Ground Bird (12/21) Borneo endemic - Red-breasted Partridge (Lifer 565/688)

We were lucky that this  other partridge  give us a short window opportunity to shoot them

at Gunung Alab. At the bird port I was shooting at a distance of 15-20 feet.  So it is good if you bring along your zoom telelens like my fuji XF 100-400mm or the Sony 200-600mm lens.  

 

The red-breasted partridge is also called the Bornean hill partridge. It is endemic to hill and montane forest of Borneo like Gunung Alab Tambunan, Crocker Range and KNP preferring bamboos and thickets environment. 

The red-breasted partridge feeds in groups, foraging in thickets, on forest trails and near rivers. Its diet consists of seeds, fruits and insects. It roosts in bushes. Its call is a duet, one bird giving rising chu notes and the other falling cuckoo notes. Its breeding is poorly known.

The red-breasted partridge is about 27 cm (11 in) long and weighs about 270 g (9.5 oz). The crown and nape are blackish, with brown spots. There is a grey or rufous supercilium and a blackish-brown band goes through the eye. The cheeks and throat are rufous. The breast is bright chestnut, sometimes browner, and the belly is whitish. The flanks are black and white. The upperparts are brown, with blackish bars. The eyes are grey, the beak is black, and the legs are pink. There is red bare skin around the throat, usually covered by sparse feathers. The female bird's plumage is a little duller than the male's. (Wiki)

Groundbird (Bornean Endemic) Pheasant - Bulwer's Pheasant (Lifer 566/688)

 

Bulwer's pheasant is endemic to the island of Borneo, While the species is locally common in protected areas (e.g. Kayan Mentarang National Park, East Kalimantan) it is rarely found elsewhere. The bird inhabits hill and lower montane tropical forest, likely preferring highland rainforest and rarely visiting the lowlands below an altitude of 300 metres (980 ft). The diet consists mainly of fruits, worms, and insects.

Bulwer's pheasant is sexually dimorphic. Males have a total length of about 80 centimeters (31 in), and are black-plumaged with a maroon breast, crimson legs, a pure white tail of long, curved feathers, and bright blue facial skin with two wattles that conceal the sides of its head. Females have a total length of about 55 centimeters (22 in) and are overall dull brown colour with red legs and blue facial skin.

 (Wiki)

The Male we saw have shredded its fame white bushy tail unfortunately. I got limited opportunity to get better photos as the bird came out in the final hour at 5pm after the rain stopped but stayed for a short time. Some more the low lighting  got me 9/10 blur pictures as I was shooting at 1/15s ISO 2500-3200.

Leafbird (3/4) - Bornean Leafbird (Lifer 563/688) Chloropsis kinabaluensis (Bornean Leafbird)

Photo courtesy of AlanT; This is the female bird

My shot was pathetically blurred as I did not expect it to be a separate subspecies. Unlike the female Blue-winged the former have a black throat This is an endemic bird of Borneo. We were lucky to have a short stint acquaintance in the evening before our departure out to Tambunan. We only got to shot one bird as the male was elusive. Leafbird I think paired for life. Its also called Kinabalu Leafbird. So guys please do not ignore any bird in Sabah as there are many differences from our peninsula ones and can be your lifer.

Here is my pathetic shot as I take for granted its the blue-winged

 

Accurately-named leaf-green canopy-dweller of Borneo’s central montane forests. Male has a black throat with a blue center and lemon-yellow outline. Female similar, but throat is all-dark, with no blue or yellow on the head. Both sexes have sky-blue flight feathers. Very similar to male Blue-winged Leafbird (the female of which lacks a black throat); look for Bornean’s green crown, yellow bib, paler blue wings, and more yellow-washed underparts. Gives a high thin “tseep” and a whistled “wee-chup!”, among other calls. (wiki)

 

Illustration from www.beautyofbirds

Avian Post Nesting November 2022 - A dozen ducklings

It was a surprise sighting to see  that this pair of Whistling Duck can have a dozen duckling. I believe they may be  surrogate parents to other fledglings. Later we also sighted another pair of parents with about five duckling in another nearby canal in Sg Rambai. Looks like there is a bumper offspring here despite living amongst macaques and other predators like monitor lizards here.

Correction there were 15 of ducklings as countered by AT .

  

Babbler 23/27 (Bornean Endemic) Oct2022 - Bornean Black-capped Babbler

 

Here again there is a split in species, but I am not considering as a lifer. The Bornean bird is a distinct  thickset brown babbler with a darker crown, an orange breast, and a bright white throat. North Bornean subspecies has a dark face and thin white eyebrows, absent elsewhere. Scurries about on the forest floor like a rodent, rummaging through leaf litter, either singly or in pairs. Found in lowland and foothill forests. Gives a high, piercing “tse-lee” somewhat akin to nails scratching across a blackboard.

