tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90010811497189786712024-02-17T00:48:49.116-08:00Posting from PanagaFolkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-10771983981423266992022-08-28T05:46:00.005-07:002022-08-28T05:46:54.661-07:00Brunei 2019<div>This summer I visited Borneo to show my son the island where he was born. I wanted to put a few pictures of our adventure on this weblog, which has been dormant again for a number of years, but thought it chronologically better to start with my previous visit from October 2019 when I had to make a small business trip back to.... Brunei! It had been 5 years since I was last in Asia and it felt really great to be back and meet up with some former colleagues and friends. I had only limited leisure time during the week but did have a full weekend to myself. Rather than focus on my old local birding patches close to Panaga I had contacted Jungle Dave, a nature guide, in advance to scout some areas that I had not visited during our years in Brunei.</div><div>
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On Friday night Dave picked me up in Kuala Belait and we drove to his farmstay. When we arrived it was dark, but there was still plenty of time for a night walk in the neighboring forest. We weren't very lucky with any nightbirds, but the forest had plenty of other interesting finds and we did still see a good number of animals: Sunda slow loris, black flying squirrel, a few frogs, a sleeping kingfisher, mouse deer, bearded pig and a neat tarantula.<br />
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The next day Dave took me to a small ridge overlooking a large fruiting tree some distance away and we were immediately rewarded with a flock of around 20 large green pigeons that were gorging on the fruits. This species is not common to see and while I had encountered it twice before, these views were a lot better! Unfortunately the large green pigeon is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN with only an estimated 10.000 - 20.000 individuals left in the wild globally. Because of the relatively large distance no close-ups but I did still capture a few birds on camera.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSVoMzDHJTPMwJIrwsO7sFW0h86LYXjrxsJ5cijwZS8pdA-9VFZMNhm-zH_3IgC21qZ9JvRpWaNeuEvcXhkPuAieqDVEGYbJeLAjL15mrQ28aJruLLE5sl0GligdFCjfp5ZSYy7RPn1hRWrtFz5XwF7QryftHeAuctDQLCT5bEAvHhkouMzwjCl07/s1083/LargeGreenPigeon3_FHindriks_2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1083" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSVoMzDHJTPMwJIrwsO7sFW0h86LYXjrxsJ5cijwZS8pdA-9VFZMNhm-zH_3IgC21qZ9JvRpWaNeuEvcXhkPuAieqDVEGYbJeLAjL15mrQ28aJruLLE5sl0GligdFCjfp5ZSYy7RPn1hRWrtFz5XwF7QryftHeAuctDQLCT5bEAvHhkouMzwjCl07/w400-h266/LargeGreenPigeon3_FHindriks_2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Large Green-Pigeon (<i>Treron capellei</i>) - 6 birds in this shot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5HPaeMo6WHdTSsDqz3cHpI9BHBzb7GAlH64sFu-JRQ5IR4FfVTyMlZLbpvuhbJhzJMa0R4K4oBt8tnfRKEHydBOSxpOaCMZpl825-n6BfuImsZCJyT732uAjPXAEuYZ2skuv3FRUd4SAuk_aQMIO6EibVtHvCrSzjXwgqX1mtsUrq3_dNmWBwuZ6/s1083/LargeGreenPigeon_FHindriks_2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1083" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5HPaeMo6WHdTSsDqz3cHpI9BHBzb7GAlH64sFu-JRQ5IR4FfVTyMlZLbpvuhbJhzJMa0R4K4oBt8tnfRKEHydBOSxpOaCMZpl825-n6BfuImsZCJyT732uAjPXAEuYZ2skuv3FRUd4SAuk_aQMIO6EibVtHvCrSzjXwgqX1mtsUrq3_dNmWBwuZ6/w400-h266/LargeGreenPigeon_FHindriks_2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Large Green-Pigeon (<i>Treron capellei</i>)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhmM0qsWZJT_nbmxL00GgK6cLhjr2Cw7gtV1JWJkcWHXotbJvU2D641YeTjmbjJJbFknLBPZnXXtN-S_8ab1Y_7BmVG8uWALwnNvWTzEdyiEY_Il9dLWJRsyB-iBEw4BpezaAJzSIv_V6IRCIETdkT1Z51EoQsem3KuFzmAVz2HLyU-zt4OyhkStK/s1083/LargeGreenPigeon2_FHindriks_2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1083" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhmM0qsWZJT_nbmxL00GgK6cLhjr2Cw7gtV1JWJkcWHXotbJvU2D641YeTjmbjJJbFknLBPZnXXtN-S_8ab1Y_7BmVG8uWALwnNvWTzEdyiEY_Il9dLWJRsyB-iBEw4BpezaAJzSIv_V6IRCIETdkT1Z51EoQsem3KuFzmAVz2HLyU-zt4OyhkStK/w400-h266/LargeGreenPigeon2_FHindriks_2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Large Green-Pigeon (<i>Treron capellei)</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>When we were about to move on, a male helmeted hornbill flew closely overhead followed by a female wreathed hornbill. Dave and I were rather surprised seeing two different hornbill species fly together as if they were a pair, something neither of us ever witnessed before. Unfortunately this all happened rather fast and I was too slow for any pictures. We did get a distant flyby of the same pair about fifteen minutes later. Reduction of suitable habitat, and especially poaching for the solid casque has drastically reduced numbers and the helmeted hornbill is now listed as critically endangered by the IUCN. For more information have a look here <a href="https://www.speciesonthebrink.org/news/conservation-plan-to-save-the-helmeted-hornbill/">https://www.speciesonthebrink.org/news/conservation-plan-to-save-the-helmeted-hornbill/</a>.</div><div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99LhvinUXKNIiafwPD-08X3GLvaHT_pft3GCX8XrPeWGftI0BZl0YzohGAYHT26bRxPoLS0oeXAwWSa7pjbnOugnA7vT9mXVYpTN180PLFUE9dKF0qTM9xqnaUq8JH8O_25YKIyzIvoqa4oq58F-zotHSfDvWOI7q8wQgvZzetBK-UVOea3kM7iB4/s1083/BlackThroatedBabbler_FHindriks_2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="1083" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99LhvinUXKNIiafwPD-08X3GLvaHT_pft3GCX8XrPeWGftI0BZl0YzohGAYHT26bRxPoLS0oeXAwWSa7pjbnOugnA7vT9mXVYpTN180PLFUE9dKF0qTM9xqnaUq8JH8O_25YKIyzIvoqa4oq58F-zotHSfDvWOI7q8wQgvZzetBK-UVOea3kM7iB4/w400-h300/BlackThroatedBabbler_FHindriks_2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Black-throated Babbler (<i>Stachyris nigricollis</i>)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LfnSDFT_PtgLwkoWqSmXIS6ilRLDTSoZMe2vUmMk7Clo6pRUMDnX71kh_iik1e5r2KA5YYRQ9g3oHD2FKjgYXf89k1SidmBcVqxTBchpvF0YoBgnj84c0X3KtWNSTdYQryozPABxDJHsVE05B0uCu-WpxgtZ5E1-UcFoNtmlfPbvH0bDV-Z6NXw9/s1083/LesserGreenLeafbird_FHindriks_2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1083" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LfnSDFT_PtgLwkoWqSmXIS6ilRLDTSoZMe2vUmMk7Clo6pRUMDnX71kh_iik1e5r2KA5YYRQ9g3oHD2FKjgYXf89k1SidmBcVqxTBchpvF0YoBgnj84c0X3KtWNSTdYQryozPABxDJHsVE05B0uCu-WpxgtZ5E1-UcFoNtmlfPbvH0bDV-Z6NXw9/w400-h266/LesserGreenLeafbird_FHindriks_2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A well camouflaged Lesser Green Leafbird (<i>Chloropsis cyanopogon</i>)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>The remainder of the morning we spend inside the forest. As it was now getting later the activity level was already going down and we saw only a small number of different species. We did try to get some visuals of a suspected fairy pitta we heard calling but the bird never showed. Later in the day we moved on to Wasan to look for some migratory birds. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the evening we tried to locate a large frogmouth, a bird high on my target list. With it's strange head and cryptic plumage this large bird has amazing appeal for me. When we still lived in Panaga I had heard this species a few time along KB road but, frustratingly, had never been able to see it. This time we did find the bird and got some excellent views! And just in time too, as rain was coming and by the time we got back at the farmstay it started to pour down.</div><div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zB5tvjqIhmD1jw6LR2sxeMGqzxeSXRBGgG9kXWUHoXEeHzAntHf6ydGrlLQe1ZpThNU1FHlvZCdt9R30r5H_hn7NWxNa1g4HAyFOIsA808L9EX0cGWUbWAiSi9sFIITHt9VxTXpqFHbfBgPHJIu-plH3mMN1INqVFO_CNiRE17GEGVaZbkdFGkel/s1083/LargeFrogmouth_FHindriks_2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="866" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zB5tvjqIhmD1jw6LR2sxeMGqzxeSXRBGgG9kXWUHoXEeHzAntHf6ydGrlLQe1ZpThNU1FHlvZCdt9R30r5H_hn7NWxNa1g4HAyFOIsA808L9EX0cGWUbWAiSi9sFIITHt9VxTXpqFHbfBgPHJIu-plH3mMN1INqVFO_CNiRE17GEGVaZbkdFGkel/w320-h400/LargeFrogmouth_FHindriks_2019.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Large Frogmouth (<i>Batrachostomus auritus</i>)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTTUBSdxisnsB_QTYGa5RcIzcvZD_WidmWtJhzTTu5rN02k03KmaXH5g5mK4iqPoP7xl6aRahs1UEG0wQ7PoRbtIn1ZeRmifx9EMcZuilGMbt6LBd9ZLZrm_a43Tj_hIxwyJaN1iBBVH3vp2511A_Ih1Jlj3W0uKvTjleqcEYSPAkIUzqDVoSc6uL/s1083/LargeFrogmouth2_FHindriks_2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="866" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheTTUBSdxisnsB_QTYGa5RcIzcvZD_WidmWtJhzTTu5rN02k03KmaXH5g5mK4iqPoP7xl6aRahs1UEG0wQ7PoRbtIn1ZeRmifx9EMcZuilGMbt6LBd9ZLZrm_a43Tj_hIxwyJaN1iBBVH3vp2511A_Ih1Jlj3W0uKvTjleqcEYSPAkIUzqDVoSc6uL/w320-h400/LargeFrogmouth2_FHindriks_2019.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Large Frogmouth (<i>Batrachostomus auritus</i>)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div>On Sunday we slowly made our way back to Kuala Belait, stopping at some sites that I had also frequented during our time in Brunei. We saw a good number of different hornbills along Labi road and some of the side roads (wreathed, wrinkled, rhinoceros, pied) and it was great to hear the unmistakable calls of a small party of bristleheads in the distance.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdarhDUirjcwCKG29zVH6APmhR75tdGJorhJq83bATWuZpk2XFB5bHTCmgynw7ncfBxLqG4IL4EQ12BvxXdgMxNGVmVg8JWTo1sma4FKEx-R0ds5oES9g7K-DAQq_R_opFfv8luoSwRK4YlbSDlbhUKZAneboFvCq4aAdSSpXZtPrTte21SRbVNLm/s1083/WrinkledHornbill_FHindriks_2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1083" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdarhDUirjcwCKG29zVH6APmhR75tdGJorhJq83bATWuZpk2XFB5bHTCmgynw7ncfBxLqG4IL4EQ12BvxXdgMxNGVmVg8JWTo1sma4FKEx-R0ds5oES9g7K-DAQq_R_opFfv8luoSwRK4YlbSDlbhUKZAneboFvCq4aAdSSpXZtPrTte21SRbVNLm/w400-h268/WrinkledHornbill_FHindriks_2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wrinkled Hornbill (<i>Aceros corrugatus</i>)</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPT1NjSPJvNaTT7MgWz6CXjmdEpxCmWPnVrJB4Zj2oNu-qCuBJS0vpA6D0wREzxyu39_aE7m-WElbNIoZsaTdQjmAj15awNDFJigO3yG8EfjHy1RLgBD1KcHJKp0xhvMRdbLlol9WJFJf5ckZ3-ZsmJzc_BYSt2hW4tdBjb131tQuH08UVjZ_piu7a/s1083/GreenBroadbill_FHindriks_2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1083" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPT1NjSPJvNaTT7MgWz6CXjmdEpxCmWPnVrJB4Zj2oNu-qCuBJS0vpA6D0wREzxyu39_aE7m-WElbNIoZsaTdQjmAj15awNDFJigO3yG8EfjHy1RLgBD1KcHJKp0xhvMRdbLlol9WJFJf5ckZ3-ZsmJzc_BYSt2hW4tdBjb131tQuH08UVjZ_piu7a/w400-h266/GreenBroadbill_FHindriks_2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Green Broadbill (<i>Calyptomena viridis</i>)<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Unfortunately we also saw clear evidence of active poaching, always sad to see.<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jvdxB5i6Y_jzpn9LjrgSMLPzApTSzD99jOlEwEyFfUNNcDWYea9OCc2zul__GtgVYj9K0DXiIEKISRHiLUVbfmh3aMrb8cpPMHeZzaqPyYDoBTXXJ3Bt0feszB4bvM9CAZRSRSIAEZb7cNe_ZzrJXtbnmEytedMqKRd6Q23mr9F9OfrlBrfhKLxX/s1083/Trap_FHindriks_2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1083" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jvdxB5i6Y_jzpn9LjrgSMLPzApTSzD99jOlEwEyFfUNNcDWYea9OCc2zul__GtgVYj9K0DXiIEKISRHiLUVbfmh3aMrb8cpPMHeZzaqPyYDoBTXXJ3Bt0feszB4bvM9CAZRSRSIAEZb7cNe_ZzrJXtbnmEytedMqKRd6Q23mr9F9OfrlBrfhKLxX/w400-h266/Trap_FHindriks_2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A sad sight: homemade traps for wildlife poaching</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Late morning Dave returned me to my hotel in Kuala Belait. It had been a great weekend of birding in this fantastic environment. The trip made me realize how much I had missed these Bornean forests, thanks Dave! </div></div>Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-74859203449915355892020-01-03T15:20:00.004-08:002020-01-03T15:50:06.014-08:00Ecuador 2019 - part IIt's been a very long time since I posted anything on this weblog. Truth be told, I've spend a lot less time birding and photographing since we moved to Houston. But, now and again, I do take my bins and camera out. And what better reason to do so when you're visiting the cloud forests of Ecuador!<br />
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The last week of December saw us spending a few days in Ecuador to enjoy the cloud forest and the tremendous biodiversity it hosts. We only had a few days, and it was not all about birding - though I definitely got my fix and am very tempted to go again soon for a few days.<br />
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There is a direct flight from Houston to Quito, arriving around midnight. After a short night in Quito we were picked up in the morning and set off to our first jungle destination, the famous Mashpi lodge (<a href="https://www.mashpilodge.com/">https://www.mashpilodge.com</a>) where we would be staying the next two nights. The Mashpi lodge provides ultimate luxury deep in the cloud forests of the Ecuadorian Choco bioregion, and is one of the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World. Definitely one of the most high-end lodges that I have ever stayed in!<br />
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Clouds and rain are naturally abundant in the cloud forests, but we had daily dry spells from roughly 8 in the morning to early afternoon. And, if the rain wasn't hampering our vision, then the white backdrop of the clouds would make some of the canopy dwelling birds tricky to identify. This did not dampen my spirit though and the guides that we were with seemed very comfortable birding on calls only.<br />
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The very first bird we saw at Mashpi was a female Lyre-tailed Nightjar that had picked a roosting spot right at the entrance of the reserve; the males of this rare species <span style="text-align: center;">are unmistakable, with outer tail feathers that are almost 3 times the length of their body. Quite a good bird to start with!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wN9X-mZkPBKpdMpaNHxj0RV_NUB0YOxuldx6XPD36d5tcxwr_cVWMeZyjFBCBrsrJ3duCnkxw8E8EnrOPz9LJXyjfBXCY_LlTUCI66Zoo4x2qhlCWnemijBvqFGpopQ-YqJD0bbw4dM/s1600/LyreTailedNightjar_PFP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wN9X-mZkPBKpdMpaNHxj0RV_NUB0YOxuldx6XPD36d5tcxwr_cVWMeZyjFBCBrsrJ3duCnkxw8E8EnrOPz9LJXyjfBXCY_LlTUCI66Zoo4x2qhlCWnemijBvqFGpopQ-YqJD0bbw4dM/s400/LyreTailedNightjar_PFP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Lyre-tailed Nightjar (<i>Uropsalis lyra</i>)</td></tr>
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The afternoon was spend with a very enjoyable forest hike to a waterfall. Though I did see a few birds along the way, I did not take any wildlife pictures with the exception of this female Black-and-white Becard that was foraging close during a rare instance of sunlight piercing through the clouds.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOAvmTiaYV0DKO9RyeQyMgdgJ9IHxbtc7GY_6UwvAAXjbZg1dFqIrOxJvHq_T2pPxicW3cui6_5Kkc5Njn-6fVFTaK1S4vGY67oNP2O2rSMQ5EbZUXooYW7XgvLgmYDQfAIuL9E9Kna8/s1600/BWBecard_PFP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOAvmTiaYV0DKO9RyeQyMgdgJ9IHxbtc7GY_6UwvAAXjbZg1dFqIrOxJvHq_T2pPxicW3cui6_5Kkc5Njn-6fVFTaK1S4vGY67oNP2O2rSMQ5EbZUXooYW7XgvLgmYDQfAIuL9E9Kna8/s400/BWBecard_PFP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Black-and-white Becard (<i>Pachyramphus polychopterus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The next morning I got up early to do some light birding before breakfast around the lodge with Paul, our guide. It was still very dark (the cloud cover didn't help) and it took a little playing with the camera settings to photograph the birds without flash. Some great species around the lodge, like this Long-wattled Umbrellabird, a large Cotinga that is relatively rare and threatened (VU). The bird pictured is a juvenile male that is starting to develop the long "wattle" coming from the chest.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgJ3W71HYSWv1wYkQhJ8DCCY2EKp7JE4yFazxIiDvjTN7KjJXoY6vpDgraXoHmDGtHL0s-BvT3ZheyqYOT72XTZAlK1kLd7HaS7bgG5FMgUA0ekv8CE0vToAAojdPSgGPUjY3udNvYYw/s1600/LW_Umbrellabird_PFP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgJ3W71HYSWv1wYkQhJ8DCCY2EKp7JE4yFazxIiDvjTN7KjJXoY6vpDgraXoHmDGtHL0s-BvT3ZheyqYOT72XTZAlK1kLd7HaS7bgG5FMgUA0ekv8CE0vToAAojdPSgGPUjY3udNvYYw/s400/LW_Umbrellabird_PFP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-wattled Umbrellabird (<i>Cephalopterus penduliger</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A female Zeledon's Antbird was relatively confiding in the dense undergrowth next to the trail.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFP1WupY319mg9Z73MUDLftBBzl-6Hv4k1VDDlTdSiEPwg0SXt2zyrau3aLMLA9mj6J_INfX1atKZPr4sL0ZWb88blwrWq5FUtW0DZDVuDYO6VEoIt55MqZSodHQSfPMLwLUB_24vEG4/s1600/ImAntbird_PFP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidFP1WupY319mg9Z73MUDLftBBzl-6Hv4k1VDDlTdSiEPwg0SXt2zyrau3aLMLA9mj6J_INfX1atKZPr4sL0ZWb88blwrWq5FUtW0DZDVuDYO6VEoIt55MqZSodHQSfPMLwLUB_24vEG4/s400/ImAntbird_PFP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Zeledon's Antbird (<i>Myrmeciza zeledoni</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Not surprisingly, Trogons were always a favorite of mine in Borneo. There are a total of 39 recognized species in the <i>Trogonidae</i> family with the majority (24 species) found in the Neotropics. A pair of Collared Trogons were hawking insects close to the lamp posts of the lodge.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywiTgC4L8eTForGnNqgy41fvi7eLOK2c5lULuT34VieSPAd7Bsf3hvmVOq7OTYInQDzjd7EPbZ3xZMpFeh4XzpItvHGkDe-5NR4bmlkTLsOAkA4P_ikz3iLmHT-4jGtmFfpVYjslMXbo/s1600/CollaredTrogon_PFP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywiTgC4L8eTForGnNqgy41fvi7eLOK2c5lULuT34VieSPAd7Bsf3hvmVOq7OTYInQDzjd7EPbZ3xZMpFeh4XzpItvHGkDe-5NR4bmlkTLsOAkA4P_ikz3iLmHT-4jGtmFfpVYjslMXbo/s400/CollaredTrogon_PFP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Collared Trogon (<i>Trogon collaris</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Tanagers (<i>Thraupidae</i>) comprise a large bird family in the Americas and they were also well represented at Mashpi. Two of the commoner species around the lodge were the Ochre-breasted Tanager and the Moss-backed Tanager. The latter is a Mashpi specialty and not that easy to find elsewhere.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfkStUL3JbfEVL-v-xcpO7OIHMBeeQa_UsoNt74pMm4bCqHEgWikgKPJchmaJOfv1s9kfMJ8kO1Y5O-QsSzaAVUnDR5BGWLS7Fregl-DphdjSQP5SHhEzSdkPiCre4XPVgumXYalsc38/s1600/OchreBreastedTanager_PFP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfkStUL3JbfEVL-v-xcpO7OIHMBeeQa_UsoNt74pMm4bCqHEgWikgKPJchmaJOfv1s9kfMJ8kO1Y5O-QsSzaAVUnDR5BGWLS7Fregl-DphdjSQP5SHhEzSdkPiCre4XPVgumXYalsc38/s400/OchreBreastedTanager_PFP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ochre-breasted Tanager (<i>Chlorothraupis stolzmanni</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5SojGB-UCBhav6iO_YekHAbYqyn10Zl7l6u23MbwGqeTRNWYZQcdBjXOeUjtQfAwylN8hwZtoRwAzwu3ZzJRJuoHXuM9GZB7HeHQ0bxQ_3lpxHGduO_x0hoKK1fR1Uzp1O0j7Kc9Aqk/s1600/MossBackedTanager_PFP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5SojGB-UCBhav6iO_YekHAbYqyn10Zl7l6u23MbwGqeTRNWYZQcdBjXOeUjtQfAwylN8hwZtoRwAzwu3ZzJRJuoHXuM9GZB7HeHQ0bxQ_3lpxHGduO_x0hoKK1fR1Uzp1O0j7Kc9Aqk/s400/MossBackedTanager_PFP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moss-backed Tanager (<i>Bangsia edwardsi</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the afternoon we had some more time for bird watching and I took my son to Mashpi's butterfly center, that has a good viewing deck overlooking the valley. The short hike over was very wet, but I was very glad to see both Baudo Guan and Scaled Fruiteater. Rain and poor light made for terrible photo conditions and I didn't even try to get my camera out. Luckily, once we reached the deck the rain eased up a little and the light condition improved as well and I soon got my camera out for a few pictures.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bPraMVGzQHKqm0oLC1Vjz5lVz1dFw9gUkL55MSr1hwmAMFqEgba6irIpZQtckfe-cXS0TipvsewFdAHhFiH7GuzyqCyaD3iHFzwy5WGeviXLY5sP2JlaojqBZaS9Mu8iqME6LPDM6gQ/s1600/BCWoodpecker_PFP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bPraMVGzQHKqm0oLC1Vjz5lVz1dFw9gUkL55MSr1hwmAMFqEgba6irIpZQtckfe-cXS0TipvsewFdAHhFiH7GuzyqCyaD3iHFzwy5WGeviXLY5sP2JlaojqBZaS9Mu8iqME6LPDM6gQ/s400/BCWoodpecker_PFP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-cheeked Woodpecker (<i>Melanerpes pucherani</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqinjKvgn8t5hHuGFxR2Do5JYi1COSm7pyfGXiI0Xcx3qN5Mqp0CA8mGjhZrltVZWF9fq2cPq7QVKa_ctTYtc2y6jzC2Ciw5njsFt4rhk-xBhcCXwyjysebE5weRAxJrH3taTVAwh9IAY/s1600/BTSaltator_PFP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqinjKvgn8t5hHuGFxR2Do5JYi1COSm7pyfGXiI0Xcx3qN5Mqp0CA8mGjhZrltVZWF9fq2cPq7QVKa_ctTYtc2y6jzC2Ciw5njsFt4rhk-xBhcCXwyjysebE5weRAxJrH3taTVAwh9IAY/s400/BTSaltator_PFP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buff-throated Saltator (<i>Saltator maximus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrrdkLyqeXrDTi8EuDPYecIN60TNdPIEYSaQGXSd6AbRbfFOhWMcAMWPYqe8HPmJVmGcN4UFkIwyI-4M_qtzM_4Mp8IjWmmlwKpZD5LZ5jbUUjHrb9Mnp0APG69cempAhOn8iB34M6cY/s1600/RHBarbet_PFP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrrdkLyqeXrDTi8EuDPYecIN60TNdPIEYSaQGXSd6AbRbfFOhWMcAMWPYqe8HPmJVmGcN4UFkIwyI-4M_qtzM_4Mp8IjWmmlwKpZD5LZ5jbUUjHrb9Mnp0APG69cempAhOn8iB34M6cY/s400/RHBarbet_PFP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-headed Barbet (<i>Eubucco bourcierii</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Two feeders offered great opportunities to see both Toucanets and Aracaris up close.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nr5jKIZcu-jV-nB6-lHvCOOGGpoh8wUZE-BOANEd3NGjTxLn4ibb3QNuZn1ShiPkeW_aix56GBYU1zbUyrfWTo4p_HVetQwps0Z9RhptMkvApbOR4GHM-l7gy2jPdN89rFtSdhLPEHg/s1600/Aricari_PFP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="864" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nr5jKIZcu-jV-nB6-lHvCOOGGpoh8wUZE-BOANEd3NGjTxLn4ibb3QNuZn1ShiPkeW_aix56GBYU1zbUyrfWTo4p_HVetQwps0Z9RhptMkvApbOR4GHM-l7gy2jPdN89rFtSdhLPEHg/s400/Aricari_PFP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pale-mandibled Aricari (<i>Pteroglossus erythropygius</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVVL5-uUWCkaKgPyz5hSPTZbQYtiNir_4CqFtQhM1bdh-qfMJQPLUVNlRkYTABC9aW2jIykB2bltJrtGbpT1VsWIiPBpeJDFCuNmA95NvCQ12s1uKCgR8W63Jowrswc4XHuSQTqIZyic/s1600/RRToucanet_PFP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVVL5-uUWCkaKgPyz5hSPTZbQYtiNir_4CqFtQhM1bdh-qfMJQPLUVNlRkYTABC9aW2jIykB2bltJrtGbpT1VsWIiPBpeJDFCuNmA95NvCQ12s1uKCgR8W63Jowrswc4XHuSQTqIZyic/s400/RRToucanet_PFP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crimson-rumped Toucanet (<i>Aulacorhynchus haematopygus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finally, after quietly observing the feeder from a distance, a shyer Choco Toucan also made a quick dash across to fill up on the bananas.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wmn1m1DFpvr7ozQpXjsTvxkD5HnDl458md3PtmtsnHeH7eaj0uY1-f_apv0neIoccwBuR0k6mTfg03PjiCP46U-eTGix_X1UUYlpX0GLTPUB9MEcKEU5zpeGoGaKlSFxLLleUEaXKZU/s1600/ChocoToucan_PFP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wmn1m1DFpvr7ozQpXjsTvxkD5HnDl458md3PtmtsnHeH7eaj0uY1-f_apv0neIoccwBuR0k6mTfg03PjiCP46U-eTGix_X1UUYlpX0GLTPUB9MEcKEU5zpeGoGaKlSFxLLleUEaXKZU/s400/ChocoToucan_PFP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Choco Toucan (<i>Ramphastos Brevis</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The rain was pouring down the next morning during a little pre-breakfast walk and I did not even bother to take my camera out. After breakfast we spend an hour or so at the hummingbird garden, where a few feeders are set up to attract hummingbirds and a few other species. Feeders always give me an ambivalent feeling; while it is nice to see the different species up close (and I definitely add them to my list), that satisfactory feeling of finding a difficult bird yourself is very much lacking.<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, here are a few hummingbirds that we connected with at the feeders:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9CN1KqV65c5hqKk7N5RcX9nWuc6GrsKv8sDbl6n2viE3QcDVCyVLjobMvrCn_A1r-sdvGVr4GMSWsg6-E7yUsHH6NawhGk9txU6JC4erUAHuPvY4nbNfjC1LkG0ECqaNZOMjzkR3ZdQ/s1600/EmpressBrilliant_PFP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9CN1KqV65c5hqKk7N5RcX9nWuc6GrsKv8sDbl6n2viE3QcDVCyVLjobMvrCn_A1r-sdvGVr4GMSWsg6-E7yUsHH6NawhGk9txU6JC4erUAHuPvY4nbNfjC1LkG0ECqaNZOMjzkR3ZdQ/s400/EmpressBrilliant_PFP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Empress Brilliant (<i>Heliodoxa Imperatrix</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc037yr2WwmeKRJBu9LCeG9XbIFyXSsYUWhWuBnL-yISsxb1_MCB1tcrawioO5m9nuoICyfTqQ8piqlpo15AiL4wcghA3ejlPAH_sZJKkksZYZbDb0EYh2obHSRrj3jTLcXEpOjTod_Z4/s1600/VelvetPurpleCoronet2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc037yr2WwmeKRJBu9LCeG9XbIFyXSsYUWhWuBnL-yISsxb1_MCB1tcrawioO5m9nuoICyfTqQ8piqlpo15AiL4wcghA3ejlPAH_sZJKkksZYZbDb0EYh2obHSRrj3jTLcXEpOjTod_Z4/s400/VelvetPurpleCoronet2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Velvet-purple Coronet (<i>Boissonneaua jardini</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBHCIKp_yIwTbryy5YPP3MX-e2T0j3PXzoJaP61IyEEgpqGGIaiK2NG5BUECNWd_BfjfDzEHDr4mMOLmyFV0N1nS0pWIY2vuuiyV-VLWE1ixEX9Qy_4s6JuupPCnTMXfhyphenhyphenU39JCIhrxc/s1600/VelvetPurpleCoronet_PFP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBHCIKp_yIwTbryy5YPP3MX-e2T0j3PXzoJaP61IyEEgpqGGIaiK2NG5BUECNWd_BfjfDzEHDr4mMOLmyFV0N1nS0pWIY2vuuiyV-VLWE1ixEX9Qy_4s6JuupPCnTMXfhyphenhyphenU39JCIhrxc/s400/VelvetPurpleCoronet_PFP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Velvet-purple Coronet (<i>Boissonneaua jardini</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnUQ-0GNxNFgWkV_JO5DuqPUqUlExfqp93eHdmqWyqUTcSlGjoWBZJmiuLZ2KDCpMCjo3wKKT1IU62hOKaCAZNcTouCYlxvU6POT5L0D8doqCQHYK5LGoVO50tJrUyWX54TDknPCLUzo/s1600/VioletTailedSylph_PFP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnUQ-0GNxNFgWkV_JO5DuqPUqUlExfqp93eHdmqWyqUTcSlGjoWBZJmiuLZ2KDCpMCjo3wKKT1IU62hOKaCAZNcTouCYlxvU6POT5L0D8doqCQHYK5LGoVO50tJrUyWX54TDknPCLUzo/s400/VioletTailedSylph_PFP.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Violet-tailed Sylph (<i>Aglaiocercus coelestis</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There were other good birds in the area close to the feeders. The tanagers of South and Central America don some fantastic colors in their plumage:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhdXR8_rWMFgdXTxo8I-FWvmSx79J0K9i7g63ni3HeOf4NxNXKT8gtOcaupYajZJ1gSJ4BvEvoeP03hyyaDXaJRZDUtf3d4qkMXkRK6CBKTS4gGCYTtXRi-x5AEaoqajsi1C4ngCA2kA/s1600/GoldenTanager_PFP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhdXR8_rWMFgdXTxo8I-FWvmSx79J0K9i7g63ni3HeOf4NxNXKT8gtOcaupYajZJ1gSJ4BvEvoeP03hyyaDXaJRZDUtf3d4qkMXkRK6CBKTS4gGCYTtXRi-x5AEaoqajsi1C4ngCA2kA/s400/GoldenTanager_PFP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Tanager (<i>Tangara arthus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLOzPZLZKYsJBCOP_GyqQAMcKomjJXJnfuGz_CoA0tkseqV35S1rNaBPzODi_p1-kFt8qgomqP4KFNSVFaMKOEc_DBZNF68qIeEx1BspHk081jQM3oI7AYjh4PhfupnADrlvNNbsL98k/s1600/RufousThroatedTanager_PFP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1080" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLOzPZLZKYsJBCOP_GyqQAMcKomjJXJnfuGz_CoA0tkseqV35S1rNaBPzODi_p1-kFt8qgomqP4KFNSVFaMKOEc_DBZNF68qIeEx1BspHk081jQM3oI7AYjh4PhfupnADrlvNNbsL98k/s400/RufousThroatedTanager_PFP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rufous-throated Tanager (<i>Tangara rufigula</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
