– a medium-sized tree squirrel, overall olive-brown and underpart red. Slight different form the Plantain squirrel which is lowland species and with an extra Black buff stripe on the flank
– Fraser Hill, Cameron Highland, Genting Highland Pahang, Malaysia
9. Red giant flying squirrel, 棕鼯鼠, 大鼯鼠, Petaurista petaurista
– common at lowland forest (RDC, DANUM etc)
– 在低海拔森林，蛮普通。
#
update 202409
– a wonderful special extension for some mammals, we sight Thomas’s Flying Squirrel flying in day time at Danum Valley, follow by Black flying squirrel flying close toward us (yes just ~10m from us like hitting us … plus this common Red giant flying squirrel flying in close distance while ours dusk drive .. wow wow wow
– Adobe Camera RAW 12.4, same recovery and other parameters for the same test
*** I found the Dynamic Range setting not just affect JPEG output, but also affects the data inside the RAW files. So testing also included DR100 (off), DR200 (suppose reserve highlight exposure 1 stop) & DR400 (suppose reserve highlight exposure 2 stop)
But check out the RAW files recovery result below !!! it is some magic that happens !!!
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1. Highlight Recovery Test
1A. Highlight Recovery Test: Dynamic Range setting
– make sure of in Camera setting to protect Highlight details
Even with the direct JPEG output, the highlight details have been protected (DR200 1 stop and DR400 2 stops). But let’s have a look at the RAW file recovery
LEFT: DR100
CENTER: DR200
RIGHT: DR400
#
1B. Highlight Recovery Test: RAW files recovery
Test1: Highlight recovery from RAW files
– ISO1000, F5.6, 1/15 – this makes the picture +4 (4 stops overexpose)
– Adobe Camera Raw recovery. [Highlight -100%, Exposure -3.00]
#
Test1Bi. Highlight recovery, DR100 (DR off)
– All setting same as mentioned above
– DR100
– LEFT: Direct JPEG from Camera
CENTER: RAW
RIGHT: recovery setting as above and save as JPEG
#
Test1Bii. Highlight recovery, DR200
– All setting same as mentioned above
– DR200
– LEFT: Direct JPEG from Camera
CENTER: RAW
RIGHT: recovery setting as above and save as JPEG
#
Test1Bii. Highlight recovery, DR400
– All setting same as mentioned above
– DR400
– LEFT: Direct JPEG from Camera
CENTER: RAW
RIGHT: recovery setting as above and save as JPEG
#
Here’s come the magic of the RAW file and the Dynamic Range settings !!!!
– Look at the right face of the toy & background paper beg
– the DR400 not just protect highlight data in JPEG but in the RAW file, preserve more than what we expect (3 stops + 100% hight recovery)
DR400DR200DR100
#
2. Shadow Recovery Test
– 5 stops underexpose
– ISO800, F5.6, 1/8000
– DR100, 200, 400
– below are JPEG direct output from Camera
#
Test2A. Shadow recovery
Test1: Highlight recovery from RAW files
– ISO800, F5.6, 1/8000
– this makes the picture -5 (5 stops underexpose)
– Adobe Camera Raw recovery. [Exposure +5.00]
#
As the discussion of Dynamic Range is to protect Highlight data of the pictures. But I still go ahead with my test with DR100, 200 & 400
#
Test2Ai. Shadow recovery, DR100
Test2Ai. Shadow recovery, DR200
Test2Ai. Shadow recovery, DR400
#
For the 5 stops Shadow recovery, most of the details of the focused object still intact.
But when we turn on the Dynamic Range (DR200 & 400) gives an impact on the RAW files. Something really weird where DR400 actually give negative impact which produces more color noise and purple tint when exposure recovery
#
So we need 2 settings for Highlight & Shadow recovery
1. Highlight recovery: Highly recommend Turn on DR400
2. Shadow recovery: Highly recommended Turn of DR which is DR100
3. Purple-winged Roller, 紫翅佛法僧, Coracias temminckii,セレベスブッポウソウ, Tiong-lampu sulawesi
– a very beautiful bird, just like Malaysia Indochinese Roller but this with less vibrant colors and a “purple” wing-tail. Sulawesi endemic.