The Bornean black-capped babbler (Pellorneum capistratoides) is a species of bird in the family Pellorneidae. It is found on Borneo. This species, the Javan black-capped babbler (P. capistratum) and the Malayan black-capped babbler (P. nigrocapitatum ) were formerly considered conspecific, but were split from it in 2021. Together they were called the black-capped babbler. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland (Wiki)

Spiderhunter (8/12 ) - Thick billed Spiderhunter (Lifer 562/688)

 Not a good photo because of the distance but good enuf for me to record my lifer. I failed to get it in Gunung Nuang Hulu Langat.

The thick-billed spiderhunter (Arachnothera crassirostris) is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.

Avian sighting (Nov 2022) - Golden-throated Barbet

I was up in Genting highland on the eve of Malaysia 15 General election. Since it was the start of the migration period I was hoping to see some arrival like thrushes or flycatchers  and also to save on the free toll ; but sad to say there was no sighting here. I supposed to go to Bukit Tinggi but the traffic was horrendous on Karak highway Later read the news that at its peak  it was a 7km jam for our east coast voters going home to mainly  Kelantan and Pahang. I have to detour & take the old Gombak road to Awana.

I was at UK for a short session because I was asked to leave by Eddie with Genting Bantuan Polis tagging along. The only migrant bird I saw there  was a Tiger Shrike. 

At another site I get to shoot a pair of Golden-throated which were very vocal calling nonstop. I patiently waited until one of them flew down to eye level and walla got some better shots but partially hidden. It is a submontane bird upto 900m asl and I have not encounter it in lowland forest. 

Flowerpecker (11/11) Borneo endemic - Dark-sided Flowerpecker (Lifer 561-688)

One of the common flowerpecker you can shoot in KNP.  Very responsive bird and can stay for quite a while for you to shoot. It was a matter of finding the right locale and wait for it to come by. I have seen this berry plant in Bukit Tinggi I think its call Elderberry which attract plenty of   flowerpeckers. 

The black-sided flowerpecker (Dicaeum monticolum), also known as the Bornean flowerpecker, is a species of bird in the family Dicaeidae. It is endemic to the island of Borneo, where it is found in the mountains, primarily above 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in elevation. The species is sexually dimorphic. Now is to find out whether the Yellow-bellied do dwell in peninsula...............Lenggeng FR or Panti

Jay 2/2 Oct 2022 - Crested Jayshrike/Shrikejay (formerly called Crested Jay)

In term of color and crest the Bornean species is rather more beautiful in brown than our peninsula one which is plain  blackish. Its crest  tapered into a flair   and at times rounded one too.  It is rather responsive to our guide bird call and hover around our hide in Telupid for quite sometime. Apparently there were some feeding between a pair; whether its a parent feeding a juvenile or a mating ritual I really cannot say during the coming monsoon season here which is early this year.

I believe this beautiful Jay will be split from our peninsula subspecies but I will  record it as not a  lifer. Apparently I saw some photos of Thailand  they have the same chestnut color Crested Shrike jay (Platylophus galericulatus (Cuvier, 1816)

 

Babbler (17/23) Bornean -Temminck's Babbler (Lifer 560/688)

This was a side show bird but nevertheless my lifer to while we waited for the star bird namely Bulwer's Pheasant.

A very plain/drab babbler in colors but the recognisable streaking grey head define this small babbler. It is a babbler of lowland and foothill forests. Can be difficult to see in the shadowy forest floor and dense undergrowth it often forages in; listen for its song, a repetitive series of descending notes: “wi’DEW, wi’DEW!” Calls include a nasal, rising trill. If seen, note the overall warm brown body, white throat, and dark crown. Face color varies, ranging from gray to cinnamon-brown.

 Temminck's babbler (Pellorneum pyrrogenys) is a species of bird in the family Pellorneidae. It is found in Borneo and Java. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.

This bird's common name commemorates the Dutch naturalist Coenraad Jacob Temminck. (Wiki)

Drongo (8/9) October 2022 - Hairy-crested Drongo (Lifer 559/688)

Glad that AT id the drongo as a lifer which we thought is the Bronze.  Maybe have to inform Joe Sun on his photo. In closer scrutiny of the the drongo's crown, there are indeed some hairs le. It is also related to the "Spangled Drongo", which I noted the name is now reserved to Australia specie. The Hairy one can be seen in montane forest ie KNP and Tambunan, Crocker side of Sabah.

