Spectacled Bulbul (Pycnonotus erythropthalmos) of Sepilok

Tabin Wildlife Reserve- Spotted Fantail (Rhipidura pelata)

Backyard Bird Videography - Brown capped woodpecker (Dendrocopus moluccensis)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9vXDhhRMPI&ab_channel=JordanSitorus

Kinabalu Crested Dragon (Hypsicalotes kinabaluensis)

I did not pay much attention to my blog for the longest of time. Neither did I spend much of my time birding. However, I did go to some parts of Indonesia doing a little birding. Some provinces in the Philippines as well as in Perth, Australia.

I managed to take quite a bit of bird photos on those trips as to my outings here in Sabah. Time was not on my side in terms of picking/editing them. I missed doing it but you know how it is.

It was not until I watched a channel on youtube I realized how much I missed blogging. He was talking about Vlogging. I know there's a huge difference between the two. Nonetheless, it's really similar in so many ways.

Anyway, I also kinda ventured to wedding photography. I have the gears and some friends needed the service so what the heck. Made some bucks but at the end of the day, I found out I really didn't have the time to do all the post production. I didn't want to be unfair to the clients and made them wait too long. I also had to be fair to myself and my family I guessed.

If you are interested to know the youtuber who kinda inspired me to finish my 2 minutes clips of the dragon above and posted it on my channel, you should search for Ed Ricker Vlog on youtube. The specific vlog that ticked me was https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6mvYUvLgQo&t=2s

Wow, this is the longest write up I've ever done apart from work since...I can remember. No plans, drafts whatsoever. Did it in less than 15 minutes. Yes!

Really proud of myself and thankful for Mr. Ed Ricker, Thanks man!

Good night all and see you in a bit.

Some birds are just simply very hard to photograph. It takes a lot of time, patience and a whole lot of luck. Having experienced all the elements, I learned to accept and most of the time comforting myself that there will always be next time. I guess this is why bird photography is quite addictive...

Below are some of the harder ones in my opinion due to their size and behavior:-

Raffles Malkoha

 Difficulty: Very Hard- likes dense vegetation

Little Spiderhunter

 Difficulty: Medium- predictable feeding behaviour

Orange-backed Woodpecker

Difficulty: Very Hard- Scarce resident

White-browed Shortwing (Brachypteryx montana) ♀

Difficulty: Super Hard- very small, skittish and skulking.

Asian Dowitcher (Limnodromus semipalmatus)

I had mixed feeling during the shoot.

Obviously, I was extremely excited when I noticed the bird was not really bothered with my friends and I presence. It kept feeding and feeding and feeding with little care of the surroundings.

I did little bird photography for quite a while now. Once a while, I did went to Kinabalu National Park to meet up with "old friends". Recently, I hit a jackpot when I met Mr. Whitehead's Trogon and family. Earlier were Blackeye Mountain Bird and also the Golden-naped Barbet. It was a great fun, I must say.

Anyway, I'll do a post about that later...

Back to our little friend here, classified as Near Threatened by IUCN I was also not so pleased to see just a single individual on that beach that day. There were also some Ruddy Turnstones, Common Ring Plover and some other species, but just a single Asian Dowitcher.

As my lifer, I was glad to have recorded it...but it would be even greater if there were more than one. Maybe I'm asking a bit too much, but wouldn't you think so? It is also disheartening to know their number are declining mainly due to habitat loss and also global warming. I wonder when will that be not the reason behind the decline...

Meanwhile, I guess I'll do my little part...

Common Kingfisher : The Lucky Break

Some gems are found at places where you least expected them to be.

More often than not, the public expects bird photos are taken at national parks, gardens and bird sanctuaries throughout the world. In general this expectation is true. However, depending on the species some of the most beautiful ones could also be found in your backyard.

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo Atthis) is a winter visitor to Borneo. Found in Europe and North of Asia, it amazes me how this 15cm flyer darted through the elements every September to migrate to Borneo and only to fly back sometime in April every year. It's a miracle and I could imagine only a handful could make it every year.

If you happen to live by a padi fields, rivers or swamps here in Borneo, you have a good chance to find them there. Usually prefers small twigs overhanging the water, you would also want to check out on top of the fences or dead branches not too high from the water.

