BACK

 

BORNEO 2003

 

 

“Our Bornean (Sabah) extension began with an afternoon flight from Kuala Lumpur.  After a transfer and a long bus ride we finally arrived at the Bornean Rainforest Lodge deep in the heart of the Danam Valley.  After a quick dinner and much needed rest we awoke to our surroundings, a very nice lodge in the middle of the rainforest.  For the next several days we traversed an excellent series of well-maintained trails, plus the canopy walkway, and saw many of the species that are found here.  Highlights were too many to list individually, but they included a perched Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle, White-fronted Falconet, good scope views of both Moustached and the nominate race (species?) of Hodgson’s Hawk-Cuckoo, both of the endemic Black-headed and Blue-headed Pittas, three species of Blue Flycatchers (Malaysian, Bornean and Large-billed), Rufous-tailed Shama, and a small group of the rare and endemic Pygmy White-eyes.  On our very first day we encountered a pair of the spectacular Bornean Bristlehead which gave me the best views ever.  Palearctic migrants were few in evidence, but did include a stunning adult male Narcissus Flycatcher at eye level on the canopy walkway.  Mammals included a very cooperative group of Red Leaf Monkeys right outside of the dining area, a Bearded Pig and a single spectacular Orang-utan late one afternoon.  One of the oddest creatures I have ever seen was the Colugo or Flying Lemur that was drinking sap one evening on the night drive.   One evening we also saw a Reticulated Python, the largest snake in the world, although this was a pint size guy at only about eight feet. 

 

All too soon it was time to leave and after a final morning of birding we headed towards our next destination at Sukau.  Along the way we stopped in the late afternoon at Gomantong Cave where we studied three species of swiftlets on the nest.  Outside we got additional and closer views of White-fronted Falconet as well as of Purple-throated Sunbird and Violet Cuckoo.  As the bats exited near dusk a few Peregrines and Bat Hawks appeared and got an early supper. 

 

Our time at Sukau was mainly spent aboard boats searching for Darters, raptors, hornbills and Storm’s Storks.  Unfortunately our views of the Storm’s Stork were distant and not everyone saw them.  We did get good views of the now rare lowland specialist, Wrinkled Hornbill.  Darters were everywhere.  Other species included Long-tailed Parakeet and two species of owls, including our very own tame Buffy Fish-Owl at dinner.  We also managed to see another wild Orang-utan as well as numerous parties of the spectacular Proboscis Monkeys. On the grounds there was a nice variety of species, including a party of Dusky Broadbills and another perched Moustached Hawk-Cuckoo.

 

After an early departure we left for Sandakan in time for the morning feeding of the somewhat domesticated Orang-utans at Sepilok.  Even if the event was staged, the appearance of the old alpha male with the flat face was spectacular.  Everyone kept their distance from this guy as he helped himself to several batches of bananas.  There were some birds in evidence here including a new woodpecker, the Grey-and-buff. 

 

After lunch at the airport we departed for Kota Kinabalu where we had a chance to look for the Chinese Egrets at lagoons near the airport.  Unfortunately we could only find three down from the 20 or so that wintered here 15 years ago.  Still, we had good studies of them and also found a Gray-tailed Tattler and an Eastern Curlew.

 

Then it was up the hill for some cooler weather at Kinabalu Park.  Like mountain birding everywhere there were long stretches of few birds followed by a flurry of activity.  Still, over the three full days we had a fine variety of species.  Highlights included numerous Golden-naped Barbets, two of the three Whitehead’s specialties (the Trogon and the Broadbill, we heard the Spiderhunter- several times!), lots of Bornean Treepies and large parties of Chestnut-crested Yuhinas, several small parties of skulking Mountain Wren-Babblers, multiple Blue-and-white and Mugimaki Flycatchers, and a pair of the scarce and endemic Black-sided Flowerpecker.  Our search for Everett’s Thrush was unsuccessful but a small group of us did find two Orange-headed Thrushes and a pair of Black-breasted Fruit-Hunters.  Later in the day we actually saw four of this scarce and striking endemic.  Our trip up the mountain was as usual unbelievably steep.  We saw few birds other than the endemic and friendly Mountain Black-eyes.  After arriving at “the spot” we searched in vain for the Kinabalu Friendly-Warbler.  A skulking Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch was a surprise, in fact, it was a lifer for Dennis!  Eventually Dennis wandered off and after a good long period we heard his distant voice indicating that he had found the Friendly-Warbler.  Sure enough it crawled out and gave our entire assembled group excellent views.