A banana proved too much of a temptation for the Tayra, a rather large Mustelid that can be found across most of South America.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwScLq1hV62j3_nyKnzKklDPlv9mW_ZeyR6Lz2oFUl-AnwAM-G0zPzNoAMSRjo-L7X8wG01548QMZW7o1hECu_u9cR0EhS5BKjTE5uIwhyOrcg12iubrhqmlZz4Th2oqiUSMeD7bnhiU/s1600/Tayra_PFP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwScLq1hV62j3_nyKnzKklDPlv9mW_ZeyR6Lz2oFUl-AnwAM-G0zPzNoAMSRjo-L7X8wG01548QMZW7o1hECu_u9cR0EhS5BKjTE5uIwhyOrcg12iubrhqmlZz4Th2oqiUSMeD7bnhiU/s400/Tayra_PFP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tayra (<i>Eira barbara</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
After this it was back to the lodge, pack our bags and to set off to the next location: Mindo, which will be the topic of a future post.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Folkert, 03/01/2020.</div>
</div>
Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-16839656244929033412015-12-28T08:11:00.002-08:002015-12-28T11:12:48.703-08:00Birding USA 2015And another year is almost biting the dust! But before we close off this year I can just share some of my 2015 birding experiences, something that is long overdue. It'll be short though... It's been a very busy and demanding year and unfortunately most of that busy time did not involve any bird watching. That I am attempting to capture my 2015 bird watching in a single post probably says it all. Anyway, herewith a short flavor of this years avian encounters.<br />
<br />
During the first months of the year my bird photography was mostly done casually around the house or in the parks close to our home. The Edith L Moore sanctuary is a small park within walking distance that is managed by the Audubon society and this is a good place for a short stroll. I have seen quite a number of species here and it's nice to see the Eastern screech owls after dusk.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiC0xFFk0NT49XcfIx9trGi0Ay97sLcOpUhvKoe3uuwlalEuQ8atkZUXNOL7UsgQxbz6kfWvl7uygg0vBUsS8hw7kxI_rlkkFmKkZ785rKXs18tdm3x1uv0GBT3xzw-AgOnLegDAnMlQk/s1600/FHindriks_2015_04_04_Cardinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiC0xFFk0NT49XcfIx9trGi0Ay97sLcOpUhvKoe3uuwlalEuQ8atkZUXNOL7UsgQxbz6kfWvl7uygg0vBUsS8hw7kxI_rlkkFmKkZ785rKXs18tdm3x1uv0GBT3xzw-AgOnLegDAnMlQk/s400/FHindriks_2015_04_04_Cardinal.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Cardinal (<i>Cardinalis Cardinalis</i>). </td></tr>
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The northern cardinal <span style="text-align: center;">is one of the commoner and definitely one of the more conspicuous birds found in any brushy habitat. Frequently seen in our garden as well.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLLK9P1HVEeuOvOoYH2FwzDv0toPRymNib4lJIywUlYWyygSfmnwesnCOnOac_6IEPxqLs5zOc1A2FOqfzAAv5_7XG9X3fUPLF4ZpVIPSr3V08ipI0OJECLjWpIvdXWx-RovLEg5JUA8/s1600/FHindriks_2015_04_25_LittleGreenHeron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLLK9P1HVEeuOvOoYH2FwzDv0toPRymNib4lJIywUlYWyygSfmnwesnCOnOac_6IEPxqLs5zOc1A2FOqfzAAv5_7XG9X3fUPLF4ZpVIPSr3V08ipI0OJECLjWpIvdXWx-RovLEg5JUA8/s400/FHindriks_2015_04_25_LittleGreenHeron.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green heron (<i>Butorides virescens</i>). </td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">There is a small pond in the Edith Moore park, where this small heron has been seen a few times.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0osgig4vDh7zAZ4pQYbTchW6niG1LsPhrYgDIGpAtZf4xDDUaPxkvWTAvADan_LOxBGxVI6OYSYKGybGY5ZngJDRY8HIYbiB9c3_llHbNP1NcdSNeeVJdyOGKnxZkhQoGfVJH8ZdJy7U/s1600/FHindriks_2015_04_09_BroadbandedWatersnake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0osgig4vDh7zAZ4pQYbTchW6niG1LsPhrYgDIGpAtZf4xDDUaPxkvWTAvADan_LOxBGxVI6OYSYKGybGY5ZngJDRY8HIYbiB9c3_llHbNP1NcdSNeeVJdyOGKnxZkhQoGfVJH8ZdJy7U/s400/FHindriks_2015_04_09_BroadbandedWatersnake.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broad banded water snake (<i>Nerodia fasciata confluens</i>).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HOUC2k94vbcZ26nP_nnTwMyvuRJEHpVxkFvFTXJdBVT_Rx9JPXUovzAm5hUA6k2JWpUtJTeSHQWujjLNwCSm5Gg-zX1-BLoUwEruEm3H7akBSRTAU_NnKS3XD8GqUksYpBh4h12pTO4/s1600/FHindriks_2015_03_07_DownyWoodpecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HOUC2k94vbcZ26nP_nnTwMyvuRJEHpVxkFvFTXJdBVT_Rx9JPXUovzAm5hUA6k2JWpUtJTeSHQWujjLNwCSm5Gg-zX1-BLoUwEruEm3H7akBSRTAU_NnKS3XD8GqUksYpBh4h12pTO4/s400/FHindriks_2015_03_07_DownyWoodpecker.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downy Woodpecker (<i>Picoides pubescens</i>). </td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">This small woodpecker is common in the greener parts of town. </span><span style="text-align: center;">They're</span><span style="text-align: center;"> often seen in pairs working their way up and down a tree.</span><br />
<br />
Our street had some breeding night herons and we also had a nest in a tree next to our driveway. It's nice to see these birds surviving in large urban environments - though I did curse them the first time I took note of their presence because of the large white splashes that were spray-painted across my car! Below is a pic of o<span style="text-align: center;">ne of four youngsters that were seen regularly in our driveway.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fLdynQu6QsD3wFacdwRZlp_9gyaO4A4-WKT_bcAt3orAVSXUICEIA2np7KJuawMg6p7MonmPVlnZY80gx660r-vyMvf5YONeYL5xl-1Y5Qdb3Hv4O3iHuLQdTV8-ZfKBMcUbaXP3XE0/s1600/FHindriks_2015_06_16_YellowCrownedNightHeron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fLdynQu6QsD3wFacdwRZlp_9gyaO4A4-WKT_bcAt3orAVSXUICEIA2np7KJuawMg6p7MonmPVlnZY80gx660r-vyMvf5YONeYL5xl-1Y5Qdb3Hv4O3iHuLQdTV8-ZfKBMcUbaXP3XE0/s400/FHindriks_2015_06_16_YellowCrownedNightHeron.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-crowned night-heron (<i>Nyctynassa violacea</i>). </td></tr>
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On the rare occasion I had the luxury to spend some time a little further afield and I managed to visit a few parks with family and friends around Houston, a.o. Bear Creek, Brazos Bend, Baytown and the Gulf coast. Both brown and white pelicans can be seen around Baytown.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsb2tdcVrx2dOb0CiWqVmujezuHkVL7Wor1rtKwMtC1iyWDWm8JsXicXLJ5bX_5PJ3LmfYZJquWoePCu8NVJn-Txb4QoX-HrzBIUlhZNoi4s-i0zSJpyNL6HeWmehL0IrB_Q1T8Q7U8k/s1600/FHindriks_2015_03_15_BrownPelican.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFsb2tdcVrx2dOb0CiWqVmujezuHkVL7Wor1rtKwMtC1iyWDWm8JsXicXLJ5bX_5PJ3LmfYZJquWoePCu8NVJn-Txb4QoX-HrzBIUlhZNoi4s-i0zSJpyNL6HeWmehL0IrB_Q1T8Q7U8k/s400/FHindriks_2015_03_15_BrownPelican.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown pelican (<i>Pelecanus occidentalis</i>).</td></tr>
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The ruddy turnstone had always eluded me in Brunei. They're more common at the Gulf coast.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7qqUlpWholZmGFfY98nfcWWR_SKeCtCYLYvj7H0GQiBBvRyiQDG1MD1cL787cFBM3pS_j8KjdgP-edNlN2N9bq2a05WhJ9Y-DUtSBHscGZcqL0rTtkooWBRE-C7okkpo2T39oUuTtvc/s1600/FHindriks_2014_11_30_Turnstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7qqUlpWholZmGFfY98nfcWWR_SKeCtCYLYvj7H0GQiBBvRyiQDG1MD1cL787cFBM3pS_j8KjdgP-edNlN2N9bq2a05WhJ9Y-DUtSBHscGZcqL0rTtkooWBRE-C7okkpo2T39oUuTtvc/s400/FHindriks_2014_11_30_Turnstone.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruddy turnstone (<i>Arenaria interpres</i>), Surfside beach.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GlrTS61xew7Tywahz9T89Ik9ZMbikf3iZF-bWuuWqGwSW4jtTJq3Pc8uHFhXP8-H44iirRPWo8NJ8ygTS0Avcvgy78qq0cK8edrBIh33da5T3guGSZGBpPVxQdinY6lV3zj7Oh_sfuM/s1600/FHindriks_2014_11_09_ReddishEgret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GlrTS61xew7Tywahz9T89Ik9ZMbikf3iZF-bWuuWqGwSW4jtTJq3Pc8uHFhXP8-H44iirRPWo8NJ8ygTS0Avcvgy78qq0cK8edrBIh33da5T3guGSZGBpPVxQdinY6lV3zj7Oh_sfuM/s400/FHindriks_2014_11_09_ReddishEgret.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reddish Egret (<i>Egretta rufescens</i>), Baytown (photo from 2014)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHhG6DsUzZQS3aC9zMfVR0b_c-gf7mckxyMcGHMWsK9YMOzi8mMAOR-LxRpuO7Z-3J7UL-8mzLzTTqWpW4Rgo2RiwMS1-Oa6DiugJOKQJCqMPuzau3Vqvjar_FBTgzJOnqDYEQ-LqTD8/s1600/FHindriks_2015_05_15_EasternBluebird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHhG6DsUzZQS3aC9zMfVR0b_c-gf7mckxyMcGHMWsK9YMOzi8mMAOR-LxRpuO7Z-3J7UL-8mzLzTTqWpW4Rgo2RiwMS1-Oa6DiugJOKQJCqMPuzau3Vqvjar_FBTgzJOnqDYEQ-LqTD8/s400/FHindriks_2015_05_15_EasternBluebird.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern bluebird (<i>Sialia sialis</i>), Bear Creek park.</td></tr>
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No crocodiles, but the alligators can still reach impressive sizes, like this one in Brazos bend park.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfrMUNCpQhKS9UsAu3RUfWBeboz8kxrEPPnuYReDKICiiPpolFL3vxKUKNHtffNlg9dAqPM4VjzFAa9x07NFcbkhgsLdOZTRQjnpgv2NA-rTlU4RTMosEp8NYH4l9zJFpNIQNl2N0tuM/s1600/FHindriks_2014_11_28_Aligator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfrMUNCpQhKS9UsAu3RUfWBeboz8kxrEPPnuYReDKICiiPpolFL3vxKUKNHtffNlg9dAqPM4VjzFAa9x07NFcbkhgsLdOZTRQjnpgv2NA-rTlU4RTMosEp8NYH4l9zJFpNIQNl2N0tuM/s400/FHindriks_2014_11_28_Aligator.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American alligator (<i>Alligator mississippiensis</i>), Brazos bend (photo from 2014).</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfrMUNCpQhKS9UsAu3RUfWBeboz8kxrEPPnuYReDKICiiPpolFL3vxKUKNHtffNlg9dAqPM4VjzFAa9x07NFcbkhgsLdOZTRQjnpgv2NA-rTlU4RTMosEp8NYH4l9zJFpNIQNl2N0tuM/s1600/FHindriks_2014_11_28_Aligator.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><br /></div>
</div>
<div>
In April I luckily did manage a day at High Island, which is renowned for it's spring migration birding, see <a href="http://www.birdinghighisland.com/">http://www.birdinghighisland.com/</a>. High Island is about an hour and a half drive from where we live in Houston. For someone who spend the last five years in Brunei, where accidentally bumping into a fellow birder is as rare as finding a jambu fruit dove on your doorstep - I recall both happening to me once - birding in high island is quite the experience; besides birds there are birders everywhere, literally hundreds of them, all packed in a small patch of forest!</div>
<div>
<br />
During spring migration all these birdwatchers don't seem to effect and scare away the birds. Most birds that can be seen during spring use High Island as a refueling station after having just crossed the Golf of Mexico and before moving further north. Drip feeders are set up strategically for the convenience of all the visitors, birds <i>and</i> humans.<br />
The other surprise is the colors on the warblers. Compared to Asia the warblers in the new world are a bolt of colors! I did manage to rake up a good number of new birds, including more than 10 species of wood-warblers during just a single morning. Below a small sample of the warblers that were seen.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5IOI9FxcCPUWgy8TWyFPnJflUauI0_14h9zYFNLYYaYXb18bYXEYhhoucVkVYPLSgGEa62Q7bkLIBvnH0j9Di2RNHp9hgqqjEmQHuIUEVSYvawujTogIq5JbGqRUj8AxtGr736M4WwM/s1600/FHindriks_2015_04_26_BlackWhiteWarbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5IOI9FxcCPUWgy8TWyFPnJflUauI0_14h9zYFNLYYaYXb18bYXEYhhoucVkVYPLSgGEa62Q7bkLIBvnH0j9Di2RNHp9hgqqjEmQHuIUEVSYvawujTogIq5JbGqRUj8AxtGr736M4WwM/s400/FHindriks_2015_04_26_BlackWhiteWarbler.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-and-white warbler (<i>Mniotilta varia</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdF3k9mBnmlY2G-874n29irio96n3Kf_apkoqHq7Q6qaEXgi4-L-gUdrtqQ6cQaqAOR2goiRThi4gfKv0RsFwf5sdigk2C41_R6JkrrxuUyKWXljvCW0MBzNOyGoexAeeL7GY09nwcMGE/s1600/FHindriks_2015_04_26_BayBreastedWarbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdF3k9mBnmlY2G-874n29irio96n3Kf_apkoqHq7Q6qaEXgi4-L-gUdrtqQ6cQaqAOR2goiRThi4gfKv0RsFwf5sdigk2C41_R6JkrrxuUyKWXljvCW0MBzNOyGoexAeeL7GY09nwcMGE/s400/FHindriks_2015_04_26_BayBreastedWarbler.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bay-breasted warbler (<i>Dendroica castanea</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYdjwLC6j0jeDYwLch1P8y9jhiMBIEB0aqQ4uHQRkUp3KCm-v2U-bDSnTzqQonmjrpagXX5JlqNT-f3lB_Zy_5qYfwsvlCL-DkwfVLMmqfqV8UICidmQ1cKA_st7Ak9I6hptb0NUgLXM/s1600/FHindriks_2015_04_26_BlackThroatedGreenWarbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYdjwLC6j0jeDYwLch1P8y9jhiMBIEB0aqQ4uHQRkUp3KCm-v2U-bDSnTzqQonmjrpagXX5JlqNT-f3lB_Zy_5qYfwsvlCL-DkwfVLMmqfqV8UICidmQ1cKA_st7Ak9I6hptb0NUgLXM/s400/FHindriks_2015_04_26_BlackThroatedGreenWarbler.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-throated green warbler (<i>Dendroica virens</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfRe-0DlU3UTEJwCTLHeeTHlKxVGXrhWI2EalfOwV51YPgSbg2OvaFLIT_7wS7k4FTXuJS-3_EH_TumnsReaOD3zLTiCdkrsuSGqsDItWzcwb7wMLOgRif-P8mzdA37FG0wOYyPzM2lQ/s1600/FHindriks_2015_04_26_YellowWarbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfRe-0DlU3UTEJwCTLHeeTHlKxVGXrhWI2EalfOwV51YPgSbg2OvaFLIT_7wS7k4FTXuJS-3_EH_TumnsReaOD3zLTiCdkrsuSGqsDItWzcwb7wMLOgRif-P8mzdA37FG0wOYyPzM2lQ/s400/FHindriks_2015_04_26_YellowWarbler.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow warbler (<i>Dendroica petechia</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: start;">But there was more on show: catbirds, kingbirds, vireo's, brightly colored tanagers, orioles and the odd bunting and grosbeak.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpU_7QoVlkwxCr9ZVLv0CeU-WyHW4kVA7yF3MEi9CUmagJIaHTkusxWguq8wCXjiqqGrXmzODGDZ13SyoCwpWn-g4KWHYAEmKeMXB4RFx9R78HJRcGGTmHXP_M8bwWHn-k7ghTpHsDkV0/s1600/FHindriks_2015_04_26_SummerTanager.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpU_7QoVlkwxCr9ZVLv0CeU-WyHW4kVA7yF3MEi9CUmagJIaHTkusxWguq8wCXjiqqGrXmzODGDZ13SyoCwpWn-g4KWHYAEmKeMXB4RFx9R78HJRcGGTmHXP_M8bwWHn-k7ghTpHsDkV0/s400/FHindriks_2015_04_26_SummerTanager.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer tanager (<i>Piranga rubra</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: start;">And in High Island I also bumped into my first and only cuckoo this year, a new species for me nonetheless.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSBQQXGnzix9fyNQs_fGK6fpMoztLK0GYDgJnltM9Na2ZQtm0ZkLv1f2lPSkpCG_w_PO6wwxMiqPrC04_k19-Krg5BpUoKttFhWlMBQ6KiO1Ct_obHmhYN1jjQZLaw5GWFu_-Bd4GMOk/s1600/FHindriks_2015_04_26_YellowBilledCuckoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSBQQXGnzix9fyNQs_fGK6fpMoztLK0GYDgJnltM9Na2ZQtm0ZkLv1f2lPSkpCG_w_PO6wwxMiqPrC04_k19-Krg5BpUoKttFhWlMBQ6KiO1Ct_obHmhYN1jjQZLaw5GWFu_-Bd4GMOk/s400/FHindriks_2015_04_26_YellowBilledCuckoo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-billed cuckoo (<i>Coccyzus americanus</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The Katy prairie is another reasonably good place to visit close to home. The draw back is that there are very few trails and these are only open to the public a few times per month. Tress passing is highly discouraged and I am not going to challenge that policy, especially when considering the Texas gunlaws! The prairie is good for raptors and I also did see a few Northern Bobwhites earlier in the year. Apparently this time of year should also be good for wintering ducks and geese, but the species variety in the ponds that I visited last week was rather low and had none of the hoped for species.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VPxme_p4mRWaI9uR7HTv_lgV0J-ba3NdsUZh_L6BKD17FinIj5E73jA6V6EGIOOvWw-670jghrx43EPOzbvSbfw4_sCvv8hRbMoa3L7lRAyp1vIM__2aqnmdGbD39yFLE3P_uoCcvlM/s1600/FHindriks_2015_05_09_BobWhite2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VPxme_p4mRWaI9uR7HTv_lgV0J-ba3NdsUZh_L6BKD17FinIj5E73jA6V6EGIOOvWw-670jghrx43EPOzbvSbfw4_sCvv8hRbMoa3L7lRAyp1vIM__2aqnmdGbD39yFLE3P_uoCcvlM/s400/FHindriks_2015_05_09_BobWhite2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Bobwhite (<i>Colinus virginianus</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We did have a few weekend trips this year, although none were dedicated birding trips. The most birdy was a long weekend in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and a few days in Moab, Utah during thanksgiving also brought up a few nice birds. And a spring trip to the California bay area was a good reminder to never forget my bins. But I did. I guess I just have to go back!<br />
<br />
In Steamboat Springs I did connect to good number of new species, even though I hardly any pics to show for it.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN41PaYYy5oHNDl13YW_qVjfPq9pLW1SzogTp-4m5ORzpKvLEO62yu5ScU7CdAB5kX0sLowtqdYsRZ_DnvgE9z-80exLZyFshAW8Q2JQ-RnguKjHTYSJi6Ct3QP1rk4cn7M297kDk1FEM/s1600/FHindriks_2015_07_12_RufousHummingbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN41PaYYy5oHNDl13YW_qVjfPq9pLW1SzogTp-4m5ORzpKvLEO62yu5ScU7CdAB5kX0sLowtqdYsRZ_DnvgE9z-80exLZyFshAW8Q2JQ-RnguKjHTYSJi6Ct3QP1rk4cn7M297kDk1FEM/s400/FHindriks_2015_07_12_RufousHummingbird.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rufous hummingbird (<i>Selasphorus rufus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixNWuJtI6Ojrb5zn2oPN8P-Lnd0PNXOf2MoA0aPpPxIJss6rx10-h5hOAfcWvAUUWbG1Ycs_V5bMuGZjVDcCLnlLOFNPfA2vDhVUaFuABPo0KzHQD2SUCSbD5uGcpo8KV4p4GClJ3iXU/s1600/FHindriks_2015_07_11_EveningGrosbeak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixNWuJtI6Ojrb5zn2oPN8P-Lnd0PNXOf2MoA0aPpPxIJss6rx10-h5hOAfcWvAUUWbG1Ycs_V5bMuGZjVDcCLnlLOFNPfA2vDhVUaFuABPo0KzHQD2SUCSbD5uGcpo8KV4p4GClJ3iXU/s400/FHindriks_2015_07_11_EveningGrosbeak.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evening grosbeak (<i>Coccothraustes vespertinus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhO1wW79-YkQ9VIwzabIf6IewSnaU2bQMXVzybr6FVp2-JhEhU63ZyjkZXS8aQnoZGBWEwRFXvWegEKZVtLbx6dlauCI8HHbHuLu5vMPKnKapa1gx0KzIz6KNd93ndDiVHWXdcRQPqt0/s1600/FHindriks_2015_07_13_Chipmunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhO1wW79-YkQ9VIwzabIf6IewSnaU2bQMXVzybr6FVp2-JhEhU63ZyjkZXS8aQnoZGBWEwRFXvWegEKZVtLbx6dlauCI8HHbHuLu5vMPKnKapa1gx0KzIz6KNd93ndDiVHWXdcRQPqt0/s400/FHindriks_2015_07_13_Chipmunk.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colorado chipmunk <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">(<i>T</i></span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>amias quadrivittatus</i>)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The landscape around Moab is truly spectacular and just driving around is fantastic. The dinosaur footprints made a big impression on my sons imagination.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSd03PyiXjF73qcRKMxCEDWYpavfe8A4IE0h7o-yhO6T-BPzZZaMWP9zewWZ2jhMt8MR3AJxQW9X4zVpv8Bn_m2Gqpdgc9iEPYuG1huZXxRYPc5EtSjJAfhOgxiSM8rZNu_aLeR_G6tQQ/s1600/FHindriks_2015_11_27_Utah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSd03PyiXjF73qcRKMxCEDWYpavfe8A4IE0h7o-yhO6T-BPzZZaMWP9zewWZ2jhMt8MR3AJxQW9X4zVpv8Bn_m2Gqpdgc9iEPYuG1huZXxRYPc5EtSjJAfhOgxiSM8rZNu_aLeR_G6tQQ/s400/FHindriks_2015_11_27_Utah.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canyon-land park, Utah.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In Moab I hardly saw any new birds, but we were treated to a spectacular gathering of base jumpers that were all showing off there courage and skills. We hung around for a while and saw a lot of jumpers taking the plunge. Not a sport for the faint of heart!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeR_Zisfp2jVW4-mtZFaf3g_PKNgEGQgtRY46IExBryETiE4zI9iZ-VBLeTHsTwi-4v-Dv3f70Zlx9qdtPTrYkVIcwaLag3xYfWoIEAhZ0oTD0rcjigsx9wONNWrRFhr7aJEvJzTPryA/s1600/FHindriks_2015_11_27_UtahBaseJump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeR_Zisfp2jVW4-mtZFaf3g_PKNgEGQgtRY46IExBryETiE4zI9iZ-VBLeTHsTwi-4v-Dv3f70Zlx9qdtPTrYkVIcwaLag3xYfWoIEAhZ0oTD0rcjigsx9wONNWrRFhr7aJEvJzTPryA/s400/FHindriks_2015_11_27_UtahBaseJump.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Base jumping in Moab</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomWjEC1GFOMrr7yc8yHG4_KAMcuksFIdNPuX-aWw_QrcUKmzpHXzjUakRSBO_5XAc6wBu0aftrxodf5-FNjOMuGCTLhvAnWMa-D1Rc7IuoIxBbYKIDpxp8g19g00GaexX3Tzylsanni0/s1600/FHindriks_2015_11_27_Raven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomWjEC1GFOMrr7yc8yHG4_KAMcuksFIdNPuX-aWw_QrcUKmzpHXzjUakRSBO_5XAc6wBu0aftrxodf5-FNjOMuGCTLhvAnWMa-D1Rc7IuoIxBbYKIDpxp8g19g00GaexX3Tzylsanni0/s400/FHindriks_2015_11_27_Raven.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common raven (<i>Corvus corax</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So, that was a short summary of my 2015 birding. I do have some good intentions for the next year; Costa Rica is taking shape on my calendar and I am planning a few other short trips as well. I'll make some effort to document some of it right here!</div>
<br />
All the best for 2016!<br />
<br />
Folkert, 28/12/2015</div>
Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-64127963882672749462015-07-16T19:20:00.001-07:002015-07-16T19:20:10.236-07:00Birdwatching in Brunei Darussalam<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally! It has taken me way too long, but last week I managed to put the finishing touches on my Brunei birdwatching documentation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Based on my experiences in Brunei between 2010 and 2014 I've attempted to provide a description of some key Brunei birdwatching sites that I've had the good fortune to visit and enjoy. I</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> believe that Brunei has a lot of good birding to offer for the adventurous birdwatchers - and I hope that this overview proves useful to anyone that visits the smallest country on Borneo! And who knows, it may even trigger some interest with others as well…</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The document can be downloaded by following the link on the top-right corner of the embedded PDF. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy birding!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Folkert, 16/07/2015.</span><br />
