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Field Guides Tour Report
BORNEO II 2015
Jun 4, 2014 to Jun 21, 2014
Dave Stejskal


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


BIRDS
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) – We had it close but, try as we might, it remained hidden in the forest on the slopes of Mt. Kinabalu. [E*]
CHESTNUT-NECKLACED PARTRIDGE (Arborophila charltonii) – We had much better luck with this partridge – from the boat no less! – at Sukau.
CRIMSON-HEADED PARTRIDGE (Haematortyx sanguiniceps) – Jeannie was the only one to glimpse this one as it crossed the trail just down slope from our vantage point on the Mempening Trail. [E]
CRESTED FIREBACK (Lophura ignita nobilis) – We all had fantastic views of this endemic race with rusty central tail feathers near our cabins at Borneo Rainforest Lodge.
GREAT ARGUS (Argusianus argus) – We never really got very close to this one, unfortunately. [*]
Ciconiidae (Storks)
STORM'S STORK (Ciconia stormi) – We had several birds on the wing, including a flyover at Gomantong. It continues to hang on in the remaining fragmented lowland forest here.


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) – Five birds in one afternoon along the Kinabatangan was a good count!
Anhingidae (Anhingas)
ORIENTAL DARTER (Anhinga melanogaster) – That one bird along the Menenggul R. that was molting all of its flight feathers at once was quite a sight!
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
PURPLE HERON (Ardea purpurea) – A few only in the lowlands.
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba) – This Old World forms of this familiar bird are likely to be split from our own familiar New World form. They have different soft-part coloration during the breeding season and they have different voices, too.
INTERMEDIATE EGRET (Mesophoyx intermedia) – Pretty much intermediate in size between Little and Great egrets.
LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)
CATTLE EGRET (ASIAN) (Bubulcus ibis coromandus) – This is another one that's primed for a split. Just about every avian taxonomy governing group in the world splits this from the western Cattle Egret. The A.O.U. is slow to follow their lead - again.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
ORIENTAL HONEY-BUZZARD (Pernis ptilorhynchus) – This confusing raptor was seen well from the towers at Rainforest Discovery Center (RDC) in Sepilok.
JERDON'S BAZA (Aviceda jerdoni) – We had one good study in the scope at the entrance of the Gomantong forest.
CRESTED SERPENT-EAGLE (Spilornis cheela)
BAT HAWK (Macheiramphus alcinus) – Excellent scope looks near the Gomantong Cave.
CHANGEABLE HAWK-EAGLE (Nisaetus limnaeetus) – All of the birds that we encountered this year were really vocal, especially that pair along the Menenggul River near Sukau. For years, these Asian hawk-eagles were thought to be closely related to the Spizaetus hawk-eagles in the New World, but they've recently been shown to not be very close at all.
BLYTH'S HAWK-EAGLE (Nisaetus alboniger) – That bird that flew by up in the Crocker Range was actually a pretty decent look. [N]
WALLACE'S HAWK-EAGLE (Nisaetus nanus) – We saw more of these small hawk-eagles on this year's trip than I've seen on my other tours to Borneo. A tough one to distinguish from the similar Jerdon's Baza.
RUFOUS-BELLIED EAGLE (Lophotriorchis kienerii) – This small eagle was dwarfed by the two young Black Eagles at the Gomantong Cave.
BLACK EAGLE (Ictinaetus malaiensis) – Fantastic views at Gomantong Cave. We even had this one at BRL and on Mt. Kinabalu, too.
CRESTED GOSHAWK (Accipiter trivirgatus) – A couple of these from the canopy walkway at BRL may have been our best sighting. This one is very often the most common Accipiter in the area within its wide range in S.E. Asia.
BESRA (Accipiter virgatus rufotibialis) – That call was unfamiliar to me - it sounded a lot like a woodpecker - but we tracked it down at Kinabalu Park to find that it was this uncommon, shy Accipiter.
BRAHMINY KITE (Haliastur indus)
WHITE-BELLIED SEA-EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucogaster) – A few nice looks at his big eagle along the Kinabatangan.
LESSER FISH-EAGLE (Ichthyophaga humilis) – Excellent views along the Menenggul R. near Sukau.


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) – This fish-eagle is the scarcer of the two species at Sukau and we were fortunate to run into a pair of these just before we found our swimming elephant!
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN (Amaurornis phoenicurus) – Quite common along some of the roadsides, especially through the oil palm plantations.
EURASIAN MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus) – P.S. saw a couple of these while we were driving between Kota Kinabalu and Kinabalu Park.
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
SPOTTED DOVE (Streptopelia chinensis) – The common large dove along the roadsides.
LITTLE CUCKOO-DOVE (Macropygia ruficeps) – You need to get a little elevation before you start running into this one. We didn't see our first until we got to the Crocker Range.


