Finally, I’m back from my South Africa tour! One of the most fascinating “common” birds we encountered was the Pin-tailed Whydah. While it’s not a rare species, its long tail and unique flying style captured our attention more than any other bird. This particular moment happened while we were in the car—yes, shooting handheld through the window! After taking hundreds of photos of the male flying, displaying, and mating, I decided to switch to video. Although I recorded in 4K 60p, I slowed down the second half to highlight the incredible beauty of its dance.
A male bird with a very long tail, black-and-white plumage, and a striking red beak is hard to miss. While the local guide claimed it was common, we didn’t spot many during our first seven days. However, we were fortunate to see one performing a display for a female, which thrilled everyone. Capturing the moment from the car was quite challenging, but it was an unforgettable experience.
The overall green coloration, accompanied by a low crest and blue body, is a key target for our group. In the first few days, it seemed fairly common, as its calls and presence could be heard and seen by everyone. However, capturing a photograph proved to be quite challenging—much like our Malkoha, it kept moving between the trees and bushes. Fortunately, just before the heavy rain, we were lucky enough to find one that stayed still for a while, allowing us to capture it.
A fairly common coucal found in South Africa, which I’ve seen and photographed multiple times in various locations. However, this was a closer encounter, and I managed to capture a full series of flight shots. The distinctive tail band markings are clearly visible, making it easy to differentiate this species from others.
5. European Roller, 蓝胸佛法僧, 藍胸佛法僧, Coracias garrulus, ニシブッポウソウ
update 20501
In South Africa’s western region, this season is perfect for birdwatching as many common species are abundant. It’s been an enjoyable time spotting various targets, with the bonus of encountering a few truly stunning birds along the way.
A small whydah with a reddish-orange bill and legs. The breeding male has buffy-orange underparts and neck, a dark cap, and 17-centimeter-long black tail feathers. The female and non-breeding male have streaky upperparts and pale buffy underparts. Breeding males hold territories in dry thorn scrub, but form flocks with other seedeaters after breeding. The species imitates the song of the Violet-eared Waxbill, which it parasitizes. Differs from the similar Pin-tailed Whydah by Shaft-tailed Whydah’s duller pink bill and streakier head in female and non-breeding male plumages, and black-and-buff plumage of the breeding male. [EBird]
What a beautiful little bird with its unique four racket-shaped tail feathers! Unfortunately, I couldn’t manage to capture any great shots of it this time. It’s definitely on my photography bucket list if I get the chance to visit Africa again. Despite the whole day of rain, we were lucky enough to witness some wonderful moments of it in flight.
A small, greenish cuckoo. The male has barred flanks, white flecking on the wing, white patches in front of and behind the eye, and a distinctly red eye surrounded by a red eye-ring. The bronzy-green female has a diagnostic white patch in front of the eye, a plain back, and white patches in the wings. This common resident and migrant is not a habitat specialist, but it prefers riverine and wetland areas where its preferred brood-parasite hosts, weavers and bishops, are common. The distinctive call is a loud, rising, high-pitched “deee-deee-deee-deee-dederik”. [EBird]
A very beautiful and common cuckoo, often heard in almost any environment. However, it rarely perches because its calls attract other birds, especially weavers, that chase it away. The best chances to spot it are while it’s in flight, and we were fortunate to see it flying past us many times.
The flamingo was the final bird of our 18-day South Africa bird photography trip. During the morning session, we struggled with either facing the wrong direction or dealing with distance challenges. However, just before heading back, a few of them flew gracefully toward us in perfect light, as if bidding us farewell. We ended the trip with over 356 bird species, 20+ mammals, and several reptiles captured in photographs. It was an incredible journey filled with fun, great company, delicious food, and valuable lessons in patience (especially when waiting for meals).
It was a rainy morning, but even after spotting our target bird, the Black Coucal, we didn’t let the weather stop us from birding. Just before our breakfast break, we were treated to great views of a Palm-nut Vulture and this tiny duck. We were lucky to see it flying around rather than staying hidden!
This bird is incredibly beautiful, and while we may have seen it before in a zoo or bird park, spotting it in the wild and capturing its photo brings an entirely different level of excitement. Though it’s considered a common species, we only managed to see it 3-4 times during our 18 days of birding in South Africa.
During our first few days near Sani Pass, this was one bird that caught our attention every time we saw it. Its bright metallic green plumage and long tail were mesmerizing (we even saw it displaying to attract a female). Among the many sunbirds we encountered, this one truly stood out as exceptionally beautiful.
A large brown francolin with a red face and streaked chest, commonly found in the lowlands of South Africa, particularly in Kruger National Park. It is abundant, tame, and often seen walking around or heard calling.
A very common francolin in Kruger National Park, we encountered it daily inside the park. It was generally very tame. Once, we saw one trying to display to impress a female, but the female seemed uninterested and ran away. After taking countless photos, we decided to capture it flying across the road — with the CANON R1, it was an effortless shot.
This beautiful Bee-eater was only spotted once, staying within the cactus area where its colors blended perfectly. I was amazed at how the camera managed to find and track the bird. I used the full-screen AF on my R1, which allowed it to detect the bird’s location effortlessly.
Here’s another true story of why I prefer using large-capacity memory cards (I’m currently using the Angelbird 1TB CFexpress B). After 18 days of birding, I returned to Malaysia and started editing my photos. That’s when I realized an entire set of pictures was missing—specifically, a series of shots of a bird in flight (it had been flying around us, and I’d managed to capture several sequences).
I checked my SSD, thinking I might have accidentally deleted the folder after downloading, but I couldn’t find anything. As a last resort, I decided to recover the images from the card. Thanks to the large capacity of the card, I had never filled it up completely, which meant the missing files were still recoverable. In the end, I managed to recover the entire series of bird-in-flight shots, as well as some photos of White Rhinos. This experience reinforced the importance of using high-capacity cards!