– 非常漂亮的佛法僧，非常害羞。蘇拉威西特有種。
update 202102
#
51. Indian Roller, 印度佛法僧, 棕胸佛法僧, Coracias benghalensis, インドブッポウソウ
A brightly colored bird with various shades of blue on the wings, tails, and belly that are often more prominent in flight. Note the longitudinal white streaks on the throat and breast. Indochinese Roller has a purple-blue breast, a darker olive back, and is generally darker blue. Generally silent, but more vocal in breeding season with harsh calls. Prefers open areas, including agricultural landscapes, sitting on exposed perches including electric wires, occasionally pumping its tail slowly. Practically a resident roller with some movements in the western parts of its range. 【Ebird]
update 20231218
– wonderful moment to get close and stay long for us, it is so colorful
1. Greater Painted-Snipe, 彩鹬, 彩鷸, Rostratula benghalensis, タマシギ, MERAGI BIASA
– very beautiful bird
– abnormal breeding behavior where the male will taking care after lay egg
– very shy bird
update 202105
– casual lazy birding, driving around. but not a bad morning at all, found this pair of the lovely couple.
– male and female are also beautiful. the one focus is female
Charming tiny bird, brightly-colored but difficult to see as it forages quietly in dense undergrowth. Olive-yellow above and dark gray below, with a dark line through the eye and a bright yellowish crown. The very similar Gray-bellied Tesia has a paler belly, a distinct yellowish eyebrow, and a darker greenish crown. Slaty-bellied breeds in foothill and montane forest and winters at lower elevations. Frequents dark damp areas, often near streams or fern beds. Song is a series of high thin whistles followed by a jumble of warbled notes, longer and more complex than Gray-bellied Tesia’s similar song. Gives sharp chirping call notes, as well as loud rattles. [Ebird]
This tiny bird moves swiftly through the bushes, making it incredible that we managed to spot it.
It’s a bird everyone on this trip has been eager to photograph. Yesterday, only Amy and I were lucky enough to capture it, while others could only catch a glimpse without getting any photos. However, luck was on our side today! Two different Tesias came close to us within just 15 minutes, giving everyone the chance they had been hoping for. Tonight, we can all sleep soundly, content with the experience.
This is a fairly common bird in the area, but it moves too quickly to capture good shots. It often hides in dark and damp spots, making it a wonderfully active but elusive subject.
– another bird that we seldom missed since pandemic “covid” (previously seem more shy). This bird just pop up when we trying to locate the partridge. Cute, small and fast
– “side effect” of the CANON RF200800, this bird small, fast and always in lowlight .. end up ISO20000 needed
– as usual very fast moving and tiny bird.but now with the AI camera CANON R7. so much easier with the animal eye detect. almost like point the lens to the bird and press shutter
Male is unmistakable, with black body, brown-edged wing coverts, and red-and-yellow bill with raised, spiky red frontal shield (unlike smaller moorhen). Females and immature are similarly large but speckled brown above with tan faces, and lack male’s frontal shield. (*EBird)
– very shy bird to be seen and photographed
– normally found near fresh water pond, stream etc
#
– a shy big, normally the female and non-breeding overall brown. Wing with bars
– breeding male overall black, spiky red frontal shield, yellow-red bill, brown-edged wing coverts
– very lucky to have a few, not that shy bird allow us captured pictures and video
– male breeding is an overall black, red-yellow crown, yellow bill, brownish mark wing. female/juvi/male non-breeding is overall brownish and wing marking
202104, Sekinchan, Selangor, Malaysia (male)202104, Sekinchan, Selangor, Malaysia (male)202104, Sekinchan, Selangor, Malaysia (female)
update 202103
– a shy bird and lucky to have the male breeding plumage. ready to go home or ready to breed?