 

We headed down the mountain early on our last morning and spent a bit more time at the lagoons near the airport.  There were two Chinese Egrets feeding with the other egrets and they provided excellent studies.  All too soon we had to get to the airport for our return flight to Kuala Lumpur.  There at the hotel at the airport we had a sumptuous feast before concluding the tour.”  By Jon Dunn. 

 

 

Bird List

 

The following bird list is based upon Jim Clement’s Birds of the World: A Checklist, 5th edition, 2000. This taxonomic order is somewhat different from the field checklist used on the 2003 tour.

 

 

Column 1 = number of days recorded

Column 2 = greatest daily total

N  = nest or dependent young

H  = heard only

 

 

Darter

5

30

 

Anhinga melanogaster melanogaster

Grey Heron

1

2

 

Ardea cinerea

Purple Heron

2

5

 

Ardea purpurea

Great Egret

4

50

 

Ardea alba

Intermediate Egret

2

5

 

Egretta intermedia

Little Egret

3

10

 

Egretta garzetta

Chinese Egret

2

3

 

Egretta eulophotes

Pacific Reef-Heron

1

1

 

Egretta sacra

Cattle Egret

3

20

 

Bubulcus ibis coromandus

Little Heron

2

2

 

Butorides striatus

Yellow Bittern

1

1

 

Ixobrychus sinensis

Storm's Stork

1

7

 

Ciconia stormi

Wandering Whistling-Duck

1

2

 

Dendrocygna arculata

Jerdon's Baza

1

2

 

Aviceda jerdoni

Oriental Honey-buzzard

1

1

 

Pernis ptilorhynchus

Bat Hawk

1

3

 

Macheiramphus alcinus

Black-shouldered Kite

1

1

 

Elanus caeruleus

Brahminy Kite

3

15

 

Haliastur indus

White-bellied Sea-Eagle

1

2

 

Haliaeetus leucogaster

Lesser Fish-Eagle

1

3

 

Ichthyophaga humilis

Crested Serpent-Eagle

3

3

 

Spilornis cheela

Crested Goshawk

2

1

 

Accipiter trivirgatus

Black Eagle

2

1

 

Ictinaetus malayensis

Rufous-bellied Eagle

3

1

 

Aquila kienerii

Blyth's Hawk-Eagle

1

1

 

Spizaetus alboniger

Wallace's Hawk-Eagle

2

3

 

Spizaetus nanus

White-fronted Falconet

2

2

 

Microhierax latifrons

Peregrine Falcon

1

2

 

Falco peregrinus

Red-breasted Partridge

2

5

 

Arborophila hyperythra

Chestnut-necklaced Partridge

2

2

H

Arborophila charltonii

Crimson-headed Partridge

2

4

H

Haematortyx sanguiniceps

Great Argus

2

1

H

Argusianus argus

White-breasted Waterhen

1

1

H

Amaurornis phoenicurus

Common Moorhen

1

6

 

Gallinula chloropus

Pacific Golden-Plover

2

80

 

Pluvialis fulva

Little Ringed Plover

1

1

 

Charadrius dubius

Kentish Plover

1

1

 

Charadrius alexandrinus

Whimbrel

1

5

 

Numenius phaeopus variegatus

Far Eastern Curlew

1

1

 

Numenius madagascariensis

Common Greenshank

1

1

 

Tringa nebularia

Wood Sandpiper

1

4

 

Tringa glareola

Common Sandpiper

5

3

 

Actitis hypoleucos

Gray-tailed Tattler

2

6

 

Heterosceles brevipes

Long-toed Stint

1

8

 

