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Borneo is a typically a great place to see hornbills -- especially in the Kinabatangan River lowlands. We recorded seven species there, including the flashy Oriental Pied-Hornbill. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
Our June tour to Borneo started off a little shaky -- literally! A sizable 6.0 magnitude earthquake shook northern Sabah Province, causing the temporary closure of Kinabalu Park. Folks waiting in the Kota Kinabalu airport for their flight to Sandakan felt the quake, but those of us already in Sandakan didn't feel a thing. Despite the temblor, our tour started off like it always does, with great birds and birding in and around Sepilok.
The weather this year was a little wetter than I expected it to be, as I'd received advanced notice of dry conditions along our tour route from our March tour. An El Niño, like the one currently developing in the eastern Pacific, often dries out this part of the world, so I was a little relieved to see the rain -- something I didn't think that I'd be saying! While it did rain some on the tour, it was no more than you'd expect in a normal year, and barely impacted our birding at all, with our typical nice, clear mornings and the occasional afternoon downpour.
We bird three main venues on this tour, starting in the lowlands on and near the Kinabatangan River in eastern Sabah. Birding and wildlife watching were pretty spectacular during our stays at Sepilok and Sukau. We were treated to a wide variety of southeast Asian avifauna -- principally of a Sundaic flavor, with a sprinkling of Bornean endemics. Memorable among our many sightings were a close encounter with Chestnut-necklaced Partridge, multiple Storm's Storks, both Lesser and Gray-headed fish-eagles, the scarce Large Green-Pigeon, the fantastic nesting swiftlets of Gomantong Cave, our eight species of hornbills, the tiny endemic White-fronted Falconet, five species of broadbills, stunning Hooded and endemic Black-headed pittas, and so many more. Some of our greatest highlights weren't even birds; we had multiple Orangutans along the Kinabatangan and even spotted a bull male Bornean Pygmy Elephant swimming across the Kinabatangan! Wow!!
Next stop: Borneo Rainforest Lodge. Often the highlight of any Borneo tour, this beautiful place, situated in the Danum Valley with its towering forest canopy, didn't disappoint. We divided our time between the fantastic canopy walkway, a few trails, and the entrance road to the lodge, all of which were extremely productive. We had our best encounters with the charismatic Orangutan here, and also had our only encounter with the weird Bornean Bristlehead. We recorded more than 100 species most of the days we were here, a testament to the valley's richness. Among treasures were a few real gems: lovely, tame Crested Firebacks, brilliant Diard's and Cinnamon-rumped trogons, Red-bearded Bee-eater, Great Slaty Woodpecker, high-flying Blue-rumped Parrot, the endemic Blue-headed Pitta, Maroon-breasted Philentoma, sneaky Crested Jay, Black Magpie, Straw-headed, Scaly-breasted and Finsch's bulbuls, the endemic Bornean Blue-Flycatcher -- the list goes on and on. What a wonderful place to visit and what a difficult place to leave!
Lastly, we ventured to the cool highlands to wind down our tour, first visiting the hill forest of the Crocker Range just south of Kota Kinabalu and then moving on to Kinabalu Park for our last four-night stay. The Crocker Range, though unusually quiet during our visit, still produced a number of fine birds that we didn't record elsewhere. Nice looks at the endemic Mountain Barbet, Bornean Bulbul, and Bornean Leafbird -- plus a fleeting look at a Whitehead's Spiderhunter in flight -- were some of the highlights of our few hours there. Kinabalu Park, showing visible signs of the recent earthquake, was almost ours alone to enjoy. The normal throngs of tourists, anxious to climb the towering, massive Gunung Kinabalu, were nowhere to be seen, due to the closure of the summit trail above the Timpohon Gate. For me, it was a strange sight to see, especially since I've come to know the park so well these past few years. Still, due to the lack of park visitors, we were upgraded to better accommodations, the food was even better in uncrowded restaurants, and we pretty much had the road and trails to ourselves -- the 'silver lining' to the earthquake's tragedy. Avian stars were many here, and we thrilled at sightings of a number of new Bornean endemic species and were blown away by our fantastic Rafflesia keithii encounter at nearby Poring Hot Springs. Read on in the list that follows for the specifics from this fabulous park.