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) – After several flybys, we finally found one foraging along the roadside just above our lodging.
ZEBRA DOVE (Geopelia striata) – A few on our last afternoon before we arrived at our Kota Kinabalu hotel. [I]
LITTLE GREEN-PIGEON (Treron olax) – We had excellent view of this and the next two species right on the grounds of our Sepilok lodge. It helps to have a fruiting fig loaded with ripe fruit right on the premises!
PINK-NECKED PIGEON (Treron vernans)
THICK-BILLED PIGEON (Treron curvirostra) – This was our most widespread Treron on the tour, being found at all of our lowland venues.
LARGE GREEN-PIGEON (Treron capellei) – Very scarce and declining, we were lucky to see one of these big green-pigeons along the Kinabatangan one afternoon.
JAMBU FRUIT-DOVE (Ptilinopus jambu) – Raven and I were the only ones to get a glimpse of this one as it flew past us and through the forest at Kinabalu Park on our final morning there.
GREEN IMPERIAL-PIGEON (Ducula aenea) – Quite common at all of our lowland forested venues. [N]
MOUNTAIN IMPERIAL-PIGEON (Ducula badia) – We had just a few of these up in the highlands at Kinabalu Park, but the looks were great!
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
LARGE HAWK-CUCKOO (DARK) (Hierococcyx sparverioides bocki) – This was a surprise find along the Silau-Silau Trail at Kinabalu Park. This endemic race is quite a bit smaller than the migrant race from the mainland that is here during the boreal winter months, but it's still pretty huge for a cuckoo! Some authors, most notably Myers, splits this one from the migrant form and calls it Dark Hawk-Cuckoo (H. bocki).
MOUSTACHED HAWK-CUCKOO (Hierococcyx vagans) – We all saw this one in flight as it flew overhead along the Segama Trail at BRL, but a few actually saw it perch briefly, too. This brood parasite was quite vocal during our time at BRL this year.
INDIAN CUCKOO (Cuculus micropterus) [*]
SUNDA CUCKOO (Cuculus lepidus) – In flight only for some at Kinabalu Park. Split a while back from the migrant Oriental Cuckoo.
BANDED BAY CUCKOO (Cacomantis sonneratii) [*]
PLAINTIVE CUCKOO (Cacomantis merulinus) – We heard quite a few of these brood parasites, but saw very few at all at our lowland venues.
VIOLET CUCKOO (Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus) – A couple of calling males were seen fleetingly in flight.
SQUARE-TAILED DRONGO-CUCKOO (Surniculus lugubris) – We enjoyed a couple of good looks at this parasitic drongo mimic, including one juvenile being fed by a Bold-striped Tit-Babbler along the Menenggul River! Drongo Cuckoo was recently split into four species.
BLACK-BELLIED MALKOHA (Phaenicophaeus diardi) – I was really surprised that we didn't run into more species of malkohas than we did this year. We managed to find only one of these, which is a miniature version of the familiar Green-billed Malkoha on the mainland.
RAFFLES'S MALKOHA (Phaenicophaeus chlorophaeus) – We seemed to see and hear this most distinctive malkoha everywhere we went in the lowlands this year.
CHESTNUT-BREASTED MALKOHA (Phaenicophaeus curvirostris) – Our biggest malkoha of the tour, and the only one with chestnut tail tips.
GREATER COUCAL (Centropus sinensis) – This, and the above malkohas, were the only cuckoos we saw on this tour that were not brood parasites.
Tytonidae (Barn-Owls)
ORIENTAL BAY-OWL (Phodilus badius) – This one never got close at Sukau. [*]
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) – If we had been able to walk in about 20 meters or so, I'm sure we would have seen this shy scops-owl. [*]
MOUNTAIN SCOPS-OWL (Otus spilocephalus) [*]
SUNDA SCOPS-OWL (Otus lempiji) – Not a bad look for a bird in flight only.
BARRED EAGLE-OWL (Bubo sumatranus) [*]
BUFFY FISH-OWL (Ketupa ketupu) – We enjoyed a couple of great views at both Sukau and at BRL.
COLLARED OWLET (Glaucidium brodiei borneense) – Heard early one morning behind our rooms at Kinabalu Park. [*]
BROWN WOOD-OWL (Strix leptogrammica) – Our second night drive at BRL produced fine looks at this silent owl back in the staff quarters area.
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) – The place where they seemed to be the most common was at the artificial pond at Sepilok Nature Resort. Not really closely related at all to the next species of needletail.
BROWN-BACKED NEEDLETAIL (Hirundapus giganteus) – A single bird seen pretty well from the boat along the Menenggul River near Sukau was the only one.
GLOSSY SWIFTLET (Collocalia esculenta) – Nesting at arm's length along the Kinabatangan River near Sukau. The most widespread swiftlet species on this tour. [N]
CAVE SWIFTLET (BORNEAN) (Collocalia linchi dodgei) – A second look at the nest site in Kinabalu Park yielded one bird sitting on a tiny nest, green gloss on the back feathers clearly visible. [N]
MOSSY-NEST SWIFTLET (Aerodramus salangana) – We identified these by the nest they were sitting on deep inside Gomantong Cave. This and the next two species nest deeper inside where there's less light than the Glossy Swiftlet, which needs light to see where it's going. The three Aerodramus swiftlets use 'sonar', or echo-location, to navigate the dark recesses of the cave. [N]
BLACK-NEST SWIFTLET (Aerodramus maximus) – Probably the most common nesting species within Gomantong Cave. [N]
WHITE-NEST SWIFTLET (Aerodramus fuciphagus) – Also called the Edible-nest Swiftlet. [N]
Hemiprocnidae (Treeswifts)
GRAY-RUMPED TREESWIFT (Hemiprocne longipennis) – I think that the pair that we saw up in the Crocker Range was my first record for that park.
WHISKERED TREESWIFT (Hemiprocne comata) – We recorded this beauty daily at BRL, including one that liked to perch just behind the restaurant each morning!
Trogonidae (Trogons)
RED-NAPED TROGON (Harpactes kasumba) – We heard several of these but we managed only one sighting - a male along the Menenggul R. near Sukau.
DIARD'S TROGON (Harpactes diardii) – This was our 3rd of five trogon species that we recorded on the tour, and it's the biggest of the lot.
WHITEHEAD'S TROGON (Harpactes whiteheadi) – We all caught up with this fabulous endemic trogon along the roadside just above our accommodations in Kinabalu Park on our final morning there. Whew! [E]
CINNAMON-RUMPED TROGON (Harpactes orrhophaeus) – Among the many beautiful trogons possible on this tour, this one was the biggest surprise at BRL. They tend to be quieter, more shy, and a good deal more scarce than the others.
SCARLET-RUMPED TROGON (Harpactes duvaucelii) – We had several fine views of this one, but that look we had from the canopy walkway at BRL was spectacular!
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
BLUE-EARED KINGFISHER (Alcedo meninting) – Easy to find along the Kinabatangan and its tributaries.
BLUE-BANDED KINGFISHER (Alcedo euryzona) – YESSS!!!! Finding one of these scarce kingfishers as we quietly walked the Silau-Silau Trail at Kinabalu Park was quite a thrill! At 1500m elevation, this was quite a high record for this one on the island.
RUFOUS-BACKED DWARF-KINGFISHER (Ceyx rufidorsa) – Sometimes referred to as the Oriental Dwarf-Kingfisher, most authors now split that one into this and the Black-backed Dwarf-Kingfisher. Nice looks at both Sukau and BRL.
BANDED KINGFISHER (Lacedo pulchella) – Paul spotted a gorgeous male sitting in a tree near our perch in tower #3 at BRL.
STORK-BILLED KINGFISHER (Pelargopsis capensis) – Many fine views of this big kingfisher in the Sukau area.
RUDDY KINGFISHER (Halcyon coromanda) – We were able to coax one of these forest kingfishers in for a look from our boat along the Menenggul River.