Calidris subminuta

Rock Dove

2

5

 

Columba livia

Spotted Dove

4

15

 

Streptopelia chinensis tigrina

Zebra Dove

1

2

 

Geopelia striata

Emerald Dove

1

1

 

Chalcophaps indica

Thick-billed Pigeon

1

20

 

Treron curvirostra

Large Green-Pigeon

1

2

 

Treron capellei

Green Imperial Pigeon

2

25

 

Ducula aenea

Mountain Imperial Pigeon

3

4

 

Ducula badia

Long-tailed Parakeet

1

10

 

Psittacula longicauda

Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot

4

6

 

Loriculus galgulus

Large Hawk-Cuckoo

1

1

H

Cuculus sparverioides

Moustached Hawk-Cuckoo

2

1

 

Cuculus vagans

Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo

1

1

 

Cuculus fugax fugax

Indian Cuckoo

4

2

 

Cuculus micropterus

Oriental Cuckoo

3

2

H

Cuculus saturatus insulindae

Banded Bay Cuckoo

1

2

 

Cacomantis sonneratii

Plaintive Cuckoo

5

2

H

Cacomantis merulinus

Violet Cuckoo

5

3

 

Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus

Asian Drongo-Cuckoo

5

2

 

Surniculus lugubris

Raffles' Malkoha

3

2

 

Phaenicophaeus chlorophaeus

Red-billed Malkoha

1

1

 

Phaenicophaeus javanicus

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha

4

4

 

Phaenicophaeus curvirostris

Greater Coucal

4

1

 

Centropus sinensis

Lesser Coucal

1

1

 

Centropus bengalensis

Reddish Scops-Owl

1

1

H

Otus rufescens

Mountain Scops-Owl

2

3

H

Otus spilocephalus

Barred Eagle-Owl

1

1

H

Bubo sumatranus

Buffy Fish-Owl

3

1

 

Ketupa ketupu

Brown Wood-Owl

1

1

 

Strix leptogrammica

Glossy Swiftlet

7

30

 

Collocalia esculenta

Cave Swiftlet

1

20

 

Collocalia linchi

Mossy-nest Swiftlet

1

2

N

Aerodramus salangana

Black-nest Swiftlet

1

25

N

Aerodramus maximus

Edible-nest Swiftlet

1

2

N

Aerodramus fuciphagus

Black-nest or Edible-nest Swiftlet sp.

7

800

 

A. maximus/A. fuciphagus

Silver-rumped Needletail

4

12

 

Rhaphidura leucopygialis

Brown-backed Needletail

1

4

 

Hirundapus giganteus

Fork-tailed (Pacific) Swift

2

2

 

Apus pacificus

Grey-rumped Treeswift

3

4

 

Hemiprocne longipennis

Whiskered Treeswift

4

2

 

Hemiprocne comata

Red-naped Trogon

1

1

 

Harpactes kasumba

Diard's Trogon

4

1

 

Harpactes diardii

Whitehead's Trogon

1

1

 

Harpactes whiteheadi

Scarlet-rumped Trogon

4

1

 

Harpactes duvaucelii

Blue-eared Kingfisher

1

6

 

Alcedo meninting

Black-backed Kingfisher

4

1

 

Ceyx erithacus

Banded Kingfisher

1

1

H

Lacedo pulchella

Stork-billed Kingfisher

3

4

 

Pelargopsis capensis

Black-capped Kingfisher

1

1

 

Halcyon pileata

Collared Kingfisher

3

20

 

Todirhamphus chloris

Blue-throated Bee-eater

5

6

 

Merops viridis

Dollarbird

2

2

 

Eurystomus orientalis

Oriental Pied-Hornbill

2

5

 

Anthracoceros albirostris

Black Hornbill

3

8

 

Anthracoceros malayanus

Rhinoceros Hornbill

6

4

 

Buceros rhinoceros

Helmeted Hornbill

4

2

 

Buceros vigil

Bushy-crested Hornbill

2

15

 

Anorrhinus galeritus

Wrinkled Hornbill

1

3

 