Fairly common throughout Kruger National Park, this bird is typically seen moving in groups. Its black-and-white plumage and long tail make it unmistakable. I was fortunate to witness a partridge attempting to scare it off and managed to capture a shot of it flying away.
16. Southern Red Bishop, 红寡妇鸟, 紅寡婦鳥, Euplectes orix, オオキンランチョウ
update 202501
One of the most common birds we encountered during our South Africa trip, yet its vibrant bright red plumage made it impossible not to admire. It became the joke of the trip when someone yelled for the car to stop, shouting, “RED Kingfisher!” From then on, everyone jokingly referred to this bird as a Kingfisher for the rest of the journey.
A tall, lanky, black-and-white stork with a unique red, yellow, and black bill. The male has dark-brown eyes, and the female has yellow eyes. In flight, the bird’s massive size, and the dark bands in the center of the white wings are diagnostic. Scarce but conspicuous; mostly resident but can be partially nomadic in parts of the range. Found singly or in pairs at rivers and large undisturbed wetlands, foraging for favorites like catfish, but it will also take frogs, birds, and insects. [Ebird]
It is one of the birds everyone of us dreams of seeing and photographing, with its beak’s vibrant colors being absolutely stunning. We were fortunate to observe it up close, offering great views and excellent photo opportunities.
another bird that I really want to photograph, shame do not have very good opportunity to have good photo but overall good view and good moment for this very special looking Bee-eater.
Before planning this Africa trip, I was really curious about how a starling could have such a vivid violet color (even though we also have the Violet Cuckoo with a similar hue). I really wanted to photograph this bird in good lighting, despite everyone saying it’s common. But in 17 days, we only had two great opportunities. Now, I’m happy with what I got—until the next visit!
Another stunning bird that caught our attention—some had lost their long tails. But this one stayed close for quite a while, giving almost everyone the chance to capture a great shot.
This is our first Turaco sighting, but it stayed hidden in the bushes for a while. After some waiting, the bird suddenly took flight. Luckily, I had the R1 ready—capturing the moment almost instantly as it happened in a split second.
It’s a stunning bird, and each of the three species we encountered on our tour instantly caught our attention. Even during lunch and shopping, the moment someone shouted “Turaco,” everyone scrambled to grab their cameras again. However, it’s not an easy bird to photograph—it moves through the bushes much like our Malkoha. Among the three species we captured, this one is the most common and, in my opinion, the most beautiful.
It was a late lunch, and the “sushi” took nearly two hours to arrive! But luckily, as we walked into the restaurant, I spotted a Hornbill nesting. I managed to get a few flight shots just by sitting at the table while waiting for lunch. Meanwhile, others went straight to the nest, hoping for a better feeding moment. A small but noisy Hornbill!
This species is very common around Cape Town—we easily spotted it along the roadside on our way to the hills and inside the Botanical Garden. It’s incredibly tame, showing no concern for humans. Its feather pattern is simply stunning, making it look truly beautiful.
As usual, this large and conspicuous stork stands out. It is commonly found in both urban areas and forests. Watching it slowly walk across the golf course provided us with a great photo opportunity.
A remarkable bird that resembles a crane or stork with long legs but has more of a raptor-like appearance. It’s one of my main targets—I’ve had a few sightings but haven’t captured great photos yet. However, I’m sure I’ll dedicate more time to this bird on my future trips to Africa.
27. Bank Cormorant, 岸鸬鹚, 堤鸕鷀, Phalacrocorax neglectus, ハナグロウ
update 202502
We only spotted this bird in Cape Town. It appears completely black, though from certain angles, the “white rump” can be seen. It’s a unique species and surprisingly easy to find, but only in that one location.
One of the colorful starlings of South Africa, this bird displays bright metallic colors whether standing or flying. It’s a stunningly beautiful and common species.
南非色彩斑斓的椋鸟之一，这种鸟无论站立还是飞行，都展现出明亮的金属光泽。它是一种美丽而常见的鸟类。
202501,
Kruger National Park, South Africa
31. Green Woodhoopoe, 绿林戴胜, 綠林戴勝, Phoeniculus purpureus, ミドリモリヤツガシラ
The only possible trogon for our South Africa trip, we spotted it just once—and in heavy rain! Despite the downpour, it kept flying around, and we were lucky to see it perch for a while, giving us a great view. Its metallic green and red plumage is truly stunning.
This is another colorful bird we spotted during our South Africa bird photography trip. We had many great sightings, but this was one of the closest and most perfectly angled shots we captured.
1001. South African giraffe, 南非长颈鹿, 南非長頸鹿, Giraffa camelopardalis
update 202501
It’s such an adorable creature! Seeing it in the wild made us pause for a while to capture some photos of this charming animal—even though we were here primarily for the birds. Absolutely delightful!
This bird is generally brown and has a peculiarly shaped head. It’s quite strangely featured, yet surprisingly common, found in both urban and forested environments.
My trip to South Africa ended months ago, but I’m still enjoying the birding experience in Africa—especially meeting this fascinating family. Everyone seemed so excited! At first glance, this species might seem dull (just grey!), but its name makes it impossible to ignore. Every time we spotted one, we couldn’t help but call out, “Go-away bird!”—and honestly, it’s quite a handsome bird!
It’s such a unique bird—many might call it ugly, but I don’t think any birder would agree. To me, it’s a beautiful creature, full of fascinating details.
This tiny, adorable bird gave us one of the most memorable moments of the tour. After a long and patient chase, it finally came close and low just for a brief moment — offering us the best view of the entire trip!