Thanks must be extended to our strong local guides throughout this tour -- Hazwan in Sepilok and Sukau, Paul at the Danum Valley, and Hamit (Hazwan's brother) at Kinabalu. We couldn't have done it without you three! And thanks to all of you for joining me on this tour and for letting me share my love of this rich island with you. I hope we can all travel together again sometime soon! -- Dave
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
We had super views of the 'fire back' of this male Crested Fireback at Borneo Rainforest Lodge, on the dirt road that passed right by our rooms there. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
RED-BREASTED PARTRIDGE (Arborophila hyperythra) [E*] CHESTNUT-NECKLACED PARTRIDGE (Arborophila charltonii)
CRIMSON-HEADED PARTRIDGE (Haematortyx sanguiniceps) [E]
CRESTED FIREBACK (Lophura ignita nobilis)
GREAT ARGUS (Argusianus argus) [*]
Ciconiidae (Storks)
STORM'S STORK (Ciconia stormi)
You rarely get to see Black Eagle as well as we did at Gomantong Cave. This fresh juvenile bird (not yet black) was biding its time at the mouth of the cave, waiting for the mass exodus of Wrinkle-lipped Bats later in the afternoon. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
LESSER ADJUTANT (Leptoptilos javanicus) Anhingidae (Anhingas)
ORIENTAL DARTER (Anhinga melanogaster)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
PURPLE HERON (Ardea purpurea)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
INTERMEDIATE EGRET (Mesophoyx intermedia)
LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)
CATTLE EGRET (ASIAN) (Bubulcus ibis coromandus)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
ORIENTAL HONEY-BUZZARD (Pernis ptilorhynchus)
JERDON'S BAZA (Aviceda jerdoni)
CRESTED SERPENT-EAGLE (Spilornis cheela)
BAT HAWK (Macheiramphus alcinus)
CHANGEABLE HAWK-EAGLE (Nisaetus limnaeetus)
BLYTH'S HAWK-EAGLE (Nisaetus alboniger) [N]
WALLACE'S HAWK-EAGLE (Nisaetus nanus)
RUFOUS-BELLIED EAGLE (Lophotriorchis kienerii)
BLACK EAGLE (Ictinaetus malaiensis)
CRESTED GOSHAWK (Accipiter trivirgatus)
BESRA (Accipiter virgatus rufotibialis)
BRAHMINY KITE (Haliastur indus)
WHITE-BELLIED SEA-EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
LESSER FISH-EAGLE (Ichthyophaga humilis)
Proboscis Monkeys are easy to see along the waterways near Sukau Rainforest Lodge. This female had her hands full with a baby and an adolescent in tow. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
GRAY-HEADED FISH-EAGLE (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus) Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
EURASIAN MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
SPOTTED DOVE (Streptopelia chinensis)
LITTLE CUCKOO-DOVE (Macropygia ruficeps)
This Large Hawk-Cuckoo, perched nicely in the open, was a surprise on one of our walks along the Silau-Silau Trail in Kinabalu Park. Some experts (notably Susan Myers, author of the Borneo field guide) consider the resident race, H.s. bocki, to be a species distinct from the larger migrant Large Hawk-Cuckoo that winters on Borneo. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
EMERALD DOVE (Chalcophaps indica) ZEBRA DOVE (Geopelia striata) [I]
LITTLE GREEN-PIGEON (Treron olax)
PINK-NECKED PIGEON (Treron vernans)
THICK-BILLED PIGEON (Treron curvirostra)
LARGE GREEN-PIGEON (Treron capellei)
JAMBU FRUIT-DOVE (Ptilinopus jambu)
GREEN IMPERIAL-PIGEON (Ducula aenea) [N]
MOUNTAIN IMPERIAL-PIGEON (Ducula badia)
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
LARGE HAWK-CUCKOO (DARK) (Hierococcyx sparverioides bocki)
MOUSTACHED HAWK-CUCKOO (Hierococcyx vagans)
INDIAN CUCKOO (Cuculus micropterus) [*]