– 非常害羞的鸟。繁殖羽了。是为了回家还是繁殖？
202103, Selangor, Malaysia
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6. White-breasted Waterhen, 白胸苦恶鸟, 白胸苦惡鳥, Amaurornis phoenicurus, シロハラクイナ, RUAK-RUAK BIASA
– medium size, very common and widespread (urban, river, stream, pond, paddy-field etc)
– overall black upper and white underpart, red-yellow bill, white face
update 202105
Pulau Indah, Selangor, Malaysia
7. White-browed Crake, 白眉田鸡, 灰田雞, Amaurornis cinerea, マミジロクイナ, RUAK-RUAK KENING PUTIH
– medium size, common at fresh water pond, stream
– overall light brown, yellow-orange bill and obvious white-browed and black mask
update 202105
Dengkil, Selangor, Malaysia
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8. Red-legged Crake, 红腿斑秧鸡, 紅腿斑秧雞, Rallina fasciata, ナンヨウオオクイナ, SINTAR-MERAH KAKI API
– overall orange, the orange from head to chest. bellied are a black-white bar and red leg. smaller bill
Small, chickenlike inhabitant of marshes, vegetated river edges, ditches, wet croplands, sometimes dry fields. Brown above, with orange from lower cheek to lower breast. Similar to Band-bellied Crake, but more brightly colored and lacks white wing markings. (*Ebird)
I will slowly update some of my concern features which related to Tropical forest birding requirement e.g. ISO performance (we have many lowlight condition environment), lowlight Autofocus, Image Stabiliser (handheld shooting minimum shutter speed)
– with the longest focal length 400mm with 1.5x crop (crop body) it is equivalent to 600mm 35mm focal length. So this may be a major concern for birding where 600mm is the maximum reach and always too short.
So I am trying to shoot this lens with 1.4x tc, which gives 400mmx1.4x=560mm and this equivalent 560mmx1.5=840mm (35mm focal length equivalent)
Focal length: mm+1.4x tc ISO: 640
F number: 8.0
Shutter Speed: 1/60
4k 16:9, 59.94p, 200 Mbps MOV/H.265 (HEVC) LPCM, 4:2:0 10bit
Zone AutoFocus - can see with the lowlight condition and mess environment the Autofocus will trying to confuse by the nearby moving objects (eg leaf)
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Testing 3: Continuous Focus Tracking
– a test I am using mainly to test Bird in flight
– Continuous Focus, Zone
update 202102
– another good moment before last light the bird just flying out from roosting
– the fast focus lock of the X-T4 and tracking make me able to have many keepers of this bird flying just in short distance
– 這鳥在天黑前突然飛出來。X-T4 對焦很快與準。
#
update 202101
- another day testing with X-T4 and 200mmF2
- mainly trying on AF lock speed and tracking for raptors
flying
- and this is an example using AF Zone in Video record 4k,
60p
update 202101
- lucky to encounter this bird, but it flies away immediately found I get close to it...
- with the Fujifim X-T4 fast AF I managed to capture the
flying moment
update 20210114
– very strong wind day, there are Barn Swallow, Pacific Swallow, House Swift, Silver-rumped Needletail, German’s Swiftlet, etc flying fast near the water dam.
– I mainly want to try the focus locking speed and tracking speed for the X-system
– very common glass-land, paddy field winter visitor (North)
– mostly brown, long billed, gray leg
update 202411
– It’s great to see them return to the paddy fields, where they are as active as ever in the morning. I came to test out the Canon R1, and with its new Continuous Pre-recording and advanced AF tracking features, I was able to capture the moment they took off and flew toward us. Later, I combined the JPEGs into a single movie file.
– long tie never go paddy field for birding, take a short visit with friend. Very quiet instead but this bird make us spend some time to have good view than follow with good meal
1. Golden Babbler, 金头穗鹛, 金頭穗鶥, Cyanoderma chrysaeum, キガシラモリチメドリ, KEKICAU-KECIL EMAS
– quite active bird at Fraser Hill
– Fraser Hill, Cameron Highland
update 202411
– This active, tiny bird features a dark-streaked crown, a small black mask, and a vibrant golden-yellow body.