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<br />Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-86502527419928578442015-03-14T09:52:00.004-07:002015-03-14T17:45:12.378-07:00Last pics from Brunei and some American raptors<div>
A second post from the USA, this time with some American birdlife as well. We recently moved into our new house, after 3 months of temporary accommodation. Last weekend I hooked up my desktop computer and finally downloaded some pics that had been filling up the memory cards over the past few months. There were still a few pictures from Brunei on these. After too many banded krait roadkills, I was very happy to see a live specimen crossing the road on my penultimate night drive in Brunei. Unfortunately I only got one picture in before the snake disappeared in the grass. These snakes are relatively common in Brunei and this is one of the more, if not the most, venomous terrestrial snakes in Borneo. Luckily they are typically not aggressive.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzlcxbvfFDYZkIvHgi5TojzwyGaYcS-TGFPeNhfLA_RWAQd7xXv59j4xsrPr3V2UWKhR3uGqG2NAdwu7pLSBI_y8D03-39JdlaIXj_imPOC8OanQGUvxOCcXCU8G7vjbSshWKnC_Ttx4/s1600/BK_1_FH_13_03_2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzlcxbvfFDYZkIvHgi5TojzwyGaYcS-TGFPeNhfLA_RWAQd7xXv59j4xsrPr3V2UWKhR3uGqG2NAdwu7pLSBI_y8D03-39JdlaIXj_imPOC8OanQGUvxOCcXCU8G7vjbSshWKnC_Ttx4/s1600/BK_1_FH_13_03_2015.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banded krait (<i>Bungarus fasciatus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
During my final evening in Brunei I took the car for a very short spin around Panaga and snapped a few last shots of the commonest night bird that can be found in the coastal grasses: the large-tailed nightjar.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4FizbImKd-HFKDV9ss42GRE01wnLfiis11WcQee2-CP8ysJkQpNYii5kc_F9t186MFcbjbQwCaiK_Z2ucyCEtI5k_DsCTB4DRv79cBeG3KYNtxkQ4DVFxrD6WmgPhiuxUvYp88cNuzI/s1600/LTNJ_1_FH_13_03_2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4FizbImKd-HFKDV9ss42GRE01wnLfiis11WcQee2-CP8ysJkQpNYii5kc_F9t186MFcbjbQwCaiK_Z2ucyCEtI5k_DsCTB4DRv79cBeG3KYNtxkQ4DVFxrD6WmgPhiuxUvYp88cNuzI/s1600/LTNJ_1_FH_13_03_2015.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large-tailed nightjar (<i>Caprimulgus macrurus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And now over to you, Houston. It's been quite busy here these last few months; the new job, house and a toddler require a lot of my time. But I do try to have my camera close by and there has been the odd occasion to snap some of America's birds. And what better bird to get on camera than a national symbol of the USA: the bald eagle! This individual we saw on a trip to a very cold Wisconsin in early December.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LycpWYj-FHw_vberTVWZ8woDLNJ7X2OdDG4IVYFV2vivTQiFIaXvtK0eSGec6V8PKeB9pIxgflRlwWbWY9qRu7JNMZ5Ucur8gkN935p2Y0wLjGMqdY0J4IwY5FUVtM-DhHhIPWOFxDM/s1600/BE_1_FH_13_03_2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5LycpWYj-FHw_vberTVWZ8woDLNJ7X2OdDG4IVYFV2vivTQiFIaXvtK0eSGec6V8PKeB9pIxgflRlwWbWY9qRu7JNMZ5Ucur8gkN935p2Y0wLjGMqdY0J4IwY5FUVtM-DhHhIPWOFxDM/s1600/BE_1_FH_13_03_2015.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bald eagle (<i>Haliaeetus leucocephalus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
This wasn't the only individual we came across. On one of the fields we drove past some carrion had been put out and attracted around 15 eagles. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
In Brunei I had always found raptors relatively scarce and good picture opportunities hard to come by. Here it seems quite the opposite. Perhaps it is beginners luck. Another obliging raptor was seen during a walk in one of Houston's parks; a juvenile Cooper's hawk. These 3 different mugshots are hardly cropped.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUCf9vHL8hFxC7wFz8ewN4wwhUODmQgNeXH_lLX_Bf3REDs1_fQm8lG0TAdmZR14xm4JzJ4F1AV94UXV5z6mgBeB2fM9PfhfbIP6mZ0JWn6CwtD3cw2Ait8jGK6iiUQoWaya8gC5sjGo/s1600/CH_1_FH_13_03_2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUCf9vHL8hFxC7wFz8ewN4wwhUODmQgNeXH_lLX_Bf3REDs1_fQm8lG0TAdmZR14xm4JzJ4F1AV94UXV5z6mgBeB2fM9PfhfbIP6mZ0JWn6CwtD3cw2Ait8jGK6iiUQoWaya8gC5sjGo/s1600/CH_1_FH_13_03_2015.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooper's hawk (<i>Accipiter cooperii</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRT-pYCPddxpUiKsSbgIk9BHmd3FbbFRbT9zymb8pfWYupQGvokNRsHub94WhqGU7p57tTY0uvohdoJbtSMKhZo9UyZ6JiXfDuxmbiugmXtoqlWVJI0WQYTLOrnXVTBXplzsZXAC83XcI/s1600/CH_2_FH_13_03_2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRT-pYCPddxpUiKsSbgIk9BHmd3FbbFRbT9zymb8pfWYupQGvokNRsHub94WhqGU7p57tTY0uvohdoJbtSMKhZo9UyZ6JiXfDuxmbiugmXtoqlWVJI0WQYTLOrnXVTBXplzsZXAC83XcI/s1600/CH_2_FH_13_03_2015.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooper's hawk (<i>Accipiter cooperii</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqEA2z6kcozNNERCJWj04aT90FsbhHQ-V3kbc4445LAPy3SrXIbx2K6b_kawwu6MYxSpG4cyhpUXrSkvgv93vkAq-t-2QSGilBJNH5hSH3izX_LzmtjTC7IXdsVTChlnzhx0ZBWF5sKo/s1600/CH_3_FH_13_03_2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqEA2z6kcozNNERCJWj04aT90FsbhHQ-V3kbc4445LAPy3SrXIbx2K6b_kawwu6MYxSpG4cyhpUXrSkvgv93vkAq-t-2QSGilBJNH5hSH3izX_LzmtjTC7IXdsVTChlnzhx0ZBWF5sKo/s1600/CH_3_FH_13_03_2015.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooper's hawk (<i>Accipiter cooperii</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This Osprey was seen in Baytown, a good birding area close to Houston. The subspecies <i>carolinensis </i>that is found here is different than the <i>cristatus </i>subspecies that is found on Borneo. It appears that carolinensis is much easier to see up close.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigC7QYCGSwIXIsTDxEBpNxt8cyHwKp8JDgkQv__5X3QpeLUN-DcmgFHL2q7SHQO8GAiCG-oCxP8UK1-03rdLNPF6HIqmDFMokQovrHG1jSlGCg7YMMWwwgLqEhCtCoHbfMAqiSXuoljvI/s1600/OS_1_FH_13_03_2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigC7QYCGSwIXIsTDxEBpNxt8cyHwKp8JDgkQv__5X3QpeLUN-DcmgFHL2q7SHQO8GAiCG-oCxP8UK1-03rdLNPF6HIqmDFMokQovrHG1jSlGCg7YMMWwwgLqEhCtCoHbfMAqiSXuoljvI/s1600/OS_1_FH_13_03_2015.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Osprey (<i>Pandion haliaetus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6oQBpbWjj6lj6m1NRDuqDwPqa6tS9d7i2ZGBJ71x9RC3Bh5w4AL1-wvqyeugOaZTRr3xT5rc6KnCCYuA_IHWIIAV7glK-9RnqmpnRJqNVnKcvxSAH59fcohKIe4BNZeUFFd9WpUTShA8/s1600/OS_2_FH_13_03_2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6oQBpbWjj6lj6m1NRDuqDwPqa6tS9d7i2ZGBJ71x9RC3Bh5w4AL1-wvqyeugOaZTRr3xT5rc6KnCCYuA_IHWIIAV7glK-9RnqmpnRJqNVnKcvxSAH59fcohKIe4BNZeUFFd9WpUTShA8/s1600/OS_2_FH_13_03_2015.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Osprey (<i>Pandion haliaetus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm looking forward to the next weeks; spring is knocking on the door and that means loads of migrants passing through Houston.<br />
<br />
Folkert, 14/03/2015</div>
Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-21921913408554939052014-12-14T12:45:00.002-08:002014-12-14T13:42:15.713-08:00From the USA - the Mammals of BruneiA small update from the US of A. We are slowly starting to settle in our new hometown, Houston. I haven't had a lot of time for any birdwatching yet, though did already see a good number of new birds. Am getting especially excited by all the raptors that can be seen; last weekend we saw a good number of golden and bald eagles while we were up in Wisconsin for the weekend.<br />
<br />
I did find some time over the past weeks to document the mammal encounters I had in Brunei in the last years; it is a far from complete list, but it should provide a good flavor of the mammals that can be seen. This first file is the start of a much bigger documenting effort that I have set myself to do - the birds of Brunei are still to come!<br />
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<iframe height="780px" src="https://docs.google.com/viewer?
srcid=0B5h2kl5IPWx-SHJNU2VHcFRIb0U&pid=explorer&efh=false&a=v&chrome=false&embedded=true" width="560px">
</iframe><br />
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The picture quality in the embedded PDF is not very good, but there is a button in the top right that should link to the original file. Comments and suggestions to improve readability are welcome. Hope this little writing will serve as useful reference documentation for future nature enthusiast in Brunei!<br />
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Folkert, 14/12/2014Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-44946974263849839592014-10-12T02:36:00.000-07:002014-10-12T20:58:02.350-07:00Bye Bye BruneiInstead a long rambling post I think it is better to end my blogging from Brunei in style end share some of my favorite pics of 2014, for various reasons. In no particular order:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfybUfpyNx_inISKWh4b4C2DMWFL_hwSvkq7AEo4QfvaM5ZbB0_GjqY4ieWCkDGN91tJLsWPhT4LXhsQOn4xNbidX2Jw4rzkOHCkcKOOUPw3_gFnWi4zDa9Ih8fAZh2GOxyGK7kT4ORAQ/s1600/FH_band_bellied_crake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfybUfpyNx_inISKWh4b4C2DMWFL_hwSvkq7AEo4QfvaM5ZbB0_GjqY4ieWCkDGN91tJLsWPhT4LXhsQOn4xNbidX2Jw4rzkOHCkcKOOUPw3_gFnWi4zDa9Ih8fAZh2GOxyGK7kT4ORAQ/s1600/FH_band_bellied_crake.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A band-bellied crake. The rarity of the bird makes up for any aesthetic value that this picture lacks.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA95-jXgpoI0JdJL93MqolvNwCOflS0nD-X4-z09-WfwL8KBAROXCbpoviwXSi39eTQVCTEei7SiU_D0-yiRCrbycYUchn5xtiGeL2O1gHkIOAqRYslsVb7YUON9FTG7PiIJFyeG3NdCo/s1600/FH_brahminy_kite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA95-jXgpoI0JdJL93MqolvNwCOflS0nD-X4-z09-WfwL8KBAROXCbpoviwXSi39eTQVCTEei7SiU_D0-yiRCrbycYUchn5xtiGeL2O1gHkIOAqRYslsVb7YUON9FTG7PiIJFyeG3NdCo/s1600/FH_brahminy_kite.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Not an earth-shattering picture of a Brahminy kite. This is the most commonly seen raptor around Brunei, but in 4 years time I've never had the good fortune to get an up-close picture opportunity.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Lx1A4ihGIDwO57XOxpBUB207SF59f2oHCYcqO8Vbu59nf0nJ3oV-58c4y3VWTaZSYQgp74u4h1AEJ1diUf_gcnVeho9zQa8ZGybokJcD8eKyKF9pGckcu2ff-ZdfjEkXI1AiKxbUKZg/s1600/FH_collared_kingfisher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Lx1A4ihGIDwO57XOxpBUB207SF59f2oHCYcqO8Vbu59nf0nJ3oV-58c4y3VWTaZSYQgp74u4h1AEJ1diUf_gcnVeho9zQa8ZGybokJcD8eKyKF9pGckcu2ff-ZdfjEkXI1AiKxbUKZg/s1600/FH_collared_kingfisher.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Panaga wouldn't be the same without the ever-present collared kingfisher, its laughter being on of the most recognizable sounds in the gardens.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQG0E5YaZibEibE8p6959t170p8ax1-Irg6hEqvcZW0LgYxFRdnCyYL9mvF6Y0OSN0pctco0hLvtnvxYXtY-0SzI-kMYZT7wSJToVRUyYMoXirvGGZsIKGB2NkwzwTqNV7araB6lkDvM/s1600/FH_common_palm_civet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghQG0E5YaZibEibE8p6959t170p8ax1-Irg6hEqvcZW0LgYxFRdnCyYL9mvF6Y0OSN0pctco0hLvtnvxYXtY-0SzI-kMYZT7wSJToVRUyYMoXirvGGZsIKGB2NkwzwTqNV7araB6lkDvM/s1600/FH_common_palm_civet.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This common palm civet that I saw on KB road was missing 1 eye, which made it rather tough-looking.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2yS4bCkhfQ4BRAYMU1K6aGOcpXRmZYlriWKc05XrItc13OXwrwCQBmeVaUKQZRbNUXicDIE1vzSiI1ELbhqJFJR2hoKLSr_p9Do7tbiM1yDx0LXqmnaUUDBU64tvdhkY0WLoNJ73X70/s1600/FH_crimson_winged_woodpecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2yS4bCkhfQ4BRAYMU1K6aGOcpXRmZYlriWKc05XrItc13OXwrwCQBmeVaUKQZRbNUXicDIE1vzSiI1ELbhqJFJR2hoKLSr_p9Do7tbiM1yDx0LXqmnaUUDBU64tvdhkY0WLoNJ73X70/s1600/FH_crimson_winged_woodpecker.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crimson-winged woodpeckers. One of the resident woodpeckers that can be heard and seen in the Panaga gardens.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBpERgTYXxQZH1EtYYMaN7IxKiyOsb2FTbLJA8PpxcgRduWdGHgX0XbyCVoPNAepyyvg3V7piaRT1NEt_SXIpwsgggAlxc_bLZOJFaWnj2kX9vo3eb06DYgjDRl6VFq5MLrJM-TOTjHA/s1600/FH_greater_sand_plover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIBpERgTYXxQZH1EtYYMaN7IxKiyOsb2FTbLJA8PpxcgRduWdGHgX0XbyCVoPNAepyyvg3V7piaRT1NEt_SXIpwsgggAlxc_bLZOJFaWnj2kX9vo3eb06DYgjDRl6VFq5MLrJM-TOTjHA/s1600/FH_greater_sand_plover.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A good number of sand plovers were present from August onwards. This is a greater sandplover.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9OepIrQ5jRis1WfmAHb2deYER_9DKGUlkoIcfMaGPSbn324TqDeI2kUXuIc-TWl23Nly9PcX3ZtNelj9ZqguX3knI5fXxPRJp6fIl2Ox1MyYeVWcXqyTrzbwtDuSMxyrIcwxjT_qJ80/s1600/FH_green_broadbill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9OepIrQ5jRis1WfmAHb2deYER_9DKGUlkoIcfMaGPSbn324TqDeI2kUXuIc-TWl23Nly9PcX3ZtNelj9ZqguX3knI5fXxPRJp6fIl2Ox1MyYeVWcXqyTrzbwtDuSMxyrIcwxjT_qJ80/s1600/FH_green_broadbill.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have a soft spot for broadbills and was very happy to come across this obliging juvenile in the Borneo highlands. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-P7CMe7z1VI5CsnbGNH8JLagkdMReoBOAYicRkQZdFxep96bnkfBc_FSjUjmPd1Hg4JYdK8TAsm9fnQDFEG9LBIJK5coNFtiqKKHrzAVo4CaXLZUqpx8yygRVMb3GLvaX0tZJiUH600/s1600/FH_grey_nightjar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-P7CMe7z1VI5CsnbGNH8JLagkdMReoBOAYicRkQZdFxep96bnkfBc_FSjUjmPd1Hg4JYdK8TAsm9fnQDFEG9LBIJK5coNFtiqKKHrzAVo4CaXLZUqpx8yygRVMb3GLvaX0tZJiUH600/s1600/FH_grey_nightjar.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Several grey nightjars were wintering along the KB road. This individual was found for a few months habitually on the same spot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Jew0HncKQwdO1o1yhi3Mk6W4Vi_wgMgBruZQTIqRvM3mrtGy_CqkWKBTfaTwp4mwIjHxrPQFXZ7xVszzwIpGiBv-LEvZjzig78H-oD16QKEjNRTvHHFJNTV4zet7k29U4YQT4EMoJCk/s1600/FH_gull_billed_tern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Jew0HncKQwdO1o1yhi3Mk6W4Vi_wgMgBruZQTIqRvM3mrtGy_CqkWKBTfaTwp4mwIjHxrPQFXZ7xVszzwIpGiBv-LEvZjzig78H-oD16QKEjNRTvHHFJNTV4zet7k29U4YQT4EMoJCk/s1600/FH_gull_billed_tern.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August and September were again good for terns. Small numbers of gull-billed terns were seen occasionally along the coast.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0w0Pswhyphenhyphen9ZLV8L07d8dAgblMdSHQXi0e8m5Bv1fPLlxl4tJYVwlV3_aRGZQVSBYnorPWt0-3-yiNnJ5B0hdN-pXPUKsKBYBr783G_VkyqUBXw_qKX9l6ZUUhKrc84NJJQtQhbKw6dSM/s1600/FH_harlequin_tree_frog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0w0Pswhyphenhyphen9ZLV8L07d8dAgblMdSHQXi0e8m5Bv1fPLlxl4tJYVwlV3_aRGZQVSBYnorPWt0-3-yiNnJ5B0hdN-pXPUKsKBYBr783G_VkyqUBXw_qKX9l6ZUUhKrc84NJJQtQhbKw6dSM/s1600/FH_harlequin_tree_frog.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A harlequin tree frog. A nice pic, nothing special, but a great reminder of the Gould's frogmouth and eagle-owl we missed on that night. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfV6FA6987-wtE0iWRyvRA-w1waDutKPFW_MM-ZzUOK9-2ecoO06B8NfsoVs_9nFLTJySqrP55i5LS_JXwCvQLYYDQrDDwfs9DgBWagCRELxsR5HzZlRrfDL1mFC7GdImtq4QlJzcUcM/s1600/FH_huntsman_spider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfV6FA6987-wtE0iWRyvRA-w1waDutKPFW_MM-ZzUOK9-2ecoO06B8NfsoVs_9nFLTJySqrP55i5LS_JXwCvQLYYDQrDDwfs9DgBWagCRELxsR5HzZlRrfDL1mFC7GdImtq4QlJzcUcM/s1600/FH_huntsman_spider.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stunning huntsman spider at Teraja. From web-reference this one is possible called <i>Heteropoda davidbowie, </i>or the "david bowie huntsman spider".</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzoYXGv8smMULb2H_rtFQQUYpykomCm8SBxR-gkDzj7lYVYPEaTTXxr05__JHiTm3RhNvKies0lyfICgiLJOrm0wEUd6pLgsNemP_-lOlejv0keJ9tgY6xk2KANbPBdgdY7FQrtN4vS0/s1600/FH_java_sparrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzoYXGv8smMULb2H_rtFQQUYpykomCm8SBxR-gkDzj7lYVYPEaTTXxr05__JHiTm3RhNvKies0lyfICgiLJOrm0wEUd6pLgsNemP_-lOlejv0keJ9tgY6xk2KANbPBdgdY7FQrtN4vS0/s1600/FH_java_sparrow.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a native species to Borneo, but there are good numbers of these Java sparrows around Wasan and at Jerudong park.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgse2OYeRscLpN9zFIgGGhqUew_AcIX5Wd9e2Z0p538z7M0Aw5O8Vr0PWnBGp82LM9LdixA7SPysQ_69eWaX0mhrb-viZDR1OOMOxE5IioBrejibWMka_N8_DVxpzfOQuRThnkMWkZpc14/s1600/FH_kbroad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgse2OYeRscLpN9zFIgGGhqUew_AcIX5Wd9e2Z0p538z7M0Aw5O8Vr0PWnBGp82LM9LdixA7SPysQ_69eWaX0mhrb-viZDR1OOMOxE5IioBrejibWMka_N8_DVxpzfOQuRThnkMWkZpc14/s1600/FH_kbroad.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kuala Belait road, early in the morning, with a mongoose and a macaque. This road has been my local patch for the last couple of years and a final post wouldn't be complete without a including a reference.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3v1yeBnt5b9cfg815E4KdJoPWoX-CD0ErAK8caAD_QGHjUBL7dXMWIlyMu1JOU7Mej1Vuk72_JnMxUrvIoRLaqliOBceD8IJbX0Rr0lB-iwRAVOd5YD5rvBzcFNTE_HSP0E5e-HH7U4/s1600/FH_leopard_cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc3v1yeBnt5b9cfg815E4KdJoPWoX-CD0ErAK8caAD_QGHjUBL7dXMWIlyMu1JOU7Mej1Vuk72_JnMxUrvIoRLaqliOBceD8IJbX0Rr0lB-iwRAVOd5YD5rvBzcFNTE_HSP0E5e-HH7U4/s1600/FH_leopard_cat.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A leopard cat. There are far better pictures of this elegant little feline, but none that were taken on the Kuala Belait road like this one.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoj3qIt7vNgZBfWJkD5gDL1k9KkuTyL_Gy0g7zuE_lhPbygGPOPIBHS0jwYtk_D8siUsuKvQ9tgKCDL9iplcndzL4vOS4G4wKOsVrln9tKAG7fs2-R6twhyl6Njq8D8dQBsFOUzR2nBN0/s1600/FH_lesser_sand_plover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoj3qIt7vNgZBfWJkD5gDL1k9KkuTyL_Gy0g7zuE_lhPbygGPOPIBHS0jwYtk_D8siUsuKvQ9tgKCDL9iplcndzL4vOS4G4wKOsVrln9tKAG7fs2-R6twhyl6Njq8D8dQBsFOUzR2nBN0/s1600/FH_lesser_sand_plover.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lesser sandplover mid morning at the Seria beach. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hTK3EKs4f5dHv5X0FKYymcz1werTcktFeOxlvD-AH2jBhsi5wj_TFe7xB3vMKLUcKhF2QUYlMbRTEUv8v3BdoBX7aalT77f7QBx1JwceCBOnBG5c_AQZnrstn2k0-Phs5ZkVtKermBg/s1600/FH_malaysian_brown_snake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hTK3EKs4f5dHv5X0FKYymcz1werTcktFeOxlvD-AH2jBhsi5wj_TFe7xB3vMKLUcKhF2QUYlMbRTEUv8v3BdoBX7aalT77f7QBx1JwceCBOnBG5c_AQZnrstn2k0-Phs5ZkVtKermBg/s1600/FH_malaysian_brown_snake.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I did come across a Malaysian brown snake in 2012, and had another great encounter this year. The blue tones seem a bit strong in this picture - am not entirely certain why. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Pi5LMHqZXRO7jn-xx3zFOC_21l3vTRAmrLKVfogKm9e2pcFhf5qW3X-Z9nFR3EE4DhNznpFCS49DfvYKpWInrDQVkXM7_gs0kIpN4BU0yPhJiN6HBCVAW4on3mKRPAOcGf0I56dzEl4/s1600/FH_mantanani_scops_owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Pi5LMHqZXRO7jn-xx3zFOC_21l3vTRAmrLKVfogKm9e2pcFhf5qW3X-Z9nFR3EE4DhNznpFCS49DfvYKpWInrDQVkXM7_gs0kIpN4BU0yPhJiN6HBCVAW4on3mKRPAOcGf0I56dzEl4/s1600/FH_mantanani_scops_owl.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mantanani scops owl. I was very lucky to have a close encounter with this owl on Mantanani island.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4tYHJDuUeK6HNOk67NOKrS0FItNv_dyYHSTbgD3oOkiIyoTf0-imjgqT2VX1OwxkH1LijV6iDq3uqL5Nm431Amh_2SwQR-98zzK6MWY6o5g5AuvR63oNQ7I4FNeYI7jnp63JT-Jyx9Y/s1600/FH_oriental_plover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4tYHJDuUeK6HNOk67NOKrS0FItNv_dyYHSTbgD3oOkiIyoTf0-imjgqT2VX1OwxkH1LijV6iDq3uqL5Nm431Amh_2SwQR-98zzK6MWY6o5g5AuvR63oNQ7I4FNeYI7jnp63JT-Jyx9Y/s1600/FH_oriental_plover.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This oriental plover was one of two birds that graced the grassy pitch in front of the Panaga clinic with its presence.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBgrVHJeSvY15GuCPowmxWXYyuticz6bhB8a7M5iLpTbCuaVA7CjkfFngBwlLz_lIkGRivhUSM_q9Ww9ZEh4jz7a9DtSpfVVMfYZwS9ku7Hb61yKOIKn85W4ojJCmvwGSw51R8RgjGIc/s1600/FH_pacific_reef_egret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBgrVHJeSvY15GuCPowmxWXYyuticz6bhB8a7M5iLpTbCuaVA7CjkfFngBwlLz_lIkGRivhUSM_q9Ww9ZEh4jz7a9DtSpfVVMfYZwS9ku7Hb61yKOIKn85W4ojJCmvwGSw51R8RgjGIc/s1600/FH_pacific_reef_egret.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very confiding pacific reef egret in Kota Kinabalu.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NXl1GbKjVLWkV7G6YuczoTtvPLk7tbrhTmdsdxMhY-KzUwBHAXuHn-mACf8E4SzSzo2arvpPf50CfgQAoAHwOLB4Ke_Ka7FBjmRRAhyjCPXgDSeAjsezZDjTPYj10v5dopMwAxyDf80/s1600/FH_pacific_swallow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NXl1GbKjVLWkV7G6YuczoTtvPLk7tbrhTmdsdxMhY-KzUwBHAXuHn-mACf8E4SzSzo2arvpPf50CfgQAoAHwOLB4Ke_Ka7FBjmRRAhyjCPXgDSeAjsezZDjTPYj10v5dopMwAxyDf80/s1600/FH_pacific_swallow.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This barn swallow perched nicely when I took a visitor out earlier in the year.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEefzWSuEuyJFO0roc8NkRGdL-h28f_pcTyGQaYj68YxQnYWl4WoGkpSgfGdoJzD9MMAun3YHp-eTht0_HXt7Q1FQ3RmGJs49k1ov-IDJTUQXyrMpMh52ma6npZNsRVMmRfvag6BmZfbI/s1600/FH_paradise_tree_snake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEefzWSuEuyJFO0roc8NkRGdL-h28f_pcTyGQaYj68YxQnYWl4WoGkpSgfGdoJzD9MMAun3YHp-eTht0_HXt7Q1FQ3RmGJs49k1ov-IDJTUQXyrMpMh52ma6npZNsRVMmRfvag6BmZfbI/s1600/FH_paradise_tree_snake.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally, a picture of a snake in my garden! Usually they are gone as soon as I run out with my camera. This time I already had a camera in hand, though admittedly not the right lens or body…. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBprD-Ri_qXD-bn9GNMhj9OIQO7rS0Z-th77SXs8cekFkJZYTWXAH9Jf4KKbRYcsLq4PknsYDIWYfUcYwhC4vovTCmCOaf71TVIfDVHqnwCMYkfK3YWqdDxNee5DBJWgpTCmrlkyUHW8/s1600/FH_plaintive_cuckoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBprD-Ri_qXD-bn9GNMhj9OIQO7rS0Z-th77SXs8cekFkJZYTWXAH9Jf4KKbRYcsLq4PknsYDIWYfUcYwhC4vovTCmCOaf71TVIfDVHqnwCMYkfK3YWqdDxNee5DBJWgpTCmrlkyUHW8/s1600/FH_plaintive_cuckoo.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sold! But not to this plaintive cuckoo, Borneo highlands in February. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hpt4JcRSzEFAgUVqLvwkbODPop8BuoXehTOo0sZEJm9CIIL7Zrb0Jsn9m_Mkv-5IW8B4XkAme0GXhIMm3Mkl1fsOawo5g8VcLZtZvwktK0tZyaGVycavcqJtmv3OwxemPfwktz_DkzU/s1600/FH_sanderling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hpt4JcRSzEFAgUVqLvwkbODPop8BuoXehTOo0sZEJm9CIIL7Zrb0Jsn9m_Mkv-5IW8B4XkAme0GXhIMm3Mkl1fsOawo5g8VcLZtZvwktK0tZyaGVycavcqJtmv3OwxemPfwktz_DkzU/s1600/FH_sanderling.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sanderling, an uncommon wader that typically can be seen along the coast during late summer/early autumn migration.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5t6yNM6CHpBaAHBYNLkWKy0llyEurcHV-YIrMuN-Ip-OiNuKV1vntQgPEwgd-4qE1eJbmBbY-EqyDYL22QVGTr6qwbd2xMVsJ3TqE-zl-zNKqZVY-3XvRTF4sd0j43aXv8rjgOGwIIc/s1600/FH_silver_gull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5t6yNM6CHpBaAHBYNLkWKy0llyEurcHV-YIrMuN-Ip-OiNuKV1vntQgPEwgd-4qE1eJbmBbY-EqyDYL22QVGTr6qwbd2xMVsJ3TqE-zl-zNKqZVY-3XvRTF4sd0j43aXv8rjgOGwIIc/s1600/FH_silver_gull.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A silver gull that was eying me suspiciously in Australia during a family holiday earlier in the year. In 5 years Borneo I cannot claim to have seen a single gull...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOl3hLE5Pw-8BwwTou8N1dof9KKvI0humFyv3CqrVG1YaCIqQgzA1cugUV8ObAJOJ-w9-ZeD6n5HW2gVpVZdeTzlpNWNyIJ-G-bsdcAqQE-y9ZMcSrmNaoLgxos7MVhwSHlOFVb1xsdo/s1600/FH_slow_loris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOl3hLE5Pw-8BwwTou8N1dof9KKvI0humFyv3CqrVG1YaCIqQgzA1cugUV8ObAJOJ-w9-ZeD6n5HW2gVpVZdeTzlpNWNyIJ-G-bsdcAqQE-y9ZMcSrmNaoLgxos7MVhwSHlOFVb1xsdo/s1600/FH_slow_loris.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A slow loris. I have seen these cute animals on various occasions in Brunei, unfortunately even a caged one on the Jerudong market. I like it a whole lot better to see them like this, free in the wild.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPawvL_djLIXPhy9i5CYDpRG1M03_Xtom5TN7vHHFEI1xjGRJZgEmxbmS8543mIX6BY06DNcMgvjB9Jr4mhg_J5XvTPcjQOcoJBl47OAuKN27ai2FXEr4Tcb5oFPYsFp_SGeKnD3QWeEU/s1600/FH_swamp_toad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPawvL_djLIXPhy9i5CYDpRG1M03_Xtom5TN7vHHFEI1xjGRJZgEmxbmS8543mIX6BY06DNcMgvjB9Jr4mhg_J5XvTPcjQOcoJBl47OAuKN27ai2FXEr4Tcb5oFPYsFp_SGeKnD3QWeEU/s1600/FH_swamp_toad.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A swamp toad, one of the type-species of the Lower Belait peat swamps.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRWVSwds0bDSopl1Pq5fAV3U7r5zutkjymLjluK6blSSMGFHPi8dO2VZkSsoQk_7-svOUPZ3rG35dbQDP40qPHFQPupHKPiuZioWhQH93ZJJcr7rTiSlwKrq31CLkjpM3TE_GVZj2jFk/s1600/FH_temmincks_sunbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRWVSwds0bDSopl1Pq5fAV3U7r5zutkjymLjluK6blSSMGFHPi8dO2VZkSsoQk_7-svOUPZ3rG35dbQDP40qPHFQPupHKPiuZioWhQH93ZJJcr7rTiSlwKrq31CLkjpM3TE_GVZj2jFk/s1600/FH_temmincks_sunbird.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My visit to the Borneo highlands was very rewarding. This temminck's sunbird came very close to my lens.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1RwXS4A3VYGMsRBp8JRIgOTM_UYPJdbN60WJMNTe4U2oaK89xb6T7bI93wc_dHWtngPe43tzF-SaUxTbbsKIO2n8VeVhcBK_MAImXiotWo2H9RYPqUQBoY5Z3AHjwssJu0wcGfADOuas/s1600/FH_wedge_tailed_eagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1RwXS4A3VYGMsRBp8JRIgOTM_UYPJdbN60WJMNTe4U2oaK89xb6T7bI93wc_dHWtngPe43tzF-SaUxTbbsKIO2n8VeVhcBK_MAImXiotWo2H9RYPqUQBoY5Z3AHjwssJu0wcGfADOuas/s1600/FH_wedge_tailed_eagle.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wedge-tailed eagle that I saw in Australia in May. One of the things that I have always found intriguing in Brunei was the low density of raptors and I am still not certain why this is - I doubt it has anything to do with bad luck.</td></tr>