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) – Especially common along the roadside in the oil palm plantations.
Meropidae (Bee-eaters)
RED-BEARDED BEE-EATER (Nyctyornis amictus) – We could only find one of these strange and beautiful bee-eaters on the tour - but what a look from the canopy walkway at BRL!
BLUE-THROATED BEE-EATER (Merops viridis) – Common nesters in the lawn between the BRL buildings and the river.
Coraciidae (Rollers)
DOLLARBIRD (Eurystomus orientalis)
Bucerotidae (Hornbills)
ORIENTAL PIED-HORNBILL (Anthracoceros albirostris) – Surprisingly few this year in our lowland venues.
BLACK HORNBILL (Anthracoceros malayanus) – The most common of the 'small' hornbills on this tour most years.
RHINOCEROS HORNBILL (Buceros rhinoceros) – These big guys were even on the grounds of our Sepilok resort!
HELMETED HORNBILL (Buceros vigil) – This was the best tour for these fantastic hornbills that I can remember. Not only were they present at BRL, where they can be difficult to find some years, but we had them on a couple of occasions near Sukau. That maniacal, laughing call is something that every birder needs to hear!


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) – Often found in large groups, unlike most of the other hornbills.
WHITE-CROWNED HORNBILL (Aceros comatus) – This was a great trip for this scarce hornbill as well, with birds seen at both Gomantong and at BRL. This one is often the most difficult of the eight hornbill species to find on this tour.
WRINKLED HORNBILL (Aceros corrugatus) – Just a couple of birds only at Sukau this year. Very similar to the Wreathed, but much smaller and with a different flight style.
WREATHED HORNBILL (Aceros undulatus) – The pair that we saw fly by from the tower at RDC were the only birds we saw the entire trip.
Megalaimidae (Asian Barbets)
BROWN BARBET (Calorhamphus fuliginosus) – Borneo gained another couple of endemics a couple of years ago when this one was split from the birds on the mainland (now Sooty Barbet, C. hayii)and the Gold-faced was split from the Gold-whiskered. [E]
BLUE-EARED BARBET (Psilopogon duvaucelii duvaucelii) – Our best may have been the close bird at the Rafflesia flower near Poring Hot Springs. Note that all of the Asian barbets that were once in the genus Megalaima are now in one genus - Psilopogon (formerly reserved for the unique Fire-tufted Barbet).
RED-THROATED BARBET (Psilopogon mystacophanos) – This one proved to be very difficult to see well on this trip.
GOLDEN-NAPED BARBET (Psilopogon pulcherrimus) – We couldn't have asked for a better look than the one we got at the top of the steps above our first breakfast restaurant at Kinabalu Park. [E]
YELLOW-CROWNED BARBET (Psilopogon henricii) [*]
MOUNTAIN BARBET (Psilopogon monticola) – Hamit spotted three birds foraging silently above the road in the Crocker Range for our only encounter with this one. [E]
GOLD-FACED BARBET (Psilopogon chrysopsis) – Now split from Gold-whiskered. #7,000 for Bill! Woo Hoo!!! [E]
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
RUFOUS PICULET (Sasia abnormis) – We found a very cooperative bird along the Gomantong road on our first day of the tour.
GRAY-CAPPED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos canicapillus) – We ended up seeing a couple of family groups in the Sukau/Gomantong area. This race looks a little different from birds I see in Thailand and much different from birds I see in e. China.
WHITE-BELLIED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus javensis) – Excellent scope looks at this massive woodpecker on our first morning at RDC.
BANDED WOODPECKER (Picus miniaceus) [*]
OLIVE-BACKED WOODPECKER (Dinopium rafflesii) – Generally a pretty scarce species, we were lucky to see this one so well so early on in the tour.
RUFOUS WOODPECKER (Micropternus brachyurus) – One of the most responsive and cooperative of the many woodpeckers we saw on this tour. Asian woodpeckers can be surprisingly difficult to see!
BUFF-RUMPED WOODPECKER (Meiglyptes tristis) – Several great looks, including a female in a nest cavity along the Gomantong road.
BUFF-NECKED WOODPECKER (Meiglyptes tukki) – The pair hammering away on the stump below us while we watched from the canopy walkway at BRL was our most memorable encounter.
MAROON WOODPECKER (Blythipicus rubiginosus) – Surprisingly cooperative along the Menenggul River near Sukau on our first morning of birding there.


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) – This strange one was seen a couple of times - down low at Gomantong, and then up at 1500m in Kinabalu Park. That's quite an elevational range for a woodpecker!
GREAT SLATY WOODPECKER (Mulleripicus pulverulentus) – Our better look was at BRL this year. Most folks agree now that this is indeed the largest extant woodpecker in the world.
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
WHITE-FRONTED FALCONET (Microhierax latifrons) – We did well with this tiny endemic falcon with a pair at Sepilok (nice spotting, Hazwan!), and then others along the Menenggul and at Gomantong. [E]
Psittaculidae (Old World Parrots)
BLUE-RUMPED PARROT (Psittinus cyanurus) – We found decent numbers of this high-flying parrot at BRL this year.
LONG-TAILED PARAKEET (Psittacula longicauda) – Most of the birds that we saw in flight had worn off their tail streamers because of recent nesting activity.


