Semporna and Tawau 11th & 12th September

Edited on 1 May 2018 text with green backgound.

I have been leaving all my landscape and people photography behind  after I got poisoned by photographing avianfauna of Borneo.

This trip to visit the outlying islands off Semporna with Datuk CK Hon to do some landscape and people photography at the invitation of my photo kakis in Tawau proved to be challenging, refreshing and at the same time 'avian' rewarding as well.

The boat we chartered developed engine problems in the middle of the sea. Emergency calls were made to request for backup boat to continue our journey. During the wait, Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel, Greater Crested  Tern Thalasseus bergii and Aleutian Tern Sterna aleutica (now Onychoprion aleuticus) came to investigate.

Lesser Frigatebird

 

Greater Crested Tern

We eventually needed to be towed by a friendly fishing boat.

We were offered to buy this fish from the rescuing fisherman, which we did and it eventually ended up on our dinner plate.

Our journey continued with our replacement boat and we were greeted by this group of Common Tern Sterna hirundo.

Common Tern

Common Tern

Here are some of the pictures taken.

The next day, we had Datuk CK Hon, an expert landscape and travel photographer visiting our usual birding ground in Tawau. Here is one for the album.

Group Photo by Winston Tai

Datuk was well equipped when he brought along two top-of-the-range Canon pro-bodies; something called 1D mk III,  and a 100-400mm lens.

 Photo by Winston Tai

These are some of the birds photographed that day.

Pied Fantail Rhipidura javanica

 Chestnut-brested Malkoha Phaenicophaeus curvirostris

Black Hornbill Anthracoceros malayanus

 

 Changeable Hawk Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus (now Nisaetus limnaeetus)

Happy birding.

REFERENCES

Datuk CK Hon's Blog

Winston Tai : winston-tai@hotmail.com