Brunei, 1st and 2nd of June

On occasion we get some visitors in the tiny state of Brunei. Claude is a consultant for SEA ALARM, which is an organization that facilitates in oiled wildlife response planning (see also their website: http://www.sea-alarm.org) and he is in Brunei to give a course for BSP. Claude had asked if I'd be OK to show him some good birding sites.

So, on Sunday morning I took Claude to Teraja for some lowland forest birding. We were a little unfortunate with some of the brighter plumaged birds; we heard 3 different trogon species, but didn't see a single one! But, we still managed to rake up a good number of birds and I was particularly pleased with good sightings of both long-billed spiderhunter and grey-bellied bulbul. Attached 2 pictures from this morning. Firstly, this Horsfield's babbler that provided some very un-babbler like good views.

Horsfield's babbler (Malacocincia sepiaria).

On our way back we came across this Green crested lizard and I couldn't resist a few shots.

Green crested lizard (Bronchocela cristatella).

Yesterday evening I took Claude for a night drive through the forest. One of the first animals we saw was this slow loris. By far the best views of a loris I ever had, a fantastic moment! The Bornean slow loris is a very small primate that unfortunately is threatened (listed as vulnerable) both by habitat loss and illegal poaching, primarily for the pet trade.

Slow loris (Nycticebus menagensis).

What both pictures nicely show is the 'grooming claw' on the hind foot, which the loris uses for, you guessed it, grooming.

Slow loris (Nycticebus menagensis).

I had seen a distressed looking loris last year for sale in the Jerudong market. A very sad sight and I hope these pics attest to the fact that it is far better to view them in the wild!

Folkert 03/06/2014