A big, stocky, dark drongo with highly iridescent wings and shiny feathers on breast and back of the neck. Note triangular tail with flaring tips that curl out sideways and a large, curved bill with which it probes for nectar in flowering trees. Long, thin, hair-like feathers on its forehead, present only in some subspecies, may be visible at close range. Birds in Java and Sulawesi have white eyes. Encountered singly or in small flocks; also joins foraging flocks ie bird wave with other species. Frequent sighting it follows the Laughingthrushes at KNP. Found in a wide range of forested habitats. Calls include a varied jumble of various harsh screeches, nasal yelps, metallic sounds, and beep.

Trogon (7/7) Borneo Endemic - Whitehead's Trogon (lifer 558/688) Oct 2022

We were on our first day tour to KNP with Ikwan  in the afternoon After lunch at the canteen  we headed to upper Silau-silau trail . This is the regular section to see the Whiteheads. The valley trail is protected from strong wind and I think it is ideal for birds to roost.  After failing to spot the bird  for 2 hours we decided to walk back to Ligawu which was already pass 4pm. Then we saw excitement from our guide who have returned to usher us back up telling us the Trogon was spotted. And here we go puffing and huffing in quick steps up to the locale; & walla we managed to see this lifer with swelling relieve as we thank the other bird guide who contacted Ikwan. So at times it is good to have some one local to guide you.

The female was also nearby but no good pictures.

So happy that night  I send a photo to Theresa to tell her my encounter. The last time I was birding with her and her girl team we did not manage to see it. Hope she manage to see hers already. So in the month of September - October is a good time to bird here. However in 2022 saw the monsoon rain arriving early. On our third day in KNP was a wash out as we wasted a whole wet day

Whitehead's trogon (Harpactes whiteheadi) is a species of bird in the family Trogonidae. It is endemic to the island of Borneo, where it is an uncommon resident in primary mountain forest. One of Borneo's largest trogons at 29 to 33 cm (11 to 13 in) long, it is sexually dimorphic. The male is crimson on the head, nape, and underparts, with a black throat and grey chest; the rest of his upperparts are cinnamon-coloured. The female is similarly patterned, but cinnamon-brown where the male is scarlet. The species was first described for science by Richard Bowdler Sharpe in 1888, who named it for British explorer and collector John Whitehead. There are no subspecies.

It is primarily an insectivore, but also eats various plant materials, including fruits and seeds. Other than the timing of its breeding—typically between April and June—little is known about its breeding biology. The International Union for Conservation of Nature rates Whitehead's trogon as a near-threatened species. 

(Wiki)

 l

Like most trogons, Whitehead's trogon is sexually dimorphic namely the partners are different in apparent; the male is considerably more colorful than the female.  It ranks among Borneo's largest trogons, measuring 29 to 33 cm (11 to 13 in) in length. The male is crimson on the forehead, crown, nape, and sides of the head, with bare blue skin around the eyes. The rest of his upperparts are cinnamon-brown. His throat is black, shading into a grey breast, but the rest of his underparts are crimson. His wings are primarily black, with fine white barring on the secondaries and coverts.  His tail is mostly white underneath; above, the two central tail feathers are cinnamon with a broad black tip, and the remaining tail feathers are primarily black. The outermost tail feathers are white on the terminal half and along the outer web. He has a blue beak, pinkish-brown legs and feet, and reddish-brown irises.  The female is similarly patterned, but duller, with cinnamon-brown replacing the crimson of the male. The barring on her secondaries and wing coverts is cinnamon-brown rather than white. The immature female is similar to the adult female, but her entire ventral side is uniformly coloured, lacking the adult's black throat and grey upper breast. She also has less blue colouring on her beak.

Bulbul ( Bornean split of peninsula Ocracheous) - Penan Bulbul

 I not sure whether to consider it  as a lifer  though it was a split recently in Aug 2021. It has some similarity to the low to mid montane Ochraceous or even Grey-cheeked of peninsula. The Penan bulbul (Alophoixus ruficrissus) is a species of songbird in the bulbul family, Pycnonotidae. It is found Borneo. It is usually found in the mid-storey of broad-leaved evergreen and rainforests up to 2000 metres elevation. It can be easily seen in KNP 

A brownish-olive bulbul with a wispy crest and a puffy, glowingly white throat. Inhabits lowland and montane forests, where it prefers primary or well-aged secondary growth. Forages in the middle and lower levels of the forest, usually in small, noisy flocks. Calls consist primarily of loud, dry “chek” notes; song is pleasant and warbling. Similar to Gray-cheeked Bulbul, but darker, especially on the underparts, with a more conspicuous white throat and a longer crest. (Extract from eBird)

Ground bird 13/21) Borneo Endemic - Crimson headed Patridge (Lifer 557/688)

The Red-headed Partridge is the target bird in Gunung Alab 2000m asl. It is an easy shoot here as its very active in numbers too. You will be spoiled for choice which one to shoot. They stay quite a while 10-15 minutes if you guys do not make too much commotion;  unlike the red-breasted partridge which also drop in and out in minutes during our encounter. Maybe the threesome are easily intimidated. 

