We woke up to great weather at Mt Kinabalu, the sky was clear and we could see the summit very clearly. We had high hopes for Timpohon Gate hoping that birds maybe active near there, but it was again very quiet. We figured that the wind was too strong for most small birds to settle in, so we went further down hoping that more birds maybe there. Red-breasted Partridges and Crimson-headed Partridges called constantly, but I simply could not replicate my luck a few years ago with the two species and they never showed.
Mt Kinabalu under morning sun
The lack of birds were made up for with a very friendly visitor, in form of a Sunda Bush Warbler. Not the rare endemic cousin Friendly Bush Warbler that are usually found higher up (I still haven't gotten desperate enough for it yet), but the attitude was not far off. At one point the friendly little bird hopped to within a feet or two away from us!
Sunda Bush Warbler - friendly representer of it's rarer cousin
An equally friendly Bornean Whistling Thrush came very close as if to inspect us, we took the chance for some closeup shots. I have always found them to be much less attractive then our very own Blue Whistling Thrush but equally entertaining!
Bornean Whistling Thrush - did someone say 'friendly'?
A few Grey-throated Babblers came our way, but none showed very well. We saw that the sun was out and wind had died down slightly and decided to try our luck back at Timpohon Gate, but again there weren't that many birds to be seen. We only had a very confiding Little Cuckoo Dove.
Little Cuckoo Dove - it's actually quite a nice looking bird when seen up close
We decided to try our luck elsewhere and headed down to Mempening Trail, this was where I saw the Fruithunter last time I visited. Again, my luck did not repeat itself and this Mt Kinabalu specialty proved to be a bit difficult for us this time round. We managed to get a Sunda Cuckoo that came past near the trail entrance, which was the first time I've seen this commonly heard species. We encountered very few birds within the trail, birds seen but not photographed were Orange-backed Woodpeckers, Mountain Tailorbirds, Grey-throated Babblers and other common species. We came close to a few Crimson-headed Partridges calling nearby, but not close enough to see.
Sunda Cuckoo - hepatic morph it seems
We headed to Silau-Silau trail hoping our luck will be better and caught up with a few Grey-throated Babblers, this time showing much better. We also added a male Snowy-browed Flycatcher onto our list. Other birds seen but not photographed were, Mountain Wren Babblers, Bornean Forktails and a Bornean Stubtail. Bornean Whistlers were also present. I kept my eyes out for Whitehead's Trogons constantly but saw none.
Grey-throated Babbler
Snowy-browed Flycatcher - male
Bornean Whistler
Near the trail entrance by Kinabalu Hall we found yet another female Mugimaki Flycatcher, we also caught up with a flock of Chestnut-crested Yuhina feeding on the lower branches of a tree just overhead.
Mugimaki Flycatcher - female
Chestnut-crested Yuhina
After a rather uneventful morning, an early lunch seems a better option, so we sat ourselves down at Liwagu Restaurant's balcony and enjoyed some food. A fruiting tree situated right beside the balcony provided good views of Black-capped White-eyes.
Black-capped White-eye
Captain decided to take a nap after lunch while others rested up at the hotel lobby. I decided to take this time to wait around at the garden outside the restaurant and see what birds comes by. I again got a female Mugimaki Flycatcher, as well as a male Blue-and-White Flycatcher. The best find though was a nesting pair of Yellow-breasted Warblers, I noticed a pair going back and forth to the same location and decided to investigate, where I found a nest right by the tree of the footpath, snuggly placed under a tree fern. I waited around and sure enough a parent brought back food to feed it's young. I took a few photos and left, not wanting to disturb them for too long!
Mugimaki Flycatcher - female
Blue-and-White Flycatcher - male
Yellow-breasted Warbler - a hard working parent at a nicely built nest
After lunch and everyone had a good rest we went to the gift shop near the park entrance for souvenirs. At the car park we noticed a short tree that was in fruit, which seems to have attracted flocks of Chestnut-crested Yuhinas, providing some pretty close views! A Black-sided Flowerpecker that was attracted by the fruiting Medinilla plants came along to feed, provided wonderful views of this Bornean endemic.
