A fairly common medium-sized mammal, not too difficult to encounter in the forest, but usually too shy for a photo. However, this time, an adult and a young one gave us a nice view before continuing on their way.
The bird station was full of life, but suddenly all the birds and squirrels disappeared. Then, out of nowhere, this adorable little creature walked right into our frame! It came so close that I only managed a few quick shots, including this walking moment.
I’ve seen this cute animal many times, but this is the first time it came so close — lucky to finally get a few good pictures!
Simplified Chinese Translation:
鸟站原本很热闹，突然间所有的鸟和松鼠都不见了。没过多久，这只可爱的小动物就走进了我们的镜头！它靠得非常近，我只来得及拍下几张照片，包括它走路的一刻。
– 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 202509
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 202510
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.