SUNDA CUCKOO (Cuculus lepidus)
BANDED BAY CUCKOO (Cacomantis sonneratii) [*]
PLAINTIVE CUCKOO (Cacomantis merulinus)
VIOLET CUCKOO (Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus)
SQUARE-TAILED DRONGO-CUCKOO (Surniculus lugubris)
BLACK-BELLIED MALKOHA (Phaenicophaeus diardi)
RAFFLES'S MALKOHA (Phaenicophaeus chlorophaeus)
CHESTNUT-BREASTED MALKOHA (Phaenicophaeus curvirostris)
GREATER COUCAL (Centropus sinensis)
Tytonidae (Barn-Owls)
ORIENTAL BAY-OWL (Phodilus badius) [*]
Strigidae (Owls)
This female Raffles's Malkoha foraged in the dead leaves along the boardwalk leading to Gomantong Cave. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
REDDISH SCOPS-OWL (Otus rufescens rufescens) [*] MOUNTAIN SCOPS-OWL (Otus spilocephalus) [*]
SUNDA SCOPS-OWL (Otus lempiji)
BARRED EAGLE-OWL (Bubo sumatranus) [*]
BUFFY FISH-OWL (Ketupa ketupu)
COLLARED OWLET (Glaucidium brodiei borneense) [*]
BROWN WOOD-OWL (Strix leptogrammica)
BROWN BOOBOOK (Ninox scutulata borneensis) [*]
Apodidae (Swifts)
The big advantage of ascending the canopy walkway at Borneo Rainforest Lodge is that you can get some great views of canopy birds that you'd normally be straining your neck to see. We came face-to-face with this stunning male Scarlet-rumped Trogon on our first climb into the canopy there. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
SILVER-RUMPED NEEDLETAIL (Rhaphidura leucopygialis) BROWN-BACKED NEEDLETAIL (Hirundapus giganteus)
GLOSSY SWIFTLET (Collocalia esculenta) [N]
CAVE SWIFTLET (BORNEAN) (Collocalia linchi dodgei) [N]
MOSSY-NEST SWIFTLET (Aerodramus salangana) [N]
BLACK-NEST SWIFTLET (Aerodramus maximus) [N]
WHITE-NEST SWIFTLET (Aerodramus fuciphagus) [N]
Hemiprocnidae (Treeswifts)
GRAY-RUMPED TREESWIFT (Hemiprocne longipennis)
WHISKERED TREESWIFT (Hemiprocne comata)
Trogonidae (Trogons)
RED-NAPED TROGON (Harpactes kasumba)
DIARD'S TROGON (Harpactes diardii)
WHITEHEAD'S TROGON (Harpactes whiteheadi) [E]
CINNAMON-RUMPED TROGON (Harpactes orrhophaeus)
SCARLET-RUMPED TROGON (Harpactes duvaucelii)
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
BLUE-EARED KINGFISHER (Alcedo meninting)
BLUE-BANDED KINGFISHER (Alcedo euryzona)
RUFOUS-BACKED DWARF-KINGFISHER (Ceyx rufidorsa)
BANDED KINGFISHER (Lacedo pulchella)
STORK-BILLED KINGFISHER (Pelargopsis capensis)
RUDDY KINGFISHER (Halcyon coromanda)
Here's one that you can put in the bank - this endemic race of White-crowned Forktail was very cooperative for us along the Silau-Silau Trail at Kinabalu Park. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
COLLARED KINGFISHER (Todiramphus chloris) Meropidae (Bee-eaters)
RED-BEARDED BEE-EATER (Nyctyornis amictus)
BLUE-THROATED BEE-EATER (Merops viridis)
Coraciidae (Rollers)
DOLLARBIRD (Eurystomus orientalis)
Bucerotidae (Hornbills)
ORIENTAL PIED-HORNBILL (Anthracoceros albirostris)
BLACK HORNBILL (Anthracoceros malayanus)
RHINOCEROS HORNBILL (Buceros rhinoceros)
HELMETED HORNBILL (Buceros vigil)
Another bird that we enjoyed eye-to-eye looks at up in the Borneo Rainforest Lodge canopy walkway was this male Red-bearded Bee-eater; note the all-pink forehead. His damaged tail tells us that he's either currently or just finished nesting; bee-eaters nest in burrows in earthen banks, and going in and out of those nests wears the tail down. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
BUSHY-CRESTED HORNBILL (Anorrhinus galeritus) WHITE-CROWNED HORNBILL (Aceros comatus)
WRINKLED HORNBILL (Aceros corrugatus)
WREATHED HORNBILL (Aceros undulatus)
Megalaimidae (Asian Barbets)
BROWN BARBET (Calorhamphus fuliginosus) [E]
BLUE-EARED BARBET (Psilopogon duvaucelii duvaucelii)