Chestnut-crested Yuhina
Black-sided Flowerpecker - Medinilla berries seems to be one of their favourite
Seeing that the weather was staying dry, we drove up to Timpohon Gate again to try our luck. A few Bornean Whistlers were around and provided good views this time, while a Little Pied Flycatcher also made a brief appearance.
Bornean Whistler
Little Pied Flycatcher
We finally saw the supposedly common Ochraceous Bulbul, for why it took us so long I have no idea! The most intriguing bird of all though was a very confiding White-throated Fantail, a normally very active and jumpy species that for whatever reason stopped on a branch at eye-level for as long as we wanted! Continuing back down Power Station Road didn't produce much birds, but a Mountain Tree Shrew was seen (I think).
Ochraceous Bulbul
White-throated Fantail - a particularly photogenic individual
Mountain Tree Shrew - I think it is anyway...
Sunda Laughingthrush
Hair-crested Drongo
Maroon Woodpecker
Whitehead's Broadbill - good looking enough behind the leafs!
I wonder what went over Mr. Whitehead's mind when he first saw one...
For those who are not familiar with the term 'Whitehead's Trio', these are the three endemic Spiderhunter, Trogon and Broadbill of Borneo, named after English explorer John Whitehead, who travelled to Northern Borneo and Java between 1885 to 1888, where he discovered and collected numerous of species new to science at the time, including the three species mentioned above. Together the trio became some of the most sought after species for visiting birders to Borneo. Nothing much else felt important after we saw the Broadbill, and indeed no birds could quite compare with it, we happily drove back down for a very wonderful (and full) dinner and a good night rest.
Interior of Liwagu Restaurant
17th Feb
The morning started off clear at Mt Kinabalu. The usual suspects were there near Timpohon Gate, including the Bornean Whistling Thrush and Sunda Laughingthrushes. It was much less windy so a few smaller birds came by, but still wasn't what we call a "full band". A few Blyth's Shrike-babblers came along.
Sunny Mt Kinabalu yet again
Bornean Whistling Thrush
Sunda Laughingthrush
Blyth's Shrike-babbler - although ornithologists had now determined it's not a babbler...
A little further down we found an Eye-browed Thrush at a fruiting tree, we readily heard them but not so often seen. Grey Wagtails were also another winter visitor here which we saw often.
Eye-browed Thrush
Grey Wagtail
As we descended the mist got thicker, and birding became a little harder. Taking photographers also became quite tough as your photos will all come out greyish and wash out. A few Orange-backed Woodpeckers took this 'chance' and came close to us.
Clouded forest of Mt Kinabalu
Orange-backed Woodpecker
We ventured into Mempening trail shortly but turned around due to the heavy mist, we could hardly spot a bird in there given the poor lighting! Interestingly, it was under these circumstances we were introduced to our first Bare-headed Laughingthrush, another montane endemic that is new to me! Views were very obscured half the time and light was terrible but it's red bill really made it easy to identify. I only managed a single record shot before it crept back into the mist, adding that little bit more mystery to this ghostly bird.
Bare-headed Laughingthrush - we called it the 'ghost bird'
Back on the Power Station Road we encountered what was to be our largest bird wave at Mt Kinabalu! Birds were literally everywhere all around us, with Sunda Laughingthrushes, Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrushes, Bornean Green Magpies, Bornean Treepies, Black-and-Crimson Orioles, Orange-backed Woodpeckers...A few Checker-throated Woodpeckers also joined in, as well as a few Sunda Cuckooshrikes, but everything was covered by a thick mist, so I gave up on taking photographs and just enjoyed being surrounded by birds.
Checker-throated Woodpecker
Sunda Cuckooshrike - we didn't encounter that many this time
The large bird wave lasted for as long as we wanted, we decided to move on when nothing new was seen and headed further down. Things cleared up slightly and we saw a few Mountain Leaf Warblers foraging on a low tree, took some time to observe them. This is the endemic subspecies kinabaluensis, which shows pale yellow underparts and have much less defined crown stripes.
Mountain Leaf Warbler - kinabaluensis
We drove back down towards Liwagu Restaurant, just outside we saw a few endemic Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush, interestingly they were once considered a subspecies of the Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush which can be found on Fraser's Hill. You could certainly see their similarities, but I think splitting the two species was the right decision, given the geographic isolation for so long, they're certainly a different animal!
Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush
A spot of rain drove us to run for cover into a rain shelter. As we sat there we noticed an Indigo Flycatcher with nesting materials in it's beak perched right by the side of the rain shelter. We soon realised it looked a bit annoyed by our presence, the bird was soon joined by it's mate and it became very clear we were intruding! We slowly backed away to the far end of the rain shelter, and the birds finally felt happy enough to fly into the rain shelter where they were building a nest under the roof! You have to admire at the pair's genius for building their nest there, right out of the wind and rain!
Indigo Flycatcher - one ringed (above) and one not (below)
After lunch, we decided to head back to the fruiting tree near the park entrance to wait around for birds, there was a light drizzle and a bit of fog, so waiting at the tree seemed a better idea. Most numerous birds there were flocks of Chestnut-crested Yuhinas which came down to feed on the fruits in waves, with all the food to gorge on they were simply oblivious to the people around them, making them very photogenic!
Chestnut-crested Yuhina - they seems to be well fed
A few Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush also took their turns on this free meal, but they appeared much more sparingly. While an Ashy Drongo hawked for insects on a tree above, this is the endemic subspecies stigmatops.
Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush
Ashy Drongo - stigmatops
To our surprise, there were at least three Flycatchers in the same area! First a male Mugimaki Flycatcher which came around a few times. A female Blue-and-White Flycatcher that made a few appearances as well on the same tree. But the most dominant of all was a male Blue-and-White Flycatcher which certainly stole the show, it came in very close at times and chased off possible competitors aggressively.
Mugimaki Flycatcher - male
Blue-and-White Flycatcher - female
Blue-and-White Flycatcher - the very dominant male
Finally, the Black-sided Flowerpeckers that also came along to feed on the Medinilla plants just along the foot path. The male was as brilliant looking as always and extremely photogenic.
Black-sided Flowerpecker
We tried our luck again back up Power Station Road, but the rain didn't stop. We got off the car when we heard some Bornean Green Magpies near the entrance of the Mempening trail, a flock of them were foraging along the road. I noticed a few darker birds feeding alongside, a quick look through my binoculars confirmed them to be Bare-headed Laughingthrushes again! Views weren't great and was very obscured half the time, the rain didn't help one bit, at one point we had to retreat back into our car. At this point we met a lone birder walking in the rain and invited him into our car, we asked him whether he had seen the Laughingthrushes, and he said no.
Bornean Green Magpie
Bare-headed Laughingthrush - a bit clearer
So, we decided to give the Laughingthrushes one last try, we waited until the rain stopped ventured out once again, and this time we had a much better view of this highly unusual looking bird! They were still extremely difficult to photograph, but I finally got lucky and managed to snap a few shots of a bird through a narrow opening! It perched for just long enough for me to focus and get a few shots! The bird had caught a large stick insect which certainly gave me a bit more time to observe this mysterious creature. It certainly isn't the most beautiful looking endemic, but it sure was an exciting one! A Mountain Imperial Pigeon appeared out of nowhere while we were watching the Laughingthrushes.
Bare-headed Laughingthrush - finally in full view!
Mountain Imperial Pigeon - they really are BIG
18th Feb
Our last morning at Mt Kinabalu, and in fact our last day at Sabah before flying back to Hong Kong later that evening. We exchanged information with the birder we met after seeing them Laughingthrushes, and he stated that just a day before he stumbled upon two Whitehead's Trogon on Silau-Silau trail! Merely 4 meters away from him! Therefore, we decided to focus our effort on this single trail on our last morning. But, there was no point venturing into the trail before the sun was high enough, so we stationed ourselves at the car park outside the restaurant and waited. First up, an Ashy Drongo. A few Indigo Flycatchers came along to feed on the moths attracted by the lights left on at the car park.
Ashy Drongo
Indigo Flycatcher - very active around the car park
Even a male Little Pied Flycatcher joined in to feast on the moths, which it provided with us wonderfully close views.
Little Pied Flycatcher - their heads really are disproportionally big...
