The family Fringillidae encompasses 152 genera and 677 species of finches worldwide. They feed on fruits, seeds, and insects. The genus Passer, commonly referred to as sparrows, consists of small birds that are very similar in size and plumage. Typically, their upper body is mottled with brown and black, which is why they are colloquially known as sparrows. They have 9 primary feathers on their wings, with the pale feather edges on the outer feathers (except the first) slightly expanded at the base and near the tip, forming two faint crossbars, which become particularly prominent during flight. Their beaks are short, stout, and strong, shaped like a cone, with a slightly curved culmen.
One of the standout birds at Baihualing, Yunnan, China is often seen as a highlight by both locals and visitors. Whenever someone spots or photographs one, it becomes big news in the village, quickly drawing bird enthusiasts and photographers to the area. This one shows up unexpectedly, as it did this time to take a drink, it captivates everyone around. It is a beautiful bird, with the female being particularly striking.
Stenostiridae, or the fairy flycatchers,[1] are a family of small passerinebirds proposed as a result of recent discoveries in molecular systematics.[2] They are also referred to as stenostirid warblers. [WIki]
An active little bird with a bright yellow belly and a pale-tipped fan-like tail. Most common in foothill and submontane broadleaf forests, where it forages energetically and acrobatically in the middle and lower levels, often with fulvettas, warblers, and other small passerines in mixed-species foraging flocks. Very similar in shape to fantails but much smaller, and actually more closely related to tits. Song is a series of high “tsit” notes interspersed with twitters and trills. Call is often repeated at length, akin to a song, but much simpler, a series of high “tsip” notes. [Ebird]
An active little bird with a bright yellow belly and a pale-tipped fan-like tail. Most common in foothill and submontane broadleaf forests, where it forages energetically and acrobatically in the middle and lower levels, often with fulvettas, warblers, and other small passerines in mixed-species foraging flocks. Very similar in shape to fantails but much smaller, and actually more closely related to tits. Song is a series of high “tsit” notes interspersed with twitters and trills. Call is often repeated at length, akin to a song, but much simpler, a series of high “tsip” notes.
update 202412
One of the most active birds, behaving much like a fantail. While it’s not a lifer for me—I previously recorded it in Northern Thailand—it’s still a challenge to spot here in Yunnan, China. Thankfully, luck was on our side, and we managed to witness it spreading its tail, giving us a few great moments for some good photo opportunities.
Both the new Canon R1 and R5 Mark II cameras bring a host of innovative features, although their core specifications haven’t changed significantly. Among these updates, I believe the Pre-continuous Shooting function will revolutionize wildlife photography—and potentially sports photography as well.
Pre-capture functionality has already been available in cameras like the Canon R7 and R6 Mark II for some time. This feature allows photographers to half-press the shutter to focus and start recording, then fully press the shutter to save all pre-recorded images to the memory card.
What sets the Canon R1 and R5 Mark II apart is their ability to keep the pre-capture function continuously active as long as the shutter is half-pressed for focusing and fully pressed for recording, provided the buffer hasn’t reached its limit. This makes it easy to refocus on a new subject or stay locked onto the same subject for additional pre-capture sequences.
For example, the R1’s buffer can handle up to 200 shots before slowing down. In pre-capture mode, it initially records 20 frames, and over approximately two seconds, it can capture additional sequences, such as 20 + 40 + 40 frames. Unlike other cameras, the R1 and R5 Mark II transition seamlessly between pre-captures without any delay, offering unmatched efficiency and flexibility for capturing fleeting moments.
全新的佳能R1和R5 Mark II相机引入了众多创新功能，尽管它们的核心规格并未发生显著变化。其中，我认为“预连续拍摄”功能将彻底改变野生动物摄影的风格，也可能对体育摄影产生深远影响。
类似的预拍摄功能在佳能R7和R6 Mark II等相机上已存在一段时间。这项功能允许摄影师通过半按快门进行对焦并开始记录，而全按快门则会将所有预录的图像保存到存储卡中。
佳能R1和R5 Mark II的独特之处在于，只要快门半按保持对焦、全按记录，并且缓冲区未达到极限，预拍摄功能即可持续运行。这使得用户可以轻松重新对焦于新的主体或保持对原主体的连续预拍摄。
例如，R1的缓冲区支持最多200张照片的连拍。在预拍模式下，它最初记录20帧，然后在大约2秒内捕捉额外的序列，例如20 + 40 + 40帧。与其他相机不同，R1和R5 Mark II可以在预拍摄之间无缝衔接，没有任何延迟，为捕捉转瞬即逝的精彩瞬间提供了前所未有的效率和灵活性。
Let’s share some samples as we normally do.