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) – At least heard daily until we got to the highlands.
Calyptomenidae (African and Green Broadbills)
GREEN BROADBILL (Calyptomena viridis) – This was a nice find at our Sepilok resort on our first morning. We ended up hearing more than I've ever heard before at BRL later in the trip.
Eurylaimidae (Asian and Grauer's Broadbills)
BLACK-AND-RED BROADBILL (Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos) – Including a couple of active nests near Sukau. That bill color is amazing!! [N]
BANDED BROADBILL (Eurylaimus javanicus) – Not nearly as common as Black-and-yellow Broadbill, but we ended up with some decent looks of this one from the boat.
BLACK-AND-YELLOW BROADBILL (Eurylaimus ochromalus) – Easily our most common and widespread broadbill species on this tour. [N]
DUSKY BROADBILL (Corydon sumatranus) – We hardly had to work at all to find this generally scarce broadbill at Sukau and BRL. He certainly got the short straw when it came to handing out plumage.
Pittidae (Pittas)
BLACK-HEADED PITTA (Erythropitta ussheri) – Now pretty much universally split from the Garnet Pitta, which occurs in Borneo in Sarawak and Kalimantan. A stunning bird if you see it well. [E]
BLUE-HEADED PITTA (Hydrornis baudii) – Another endemic pitta, we had some trouble with this one at BRL, where it's normally the easiest pitta to see. [E]
HOODED PITTA (Pitta sordida) – We really scored on this beauty, finding just the right individual to try for along the Menenggul R. near Sukau. This one enjoys one of the largest ranges of any pitta in the world, being found from n. India east to New Guinea.
Acanthizidae (Thornbills and Allies)
GOLDEN-BELLIED GERYGONE (Gerygone sulphurea) [*]
Vangidae (Vangas, Helmetshrikes, and Allies)
LARGE WOODSHRIKE (Tephrodornis gularis) – Eye-to-eye looks with a pair of these up in the canopy walkway at BRL that first morning.
BAR-WINGED FLYCATCHER-SHRIKE (Hemipus picatus) – In Borneo, this familiar bird from s.e. Asia is restricted to the upper elevations, ceding the lowlands habitats to its close relative the Black-winged Flycatcher-Shrike.
BLACK-WINGED FLYCATCHER-SHRIKE (Hemipus hirundinaceus) – Throughout the lowlands on this tour.
RUFOUS-WINGED PHILENTOMA (Philentoma pyrhoptera) – You certainly hear a lot more of these than you ever see, but we did have some nice looks at BRL this year.
MAROON-BREASTED PHILENTOMA (Philentoma velata) – We all caught up with a responsive male bird along the Jacuzzi Pool Trail at BRL. This philentoma always seems to respond much higher in the trees than his cousin, the Rufous-winged Philentoma.
Artamidae (Woodswallows)
WHITE-BREASTED WOODSWALLOW (Artamus leucorynchus)
Pityriaseidae (Bristlehead)
BORNEAN BRISTLEHEAD (Pityriasis gymnocephala) – After completely whiffing on this one at RDC in Sepilok, it was very gratifying to get this one in short order after we ascended the BRL canopy walkway! A very strange bird indeed, the jury's still out on the relations of this bird to others that are thought to be its closest relatives in s.e. Asia. [E]
Aegithinidae (Ioras)
COMMON IORA (Aegithina tiphia) [*]
GREEN IORA (Aegithina viridissima) – A very common canopy species, we had our best views on our first morning together at RDC.
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) – Just a couple of sightings early on in the tour.
GRAY-CHINNED MINIVET (Pericrocotus solaris) – We only managed to find one pair of these minivets along the Bukit Ular Trail at Kinabalu Park. Typically, this one is a bit more common in the highlands.
SUNDA CUCKOOSHRIKE (Coracina larvata) – We found a nice responsive pair of these along the roadside in Kinabalu Park. Note that most of the smaller species of cuckooshrikes are now lumped in with the triller genus, Lalage, and no longer in Coracina.
PIED TRILLER (Lalage nigra) – Briefly at our last birding stop before we reached our Kota Kinabalu hotel on the last afternoon.
LESSER CUCKOOSHRIKE (Lalage fimbriata schierbrandi) – We ended up seeing a few of these up in the canopy at BRL, but we heard many, many more.
Pachycephalidae (Whistlers and Allies)
BORNEAN WHISTLER (Pachycephala hypoxantha) – This is the only whistler that you can expect to see with ease on mainland Borneo, and not until you gain some elevation. [E]
Laniidae (Shrikes)
LONG-TAILED SHRIKE (Lanius schach) – Recent invaders to the disturbed road edge in Sabah.
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) – Formerly called the White-browed Shrike-Babbler before it was split into four species.
WHITE-BELLIED ERPORNIS (Erpornis zantholeuca) – A.K.A. White-bellied Yuhina. Seen well in the Crocker Range.
Oriolidae (Old World Orioles)
DARK-THROATED ORIOLE (Oriolus xanthonotus) – Often heard, but we saw very few.
BLACK-AND-CRIMSON ORIOLE (Oriolus cruentus) – We found one of these striking orioles only at Kinabalu Park - and it wasn't a very good look at that!
Dicruridae (Drongos)
ASHY DRONGO (BORNEAN) (Dicrurus leucophaeus stigmatops) – This endemic race resemble a couple of the Asian migrant races from China. I suspect there will be some taxonomic revision with what we now call Ashy Drongo.
BRONZED DRONGO (Dicrurus aeneus) – The smallest of our four drongo species.
HAIR-CRESTED DRONGO (Dicrurus hottentottus borneensis) – This is another drongo whose taxonomy needs another look. These Bornean birds area really nothing at all like the big migrant form that you see in Thailand.
GREATER RACKET-TAILED DRONGO (Dicrurus paradiseus brachyphorus) – These Bornean birds are much shorter-crested than the races on the mainland.
Rhipiduridae (Fantails)
SPOTTED FANTAIL (Rhipidura perlata) – The least common of our three fantails on this tour.
MALAYSIAN PIED-FANTAIL (Rhipidura javanica) – Our most common and widespread fantail.
WHITE-THROATED FANTAIL (Rhipidura albicollis) – This one replaces the Malaysian Pied-Fantail once you gain a little elevation.
Monarchidae (Monarch Flycatchers)
BLACK-NAPED MONARCH (Hypothymis azurea) – An absolute stunner if seen well!