A Checker-throated Woodpecker also came along, a nice addition to our car park list! While another tree climber, the Velvet-fronted Nuthatch also took this opportunity to look for moths on a tree trunk that was situated next to a street lamp, interesting to note the endemic subspecies corallipes shows blood red legs and eye-lids.
Checker-throated Woodpecker
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch - corallipes
A Bornean Treepie came along but wasn't as friendly as we wished. A Bornean Green Magpie on the other hand came right out into the open while chasing a moth! It landed a few meters away from us, allowing me to take a photo of all it's brilliance perched on a concrete floor!
Bornean Treepie
Bornean Green Magpie - I didn't put this stuff toy here!
When the sun had risen high enough we ventured into Silau-Silau trail, a few Sunda Laughingthrushes greeted us at the entrance, the Bornean Green Magpie also followed...
Sunda Laughingthrush - their blue eye-rings are really quite pretty
Bornean Green Magpie
We walked the trail quietly, but not a lot of birds were seen. We found a single Ferruginous Flycatcher which was an interesting addition onto our trip list.
Ferruginous Flycatcher
Bornean Forktails frequent this stretch of trail and we saw at least two pairs of these shy endemics. They look superficially similar to the White-crowned Forktail, but upon closer inspection you could see that their white forehead don't protrude behind their eyes. You will only find them in higher elevation, while the White-crowned Forktail will once again take over in lowland forests.
Bornean Forktail
We walked the stretch of the trail where the birder had previous seen the Trogons but with little luck, towards the lower part of the trail we caught up with a flock of Temmink's Babbler, a species I've never had much luck with taking photographs. I got a better shot this time, although with it's tail blocked by the leafs. Mugimaki Flycatchers were again around...
Temmink's Babbler - really very camera shy...
Mugimaki Flycatcher - again.....
The best bird found along the trail that morning was no doubt a Bornean Stubtail which finally gave me a good look! This small and unobtrusive little bird is hard to detect, their calls are extremely high pitched (9.5kHz!), which I am sure some older folks will have a hard time picking it out in the forest. I am glad to get some good photographs of this bird as this had been a 'heard only' for me on my last trip! Interestingly, this endemic was also discovered by John Whitehead.
Bornean Stubtail - thanks again John Whitehead
Things were pretty quiet, with a few Hair-crested Drongos and no Trogons, we knew it simply wasn't our time to find the Trogons. And I suppose this is what makes birding at Mt Kinabalu so challenging, you know the birds are there but if they don't want you to see them, you WON'T see them. So, I am sure I will be back again a few years later trying to find my other Whitehead's trio!
Hair-crested Drongo
We checked out of our lodge and drove back to Kota Kinabalu, the drive was smooth and we arrived at Tanjung Aru Beach at around 2pm. Birding at Tanjung Aru had became a regular stop for me whenever I visit KK, it's a very pleasant place to bird and always full of surprises! A flock of Chestnut Munias started things off slowly. Zebras Doves were of course very common here.
Tanjung Aru Beach
Chestnut Munia
Zebra Dove
While scanning at sea, Captain noticed a flock of large sea birds congregating around a fishing vessel, surely a flock of Frigatebirds! But, it was way too far for us to get any positive ID down to species, but Lesser Frigatebirds should be the most likely and common in the region.
Frigatebirds from afar....
A pair of very obliging Oriental Pied Hornbills sat quietly above the car park, giving us wonderfully close views! In a way this was a good consolation for all the terribly distant views of the 4 other species of Hornbills we got.
Oriental Pied Hornbill - a very lovely couple
The park was filled with both Green Imperial Pigeons and Pink-necked Green Pigeons, both species you can observe easily here and often at fairly close range.
Green Imperial Pigeon
Pink-necked Green Pigeon
Other common garden birds can also be easily found here, including Common Ioras and Pied Trillers. This is often the only place I will find Pied Trillers on my trip, so it's nice to add it onto our trip list.
Common Iora
Pied Triller
And no trip to Tanjung Aru Beach can be completed without Blue-naped Parrots! These large colourful parrots breeds here and have established a fairly stable population along the beach. Native to the Philippines, this parrot is now near threatened due to continued habitat loss and trapping in it's native range.
Blue-naped Parrot
Finally, what bird was better to end our trip with then the bird we started with? The lovely Collared Kingfisher of course!