I have had many encounter with this tiny jewels. The Common Kingfisher colors is a bit paler compared to the local Blue-eared Kingfisher which is also similar in size, but that doesn't mean they're not beautiful. A bit skittish, I have to say I have a lot of frustrating hours with them before.

This year I have to admit I have a better luck. Thanks to my good buddies who shared the location with me, I had two weekends to try my luck.

I have never gone as close as 30m to this bird before, but this year I was merely 6m away from this guy and without a hide. If there's only one tip to share I would say stay low, avoid eye-contact and be very silent and no sudden movements...and yeah, keep your flash for other uses.

Cheers and Happy birding!

It's As Easy As 123!

Okay, don't act like you're not surprised that I'm here posting on my blog again. I kinda missed doing this, you know. I've been keeping myself quiet, quite a bit of time you know. Trying to think what I should talk about on my blog..( yeah, right you might think!)

Okay class(LOL), today I wanna talk a bit about etiquette, ethics, unwritten rules, law (or whatever you wanna call it) in bird photography. I am no expert but I'm good...not the best but better than some of the rest. The issue I would like to address today is about distance. Distance between a photographer and the subject.  Which in this case are birds.

In my thousands of shutter clicks experience of birds, there's similarity to all of them regardless of species. They are a lifeforms with feelings. Yes, feelings. I do think they does have the feeling of anger, anxiety, curiosity, fear, hot, cold, etc. These feelings are for us to understand and to manipulate. So guys, mind your distance.

Let me show you how it's done...

Lesson No.1- Look at the watch.

Birds are like human, if it's hot they want to cool off too. Mountain birds are sensitive to heat. Sunny days are the time to catch them taking a dip. Pick your spot on a rocky stream and wait for the sign. This might take a while but you will get them. If you are still enough, or if you are in a hide... the composition is all yours. Be it full framed shots or even some nice habitat shot...they would not mind you being there...

Lesson No. 2- Call them!

Some birds like the Red-bearded Bee-eater is so freaking busy body. They 'laugh' like Santa Claus and if you imitate their song they'll come flying to you as if you are Snow White singing in the rainforest. You don't have to use hides or playback for this kinda bird. They are curious and daring enough to get close to you.

Lesson No.3- Get busy & lucky!

Don't just sit there reading about reviews, news feed, worrying about your gears what you don't and what you do have. Get out and shoot man!What the heck are you thinking! Birds won't go and knock your door for you to photograph them. Some rare species only live in certain habitat, so use your knowledge to a good use. Pack your stuff, get busy an find your luck. 

Once you're there, repeat steps 1, 2, 3! Even if your there doesn't mean they are there...look closer & find them!

Well, It's as easy as 123 Isn't it? Is there any rules or etiquette  broken in doing the 123??? I don't think so...Okay, I'm done for now. Hope all of you enjoyed my class... until then, see you. Don't forget the 123 rules!

P/s...All pictures above were taken using Canon EOS40D & more or less posted at the original form.

Upgrade the Hard Work, then the Work Upgraded...

The Canon EOS 7D, my current one and only DSLR has served me well. From the cold snowy mountain of Zugspitze, Germany to the hot and humid rainforest of Sandakan, Borneo...She never failed me since 2009 and I'm sure she fails me never...to the coming years to come.

Prior to her, a Canon 40D used to serve me. A hard working companion, my bitter sweet mechanic tutor. Teaching me the hard way how to not take a snap of a picture. She brought me pain and agony of missing the moments, but joy and smile nailing them in the process.

Three years later and in the verge of becoming obsolete the Canon 7D is promised a new life. Nothing short of surprises nor excitement... I welcome and eagerly awaits for the punch of new intelligence to her already excellent being. Thank you in advance Canon for the new firmware. I've never expected my hole-in-my-pocket matrimonial  investment to be a real value for money...hehehe

Anyway, in the thick of things i suddenly remembered quite a handful of not-so-bad bird shots using the Canon EOS 40D. Below are the few, as a reminder for myself that hard-work is really the key to every good things and surely the first small step before the giant leap. Not the best..but surely not the worst. I guess I won't be upgrading anytime soon..for if the 40D can deliver these, the pimped up 7D could do much better...

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