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That's it. I will still compile a few annotated documents about birding in Brunei, which I will post on this blog at a later time. For now it is really goodbye to Brunei, it has been a memorable adventure.</div>
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Goodbye!</div>
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Folkert, 12/10/2014</div>
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Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-42898713384476314232014-10-07T04:02:00.003-07:002014-10-07T04:27:46.759-07:00GodwitsThis Monday was one of Godwits.<br />
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The day started off well with this flycatcher that I noticed sallying from one of the trees in our garden during breakfast. Almost an exact repeat from October last year, see <a href="http://bruneiviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/garden-flycatcher.html">garden flycatcher</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdqxGtL6y8SbgNtYB5-VoW3EcdIa2cfdCHtfxY4ICLrP5WjQqSosepOT4uckvp-lg6x53N1CRlY36EETAhfWfNDuiW9OeOlRgpmdvO72s4Ie_jb6PwkUmJ61SuNdz2oTgWWzXD7Vfmjg/s1600/flycatcher_darksided.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdqxGtL6y8SbgNtYB5-VoW3EcdIa2cfdCHtfxY4ICLrP5WjQqSosepOT4uckvp-lg6x53N1CRlY36EETAhfWfNDuiW9OeOlRgpmdvO72s4Ie_jb6PwkUmJ61SuNdz2oTgWWzXD7Vfmjg/s1600/flycatcher_darksided.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dark-sided flycatcher (<i>Muscicapa sibirica</i>)</td></tr>
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We were having a day off and I took the opportunity to drive around some of the remoter areas of Brunei. First though was a stop at the very familiar grasslands surrounding Seria. This very skittish black-tailed godwit was foraging in one of the grassy pools.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLF3dse2KAZ1VOgcEulVlCsLTafXWoRVNX2GqGkXyrJ0q5aKk_dekQ604jyfCxmdIfm_Ha8VH7kOLfQAW6A6DXQ1bgJieZVI74n8LNwFaGUKbRadMI1TpjoPTe8hQKXhlno5pkNAKl0N0/s1600/godwit_blacktailed1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLF3dse2KAZ1VOgcEulVlCsLTafXWoRVNX2GqGkXyrJ0q5aKk_dekQ604jyfCxmdIfm_Ha8VH7kOLfQAW6A6DXQ1bgJieZVI74n8LNwFaGUKbRadMI1TpjoPTe8hQKXhlno5pkNAKl0N0/s1600/godwit_blacktailed1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-tailed godwit (<i>Limosa limosa</i>)</td></tr>
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This was in fact the very first godwit ever seen by me! Next we drove on to Wasan rice fields, where numerous rarities have been recorded in the past. The first birds we saw were, waddaya know, another 4 godwits!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqD2YlxQfXDqb9Hv-iVLJzsNUduTCIqPIunN2QSm2W0up5vknNEHd7OI9Ieml-6-scul1IQNH2xtTnkN_GhoQR6fREGFdTP1vGLyR5wMeE6Fo6s_ykqBVD1fS24w3WwPvozoh-u1j54s/s1600/godwit_blacktailed2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqD2YlxQfXDqb9Hv-iVLJzsNUduTCIqPIunN2QSm2W0up5vknNEHd7OI9Ieml-6-scul1IQNH2xtTnkN_GhoQR6fREGFdTP1vGLyR5wMeE6Fo6s_ykqBVD1fS24w3WwPvozoh-u1j54s/s1600/godwit_blacktailed2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-tailed godwit (<i>Limosa limosa</i>)</td></tr>
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Apart from the godwits Wasan didn't turn up anything special. Kolbjorn counted around 260 whistling ducks (I was too lazy to count with him) and there where good numbers of wood sandpiper and long-toed stints. Other notable birds seen where snipe, yellow- and cinnamon bittern, black-winged stilts and a lone greenshank. Noticeably absent were any raptors. We did see and hear some warblers whizzing by on a few occasions but never had prolonged views to nail the ID.<br />
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On the way back we saw this blue-necked keelback on the road. The snake was kind enough to stay with us for a few pictures.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPEmkRMQOw1zRWc-CJf23F7D7_OD0ZzuE2B_MDL_DErEPEG5wse80k_COd19Uu5P0aAXtC4e4GjCke-VxmV5W8YqKWRQ22yB0HQ4xTRk6izty-JOnfyLtHK6V-iTJh9TCq0i6Q9PhGDE/s1600/snake_blueneckedkeelback1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPEmkRMQOw1zRWc-CJf23F7D7_OD0ZzuE2B_MDL_DErEPEG5wse80k_COd19Uu5P0aAXtC4e4GjCke-VxmV5W8YqKWRQ22yB0HQ4xTRk6izty-JOnfyLtHK6V-iTJh9TCq0i6Q9PhGDE/s1600/snake_blueneckedkeelback1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue-necked keelback (<i>Macrophistodon rhodomelas</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwxStyYf3ZJuGqi38EGhqTeI9jbtD8NHpXSs3qjEd5k1FXzojAIzrqk1JjFh65EAQHyYT53weQXiBGL5s7C4MO7GM5vUkCiebYUFR4sk79ycWn8rNnIkz2DvctX1XXG7pUYML9GofE2M/s1600/snake_blueneckedkeelback2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcwxStyYf3ZJuGqi38EGhqTeI9jbtD8NHpXSs3qjEd5k1FXzojAIzrqk1JjFh65EAQHyYT53weQXiBGL5s7C4MO7GM5vUkCiebYUFR4sk79ycWn8rNnIkz2DvctX1XXG7pUYML9GofE2M/s1600/snake_blueneckedkeelback2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue-necked keelback (<i>Macrophistodon rhodomelas</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_l-jjR5Od1ZUjo2-h095RTlVhhau9o1-pyon54-_kaIqq0WJ9LHmnAc0oYsQxwMAt7SWJEiRF5F33DaZ7F6nrL8hGcNqrw4b2ajY9rzov9GURdTW0WqajUfqGj1R1hLl5_bDrwxAlYqY/s1600/snake_blueneckedkeelback3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_l-jjR5Od1ZUjo2-h095RTlVhhau9o1-pyon54-_kaIqq0WJ9LHmnAc0oYsQxwMAt7SWJEiRF5F33DaZ7F6nrL8hGcNqrw4b2ajY9rzov9GURdTW0WqajUfqGj1R1hLl5_bDrwxAlYqY/s1600/snake_blueneckedkeelback3.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue-necked keelback (<i>Macrophistodon rhodomelas</i>)</td></tr>
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A very pretty snake to end a good day with!<br />
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Folkert 07/10/2014Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-55158630502080195442014-10-04T03:04:00.000-07:002014-10-04T18:39:31.363-07:00Oriental Plover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I decided this afternoon to do some easy birding as I haven't been feeling the best lately. So rather than go on a jungle walk I took out the car for a drive around the grassy areas behind the seawall.</div>
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To my surprise there were two oriental plovers on the pitch next to the clinic. Not only a great find for Panaga, but also a lifer for me. I suspect one of the birds to be a juvenile, the other an adult loosing its breeding plumage.<br />
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The second rarity drove up to my car ten minutes later, a fellow birder in the name of Kolbjorn. In my 5 years in Brunei I have never met another birder unplanned in the field; there clearly is a first for everything. We spend a good amount of time to get a photo of the plovers. There was still some distance to overcome, but in the end I did manage to get some keeper shots.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQscgRF7GKN93NwO2xALNDrI3cYyGicnkAMl9A9KC0M32TeQZ9BM3yq4QsjiXaqLrr0L9h5jevKah65PTXCtDetBRJc4jKYBy42fGMlvpHIWZPidyiyJpxAUPLfHsu79o-wnhYnJd3tqY/s1600/plover_oriental1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQscgRF7GKN93NwO2xALNDrI3cYyGicnkAMl9A9KC0M32TeQZ9BM3yq4QsjiXaqLrr0L9h5jevKah65PTXCtDetBRJc4jKYBy42fGMlvpHIWZPidyiyJpxAUPLfHsu79o-wnhYnJd3tqY/s1600/plover_oriental1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oriental plover (<i>Charadrius veredus</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpUDSAECUEOCgcF4t4V1OnRUBX844ZioewhkOleVoXVcWkOvmMEfzATzfJjQMJbg1QO3VXgv7lgf3q4r4SWptA7xGn3yms7UozREY4v2i-L-g0gu3EUPdgVvdmpKaMdj5m_yEag4u5Xc/s1600/plover_oriental2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpUDSAECUEOCgcF4t4V1OnRUBX844ZioewhkOleVoXVcWkOvmMEfzATzfJjQMJbg1QO3VXgv7lgf3q4r4SWptA7xGn3yms7UozREY4v2i-L-g0gu3EUPdgVvdmpKaMdj5m_yEag4u5Xc/s1600/plover_oriental2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oriental plover (<i>Charadrius veredus</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiPBHLtV-GbYJRnn0CHLNuDpYZGboeqOe-TSywizDsjBwiuczc74TAI2zFC7AsM0H0Y4CaW9LD9eiAbjEahHB0cJuq0kLA8gHaz6Y9aY3vW6ufmQgWceeoXHQzHAcZ6a1Kb1xZ28HZ48/s1600/plover_oriental.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiPBHLtV-GbYJRnn0CHLNuDpYZGboeqOe-TSywizDsjBwiuczc74TAI2zFC7AsM0H0Y4CaW9LD9eiAbjEahHB0cJuq0kLA8gHaz6Y9aY3vW6ufmQgWceeoXHQzHAcZ6a1Kb1xZ28HZ48/s1600/plover_oriental.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oriental plover (<i>Charadrius veredus</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDUssd44RsXCCKz-PiFmjgcSbElIsn-R9PpjQdg-ogt58fj4nvHBp-EsI7ZrmNSD82ddgdgrr3j09Pg3rJYbXvSGePtrjlRFqGSkKDHQ4oRS-bWLuLDQpFZlBdp1n2fOYYDujByfglW4/s1600/plover_oriental4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDUssd44RsXCCKz-PiFmjgcSbElIsn-R9PpjQdg-ogt58fj4nvHBp-EsI7ZrmNSD82ddgdgrr3j09Pg3rJYbXvSGePtrjlRFqGSkKDHQ4oRS-bWLuLDQpFZlBdp1n2fOYYDujByfglW4/s1600/plover_oriental4.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oriental plover (<i>Charadrius veredus</i>)</td></tr>
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Not bad for a casual drive on a leisurely Saturday afternoon.<br />
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Folkert, 04/10/2014</div>
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Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-66628270195406971092014-09-29T08:02:00.002-07:002014-09-30T03:00:11.646-07:00Aarrgh!Last week, Kolbjorn and myself went for an evening walk on one of the more remote sidetracks of Labi road. We arrived shortly before dusk and walked a good distance before the sun was fully set. The area that we walked through is mostly peat swamp and the track had a nice stream next to it with a deep rusty brown color from all the leaching tannins. The walk was livened up by the sounds of two rhinoceros hornbills deep into a domestic dispute, a great slaty woodpecker and some very skittish red langurs.<br />
The real reason we were there was to search for some night birds. We had just turned from the furthest point when we heard a very distinctive call close by, one that I couldn't straight away place. A search on the iPhone quickly revealed the culprit: a Gould's frogmouth. And not just one, but two birds. I still don't know how we managed it, but we somehow completely messed up this opportunity and never got a visual. The birds fell silent very soon and were only heard very distantly afterwards. Maybe the playback we used was akin to a serenading cat, whatever it was we never saw a glimpse.<br />
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It goes without saying we felt a little defeated, but at the same time also very elated; we only just had started the walk back and with a start like this the remainder of the walk surely would be brilliant. So, in way, it wasn't a total surprise that we got a response from a barred eagle owl less than 200 meters later! First one and a little later a second one. We managed this time to record the two birds duetting, but again, no visuals! One owl even flew over our head, but picked a branch just facing away from us, and the dense undergrowth prevented us to walk in. We spend close to an hour trying to get a view, but to no avail; the birds wouldn't give themselves up.<br />
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Luckily this Harlequin tree frog, that we found a little further down the track, was more cooperative and didn't object at all to take center stage. In fact, every time it jumped it seemed to end up in an even better photographic position.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oSSGjXvIxySOL1CSacSYWbGpQ90nmIXYe4Im5_XQBru1FwMW0fu5_p1_CYBmWudYNu7tcC90o02mjVxcxs8Ea1leBc5S3Dj-8eGySr_q0xEAGD9qB4KvD2oBqktKLNTJebB2Qr0TMlU/s1600/frog_harlequintree1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6oSSGjXvIxySOL1CSacSYWbGpQ90nmIXYe4Im5_XQBru1FwMW0fu5_p1_CYBmWudYNu7tcC90o02mjVxcxs8Ea1leBc5S3Dj-8eGySr_q0xEAGD9qB4KvD2oBqktKLNTJebB2Qr0TMlU/s1600/frog_harlequintree1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harlequin tree frog (<i>Rhacophorus pardalis</i>)</td></tr>
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Supposedly this is a common species, though that does't mean I see it very often. I fact, I actually can only recall to have seen it in Danum before.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lGdYGqyvdjmvBmisDqzZ4qNdiTrQ3f-LZSkdvXU19FDdB6lEzdo3bx_ctaNHmKwLqsBvpeJbOw-VX_GIAlFbDMlf3lixkeCRQ5VRUnPcTzqHlPEcDRpEyf51-LN90eObZ6AsSOUy6mk/s1600/frog_harlequintree2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lGdYGqyvdjmvBmisDqzZ4qNdiTrQ3f-LZSkdvXU19FDdB6lEzdo3bx_ctaNHmKwLqsBvpeJbOw-VX_GIAlFbDMlf3lixkeCRQ5VRUnPcTzqHlPEcDRpEyf51-LN90eObZ6AsSOUy6mk/s1600/frog_harlequintree2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harlequin tree frog (<i>Rhacophorus pardalis</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTH3uSf4MCrGYINj2yODSeueByfgelolxRtiC7VsDnnj-tyLwYoofqqocJsSz8HKUaiWUFLKCuEAWqNTfkxvzDa9-HvdzHmSrO3EuKAUkGvke_Nq2djfwre6WFFnIQ4n9ZD67ZFmvYUlM/s1600/frog_harlequintree3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTH3uSf4MCrGYINj2yODSeueByfgelolxRtiC7VsDnnj-tyLwYoofqqocJsSz8HKUaiWUFLKCuEAWqNTfkxvzDa9-HvdzHmSrO3EuKAUkGvke_Nq2djfwre6WFFnIQ4n9ZD67ZFmvYUlM/s1600/frog_harlequintree3.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harlequin tree frog (<i>Rhacophorus pardalis</i>)</td></tr>
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Just before we reached the car we stumbled upon this spiny turtle. My knowledge of turtles isn't that great and I didn't realize at the time that this is actually rapidly becoming a very rare species. The IUCN lists this turtle as endangered, as unfortunately these animals still end up way too often on dining plates and in soup bowls somewhere in SE Asia.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9XeXJ2DLhytLtT_MTB0t_wUBnSZAG1cuYzGVIFwQgR3W3al41Q_1OvPiUnukE1kvCJGhyphenhyphengAJuWVACqeKfuMY0tbPKnmU7GICtEhgdgJ80lTstSw6xQnsF7OdZtNQJMroE2Qhyphenhyphen4Y7vK4/s1600/turtle_spiny1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9XeXJ2DLhytLtT_MTB0t_wUBnSZAG1cuYzGVIFwQgR3W3al41Q_1OvPiUnukE1kvCJGhyphenhyphengAJuWVACqeKfuMY0tbPKnmU7GICtEhgdgJ80lTstSw6xQnsF7OdZtNQJMroE2Qhyphenhyphen4Y7vK4/s1600/turtle_spiny1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spiny turtle (<i>Heosemys spinosa</i>)</td></tr>
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The population in Brunei is still considered as relatively stable, though if I were this little fellow I wouldn't stray off into more populated areas.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eywnaAJNLeJMF4X0JOLOD0cihC4dhyphenhyphenMxWHd74_J2LNLQ6ekyTEu4UOtxkDeZi3Sbstr6-gEVWAs87Q0I5e8qWJPj9_MhOT3oLuwrv79zRYwMev6P4S7moGuB2y509wtOMUuwz38bUmw/s1600/turtle_spiny2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eywnaAJNLeJMF4X0JOLOD0cihC4dhyphenhyphenMxWHd74_J2LNLQ6ekyTEu4UOtxkDeZi3Sbstr6-gEVWAs87Q0I5e8qWJPj9_MhOT3oLuwrv79zRYwMev6P4S7moGuB2y509wtOMUuwz38bUmw/s1600/turtle_spiny2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spiny turtle (<i>Heosemys spinosa</i>) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And, since this still is a blog about birds, I'll end this post with some shots of the birds I got on camera the last two weeks. A collared kingfisher; while these are very common around Panaga, they're actually not that approachable and unplanned close-up opportunities are not common. This one was sitting on the fence of a beam pump.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIMwD139xE8STDCNHBDbGIoju5AZuFe0e8JG0Bgex_gGLWppWoP0FLxtJpARnWZP4Lid7OwQQ3sla0xEY_f1_3rIsGcbUk7X15q-EK1MaYaBaQQGMz7n7UFXRgL5dD1imeilO-zvMLaM/s1600/kingfisher_collared.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIMwD139xE8STDCNHBDbGIoju5AZuFe0e8JG0Bgex_gGLWppWoP0FLxtJpARnWZP4Lid7OwQQ3sla0xEY_f1_3rIsGcbUk7X15q-EK1MaYaBaQQGMz7n7UFXRgL5dD1imeilO-zvMLaM/s1600/kingfisher_collared.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collared kingfisher (<i>Todiramphus chloris</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While on my way to Bandar I briefly stopped at Wasan rice fields. There were quite a few black-winged stilts around.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJcS0O5DjOtz1rBb_spG4ID16fSt0eFR6FBzr7JmGcGSai3QXAjrnDPaXoogOX3IZxLDnlL0OvL1iWF79yqLaZ-DYqLqpzxtts40-K23hOo8IlNAwC3T4KKtQWdlwchXz0Oj9EKbEF8c/s1600/stilt_blackwinged.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJcS0O5DjOtz1rBb_spG4ID16fSt0eFR6FBzr7JmGcGSai3QXAjrnDPaXoogOX3IZxLDnlL0OvL1iWF79yqLaZ-DYqLqpzxtts40-K23hOo8IlNAwC3T4KKtQWdlwchXz0Oj9EKbEF8c/s1600/stilt_blackwinged.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-winged stilt (<i>Himantopus himantopus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And a couple of white-winged black terns.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdy1i0RTAYJLvUwmgopVMFgFkaYQ73MusfVuVkPaCIPnjggDTEHBcAJ2RSk1Gm1SiIEHiBlMWdG_-pkhqSTYdtE4iyUu02Uff0URdSK9Hfm28HUVkKndJeWQ8-uAEwgB7IJ4RQyIGSpoA/s1600/tern_whitewingedblack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdy1i0RTAYJLvUwmgopVMFgFkaYQ73MusfVuVkPaCIPnjggDTEHBcAJ2RSk1Gm1SiIEHiBlMWdG_-pkhqSTYdtE4iyUu02Uff0URdSK9Hfm28HUVkKndJeWQ8-uAEwgB7IJ4RQyIGSpoA/s1600/tern_whitewingedblack.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-winged black tern (<i>Chlidonias leucopterus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
And finally, a superb record from Brunei. Recently a second photographic record of the spectacled flowerpecker was made in Labi hills by local photographer Mr. Asmali Asli. See also:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.borneobirdimages.com/news?id=56">http://www.borneobirdimages.com/news?id=56</a><br />
<a href="http://www.sabahmagazine.com/spectacled-flowerpecker-second-photographic-record/">http://www.sabahmagazine.com/spectacled-flowerpecker-second-photographic-record/</a><br />
<br />
This species was only discovered in Danum in 2009 and it is therefore truly excellent to have the second encounter in Brunei. Moreover the pictures are fantastic! I have been at Labi ridge numerous times and never had the luck to find a species with this type of allure there. In a way I am almost glad to leave Brunei so I won't be able to give in to obsessive, and more than likely unsuccessful, chases of this very elusive species.<br />
<br />
Folkert, 29/09/2014</div>
Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-35035456111571305752014-09-13T01:24:00.000-07:002014-09-13T04:22:13.330-07:00Panaga and surroundings, 2nd week of SeptemberLast weekend we ventured to the Baram delta. For anyone who wants to follow suit a word of advice: do not go at high tide!!! Hardly any exposed beach and we didn't see much… the trip would have been a complete waste of time if it wasn't for some distant greater crested terns (a Bornean lifer for me) and the good tidal lesson. Perhaps I'll have another attempt next week.<br />
<br />
Closer to home migration is in full swing and small groups of red-necked stints can be found frequently on the beach.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTn-MsLKhR5D9ddXCohWD8eKHH0smXjfSqjALamQFVdXePn42V7BymUMa0MI6pniKqXBhKwNgNz7Af_F_caj-9Y2BRTZNIiZsJhxcJbzzavoeBFWOxZzho0mB1r6PFISb_2ALCpVA6N4Q/s1600/stint_rednecked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTn-MsLKhR5D9ddXCohWD8eKHH0smXjfSqjALamQFVdXePn42V7BymUMa0MI6pniKqXBhKwNgNz7Af_F_caj-9Y2BRTZNIiZsJhxcJbzzavoeBFWOxZzho0mB1r6PFISb_2ALCpVA6N4Q/s1600/stint_rednecked.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-necked stint (<i>Calidris ruficollis</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This bird was one of a small group foraging in the late afternoon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsxIthVhjHOP5794PHgwQhnL3VHUXnuQ9l5QWShecJonwiAHhzZP72gtCDcyvsKQNXwwHi_SRQGAQuKlfiD9OyDAkAA5QrS_qteD9Jlj2eJYJS3ewUj9X7Uzu9uf59VQPlGMzqVsa_jo/s1600/stint_rednecked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsxIthVhjHOP5794PHgwQhnL3VHUXnuQ9l5QWShecJonwiAHhzZP72gtCDcyvsKQNXwwHi_SRQGAQuKlfiD9OyDAkAA5QrS_qteD9Jlj2eJYJS3ewUj9X7Uzu9uf59VQPlGMzqVsa_jo/s1600/stint_rednecked.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-necked stint (<i>Calidris ruficollis</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Their close relatives, the long-toed stints, can be found in the small creeks, puddles and pools of the coastal grasslands <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghs87lgXbcJYtn2iAxVKKD67aRTZGrYtt0Ntac3wAFh-5yR6SEXkFdcAsr_pi_biqZl8cbkDEPPA1lVFC0Rv66sAjmiMfzTlEx_AMmBFxSu8R2KoOET5UoX8xfDTft_5u6yxJ_7jMji-E/s1600/stint_longtoed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghs87lgXbcJYtn2iAxVKKD67aRTZGrYtt0Ntac3wAFh-5yR6SEXkFdcAsr_pi_biqZl8cbkDEPPA1lVFC0Rv66sAjmiMfzTlEx_AMmBFxSu8R2KoOET5UoX8xfDTft_5u6yxJ_7jMji-E/s1600/stint_longtoed.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-toed stint (<i>Calidris subminuta</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vrez3ewmby34Ll-pn2twVTxxYbDRyzoFIN03BQt4rw0CF0f8-GENIq73rzF18JuvOc5ERUI8QBBrbFzwZyacqulnGTwHnn7Ka_mGeluYascWZcjKKPoVaT9MGfo9erIz3jwT6hsQGh8/s1600/stint_longtoed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vrez3ewmby34Ll-pn2twVTxxYbDRyzoFIN03BQt4rw0CF0f8-GENIq73rzF18JuvOc5ERUI8QBBrbFzwZyacqulnGTwHnn7Ka_mGeluYascWZcjKKPoVaT9MGfo9erIz3jwT6hsQGh8/s1600/stint_longtoed.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-toed stint (<i>Calidris subminuta</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While on my way home from lunch this week I noticed a lesser adjutant circling over the grasslands. Luckily I had a camera in the car to record the encounter. I saw it landing behind the trees lining the river edge of the Sungai Seria, but work duties prevented me from seeking out the bird.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDL6YE2u0SfN3Dxx7GKk8hKByNmza4QE_J4Me6eWAZhz4Ci6OMe4V4jw-E_YYJLghAjVh0fXCi5FwXl-qRv2jGpAc6o2tH0Lhyi70NUB84FdKGZR89WLTVXkvzM2XdqGmLjNtS82pwkU/s1600/adjutant_lesser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDL6YE2u0SfN3Dxx7GKk8hKByNmza4QE_J4Me6eWAZhz4Ci6OMe4V4jw-E_YYJLghAjVh0fXCi5FwXl-qRv2jGpAc6o2tH0Lhyi70NUB84FdKGZR89WLTVXkvzM2XdqGmLjNtS82pwkU/s1600/adjutant_lesser.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lesser adjutant (<i>Leptoptilos javanicus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The last confirmed sighting from Seria dates back to 2009 - so this is quite a good record. The next day I tried to see if the bird was still around. My search along the river edge only turned up this crocodile.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPNYz9UO0V4oOLR0cDc26y75HaYFNF2ihMfLLwuGnUBB2X6noeq3kQzeyxMaPTMevXMJ1pGl6KfbL5ZsG_19EK9SCEc2HkzvIUMb54UGray6M9HileoRcWcMAKcysoeP9j3qyVujDw8w/s1600/crocodile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPNYz9UO0V4oOLR0cDc26y75HaYFNF2ihMfLLwuGnUBB2X6noeq3kQzeyxMaPTMevXMJ1pGl6KfbL5ZsG_19EK9SCEc2HkzvIUMb54UGray6M9HileoRcWcMAKcysoeP9j3qyVujDw8w/s1600/crocodile.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crocodile</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This morning I spend a short hour at Badas. I did see a couple of birds, o.a. grey-chested jungle flycatcher and the customary hook-billed bulbul. From a photographic perspective it wasn't the most productive hour; I failed to get a single bird on camera. The only picture I had when I walked out the forest was of this butterfly...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnXcUeQNhCHT1dEi6NAX2pqQR1jLB1RGnrxES_TWVsRHdSScPZjraoc-XJbUxj6774A6cIxfmPavle_BrmABlaaGHUdT-JsdlZbk98VBgdefMzuMOrCU6wCfK0CQiU2N3kn0qHMjCT1g/s1600/butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnXcUeQNhCHT1dEi6NAX2pqQR1jLB1RGnrxES_TWVsRHdSScPZjraoc-XJbUxj6774A6cIxfmPavle_BrmABlaaGHUdT-JsdlZbk98VBgdefMzuMOrCU6wCfK0CQiU2N3kn0qHMjCT1g/s1600/butterfly.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butterfly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This woodswallow that had perched just above my car offered some small solace. Often overlooked, like many of the more ordinary birds, they are really quite handsome.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGCm2-_54UFtxeeXy4PkbvnQelfPdzy6Nhz0pd5ME9M3AqbUjrjEwgpFyyZq7jCRgKLnqKNFDeByM17kKh5WgyD2p_Yzyh9dhKTF_Zt1MVYwSsOe-B755copLVB6VhslFHxUR9JO7XWc/s1600/woodswallow_whitebreasted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGCm2-_54UFtxeeXy4PkbvnQelfPdzy6Nhz0pd5ME9M3AqbUjrjEwgpFyyZq7jCRgKLnqKNFDeByM17kKh5WgyD2p_Yzyh9dhKTF_Zt1MVYwSsOe-B755copLVB6VhslFHxUR9JO7XWc/s1600/woodswallow_whitebreasted.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-breasted woodswallow (<i>Artamus leucorhynchus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Folkert, 13/09/2014</div>