Collared Kingfisher
We got 169 species in total (deducting the Frigatebird and an unidentified raptor) which I though was respectable. Overall, I felt the trip provided a good sample of lowland and montane species. However, the limited time at both sites may result in the lack of certain species, although I am sure the time of the month also affected the outcome slightly. February overall felt less birdy then my previous visits, birds were in general quieter, as suggested nesting time may have decrease certain bird activities, such as lack of bird waves. But, we did connect with some of my target species, including Rufous-collared Kingfisher and Bare-headed Laughingthrush. The Whitehead's Broadbill certainly was the bird of the trip though, and definitely made the trip worth while! Considering how cheap it was to travel to Sabah and the quality of birds we got, it's hard not to be tempted to return to this fabulous place for more! I am sure in a few years I will venture up Silau-Silau trail once more hoping to find the Whitehead's Trogon.
Full Trip List:
1 Red-breasted Partridge - Heard only
2 Crimson-headed Partridge - Heard only
3 Storm's Stork - One seen flying over the road
4 Frigatebird sp. - Likely Lesser Frigatebirds
5 Purple Heron - One seen briefly at Wetland Centre
6 Great Egret - Only at KK Wetland Centre
7 Intermediate Egret - KK Wetland Centre and common roadside bird
8 Little Egret - KK Wetland Centre only
9 Pacific Reef-Heron - One seen at Tanjung Aru Beach
10 Cattle Egret - Common roadside bird
11 Black-shouldered Kite - Seen while driving
12 Changeable Hawk-Eagle - One very dark raptor observed, most likely of this species
13 Wallace's Hawk-Eagle - A pair of juveniles around the canopy walkway at RDC
14 Brahminy Kite - Common, especially around KK
15 White-bellied Sea-Eagle - KK Wetland Centre
16 hawk sp. - A raptor seen at Mt Kinabalu HQ, Hawk-Eagle size.
17 White-breasted Waterhen - Heard at KK Wetland Centre
18 Great Crested Tern - One observed at Tanjung Aru Beach
19 Rock Pigeon - Urban areas
20 Spotted Dove - Common
21 Little Cuckoo-Dove - Common
22 Zebra Dove - Common
23 Pink-necked Pigeon - KK Wetland Centre, RDC and common at Tanjung Aru
24 Green Imperial-Pigeon - KK Wetland Centre and very common at Tanjung Aru
25 Mountain Imperial-Pigeon - Commonly heard at Mt Kinabalu Park, a few seen
26 Greater Coucal - Commonly heard and one seen in lowland disturbed habitat
27 Raffles's Malkoha - A pair observed at RDC
28 Chestnut-winged Cuckoo - Single bird seen along roadside
29 Plaintive Cuckoo - Commonly heard at RDC
30 Rusty-breasted Cuckoo - Commonly heard at RDC
31 Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo - A few seen and heard at RDC
32 Dark Hawk-Cuckoo - Single bird heard at Mt Kinabalu Park
33 Sunda Cuckoo - A few birds seen and heard at Mt Kinabalu Park
34 Buffy Fish-Owl - One presumably injured bird at Sepilok Jungle Resort
35 Silver-rumped Needletail - Flocks at Timpohon Gate but also at RDC
36 Brown-backed Needletail - A few seen at RDC
37 Glossy Swiftlet - Common
38 Bornean Swiftlet - Swiftlets at higher elevation in Mt Kinabalu Park
39 Black-nest Swiftlet - Common
40 Asian Palm-Swift - One observed at RDC
41 Grey-rumped Treeswift - A few observed at RDC
42 Red-naped Trogon - A pair along ridge trail at RDC found by Robert
43 Scarlet-rumped Trogon - A pair at the entrance of Pitta Path, only female seen
44 Rhinoceros Hornbill - A few at RDC
45 Bushy-crested Hornbill - Large flock at RDC
46 Black Hornbill - A few observed at RDC
47 Oriental Pied-Hornbill - One at KK Wetland Centre and a pair at Tanjung Aru Beach
48 Wreathed Hornbill - A pair observed from Timpohon Gate