This bird belongs to a unique and fascinating bird family. Though it’s fairly common, it stands out with its long tail and overall plain brown plumage, decorated with distinctive black speckles.
Here’s another member of this fascinating bird family — clearly named for its striking “red face.” They’re usually seen moving in small, active flocks, often giving great views as they forage together.
I never expected to see this adorable creature in South Africa—I thought I’d only encounter it in Madagascar on my next visit. But what a lucky sight! This tiny chameleon was crossing the road so slowly that everyone had to wait for it to make its way before we could continue our journey. define top 5 sight of 2025
A typical pitta: plump, short-tailed, long-legged, and primarily terrestrial (sometimes perches up to call). Bright green above with electric blue shoulder patch and rump and black head with conspicuous pale brow. Underside golden-buff with black and bright red on the belly. Juvenile duller, with little blue in wing, an orange-tipped bill, and a pinkish belly. Resident in woodland, forest, scrub, and plantations in the lowlands and hills of the Lesser Sundas, from Lombok east to Alor. Formerly regarded as a subspecies of Elegant Pitta, to which it is very similar; Ornate averages more extensively black on the throat and lower belly, and has a fairly evenly divided rufous-and-white “eyebrow.” Also note Ornate’s whistled two-note call [Ebird]
After successfully getting all our target birds, we took it easy and birded along the main forest road. Suddenly, 3–4 of these Pittas started calling nearby, and one of them came as close as 10 feet from me!
This individual even stood out in the open for 2–3 minutes, giving us a fantastic natural encounter—not at a feeding station, but in the wild. A very different kind of excitement.
Hope everyone enjoyed this Lombok bird photography trip. And Imran—see you next time!
Finally had the chance to revisit this spot again. As usual, the Pitta was quite tame but didn’t make it easy for everyone to get a good shot. Still, I was lucky enough to get a satisfying photo.
Despite the light drizzle, we managed to photograph two of our main targets during this one evening session.
A special arrangement was made with Ramesh for a relaxing birding trip focused on collecting a few endemic species. As usual, pittas, owls, and woodpeckers were our primary targets. Upon arriving at the airport, we had a ~1.5-hour drive followed by a short walk to the feeding spot. After less than 15 minutes of waiting, the bird showed up beautifully, allowing for this “pre-poo” moment to be captured perfectly.
A small brown owl with feathered ear tufts and yellow eyes, restricted to Lombok. Mostly brown with scattered white and pale markings on wings, sparsely streaked underparts, and a clear “double” facial disk with both blackish and white borders. Found in various forests and plantations in the lowlands and foothills. Distinctive: the only small owl on Lombok, and the only owl there with ear tufts. Gives a single note song, “woot,” ascending slightly at the end [Ebird]
This is one of our main targets for visiting Lombok Island. It didn’t take long to spot the bird, but we had to wait patiently for a better photo opportunity.
Although it’s a common owl on Lombok, getting a clean shot still required some effort—but it was worth it!
这是我们前往龙目岛的主要目标鸟种之一。虽然很快就观测到它，但我们花了不少时间等待更好的拍摄机会。
尽管这只猫头鹰在龙目岛相对常见，但想要拍到干净漂亮的照片依然不容易——不过一切都是值得的！
202512, Lombok island, Indonesia
#####
update 202412
This special, quick, and relaxed trip to Lombok, Indonesia, focused on our second main target. We spotted a few birds, but only one came reasonably close and perched low. It resembled other scops-owls, offering another great sighting enhanced by modern technology.
3. White-tailed Tropicbird, 白尾鹲, 白尾熱帶鳥, Phaethon lepturus, シラオネッタイチョウ, Buntut-sate putih
A medium-sized white seabird with black marks on the wings and a yellow beak. The long white tail streamers are visible from a great distance. Nests on coastal and inland cliffs on the main islands. Often seen flying over canyons and along cliffs. At sea usually flies high above the water. Calls are loud clucks and squawks. Smaller and more graceful in flight than Red-tailed Tropicbird [Ebird]
I just can’t help but share more of this lovely bird… under the hot sun, it’s such a beautiful sight to watch them soaring through the sky.
我忍不住再分享更多这只这么美的鸟… 在炽热的阳光下，看到它们在天空中翱翔真是太美了。
202412, Lombok, Indonesia
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One of the target birds can be found here, making it an incredibly beautiful location to observe this species. The view is breathtaking, and I hope to return again. While waiting for a better sighting of the bird, I was fortunate to also spot a Dugong, Green Turtle, and Spinner Dolphins. Watching this bird gracefully soar through the air is truly mesmerizing.
A small finch with a striking white head and dark body. Rich chestnut brown above, with reddish tail and pale peach-washed underside. Juveniles much duller and browner, but usually show a paler head. Gregarious, found in terrestrial flocks, often with other finches, in open country such as marshes, croplands, grasslands and scrub, in the lowlands. Juvenile has a paler head and a noticeably smaller bill than juvenile Five-colored Munia. Gives weak, high-pitched “weee” and stronger, metallic “wit-wit-wit” notes [Ebird]
This munia is very common in the open areas of Lombok Island and can be spotted almost everywhere. It resembles the White-headed Munia but features a darker back and front.
It is a fairly common species found in Bali, Sumba, and Lombok, but this beautiful fantail is truly captivating. We were searching for the Five-colored Munia, but this bird appeared just before we could get a good look at the munia.
