Scarlet-rumped Trogon (Harpactes duvaucelii): Simply Stunning

Arguably one of the most handsome birds in the dense rainforest jungle of Borneo, the Scarlet-rumped Trogon is the smallest of them all. At 23cm, they are shy of 10cm compared to the Whitehead's Trogon the truly, and one and only montane trogon (endemic).

To make you feel better, the Scralet-rumped Trogon is the most common ones despite their size. They can be found at most undisturbed jungle throughout Borneo. All you have to do is cover all the ground...???

Personally, I have several encounters with this species...quite a number of times. Frankly speaking..to classify them as common? not in my book! They are just as hard to find as the Whitehead's Trogon or the Red-Naped...

Anyway, don't be too discouraged there. Nike says "just do it"...to pump up the spirit, enjoy these personal best...not the best...yet..lol ;-)

#1 Female

#2 Male

Malaysian Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis turcosus)

One bird that i really love to photograph are the flycathers. They are all around us in Borneo, from then mangrove forests all the way up to the mountains.

I don't know but they have this unique personality, and almost photogenic! Somehow or rather, they know they are attractive and adorable. I just think they are natural in front of a camera...lol

This particular Malaysian Blue Flycatcher, was taken at a riverbank at Sungai Menanggol, Sukau. At 13cm, even though brightly colored blue-and-orange...was not easy to spot, specially in the dark and gloomy part of the river bank.

Playing hard to get at first, it gave me that split second opportunity right at the right moment at the right spot. The boat chase was worth it in the end!

To have an expert spotter beside you during a birding trip is really crucial, specially when you know you have invested a lot for the trip. That time, I was lucky I had my good buddy the local bird expert Jason...A.K.A Horukuru (I just have to mention this famous name!) with us.

My beloved 7D has been idle in the dry box for too long now i guess...obviously not anymore, rest assured on that. We'll see what happen next...mean while, enjoy this as much as i enjoyed taking it.

Mission Accomplished: Fruithunter hunted

We really did it this weekend.

A couple of weeks ago, we planned to go to Kinabalu National Park Headquaters (KNP). Unfortunately, Jason got a nasty cut on his right thumb because of an accident and we had to cancel our outing.

Not today tho, we did it!

It was a fruitful day. Happy to say mission successfully accomplished. Alphons, Jason, Zaiton and I were targeting the elusive Fruithunter. We have seen a few times, except for Alphons but no satisfactory pictures to... well, to close the case before.

The Fruithunter is a rare mountain endemic, seeing it is a pleasure...well getting a good photo is a different kind of satisfaction.

Alfons got his lifer and some nice "record shots" and the rest of us improved our earlier shots of the bird. Beside that, the real bonus for the day was obliging Blue and White Flycatcher. Rather a scarce winter visitor, today we found it and had a fun time shooting them.

Anyway, these are some of the picture taken today.

P/S all pictures were taken using P300+30XWDS+ED82 Fieldscope...

#1...One of my dreambirds, the Fruithunter (Chlamydochaera jefferyi) This was my first encounter at KNP HQ and of course one of my clearest pictures of the bird. This is a female.

#2...Sunda Bush-Warbler (Cettia Vulcania), very skulking and hard to photograph. Here, only just but satisfactory to me nonetheless.

#3...same bird at the same perch..Something only burst capability the Nikon P300 P&S camera can do.

#4...The best ever personal shot of this species.

#5..Male fruithunter at a ridiculous angle..sigh..

#6...Little Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula westermanni), one of the obliging birds of the day...

#7...same bird at a different angle.

#8..Blue and White Flycatcher (Cynoptila cynomelana)..I have to admit, these are some of the best shots i have ever taken with my digiscope. Personal best!

#9...I just love it!

#10... Can you blame me?? look at the overall balance of everything...I am definitely heads over heel with the shot...

#11... Snowy-browed Flycatcher (Ficedula hyperythra), not the best photos, but nonetheless satisfied..it was dark and about to rain.

#12 Grey-throated Babbler (Stachyris nigriceps), Not the easiest subject to photograph... to digiscope is even worse! obviously, I like it coz I don't know if I ever have the chance again..

#13...Lesser Coucal (Centropus bengalensis), please don't be alarmed..this was taken in Penampang afterwards...(Ehemmm...this was a handheld digiscoping shot...)

Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus): The video

I don't have anything against still photos, I love em just as much.

Sometime when an opportunity comes knocking, but all the elements are against you. There's this small red button on the camera that would turn the table around.

Videograph...yup! Tested it before with my Sony H5. Quality was bad, but it was some 5 years ago technology. Nowadays, with full HD capability...no complains for me. So, the video function in my Nikon P300 is awesome!

The video below is created using imovie software from my macbook pro...simple and easy. I wish I have more control but yet to have the time to master them.

I wished the bird was on a better perch, but it's okay I guess...satisfactory behavior record here..check it out:-

Dull Weekend? I guess not...

I'm back to my old self again...

After being idle for a while, the engine is now getting warmer and runs quite smoothly. Not after a little tweaks here and there of course.

Last weekend was the time I was put to the test. A family trip to Gayana Eco Resort and Bunga Raya Resort located at Pulau Gaya (Gaya Island), organized by my wife's company really tested me.

To cut the story short, I was desperate and living in agony in a luxurious resort! Guess what, I was not the only one..coz wifey's eye were wildly looking for any sign of birds too!

The urge of going birding is bursting in our veins again. We've had enough rest and ready to roll again. So far so good and can't wait for our next hunt.

For this post, I purposely did not include the birds' name. Test yourself, open up the field guide or website to identify them. That way you would know how exciting and challenging our hobby is... have fun!

P/S: All photos were taken using Nikon ED82+Nikon P300+30X WDS

The Scarce Passage Migrant: Digiscoped

Life couldn't be much easier...

Among other things that really impress me about digiscoping is the ability to videograph using budget digital cameras. In my case is the Nikon P300. With full HD features, the P300 is more than satisfactory in this department.

I am quite overwhelmed with my additional setup. Not that I'm complaining, I'm simply overjoyed..and frankly speaking, couldn't wait for my next outing!

It's light and really easy to carry around. I had the impression that it would be a hassle and restricts ones mobility before. Perhaps it might, depending on the shooting environment but I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

It's migration season, so we expected more visitors coming or stopping by here in Kota Kinabalu. We haven't seen any duckies but some good records of scarce and vagrants such as the Sharp-Tailed Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstones, Marsh Sandpipers, Oriental Plovers and even the Red-Necked Phalaropes.

Again, I am keeping my fingers crossed on both hands to get hold of them, because at the moment I only have these guys and unposted Temminck's Stint.

P/S: All videos were recorded using Nikon P300+ED82 Fieldscope+30X WDS

What A Day?: Waders day

Its a holiday today in Malaysia. So, there's nothing much to do except for birding i guess.

The weather have been bad these weekend, strong wind and it rained almost every night. No more blue sky like a few days before. However, it's a blessing in disguise. At least it's not that hot. Birding in an open space like the paddy fields or beaches was not as torturing, not to mention the pleasant light...just what I needed...

Today was also a great day for me as far as birding is concerned. Got some good records of birds and also happened to be my lifers as well. The digiscope is really a great invention...brilliant idea!

I have these photos to tell you how much I enjoy my setup:-



#1 Alphonsus a.k.a The Beastmaster...Out of the jungle of Sandakan and ready to raid the plains of the West Coast!


#2 Wood Sandpiper...the cowards who also scare off other waders with their warning sirens!


#3 Yellow Bittern...On it's stride


#4 Greater Sand Plover...from a safe perimeter, they couldn't be bothered to see a two legged man...


#5 The Terek Sandpiper...My lifer no. 1! Saw a pair but managed to get a shot of one...I was lucky it took a pit stop! They are quick!


#6 The Ruddy Turnstone...Lifer No.2 A scarce passage migrant...seemed to mix with the Greater Sand Plover.


#7 Ruddy Turnstone... If you got a chance..Once is never enough!

All photos were taken with a Nikon P300 mounted to Nikon ED82 Fieldscope with 30X WDS eyepiece.

100 Percent Digiscoping: Not Bad...Not Bad At All

After a long absence of birding at Kinabalu National Park, we were supposed to go for our outing there yesterday (Sat, 05/11/2011). Alphonsus, Jason, me and my wife Zaiton decided to car pool and supposed to meet at my place around 7.00 AM.

It was a beautiful and pleasant morning until I received a telephone call from Jason. He was involved in an accident just a couple of kilometers away from my house. I rushed to see him and glad he was okay. I was even more grateful to see his wife and daughter were unhurt. I didn't expect he was with his family!