49 Blue-eared Kingfisher - KK Wetland Centre and also at RDC
50 Oriental Dwarf-Kingfisher - Single bird heard at RDC
51 Stork-billed Kingfisher - Roadside and also a few resident birds at Sepilok Jungle Resort
52 Collared Kingfisher - Common
53 Rufous-collared Kingfisher - A male seen along ridge trail found by Robert
54 Red-bearded Bee-eater - Single within Sepilok Jungle Resort
55 Blue-throated Bee-eater - KK Wetland Centre and RDC
56 Dollarbird - Roadside, RDC and also Tanjung Aru Beach
57 Blue-eared Barbet - Commonly heard and a few seen at RDC
58 Golden-naped Barbet - Commonly heard and a few seen at Mt Kinabalu Park
59 Mountain Barbet - Heard at Mt Kinabalu Park
60 Gold-whiskered Barbet - Commonly heard at RDC, one heard near Kinabalu Park HQ
61 Rufous Piculet - A few at RDC
62 Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker - One at KK Wetland Centre
63 White-bellied Woodpecker - One at RDC
64 Banded Woodpecker - Heard at RDC
65 Crimson-winged Woodpecker - One seen at Sepilok Jungle Resort
66 Checker-throated Woodpecker - A few seen in Mt Kinabalu Park
67 Buff-rumped Woodpecker - Heard at RDC
68 Buff-necked Woodpecker - A pair behind Sepilok Jungle Resort
69 Maroon Woodpecker - A few seen and heard at Mt Kinabalu Park
70 Orange-backed Woodpecker - A few seen at Mt Kinabalu Park
71 Grey-and-buff Woodpecker - A few seen behind Sepilok Jungle Resort
72 Long-tailed Parakeet - A few seen at RDC
73 Blue-naped Parrot - Tanjung Aru Beach
74 Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot - Flyover bird at RDC
75 Whitehead's Broadbill - Single male observed near 1.5km mark on Power Station Road
76 Black-and-red Broadbill - A few at Sepilok Jungle Resort
77 Black-and-yellow Broadbill - A few behind Sepilok Jungle Resort
78 Hooded Pitta - A juvenile and a pair breeding behind Sepilok Jungle Resort
79 Large Woodshrike - A few seen at RDC
80 Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike - Single observed at RDC
81 Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike - RDC canopy walkway
82 Common Iora - KK Wetland Centre and Tanjung Aru Beach
83 Green Iora - A few at RDC
84 Grey-chinned Minivet - Mt Kinabalu Park
85 Sunda Cuckooshrike - A few at Mt Kinabalu Park
86 Pied Triller - A few at Tanjung Aru Beach
87 Bornean Whistler - Common at Mt Kinabalu Park
88 Long-tailed Shrike - Seen by roadside
89 Blyth's Shrike-Babbler - Common at Mt Kinabalu Park
90 White-bellied Erpornis - A few seen at RDC
91 Dark-throated Oriole - Heard at RDC
92 Black-and-crimson Oriole - Seen briefly and heard at Mt Kinabalu Park
93 Ashy Drongo - A few at Mt Kinabalu Park
94 Hair-crested Drongo - Common at Mt Kinabalu Park, follows bird waves
95 Greater Racket-tailed Drongo - One observed from canopy walkway at RDC
96 Malaysian Pied-Fantail - Common lowland species
97 White-throated Fantail - Common at Mt Kinabalu Park
98 Black-naped Monarch - A few at RDC
99 Crested Jay - Heard at RDC
100 Bornean Black Magpie - A few seen behind Sepilok Jungle Resort
101 Bornean Green-Magpie - Fairly common at Mt Kinabalu Park
102 Bornean Treepie - Fairly common at Mt Kinabalu Park
103 House Crow - One within KK
104 Slender-billed Crow - A few at RDC
105 Barn Swallow - Common
106 Pacific Swallow - Common
107 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch - A few at RDC and Mt Kinabalu Park
108 Yellow-vented Bulbul - Common
109 Cream-vented Bulbul - A few at RDC
110 Red-eyed Bulbul - Common at RDC
111 Spectacled Bulbul - One at RDC
112 Hairy-backed Bulbul - A few at RDC
113 Ochraceous Bulbul - A few at Mt Kinabalu Park
114 Buff-vented Bulbul - Single observed at RDC
