We drove from Tawau at 6 am on 27th May (Saturday) to Kota Kinablu in late afternoon to photograph our first lifer, which is non other than a poor stranded Common Coot. We later had an eating and drinking session with our local bird photography sifus before moving on to Kinabalu Park, where we managed to get hold of our room keys at 11.30 pm from the security guard as the reception had closed for the day many hours ago.
These were photographed during the trip.
Common Coot Fulica atra is a vagarant of North eastern Borneo, so far only recorded from Western Sabah and Brunei. The last record was a lone bird in 1st February 2010 (Here).
Pictured here is a bird which is stranded in Likas, Kota Kinabalu this season. This poor coot has some form of feather disease where the barbs on its primaries and secondaries are mostly rotten, showing almost bare rachis when wings are stretched out. I would expect the poor cooty to be flightless for quite a while. Unlucky for the cooty, lucky for us, this is my #439 Bornean bird.
Pictured here is a bird which is stranded in Likas, Kota Kinabalu this season. This poor coot has some form of feather disease where the barbs on its primaries and secondaries are mostly rotten, showing almost bare rachis when wings are stretched out. I would expect the poor cooty to be flightless for quite a while. Unlucky for the cooty, lucky for us, this is my #439 Bornean bird.
Chestnut-hooded Laughing-thrush Rhinocichla treacheri, one of the commonest birds in Kinabalu, making puppy-like sound while foraging for insects in first light.
Borneo Birdwing Troides andromache - male, a endemic of Bornean mountians, many of them seen foraging around.
Temminck's Sunbird Aethopyga temminckii-male, foraging amongst blooms with Olive-backed Sunbirds Nectarinia jugularis.
Temminck's Sunbird is essentially a montane species, occasionally it is recorded in lower altitude, Olive-backed Sunbird is essentially a lowland species but occasionally recorded in montane settings.
Temminck's Sunbird is essentially a montane species, occasionally it is recorded in lower altitude, Olive-backed Sunbird is essentially a lowland species but occasionally recorded in montane settings.
Juvenile Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni, another approachable flycatcher of Kinabalu Park.
Bornean Bald Laughing-thrush Melanocichla calva
Bornean Bald Laughing-thrush, the uncommon endemic laughing-thrush and one of the most sought after bird of montane forests in Borneo, lucky to meet this foraging party, this is my #440 Bornean birds.
Ashy Drongo Dicurus leucophaeus, a common roadside bird, often seen foraging from perches on high wires and tip of branch.
Mountain Treeshrew Tupaia montana
White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis another friendly bird of montane forests.
Plantain Squirrel Callosciurus notatus, commonest squirrel in lowland also occur in montane forests.
Jentink's Squirrel Sundasciurus jentinki is a montane species.
Grey-throated Babbler Stachyris nigriceps, is a difficult bird to get a clear shot when it decides to keep foraging in thick bushes.
Pale-faced Bulbul Pycnonotus leucops, a quite approachable bird with some resemblance to the common lowland Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier as both have yellow vent.
Bornean Flowerpecker Dicaeum monticolum often foraging in low growing Pink Maisen Medinilla Speciosa bushes.
Blyth's Shrike-babbler Pteruthius aeralatus female, quite abundant in montane forest.
Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni -male a striking cute white and black Flycatcher.
Bornean Birdwing Troides andromache- female
Sunda Bush Warbler Cettia vulcania, firendliest bird I have seen in montane forests.
Bornean Green Magpie Cissa jefferyi, often seen in small party and making a lot of noise.
Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus, I am still trying to get a shot of a bird with standing hair crest.
Sunda Cuckoo Shrike Coracina larvata, unmistakable big bird of the montane forests.
Black and Crimson Oriole Oriolus cruentus, usually seen singly amongst mixed foraging flocks.
Sunda Laughing-thrush Garrulax palliatus, another laughing-thrush of montane forests, usually in mixed feeding flock in small party.
Chestnut-crested Yuhina Yuhina everetti commonest birds in Kinabalu Park, often foraging noisily from tree to tree in group.
Mountain Tailorbird Orthotomus cuculatus common in areas around Kinabalu Park.
Red Helen Papilio helenus
Bornean Black-banded Squirrel Callosciurus orestes
Malayan Lacewing Cethosia hypsea
Oriental Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus torquatus, this bird is soaring at altitude well above 1,500 m around the Park area. Managed to see a soaring Mountain Serpent Eagle Spilornis kinabaluensis as well, but unable to take a photogrpah.
White-browed Shortwing Brachypteryx montana - male
White-browed Shortwing - female.
This pair was seen crossing the trial and I waited for them to cross again with a pre-focused spot, too bad, as they must have noticed my presence and were dashing across at high speed, only managed to get record shots. This is my #441 Borneo birds.
Checker-throated Woodpecker Picus mentalis, an interesting bird that occurs both in lowland and montane forests.
Whitehead's Broadbill Calyptomena whiteheadi, lucky to encounter two birds perch just next to the trail.
Happy birding.