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) – We had both rufous-morph males and white-morph males, but it seemed tha the white ones outnumbered the rufous birds. Some of our looks were stupendous!
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
CRESTED JAY (Platylophus galericulatus) – This was the best bird seen along the "Pitta" Trail at BRL. This endemic brown race looks quite different from birds on the mainland, but they sure sound similar.
BLACK MAGPIE (Platysmurus leucopterus aterrimus) – Not nearly as conspicuous as they can be, we did have one decent view of this endemic race at BRL from the canopy walkway.
BORNEAN GREEN-MAGPIE (Cissa jefferyi) – One of the most eye-popping birds on the entire tour, in my opinion, we had great views of this fancy corvid at Kinabalu Park. Recently split from Short-tailed Magpie. [E]
BORNEAN TREEPIE (Dendrocitta cinerascens) – This one seemed to be everywhere in the highlands this year. Formerly lumped with Sumatran Treepie as Sunda Treepie. [E]
SLENDER-BILLED CROW (SLENDER-BILLED) (Corvus enca compilator) – This one sure makes some entertaining noises...
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) – We had a responsive family group at the far end of the canopy walkway at BRL.
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
VELVET-FRONTED NUTHATCH (Sitta frontalis) – Never common anywhere we went, but we did run into them fairly frequently with mixed canopy flocks.
Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls)
PUFF-BACKED BULBUL (Pycnonotus eutilotus) – We had pretty distant views of this one from the boat along the Menenggul R. on our first morning there.
BLACK-HEADED BULBUL (Pycnonotus atriceps) – One of the most widespread of the bulbuls in s.e. Asia.
STRAW-HEADED BULBUL (Pycnonotus zeylanicus) – We finally tracked down a singing pair at BRL on our last morning for some fine scope looks. That lovely song may eventually do this one in as it's incredibly popular as a cage bird. It's gone extinct throughout most of its former range in s.e. Asia, almost entirely due to illegal cage bird traffic.
BORNEAN BULBUL (Pycnonotus montis) – Great views along the roadside in the Crocker Range. A recent split from the superficially similar Black-crested Bulbul. [E]
SCALY-BREASTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus squamatus) – A single bird from the BRL canopy walkway was all that we could muster this year.
FLAVESCENT BULBUL (Pycnonotus flavescens leucops) – The very distinctive endemic race here is almost surely to be split out someday. Good looks in Kinabalu Park.
YELLOW-VENTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus goiavier)
OLIVE-WINGED BULBUL (Pycnonotus plumosus) – Similar to the common Red-eyed Bulbul, but those telltale pale streaks on the face help identify this one.
RED-EYED BULBUL (Pycnonotus brunneus) – The most common bulbul in the humid lowlands.
SPECTACLED BULBUL (Pycnonotus erythropthalmos) – Just about as common as the Red-eyed, but seen less frequently (I sure heard a lot of them, though!). [N]
HAIRY-BACKED BULBUL (Tricholestes criniger) – Very unlike any other bulbul we saw on this tour.
FINSCH'S BULBUL (Alophoixus finschii) – The BRL entrance road is incredibly reliable for this scarce bulbul - I don't think I've missed it there yet!
OCHRACEOUS BULBUL (Alophoixus ochraceus) – Very distinctive with that spikey crest and the puffy white throat.
GRAY-CHEEKED BULBUL (Alophoixus bres)
YELLOW-BELLIED BULBUL (Alophoixus phaeocephalus) – We had a couple of good looks at this unusually shy bulbul, the best being along the "Pitta" Trail at BRL.
BUFF-VENTED BULBUL (Iole olivacea) – The voices of this one and the visually dissimilar Finsch's Bulbul are nearly identical.


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) – Excellent views of this one up in the Crocker Range. This is another bulbul that might get split out someday (Myers does split it). It sure doesn't sound like the Ashy Bulbuls on the mainland!
STREAKED BULBUL (Ixos malaccensis) – Fleeting looks at BRL.
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) – This tiny endemic behaved very well for us, walking in from way down the slope. That high-pitched song is a challenge to hear for some folks. [E]
YELLOW-BELLIED WARBLER (Abroscopus superciliaris) – In the bamboo along the roadside at the Crocker Range.
MOUNTAIN TAILORBIRD (Phyllergates cucullatus) – Much like a long-billed, rusty-crowned Yellow-bellied Warbler. The move to separate this one from the Orthotomus tailorbirds was a good one.
SUNDA BUSH-WARBLER (Horornis vulcanius) – Incredibly confiding!
Phylloscopidae (Leaf-Warblers)
MOUNTAIN WARBLER (Phylloscopus trivirgatus) – Very common in the highland forest in Kinabalu Park.
YELLOW-BREASTED WARBLER (Seicercus montis) – This little cutie was seen very well several times at Kinabalu Park. A large, but very disjunct, range throughout the highlands of "Sundaland".
Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and Allies)
DARK-NECKED TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus atrogularis) – This one posed nicely for us at Gomantong.
ASHY TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus ruficeps) – I'm still a little shocked every time I see this one in good forest - I usually see it in mangroves on the mainland.
RUFOUS-TAILED TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus sericeus) – This is the tailorbird song that's slow and deliberate (compared to the other two).
YELLOW-BELLIED PRINIA (Prinia flaviventris)
Zosteropidae (White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies)
CHESTNUT-CRESTED YUHINA (Yuhina everetti) – Maybe the most common of the many endemics in Kinabalu Park. [E]
MOUNTAIN BLACK-EYE (Chlorocharis emiliae) – I thought that we might need an 'ace up our sleeve' in order to see this highland endemic species since the upper elevations of Kinabalu Park were closed. It turns out that we didn't need to go through the effort to find it in the Crocker Range after all since we found it with many of the mixed flocks below the Timpohon Gate (closed) at Kinabalu Park. [E]
BLACK-CAPPED WHITE-EYE (Zosterops atricapilla) – Only in the highlands here.
Timaliidae (Tree-Babblers, Scimitar-Babblers, and Allies)
BOLD-STRIPED TIT-BABBLER (Mixornis bornensis) – Our first 'babbler' of the tour. This one used to be called the Striped Tit-Babbler, but that was recently split into this one and the Pin-striped Tit-Babbler (the one that's all over mainland s. Asia).
FLUFFY-BACKED TIT-BABBLER (Macronus ptilosus) – Easily seen on that first morning at RDC. You could even see those bright blue neck patches when they sang.
CHESTNUT-WINGED BABBLER (Cyanoderma erythropterum) – This one shares the bright blue skin patches with the above Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler, but note the genus of this one: Cyanoderma (= blueskin).