6. Golden-headed Cisticola, 金头扇尾莺, 黃頭扇尾鶯, Cisticola exilis, タイワンセッカ, Cici Merah
Tiny, sandy-colored bird with short tail and dark-streaked back. Breeding adult males have orange-gold crown. Song a thin, high-pitched, drawn-out buzzing. Inhabits grasslands of northern and eastern Australia, where perches prominently. In similar grassland habitats, Tawny Grassbird has much longer tail. Very similar Zitting Cisticola always has a streaked crown and a very different “tick-tick-tick” song but otherwise almost identical. [Ebird]
A small bird with a distinctive sequence of calls, often perched high to observe human activity, seemingly curious about us when we arrive at a new location.
This forest Kingfisher is probably one of the shyest I’ve ever encountered.
I tried photographing it during my last trip here but failed after several attempts. This time, we finally had a clear and prolonged view. Still, the bird remained very shy, making it challenging for everyone to get good shots.
A bit of a shame that some angles didn’t give a clear view, but still a rewarding sighting!
It’s not a lifer for most of us, as we’ve already seen it on Sumba Island. But this time in Lombok, we were just taking it easy when the ranger mentioned the bird was nearby.
We thought, “Why not?”—and that led to the toughest hike of the trip!
Thankfully, it paid off with a wonderful view of this beautiful Kingfisher.
10. Eastern Red-rumped Swallow, 金腰燕, 赤腰燕, Cecropis daurica, コシアカツバメ, LAYANG-LAYANG API BIASA, Burung Layang-Layang Api
update 202512
This is a common bird in Lombok, but it used to be quite a challenge to capture with DSLR back in the day. Now, with improved gear, it’s almost as easy as 1-2-3!
Distinct features: streaked throat and chest, plus a bright orange rump—such a striking little bird!
A very common bird in Lombok, but not always easy to photograph. This time, we were lucky—three individuals appeared to be sharing nesting territory, allowing us to capture some great close-range photos and videos.
Was this the final bird of our Lombok Bird Photography Tour? Possibly — and what a challenge it was! Extremely shy and not easy to capture on camera.
Still, it remains one of Indonesia’s remarkable country endemics — a true highlight despite the effort!
It was a fortunate moment while waiting for our target bird—we spotted a Dugong, a group of Dolphins putting on a show, and a few Green Turtles. Although they were at a bit of a distance, it was a joy to witness their display.
– newly update it may not belong to the Laughingthrush family
– rare and shy montane Borneo endemic
update 202509
One of Borneo’s rare, shy, active, and truly beautiful endemics. We spent two evenings and one morning searching at this spot.
Finally, on the last morning, the bird showed up and stayed for around 30 minutes—but still didn’t come low or stay still for long. Only a few quick stops, but enough for a few precious photos of this lovely bird.
It’s becoming more challenging to get a good look at this bird, but our relaxed birding approach seems to pay off. We’ve come across a few nice pairs over the past 2–3 years, and while this time wasn’t the best, everyone still got to see it. That classic “Where? There!” moment never gets old—still exciting every time!
– one of my best moment of 2029, this bird stay close and one of best view of this bird
– 我的2029最好的一刻，这鸟站这个位置真的最好角度看这鸟。
202407, Trusmadi, Sabah, Malaysia
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– another main target of the short trip, it is close and fast .. all of us saw the bird .. but sad my buddies didn’t got the picture of it feeding on “fruit” (think my first time saw this bird eat fruit) …
– the bird moving fast and inside dark bush, 2 of the Z9 failed to got the bird in focus 🙁 lucky me with new R5markii , if bring mark 1 may be also dont have this best moment of this rare bird
– 与朋友的几天，主要目标之一。这鸟来的蛮近的。可是有入常态，动很快，在暗的地方动。朋友们Z9都没办法对上焦（在这站了好几秒大家都看到）。幸好佳能R5Mark ii 好好表现还是对上了几张。这鸟非常害羞，稀有。非常不容易拍照，还加上第一次看到它吃果子（通常吃昆虫）.
202409, Trusmadi, Sabah, Malaysia
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update 202408
– before archive the folder, make another picture one of best moment of 2024. This bird stand here more than 3 minutes … making call.. looking at us ..such a handsome
– one of my favorite birds of Malaysia, it is not that rare just too active to have good view. But when lucky strike, me and David enjoy few minutes of best moment with this bird .. amazing bird to look at
2. Sunda Owlet, 巽它鸺鹠, 巽它鵂鶹, Taenioptynx sylvaticum, ヒメフクロウ, PUNGGUK-KECIL GELANG SELATAN
update 202407
– a long waiting day, today patient pay off with different prize. Missed the Bulwer’s Pheasant male…. after long wait … before we call it a day, heard this owl far away .. just try ours’ luck after long wait before we decided to walk back to ours’ car I saw this bird flying toward car park. Not long after walk toward car park, after got the Bornean Leaf bird and got this bird stay there for long for us.
3. Mountain Barbet, 山拟鴷, 山擬鴷,Megalaima monticola, ヤマゴシキドリ, TAKUR BUKIT BORNEO
update 202409
– another visit of this lovely forest, good weather…good birds (montane and sub-montane). While we trying to find few of ours target, found this bird busy making some hole .. lovely Borneo endemic
It’s a rainy day, and a few birds are perched on a tree. I quickly enable “pre-continuous shooting” and adjust the settings to the maximum speed possible at ISO 25600 and F7.1—1/1600s. Hoping for the best, I got lucky, and the shot of the bird flying down turned out well.
这是一个下雨天，几只鸟停留在树上。我迅速开启“预连续拍摄”模式，并将设置调整到 ISO 25600、F7.1 下的最高速度——1/1600 秒。抱着一丝希望，幸运的是，拍到了一张鸟儿俯冲的精彩瞬间。
A fairly common resident species in Borneo, but sightings have become less frequent lately. That bright orange crown makes it absolutely unmistakable!