115 Streaked Bulbul - A few at RDC
116 Bornean Stubtail - Mt Kinabalu Park, mainly Silau-Silau trail
117 Mountain Tailorbird - Common at Mt Kinabalu Park
118 Sunda Bush-Warbler - Common at Mt Kinabalu Park
119 Mountain Leaf Warbler - Common at Mt Kinabalu Park
120 Yellow-breasted Warbler - Mt Kinabalu Park, one pair breeding behind restaurant
121 Striated Grassbird - One near Ranau
122 Ashy Tailorbird - Common
123 Rufous-tailed Tailorbird - A few at RDC
124 Yellow-bellied Prinia - Heard and seen in lowlands
125 Chestnut-crested Yuhina - Common at Mt Kinabalu Park
126 Pygmy White-eye - One bird observed within bird wave
127 Mountain Black-eye - two birds near Timpohon Gate
128 Black-capped White-eye - Common at Mt Kinbalu Park
129 Chestnut-winged Babbler - A few seen and heard at RDC
130 Grey-throated Babbler - Common at Mt Kinbalu Park
131 Temminck's Babbler - A few observed at Mt Kinabalu Park
132 Mountain Wren-Babbler - One seen in Silau-Silau trail
133 Sunda Laughingthrush - Common at Mt Kinabalu Park
134 Bare-headed Laughingthrush - Small flocks observed near entrance of Mempening Trail
135 Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush - Common at Mt Kinabalu Park
136 Grey-streaked Flycatcher - One at RDC
137 Ferruginous Flycatcher - Mt Kinabalu Park
138 Asian Brown Flycatcher - KK Wetland Centre
139 Oriental Magpie-Robin - Common in urban areas and RDC
140 White-crowned Shama - Common at RDC
141 Malaysian Blue-Flycatcher - One observed along Kingfisher trail at RDC
142 Blue-and-white Flycatcher - Common at Mt Kinabalu
143 Indigo Flycatcher - Common at Mt Kinabalu
144 White-browed Shortwing - Heard a few times along Silau-Silau trail
145 Bornean Whistling-Thrush - Common near Timpohon Gate and Power Station Road
146 Bornean Forktail - A few along Silau-Silau trail
147 Mugimaki Flycatcher - Common at Mt Kinabalu
148 Snowy-browed Flycatcher - A few along Silau-Silau trail
149 Little Pied Flycatcher - A few seen near Liwagu Resteraunt and near Timpohon Gate
150 Eyebrowed Thrush - Common at Mt Kinabalu, 40 flying over near park entrance
151 Asian Glossy Starling - Common in lowlands
152 Common Myna - A few by roadside
153 Javan Myna - Common in lowlands
154 Lesser Green Leafbird - A few at RDC
155 Orange-bellied Flowerpecker - A few at KK Wetland Centre and RDC
156 Black-sided Flowerpecker - Common at Mt Kinabalu Park
157 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker - A few at Sepilok Jungle Resort
158 Ruby-cheeked Sunbird - Observed at RDC
159 Plain Sunbird - Observed at RDC
160 Brown-throated Sunbird - Common in lowlands
161 Red-throated Sunbird - Single bird at canopy walkway
162 Van Hasselt's Sunbird - Male at Bristlehead Tower
163 Copper-throated Sunbird - RDC car park
164 Olive-backed Sunbird - Common
165 Temminck's Sunbird - Common at Mt Kinabalu Park
166 Crimson Sunbird - Common
167 Little Spiderhunter - A few at RDC
168 Grey Wagtail - A few at Mt Kinabalu Park
169 Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Common in urban areas
170 Dusky Munia - A few by roadside
171 Chestnut Munia - Common
Brilliant stuff - whiteheads broadbill is my favourite.
ReplyDeleteThanks John! It is mine too, although I was still a bit disappointed about not getting the Trogon, more frustrating to hear other people there say they've seen it just a day before...
DeleteContemplating a first-time trip to Sabah next February, so came across your blog. A while back, but excellent blog with great photos. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteThank you Peter! Hope your trip will go well, Sabah is well worth visiting and many revisits, still see new things everytime I go!
Delete