There was some minor scratches on the side of his car but I couldn't believe to see a bad cut at the base of his right thumb! According to him, that was due to turning the steering wheel vigorously. The skin was torn apart! He received 6 stitches for that...

We canceled our plan because of that..but credit to Jason, we were in Kota Belud today birding! Lucky for him, he got a lifer today. Not a norm, when you already sighted hundreds of bird species...Well, for Borneo alone, he's seen 455 including the latest find!

Congratulation to him, the commitment and determination he's shown..is admirable and inspiring!

When it comes to waders, I really couldn't tell which one's which. They all looked the same to me...before! Thanks to Jason's recommendation, my view is much better with Prostaff 7 8X42. No guarantee I can become well-versed, but I can surely improve.

There were quite a number of birds I saw today and happy to share that I got two lifers. Having said that, I could not have recorded them better if I not because of the scope. Anyway, these are some of the shot I got from the plain of Kota Belud:-



#1, Olive-Backed Sunbird...love the colors!


#2 Common Kingfisher...With a mouthful! I was 3 seconds slow!


#3 Common Kingfisher...One shot is never enough


#4 Curlew Sandpiper...It was an honor to have sighted it with an expert...


#5 Little Ringed Plover...Is it???


#6 Oriental Pranticole...Always on a look out for a predator.


#7 Temminck's Stint (lifer) & Long-Toed Stint...Notice the difference?


#8 Temminck's Stint (lifer) & Long-Toed Stint...Side view...Notice the difference yet?


#9 Common Kingfisher...Just a crazy attempt shooting it without tripod...what do you think??


#10 Peregrine Falcon...The common migrant race. The resident race are the scarce ones and appear much darker.

Overall, I am quite pleased with all the photos I took with a digiscope. All I can say is it's not bad at all!

FieldScope ED82+30X Wide DS Eyepiece+Nikon Coolpix:

Acquired a few days ago, my latest setup pushed me to my limit last weekend. Sounds funny, but yes, it's the other way around...

Birding and taking pictures especially in the open could not be any easier. Digiscoping is a new great way for me I think. With the speed and the outstanding full HD video capability of the P300, the ED82 really rocks my world.

The real culprit would be me if something is wrong with the photos or videos I took. My real challenge now is to know the limitation of the gear especially the camera. In addition to that, of course the subject I intend to shoot or watch.

It would be crazy if i expect zero noise if I shoot at ISO1600 like photo #5! It was taken at 6.00pm...It was already dark, but to tell you the truth, It was wonderful to see the live view on the LCD! I'm not that curious how Nikon does it, but it's bright and crystal clear!

Focusing the ED82 manually is not slower than my beloved Canon 300mm F4+TC1.4 so I am not really bothered.

Something missing with the Nikon P300 is full manual focusing and also zooming function in live view shooting. I have it in my G12 and 7D, it's a great feature which is unfortunate not included in the P300. Raw is nice to have, but I don't mind not spending too much time editing...what do you expect with 1/2.3" size sensor?

The Jpeg image quality is just nice if you shoot it right...Raw in not a necessity.

Gosh, just after a few days on the field, already I want to talk like an expert...lol! Forgive me, lets get back to business. Lets get back to the real reason why I am writing this. It's all about these beautiful creatures... enjoy;-


#1 Eurasian Tree Sparrow, as common as they may be not always an easy target to photograph. Thanks to my ED82... I can shoot them from the comfort of my bedroom!


#2 Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper, you don't want to make silly mistake like I did coz they are scarce migrant. Excited, I didn't anticipate it's next move and zoomed too much! There goes my behavior shot...


#3 Enjoying the muddy soup...


#4 The eye-contact locked!


#5 Common Snipe in the dark...also one of the scarce winter visitors.


#6 Common Snipe, a few second before disappearing...


#7 Sea snake...one for the record. Digiscoped!


#8 Pacific Golden Plover, a common migrant..a beauty during breeding..not this time! at least to me hehehe


#9 The Red Avadavat, now commonly known as "angry bird" among us. Taken with Canon 7D+1.4TC +300mm F4.


#10 Whiskered Tern, always a pleasure to nail shots like this...Taken with Canon 7D+1.4TC +300mm F4.