这是一种婆罗洲常见的留鸟，但最近出现得比较少。头顶鲜艳的橙色非常醒目，不会和其他鸟搞混！
202505, Trusmadi, Sabah, Malaysia
6. Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler, 纹胸鹪鹛, 紋胸鷦鶥, Napothera epilepidota, コサザイチメドリ, KEKICAU KENING PANJANG
update 202609
While waiting for our primary target, we caught the distant call of this small bird. It slowly crept closer, staying hidden within the dense cover. Fortunately, we found a few brief windows through the vegetation to photograph this rare and shy species.
We were waiting for our main target bird when I heard a distinctive call from afar. After a long, patient wait, it finally appeared behind some bushes. Moments later, it stepped out completely into the open, giving everyone a perfect, unobstructed view for a few minutes! Others might not think it is a conventional beauty, but to me, it was absolutely stunning.
Just returned from a very special birding trip. My guest, Jonathan, had high expectations for bird photography. Although we didn’t see or photograph a large number of species, it was still a rewarding and memorable experience for both of us.
We stayed mobile throughout the trip, adjusting plans based on bird activity and Jonathan’s target species. One highlight was our determination to get a better shot of the Crimson-headed Partridge—which led to an unforgettable moment. A normally shy and fast-moving wren-babbler suddenly came into the open and stayed there, calling non-stop for almost 10 minutes! This species usually disappears after 1–2 seconds, so it was truly a rare and special encounter.
刚刚结束了一次非常特别的摄鸟之旅。我的客人 Jonathan 对鸟类摄影有很高的要求。虽然这次看到和拍到的鸟不算多，但对我们来说却是一次非常有意义和难忘的经历。
Finally got my photo lifer for Sabah! This bird has always been tricky—I had seen it twice before but never had the chance to photograph it. Today, I heard its unique call, and not long after, it came in silently and stood in the shadows. What a stunning bird!
7. Black-throated wren-babbler, 黑喉鹪鹛, 黑喉鷦鶥, ノドグロサザイチメドリ, KEKICAU-MURAI BESAR BORNEO
update 202606
One of our main targets for this special Borneo trip was this bird, but it certainly didn’t make things easy for us!
After spending our first afternoon on-site without a single sighting, we returned the following morning. Thankfully, the bird finally decided to cooperate and gave us some fantastic views. This Bornean endemic is known for being very active and is a highlight for many visiting Danum Valley and Trusmadi.
We were searching for a special target, but this bird unexpectedly showed up and stayed in the open for over 10 minutes! Interestingly, both the previous and next tours spent so much time trying to get a clear view of it. What an incredible bird when seen up close!
It’s quite funny—this bird gave us such a hard time in our previous tours, but this time, she just showed up right in front of us while we were focusing on another target! And she stayed at the same spot like she was taking a nap!
Unfortunately, I told my friend to check the same spot later… but no sign of the bird at all!
While we looking for a few target species, this bird was one we really hoped to see. Luckily, we heard its call from a distance, and it flew in close enough for us to photograph this beautiful endemic.
9. Crimson-Headed partridge, 红头林鹧鸪, 紅頭林鷓鴣, Haematortyx sanguiniceps, アカガシラシャコ, SERUK KEPALA MERAH
update 202512
I still remember the early days when we worked hard to photograph this beautiful Bornean endemic. Back then, it felt special to get a clean shot. At Kinabalu National Park, the bird is quite used to people, giving great photo opportunities. Nowadays, though, there are many reliable spots where you can get good views and photos of this stunning bird.
10. Green Magpie, 蓝绿鹊, 藍綠鵲, Cissa chinensis, ヘキサン, GAGAK-GUNUNG BIASA
update 202605
It is a rare treat to get a clear view of the CommonGreen-Magpie in Sabah. If I am not mistaken, this is my Sabah Photo Lifer! Although I have spotted them a few times around Kundasang and Tambunan before, I never managed to capture a proper photograph until today.
While I was scanning the area for a highly anticipated country lifer, this beautiful pair suddenly appeared. They stayed low and lingered long enough for me to take my time. They used to be such a common sight at Fraser’s Hill, but they have become noticeably scarcer over the last one to two years.
When this pair came down and spent some time just staring right back at me, I was so stunned that I froze and could barely react. For a split second, I even confused them with the Bornean Green-Magpie!
Just checked off a new photo lifer! I made a special pre-tour trip just to photograph this bird. It’s quite plain and was completely silent—it just showed up to feed and left. I waited an hour after it vanished, but it never came back. It’s a large, brownish flycatcher with a distinct rufous tail and a white chest.
normally at low land jungle/forest but it stands high up … and come by more than 1 …
update 202402
– few juvi bird feeding by the adult and managed to see this young bird just stay there but think capture by David Tseu not me .. he poison with the CANON RF200800 😀 ..
3. Rufous-winged Philentoma, 棕翅王鵙, 棕翅王鵙, Philentoma pyrhoptera, チャバネアカメヒタキ, REMBAH-BATU KECIL
– common lowland forest bird
– male with blue head and female with gray
update 202606
The jungle was quiet when we first heard this bird calling from a distance. Surprisingly, it approached us silently and swiftly—but we still managed to spot it and get a few good photo opportunities.
– depend on the checklist this split from Banded Kingfisher (if split it is Borneo endemic)
update 202605
We had a quick stop at the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC). Even though we arrived in the heat of the afternoon and had limited time, we were very lucky. We spotted the Black-crowned Pitta and Red-breasted Partridge almost immediately. A walk along the trail also rewarded us with several great sightings, including the Van Hasselt’s Sunbird. While on the canopy walkway, we heard a bird calling very nearby. It took a moment to find a clear view, but after waiting patiently, the bird moved into a perfect position for photos.
