Pelagic birding on 6th Agust 2011

Went on a pelagic birding trip on an anchovies boat on 6th August 2011 around Davel Bay, Kunak.

The weather was gloomy before we left port.

May be it was too early in the season, there wasn't much activity, we only managed to see a few Lesser Frigarebirds, a few Greater Crested Tern, some egrets on a far away shore, too far to positively identify, and a few Darters sunning and preening themselves on thin stilts on the shallow shore.

 Two Darters perched on stilts, with numerous Egrets in the background.

 Adult male Lesser Frigatebird.

 Adult female Lesser Frigatebird.

 Greater Crested Terns, which are supposed to be migrants, but have been recorded throughout the year.

This one flew quite near.

Happy birding.

Photodocument of Wild Birds of Borneo.

Standard References for my blog.

Whitehead's Spiderhunter - Bornean Endemic

Whitehead's Spiderhunter Arachnothera juliae, my lifer. I have been trying to get a decent photo of it for quite a while to complete my Bornean Whitehead's collection.

Fieldguides list this as locally common endemic in montane forests, as it feeds at canopy, it is not easy to observe, to get a good shot is easier said than done. We were lucky on that day at Rafflesia's Reserve, as this bird flew in from  a bathe somewhere, preening away and let us have a few minutes to shoot.

Here is my third Whitehead.

Happy birding.

Photodocument of Wild Birds of Borneo.

Standard References for my blog.

Borneo Ibon - Bornean endemic

Borneo Ibon Oculocincta squamifrons, a generally scare but can be locally common Borneo endemic of the lower montane forests. It is a tiny bird and feeds actively in small flocks, regularly return to feed on the same fruiting tree. You just need to locate a fruiting tree that they come to feed and wait there to take their photographs.

A tiny bird that is easily concealed in the foliage, its drab color does not help to spot it either. Distinctive features to look for in the field are its white spotted forehead and crown, and its white iris.

Happy birding.

Photodocument of Wild Birds of Borneo.

Standard References for my blog.