<br />Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-65321819284628130642014-08-31T05:08:00.003-07:002014-09-08T21:14:04.882-07:00Sungai Seria, end of AugustI've been checking the river mouth of the Seria river the past 2 weeks, as this is <u>the</u> time when most waders pass by. Usually a couple of sand plovers are around and with high tide they can come sufficiently close for some nice pictures. Here is one resting on a single leg:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfX-cz5lzJh6UE-mEvnnbEjL0Lt2AGYSl9ejrgkF-8oTaeL3e17xRiB9nvumOw_-opLiT2bfmu-g-oBZUccS8wY_wxxNgPRNM4UkaETlTDhf_ZLIn66P2-4PF8lGDTBQ47NTkKJyLzyCg/s1600/plover_lessersand2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfX-cz5lzJh6UE-mEvnnbEjL0Lt2AGYSl9ejrgkF-8oTaeL3e17xRiB9nvumOw_-opLiT2bfmu-g-oBZUccS8wY_wxxNgPRNM4UkaETlTDhf_ZLIn66P2-4PF8lGDTBQ47NTkKJyLzyCg/s1600/plover_lessersand2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lesser sand plover (<i>Charadrius mongolus</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And this bird rather doesn't use any legs at all.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim588FBXu2i6NA7lNX2MMMsk9xhF7HAdy_ZO7vqeWGzgiKKYy328iiSK5gR6zbWurckLANKh3Jaxi3jgbwzR4L-ibQ7jtGKDRzKolk8RIuLFwZEKQOMnamufEV9BmZbXcoEOaUsJYmYgg/s1600/plover_lessersand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim588FBXu2i6NA7lNX2MMMsk9xhF7HAdy_ZO7vqeWGzgiKKYy328iiSK5gR6zbWurckLANKh3Jaxi3jgbwzR4L-ibQ7jtGKDRzKolk8RIuLFwZEKQOMnamufEV9BmZbXcoEOaUsJYmYgg/s1600/plover_lessersand.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lesser sand plover (<i>Charadrius mongolus</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is also a good time to see sanderlings. Even on their way south, these are very active feeders, constantly running on the shoreline looking for little morsels.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2gb5s6X0DG3wsvib06PCFerCXNc_RR_b0GwIgtYs6DXtvLzD-aWBHE3PXMNVMBz8pfaGDXIgHaj8qgAmZ-3coI4gV3U0KqJXHKIH-BsaQrHlXAPA6zoEfqrfPvEz9BgmiebxevCObvg/s1600/sanderling2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC2gb5s6X0DG3wsvib06PCFerCXNc_RR_b0GwIgtYs6DXtvLzD-aWBHE3PXMNVMBz8pfaGDXIgHaj8qgAmZ-3coI4gV3U0KqJXHKIH-BsaQrHlXAPA6zoEfqrfPvEz9BgmiebxevCObvg/s1600/sanderling2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sanderling (<i>Calidris alba</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Their dutch name is "drieteen strand loper", which means as much as three-toes sandpiper. An adequate description; sanderlings miss a fourth hind toe as can be seen in the picture below.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW61niDt1lIU-_cG-31Q_xdcXq-vnET43r-zwYpYfm-lo_PvDKeGFLJnz-0HpUrSiLXFOSFoz-dxdMSAyyuTXgz9eA9nDtREsf9thvJrmYe7JW84ltKOIn2tuAYJmWj99NjYxjkg_9oeU/s1600/sanderling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW61niDt1lIU-_cG-31Q_xdcXq-vnET43r-zwYpYfm-lo_PvDKeGFLJnz-0HpUrSiLXFOSFoz-dxdMSAyyuTXgz9eA9nDtREsf9thvJrmYe7JW84ltKOIn2tuAYJmWj99NjYxjkg_9oeU/s1600/sanderling.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sanderling (<i>Calidris alba</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
August and September are also good months to spot terns on the sandy shores next to the estuary. Mostly the flocks consist of little terns, which is a breeding species in Brunei.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnYbS4VBowTujiaIJFdg4VYZeOkjJs21XRxLgBIzQWkzzznX3RkRgHepMxWSp-iPVZWA-hpuOkqiPMln409vsl0Vo06NzXFnGngmuAHjNPbXj6Ydf1K-pwL1r9imCrpXqzn6QbyjiunU/s1600/tern_common.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnYbS4VBowTujiaIJFdg4VYZeOkjJs21XRxLgBIzQWkzzznX3RkRgHepMxWSp-iPVZWA-hpuOkqiPMln409vsl0Vo06NzXFnGngmuAHjNPbXj6Ydf1K-pwL1r9imCrpXqzn6QbyjiunU/s1600/tern_common.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little and common terns</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But now and again some other tern species join their smaller cousins, such as these common terns.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY83poL5QQQyKo-0nKEZ_SqSU2-YDKwCJePctDYD4au4OL7Ta5VbHtvvFpjP9HffW0HSFxycRzYiXP1cLKc_EmZCsdS3SX3Y5zDwFhceOjWASYh3FahSKvzHoQXGBMtpwVQE8oQPxIkpM/s1600/tern_common1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY83poL5QQQyKo-0nKEZ_SqSU2-YDKwCJePctDYD4au4OL7Ta5VbHtvvFpjP9HffW0HSFxycRzYiXP1cLKc_EmZCsdS3SX3Y5zDwFhceOjWASYh3FahSKvzHoQXGBMtpwVQE8oQPxIkpM/s1600/tern_common1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common tern (<i>Sterna hirundo</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The gull-billed terns are a size bigger and easily spotted. They're not always around and never numerous, typically just one or two birds. This bird is still in breeding plumage.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjlVYRF2K7MJ4oNqYKfkGqMZREO3_xX-sfnKLSMKo4NjhCtehhcpaoT2Ne7G62B0Ma4wj6zWnXupWI4AVEM9CdgEuvY0FR1-qL8dvU79mGscdhQD2Zg7FyIf9GqxtbKG9eIlViCj_va0/s1600/tern_gullbilled1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjlVYRF2K7MJ4oNqYKfkGqMZREO3_xX-sfnKLSMKo4NjhCtehhcpaoT2Ne7G62B0Ma4wj6zWnXupWI4AVEM9CdgEuvY0FR1-qL8dvU79mGscdhQD2Zg7FyIf9GqxtbKG9eIlViCj_va0/s1600/tern_gullbilled1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gull-billed tern (<i>Gelochelidon nilotica</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I think this bird is already loosing its breeding plumage.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH20wAJlDPGlNxd8-NnFeBNjSLi-DJGPX3pakceFiGLgVT_DXW1O1uvKjmBA9PoFxX9a-Nd7lShyk6D6TLBwe6ov0I_IlerePk6RY6ZvgbR_WpjefFmXjjat-EKen4zfCuVSEgQy8yHlY/s1600/tern_gullbilled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH20wAJlDPGlNxd8-NnFeBNjSLi-DJGPX3pakceFiGLgVT_DXW1O1uvKjmBA9PoFxX9a-Nd7lShyk6D6TLBwe6ov0I_IlerePk6RY6ZvgbR_WpjefFmXjjat-EKen4zfCuVSEgQy8yHlY/s1600/tern_gullbilled.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gull-billed tern (<i>Gelochelidon nilotica</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Whimbrels are never seen in large numbers here. This was one of three birds, that flew in only for a very short period. Here it is taking off on its way further south.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrEKib99Rshlm3Sn3oSxfK8smzkoOmvyXpVYqFWqeSa58ERhF_dK6vRwWt1ecq3gpdnIzuMrimsQO9rcGZXyWDj73ZJKQPC50C9wT9vXxzNEOVjLiKaea9DznskbWCfAOs63JXHG1Ggg/s1600/whimbrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrEKib99Rshlm3Sn3oSxfK8smzkoOmvyXpVYqFWqeSa58ERhF_dK6vRwWt1ecq3gpdnIzuMrimsQO9rcGZXyWDj73ZJKQPC50C9wT9vXxzNEOVjLiKaea9DznskbWCfAOs63JXHG1Ggg/s1600/whimbrel.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whimbrel (<i>Numenius phaeopus</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The grass lands are getting a little busier too. The number of egrets is clearly on the rise and little ringed plovers can be seen here and there. A few golden plovers were seen foraging just behind the beach wall in the shallow grassy pools.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXZzahW3rOmd2HF0onbPBUP19EXT8Kr6ZG3LRDAK-SGwk4MTPp8tbZV6J8elBVy1sj1B6-j13yIgrw26S1UEaUrzXkIpIJPVh13hEGYUED6VTBjUHB3h1TCzMusBOTTFrWVSkFY05eTo/s1600/plover_golden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXZzahW3rOmd2HF0onbPBUP19EXT8Kr6ZG3LRDAK-SGwk4MTPp8tbZV6J8elBVy1sj1B6-j13yIgrw26S1UEaUrzXkIpIJPVh13hEGYUED6VTBjUHB3h1TCzMusBOTTFrWVSkFY05eTo/s1600/plover_golden.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific golden plover (<i>Pluvialis fulva</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The last pic is not of a migrant, but of a thinly scattered forest species: a young male scarlet-breasted flowerpecker. I bumped into this bird in the weekend and I think this is my best shot of this species (or at least the sharpest…) so far.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisy8T4JdxEbd6mycJHOQai1dYDkTsCUaSYB8UAbDEKbCONg1NDrMC1t6xenPgQXvqfVyU88u_aXUObNmzq4-OB8soKlsS76uggUiFYzeBO080-uXflyL_FW6wmBWE6uUXtbh8eRytKXjI/s1600/flowerpecker_scarletbreasted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisy8T4JdxEbd6mycJHOQai1dYDkTsCUaSYB8UAbDEKbCONg1NDrMC1t6xenPgQXvqfVyU88u_aXUObNmzq4-OB8soKlsS76uggUiFYzeBO080-uXflyL_FW6wmBWE6uUXtbh8eRytKXjI/s1600/flowerpecker_scarletbreasted.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarlet-breasted flowerpecker (<i>Dicaeum thoracicus</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I am possibly planning a small recce to the Baram estuary this week or next, which should be a good location for some additional waders.</div>
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Folkert, 31/08/2014</div>
Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-67930808290369776422014-08-20T06:40:00.005-07:002014-08-20T15:30:17.349-07:00Updates from Panaga<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I haven't been posting a lot on this blog this year. The fact of the matter is that I have still been out a few times, but just haven't found the time to document it here. So, without ado…here are some brief highlights of the last few weeks. </div>
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Mid July I spend a couple of early morning hours in the Badas area. First time that I came across a small bird wave there. In its wake I heard and spotted this male green broadbill. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7iIzGyu2mLaS3umDxzpeqIaERD6MspNuxkaLwmXJTXT-8TPHgOdWFNL0CHOaSa6FL-8zzt3hvBvasOQfnx3Lsf25h9FS7u2FOY3b2bsUSb83rpxSFCl5OibQDtMa_RbxKCVMDfoo1tmM/s1600/broadbill_green1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7iIzGyu2mLaS3umDxzpeqIaERD6MspNuxkaLwmXJTXT-8TPHgOdWFNL0CHOaSa6FL-8zzt3hvBvasOQfnx3Lsf25h9FS7u2FOY3b2bsUSb83rpxSFCl5OibQDtMa_RbxKCVMDfoo1tmM/s1600/broadbill_green1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green broadbill (<i>Calyptomena viridis</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Obviously a nice encounter as this is a stunning species. What's more, this was also the first time I encountered a green broadbill in the peat swamp forest, so not a bad record either.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
The most prominent species in the bird wave were some drongo's, two different malkoha species and a pair of crimson-winged woodpeckers. A couple of scaly-crowned babblers also passed close by.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1YLKBv16gGsKIQz_S44WNl0V3Q9mnLgaGwS685cBYV4HJ6bMx0vOiRihaRSWKuqw7jYdO7WP7HA3RfYEJ9UHr82F74-vHQbuodAWpW5xdYnUzr65lW1XZuXhTIJmtzO_EYuBgUHiko8/s1600/babbler_scalycrowned2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1YLKBv16gGsKIQz_S44WNl0V3Q9mnLgaGwS685cBYV4HJ6bMx0vOiRihaRSWKuqw7jYdO7WP7HA3RfYEJ9UHr82F74-vHQbuodAWpW5xdYnUzr65lW1XZuXhTIJmtzO_EYuBgUHiko8/s1600/babbler_scalycrowned2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scaly-crowned babbler (<i>Malacopteron cinereum</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And the wave wouldn't be complete without a couple of hook-billed bulbuls, this is after all a peat swamp area. I am still hoping to get that killer shot one day...</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrr-CFD1vR7mDoHiRNTBK5Ks6Rjyp9kpc6kaW6ndfDE9XR8_0T8ihPPft2C0iQJIwEq6Pqo517Aolp5PSWit0eoiCuyCXjJi4pA_rUAe_DJMIRlRPelDWWttUZjUxM6FcU0KDj6ZH5C8/s1600/bulbul_hookbilled1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrr-CFD1vR7mDoHiRNTBK5Ks6Rjyp9kpc6kaW6ndfDE9XR8_0T8ihPPft2C0iQJIwEq6Pqo517Aolp5PSWit0eoiCuyCXjJi4pA_rUAe_DJMIRlRPelDWWttUZjUxM6FcU0KDj6ZH5C8/s1600/bulbul_hookbilled1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hook-billed bulbul (<i>Setornis criniger</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Another highlight was an evening walk through the Teraja forest last week. We walked in late afternoon and walked back when darkness had fully set in. The real aim was to record some night birds. Of course we didn't hear a single owl, nightjar or frogmouth (the real target) on the way back, but the walk was still excellent. It is always a special feeling to walk in perfect darkness surrounded by all the sounds of the forest. We still managed to see some animal life, like this rough-sided frog, a common lowland species.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQU4lvN-QyAlnQvUXskkgTQR3rptCZVimz1dnJ2c2m1NmPiJq0ijrMfO3GI2tk1IrtCeyvsOq6kfvmkFrWS-4eXsT9BP7V4yoAwqEW2gTxZYUUPQQxOqx1p0aYqGDd52UhXhYEdd-E_U/s1600/frog_rough-sided2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQU4lvN-QyAlnQvUXskkgTQR3rptCZVimz1dnJ2c2m1NmPiJq0ijrMfO3GI2tk1IrtCeyvsOq6kfvmkFrWS-4eXsT9BP7V4yoAwqEW2gTxZYUUPQQxOqx1p0aYqGDd52UhXhYEdd-E_U/s1600/frog_rough-sided2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rough-sided frog (<i>Hylarana glandulosa</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We also came across a stunning huntsman spider. Not sure if these awesome colors serve a specific purpose, but I did know that I wasn't going to pick it up!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkozdmHwqX2X9aSbYyazmlBAsOQ2788Qcuj_qbJ5xP8j3qB1qylfJyJmyAIBW1G9rVdpHcyu7-SnjXxugbsdkgNFiOc9QnP2AEd-EzXQwb1AH35LMnQGM07rUfPzqSjVJ3HUTUhflmG4/s1600/spider_sp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkozdmHwqX2X9aSbYyazmlBAsOQ2788Qcuj_qbJ5xP8j3qB1qylfJyJmyAIBW1G9rVdpHcyu7-SnjXxugbsdkgNFiOc9QnP2AEd-EzXQwb1AH35LMnQGM07rUfPzqSjVJ3HUTUhflmG4/s1600/spider_sp.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huntsman spider sp.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">A pair of bright eyes in the canopy proved to be a black flying squirrel. Only the second time I've ever seen this species.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysQi3WBS-G0UzBwQP1q4YFlgxfxdThsCjTN07Jbh9AL8-ssdJiOvci5jWirr_jzBxE0TLCU8fRVNDcICzssXm_wskws54fT9G9E3WDxlo7lZvkwDqiQA1nCrsNuqsjAC6rwjDJn0LFM0/s1600/squirrel_blackflying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysQi3WBS-G0UzBwQP1q4YFlgxfxdThsCjTN07Jbh9AL8-ssdJiOvci5jWirr_jzBxE0TLCU8fRVNDcICzssXm_wskws54fT9G9E3WDxlo7lZvkwDqiQA1nCrsNuqsjAC6rwjDJn0LFM0/s1600/squirrel_blackflying.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black flying squirrel (<i>Aeromys tephromelas</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finally, the migration season has started in earnest. I had a spare hour last Sunday after lunch and decided to try for some pictures of the terns that can typically be seen close to the shore this time of year. While looking for the terns a flock of mixed waders landed right in between some foraging plovers. I was quite pleased to see 3 curlew sandpipers.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislygx_LLHKBE7oOHi-xDMYKDmm4JyO911PFOeJI0vkCQ4qill5fQvsHqOrHYk6c3FCHvCasC14lKiug6W3YukswTimh7tO9NHpZ8fDkajp7_41GSqE-lM6-abxmLFSxHGk229gP7jUFc/s1600/sandpiper_curlew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislygx_LLHKBE7oOHi-xDMYKDmm4JyO911PFOeJI0vkCQ4qill5fQvsHqOrHYk6c3FCHvCasC14lKiug6W3YukswTimh7tO9NHpZ8fDkajp7_41GSqE-lM6-abxmLFSxHGk229gP7jUFc/s1600/sandpiper_curlew.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curlew sandpiper (<i>Calidris ferruginea</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The curlew sandpipers were joined by close to 10 terek sandpipers, which is a species that is not often recorded on the beaches close to Panaga.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HMinUG6Si8vHK3of-94Pfu73ZgpY3dnf6Anla9Zus3Hx53hTrw6MWiJCbJngE8rZ-Sd1NrTxQAwtNUU-PJbk4aFGAy39URaAHfseaW8zmIwFH5U8cwHiXV5r9eKjReX9XxiN6cCzB_w/s1600/sandpiper_terek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HMinUG6Si8vHK3of-94Pfu73ZgpY3dnf6Anla9Zus3Hx53hTrw6MWiJCbJngE8rZ-Sd1NrTxQAwtNUU-PJbk4aFGAy39URaAHfseaW8zmIwFH5U8cwHiXV5r9eKjReX9XxiN6cCzB_w/s1600/sandpiper_terek.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terek sandpiper (<i>Xenus cinerea</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The plovers were also showing well. Here is a greater sand plover.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8l8Biqjc-ZOTqRGb1D2JtPkJ6ipTr-tUioGfKQsaKr2DezxgGvOGk6y10ZO3HXwTHBnDmSDcXIO1OCU5GGxBE_gySxXi1-UOrahqXZiVfahC-7j51jstliK_Fk_t6RbEUP9WmZmt-Ctg/s1600/plover_greatersand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8l8Biqjc-ZOTqRGb1D2JtPkJ6ipTr-tUioGfKQsaKr2DezxgGvOGk6y10ZO3HXwTHBnDmSDcXIO1OCU5GGxBE_gySxXi1-UOrahqXZiVfahC-7j51jstliK_Fk_t6RbEUP9WmZmt-Ctg/s1600/plover_greatersand.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greater sand plover (<i>Charadrius leschenaultii</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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And here 2 lesser sand plovers.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuT_Ps0eQTCy3vnn86C53nWD_X0CdRHWZ_Wg2P0zgkPIL3eD4ddiEEI02clKVy16fRN4tJR2nmCuLNm2_b27bJc4nbM_S7dTKB6JlLNkzDd4tokB_PH_OloV_QqtDFuYvRXUdRN7tTN4/s1600/plover_lessersand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuT_Ps0eQTCy3vnn86C53nWD_X0CdRHWZ_Wg2P0zgkPIL3eD4ddiEEI02clKVy16fRN4tJR2nmCuLNm2_b27bJc4nbM_S7dTKB6JlLNkzDd4tokB_PH_OloV_QqtDFuYvRXUdRN7tTN4/s1600/plover_lessersand.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lesser sand plover (<i>Charadrius mongolus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In addition to species shown here I also saw red-necked stints, redshank, golden plovers and numerous common sandpipers and wood sandpipers in the coastal grasses and mudflats. </div>
<br />
A final update is that I recently learned that my time in Brunei is coming to an end. End October we will move on to our next location in the United States. Still a few weeks to reach the magic 400 species in Borneo - I'll either need a good dose of luck in Brunei or another venture across the border!<br />
<br />
Folkert, 19/08/2014</div>
</div>
Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-47941457770275763682014-07-03T05:14:00.000-07:002014-07-03T05:38:14.478-07:00Badas againThe Badas area is one of my favorite spots in Brunei. It is mostly prime peat swamp forest with some smaller areas of Kerangas. One plus point is that it is close to home. The other is that the area hides some type specialists that are hard to find elsewhere, examples are hook-billed bulbul, bristlehead, grey-breasted babbler and cinnamon-headed green pigeon.<br />
<br />
Besides these specialists the species diversity is relatively large, abundance however not so much. Especially in the forest itself birding can put a real test to your patience. What's more, when you do finally get to see a bird it will typically do anything in its power to ensure that you will not leave with a good picture.<br />
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A small group of dusky broadbills I saw recently pretty much stuck to the canopy. Of course, when one of the birds decided to come down it chose the only branch directly overhead.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_7h9XdneqbiF1iRSgAkHOxynR6FRsF99GURexfh1Glwwq3L0NyvL0cc5ycFhAN78oxY3tzu8mxcAtsdHIYFM_qG-XH-pNmrgj0tbLzwhdG0Vq13wp1GX0MCzAbd90tOOTGTwZXZFqlQ/s1600/DBB_1_FH_01_03_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_7h9XdneqbiF1iRSgAkHOxynR6FRsF99GURexfh1Glwwq3L0NyvL0cc5ycFhAN78oxY3tzu8mxcAtsdHIYFM_qG-XH-pNmrgj0tbLzwhdG0Vq13wp1GX0MCzAbd90tOOTGTwZXZFqlQ/s1600/DBB_1_FH_01_03_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dusky broadbill (<i>Corydon sumatranus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Due to the habit of rarely perching still for more than a few seconds flowerpeckers are not the easiest birds to get on camera under any circumstance. But this rare brown-backed flowerpecker also valued a rather large personal space and for 20 minutes I was chasing only brief glimpses after which it left the scene completely; these heavy crops are the best material I ended up with.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyVzaR7TPUd5IyrPrBN8JpcGDOmHxJ8C0QVwDz8wPjXz75IVe3GGthtZ85PExJsuR_AxrwxHYXkgpDQVdIfi5yMHb4QQtEDKwvH9m371LaUbElr16m1thNJsqQxkT3eaUD6D8IyOC0II/s1600/BBFP_1_FH_12_04_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyVzaR7TPUd5IyrPrBN8JpcGDOmHxJ8C0QVwDz8wPjXz75IVe3GGthtZ85PExJsuR_AxrwxHYXkgpDQVdIfi5yMHb4QQtEDKwvH9m371LaUbElr16m1thNJsqQxkT3eaUD6D8IyOC0II/s1600/BBFP_1_FH_12_04_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown-backed flowerpecker (<i>Dicaeum Everetti</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpvfxSqLps75YEFrPjHD7b09CgqBDuxeWPSauD1OyRoinea4FLGo0OmS7NsfFxaf_c8bZWiXDJjp03YWjPJX6SCR0UuBb9iDlHR97lSy8a3sPAqRkvRX-NP65O1yBM-AF28EsRfEoa4k/s1600/BBFP_2_FH_12_04_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpvfxSqLps75YEFrPjHD7b09CgqBDuxeWPSauD1OyRoinea4FLGo0OmS7NsfFxaf_c8bZWiXDJjp03YWjPJX6SCR0UuBb9iDlHR97lSy8a3sPAqRkvRX-NP65O1yBM-AF28EsRfEoa4k/s1600/BBFP_2_FH_12_04_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown-backed flowerpecker (<i>Dicaeum Everetti</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
To offset this frequent frustration there are of course also the more satisfying sightings. I think someone wise once mentioned that the best sighting for a birder is a mammal (… or reptile in this case). I don't believe that is entirely true, but a second sighting of this Malaysian brown snake last weekend on the Badas road came pretty close.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6OD82TFFXxobHbDd3B98DPAieI1gKgI4WGYoL0VYNnktND_HUFhFyS4ZfYIbDh5WE98sQ0TpiQLi7TMYdIsgaxiabZITiYomihQfb9bDSPOwIw_p3z9nI6_OOruWcdOyfb7QpW-atKE/s1600/MBS_1_FH_30_06_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6OD82TFFXxobHbDd3B98DPAieI1gKgI4WGYoL0VYNnktND_HUFhFyS4ZfYIbDh5WE98sQ0TpiQLi7TMYdIsgaxiabZITiYomihQfb9bDSPOwIw_p3z9nI6_OOruWcdOyfb7QpW-atKE/s1600/MBS_1_FH_30_06_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malaysian brown snake (<i>Xenelaphis Hexagonotus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dNHcPC-1gNyTBZXNuj-0sSnkqX_IGkQVVS1fLTaXuKmK8pDYTHVoBI6ioScNYyTYV6_NNBJAB77bKRe57FK-qRJrOQcABe2R2nlcPo2TOMoGz2CP8lDJ7oMjkiNFnx1fEbtWkHhD9i8/s1600/MBS_3_FH_30_06_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dNHcPC-1gNyTBZXNuj-0sSnkqX_IGkQVVS1fLTaXuKmK8pDYTHVoBI6ioScNYyTYV6_NNBJAB77bKRe57FK-qRJrOQcABe2R2nlcPo2TOMoGz2CP8lDJ7oMjkiNFnx1fEbtWkHhD9i8/s1600/MBS_3_FH_30_06_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malaysian brown snake (<i>Xenelaphis Hexagonotus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TLCNREag2ATdJtXXIuOVDGaukt3RkQ5p-SR8ZGfdKEUUGWUHTdTDAVQIGHmw4rIe3xT-pDOg_slm9sn2WRZ3CfglU1LTT-DpuxLqVgsL9T-eViqiX0E6J0Ubu0RROpBGajJJ9iBA0zc/s1600/MBS_4_FH_30_06_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TLCNREag2ATdJtXXIuOVDGaukt3RkQ5p-SR8ZGfdKEUUGWUHTdTDAVQIGHmw4rIe3xT-pDOg_slm9sn2WRZ3CfglU1LTT-DpuxLqVgsL9T-eViqiX0E6J0Ubu0RROpBGajJJ9iBA0zc/s1600/MBS_4_FH_30_06_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malaysian brown snake (<i>Xenelaphis Hexagonotus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had seen this species once before on KB road and the picture I then managed even made it to the second edition of the Snakes of Borneo field guide by Robert Stuebing et. al. that was launched recently. Supposedly good pictures of this snake are hard to come by - this part of Brunei seems to be the exception to the rule.<br />