– another good bird seen while waiting for target bird, this bird just came not that high and making some call .. beautiful male bird
– 沙巴另一只低海拔的主要目标鸟。在等其他鸟，这鸟飞在我们附近不高。
202403, Sepilok, Sabah
#####
update 202402
– while we waiting for ours target, a pair of this special Borneo endemic came really low while the target also came close to us… make everyone of us so busy to look for 3 of them 。。 this such a beautiful girl
– it is so hot here, the weather look same like previous Chinese New Year… hot .. hot .. hot .. I am just like this cute little fellow want to shower and shower
– 有如之前华人新年一样，非常热。就热热。。。我就如这小可爱，要冲凉啊。
202402, Sepilok, Sabah
6. Van Hasselt’s Sunbird, 紫喉蓝肩花蜜鸟, 紫喉藍肩花蜜鳥, Leptocoma brasiliana, アンハッセルトタイヨウチョウ, KELICAP BELACAN BIASA
– one of the most beautiful Sunbird of Malaysia, it wont be wrong if you see reddish+purple
– 马来西亚最漂亮花蜜鸟之一吧。远远看红+紫。
update 202402
– quite hot and humid afternoon, heard the bird call… and very soon saw it stand at top of the tree. lovely and beautiful bird as usual
– 蛮闷热的一个中午。听到鸟叫，很快就找到。站在树顶上，漂亮吧
202402, Sepilok, Sabah
7. 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
9. Bornean Bristlehead, 棘毛伯勞, 棘头鵙, Pityriasis gymnocephala, ブタゲモズ, TIUNG-BATU KEPALA MERAH
– very special lowland Borneo endemic.
– overall black under and back. on top Red-Yellow-orange
– won’t miss the call as very weird calling
– male without red flanks where the female has
– 非常特別的婆羅洲特有種。
– 下半身都黑。頭頸部，紅-橙黃。
– 叫聲很特別。吵，有像狗叫。
update 202604
Previous guests had recorded this bird, and this revisit was focused on some other targets along with this lovely Borneo endemic. Since it is currently the off-season with very few sightings, we were under pressure to find one. However, on our second day at the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), we were lucky enough to spot it perched quite low. We enjoyed several great views before it flew off. Truly a lovely encounter.
Such an exciting moment! After a long silence, this bird suddenly called out loudly—everyone was thrilled to spot it and watch it for a while. Then, to our surprise, three more showed up! What an amazing way to spend a hot afternoon.
– one of bird that not so rare but just need luck to be see one. Lucky guests have very good view even may not good chance to have good picture this round …
– just another close encounter of this bird, sometime just need some luck for this wonderful looking bird.
– 另一次的近距离拍摄这鸟。
202405, RDC, Sabah, Malaysia
#####
update 202404
– a wonderful group and trip, even begin with little bit problem where Indonesia Mount Ruang eruption cause us reach Borneo with little be delay .. and group decided travel to Kuala Lumpur than direct to Sabah.
– we start ours day with Spotted Wood Owl and Dusky eagle owl .. follow with many good birds and today we had one of the highly wanted target .. 7 birds show up after 1 day search and day 2 early morning gave us very good picture opportunity
– a very Asian Brown like bird, but upper chest seem have brown streak
update 202507
Another great sighting of this uncommon bird—this time with two juveniles and one adult. Truly a lucky moment to end our day with such a close view of a species I’ve been hoping to see up close again.
– not my first time seeing this bird here, but few occasion and this time we saw it carry nesting material went into a canopy tree.. but not able to have record picture
It’s a noisy bird, but I always enjoy seeing it. It gives us great opportunities for photography, even though it’s just a plain black bird and not particularly striking. Its unique actions—like calling while moving its head up and down—make for special photo moments.
During a brief visit to RDC, we were scanning for birds to photograph when this one approached, making a noisy call. Suddenly, it flew toward us. Without hesitation, I pressed the shutter. Despite the low light in the forest and the high ISO, it still tracked well.
– another bird that use to be not so common at RDC but recently it become almost cannot miss bird .. a black bird that look similar to Peninsular Malaysia species but here without the white patch on wing
– another very close encounter of the lovely woodpecker, the story behind is the bird only have certain angle to have better view but it is always good to tolerate to have every got chance to have a good picture or view
Another commonly seen trogon at RDC, Sepilok, Sabah—though often confused with the equally common Diard’s Trogon. We were lucky that day, as this one stayed around long enough for us to enjoy and capture plenty of photos.
– same bird since last month stay same area. It stay so long for us .. not best angle but still can see how beautiful is the Trogon. a Lovely male, follow by Diard’s trogon stand just ~20m away … lucky day for Trogon ..
It’s nearly impossible to miss this bird at RDC, Sepilok, Sabah—it’s usually very common. On our last trip, it was a bit shy, but this time it was back to its usual self, coming really close. This shot was taken at around 400mm on a full-frame camera. From up close, it’s easy to see why its Chinese name translates to “Purple Crown.”
– a “purple” head trogon than wont be missed, and pretty common bird to be seen at Sepilok, Sandakan.
– 有如其名，紫顶。在山打根RDC蛮普通的。
202403, Sepilok, Sabah
15. Green Broadbill, 绿阔嘴鸟, 小綠闊嘴鳥, Calyptomena viridis, ミドリヒロハシ, Burung Selawit
update 202405
– it is my first time heard and see this bird in RDC .. may be I am not lucky ? but it is rare for myself .. it is so happy for everyone after we have few very good view like this.