RED-THROATED BARBET (Psilopogon mystacophanos)
GOLDEN-NAPED BARBET (Psilopogon pulcherrimus) [E]
YELLOW-CROWNED BARBET (Psilopogon henricii) [*]
MOUNTAIN BARBET (Psilopogon monticola) [E]
GOLD-FACED BARBET (Psilopogon chrysopsis) [E]
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
RUFOUS PICULET (Sasia abnormis)
GRAY-CAPPED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos canicapillus)
WHITE-BELLIED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus javensis)
BANDED WOODPECKER (Picus miniaceus) [*]
OLIVE-BACKED WOODPECKER (Dinopium rafflesii)
RUFOUS WOODPECKER (Micropternus brachyurus)
BUFF-RUMPED WOODPECKER (Meiglyptes tristis)
BUFF-NECKED WOODPECKER (Meiglyptes tukki)
MAROON WOODPECKER (Blythipicus rubiginosus)
The elevated walkway at the Rainforest Discovery Center near Sepilok is a wonderful place to get up close and personal with a number of beauties, like this tiny Black-and-yellow Broadbill. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
ORANGE-BACKED WOODPECKER (Reinwardtipicus validus) GREAT SLATY WOODPECKER (Mulleripicus pulverulentus)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
WHITE-FRONTED FALCONET (Microhierax latifrons) [E]
Psittaculidae (Old World Parrots)
BLUE-RUMPED PARROT (Psittinus cyanurus)
LONG-TAILED PARAKEET (Psittacula longicauda)
G-o-o-o-o-a-l! A Buffy Fish-Owl perched on a soccer backstop near the worker's cabins at Borneo Rainforest Lodge was a treat. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
BLUE-CROWNED HANGING-PARROT (Loriculus galgulus) Calyptomenidae (African and Green Broadbills)
GREEN BROADBILL (Calyptomena viridis)
Eurylaimidae (Asian and Grauer's Broadbills)
BLACK-AND-RED BROADBILL (Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos) [N]
BANDED BROADBILL (Eurylaimus javanicus)
BLACK-AND-YELLOW BROADBILL (Eurylaimus ochromalus) [N]
DUSKY BROADBILL (Corydon sumatranus)
Pittidae (Pittas)
BLACK-HEADED PITTA (Erythropitta ussheri) [E]
BLUE-HEADED PITTA (Hydrornis baudii) [E]
HOODED PITTA (Pitta sordida)
Acanthizidae (Thornbills and Allies)
GOLDEN-BELLIED GERYGONE (Gerygone sulphurea) [*]
Vangidae (Vangas, Helmetshrikes, and Allies)
LARGE WOODSHRIKE (Tephrodornis gularis)
BAR-WINGED FLYCATCHER-SHRIKE (Hemipus picatus)
BLACK-WINGED FLYCATCHER-SHRIKE (Hemipus hirundinaceus)
RUFOUS-WINGED PHILENTOMA (Philentoma pyrhoptera)
MAROON-BREASTED PHILENTOMA (Philentoma velata)
Artamidae (Woodswallows)
WHITE-BREASTED WOODSWALLOW (Artamus leucorynchus)
Pityriaseidae (Bristlehead)
BORNEAN BRISTLEHEAD (Pityriasis gymnocephala) [E]
Aegithinidae (Ioras)
COMMON IORA (Aegithina tiphia) [*]
GREEN IORA (Aegithina viridissima)
Campephagidae (Cuckooshrikes)
This close, confiding (and endemic) Golden-naped Barbet was a surprise find in a fruiting fig right next to the parking lot outside our breakfast restaurant in Kinabalu Park one morning -- in the rain! Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
FIERY MINIVET (Pericrocotus igneus) GRAY-CHINNED MINIVET (Pericrocotus solaris)
SUNDA CUCKOOSHRIKE (Coracina larvata)
PIED TRILLER (Lalage nigra)
LESSER CUCKOOSHRIKE (Lalage fimbriata schierbrandi)
Pachycephalidae (Whistlers and Allies)
BORNEAN WHISTLER (Pachycephala hypoxantha) [E]
Laniidae (Shrikes)
LONG-TAILED SHRIKE (Lanius schach)
Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)
We found this adult male Bornean Pygmy Elephant swimming across the Kinabatangan River near Sukau Rainforest Lodge on one of our afternoon boat trips. He had no trouble swimming -- though getting out of the river on the other side, where the bank was very steep, proved more difficult! Video by guide Dave Stejskal.
