Frigatebirds Flying Low In Tuaran District

I am speechless...glad? excited? proud? you name it! Anything positive I felt it all...To cut the story short, it was simply a perfect day. For the first time, I never even complain my lens even once during my outing with Chai (a.k.a Insight Borneo) yesterday (February, 3rd 2008.

During processing of all the photos, I couldn't stop smiling! It even came to the point where I didn't know which one to publish on the blog! At my standard, it really is that good... All the birds we managed to capture were within range, even with my EFS55-250mm.

All these are best when viewed large, just click on them and enjoy;

Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

We were on the highway when I spotted this Purple Heron. Chai made a quick U-turn about a quarter mile from there. Real QUICK, I tell you. We were lucky, we were still alive and it was still there. (Chai took the wrong profession...should have been a race driver!).

Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)

After taking numerous shots from inside the car, we got out and started shooting again. Another Purple Heron came flying and this one took off in a hurry.

(White-breasted wood swallow)

After getting permission to enter Tuaran Beach Resort compound from the authority there, we took our own position in a nearby bushes. I tried to take inflight shots of the White-breasted wood swallow above (Thanx Horukuru for the ID!) from the open, while Chai was hunting from inside the bushes.

Lesser Frigatebirds (Fregata Ariel)

Every pig has it's day!(no offence, we were both born on the Pig year of the Chinese calender!) We struck the mother of all Jackpots when we spotted some Frigatebirds flying low! (More of gliding I supposed, they were magnificent!). And the sweetest thing was, we managed to get some clear shots.

Chai had spotted an the first and earlier Lesser Frigate passing above us but it was too late to get some shots. This time we were early enough... I had to call Chai out from the bushes.

Lesser Frigatebird (Fregata Ariel)-juvenile

On this shot, the juvenile Lesser Frigatebirds were looking at me as it saw me running towards their path. I stopped and got this shot. Came down as a personal favorite!

Lesser Frigatebird (Fregata Ariel)-female

Again, I shot another one which was a female.

Lesser Frigatebird (Fregata Ariel)

This particular shot shows how low they were flying.

Whistling Ducks

We previewed our shots and big smiles on our faces! Time to go, we decided. We stopped by on a nearby pond which Chai had gone trekking not so long ago. Jason (a.k.a Horukuru) also mentioned that we could find some birds here specially whistling ducks. He was right! ( never doubt him anyway!).

After about an hour there hoping for some action shots of the Whistling Ducks, we decided to go and have our lunch. On the way out, we were have some exciting moments when a few Blue-throated bee-eater were flying around an open area!

Blue-throated bee-eater (Merops viridis)

Like real hunters, we waited patiently and I managed to get an action shot of the beautiful birds!

Blue-throated bee-eater (Merops viridis)

I personally hate to take pictures of birds pearced on a man made structure (this time, on a power cable) but this opportunity doesn't come rolling everday. So I took a few shots anyway!

I have to say that this was the most fruitful birding I have done so far. My 40D and EFS55-250 didn't dissapoint me. The weather was perfect, birds, everything else was perfect!

I guessed what really made my day was the sighting of the Lesser Frigatebirds. They were really flying low in the coastline of Tuaran District!