– After a successful first day, with nearly all our targets achieved, we ventured farther from the birding photography hide in search of more species. About 2 kilometers into the hike, as we decided to turn back, three of these birds appeared, feeding right in front of us and providing a perfect photo opportunity.
– not too common at Pen Malaysia, but Borneo slightly more common
– Trusmadi, Danum Valley, Fraser Hill etc
update 202307
– 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.
– 在多数地方都不很普篇，在丹浓好几个点。过去7-8年来都非常容易见到拍到。可是还是非常活跃的鸟。
202307, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
update 202105
– captured this while the 201906 visits to Trusmadi, Sabah, Malaysia.
– this bird seems to enjoy insect attracted by the “light”
– an active bird that not that common in Peninsular Malaysia. but common in Borneo
– an active bird which is slightly different from usual babbler which normal brownish.
– many years ago when I first encounter this, my good friend told me skip this as too common (at Taman Negara)and I think it is not after so many years
– 非常活跃的穗鹛，与其他鹛有点不一样。通常都很淡颜色。
202209, Kelantan, Malaysia
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– active bird, seldom see in Borneo
– Kuala Tahan, Merapoh, KRAU, Poring etc
Black-throated Babbler, 黑喉穗鶥, Stachyris nigricollis, ノドグロモリチメドリ, Burung Rimba Bertam
7. Chestnut-rumped Babbler, 红腰穗鹛, 紅腰穗鶥, Stachyris maculata, コシアカモリチメドリ, KEKICAU-KANTAN BESAR BIASA
– very active bird
– common across Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia lowland forests
update 202406
– this place, I always call it “babbler heaven”. as usual while we actually trying to get White-necked Babbler pictures. This bird just came down to see us.
– active, and lovely babbler with very loud call normally heard in lowland forest
– another active bird that getting difficult to seen and photograph compare many years ago. But this time, this bird seem very good to come close but still moving fast
– 这鸟之前还是蛮好拍的。可是最近几年，这鸟越来越难。可是这次这鸟尽然下来很低。
202403, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
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Chestnut-rumped Babbler, 紅腰穗鶥, Stachyris maculata, コシアカモリチメドリ, Burung Rimba Rembah Besar
– another success “Rail-Babbler” target tour, after got ours main target. We start do casual birding, got this bird calling in the morning and managed to spent some good time with this bird (even my camera having some issue force me using MF)
– 2nd trip to this special location for special targets. This beautiful, rare bird some how not the main target we here for. But we normally heard and seen them well so never waste we spend some time to have good look of this bird. But for this trip, it is a target so we spend one special early morning for this and not bad for the outcome and some birds come close
– a very active bird and black-rufous overall normally move in pair
– a boring evening … not really as main target no sight at all. But very lucky to have this bird give us good show for about 5 minutes. active and rare bird
– 很活跃+害羞的鸟。下午到达立刻找目标，可是目标完全没声，没影。还好这一只这么难的的鸟出来让我们看够够。
202406, Lenggor, Johor, Malaysia
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update 202311
– a special target tour for Cinnamon-rumped Trogon, but 3 lowland forest we tried just too quiet. Just one Scarlet-rumped Trogon sighted and not other Trogon even make single call over 5 days.
– This bird was calling in the afternoon where we park ours’ car. I heard from far, no long the bird gave us good view and photography
– 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.
Another highlight of 2024—witnessing the bird showcase its fluffy and stunning display. With just two weeks left in the year, here’s to an even better 2025 ahead for all of us! Still, two more tours to wrap up the year—let’s enjoy the journey!
– few days of good rest, spend half day with buddies.. each time here also having some good moment … and today morning manged to have a quick moment for this bird .. finally how’s the name come from
– a very active bird that always making call attract ours attention either Peninsular Malaysia & Borneo lowland.