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Folkert, 03/07/2014Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-83632316317664137382014-06-03T06:19:00.000-07:002014-06-03T06:22:40.954-07:00Brunei, 1st and 2nd of JuneOn 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: <a href="http://www.sea-alarm.org/">http://www.sea-alarm.org</a>) 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.<br />
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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.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvZwLVLbd1JiH6OkM3nyh5SWjnK9m7XZRA4oTom4pbzlywUy1aaTGEiBQarLv1noldXiCci-qr2HWOjNyRU3Hy3Jt6tvdUFdRFZ6rKyCFikzRlPhJ8Qrory1uJofx9c4cUwvZOEVTYoA/s1600/HB_01_FH_01_06_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvZwLVLbd1JiH6OkM3nyh5SWjnK9m7XZRA4oTom4pbzlywUy1aaTGEiBQarLv1noldXiCci-qr2HWOjNyRU3Hy3Jt6tvdUFdRFZ6rKyCFikzRlPhJ8Qrory1uJofx9c4cUwvZOEVTYoA/s1600/HB_01_FH_01_06_2014.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horsfield's babbler (<i>Malacocincia sepiaria</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On our way back we came across this Green crested lizard and I couldn't resist a few shots.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCAgCDKEcZBH34k-WL3Qu9RjkYV5lAdVDdNHsGNIUr5vJYcXqAQMlbXU9g4xLnx0GsSGJV4I0aQgLmzNv5oqjIOpIJdc7IvrVyWI_mrApFXjIsi1tqWgCvvHnwcOyYJ3MfbA8fJTr1HY/s1600/CL_01_FH_01_06_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCAgCDKEcZBH34k-WL3Qu9RjkYV5lAdVDdNHsGNIUr5vJYcXqAQMlbXU9g4xLnx0GsSGJV4I0aQgLmzNv5oqjIOpIJdc7IvrVyWI_mrApFXjIsi1tqWgCvvHnwcOyYJ3MfbA8fJTr1HY/s1600/CL_01_FH_01_06_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green crested lizard (<i>Bronchocela cristatella</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQShxcGJsV_ZMQfJozXOWyZpd859FVPVLzdOJO1yi8R7qoRzePcg_JDk0QdgIlEckbNgNxX9RjpLd7V317vBVCIEb54HAg9xQR15oXQuOFT1HTPdemAS7g3no7HJr298kKs7UrRRw3KTw/s1600/SL_01_FH_02_06_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQShxcGJsV_ZMQfJozXOWyZpd859FVPVLzdOJO1yi8R7qoRzePcg_JDk0QdgIlEckbNgNxX9RjpLd7V317vBVCIEb54HAg9xQR15oXQuOFT1HTPdemAS7g3no7HJr298kKs7UrRRw3KTw/s1600/SL_01_FH_02_06_2014.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slow loris (<i>Nycticebus menagensis</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What both pictures nicely show is the 'grooming claw' on the hind foot, which the loris uses for, you guessed it, grooming.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4PWtYZeNhymMD_uZJxNE8LiCvMGSRTyZLAOVwOV8ZSub_bS0BSdQTSrnJUh2uRvxjU-nbe8beCkySJ9XTkscjdTYWKSXvJ2jcFar3d7XNFS6Pj0mJA6OHzy8cDpdBtoHEeC-87VZxbU/s1600/SL_02_FH_02_06_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4PWtYZeNhymMD_uZJxNE8LiCvMGSRTyZLAOVwOV8ZSub_bS0BSdQTSrnJUh2uRvxjU-nbe8beCkySJ9XTkscjdTYWKSXvJ2jcFar3d7XNFS6Pj0mJA6OHzy8cDpdBtoHEeC-87VZxbU/s1600/SL_02_FH_02_06_2014.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slow loris (<i>Nycticebus menagensis</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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!<br />
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<div>
Folkert 03/06/2014</div>
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Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-54031836370655705712014-05-29T06:46:00.001-07:002014-05-29T12:44:14.207-07:00KB road, May 27thIt's been a while since my last writings on this blog. The main reason is that I've hardly been out; mostly busy with work and we went on a short holiday to Western Australia in between. I did manage to shoot some pictures there, which I will share later.<br />
<br />
Last Tuesday we had a day off and I took the opportunity to spend a couple of morning hours on KB road, where I hadn't been in ages. KB road has lost a little of its appeal in the last two years. I still like the area, but favor it for evening and night drives. During the day, and especially in the morning, I find the ever present bird catchers a little off-putting and prefer to go to quieter areas around Badas and Labi road.<br />
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Still, there is usually always something interesting to be seen. Driving up the road this purple heron was on a high look-out.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHL7ER4Tu20NskWzL58iOXoiy70YTvN0hyphenhyphenTGgzEi6qCGuo_k4Tko70DHWhwFzGh94kyoaVsGEMNCVs5bqcleeIuTQM_1WBPTBeSSwWG3A7qjLDB2VlhtFlrHNbF2Mh6io5xowS_1ZIZ9o/s1600/PH_01_FH_27_05_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHL7ER4Tu20NskWzL58iOXoiy70YTvN0hyphenhyphenTGgzEi6qCGuo_k4Tko70DHWhwFzGh94kyoaVsGEMNCVs5bqcleeIuTQM_1WBPTBeSSwWG3A7qjLDB2VlhtFlrHNbF2Mh6io5xowS_1ZIZ9o/s1600/PH_01_FH_27_05_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple heron (<i>Ardea purperea</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I spend at least 30 minutes trying to call in a white-chested babbler. The bird was only a few feet away but I never got more than a short glimpse. Two great slaty woodpeckers where a little easier to see. The male almost looks black against the bright blue sky. I hadn't seen this species, the largest of all woodpeckers, for a long time and it was nice to get re-acquainted.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIr_v8NXOu-ii04UhWo6X-Cp_o2_A_tECMqNY0cr8nvBfyV05qDqwYm_Voq1d9nBrFx2gbGQCTcdXVHblf-t76VLlm0SIXH302h5fdeLWNCCw_Em4MRTuIi7k79DwLyHxV_8fJ9SSR55U/s1600/GSW_01_FH_27_05_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIr_v8NXOu-ii04UhWo6X-Cp_o2_A_tECMqNY0cr8nvBfyV05qDqwYm_Voq1d9nBrFx2gbGQCTcdXVHblf-t76VLlm0SIXH302h5fdeLWNCCw_Em4MRTuIi7k79DwLyHxV_8fJ9SSR55U/s1600/GSW_01_FH_27_05_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great slaty woodpecker (<i>Mulleripicus pulverulentus</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I got some good views of a banded bay cuckoo, a bird more often heard than seen. Alas, as soon as I moved for my camera the bird flew of. Blue-throated bee-eaters are a very common sight. This is a juvenile, its blue throat just starting to appear.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpqFctSDS5M2xBLAU2mnpOLlY4av4lG14A4yzgC9wqRD6aqOs8fFL7NX0rm2CeT0WNSLZiCiTjj5mzHKJo0Jpti4e3mLznYteGyKm5wjKihjTNFKBh6RqIHYRjThIxZZciJCwNc2kg_o/s1600/BTBE_01_FH_27_05_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdpqFctSDS5M2xBLAU2mnpOLlY4av4lG14A4yzgC9wqRD6aqOs8fFL7NX0rm2CeT0WNSLZiCiTjj5mzHKJo0Jpti4e3mLznYteGyKm5wjKihjTNFKBh6RqIHYRjThIxZZciJCwNc2kg_o/s1600/BTBE_01_FH_27_05_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bleu-throated bee eater (<i>Merops viridis</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finally, a picture of a small crab species that can be frequently seen scuttling sideways across the road. I am certain that they form a delicious snack for the local kingfishers.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gN7ibrP4_k8YjIOhQSA-SRHwl3sinNaJ9Yjo5JvBcaNUfr8842Z2K-icy2fB7B6M9jkzhU4sL_WisaGX2UxpUbtXwq_1osOaH3osSUhyphenhyphenhe4MRDQaO2ZlePK8S_a42G_btdKcgi-hBsU/s1600/Crab_01_FH_27_05_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gN7ibrP4_k8YjIOhQSA-SRHwl3sinNaJ9Yjo5JvBcaNUfr8842Z2K-icy2fB7B6M9jkzhU4sL_WisaGX2UxpUbtXwq_1osOaH3osSUhyphenhyphenhe4MRDQaO2ZlePK8S_a42G_btdKcgi-hBsU/s1600/Crab_01_FH_27_05_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crab species</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
All in all, a very enjoyable morning.<br />
<br />
Folkert, 29/05/2014.<br />
<br />Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-71038349464402941372014-04-06T05:51:00.001-07:002014-04-06T05:51:02.161-07:00Sabah, end of March<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last weekend we went for a small family get away; a couple of days in Kota Kinabalu and 1 night on Mantanani island. The weather was close to perfect and the hotel swimming pool a big hit with my son. I did get up one morning for a little walk around the Tanjung Aru area. The pacific reef egrets were showing well in the soft light of the early morning.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_zvoXAlNOF-amZiOqTOci7W1k8gNJO8DOBHEsREuqBNh1Cx00TcLErGYiYJGx40VNNUubP2ZwXBLJjpAkWENVXebhX6Cich5BlIuubwlpcevlh8I-2tmJsKGOURcpfsQGex6JYgn_iI/s1600/PRE_03_FH_28_03_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_zvoXAlNOF-amZiOqTOci7W1k8gNJO8DOBHEsREuqBNh1Cx00TcLErGYiYJGx40VNNUubP2ZwXBLJjpAkWENVXebhX6Cich5BlIuubwlpcevlh8I-2tmJsKGOURcpfsQGex6JYgn_iI/s1600/PRE_03_FH_28_03_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific reef egret (<i>Egretta sacra</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDMuw3XBNCIGtAr6cCOn8VPlLcuvou5W62_iq2ZHsml3HdnYtbiW7jA8SM7tZOqToOaqxrEc0GpPW-rKdJWp-FaI9fJNG6RB9mTUg8BlPQvgi5tcRt2QBtYUeKQ-96g8fjhVl5GhKRNo/s1600/BRE_04_FH_28_03_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDMuw3XBNCIGtAr6cCOn8VPlLcuvou5W62_iq2ZHsml3HdnYtbiW7jA8SM7tZOqToOaqxrEc0GpPW-rKdJWp-FaI9fJNG6RB9mTUg8BlPQvgi5tcRt2QBtYUeKQ-96g8fjhVl5GhKRNo/s1600/BRE_04_FH_28_03_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific reef egret (<i>Egretta sacra</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A group of night herons flew overhead in the direction of Gaya Island, which I expect is where they roost. I guess this could also be a group of migrant birds.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8M3j1MH-Y-5uhmdQyawFXRjBkpmT6e5bSrPN8fbY-73TuIzKGVaS4YGQLId_EgD5s4M90p3B8Fu7ZcQu8KfCfyBq0GQZ2-oW3d4qcosWU2xdHyOopPU2iNULE5IsYTstaBL165xAENQ/s1600/BCNH_01_FH_28_03_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8M3j1MH-Y-5uhmdQyawFXRjBkpmT6e5bSrPN8fbY-73TuIzKGVaS4YGQLId_EgD5s4M90p3B8Fu7ZcQu8KfCfyBq0GQZ2-oW3d4qcosWU2xdHyOopPU2iNULE5IsYTstaBL165xAENQ/s1600/BCNH_01_FH_28_03_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-crowned night heron (<i>Nycticorax nycticorax</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On Sunday we left Kota Kinabalu for a 1 night stay at Pulau Mantanani. Mantanani is a group of 3 small islands of Sabah's West coast and can be reached from Kota Kinabalu in roughly 3 hours by bus and boat. We stayed at the Mari Mari backpackers lodge. A blue rock thrush had its foraging grounds in front of our hut.<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ001xz65oOcWJjJmG-5VuYR45T-YOBF-RflftEvRrCN1ElQpXLHHSFp3JFREG8MmagmFDDRpgQXwxHWwWUIgJnrEn5V8RIneuW5VUznixjkOmU5IOV0epS_Ok-nfZzgRDzEtMgsJ8RIU/s1600/BRT_02_FH_30_03_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ001xz65oOcWJjJmG-5VuYR45T-YOBF-RflftEvRrCN1ElQpXLHHSFp3JFREG8MmagmFDDRpgQXwxHWwWUIgJnrEn5V8RIneuW5VUznixjkOmU5IOV0epS_Ok-nfZzgRDzEtMgsJ8RIU/s1600/BRT_02_FH_30_03_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue rock thrush (<i>Monticola solitarius</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The islands are mostly known for good diving and snorkeling. It is not just the aquatic life that is on offer in Mantanani; there is also has some good avian fauna. </div>
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Every evening, literally hundreds of frigate birds come to roast on the two smaller islands, and both lesser and Christmas island frigate bird can be seen well. With the setting sun and the water lapping at our toes we got a little lost in the moment - so no pics...</div>
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In the evening I went out to search for the scops owl that shares its name with island. This small owl species is only known from Mantanani and some islands in the Philippines. I had been told that the owls are commonly heard, but are very challenging to see. And indeed, the first owl was already heard from the grounds of the Mari Mari lodge, but didn't show. Luck was with me however this evening and on the small trail I had chosen I saw no less than 4 different individuals and the one below posed very well!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNkgsuyuPwFy-SgPoPe9v8jhu10f5-749kEPdLLKHIiVRcPRtQBy6kXbFlcvSHvIcl69G1hEtcafrDhj8VPsXnX9Be_wKxFiqLoURwEEsFUeT4J-2sfJRotlv5nW0137Ill0gcGd5lFk/s1600/MSO_03_FH_30_03_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNkgsuyuPwFy-SgPoPe9v8jhu10f5-749kEPdLLKHIiVRcPRtQBy6kXbFlcvSHvIcl69G1hEtcafrDhj8VPsXnX9Be_wKxFiqLoURwEEsFUeT4J-2sfJRotlv5nW0137Ill0gcGd5lFk/s1600/MSO_03_FH_30_03_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mantanani scops owl (<i>Otus mantananensis</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NOggrXp3jOqXMJNs1JYXKB5t0JoOzALvkPGnwlY2w7Y2BUPwbjHz3XpwhxHNaTjyrB1oOW62Qi7w5xEB2XWSGyemu5dk8MR8kglQcMuermbbR61-KQ__gPDq2-fBARDTt_fmBKCgByo/s1600/MSO_04_FH_30_03_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NOggrXp3jOqXMJNs1JYXKB5t0JoOzALvkPGnwlY2w7Y2BUPwbjHz3XpwhxHNaTjyrB1oOW62Qi7w5xEB2XWSGyemu5dk8MR8kglQcMuermbbR61-KQ__gPDq2-fBARDTt_fmBKCgByo/s1600/MSO_04_FH_30_03_2014.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mantanani scops owl (<i>Otus mantananensis</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Besides the frigatebirds and the scops owl, the islands are also good for a couple of other island specialists and the next morning I had an hour or so to explore the island a little more. I decided to walk north towards the limestone hills on the main island. The forest and coconut groves that I passed were very good for the Philippine megapode and saw a couple birds, mostly flying off. I also flushed a pair of Nicobar pigeons, which was an unexpected bonus. High up in the trees, grey imperial pigeons could be heard but proved very difficult to see well. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOO6iI6wG8NjjmZRB7lbBQyfTQaCDwjZgoeJQXSZIYDpP_7Ijxn2_yVZW_hkXYprviOPDMsTOkv5lJmZXGGieqNSTAccUDFs9qfkHdtHwsicHrdWcmSeiiq5GpMNYoGmnVoutgrfUjRN0/s1600/GIP_02_FH_31_03_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOO6iI6wG8NjjmZRB7lbBQyfTQaCDwjZgoeJQXSZIYDpP_7Ijxn2_yVZW_hkXYprviOPDMsTOkv5lJmZXGGieqNSTAccUDFs9qfkHdtHwsicHrdWcmSeiiq5GpMNYoGmnVoutgrfUjRN0/s1600/GIP_02_FH_31_03_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey imperial pigeon (<i>Ducula pickeringii</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The remainder of the morning was spend leisurely relaxing next to the beach. Early afternoon the boat left again for the mainland, and our journey home.</div>
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Folkert, 06/04/2014</div>
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Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-24919701581437525452014-02-27T03:49:00.004-08:002014-02-27T03:49:52.787-08:00Paradise flycatcherOne of the birds in Brunei that I always wanted to get on camera is the asian paradise flycatcher. Occasionally these birds are seen in the forests surrounding Labi road and Teraja. Last weekend, during a morning trip to Teraja, we encountered a loud and active male. It flew around us for several minutes - seeing it was one, getting a picture proved a different matter.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivA-yftWrMMQMgUxzFMbXQUVgOTrV0uxyO_RpTfFmexYUQmJepR89KAGprOsIU7mxu84ctQ4VCrTSmi2cdfJiTAIMdz3_hK_S7h3E8su8emcYFczc0RUv__VTj__lC1ncwm11Bd-CNGuU/s1600/PFC_1_FH_22_02_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivA-yftWrMMQMgUxzFMbXQUVgOTrV0uxyO_RpTfFmexYUQmJepR89KAGprOsIU7mxu84ctQ4VCrTSmi2cdfJiTAIMdz3_hK_S7h3E8su8emcYFczc0RUv__VTj__lC1ncwm11Bd-CNGuU/s1600/PFC_1_FH_22_02_2014.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asian paradise flycatcher (<i>Terpsiphone paradisi</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrpCTo5hoDNADcwcSvFvhxPD22uhSNMLStxfBLbUvCbiqgQXEZqGWdBPldU3qiuUSwRqwXq1Igsqh3Tj6OV-8UVoOho3rPTUZu0NRDcomywK0ODS8EkcB2rSK5mSr_FrC96YbIn1qIhE/s1600/PFC_2_FH_22_02_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrpCTo5hoDNADcwcSvFvhxPD22uhSNMLStxfBLbUvCbiqgQXEZqGWdBPldU3qiuUSwRqwXq1Igsqh3Tj6OV-8UVoOho3rPTUZu0NRDcomywK0ODS8EkcB2rSK5mSr_FrC96YbIn1qIhE/s1600/PFC_2_FH_22_02_2014.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Asian paradise flycatcher (<i>Terpsiphone paradisi</i>).</td></tr>
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I finally did get a couple of shots that nicely illustrate how the species got its name. No mistaking this bird, what a splendid little fellow!<div>
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Folkert, 27/02/2014</div>
Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-41614433153672770342014-02-19T15:40:00.000-08:002014-02-19T15:40:45.286-08:00A short visit to the Borneo Highland Resort, SarawakLast weekend I went to the Borneo Highlands resort, close to the town of Kuching. The area around Bornean highland resort, including Mnt. Penrissen received IBA status a couple of years back. The few web references I found (e.g. see <a href="http://digdeep1962.blogspot.com/2009/03/3-4th-march-2009-borneo-highlands.html">digdeep</a> and <a href="http://ronorenstein.blogspot.com/2011/02/sarawak-borneo-highlands-butterflies.html">ron orenstein</a>) had wetted my appetite and I was looking forward to see some good species.<br />
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After a short journey from Brunei I arrived around midday at the resort, with the weather still great. One of the first bird that greeted me was this Temminck's sunbird, feeding in the flowering bushes next to the resort. It was not at all shy and I got a couple of good pictures of this splendid little fellow!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7nHvzKyxCli8SG489O-0Nyrk-5dH39CH-GFYc4h7VPKQfyh2jACDW9owy736sRkTbfxDHYQtjGWwn8N18nGemb1YR22EVRfRbc8-nVgUpkXtUiJaYq_PK0-kLrWZ9Ch6cWi3-_5GfXw/s1600/TSB_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF7nHvzKyxCli8SG489O-0Nyrk-5dH39CH-GFYc4h7VPKQfyh2jACDW9owy736sRkTbfxDHYQtjGWwn8N18nGemb1YR22EVRfRbc8-nVgUpkXtUiJaYq_PK0-kLrWZ9Ch6cWi3-_5GfXw/s1600/TSB_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Temminck's sunbird (<i>Aethopyga temmninckii</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unfortunately the sky was completely overcast a couple of hours later and most of my time was spend in thick fog with short showers thrown in between. Ashy drongo's were everywhere, typical birds found at higher elevation and therefore not that common for me!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDu90mnfPau8sa6ZIng5F7Xe2C-MqffcrVBAc8OZ6QU03-uBjHaDUYAPb1n8sOSXh0ALE8uWwohyff00ZGxPtRLLRFqzXs4oYoubp8N-c8mu5KvpyHTpgOL-TxrdYHpuKgTyVBPNqn6I/s1600/AD_01_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyDu90mnfPau8sa6ZIng5F7Xe2C-MqffcrVBAc8OZ6QU03-uBjHaDUYAPb1n8sOSXh0ALE8uWwohyff00ZGxPtRLLRFqzXs4oYoubp8N-c8mu5KvpyHTpgOL-TxrdYHpuKgTyVBPNqn6I/s1600/AD_01_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashy drongo (<i>Dicrurus leucophaeus</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Another Temminck's sunbird, a juvenile this time.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0k7ke0YVOsaKH6uSl9xSk_fVaMJL6bjUUFmoE_IuCalxc3FUjd5FSRvL64mlHeBp-JwluG6TWho99LZy1X25SVoO_gR98tTyEbUr8vxnlZc-DrVFohEp994Wbo8NKEWRRLsnTOVqVOvQ/s1600/TSB_02_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0k7ke0YVOsaKH6uSl9xSk_fVaMJL6bjUUFmoE_IuCalxc3FUjd5FSRvL64mlHeBp-JwluG6TWho99LZy1X25SVoO_gR98tTyEbUr8vxnlZc-DrVFohEp994Wbo8NKEWRRLsnTOVqVOvQ/s1600/TSB_02_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Temminck's sunbird (<i>Aethopyga temmninckii</i>), a juvenile.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The best bird of the afternoon was without a doubt this scaly-breasted bulbul, a long awaited lifer! In fact I saw at least 3 different individuals. "Canopy" appeared to be the theme of the trip, and against the grey & white clouds ID'ing birds turned out to be a real challenge without the aid of a scope.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpI9WY3MfDCQWrWuPZ-165GHsbLRvEt6IQQ6NedgplvCpW8PVvHqGm7bLx2yVURJEq_5YuuOW620V3cEL6OuvheIf3i-5Jv6nqcsryB6B3akttTRRQXf9su3kQqmcq2YiqPCIiqjbgW0/s1600/SBB_01_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwpI9WY3MfDCQWrWuPZ-165GHsbLRvEt6IQQ6NedgplvCpW8PVvHqGm7bLx2yVURJEq_5YuuOW620V3cEL6OuvheIf3i-5Jv6nqcsryB6B3akttTRRQXf9su3kQqmcq2YiqPCIiqjbgW0/s1600/SBB_01_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scaly-breasted bulbul (<i>Pycnonotus squamatus</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This place is clearly very good for a couple of barbet species, and Bornean barbet is as common here as the blue-eared is in Brunei. As expected the birds were always too high up to get any decent pics.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVj2Mh4qydFZfKLum52QxURbsPo_EtiieQT3HuwCoi1FGp-2HdIycWAbMQe6hNixqSs9KbqqJcMV2GcSRsS3hODS8DTemfuomWK4djJfExJgAvBZYZ2ACm4qAVAMotgSZun3kCO1IfaRk/s1600/BB_01_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVj2Mh4qydFZfKLum52QxURbsPo_EtiieQT3HuwCoi1FGp-2HdIycWAbMQe6hNixqSs9KbqqJcMV2GcSRsS3hODS8DTemfuomWK4djJfExJgAvBZYZ2ACm4qAVAMotgSZun3kCO1IfaRk/s1600/BB_01_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical view of a Bornean barbet (<i>Megalaima exidia</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Later in the afternoon the rain really came down and didn't stop until deep in the night. The next morning the clouds were still hanging low and visibility was only a few meters. After it had cleared up somewhat I walked the open area around the resort and golf course. Ashy tailorbirds are common here as well.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFIMIhg4x2Dk1xVnMYYD16jQ0rTNgaNq4tk1DlgJ4dQPGFPU9wi00C7fRcHK_1mrdYXEuYt7jJcKVmDIUQED0kEfbOiqL02YoLAkRacSAYQQVdSVYF-VnfjRU4hL9PrQeSa2o7Ajv9_A/s1600/AT_01_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFIMIhg4x2Dk1xVnMYYD16jQ0rTNgaNq4tk1DlgJ4dQPGFPU9wi00C7fRcHK_1mrdYXEuYt7jJcKVmDIUQED0kEfbOiqL02YoLAkRacSAYQQVdSVYF-VnfjRU4hL9PrQeSa2o7Ajv9_A/s1600/AT_01_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashy tailorbird (<i>Orthotomus ruficeps</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The golf course was a good place for plaintive cuckoo's. While also common closer to home, the birds in Brunei are notoriously difficult to get on camera and far more often heard than seen. Not so here, the bird below was surprisingly approachable.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7leC73gPMv0LieKZimeLHmBNYbJd73xHOk5bEog8J1PUuyjyztvsrs7Jmaf6S8bgp2rixuD_ULena7M9wHhAWIR90hiSyR67vE0d0VTP_G2erpG9GJVxjV_8FwsUZoQi-CsAjWHG9b90/s1600/PC_01_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7leC73gPMv0LieKZimeLHmBNYbJd73xHOk5bEog8J1PUuyjyztvsrs7Jmaf6S8bgp2rixuD_ULena7M9wHhAWIR90hiSyR67vE0d0VTP_G2erpG9GJVxjV_8FwsUZoQi-CsAjWHG9b90/s1600/PC_01_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plaintive cuckoo (<i>Cacomantus merulinus</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Maybe it was my imagination, but the calls seemed distinctly higher pitched than its lowland cousins in Brunei.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2u2479Uso7VPA_0vAhaL_nr2emWCrhv4ZjzbDruARJWx_e8jSnCVhQbRoIyZO4iQ8nifGodVn8DkNN5ozr_FdwfnyiOoQINdT3-5KESxf8l0vf9K76gtrWWQ8kLBj2nS2KdM0cTb9uCc/s1600/PC_2_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2u2479Uso7VPA_0vAhaL_nr2emWCrhv4ZjzbDruARJWx_e8jSnCVhQbRoIyZO4iQ8nifGodVn8DkNN5ozr_FdwfnyiOoQINdT3-5KESxf8l0vf9K76gtrWWQ8kLBj2nS2KdM0cTb9uCc/s1600/PC_2_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plaintive cuckoo (<i>Cacomantus merulinus</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Later in the morning I walked the main trail in the forest. First bird on camera, a grey-headed canary flycatcher.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOSl1xnvl_LcYPsEixGUuLx_XIN29kvFK5YIfx_LLog5mw4YY_JguBa5WzjNMxA2-YzmxrSJllzPc-8UXKhGqYSOB7AVFNvktMVkNA9xbY4qHjirBawevirGrk_ZS85fhu-Nq2bj3emc/s1600/GHCF_01_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOSl1xnvl_LcYPsEixGUuLx_XIN29kvFK5YIfx_LLog5mw4YY_JguBa5WzjNMxA2-YzmxrSJllzPc-8UXKhGqYSOB7AVFNvktMVkNA9xbY4qHjirBawevirGrk_ZS85fhu-Nq2bj3emc/s1600/GHCF_01_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey-headed canary flycatcher (<i>Culicicapa ceylonensis</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There was plenty of activity and I was fortunate to add grey-headed babbler to my life list. While trying to get some pictures of a very active Horsfield's babbler, two green broadbills flew into view and were clearly checking me out.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7r0Mvk6es5DeU7bzIdjSPayXrnmpZGnPzawjpjp0ayBKjYgTHAvPeQHeCLgBJoOFXfATV8Jbbn108uRnybDSDzLYKqK_Tz-bpmPF0r6AZe6f3Yz2lDFhjiiKuZLFVSk_zMOAPUrME4h8/s1600/GBB_02_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7r0Mvk6es5DeU7bzIdjSPayXrnmpZGnPzawjpjp0ayBKjYgTHAvPeQHeCLgBJoOFXfATV8Jbbn108uRnybDSDzLYKqK_Tz-bpmPF0r6AZe6f3Yz2lDFhjiiKuZLFVSk_zMOAPUrME4h8/s1600/GBB_02_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female green broadbill (<i>Caloptomena viridis</i>), a juvenile.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I soon lost the babbler and focused my attention on the broadbills. The birds were both juveniles and kept in contact with a soft continuous call that I hadn't heard before. And they weren't camera-shy!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafsy9Sth4Y0YDCM1GTEcQdP3RRahM4mi0GH6nd1WFnTfuN3DLvFvLA7QvTL6Cna2UNqIfv-3OBlT6GcJb30uA4-P6Jth9ivFx_RX4m2GOJ17EONRAtEua_ecQKV4_VIXzG7I2IdFKMgI/s1600/GBB_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafsy9Sth4Y0YDCM1GTEcQdP3RRahM4mi0GH6nd1WFnTfuN3DLvFvLA7QvTL6Cna2UNqIfv-3OBlT6GcJb30uA4-P6Jth9ivFx_RX4m2GOJ17EONRAtEua_ecQKV4_VIXzG7I2IdFKMgI/s1600/GBB_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green broadbill (<i>Caloptomena viridis</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After that encounter most of the activity was well beyond the reach of my camera. I had some good, though distant, views of two very loud crested jays. I had secretly also hoped for banded and blue-banded pitta, but unfortunately I could not entice any birds to respond.<br />