BLYTH'S SHRIKE-BABBLER (BLYTH'S) (Pteruthius aeralatus robinsoni) WHITE-BELLIED ERPORNIS (Erpornis zantholeuca)
Oriolidae (Old World Orioles)
DARK-THROATED ORIOLE (Oriolus xanthonotus)
BLACK-AND-CRIMSON ORIOLE (Oriolus cruentus)
Dicruridae (Drongos)
ASHY DRONGO (BORNEAN) (Dicrurus leucophaeus stigmatops)
BRONZED DRONGO (Dicrurus aeneus)
HAIR-CRESTED DRONGO (Dicrurus hottentottus borneensis)
GREATER RACKET-TAILED DRONGO (Dicrurus paradiseus brachyphorus)
Rhipiduridae (Fantails)
SPOTTED FANTAIL (Rhipidura perlata)
MALAYSIAN PIED-FANTAIL (Rhipidura javanica)
WHITE-THROATED FANTAIL (Rhipidura albicollis)
Monarchidae (Monarch Flycatchers)
BLACK-NAPED MONARCH (Hypothymis azurea)
Bulbuls are plentiful in Borneo. This Spectacled Bulbul, with its bright red eye and bright yellow eye-ring, is often heard but rarely seen so well. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
ASIAN PARADISE-FLYCATCHER (Terpsiphone paradisi) Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
CRESTED JAY (Platylophus galericulatus)
BLACK MAGPIE (Platysmurus leucopterus aterrimus)
BORNEAN GREEN-MAGPIE (Cissa jefferyi) [E]
BORNEAN TREEPIE (Dendrocitta cinerascens) [E]
SLENDER-BILLED CROW (SLENDER-BILLED) (Corvus enca compilator)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
It took us until our last morning in Kinabalu Park, but we finally all tracked down a pair of fantastic Whitehead's Trogons for some incomparable looks. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
PACIFIC SWALLOW (Hirundo tahitica) [N] Stenostiridae (Fairy Flycatchers)
GRAY-HEADED CANARY-FLYCATCHER (Culicicapa ceylonensis)
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
VELVET-FRONTED NUTHATCH (Sitta frontalis)
Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls)
PUFF-BACKED BULBUL (Pycnonotus eutilotus)
BLACK-HEADED BULBUL (Pycnonotus atriceps)
STRAW-HEADED BULBUL (Pycnonotus zeylanicus)
BORNEAN BULBUL (Pycnonotus montis) [E]
SCALY-BREASTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus squamatus)
FLAVESCENT BULBUL (Pycnonotus flavescens leucops)
YELLOW-VENTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus goiavier)
OLIVE-WINGED BULBUL (Pycnonotus plumosus)
RED-EYED BULBUL (Pycnonotus brunneus)
SPECTACLED BULBUL (Pycnonotus erythropthalmos) [N]
HAIRY-BACKED BULBUL (Tricholestes criniger)
FINSCH'S BULBUL (Alophoixus finschii)
OCHRACEOUS BULBUL (Alophoixus ochraceus)
GRAY-CHEEKED BULBUL (Alophoixus bres)
YELLOW-BELLIED BULBUL (Alophoixus phaeocephalus)
BUFF-VENTED BULBUL (Iole olivacea)
We sure got lucky with this one, didn't we? This gorgeous Hooded Pitta performed very well for us along the quiet waters of the Menanggul River near Sukau Rainforest Lodge. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
ASHY BULBUL (CINEREOUS) (Hemixos flavala connectens) STREAKED BULBUL (Ixos malaccensis)
Cettiidae (Bush-Warblers and Allies)
This Bornean Whistling-Thrush sports a little 'bling' from the American researchers who are banding resident birds in Kinabalu Park. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
BORNEAN STUBTAIL (Urosphena whiteheadi) [E] YELLOW-BELLIED WARBLER (Abroscopus superciliaris)
MOUNTAIN TAILORBIRD (Phyllergates cucullatus)
SUNDA BUSH-WARBLER (Horornis vulcanius)
Phylloscopidae (Leaf-Warblers)
MOUNTAIN WARBLER (Phylloscopus trivirgatus)
YELLOW-BREASTED WARBLER (Seicercus montis)
Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and Allies)
DARK-NECKED TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus atrogularis)
ASHY TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus ruficeps)
RUFOUS-TAILED TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus sericeus)