– lucky moment to have both standing and making call for us to take photo
– 非常活跃+漂亮的鸟。很容易听到这鸟在低海拔森林叫声。
– 这一次，非常幸运。2只站一起唱起歌让我们拍拍。
202406, Panti, Johor, Malaysia
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update 202403
– just finish my fist long tour (19days) which sight 366++ (ebird).. many good memory for sure … and this common bird make us spent so much time to have a clear view and even the Bornean Bristlehead above us… no one want to have a look at it … all of suddenly these 2 birds pop up and making some displaying, dancing for us …
– a very active and normally not easy to have full open view
15. Large Scimitar-Babbler, 长嘴钩嘴鹛,長嘴鉤嘴鶥,Pomatorhinus hypoleucos, オオマルハシ, KEKICAU-MELENGKUNG BESAR
– very active, shy montane bird here
update 202008
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16. Sunda Scimitar-Babbler, 巽他钩嘴鹛, 巽他鉤嘴鶥, Pomatorhinus bornensis, セアカマルハシ, KEKICAU-MELENGKUNG BERCELAK MELAYU
– more common across lowland, sub-montane, and even above 1200m asl ..
– very active bird with lovely call
update 202407
– I do not have many luck on this bird, many times meet this bird close wihtout camera. finally today it came very low while we waiting for Orange-Breasted Trogon.
– an active moving fast and around bird with curve beak.
– 我与这鸟没什么缘分。经常看到，可是就没相机。但我们在等橙胸咬鹃，这鸟自己找上门。
202407, Bukit Fraser, Pahang, Malaysia
#####
update 202208
– very active bird to be seen or photograph. This one good to come down feeding moth. Lucky low encounter
– 通常都在高高，动作快
202207, Trusmadi, Sabah, Malaysia
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51. Sulawesi Babbler, 苏拉雅鹛, 林雅鶥, Pellorneum celebense, セレベスムジチメドリ
– a boring looking but active and noisy as Abbott’s babbler
update 202310
– very early morning, while you walking in the park. this bird making a lot of noise and actively moving . This picture capture in very dark condition
– active and moving within bushes and making various sharp, loud call
– 移动快在丛里，叫的蛮好听+响亮。
update 202312
– arrived the famous Tapan road, stop the first location as saw the whistling-thrush on the road and not long heard a not so familiar call and soon Dwi say it is a babbler and make some small effort to have it in view and not so open photo due to very lowlight. In the noon time very soon we have another chance to photograph it ..
A gregarious babbler with a dark back and underparts spangled with scaly silver markings. At first glance, may resemble a cupwing, but this babbler is much larger and longer-tailed, and does not stick as closely to the ground as cupwings do. Often moves deep in dense shrubbery, but will occasionally forage in the middle layers of the forest as well, scaling trees and creeping along branches. [Ebird]
One of the stunning babblers has such flat body feather details that it almost resembles a drawing.
An 8-day journey to Yunnan, particularly to this bird photography paradise, is almost at its end. As expected, capturing great photos of many species was as simple as sitting and waiting. However, a bit of luck was still needed. According to local, the number of bird species visiting has decreased, and with more hides available, the birds may now spread out instead of gathering in the usual spots. Regardless, we thoroughly enjoyed our authentic photography experience here.
Although the trip isn’t over yet, this moment stands out as one of my favorites. The bird was incredibly active, appearing for just a split second with an almost surreal “flat” look to its body—like a 2D drawing. But with patience, it rewarded us with some fantastic views as the day drew to a close.
Chestnut-tailed Minla, 斑喉希鶥, Actinodura strigula, ノドジマコバシチメドリ, Burung Rimba Ekor Perang
Blue-winged Minla,藍翅希鶥,Actinodura cyanouroptera, ルリハコバシチメドリ, Burung Rimba Murai Gunung
Golden Babbler, 金頭穗鶥, Cyanoderma chrysaeum, キガシラモリチメドリ, Burung Rimba Emas
Black-throated Babbler, 黑喉穗鶥, Stachyris nigricollis, ノドグロモリチメドリ, Burung Rimba Bertam
Gray-throated Babbler, 黑頭穗鶥, Stachyris nigriceps, ハイノドモリチメドリ, Burung Rimba Leher Kelabu
Gray-headed Babbler, 灰頭穗鶥, Stachyris poliocephala, ハイガシラモリチメドリ, Burung Rimba Kepala Kelabu
