Crocker Range 13Jun18

From KH

After some overnight driving, we reached Crocker Range in time for the sunrise.

First stop was Rafflesia Information Centre. Guess what, it's closed again. The first bird that got us excited were the endemic Bornean Bulbuls.

The Ashy Bulbuls were also here.

So were Chestnut-crested Yuhinas and a Grey-throated Babbler.

Then, an endemic Mountain Barbet showed up, but it was high and backlit...

An endemic Bornean Barbet also came, suddenly, but it also went suddenly, so no photos...

Here's a pretty spider.

And a pair of Little Cuckoo-doves (male left, female right).

Then, there were some commotions - some Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrikes (left) were attacking a male Black-and-crimson Oriole.

Some other birds also came.

Maroon Woodpecker. Indigo Flycatcher

Male Bornean Leafbird

Moving on to Gunong Alab Resort, we had our mee soup ayam and photographed the nesting swiftlets. Depending who you talk to, these would be Plume-toed Swiftlets or the endemic Bornean Swiftlets.

After mee soup, we drove up the 2-km track to the power substation. There wasn't much going on, but we did get intel that Whitehead's Spiderhunters visit the trees at the substation when they flower. This marked the end of our Sabah adventure and it was time to head to KK Airport.

1. 1 Red-breasted Partridge - Heard
2. 4 Little Cuckoo-Dove
3. 10 white-bellied swiftlet sp.
4. 1 Brown Barbet
5. 1 Bornean Barbet
6. 2 Mountain Barbet
7. 3 Maroon Woodpecker
8. 1 Golden-bellied Gerygone - Heard
9. 1 Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike
10. 2 Bornean Whistler
11. 1 Blyth's Shrike-Babbler - Male
12. 1 Black-and-crimson Oriole
13. 2 Ashy Drongo
14. 5 Pacific Swallow
15. 2 Bornean Bulbul
16. 3 Ochraceous Bulbul
17. 2 Ashy Bulbul
18. 1 Mountain Tailorbird - Heard
19. 1 Sunda Bush Warbler
20. 1 Yellow-breasted Warbler - Heard
21. 20 Chestnut-crested Yuhina
22. 4 Black-capped White-eye
23. 1 Gray-throated Babbler
24. 5 Sunda Laughingthrush
25. 2 Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush - Heard
26. 3 Indigo Flycatcher
27. 3 Bornean Leafbird
28. 2 Black-sided Flowerpecker - Heard
29. 1 Olive-backed Sunbird - Male
30. 1 Temminck's Sunbird

Kinabatangan 09Jun18 am

From KH

The Pygmy Elephants are more open today this morning.

Next up, an Estuarine Crocodile.

Then, a Water Monitor.

All the egrets we photographed turned out to be Great Egrets.

Long-tailed Parakeets and a Dollarbird on the bare trees.

This male Bornean Orangutan is so shy. First, he turned his back on us. Then, he covered his face with his palm...

A Crested Serpent-eagle flying away.

Noisy Bushy-crested Hornbills.

Oriental Darters are common here. Adult left, juvenile right.

So are Black-and-red Broadbills and White-chested Babblers.

Blue-eared Kingfishers were also common here, but the Bornean Brown Barbet was less common.

Malaysian Blue-flycatcher couple: male left, female with nesting material right.

A Plantain Squirrel joined in the fun.

Lastly, our only lifer for today - a pair of White-fronted Falconets: male left, female right.

1. 10 Oriental Darter
2. 5 Purple Heron
3. 15 Great Egret
4. 1 Crested Serpent-Eagle
5. 1 Gray-headed Fish-Eagle
6. 2 Greater Coucal - Heard
7. 5 Plume-toed Swiftlet
8. 30 dark swiftlet sp.
9. 4 Bushy-crested Hornbill
10. 2 Oriental Pied-Hornbill
11. 2 Blue-eared Kingfisher
12. 1 Rufous-backed Dwarf-Kingfisher
13. 1 Stork-billed Kingfisher
14. 1 Collared Kingfisher
15. 2 Blue-throated Bee-eater
16. 1 Dollarbird
17. 1 Brown Barbet
18. 2 Blue-eared Barbet - Heard
19. 1 Red-throated Barbet - Heard
20. 2 White-bellied Woodpecker
21. 3 White-fronted Falconet
22. 8 Long-tailed Parakeet
23. 1 Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot
24. 3 Black-and-red Broadbill
25. 2 Black-and-yellow Broadbill - Heard
26. 4 Hooded Pitta
27. 5 Slender-billed Crow
28. 5 Pacific Swallow
29. 5 Ashy Tailorbird
30. 2 Yellow-bellied Prinia - Heard
31. 1 Bold-striped Tit-Babbler - Heard
32. 1 Chestnut-winged Babbler
33. 5 White-chested Babbler
34. 1 White-rumped Shama (White-crowned) - Heard
35. 2 Malaysian Blue Flycatcher

Sepilok 07Jun18 early morning

From KH

At Nature Lodge Sepilok, get saw/heard the common birds: Spotted Dove, Zebra Dove, Collared Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Black Magpie-robin, Javan Myna and Eurasian Tree Sparrow.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow. Collared Kingfisher.

Spotted Dove. Zebra Doves.

At Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), our first bird for today was the endemic Dusky Munia. This juvenile was still not able to fly. Hope it survives...

We saw this nest on a tree beside the security counter. I reckon this is its nest.

The first for two towers here is the Bristlehead Tower. It's at the canopy level, which gives a good vantage point to look out of the morning bird waves.

We had a pair of Black-winged Flycatcher-shrikes (left female, right male) up close.

A pair of Ruby-cheeked Sunbirds (left female, right male), also up close.

So did the male Green Iora and the Bornean Brown Barbet.

Male Green Iora

Bornean Brown Barbet

Even the endemic Bartlett's Flying Dragon dropped by to say hi.

Other birds, like this Buff-rumped Woodpecker, were farther away.

This resident Southern Pig-tailed Macaque was having his morning stroll.

Next, we headed to the Trogon Tower. Not many birds came close, except for this female Lesser Green Leafbird.

Others were far away like this green-pigeon, and high up like this Verditer Flycatcher.

On the ground, we got a Little Spiderhunter.

The star bird for the morning was a very confiding endemic Black-crowned Pitta.

Time to head back to the lodge for breakfast.