 A striking species of partridge, the crimson-headed partridge has an average length of around 25 cm (9.8 in) and the weight of one measured male was 330 g (12 oz). Adult males have a distinctive appearance; the heads, necks, and breasts, along with the final section of the undertail coverts, are crimson red, while the rest of the body is dark blackish. The bill is yellow to yellowish white, the iris is brown with a yellow orbital ring, and the feet are grey with one to three tarsal spurs. Adult females have a similar pattern, bur differ in their duller and browner plumage, more orangish red on the head and breast, brownish-black bill, and lack of spurs. Juveniles are duller and have the crimson restricted to the top of the head, with a brownish orange head, rust-red markings on a blackish-brown breast, and red tips to the wing coverts.

The species is unlikely to be confused with any other, with its coloration only resembling that of an immature male black partridge (Melanoperdix niger). It can be told apart from the latter by the black partridge's broader black bill.

Spiderhunter ( 7/12) ) Borneo Endemic - Bornean Spiderhunter (Lifer 556/688)

 

There are a few endemic spiderhunter in Borneo. One of them is this Bornean Spiderhunter. Apparently this tree with its longish pinkish is a favorite of spidenhunters (with their long beak) and even sunbirds. I not sure of the plants name but it may be epiphhytic rhododendron flowers.

We were hoping to see the rarity Whitehead's spiderhunter but it was absent. Instead we got   this lifer. By the way there was a same tree in KNP right behind the canteen as pointed out by Ikwan but it was not flowering. Now you know look for the tree with this flower to get a glimpse of this elusive Whitehead's for many who have yet to see including yours truly.....

We were shooting from a distance of almost 200 feet range  up in this tall tree. The picture is fully cropped. Unfortunately  we were shooting in the late afternoon after the session in hide. If it was in the morning we may have got a chance to see the Whitehead's .....sign.

Medium-sized spiderhunter with an olive back and streaked gray underparts. Inhabits lowland and submontane forests and forest edges, where it feeds primarily on nectar in the understory; favors blossoms of banana and ginger. Very similar in appearance to Gray-breasted Spiderhunter; range overlap is poorly understood but appears to be minimal. Look for Bornean’s more intensely streaked underparts and slightly larger size. Long-billed Spiderhunter can show some streaking on the breast but is much larger and longer-billed, with yellowish underparts. Sometimes noisy, giving loud raspy nasal calls. (ebird)

Avian Encounter October 2022 - Coucals in Langkap

I was in Langkap to search for lifer in the coming migration period. It was a surprising find to shoot both the Lesser and greater Coucal at close range. Many of the roadside reeds and undergrowth were been prune and cut down So it was no surprise birds keep to the remaining  areas. After a short drizzle in the morning helps my finds of these big birds of Chui Chak's  padifields. Birds will come out to dry themselves.

I was shooting full frame of this Greater Coucal on the ground less than 15 ft away. The bird was not intimidated as I shoot from my SUV. The bird remain at the cutdown reeds even after I left the spot. 

 

PITTA ( 8/12) Bornean Endemic - Bornean Banded Pitta (Lifer 555/688)

This is my second Bornean pitta amongst the other 3-4 more. The first one was the easy catch in Sepilok - Black-headed Pitta another split from our peninsula  Garnet. In Tambunan about 1.15 hours from Ranau you can visit a privately operated hide  by KKLee. With the reopening of borders and open sky flying the place is happening and advance booking is necessary because of limited seats. We were lucky to bum into Leong at Gng Alab who so willingly connect us to shoot there The rate was reasonable too. Apparently there were some cancellation by another group due to Covid ...... A blessing in disguise. 

Snappy-looking pitta with a broad egg-yolk-yellow eyebrow, black mask, coffee-brown back, and finely barred underparts. Male has a yellow throat, black crown, and indigo belly patch. Female is similar but duller, with no indigo belly patch, a whitish throat, paler underparts, and a pale brown crown. Listen for its song, a series of well-spaced explosive but mellow “byow!”s. Widely distributed but uncommon to locally common; inhabits hill and lowland dipterocarp forests, where it seems to favor dry ridges, hilltops, and limestone areas.

I still think our peninsula (Malayan) Banded Pitta male with its vivid orange mixed banding and head is much better looker. The latter can be seen at Lancang Pahang and Merapoh Kuala Tahan.