Once Pre-continuous Shooting is enabled, a “pre” indicator appears in the top-left corner of the screen whenever you half-press the shutter button, confirming that pre-recording is active. After taking a shot, you can immediately half-press the shutter again to restart pre-recording or continue shooting as needed.
Below are some sample images captured with the Pre-continuous Shooting feature. These can be enjoyed as standalone photos or combined and converted into a video sequence.
– Another common woodpecker in Malaysia, resembling the Greater Flameback but smaller in size with dark eyes.
– Another moment captured using the CANON R1’s Continuous Pre-record feature.
– One of the most common woodpeckers in Malaysia, this species can be found in a variety of environments—lowlands, mangroves, sub-montane forests, and even urban areas. Its overall rufous coloration makes it hard to miss.
– While testing the Canon R1’s “Continuous Pre-recording” feature, the bird was perched as usual. I half-pressed the shutter to activate Pre-recording, and only fully pressed it when the bird took off from the branch. Every frame of the action was captured in full RAW and saved to my card.
– 在测试佳能 R1 的“连续预录”功能时，这只鸟像往常一样站在树枝上。我半按快门开启预录功能，直到鸟从树枝起飞时才完全按下快门。整个动作的每一帧都被完整记录为 RAW 格式并存储在卡中
。
202411, Kuala Selangor, Malaysia
#####
4. Half-press the shutter before the active warbler makes any movement. When the bird takes off, fully press the shutter to capture everything that occurred 0.5 seconds prior. Immediately after pre-recording, the camera will seamlessly track the bird in real-time.
1. Half-press the shutter before the small raptor shows any movement. When the bird takes off, fully press the shutter to capture everything leading up to that critical moment. At the same time, you’ll see the camera seamlessly tracking the bird in real-time.
2. Half-press the shutter before any movement from the Owl. When the Owl takes off, fully press the shutter, and everything leading up to that “flash moment” will be recorded onto the card. And you’ll also see the camera immediately tracking the bird in real-time.
3. Half-press the shutter before any movement from the kingfisher. When the kingfisher dives down, fully press the shutter, and everything leading up to that “flash moment” will be saved to the card. You’ll also see the camera instantly tracking the bird in real-time.
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 big montane endemic of Borneo, not rare but not really a easy bird to get close .. beautiful much easier than the Sumatra Treepie very look alike
– 婆罗洲高山特有种，蛮普通。可是也不容易接近。
202409, Gunung Alab, Sabah, Malaysia
3. Dark Hawk-Cuckoo, 婆罗鹰鹃, 婆羅鷹鵑, Hierococcyx bocki, クロジュウイチ, SEWAH-TEKUKUR GUNUNG
update 202410
– a birds that very common heard at both Fraser Hill & KNP .. but it can be very difficult to have good view .. it can be confuse with some Hawk Cuckoo
– when we on the way to Breakfast, sudden saw this bird stand so nice with backlight .. got the bird real close view
4. Bornean Bristlehead, 棘毛伯勞, 棘头鵙, Pityriasis gymnocephala, ブタゲモズ, TIUNG-BATU KEPALA MERAH
#####
1. 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 202409
– long time never been Tabin Wildlife Reserve, this time come here for quick one and meet up my very first Guide from Danum Valley BRL .. Paul .. We spend 3 mornings and 2 evening for birding .. not really bad overall, got all 3 Wren-Babbler .. this is one active moving around
2. Blyth’s Frogmouth, 星喉蟆口鸱, 星喉蟆口鴟, Batrachostomus affinis, コガマグチヨタカ, CUCUR BIASA
update 202409
– it is excited to see this bird in the day time and so cute ..
– such a long time never at Tabin, this time with special request to be in here trying to record as much I can ..trying for this bird night time but failed but got it on day time ! theory work !