16. Gray-and-buff Woodpecker, 灰黄啄木鸟, 灰黃啄木鳥,Hemicircus concretus, カンムリコゲラ, BELATUK-DAUN DAHI MERAH
update 202405
– one of the cutest bird, small and active small woodpecker. Male with red-crown, which female missing
– amazing photography trip with Taiwan guests, this bird just jump infront of us for such a good picture
– 最可爱的啄木鸟之一，公鸟头部红，母鸟没红。
– 一次与非常幸运的台湾朋友们。好运到，这鸟自己跳到我们面前。
202404, RDC, Sabah, Malaysia
17. Brown Barbet, 褐拟鴷, 褐擬鴷, Caloramphus fuliginosus, チャイロゴシキドリ, TAKUR-DAHAN BORNEO
update 202605
We see this bird quite often, but because its colors are a bit more subtle than other barbets, we rarely give it a second look. Today, it came surprisingly close, reminding us that even the most ‘ordinary’ visitors deserve our attention.
我们经常见到这种鸟，但因为它不像其他拟啄木鸟那样艳丽，我们很少认真观察它。不过今天它离我们很近。
202604, RDC, Sepilok, Sabah, Malaysia
#####
update 202408
– a pretty common Borneo lowland endemic, normally moving in group. lucky to have this eye level view.
– 婆罗洲低海拔特有种，蛮普通。通常群体活动。非常幸运拍到这么好的角度。
202408, RDC, Sepilok, Sabah
#####
update 202406
– a not so attractive Borneo endemic and pretty common across the Borneo lowland forest.
– overall brown with “red leg”
– 一只不大有吸引力的婆罗洲特有种。也蛮普通。
– 几乎褐色+红脚
202405, RDC, Sabah, Malaysia
#####
update 202405
– a pretty common Borneo endemic making some high pitch call, normally moving in group
– overall brown with reddish leg
– got this almost eye level at canopy with small fruiting tree
One of the most incredible highlights from our trip with a wonderful and lucky group of photographers from Taiwan. While this tiny bird usually stays high in the canopy, this time was different. It landed just 1.5 meters away at eye level, calling out right in front of us. It was a spectacular moment to witness its vibrant violet colors so closely.
While waiting for our main target, a few birds came close, giving us great photo opportunities. Among them was this lovely small cuckoo, which approached us to within 5–10 feet of the ground. It was a pleasure to see it up close, especially as it called loudly.
Another morning out searching for the main target, but it seems to be a no-show again. Still, I’m grateful for the abundance of birds around—including this charming woodpecker, which looked like it was putting on a little display to impress someone!
– a big “black” woodpecker which you wont go wrong with the ID here in Malaysia. It is not that rare but common at RDC, Sepilok, Sabah. Walk around very good chance to have very good view of this beautiful woodpecker.
– lucky group to have this bird stay for more than 20 minutes for us to take almost every angle of this bird
update 202405
– another casual birding behind the resort as already got all the targets .. but not bad got few good speciess include this beautiful woodpecker with close view
– a quite common “brown” woodpecker with “white” mark on neck
– 几乎所有目标都拿下了。就到酒店后面轻松拍拍，尽然遇上好几只鸟很近的让我们拍照。
202404, RDC, Sabah, Malaysia
22. Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, 绒额䴓, 絨額䴓, Sitta frontalis, ビロウドゴジュウカラ, PEPATUK BIASA
update 202406
– a bird that normally active, moving fast and high on tree trunk… as usual this is fast and active … but we saw it just ~5-7 feet from use .. a great view of this bird ..
It is a common bird but often overlooked, as it can sometimes be mistaken for other species and tends to stay near the canopy.
它是一种常见的鸟类，但经常被忽视，因为它有时会与其他物种混淆，并且更喜欢在树冠附近活动。
202412, RDC, Sabah, Malaysia
#####
update 202406
– it is flowering season, so many tree with flowers at RDC. Birds come feed near flower, nectar, insects etc .. included this not so common bird also come feed on the nectar.
– 在西必洛雨林公园，很多书都结花。很多鸟都为了花蜜，昆虫都飞的很近很低。
202406, RDC, Sabah, Malaysia
25. Buff-rumped Woodpecker, 黄腰斑啄木鸟, 黃腰斑啄木鳥,Meiglyptes tristis, ヒメカレハゲラ, BELATUK-BATU BIASA
update 202407
– a small woodpecker overall “brown” with stripe front. sometime it is confuse with Buff-necked which is slight bigger with “white-neck” spot make it easier to different
update 202407
– a raining afternoon, almost lost full half day but before we call it a day. Got few birds gave us some good view include this Borneo endemic. a pair stay low and long for us.
– 几乎整个下午都下雨，看是没什么机会。我还是叫大家到有花的地方等雨停，还好好几只不错的鸟出现。包括这只婆罗洲特有种。
202407, RDC, Sepilok, Sabah
27. Rufous-collared Kingfisher, 栗领翡翠, 栗領翡翠, Actenoides concretus, アオヒゲショウビン, PEKAKA-RIMBA MELAYU
update 202407
– a bird that use to quite easy at Sabah but getting tough to have good view .. may be I am losing luck to see ti good at Sabah. But a lucky group of people see it close and good with front, side and back view.
– a forest Kingfisher that normally stay not that high from ground.
28. Maroon Woodpecker, 小栗啄木鸟, 小栗啄木鳥, Blythipicus rubiginosus, エビチャゲラ, BELATUK-PUNGGUR MERAH
update 202604
It was a slow morning overall with very few birds to photograph. However, this particular individual kept returning to the same tree for two mornings in a row. It is quite rare for such a shy woodpecker to come so close and stay long enough for us to capture these shots.