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) – Paul spotted one of these for us at BRL, giving us some good looks. The bird we had in Kinabalu Park was my first ever there.
BLACK-THROATED BABBLER (Stachyris nigricollis) – This responsive babbler gave us all great views at Gomantong.
CHESTNUT-RUMPED BABBLER (Stachyris maculata) – We finally caught up with this one up on the canopy walkway at BRL. A common voice in the lowland forest habitats.
GRAY-THROATED BABBLER (Stachyris nigriceps) – Certainly the most common babbler up in Kinabalu Park.
GRAY-HEADED BABBLER (Stachyris poliocephala) – This sneaky one is always a little tough to see well. I think everybody got some sort of look, though.
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) – This one and the next three species are always a little tricky to sort out, both visually and vocally. Most got on this one along the Segama Trail at BRL.
SOOTY-CAPPED BABBLER (Malacopteron affine) – This one showed itself on our walk into the Gomantong Cave.
SCALY-CROWNED BABBLER (Malacopteron cinereum) – We even saw those diagnostic pink legs along the main entrance road at BRL.
RUFOUS-CROWNED BABBLER (Malacopteron magnum) – This one is usually the most common and widespread of the four Malacopteron babblers.
BLACK-CAPPED BABBLER (Pellorneum capistratum) – Fabulous looks from the boardwalk behind the rooms at Sukau! [N]
TEMMINCK'S BABBLER (Pellorneum pyrrogenys) – It seems as though if you don't try for this one within an hour or so of sunrise, you have no chance of having one respond!
SHORT-TAILED BABBLER (Pellorneum malaccense) – Brief looks for a few at BRL.
WHITE-CHESTED BABBLER (Pellorneum rostratum) – Maybe the most common babbler song at Sukau.
FERRUGINOUS BABBLER (Pellorneum bicolor) – Right behind our rooms along the boardwalk at Sukau.
STRIPED WREN-BABBLER (Kenopia striata) – This fancy babbler responded predictably well for us along the trails across the river from BRL.
BORNEAN WREN-BABBLER (Ptilocichla leucogrammica) – Not so with this one at BRL, though. We ended up hearing only one of these singing during our four days there, and it never really got that close. [E*]
HORSFIELD'S BABBLER (Turdinus sepiarius) – Another babbler that responds very well, we ended up with fantastic views a couple of times in the lowland venues.
BLACK-THROATED WREN-BABBLER (Turdinus atrigularis) – So close... [E*]
MOUNTAIN WREN-BABBLER (Turdinus crassus) – This was our only endemic wren-babbler that responded well for us on this trip and it was no trouble finding them this year on Kinabalu. [E]
Leiothrichidae (Laughingthrushes and Allies)
BROWN FULVETTA (Alcippe brunneicauda) – We didn't get a very good look at this one at BRL - but then again, there really isn't much to see on this drab bird.
SUNDA LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Garrulax palliatus) – A flock near the Liwagu Restaurant finally showed itself before we went in for breakfast one morning.
BARE-HEADED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Garrulax calvus) – Just too far up the hill... [E*]
CHESTNUT-HOODED LAUGHINGTHRUSH (Ianthocincla treacheri treacheri) – There was certainly no shortage of these around Kinabalu Park - they almost became a distraction at times! [E]
Irenidae (Fairy-bluebirds)
ASIAN FAIRY-BLUEBIRD (Irena puella) – What a color!
Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers)
ORIENTAL MAGPIE-ROBIN (Copsychus saularis) – I think that all of our birds were the very black race C.s. pluto.


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) – We eventually got one of these shy birds to respond at BRL, offering great looks to all.
WHITE-RUMPED SHAMA (WHITE-CROWNED) (Copsychus malabaricus stricklandii) – All of the birds in Sabah were once split out as White-crowned Shama, but there's extensive hybridization where this one come into contact with the standard White-rumped Shama in Sarawak and Kalimantan.
PALE BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis unicolor) – Easily seen from the canopy walkway at BRL. That plaintive, but sweet, song is easy to overlook.
LONG-BILLED BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis caerulatus) – We had excellent views of a responsive male along the Durian Trail at BRL, including a look at that diagnostic black chin. Outside of Borneo, this one only occurs on Sumatra.
MALAYSIAN BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis turcosus) – A rather common sight along the Menenggul River near Sukau.
BORNEAN BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis superbus) – Excellent views of this endemic blue-flycatcher along the Segama Trail. [E]
GRAY-CHESTED JUNGLE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis umbratilis) – Almost all of the jungle-flycatchers that were once in the genus Rhinomyias are now merged with Cyornis, including the two species that we saw on the tour.
FULVOUS-CHESTED JUNGLE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis olivaceus) – We found a very vocal and responsive pair at Poring Hot Springs, a new locale for this one in my experience.
PYGMY BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Muscicapella hodgsoni) – We finally looked high enough in the trees overhead to get a look at this responsive bird at Kinabalu Park.
INDIGO FLYCATCHER (Eumyias indigo) – Excellent views of a few birds feeding right next to the road in Kinabalu Park. This is the highland version of Verditer Flycatcher.