<br />
After my afternoon siesta the sky had only turned a deeper shade of grey and soon the rain came poring down. No birding but I can now thoroughly recommend "de Velser affaire", a book detailing plots and schemes surrounding the Dutch resistance in and around my hometown of Velsen during the second world war (the book is written in Dutch though...)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jG2dZI1cOT26zRJbWI3BBXYcuNaIHHVofOeGBrR68Wr2EnWjUlaCPCxDtlojxsf6PHKjvN3Q37DnaCgrUjrRPjeyIdK07omw3acL7-wcZO5Rcyyx8DgWX_fWfGWZChwSSGFnv_LZU1I/s1600/Rain_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jG2dZI1cOT26zRJbWI3BBXYcuNaIHHVofOeGBrR68Wr2EnWjUlaCPCxDtlojxsf6PHKjvN3Q37DnaCgrUjrRPjeyIdK07omw3acL7-wcZO5Rcyyx8DgWX_fWfGWZChwSSGFnv_LZU1I/s1600/Rain_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Afternoon rain; the view from my room...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The weather improved slightly during the evening and a short night walk produced some frogs and a nightjar was flapping about.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxT_7L40n6HjJNJ3vax2hgBfUHbbiKrCrA6psAiEawvddKpfiSGpHi5YmbZHAyzkIrQLxvV_3GpAwOzDv7qB0HO_UohTopzTC7zVSV_RG7xP1m2t11jcCQQyWmmswxyXA2YLGRtGtb1p4/s1600/FROG_01_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxT_7L40n6HjJNJ3vax2hgBfUHbbiKrCrA6psAiEawvddKpfiSGpHi5YmbZHAyzkIrQLxvV_3GpAwOzDv7qB0HO_UohTopzTC7zVSV_RG7xP1m2t11jcCQQyWmmswxyXA2YLGRtGtb1p4/s1600/FROG_01_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frog species</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While there are only very limited online resources to help identify Bornean frogs, there is one website that is truly excellent: <a href="http://www.frogsofborneo.org/">www.frogsofborneo.org</a>. Even so, I have yet to ID both frogs... I'll need to do a little more digging.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTX21xxlKCbicKXWy0c0rfIvU4FHgKzAToI0YTL4GFoy_V8a68AI-Y-eVBb-ay6Wvn7fbVnAShqZQs9LsAn33k9GDHGq8pOaDE5WQqsx3jXkuLkub5_owxQzWI0k9UEsN63nrcvzcXLWM/s1600/FROG_02_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTX21xxlKCbicKXWy0c0rfIvU4FHgKzAToI0YTL4GFoy_V8a68AI-Y-eVBb-ay6Wvn7fbVnAShqZQs9LsAn33k9GDHGq8pOaDE5WQqsx3jXkuLkub5_owxQzWI0k9UEsN63nrcvzcXLWM/s1600/FROG_02_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frog species</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As luck would have it, the nightjar landed close by: another grey nightjar and I even managed a picture with my 85 mm lens.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_VhvvvfBu-7OI_Nv_h6DkHNbhgRm3X5pzm6amJAN9rFR3vvm6PGn-J5_FfAXQN4TWfuVNgGHJ-1spsfZc5ui897ZouK6cwGdH-d_AwmQ5io85UGc43-hFh62QEuvkbwtnmmP9Fmd4OE/s1600/GN_01_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_VhvvvfBu-7OI_Nv_h6DkHNbhgRm3X5pzm6amJAN9rFR3vvm6PGn-J5_FfAXQN4TWfuVNgGHJ-1spsfZc5ui897ZouK6cwGdH-d_AwmQ5io85UGc43-hFh62QEuvkbwtnmmP9Fmd4OE/s1600/GN_01_FH_15_02_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey nightjar (<i>Caprimulgus indica).</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Not too bad! But not nearly as confiding as the grey nightjar that we regularly see closer to home. This individual is very attached to its little patch on the road, where it is reliably found on almost every night. Last pic of this blog-entry, the grey nightjar in Brunei from 2 weeks ago.<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-xnJ-4uDSZpve_NMkC06zqOS6BzanOfkiuPeNlhLOMOKpFk_62YPnNF9ELzd2KbZZENk08dViCdTVv6z_xGHqSU_qEFPmx6ChSbl3Kc-Bnk8VdAr2TBA_i-3iEE6qRfqAgwMDh1Tu1w/s1600/GN_01_FH_30_01_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-xnJ-4uDSZpve_NMkC06zqOS6BzanOfkiuPeNlhLOMOKpFk_62YPnNF9ELzd2KbZZENk08dViCdTVv6z_xGHqSU_qEFPmx6ChSbl3Kc-Bnk8VdAr2TBA_i-3iEE6qRfqAgwMDh1Tu1w/s1600/GN_01_FH_30_01_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey nightjar (<i>Caprimulgus indica).</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="text-align: left;">Despite the weather the total tally was just over 50 species when I left for Brunei the next morning. I dipped on the pygmy white-eye, one of my target species for the trip. I very much enjoyed this little get-away and thoroughly recommend the Bornean highlands resort. Not only is it easy to get to, the place seems to offer easy opportunities to 'score' species that are really difficult elsewhere.</span><br />
<br />
Folkert, 19/02/2014.</div>
Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-90930841709781945572014-01-24T22:51:00.002-08:002014-01-25T23:47:02.199-08:00More migrants in BruneiA small overview of some encounters from the last two weeks. To start of 6 red-throated pipits were found around Seria's billion barrel monument by Zack during his visit to Panaga. The pouring rain did not provide perfect light conditions but I did get a few pictures in before we moved on for some tasty keow teow in Seria town.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZIvSHzuBK60tAARqRQmhRSHWIbNhMpVZkg_oZ2Nfaphvck4cpLJcRgPIV5h8bliuVJ2dkNsjZ5iazevHgvss1DudUrdw5DTUvRxoH9HJJob7UFU1oBZmd8v7VVDm0-PeCzmYowlhGi0/s1600/RTP_01_FH_12_01_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZIvSHzuBK60tAARqRQmhRSHWIbNhMpVZkg_oZ2Nfaphvck4cpLJcRgPIV5h8bliuVJ2dkNsjZ5iazevHgvss1DudUrdw5DTUvRxoH9HJJob7UFU1oBZmd8v7VVDm0-PeCzmYowlhGi0/s1600/RTP_01_FH_12_01_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-throated pipit (<i>Anthus cervinus</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
According to Phillipps' field guide this is the commonest migrant pipit throughout Borneo. For the area around our hometown in Brunei this is not the case. This was only my second sighting and the red-throated pipit is here an uncommon migrant at best; Richard's pipit is more common (even though it is easily confused with the resident paddyfield pipit).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0J3dhmQ3Za7XylHUDXQQuyeMis9_K1kZupW2mh-3MbOYsmmZlPafQ3U1Cn84y48QVFmAnAHgBO5rz4b0dNlcugBnEAN12G_-AOoIMGV_B1eWmYHuou5uoOZvFAVoAkKqF-ngt9Hssq4/s1600/RTP_02_FH_12_01_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0J3dhmQ3Za7XylHUDXQQuyeMis9_K1kZupW2mh-3MbOYsmmZlPafQ3U1Cn84y48QVFmAnAHgBO5rz4b0dNlcugBnEAN12G_-AOoIMGV_B1eWmYHuou5uoOZvFAVoAkKqF-ngt9Hssq4/s1600/RTP_02_FH_12_01_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-throated pipit (<i>Anthus cervinus</i>).</td></tr>
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Another scarce migrant that was seen around the Seria grasslands was this common kestrel flying next to the road. The best I could do was this photo, shot from within my parked car at an impossible angle.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ5S8x9IIAVnop9SLQqHybJxcm1eGWawLwfYmtNai-fkq6wHj2DGquNFlVevm0J1IhOZ7a2L4RxlICCrVsAsuVBCTGUdqbmf7G6zBQquEN44GNi_OC3q-ux3JZPzvzPUE9zr3gMBAyZg/s1600/Kestrel_01_FH_14_01_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ5S8x9IIAVnop9SLQqHybJxcm1eGWawLwfYmtNai-fkq6wHj2DGquNFlVevm0J1IhOZ7a2L4RxlICCrVsAsuVBCTGUdqbmf7G6zBQquEN44GNi_OC3q-ux3JZPzvzPUE9zr3gMBAyZg/s1600/Kestrel_01_FH_14_01_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common kestrel (<i>Falco tinnunculus</i>).</td></tr>
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This surely must be one of the worst shots ever taken of a common kestrel! At least I could count on this water monitor to keep still in front of the camera.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtq1KESCT8ltBBVbmnWxlZjYq-TIsTplbtStRlfUmnSEpFeV3MXb70cC6OI0ayCDmmRpkFKrxEseOr86QCXQTwsxzI_FeDfIw53eKXp9RgQdOPIDVpN9wn7LcLd_AXIs7Z3MLfrlLqro/s1600/Monitor_01_FH_14_01_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtq1KESCT8ltBBVbmnWxlZjYq-TIsTplbtStRlfUmnSEpFeV3MXb70cC6OI0ayCDmmRpkFKrxEseOr86QCXQTwsxzI_FeDfIw53eKXp9RgQdOPIDVpN9wn7LcLd_AXIs7Z3MLfrlLqro/s1600/Monitor_01_FH_14_01_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water monitor (<i>Varanus salvator</i>).</td></tr>
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A night drive last Saturday along KB road produced a number of civets. This red giant flying squirrel was seen foraging high-up in a tree.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCimowzsIXus0oChlInHnxaGp69Svz6WdvungupSk6GUCN3kEykG1dKsq7BpEgrLdVTTPYXQrBbtEZzAPLwVIp6toVFkcIiQX1VZih78QZzW437-lkljuWzgoeRblfC56NJ8kJlTKIeb0/s1600/Flying_Squirrel_01_FH_18_01_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCimowzsIXus0oChlInHnxaGp69Svz6WdvungupSk6GUCN3kEykG1dKsq7BpEgrLdVTTPYXQrBbtEZzAPLwVIp6toVFkcIiQX1VZih78QZzW437-lkljuWzgoeRblfC56NJ8kJlTKIeb0/s1600/Flying_Squirrel_01_FH_18_01_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red giant flying squirrel (<i>Petaurista petaurista</i>).</td></tr>
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The main reason for the trip however was to attempt a close-up of a grey nightjar. Closer inspection by Kolbjorn of two birds he had photographed earlier in the week revealed that they were in fact grey nightjars, rather than the common large-tailed nightjars! Luckily the birds were easily found again: the individual that we had both already seen earlier (and photographed independently) was still at the same area we'd found it before.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgEVrfl7sU7aL7PAGDBybKJle3FYZvqp0kMnJ2FpYF6jqPbzSoJ-4NC0leACNVKIoRixMAebPopxW5pJZQbP5tiDtyGlMNFRymAoSMyPTXZ7lEdbRIg30KrXFq3MOssHTQIuQGJT3ngg/s1600/GNJ_01_FH_18_01_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgEVrfl7sU7aL7PAGDBybKJle3FYZvqp0kMnJ2FpYF6jqPbzSoJ-4NC0leACNVKIoRixMAebPopxW5pJZQbP5tiDtyGlMNFRymAoSMyPTXZ7lEdbRIg30KrXFq3MOssHTQIuQGJT3ngg/s1600/GNJ_01_FH_18_01_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey nightjar (<i>Caprimulgus indicus</i>).</td></tr>
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The bird allowed a close approach (I was crawling on all fours on the wet tarmac) and I got a decent eye-level picture. The grey nightjar is listed as a scarce winter visitor that can turn up anywhere on migration. The subspecies that is seen here is <i>Caprimulgus indicus jotaka</i>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vh-IE-YogXeYNQkDe3xX94pfZI7r-bc4ZJ_ycSmdn-TNMhBtcmKRY7LXZbhgUJnU1JWMZmkURUtPTmyrSdYG5Nd94BmN0qoMC3XF7dw2FSI8YSPlnKovV1CF32dAkICylbNcfKj3a3g/s1600/GNJ_FH_18_01_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vh-IE-YogXeYNQkDe3xX94pfZI7r-bc4ZJ_ycSmdn-TNMhBtcmKRY7LXZbhgUJnU1JWMZmkURUtPTmyrSdYG5Nd94BmN0qoMC3XF7dw2FSI8YSPlnKovV1CF32dAkICylbNcfKj3a3g/s1600/GNJ_FH_18_01_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey nightjar (<i>Caprimulgus indicus</i>).</td></tr>
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We saw at least two more grey nightjars on the road. For comparison I have included a picture of a large-tailed nightjar. Besides the clear differentiation in wing pattern (note the 'droplets' on the grey nightjar), I also find that the posture is remarkably different. I checked against some other large-tailed nightjar pics and in general the large-taileds have a much more crouched position than the more upright posture of this grey nightjar.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFX4cutPRd6oBqFkVIm38lTGBT-6SjN7Pso8hyvwUPB7GLeL3HqrWZ5UpGU2jZfa6p18giXUGhveMm-AYIqDnhmEENgi2q1V9XF7Phmz22yvkn6N5CnR-kvD2hiMpt9G4hcz-Kf_S8Eqs/s1600/LTNJ_FH_10_03_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFX4cutPRd6oBqFkVIm38lTGBT-6SjN7Pso8hyvwUPB7GLeL3HqrWZ5UpGU2jZfa6p18giXUGhveMm-AYIqDnhmEENgi2q1V9XF7Phmz22yvkn6N5CnR-kvD2hiMpt9G4hcz-Kf_S8Eqs/s1600/LTNJ_FH_10_03_2013.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large-tailed nightjar (<i>Caprimulgus macrurus</i>).</td></tr>
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<div>
The difference between the two species is very obvious and I almost cannot believe I didn't notice this in the field the first time. In my defense I hardly paid attention to the birds earlier as I just assumed them to be large-tailed nightjars. I guess it goes to show that assumption is indeed the mother of all.... Ah well, we got it right in the end. Also, a word of apology to Zack, who was visiting 2 weeks ago: the nightjar we saw on KB road was with 99% certainty this grey nightjar rather than the large-tailed I took it for!</div>
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<div>
Folkert, 24/01/2014</div>
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Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-75226079338054028722014-01-11T23:32:00.002-08:002014-01-13T04:03:01.539-08:00Crakey!This weekend I had a visitor from the USA; Zack, who is about to go on an organized Sabah birding trip and had some time to spare before heading to Kota Kinabalu where his tour starts next week. As he was keen to get of the beaten track I invited him over for some local Brunei birding. Before Zack arrived in Panaga he already had a very fruitful morning in Wasan, including a rare sighting of a Eurasian bittern; not a bad start!<br />
<br />
I had initially intended to take Zack into the forest close to Badas to look for some of the local peat-swamp specialists: hook-billed bulbul, cinnamon-headed green pigeon, bristlehead and possibly grey-breasted babbler. Unfortunately most of the access to the Badas peat-swamp is fully flooded so we had to settle for some roadside birding along KB road.<br />
<br />
On Saturday we did two drives along KB road, the first one late afternoon. It was relatively quiet, but we still managed to see a nice variety of species and even successfully called in a blue-winged pitta. I had brought my camera along, just in case (I find btw that the chance of seeing rarities greatly increases when you forget the memory card in your camera or have a dead battery...).<br />
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Black-and-yellow broadbills were ubiquitous and while this is a common bird we did get some excellent close-up views of a small party at eye-level next to the car.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHrMzOO4tHSYeXxZDQZmMqr-mapkRNVqU44QS6kvwCwXTVAVlp3XoHFScl8xqUJxmXtax7LH7K-YkhcDhiGBcC4D2Qw7RLNDqGw59NRyCKngUUI9Kf884VS2Wcx83UEiIz4Qu0uapXJk/s1600/BYBB_01_FH_11_01_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHrMzOO4tHSYeXxZDQZmMqr-mapkRNVqU44QS6kvwCwXTVAVlp3XoHFScl8xqUJxmXtax7LH7K-YkhcDhiGBcC4D2Qw7RLNDqGw59NRyCKngUUI9Kf884VS2Wcx83UEiIz4Qu0uapXJk/s1600/BYBB_01_FH_11_01_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-and-yellow broadbill (<i>Eurylaimus ochramalus</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqdcpTjbiOEOlg9HqqLBXM_vGF549gAtQqvA7axCAo5PQGsycYTIBL8dtLSHzHf1SOAVSETu2vsLH6MbzYHE2OuHZTEZ2oSUeQKCELN84K3UW_I7sMqR26fnxGVgQNwZymx0X0uf7TXU/s1600/BYBB_02_FH_11_01_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqdcpTjbiOEOlg9HqqLBXM_vGF549gAtQqvA7axCAo5PQGsycYTIBL8dtLSHzHf1SOAVSETu2vsLH6MbzYHE2OuHZTEZ2oSUeQKCELN84K3UW_I7sMqR26fnxGVgQNwZymx0X0uf7TXU/s1600/BYBB_02_FH_11_01_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-and-yellow broadbill (<i>Eurylaimus ochramalus</i>)</td></tr>
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As we drove on, I noticed a small bird scuttling along the roadside grass. Half expecting a white-breasted waterhen, I put my bins on the bird and saw something very different: a band-bellied crake!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7chRMins2A1rcAhooWggbJXL9MhLKp4dUPXiQsDx7fOv4Z2gA8n8dC8UXtOwe7YcWZsRWj9He1pLlYvmHciymDkGGGDIYLT3pMK18PVSiHuyUbYMPd9tL-cMQMvKQwDB07VXY-odIRSM/s1600/BBC_01_FH_11_01_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7chRMins2A1rcAhooWggbJXL9MhLKp4dUPXiQsDx7fOv4Z2gA8n8dC8UXtOwe7YcWZsRWj9He1pLlYvmHciymDkGGGDIYLT3pMK18PVSiHuyUbYMPd9tL-cMQMvKQwDB07VXY-odIRSM/s1600/BBC_01_FH_11_01_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Band-bellied crake (<i>Porzana paykullii</i>)</td></tr>
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The light was already fading fast and with the bird continuously moving at a fair distance I only just managed to get a few semi-decent pics with low shutter speed and high iso. The band-bellied crake is a very secretive bird and described as a rare non-breeding visitor to Borneo. A very good lifer at the start of 2014!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhweALDBqrpItqRPE-kK199aVSrTb9ZWLrDFMLZ_SueKUIKftP-NGtK0KI51BBwca84fplG6lMrhSAWr0kboUl64RDIhCho_UBOH2dpaXxT9LO5PS3rde2pdEN24RHaVxjQULF3WdH74Rk/s1600/BBC_02_FH_11_01_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhweALDBqrpItqRPE-kK199aVSrTb9ZWLrDFMLZ_SueKUIKftP-NGtK0KI51BBwca84fplG6lMrhSAWr0kboUl64RDIhCho_UBOH2dpaXxT9LO5PS3rde2pdEN24RHaVxjQULF3WdH74Rk/s1600/BBC_02_FH_11_01_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Band-bellied crake (<i>Porzana paykullii</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIaCuaJZo0u6LC5dye1SXylAFOtasbABwbgMimUCQaB6FtXB0w6bj5yO9GtUJkfipg96CaRvbjgYhulRkp3w344QPeJE6ASzOHQPInihMkRIvgFgAt1eAPtqu_-ez0ktYU_5o8H-eIS8/s1600/BBC_03_FH_11_01_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIaCuaJZo0u6LC5dye1SXylAFOtasbABwbgMimUCQaB6FtXB0w6bj5yO9GtUJkfipg96CaRvbjgYhulRkp3w344QPeJE6ASzOHQPInihMkRIvgFgAt1eAPtqu_-ez0ktYU_5o8H-eIS8/s1600/BBC_03_FH_11_01_2014.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Band-bellied crake (<i>Porzana paykullii</i>)</td></tr>
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It started raining after dark and the night drive did not produce too much: the customary buffy fish-owls were seen as well as a couple of large-tailed nightjars sitting on the road. The only mammal on show was a confiding small-toothed palm civet.<br />
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Folkert, 12/01/2014Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-17815898319587018342014-01-10T04:16:00.003-08:002014-01-10T16:27:28.956-08:00Hello 2014The last 2 to 3 weeks of 2013 have been very wet in Brunei - lots and lots of rain. Birding-wise it has been a little dull and I've only been on a few short drives along KB road during the evening. I did try to drive up the Badas road one day to find the area flooded and definitely too wet for a short walk into the forest. The electricity wires along the road are always good for dollarbirds, woodswallows and at times more exotic birds.<br />
A casual look at a group of 15 starlings revealed this pale starling sitting flanked by 7 glossy starlings at each side. For a moment I thought it was another record of a daurian starling. But no, just a mere chestnut-cheeked starling. A female this time. Still, not a bad sighting at all and only my second ever encounter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFor1fTev8deVrF3IZCLn_Prm-ltadofe6xgN8VATXNUjbQvJVoyq8Djbp3Jgh3LheWN4FevGTtlhuselklnQXOdNsMPvJshlKQNHlNhm8nYR6nlZkbXmWExyuL9MtdYc6hN3gyg8YES0/s1600/CCS_01_FH_27_12_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFor1fTev8deVrF3IZCLn_Prm-ltadofe6xgN8VATXNUjbQvJVoyq8Djbp3Jgh3LheWN4FevGTtlhuselklnQXOdNsMPvJshlKQNHlNhm8nYR6nlZkbXmWExyuL9MtdYc6hN3gyg8YES0/s1600/CCS_01_FH_27_12_2013.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chestnut-cheeked starling (<i>Sturnus philippensis</i>)</td></tr>
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The electricity cables along the road also form a favorite vantage point for the resident hawk-eagles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtjdK5rD2cYjdzclXSgrB3eWosod382G8NVx_ekcY8yDqhM8kWZ-4v7bx9kdkLUd7uV-hkgfYm4quWgLz_cEQQ4Ga5y75hnJWL4E43jWgEJK10DbeCdk2K5HKhIdTtd-lO3q0hMzOU1s/s1600/CHE_01_FH_27_12_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtjdK5rD2cYjdzclXSgrB3eWosod382G8NVx_ekcY8yDqhM8kWZ-4v7bx9kdkLUd7uV-hkgfYm4quWgLz_cEQQ4Ga5y75hnJWL4E43jWgEJK10DbeCdk2K5HKhIdTtd-lO3q0hMzOU1s/s1600/CHE_01_FH_27_12_2013.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Changeable hawk-eagle (<i>Nisaetus limnaeetus</i>)</td></tr>
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Both pale and dark morphed birds can be seen the lower Belait area. I am still undecided which I like better.<br />
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On the final day of 2013 we had a short drive during dusk on KB road. On our way back this bearded pig was seen standing on the road. In my first two years these sizable pigs were a relatively common sight on KB road, but I have to confess that this was only my first encounter in 2013 - not a day too soon!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6uMRM19ok0HoJAxCv-jZ_3-PtVpWy-zl2Z13QN3SKiLBz8jtc_kExPbiUqIzuz_V3qb-XHFJfxxqzKEcVZtd-gxsiQSopQUXuDb-jtlxZStDq6hr7RLnSgZHX6G0xTJX6eWXMhZJGBk/s1600/BP_01_FH_27_12_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6uMRM19ok0HoJAxCv-jZ_3-PtVpWy-zl2Z13QN3SKiLBz8jtc_kExPbiUqIzuz_V3qb-XHFJfxxqzKEcVZtd-gxsiQSopQUXuDb-jtlxZStDq6hr7RLnSgZHX6G0xTJX6eWXMhZJGBk/s1600/BP_01_FH_27_12_2013.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bearded pig (<i>Sus barbatus).</i></td></tr>
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After the 'all clear' was called four youngsters came out and joined mommy on the road...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5G6CqEeOF6c_yCRT3TGgSuwHq4YeyE1cgGb_9xIvUida8JLEuJuC0YYmCWee7d_2MwavxNfsHdDzmPORFWZnsQrbRt5b7d8eA0X0FmAl_BI-a-DV02W3-UANeCKRYjYfnoKMEGmXc5d0/s1600/BP_02_FH_27_12_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5G6CqEeOF6c_yCRT3TGgSuwHq4YeyE1cgGb_9xIvUida8JLEuJuC0YYmCWee7d_2MwavxNfsHdDzmPORFWZnsQrbRt5b7d8eA0X0FmAl_BI-a-DV02W3-UANeCKRYjYfnoKMEGmXc5d0/s1600/BP_02_FH_27_12_2013.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bearded pig (<i>Sus barbatus).</i></td></tr>
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to walk of into the setting sun...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbznYNXLaeQkX3R57XZpLVaDBXwy3KdCHb0RDS4GS4cyuDwwjqYNzL_cPjVJhOQDKbwHUJxhCDkX8W30n6puHe3DdpeD_md3LvW9Y1mx7_X5rRY19n6tHOOndJ4mEUq5mJqLXy7ackyTI/s1600/BP_03_FH_27_12_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbznYNXLaeQkX3R57XZpLVaDBXwy3KdCHb0RDS4GS4cyuDwwjqYNzL_cPjVJhOQDKbwHUJxhCDkX8W30n6puHe3DdpeD_md3LvW9Y1mx7_X5rRY19n6tHOOndJ4mEUq5mJqLXy7ackyTI/s1600/BP_03_FH_27_12_2013.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bearded pig (<i>Sus barbatus).</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Until recently bearded pigs were still frequently seen in one of the Panaga residential areas next to the forest. I am not sure if my lack of encounters on KB road in 2013 is just a bout of bad luck or an illustration of a further dwindling population size. Lets hope it's just my bad luck. </div>
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Finally a picture of a juvenile black-crowned night heron taken on January 2nd. I noticed 5 of these birds very close to our house on my way to town. Whereas the two adults were very shy the juveniles hardly minded my car pulling up right next to them. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjKgZc1n8z0RoeiPgCImqJqekx_fZt18Szgwjot-UwQ0HAeOIJCG4NbzZ4c1a5v2cTWVd-qbrMLpTT8vcRLJ_LW-PFzEbr6sR5rDOs_7GeEfpIxjM4Qm5_13Az5nbimvzcYTmavSGXjk/s1600/BCNH_01_FH_27_12_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNjKgZc1n8z0RoeiPgCImqJqekx_fZt18Szgwjot-UwQ0HAeOIJCG4NbzZ4c1a5v2cTWVd-qbrMLpTT8vcRLJ_LW-PFzEbr6sR5rDOs_7GeEfpIxjM4Qm5_13Az5nbimvzcYTmavSGXjk/s1600/BCNH_01_FH_27_12_2013.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-crowned night-heron (<i>Nycticorax nycticorax</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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This picture was taken without flash. Not too bad for my first pic of 2014. Happy new year!</div>