– a bird that usually quite difficult to be photograph at Peninsula Malaysia, seem easier at Borneo. Almost never missed this bird at Danum Valley. But when I am at another famous birding spot Tabin Wildlife Reserve, this bird seem same like Danum Valley. not really shy … easy to get picture too
4. Bornean Bristlehead, 棘毛伯勞, 棘头鵙, Pityriasis gymnocephala, ブタゲモズ, TIUNG-BATU KEPALA MERAH
update 202410
– an exclusive Borneo endemic, always one of the main target to Borneo
– another bird that I keep looking at is this, it is my first time sight it here … excite !!! too bad 3rd times of the trip so not much time spend on this …
Many of Bird Photographers really want to have high megapixels camera for many different reasons. But for me, most of the time I Birding in “dark” Rain forest. Most of the time I am using ISO 8000-30000 .. so ISO performance always my main concern beside AF performance.
I am honor to have the new CANON R5 markii few days, so I am using it to test things that Rain Forest photographers concern. AF, ISO .. .etc
so here I am using one of my very common ISO and sharing original pictures save from RAW and denoise version (with Adobe-Topaz)
– newly update it may not belong to the Laughingthrush family
– rare and shy montane Borneo endemic
update 202409
– 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
#####
– 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
#####
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
– another special trip to this “South” of Peninsular Malaysia but this time we actually target only Malaysian Rail-Babbler and Cinnamon-rumped Trogon. Day1 , we already have this bird again with better view and photo and the Rail-Babbler give a good view but …
– an active bird that everyone seem special look for this bird family
– 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。
– within 24 hours, we got this bird again with much better view this time. All have perfect view of the shy bird..it is really fun to see this bird walk slow infront of us.
– a shy bird always difficult to spot and walk almost close to ground only
– another special target birds tour (5th this year for Rail-Babbler), this time with big group.. little bit challenge to get 1st target .. Malaysian Rail-babbler … but today morning, managed to heard it and wait a while before locate it calling. Happen for 2-3 minutes .. everyone see it from limited angle 🙁 but relieve …
– it is a long plan request from “friend”, a bird family need Rail-Babbler… last for him and another Jay-shrike for better view .. and we make this happen within 2 days while we actually plan it for 5 days … day1 arrive afternoon nothing much but still got Finsch’s Bulbul & Scarlet-breasted Flowerpeckeras new birds and with many woodpeckers with good view … follow by lunch and a quite bored afternoon … but still able to have good view of Crested Jayshrike and ~10m close Rail-babbler without any sight …Day2 morning nothing much even with some good view but no Rail-babbler close heard .. raining afternoon after lunch even still rain.. as Bill seem worry we missed the bird just decided walk into forest with raining gear … not far after we walk I heard “to to to” real close and ask every one backward … YES me and Bill saw the bird circling and walk across the trail but Karen & Miki missed … hmmmmmm .. so we decided go to a slight open space to wit for the bird…. not that long the bird came into view and making “balloon” call show for us more than 2 minutes .. smile for everyone …
– a good month to start to have good view of this special bird, total 4 good view of this birds 2024 June. And twice we special come to this special location for 2 special birds family. Both trips got the bird on day1/2, hope it stay for next few visits.
– a birds came close to us and make special “balloon call” style.
– finally finish a long tour, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo & extension to South P Malaysia. We had this very special target bird twice all of us saw the bird well and long. We had this bird walking across the trail after 2-3 hours search through the forest.
– a mystery bird that can be very shy or sometime just appear in-front of you and walk slowly.
– 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
5. 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
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
– a bird that pretty common but I always trying to look for one last few months after I know it is lifer for my friend. finally this bird appear together with another woodpecker (think also lifer for him) but he choose this so we looking for this brown, white necked small woodpecker.
– our first morning here and no main target sight, but one of the good bird we have … this lovely green pigeon.stay high up but it is really good to see them.
I really hope I have time to share same image captured with the RF200-800mm direct compare to RF100-500mm L + Extender RF1.4x .. but I do not have time to bring 2 setup for testing 🙁
….. after ~6months use of CANON RF200-800mm (almost every day)
Now I decided to bring RF100-500mm + 1.4x and here is my some sharing
1. User experience
– I can feel the AF is much accurate, fast
– ligther
– not so bulky
2. Image Stabilizer
– i can feel the IS is much effective .. I can have >50% success rate when shooting 1/30 – 1/60 for 700mm
But
for RF200-800mm .. 600-800mm I almost certain I need minimum 1/100 for 20-50% success rate.
####
I can easily capture reasonable stable video RF100-500mm + 1.4x compare to RF200-800mm