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) – This was one of the more disappointing endemic sightings that we had on the tour. It just wouldn't respond! [E]
WHITE-BROWED SHORTWING (Brachypteryx montana erythrogyna) – Pretty cooperative for a shortwing!
BORNEAN WHISTLING-THRUSH (Myophonus borneensis) – Seen daily while we were based in Kinabalu Park. [E]
WHITE-CROWNED FORKTAIL (WHITE-CROWNED) (Enicurus leschenaulti frontalis) – A few folks saw this lowland race fly up from the BRL entrance road one morning.
WHITE-CROWNED FORKTAIL (BORNEAN) (Enicurus leschenaulti borneensis) – A walk down the Silau-Silau Trail at Kinabalu Park brought us some wonderful views of a pair of adults foraging in the rocky stream. This race is larger than the above race and it lacks white on the rear of the crown - it's a good candidate for a split.
RUFOUS-CHESTED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula dumetoria) – We really had to work at seeing this tiny shy flycatcher in the understory at Gomantong, but its habit of flaring and pumping its tail while perched really helps in spotting it through the greenery.
LITTLE PIED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula westermanni) – A common canopy bird in the highlands. This one enjoys a huge range in the highlands of s.e. Asia (from the Himalayas to the highlands of Timor).
SNOWY-BROWED FLYCATCHER (Ficedula hyperythra) – Another flycatcher that has a broad s.e. Asia range, we had this shy flycatcher a couple of times in Kinabalu Park.
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
FRUIT-HUNTER (Chlamydochaera jefferyi) – Never really that close at Kinabalu Park. [E*]
Sturnidae (Starlings)
ASIAN GLOSSY STARLING (Aplonis panayensis) – Dozens at our resort in Sepilok.
COMMON HILL MYNA (Gracula religiosa) [*]
JAVAN MYNA (Acridotheres javanicus) – A common sight along the road south of Sepilok. [I]
Chloropseidae (Leafbirds)
GREATER GREEN LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis sonnerati) – We heard quite a few of these, but saw a couple of them well early on.
LESSER GREEN LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis cyanopogon) – Probably more common than the above species, though we didn't really see that many.
BORNEAN LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis kinabaluensis) – A small group of these moved through the Rafflesia Center compound in the Crocker Range on our morning of birding there. A recent split from the similar Blue-winged Leafbird. [E]
Dicaeidae (Flowerpeckers)
YELLOW-BREASTED FLOWERPECKER (Prionochilus maculatus) – 'Up close & personal' looks at BRL.
YELLOW-RUMPED FLOWERPECKER (Prionochilus xanthopygius) – Very similar to the Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker, which is widespread in 'Sundaland' but quite rare and local in Borneo. Nice looks at both Gomantong and BRL. [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) – Usually one of the most common and widespread of the flowerpeckers on this tour.
BLACK-SIDED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum monticolum) – If you checked the berry bushes outside our accommodations at Kinabalu Park, you likely ran into this one on your own. As a group, we had only one good look at this one, which is strikingly similar to the Mindanao race of Fire-breasted Flowerpecker. [E]
SCARLET-BACKED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum cruentatum) – Nicely at the start of the tour.
Nectariniidae (Sunbirds and Spiderhunters)
RUBY-CHEEKED SUNBIRD (Chalcoparia singalensis) – Many good looks at this warbler-like sunbird.
PLAIN SUNBIRD (Anthreptes simplex) – We saw a male well along the entrance road at BRL. This sunbird drew the short straw when it came to fancy plumage!
PLAIN-THROATED SUNBIRD (Anthreptes malacensis) – We only had this widespread sunbird on our first full day together. There's a good chance that the gray-throated birds in the Philippines will soon be split out as a separate species - so this one would be called Brown-throated Sunbird.
RED-THROATED SUNBIRD (Anthreptes rhodolaemus) – Very similar to the above species, but with a red throat (not brown) and a duller yellow belly. It prefers good forest, too, like that found at BRL.


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) – Formerly known as the Purple-throated Sunbird, which is now split out as a Philippine endemic. Van Hasselt's is widespread in the remainder of s.e. Asia.
TEMMINCK'S SUNBIRD (Aethopyga temminckii) – Quite similar to the Crimson Sunbird but with a red tail and whitish belly. It occurs higher than that one, too. P.S. really nailed this one with his camera at the Liwagu Restaurant!
CRIMSON SUNBIRD (Aethopyga siparaja) – On our first day only.
LITTLE SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera longirostra) – Easily the most common and widespread spiderhunter on the tour.
PURPLE-NAPED SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera hypogrammicum) – Books still call this one the Purple-naped Sunbird since it was only recently taken out of the monotypic genus Hypogramma and merged with the spiderhunters.
WHITEHEAD'S SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera juliae) – We had a pretty typical encounter with this scarce highland endemic in the Crocker Range this year, with poor looks in flight of a bird up the slope above the road. Its favored flowers weren't in bloom during our visit, so we had to get lucky with this one. [E]
YELLOW-EARED SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera chrysogenys) – Though very similar to the next species, this one always shows some faint streaking on the throat & chest. Spectacled never does.
SPECTACLED SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera flavigaster) – We had a fantastic, close view of one feeding on the ornamental plants out by the wooden deck next to the river at BRL. You sure hear a lot of spiderhunters call as they fly past on this tour, but it's great to get a good look once in a while!
BORNEAN SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera everetti) – Recently split from Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter, which is now confined to Java & Bali. Great views at BRL in the same ornamentals as the above Spectacled. [E]
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
ORIENTAL PIPIT (Anthus rufulus malayensis) – A couple of these on the grass at the Lahad Datu airport. Also called the Paddyfield Pipit and a relatively recent split from Richard's Pipit.
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus) [I]
Estrildidae (Waxbills and Allies)
DUSKY MUNIA (Lonchura fuscans) – Throughout the lowlands of Borneo and one of the easiest of the endemics to see. [E]
CHESTNUT MUNIA (Lonchura atricapilla)

MAMMALS
COLUGO (Cynocephalus variegatus) – Easily one of the mammal highlights of the trip was seeing a female with a baby hanging on for dear life on our first night drive at BRL. Often called a "Flying Lemur" - the only resemblance between the two is the very superficial resemblance of their front teeth.
WRINKLE-LIPPED FREE-TAILED BAT (Chaerephon plicatus) – Most of the bats that we could see, hear, and smell at Gomantong were this widespread species (the same one we see exit caves at dusk in Thailand).


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) – One of these made an appearance on the final morning of the tour up in Kinabalu Park. Fuller-tailed than the other possibility there. [E]
LESSER TREESHREW (Tupaia minor) – Hazwan called one of these at Gomantong along the forested road there. Very similar to Slender Treeshrew but warmer-colored with a thinner tail - but you really need to measure the hind foot to be absolutely sure!
SLENDER TREESHREW (Tupaia gracilis) – Some of the other smaller treeshrews that we saw in the lowlands fit this one better than they did Lesser, but you can't be 100% sure unless you measure that hind foot. [E]
LARGE TREESHREW (Tupaia tana) – Hazwan pointed out one of these foraging on the shore of the Menenggul R. near Sukau.
SMOOTH-TAILED TREESHREW (Dendrogale melanura) – We found one of these foraging near the ground at Kinabalu Park on our first full day there. Very dark with a very thin tail, unlike the above Mountain Treeshrew. [E]
SLOW LORIS (Nycticebus cougang) – It was a long way up in the canopy above the road, but you could make it out pretty well with your bins as it rummaged through the leaves looking for a meal.
CRAB-EATING MACAQUE (Macaca fascigularis) – Our most common and widespread primate on the tour. A.k.a - Long-tailed Macaque.