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Folkert, 10/01/2014</div>
Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-55398008274505063552013-12-16T04:40:00.001-08:002013-12-16T14:55:36.705-08:00Malayan Night Heron 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Attentive readers may have discerned from previous posts that the Malayan night heron, or tiger bittern, is a regular winter visitor to the Panaga area. This year is no different and I am pleased to notice that the birds seem to have a knack for picking suitable gardens. Last year an adult was regularly seen in the garden of some of our friends. This year it has gotten even better with one bird picking the backyard of Kolbjorn, my Panaga birding buddy, as its wintering home!<br />
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Obviously I couldn't let the opportunity slip to get some better photographic records of these shy migrants; Malayan night-herons are notoriously skittish and this one proved no different. So yesterday, armed with some army netting, I stopped by at Kolbjorns house to convert the door to his garden into a make-shift hide. The testing was this morning and at 6:30 I stood almost leisurely inside Kolbjorns living room, with the door ajar, ready to get some pics of the heron. The heron dutifully performed and below are some of this mornings shots.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lTeq-mMgSkiaigQf06xCFquBuwX25lqpOS35MRybHn9s-JY28PspvFpz6JyFLObc9sMCZytdWiCH8NfeHhZNu4wSkA4DYN52wLdWLUDiPlQu1YO4oC_ZL5H69lC-cwHMR7jKvCsvJcA/s1600/MNH_FH_01_15_12_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lTeq-mMgSkiaigQf06xCFquBuwX25lqpOS35MRybHn9s-JY28PspvFpz6JyFLObc9sMCZytdWiCH8NfeHhZNu4wSkA4DYN52wLdWLUDiPlQu1YO4oC_ZL5H69lC-cwHMR7jKvCsvJcA/s400/MNH_FH_01_15_12_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malayan night heron (<i>Gorsachius melanolophus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6F2JyECk4WtEuJVgVZb7wJRVhTPJOQ0P1-R9fuxLv3Y3q1xirsd9FEUhEUJwauoHnmDaXKr69Z-ph90i3Mq0OyySC9r_JLKHTBC3BBldw66lcxhgremd-oAU2eaoB97JXFG9m2ITysXQ/s1600/MNH_FH_02_15_12_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6F2JyECk4WtEuJVgVZb7wJRVhTPJOQ0P1-R9fuxLv3Y3q1xirsd9FEUhEUJwauoHnmDaXKr69Z-ph90i3Mq0OyySC9r_JLKHTBC3BBldw66lcxhgremd-oAU2eaoB97JXFG9m2ITysXQ/s400/MNH_FH_02_15_12_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malayan night heron (<i>Gorsachius melanolophus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilePgMnsTB5yGtfAGZ7KofqVTzoiZ9kKP7L4HPxASFmm8sIR3NUfWz2mBwQ6dr8_Opo6YfXIJu-Rt_v32WEZfkIzHLhBYAkfr_Uwsy0O2JIwLG3-3rFFypbrcUsHgg8PSYUAJAVx-pXaI/s1600/MNH_FH_03_15_12_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilePgMnsTB5yGtfAGZ7KofqVTzoiZ9kKP7L4HPxASFmm8sIR3NUfWz2mBwQ6dr8_Opo6YfXIJu-Rt_v32WEZfkIzHLhBYAkfr_Uwsy0O2JIwLG3-3rFFypbrcUsHgg8PSYUAJAVx-pXaI/s400/MNH_FH_03_15_12_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malayan night heron (<i>Gorsachius melanolophus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6-aV2_3nRAEmC-t24TTa0e21TzQqaPwNusimbJJeboeQAOh7fxVc1r1766-2B1HMkjyxe4edUMgHUufKYgtPaU8PQgg-QzNAhhTRxW6Y2fiBZe27rcNNfk3G-m6ifh00RUvqsU5BLdU/s1600/MNH_FH_06_15_12_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6-aV2_3nRAEmC-t24TTa0e21TzQqaPwNusimbJJeboeQAOh7fxVc1r1766-2B1HMkjyxe4edUMgHUufKYgtPaU8PQgg-QzNAhhTRxW6Y2fiBZe27rcNNfk3G-m6ifh00RUvqsU5BLdU/s400/MNH_FH_06_15_12_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malayan night heron (<i>Gorsachius melanolophus</i>)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNv_PVna3vTSF4koaHkczrZDAH8Aw0xIU3Nc7P3syCg7B9nMbwLydgcdoH_XyKOZCwcBGi8aLayJm6owzu-hUxZ1CeVmdoSfWGB17eu_E195_FYAXoharBu4ZOakS5Vv-OWbDvQuiz_D0/s1600/MNH_FH_04_15_12_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNv_PVna3vTSF4koaHkczrZDAH8Aw0xIU3Nc7P3syCg7B9nMbwLydgcdoH_XyKOZCwcBGi8aLayJm6owzu-hUxZ1CeVmdoSfWGB17eu_E195_FYAXoharBu4ZOakS5Vv-OWbDvQuiz_D0/s400/MNH_FH_04_15_12_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malayan night heron (<i>Gorsachius melanolophus</i>)</td></tr>
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Needless to say that I am quite pleased with the effort, even though the light was still a little too poor to get some action shots of the worm-catching.<br />
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Big thanks to Kolbjorn and his family to allow me in their house in the wee hours of the morning!<br />
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Folkert, 16/12/2013Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-8236119860068597892013-11-04T20:01:00.001-08:002013-11-05T04:03:46.867-08:00A short trip to Danum valley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My mom is fully enjoying her retirement and is visiting again. This time I decided to show off a little and take her to Danum valley, in my view one of the best eco-tourism locations on Borneo: pampered to the max plus great birding and wildlife viewing. Below a short summary of our trip.</div>
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The drive from Lahad Datu to Danum takes around 2.5 hours through forested area. A couple of kilometers before we entered the conservation area we passed a group of pig-tailed macaques. When encountered on foot I find that the males of this species can be quite menacing. Safely tucked away inside the car I got a rare opportunity to try for some portraits:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ub5FRes8MZwpkQvovsIxjptElJ0FF_rdpRymfPgGqPHPM9MkHx39TKi7UiQ2zkTQxCKiM2gljwjn4W1coGi3m8M3_SQ1lLz3b-dBgDcqfZM7ayhZgGQdHZkMOV76xsjvhRA0Y6Sa91U/s1600/STM_FH_3_01_11_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ub5FRes8MZwpkQvovsIxjptElJ0FF_rdpRymfPgGqPHPM9MkHx39TKi7UiQ2zkTQxCKiM2gljwjn4W1coGi3m8M3_SQ1lLz3b-dBgDcqfZM7ayhZgGQdHZkMOV76xsjvhRA0Y6Sa91U/s400/STM_FH_3_01_11_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern pig-tailed macaque (<i>Macaca nemestrina</i>).</td></tr>
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This species is declining in population and currently listed as Vulnerable by IUCN. The main threat is loss of habitat. It saddens me to say that I've also seen a juvenile on sale at one of the local markets in Brunei a couple of months back. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jfWxOmLmjvp7msLCuMPQvo-k1251vfyi_Sa40bflYlYFf7jfQIRfINR9Mjpcrzuw1V-U6jZBnt-2pA04tQbD85TL5zBJqCdxYA_T_cPFB50tp802HGU3L6SQFL31w4GfH71BdirIpEI/s1600/STM_FH_1_01_11_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jfWxOmLmjvp7msLCuMPQvo-k1251vfyi_Sa40bflYlYFf7jfQIRfINR9Mjpcrzuw1V-U6jZBnt-2pA04tQbD85TL5zBJqCdxYA_T_cPFB50tp802HGU3L6SQFL31w4GfH71BdirIpEI/s400/STM_FH_1_01_11_2013.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern pig-tailed macaque (<i>Macaca nemestrina</i>).</td></tr>
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When the big guy started to growl it was time to go!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRU4J5WGgOlb8eDFIKEqU05cwyNTffNRc5HGn6vo6ogcJPv_mtvig4qaA7phDcXDj1b3ctQmgaclZ0dj58ZyF2J49qM974yR7vUbuUad50O8g5vS1Tzj6XCG8JHLLigy3BLnieyurF3gc/s1600/STM_FH_2_01_11_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRU4J5WGgOlb8eDFIKEqU05cwyNTffNRc5HGn6vo6ogcJPv_mtvig4qaA7phDcXDj1b3ctQmgaclZ0dj58ZyF2J49qM974yR7vUbuUad50O8g5vS1Tzj6XCG8JHLLigy3BLnieyurF3gc/s400/STM_FH_2_01_11_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern pig-tailed macaque (<i>Macaca nemestrina</i>).</td></tr>
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Danum valley is top of the bill when it comes to nature tourism in Borneo. The lodges are perfect, food is excellent and staff and guides go out of their way to make your stay unforgettable. Our guide during the stay was Lister (what's in a name...), who introduced himself during lunch. Fittingly, I provided Lister with my list of around 20 target species for this trip.<br />
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We stayed around our cabin in the early afternoon. A couple of flowering ginger plants outside our balcony were visited frequently by the resident little spiderhunters.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEHvFfuz_o7jnemg6ABkDoZbf-w81d8lnGm01p3OqBM5tBC5kFt-ovLnojXDCM1rpnYUCo_f7e0o1uwe4ZcKRCl2kIZeNFrV1DvCkfrk1SKdq4pnV4M8ABSqUOEw0-nO9dP_DohHLWDI/s1600/LSP_FH_1_01_11_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEHvFfuz_o7jnemg6ABkDoZbf-w81d8lnGm01p3OqBM5tBC5kFt-ovLnojXDCM1rpnYUCo_f7e0o1uwe4ZcKRCl2kIZeNFrV1DvCkfrk1SKdq4pnV4M8ABSqUOEw0-nO9dP_DohHLWDI/s400/LSP_FH_1_01_11_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little spider hunter (<i>Arachnotera longirostra</i>).</td></tr>
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After the small midday siesta before we set out for some afternoon birding. A noisy group of sooty-capped babblers were the first birds to greet us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAtG_H0_oByezxM2rfK5Z6qKyhs5jOoWuOJNj9xeOui9ums2IzckIK3Egb6c3H6PZkT8WX92EBSRuBgWCzjEDBxaqHm0zxikyT327UvZLvZhLp83q3oAvJQQKJ3ugfiYwHtEMUiVZnFc/s1600/SCB_FH_1_03_11_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAtG_H0_oByezxM2rfK5Z6qKyhs5jOoWuOJNj9xeOui9ums2IzckIK3Egb6c3H6PZkT8WX92EBSRuBgWCzjEDBxaqHm0zxikyT327UvZLvZhLp83q3oAvJQQKJ3ugfiYwHtEMUiVZnFc/s400/SCB_FH_1_03_11_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sooty-capped babbler (<i>Malacopteron affine</i>).</td></tr>
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After about an hour, we had just reached the canopy, a sighting of a large elephant herd just outside the gate was called in and we joined the open truck to see them. The elephants were a little weary at first and we moved up the road to give them some space. A baby elephant was still suckling and under constant protection of its mom and two larger relatives.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUddqiu2gDH8aRY5SMd-bNfK6kOIFNjpOW69J11g0x9XPXZZhMn1eOLgvXjY5Cp8_zyvkF4NAe3VXhW9atUVjF7GG__cEzgRwtw7JWyDQKXo0pwZFlHZQ3yEQU_7rte38NPql0BpqDvs/s1600/Elephants_FH_4_03_11_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUddqiu2gDH8aRY5SMd-bNfK6kOIFNjpOW69J11g0x9XPXZZhMn1eOLgvXjY5Cp8_zyvkF4NAe3VXhW9atUVjF7GG__cEzgRwtw7JWyDQKXo0pwZFlHZQ3yEQU_7rte38NPql0BpqDvs/s400/Elephants_FH_4_03_11_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pygmy elephant (<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Elephas maximus borneensis</i></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Later, we moved down the road to get some eye-level views:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbrAWkc5r1SAMMtVw3FFXAR0t6_gsVsPiR0jSlToUGwQ7_jUIc96ksfpSthcsGzizCpznEk1g_j4ZXqyvqgQyYxEWJx31uz7wG_RPAHoHkLLVdWMRGzCGF8ExxlBOXut6oj56TkoNHco/s1600/Elephants_FH_1_01_11_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbrAWkc5r1SAMMtVw3FFXAR0t6_gsVsPiR0jSlToUGwQ7_jUIc96ksfpSthcsGzizCpznEk1g_j4ZXqyvqgQyYxEWJx31uz7wG_RPAHoHkLLVdWMRGzCGF8ExxlBOXut6oj56TkoNHco/s400/Elephants_FH_1_01_11_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pygmy elephant (<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Elephas maximus borneensis</i></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sightings of elephants along the road to Danum are relatively frequent, primarily because the vegetation along road- and riversides forms a favorite food source for the elephants. Don't let that fool you into believing that these are common mammals, they're an endangered species with a dwindling population size on Borneo of around 2500 individuals.<br />
<br />
There were very few males in the group, two young ones and a bigger adult, easily recognized by the tusks.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAecej7a_lcC_gH8a_Ep2KM3vr7rKHPYyb3LJRVlKcOAaTSA9GjZRWF1ktJdrn81ij4OTggDOtUZ10Dsr1Ed-0xPmJjwyz0j267urNoL-I4U20UnxOs9CAX-RZFXm_Rz-WcRdjlExl5xA/s1600/Elephants_FH_3_01_11_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAecej7a_lcC_gH8a_Ep2KM3vr7rKHPYyb3LJRVlKcOAaTSA9GjZRWF1ktJdrn81ij4OTggDOtUZ10Dsr1Ed-0xPmJjwyz0j267urNoL-I4U20UnxOs9CAX-RZFXm_Rz-WcRdjlExl5xA/s400/Elephants_FH_3_01_11_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pygmy elephant (<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Elephas maximus borneensis</i></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We stayed until dusk was finally setting in.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwYoSNc53xLvOQxivN6RTZUDck5pEjc5UEzr-kXmi-ipiuUBgpFZ8H4_gXnwy8Kg7N89Q2dmB1TZ8YIK6Piv7C9GWzCHQkY_2CxiBwH3Wmzpb6X_Vaec9w0wIxT4wB1o0jNpt_Ng8VyY/s1600/Elephants_FH_2_01_11_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwYoSNc53xLvOQxivN6RTZUDck5pEjc5UEzr-kXmi-ipiuUBgpFZ8H4_gXnwy8Kg7N89Q2dmB1TZ8YIK6Piv7C9GWzCHQkY_2CxiBwH3Wmzpb6X_Vaec9w0wIxT4wB1o0jNpt_Ng8VyY/s400/Elephants_FH_2_01_11_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pygmy elephant (<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Elephas maximus borneensis</i></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A nice cold beer was waiting for me when we arrived back at the lodge! No time for too much leisure though as the night-drive was already lined up and we had only time for a quick dinner (which was again excellent!)<br />
<br />
The highlight of the night-drive was a sighting of this Western or Horsfield's tarsier. This was only the second time that I've seen this cute little carnivore.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cfw_mMbIVfmLLEAzA7ITAWRPabpPkkS0nFxCwHWKznNPuy0GLsDZww2C2jdznKtlwpUEK5g-NcteNYp5YLl5dKdonY_tcYVW6kbHThvWvEza_wxrWZ8EktchxhJ9bYqFcbZlbpJwTpI/s1600/Tarsier_01_03_11_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cfw_mMbIVfmLLEAzA7ITAWRPabpPkkS0nFxCwHWKznNPuy0GLsDZww2C2jdznKtlwpUEK5g-NcteNYp5YLl5dKdonY_tcYVW6kbHThvWvEza_wxrWZ8EktchxhJ9bYqFcbZlbpJwTpI/s400/Tarsier_01_03_11_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Western tarsier </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">(</span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Cephalopachus bancanus</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The next morning we first set out for the canopy walk. Along the way we heard Bornean wren-babbler and got decent views of a male rufous-chested flycatcher (a lifer for me).<br />
<br />
A pair of bristleheads was the only noteworthy sighting at the canopy and we soon decided to head for one of the trails. Hairy-backed bulbuls were foraging close by, more exciting was a chestnut-capped thrush that was seen sitting on a log, another lifer!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjk_xWyzUe34v1HVeqSxQcPkFxraxsR8y4jdqvrNjHbrb9X83ssqAR1_z_1f7mxZsh68audjzF51quYb4FsQheYVl2lya0dWKg_Iq4Xbck0MJ7p3iy6__Y9_KRuhUztOaQIRuP5rPsSaQ/s1600/HBBB_02_03_11_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjk_xWyzUe34v1HVeqSxQcPkFxraxsR8y4jdqvrNjHbrb9X83ssqAR1_z_1f7mxZsh68audjzF51quYb4FsQheYVl2lya0dWKg_Iq4Xbck0MJ7p3iy6__Y9_KRuhUztOaQIRuP5rPsSaQ/s400/HBBB_02_03_11_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hairy-backed bulbul (<i>tricholestes criniger</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A few noisy black magpies seemed to be following us on the trail.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBLUQfcHyr25ZLkWY-fBbRy6Rp23TYMIWQSAsA9Ox-6654BtzFh3iPX-D6ubG3DlRad-7d8Uc_M9WyFuV69MPOxv-5OMM2aO-rSC293q5KUTOh0g-7aoiGfbTV8p0Exccg74M2z_rjTs/s1600/BM_02_03_11_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBLUQfcHyr25ZLkWY-fBbRy6Rp23TYMIWQSAsA9Ox-6654BtzFh3iPX-D6ubG3DlRad-7d8Uc_M9WyFuV69MPOxv-5OMM2aO-rSC293q5KUTOh0g-7aoiGfbTV8p0Exccg74M2z_rjTs/s400/BM_02_03_11_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black magpie (<i>Platysmurus aterrimus</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The yellow-bellied bulbul is a common forest species.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiB6S-OauTJs2MH5nOrPhhDvSUoiZS4a_vLn8liyIV0ziR-CVFPVa1Jwx191SRTP69dD2MvRMsNckuSuz3UmHyt5_tzAVp-43fy7C-xEYICDt4jSdDG44eDe8dMwJJto0UmBBEBnIuGw/s1600/YBBB_02_03_11_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiB6S-OauTJs2MH5nOrPhhDvSUoiZS4a_vLn8liyIV0ziR-CVFPVa1Jwx191SRTP69dD2MvRMsNckuSuz3UmHyt5_tzAVp-43fy7C-xEYICDt4jSdDG44eDe8dMwJJto0UmBBEBnIuGw/s400/YBBB_02_03_11_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-bellied bulbul (<i>Alophoixus phaeocephalus</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At around 11:00 AM things were quieting down and we headed back to the lodge for some lunch and an hour or two of rest.<br />
<br />
This moustached babbler was the first bird we saw as we set out on our afternoon walk.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpe9GLiC-D5a0Xe7V-PIVKIZ1X7xp8v_tIS_tSq0dH4n6g1vIEVLgezJLS8tdhBt6G25zp2Fj6p54QbhCfNxaV1T7nhs92HPBy3jcvfLhpdCJjrWF8uyVxTGFd8VvrpnYSAmcD3SuDP8M/s1600/MB_FH_1_03_11_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpe9GLiC-D5a0Xe7V-PIVKIZ1X7xp8v_tIS_tSq0dH4n6g1vIEVLgezJLS8tdhBt6G25zp2Fj6p54QbhCfNxaV1T7nhs92HPBy3jcvfLhpdCJjrWF8uyVxTGFd8VvrpnYSAmcD3SuDP8M/s400/MB_FH_1_03_11_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moustached babbler (<i>Malacopteron magnirostre</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Further down the jacuzzi trail a male scarlet-rumped trogon was very confiding and provided some great views from almost every possible angle. Even though this is a common forest species, I'll probably never tire of seeing these splendid birds.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZFD_WjWCMF67gW3xw8KNqN9YjX-oigb5MpDr_msoe5DLQkC2mWbiKjsISZugFVNxAMc5VGjVuMB7IHPA4rKT7v_ZbipHC93ZOwhbv3H4upNDR677a_xY_9z3YbCUSJ62MfN_J8Osr0c/s1600/SRT_FH_1_02_11_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ZFD_WjWCMF67gW3xw8KNqN9YjX-oigb5MpDr_msoe5DLQkC2mWbiKjsISZugFVNxAMc5VGjVuMB7IHPA4rKT7v_ZbipHC93ZOwhbv3H4upNDR677a_xY_9z3YbCUSJ62MfN_J8Osr0c/s400/SRT_FH_1_02_11_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarlet-rumped trogon (<i>Harpactes duvaucelii</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A pair of giant pittas was heard, but our attempt to call them in went unanswered. As we trekked on the rain really started to come down and we arrived back at the lodge soaking wet. In the evening Lister and myself took out one of the 4WD to search for Large and Blyth's frogmouth. I can be fairly short about this attempt: no frogmouths.<br />
<br />
The next morning we tried our luck with the giant pitta again and we soon heard the pair calling from jacuzzi trail. The birds proved very responsive and we had some great naked eye views of the birds hopping across the trail! The male showed itself only once, but the female kept close by for at least 45 minutes. My photographic intuition and judgement was a little out of tune and I missed one or two good photo opportunities. Below the one shot I managed that actually has the bird in frame. It's in the center, don't worry if you fail to see it...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTRL-lzRxZUx73eKJzDT7nPTaVuoAy1eVisRiI4kGRHlz4qC_rynVUvbyEh2lhNI4Qqr4C8LMDO1crphaXtqWlPr0tga97CPTDdtKjlieHlqmTVuwNlcmuxIv-4qeZohn9fq3a3nbqLw/s1600/GP_FH_1_03_11_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTRL-lzRxZUx73eKJzDT7nPTaVuoAy1eVisRiI4kGRHlz4qC_rynVUvbyEh2lhNI4Qqr4C8LMDO1crphaXtqWlPr0tga97CPTDdtKjlieHlqmTVuwNlcmuxIv-4qeZohn9fq3a3nbqLw/s400/GP_FH_1_03_11_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant pitta (<i>pitta caerulea</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This was a great birding moment! The giant pitta may not be the most colorful of the pitta's, but its size (larger than I had imagined), rarity and reputation give it amazing appeal.<br />
<br />
On the way back to the lodge this large-billed blue flycatcher was a little more cooperative in front of my camera. Supposedly, this is a relatively common species, but one I'd never seen before!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLgclJOxkGrOnnCqJoL5rP3RKjusknisqGmdpVuwixdxtuMbhMyKF_KmvQ00rBZXunvyKvuQclC1VxaNnPNBGaxx4tWsJE7vPj69KrBKWajBn7sxYEek_zNPrivMu2r3nVmxlkzynag8/s1600/LBBF_03_03_11_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLgclJOxkGrOnnCqJoL5rP3RKjusknisqGmdpVuwixdxtuMbhMyKF_KmvQ00rBZXunvyKvuQclC1VxaNnPNBGaxx4tWsJE7vPj69KrBKWajBn7sxYEek_zNPrivMu2r3nVmxlkzynag8/s400/LBBF_03_03_11_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large-billed blue flycatcher (<i>Cyornis caerulatus</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="text-align: left;">The remainder of the morning was spend on the hornbill trail. We were after banded pitta and any of the 3 lowland wren-babblers. No such luck with these, but this olive-winged woodpecker was a nice surprise; one of the rarer Bornean woodpeckers, this was another lifer for me.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJHdwKu-HPo6G9PaogE4ppTCFj4hg8-bF_uzIR4NOBZDl2JXNETto7013o8w_eaR4aVfL7_l9StUj9IJ0wzvWi_7In79KHODpQROl4OUBkXtiqqd7_A5-EKsulUddTvr4AeogUiDcDE4/s1600/OBWP_03_03_11_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJHdwKu-HPo6G9PaogE4ppTCFj4hg8-bF_uzIR4NOBZDl2JXNETto7013o8w_eaR4aVfL7_l9StUj9IJ0wzvWi_7In79KHODpQROl4OUBkXtiqqd7_A5-EKsulUddTvr4AeogUiDcDE4/s400/OBWP_03_03_11_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive-winged woodpecker (<i>Dinopium rafflesii</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After that, it was time to pack our belongings and head back to Brunei. Danum valley again fully delivered; great mammal sightings and a respectable 80+ bird species seen well with some great new ones. I hope I'll be back for the wren-babblers some day!<br />
<br />
Big thanks to Lister, without him I would definitely have missed some species.<br />
<br />
Folkert, 05/11/2013</div>
Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9001081149718978671.post-6402969306266043412013-10-27T04:40:00.001-07:002013-10-27T04:43:25.931-07:00Chestnut-cheeked, finallyThe chestnut-cheeked starling is a breeding bird in Russia and Japan and listed as a scarce winter migrant to Brunei.<br />
<br />
On Borneo these starlings are known to congregate with asian glossy starlings, and most of the recent Borneo sightings seem to be of scattered birds hidden in larger flocks of their glossy cousins. Taking the cue of scrutinizing flocks of glossy starlings resulted in loads and loads of records in the last two years of... glossy starlings. Didn't see a single chestnut-cheeked in there.<br />
<br />
Until last week that is when my patience was finally rewarded! A casual look at a group of asian glossies close to home revealed two cheeky chestnuts up in a bare tree.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWkyGkKmNAn4SR6azAWjKQjgsoaTuNvBQSdQ2815rOOS93ku3Xo_6k2aCd80vkjfZ79ICXGPWIflB416c2-fgHwUTTZsIeh1gQ3lvWD909oDfgKx8aijArMbhR5H9Zig_nhIzJWYrObU/s1600/CCS_1_FH_25_10_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWkyGkKmNAn4SR6azAWjKQjgsoaTuNvBQSdQ2815rOOS93ku3Xo_6k2aCd80vkjfZ79ICXGPWIflB416c2-fgHwUTTZsIeh1gQ3lvWD909oDfgKx8aijArMbhR5H9Zig_nhIzJWYrObU/s400/CCS_1_FH_25_10_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mixed starlings</td></tr>
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The birds were fairly high up and I had to crop the pics a little to move the chestnut-cheeked to center stage. Both the birds are males.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiZm04iKlXAShA8iR3P_Cjtu34yVMZs2u4ydvc7k5lmWAlzXmAj9m4oul4vHXn6kJ6HmZIqpbLF4niaG2dKWGfHoQkqNhgM2Qw8ZvyQiCcCdrvIeBpDmYTKPdxbu8iKt_gsd-wVNpWWk/s1600/CCS_2_FH_25_10_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiZm04iKlXAShA8iR3P_Cjtu34yVMZs2u4ydvc7k5lmWAlzXmAj9m4oul4vHXn6kJ6HmZIqpbLF4niaG2dKWGfHoQkqNhgM2Qw8ZvyQiCcCdrvIeBpDmYTKPdxbu8iKt_gsd-wVNpWWk/s400/CCS_2_FH_25_10_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chestnut-cheeked starling (<i>Sturnus philippensis</i>)</td></tr>
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Not a bad looking starling.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpCL2SyhVjJ2s2aEr0dajfnJj4fMyliECafUrgmPGzsbuhajY_7UacrEFCaeF5qqmuOlvB2r45w0UBgjzIPdIK6Rsh_nLsJMFF3Vgqiyt6hj-SHYUQfoKcaRygzC3Dqj157cGWmWkipM/s1600/CCS_3_FH_25_10_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpCL2SyhVjJ2s2aEr0dajfnJj4fMyliECafUrgmPGzsbuhajY_7UacrEFCaeF5qqmuOlvB2r45w0UBgjzIPdIK6Rsh_nLsJMFF3Vgqiyt6hj-SHYUQfoKcaRygzC3Dqj157cGWmWkipM/s400/CCS_3_FH_25_10_2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chestnut-cheeked starling (<i>Sturnus philippensis</i>)</td></tr>
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Glad to have finally "ticked" this species on my Borneo list!</div>
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Folkert, 17/10/2013.</div>
Folkerthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16577588950791814864noreply@blogger.com0