YELLOW-BELLIED PRINIA (Prinia flaviventris)
Zosteropidae (White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies)
CHESTNUT-CRESTED YUHINA (Yuhina everetti) [E]
MOUNTAIN BLACK-EYE (Chlorocharis emiliae) [E]
BLACK-CAPPED WHITE-EYE (Zosterops atricapilla)
Timaliidae (Tree-Babblers, Scimitar-Babblers, and Allies)
BOLD-STRIPED TIT-BABBLER (Mixornis bornensis)
FLUFFY-BACKED TIT-BABBLER (Macronus ptilosus)
CHESTNUT-WINGED BABBLER (Cyanoderma erythropterum)
This Black-capped Babbler gave us quite a show along the boardwalk behind the rooms at Sukau Rainforest Lodge. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
RUFOUS-FRONTED BABBLER (Cyanoderma rufifrons) [*] CHESTNUT-BACKED SCIMITAR-BABBLER (Pomatorhinus montanus)
BLACK-THROATED BABBLER (Stachyris nigricollis)
CHESTNUT-RUMPED BABBLER (Stachyris maculata)
GRAY-THROATED BABBLER (Stachyris nigriceps)
GRAY-HEADED BABBLER (Stachyris poliocephala)
Pellorneidae (Ground Babblers and Allies)
We came face-to-face with this big (for a spiderhunter) Spectacled Spiderhunter on the wooden deck behind the restaurant at Borneo Rainforest Lodge. Note the lack of any hint of streaking on the throat and chest, which rules out the similar Yellow-eared Spiderhunter. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
MOUSTACHED BABBLER (Malacopteron magnirostre) SOOTY-CAPPED BABBLER (Malacopteron affine)
SCALY-CROWNED BABBLER (Malacopteron cinereum)
RUFOUS-CROWNED BABBLER (Malacopteron magnum)
BLACK-CAPPED BABBLER (Pellorneum capistratum) [N]
TEMMINCK'S BABBLER (Pellorneum pyrrogenys)
SHORT-TAILED BABBLER (Pellorneum malaccense)
WHITE-CHESTED BABBLER (Pellorneum rostratum)
FERRUGINOUS BABBLER (Pellorneum bicolor)
STRIPED WREN-BABBLER (Kenopia striata)
BORNEAN WREN-BABBLER (Ptilocichla leucogrammica) [E*]
HORSFIELD'S BABBLER (Turdinus sepiarius)
BLACK-THROATED WREN-BABBLER (Turdinus atrigularis) [E*]
MOUNTAIN WREN-BABBLER (Turdinus crassus) [E]
Leiothrichidae (Laughingthrushes and Allies)
BROWN FULVETTA (Alcippe brunneicauda)
SUNDA LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Garrulax palliatus)
BARE-HEADED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Garrulax calvus) [E*]
CHESTNUT-HOODED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Ianthocincla treacheri treacheri) [E]
Irenidae (Fairy-bluebirds)
ASIAN FAIRY-BLUEBIRD (Irena puella)
Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers)
ORIENTAL MAGPIE-ROBIN (Copsychus saularis)
A close relative of the lowland Verditer Flycatcher, this Indigo Flycatcher brightened the roadside at Kinabalu Park. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
RUFOUS-TAILED SHAMA (Copsychus pyrropygus) WHITE-RUMPED SHAMA (WHITE-CROWNED) (Copsychus malabaricus stricklandii)
PALE BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis unicolor)
LONG-BILLED BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis caerulatus)
MALAYSIAN BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis turcosus)
BORNEAN BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis superbus) [E]
GRAY-CHESTED JUNGLE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis umbratilis)
FULVOUS-CHESTED JUNGLE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis olivaceus)
PYGMY BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Muscicapella hodgsoni)
INDIGO FLYCATCHER (Eumyias indigo)
A two-day-old bloom of the parasitic Rafflesia keithii near Poring Hot Springs. This one's extra-special because it has six petals instead of the usual five. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
VERDITER FLYCATCHER (Eumyias thalassinus) EYEBROWED JUNGLE-FLYCATCHER (Vauriella gularis) [E]