– a common heard woodpecker but seldom good chance to be photograph. lovely yellow beak, mid size woodpecker. This bird make a surprise for us, fly infornt of ~5-10feet for us
– 在马来西亚（东马，西马）都很常听到而拍不到的鸟。这鸟很乖啊，飞过来5-10尺前让我们拍拍。
202408, RDC, Sepilok, Sabah
29. Fiery Minivet, 火红山椒鸟, 火紅山椒鳥, Pericrocotus igneus, コベニサンショウクイ, BURUNG-MATAHARI KECIL BIASA
update 202408
– another close encounter of this lovely minivet and female just too close to us.
– 又一次幸运的这么近的看到这么漂亮的鸟。
202408, RDC, Sepilok, Sabah
30. Large-tailed Nightjar, 长尾夜鹰, 長尾夜鷹, Caprimulgus macrurus, オビロヨタカ, TUKANG BIASA
update 202409
– it is a lucky sight, day roost of this common night bird just near the restaurant. It stay quiet and doesn’t move at all.
– 马来西亚蛮普通的夜鸟。多么不可思议，这鸟在我们餐厅旁休息。动都不动。
202404, RDC, Sepilok, Sabah
31. Raffles’s Malkoha, 棕胸地鹃, 棕胸地鵑, Rhinortha chlorophaea, クリイロバンケンモドキ, CENUK KERAK
update 202410
– one of most easier and common Malkoha in this region. Male predominantly bright rufous-brown with darker tail, female has gray head and chest.
– a lucky moment, to see this bird flying toward us and with the new CANON R5mii.. just too easier to capture this bird flying toward us
– 在马来西亚，这算事最普通的地鹃。雄鸟，头是棕色。木鸟灰白色。
– 我们算事幸运的遇上这鸟飞向我们，在佳能R5markii的对焦+追焦功能。很容易吧这一刻拿下。
202410, Sepilok, Sabah, Malaysia
32. Stork-billed Kingfisher, 鹳嘴翡翠, 鸛嘴翡翠, Pelargopsis capensis, コウハシショウビン, PEKAKA-EMAS BIASA
update 202410
– a big yellow and “big beak” Kingfisher, it does look slight different from Peninsular Malaysia/Thailand/India
– 3 years ago, I am testing R3 at Kuala Selangor with this bird flying and managed to have good result. Now, finally the high megapixel R5markii finally also come with good focusing system. The bird dive into pond without any notice and without any fish it flying back to nearby perch. I didnt prepare for any dive shots but managed to get the bird focus almost immediate I point my camera to the bird.
– Brownish olive above with a yellow belly, faint yellow crescents around the eye, and faint speckling on the crown
– A fairly common bird that simply requires a bit of patience to photograph, as it will eventually come to the flowers.
– 上体呈褐橄榄色，腹部黄色，眼周有淡黄色弯月纹，头顶有淡淡的斑点。
– 一种相当常见的鸟，只需稍加耐心等待拍摄，它最终会来到花丛中。
202410, Sepilok, Sabah, Malaysia
34. Blue-headed Pitta, 蓝头八色鸫, 藍頭八色鶇, Hydrornis baudii, ズアオヤイロチョウ, Burung Pacat Kepala Biru
update 202503
It’s a great way to start the month with two sightings of this stunning Borneo endemic Pitta. It wasn’t far, but I stuck with my 500mm lens, avoiding getting closer to disturb it before others had their chance to capture it. Such incredible colors!
35. Orange-backed Woodpecker, 橙背啄木鸟, 橙背啄木鳥,Reinwardtipicus validus, アカハラコガネゲラ, BELATUK DADA MERAH
update 202503
It’s a hectic day—I’m traveling from Borneo back to Kuala Lumpur, and within six hours, I have to catch a flight to Indonesia for another exciting trip. Unfortunately, my own mistake made the schedule quite chaotic.
Despite that, it was an incredible photography tour with great luck spotting woodpeckers. One of them even came down close and low, giving us a perfect opportunity for some great shots.
36. Ventriloquial Oriole, 巴拉望黑喉黄鹂, 巴拉望黑喉黃鷂, Oriolus consobrinus, KUNYIT-BONGSU TIMUR
update 202504
It was previously classified as the same species as the Dark-throated in Peninsular Malaysia but has now been split into the “Ventriloquial” species for Borneo. The female lacks the black hood.
It’s a common sunbird, but I can’t remember the last time I had such a good view of a male. This time, it stayed low and gave us plenty of time for some great shots!
39. Scarlet Minivet, 赤红山椒鸟, 赤紅山椒鳥, Pericrocotus speciosus, シュイロサンショウクイ, BURUNG-MATAHARI BESAR BIASA
update 202509
One of the most common yet stunning birds of Malaysia’s lowland forests. While it’s not frequently seen at RDC, we were lucky to have a few individuals feeding just a few meters away. The lovely female gave us a longer and closer view than the male — a real treat!
The special target tour has finally come to an end. Unfortunately, for the first time ever, we missed 2 out of our 3 main targets — a tough pill to swallow. It’s my first time missing them during this special tour. But on the brighter side, we still did very well with many other species, including this beautiful pitta that gave us a great view and photo opportunity.
We had a very hot and quiet afternoon session as usual at the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), but things brightened up when we suddenly spotted this cute little bird. The juvenile looked so adorable and just kept staring right at us.
It is another great start to the day with so many birds around. I heard this one first, and before long, it flew out to give everyone a great view. I have only sighted this rare pigeon a few times here, but I still get so excited every time I see it.
43. Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle, 华氏鹰雕, 小鹰鵰, Nisaetus nanus, ウォーレスクマタカ, HELANG-HINDIK KECIL
update 202607
What a lucky morning! We were fortunate enough to witness a pair of Wallace’s Hawk-Eagles mating—and they gave us a solid 20 seconds of pure awe. Absolutely incredible to see!