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) – We had surprisingly few of these this year along our route, especially in the Sukau area. The nastier, more aggressive cousin of the Crab-eating Macaque.
SILVERED LEAF MONKEY (Presbytis cristata) – A little difficult to distinguish from the Crab-eating Macaque at first, but that peaked hairdo clinches the i.d.
RED LEAF MONKEY (Presbytis rubicunda) – Also called the Maroon Langur, it's color pretty much matches that of the tailless Orangutan. We ended up with a few nice looks at this one, especially at Gomantong. [E]
PROBOSCIS MONKEY (Nasalis larvatus) – Lots of great looks at this Borneo lowland endemic at Sukau. We had a good number of sizable troops of these right next to the various waterways there, and we were usually able to find the big male somewhere within the multiple females and youngsters. [E]
GRAY GIBBON (Hylobates muelleri) – All of ours were pretty distant. [E*]
ORANGUTAN (Pongo pygmaeus) – This is one of the big reasons why you make a trip to Borneo! We had quite a few this year, especially at Sukau, but our best was the very close female with an infant right next to the road and just a short walk from the main building at BRL. Unless we had been climbing the trees with her and eating that fruit she was eating, I don't think we could have had a better experience with this noble ape. [E]
PREVOST'S SQUIRREL (Callosciurus prevostii) – All black with a reddish tummy, this one was with us throughout the lowlands.
KINABALU SQUIRREL (Callosciurus baluensis) – This was the large, colorful squirrel that we saw a few times in Kinabalu Park. [E]
PLANTAIN SQUIRREL (Callosciurus notatus) – Widespread in the lowlands here and across s.e. Asia.
EAR-SPOT SQUIRREL (Callosciurus adamsi) – Very similar to both Plantain Squirrel and the next species, but it has the tawny belly of the Plantain and the pale ear patch of the Bornean Black-banded. Occurs with the latter in Kinabalu Park. [E]
BORNEAN BLACK-BANDED SQUIRREL (Callosciurus orestes) – This and the Jentink's were the most common squirrels that we ran into at Kinabalu Park. [E]
LOWE'S SQUIRREL (Sundasciurus lowii) – A couple of thes plain forest squirrels were seen at Sepilok and at BRL.
JENTINK'S SQUIRREL (Sundasciurus jentincki) – That distinctive light and dark face pattern make this one pretty easy to i.d. at Kinabalu and the Crocker Range. [E]
BORNEAN MOUNTAIN GROUND-SQUIRREL (Dremomys everetti) – The only thing you can really mistake with this dark brown ground-squirrel is a Mountain Treeshrew - if you never get a look at the face. [E]
PLAIN PYGMY SQUIRREL (Exilisciurus exilis) – I don't know if there's a smaller squirrel in Asia - or the World for that matter - but this one is crazy small and is often mistaken for a tree lizard at first glance. [E]
RED GIANT FLYING SQUIRREL (Petaurista petaurista) – A few of us saw this in the daylight at RDC the day before the tour started, but we all eventually got some great views in the spotlight on our BRL night drive.
THOMAS'S FLYING SQUIRREL (Aeromys thomasi) – Very similar to the above species, but it lacks the black tail tip. Nice views in the spotlight at BRL. [E]
BLACK RAT (Rattus rattus) – In Kota Kinabalu for some (Ick!). [I]
GRAY TREE RAT (Lenothrix canus) – A few of us saw this one crawling on some limbs just above ground while we were searching for the Reddish Scops-Owl near Sukau
YELLOW-THROATED MARTEN (Martes flavigula) – One indisputable look at one of these big tropical weasels down along the creek on our way to the Jacuzzi Pool at BRL.
SUNDA STINK BADGER (Mydaus javanensis) – Smelled only on this trip.
MALAY CIVET (Viverra tangalunga) – Nicely at both Sukau and at BRL.


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) – WOWWWW!!!!! I had expected to be motoring down the Kinabatangan a good deal longer during our search for Bornean Pygmy Elephant, so that bull male swimming (!) across the river relatively early on was quite the unexpected encounter! We never did see him climb up the opposite bank, but I'm sure that he ended up going wherever he wanted to go.
BEARDED PIG (Sus barbatus) – We found this one swimming as well, and also foraging along the bank of the river just off the restaurant at BRL.
LESSER MOUSE DEER (Tragulus javanicus) – I don't think that it was ever determined which of the mouse deers we saw on that first BRL night drive, but our guide seemed to think it was likely this smaller species.
SAMBAR (Cervus unicolor) – A couple of animals on the BRL soccer pitch.
Herps
SALTWATER CROCODILE (Crocodylus porosus) – Most of the ones we saw were just eyeshine in the beam of the spotlight, but we did see a couple of moderate size in the Sukau area.
FLYING LIZARD, SP. (Draco, sp.) – We saw several of these flying lizards in our lowland venues, though they went unidentified as to species.
KINABALU CRESTED DRAGON (Hypsicalotes kinabaluensis) – This was the fantastic lizard that we saw on the steps of the restaurant at Kinabalu Park. It turns out to be not only endemic to Borneo, but it's in a monotypic genus. It's closely related to many of the large agamid lizards throughout Borneo. [E]
SMITH'S GIANT GECKO (Gekko smithii) – This was the big gecko that we heard almost daily in the lowland forested venues.

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) – We saw some huge examples of this widespread monitor in the rivers and streams of the lowlands.
RETICULATED PYTHON (Broghammerus reticulatus) – I'm not sure how the boatman spotted it, but we ended up with very good looks at a very small example of this species curled up on a branch above the Menenggul River near Sukau.
MANGROVE CAT SNAKE (Boiga dendrophila) – We had the benefit of other groups finding this one for us. We had very limited looks at this striking snake perched in the foliage above a tributary of the Kinabatangan one afternoon.


ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

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