WHITE-BROWED SHORTWING (Brachypteryx montana erythrogyna)
BORNEAN WHISTLING-THRUSH (Myophonus borneensis) [E]
WHITE-CROWNED FORKTAIL (WHITE-CROWNED) (Enicurus leschenaulti frontalis)
WHITE-CROWNED FORKTAIL (BORNEAN) (Enicurus leschenaulti borneensis)
RUFOUS-CHESTED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula dumetoria)
LITTLE PIED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula westermanni)
SNOWY-BROWED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula hyperythra)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
FRUIT-HUNTER (Chlamydochaera jefferyi) [E*]
Sturnidae (Starlings)
ASIAN GLOSSY STARLING (Aplonis panayensis)
COMMON HILL MYNA (Gracula religiosa) [*]
JAVAN MYNA (Acridotheres javanicus) [I]
Chloropseidae (Leafbirds)
GREATER GREEN LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis sonnerati)
LESSER GREEN LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis cyanopogon)
BORNEAN LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis kinabaluensis) [E]
Dicaeidae (Flowerpeckers)
YELLOW-BREASTED FLOWERPECKER (Prionochilus maculatus)
YELLOW-RUMPED FLOWERPECKER (Prionochilus xanthopygius) [E]
To say that a Temminck's Sunbird is red is a bit of an understatement! Photo by participant P.S. Fonseca.
ORANGE-BELLIED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum trigonostigma) BLACK-SIDED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum monticolum) [E]
SCARLET-BACKED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum cruentatum)
Nectariniidae (Sunbirds and Spiderhunters)
RUBY-CHEEKED SUNBIRD (Chalcoparia singalensis)
PLAIN SUNBIRD (Anthreptes simplex)
PLAIN-THROATED SUNBIRD (Anthreptes malacensis)
RED-THROATED SUNBIRD (Anthreptes rhodolaemus)
This female Colugo (or "Flying Lemur") with a tiny baby snuggled up against her chest, was the most surprising mammal we found on our night drives at Borneo Rainforest Lodge. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
VAN HASSELT'S SUNBIRD (Leptocoma brasiliana) TEMMINCK'S SUNBIRD (Aethopyga temminckii)
CRIMSON SUNBIRD (Aethopyga siparaja)
LITTLE SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera longirostra)
PURPLE-NAPED SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera hypogrammicum)
WHITEHEAD'S SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera juliae) [E]
YELLOW-EARED SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera chrysogenys)
SPECTACLED SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera flavigaster)
BORNEAN SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera everetti) [E]
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
ORIENTAL PIPIT (Anthus rufulus malayensis)
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus) [I]
Estrildidae (Waxbills and Allies)
DUSKY MUNIA (Lonchura fuscans) [E]
CHESTNUT MUNIA (Lonchura atricapilla)
COLUGO (Cynocephalus variegatus)
WRINKLE-LIPPED FREE-TAILED BAT (Chaerephon plicatus)
The massive -- and colorful -- Stork-billed Kingfisher was a common sight along the waterways near Sukau Rainforest Lodge. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
MOUNTAIN TREESHREW (Tupaia montana) [E] LESSER TREESHREW (Tupaia minor)
SLENDER TREESHREW (Tupaia gracilis) [E]
LARGE TREESHREW (Tupaia tana)
SMOOTH-TAILED TREESHREW (Dendrogale melanura) [E]
SLOW LORIS (Nycticebus cougang)
CRAB-EATING MACAQUE (Macaca fascigularis)
Most of the male Asian Paradise-Flycatchers in the lowlands of Sabah seem to be white-morph birds, like this stunner near Gomantong Cave. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
PIGTAIL MACAQUE (Macaca nemestrina) SILVERED LEAF MONKEY (Presbytis cristata)
RED LEAF MONKEY (Presbytis rubicunda) [E]
PROBOSCIS MONKEY (Nasalis larvatus) [E]
GRAY GIBBON (Hylobates muelleri) [E*]
ORANGUTAN (Pongo pygmaeus) [E]
PREVOST'S SQUIRREL (Callosciurus prevostii)
KINABALU SQUIRREL (Callosciurus baluensis) [E]
PLANTAIN SQUIRREL (Callosciurus notatus)
EAR-SPOT SQUIRREL (Callosciurus adamsi) [E]
BORNEAN BLACK-BANDED SQUIRREL (Callosciurus orestes) [E]
LOWE'S SQUIRREL (Sundasciurus lowii)
JENTINK'S SQUIRREL (Sundasciurus jentincki) [E]
BORNEAN MOUNTAIN GROUND-SQUIRREL (Dremomys everetti) [E]
PLAIN PYGMY SQUIRREL (Exilisciurus exilis) [E]
RED GIANT FLYING SQUIRREL (Petaurista petaurista)
THOMAS'S FLYING SQUIRREL (Aeromys thomasi) [E]
BLACK RAT (Rattus rattus) [I]
GRAY TREE RAT (Lenothrix canus)
YELLOW-THROATED MARTEN (Martes flavigula)
SUNDA STINK BADGER (Mydaus javanensis)
MALAY CIVET (Viverra tangalunga)
We spotted this well-marked Yellow-throated Martin in the creek bed as we quietly walked a trail in the Danum Valley one morning. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
BORNEAN PYGMY ELEPHANT (Elephas maximus borneensis) BEARDED PIG (Sus barbatus)
LESSER MOUSE DEER (Tragulus javanicus)
SAMBAR (Cervus unicolor)
Herps
SALTWATER CROCODILE (Crocodylus porosus)
FLYING LIZARD, SP. (Draco, sp.)
KINABALU CRESTED DRAGON (Hypsicalotes kinabaluensis) [E]
SMITH'S GIANT GECKO (Gekko smithii)
We had our best encounter with Orangutan very near the main building at Borneo Rainforest Lodge, when we spotted this adult female with a tiny infant holding on for dear life! Video by guide Dave Stejskal.
WATER MONITOR (Varanus salvator) RETICULATED PYTHON (Broghammerus reticulatus)
MANGROVE CAT SNAKE (Boiga dendrophila)
Rafflesia (Rafflesia keithii) - We ditched the rain up in Kinabalu Park on our first morning there and drove down to Poring Hot Springs in order to try to track down one of these strange parasitic Rafflesia keithii flowers. We were lucky to run into a nice woman outside the park entrance there who was more than happy to show us one, which entailed a very short drive and an even shorter hike to to the site. The flower we saw was only two days old (they only last 4-5 days and can look pretty bad at Day 3) and was spectacular, with six petals (instead of the normal five) and lots of flower buds of varying sizes holding the promise of more to come over the coming months.
Bornean Pill Millipede (Glomeris connexa) - I think some in the group ran across this critter at BRL, which looks like a giant pill bug, rolling into a ball when disturbed.
Giant Honey Bee (Apis dorsata) -
Trilobite Beetle (Platerodrilus paradoxus) - We saw a couple of these very strange beetles at Kinabalu Park. The female never progresses (at least outwardly) beyond the larval stage, which is unique among the world's beetles. the male looks like a typical beetle, but is much smaller than the female. There are about 22 species in the genus which is found throughout s. Asia.
Stag beetle (Prosopocoilus oweni) - This was that huge beetle that we found on the road in Kinabalu Park on our final morning (thanks to P.S. for tracking down a name for me!)
Rhinoceros beetle (Chalcosoma mollenkampi) - Our impressive beetle on the railing of the bridge at Poring Hot Springs (again, thanks to P.S. for tracking down a name for me!)
Common Birdwing (Tioides helena) - this was the black and yellow Birdwing butterfly that we saw relatively frequently on this tour.
Common Tree Nymph (Woodnymph) (Idea stolli) - This was that incredibly buoyant black-and-white patterned butterfly that we saw almost daily in the lowlands. Ours was the subspecies I.s. virgo.
Totals for the tour: 272 bird taxa and 35 mammal taxa