Aceros corrugatus

Wreathed Hornbill

1

5

 

Aceros undulatus

Gold-whiskered Barbet

3

3

H

Megalaima chrysopogon

Red-throated Barbet

5

2

H

Megalaima mystacophanos

Mountain Barbet

1

1

H

Megalaima monticola

Yellow-crowned Barbet

3

2

H

Megalaima henricii

Golden-naped Barbet

3

8

 

Megalaima pulcherrima

Blue-eared Barbet

6

6

 

Megalaima australis

Rufous Piculet

1

1

 

Sasia abnormis

Rufous Woodpecker

1

1

H

Celeus brachyurus

Checker-throated Woodpecker

1

1

 

Picus mentalis

Maroon Woodpecker

3

2

 

Blythipicus rubiginosus

Buff-rumped Woodpecker

2

2

 

Meiglyptes tristis

Buff-necked Woodpecker

1

1

 

Meiglyptes tukki

Grey-and-buff Woodpecker

1

2

 

Hemicircus concretus

Great Slaty Woodpecker

1

3

 

Mulleripicus pulverulentus

Dusky Broadbill

2

7

 

Corydon sumatranus

Black-and-red Broadbill

4

6

 

Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos

Banded Broadbill

3

4

 

Eurylaimus javanicus

Black-and-yellow Broadbill

6

6

 

Eurylaimus ochromalus

Green Broadbill

1

1

H

Calyptomena viridis

Whitehead's Broadbill

1

1

 

Calyptomena whiteheadi

Blue-headed Pitta

3

3

 

Pitta baudii

Hooded Pitta

1

2

 

Pitta sordida

Black-headed Pitta

3

4

 

Pitta ussheri

Barn Swallow

4

100

 

Hirundo rustica

Pacific Swallow

7

25

 

Hirundo tahitica

Gray Wagtail

3

1

 

Motacilla cinerea

Sunda Cuckoo-shrike

3

4

 

Coracina larvata

Lesser Cuckoo-shrike

3

1

 

Coracina fimbriata

Fiery Minivet

2

2

 

Pericrocotus igneus

Grey-chinned Minivet

2

5

 

Pericrocotus solaris

Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike

2

3

 

Hemipus hirundinaceus

Straw-headed Bulbul

2

2

H

Pycnonotus zeylanicus

Black-and-white Bulbul

1

1

H

Pycnonotus melanoleucus

Black-headed Bulbul

2

20

 

Pycnonotus atriceps

Scaly-breasted Bulbul

2

4

 

Pycnonotus squamatus

Flavescent Bulbul

1

5

 

Pycnonotus flavescens leucops

Yellow-vented Bulbul

4

50

 

Pycnonotus goiavier

Olive-winged Bulbul

2

5

 

Pycnonotus plumosus

Red-eyed Bulbul

5

6

 

Pycnonotus brunneus

Spectacled Bulbul

5

8

 

Pycnonotus erythropthalmos

Finsch's Bulbul

1

2

 

Alophoixus finschii

Ochraceous Bulbul

2

5

 

Alophoixus ochraceus fowleri

Gray-cheeked Bulbul

2

2

 

Alophoixus bres

Yellow-bellied Bulbul

3

2

 

Alophoixus phaeocephalus

Hairy-backed Bulbul

1

4

 

Tricholestes criniger

Buff-vented Bulbul

3

3

 

Iole olivacea

Streaked Bulbul

1

1

 

Ixos malaccensis

Lesser Green Leafbird

3

6

 

Chloropsis cyanopogon

Common Iora

1

1

 

Aegithina tiphia

Green Iora

1

1

H

Aegithina viridissima

Sunda Whistling-Thrush

2

1

H

Myophonus glaucinus

Orange-headed Thrush

1

2

 

Zoothera citrina

Black-breasted Fruit-hunter

1

4

 

Chlamydochaera jefferyi

White-browed Shortwing

3

8

H

Brachypteryx montana

Yellow-bellied Prinia

6

2

 

Prinia flaviventris

Bornean Stubtail

1

1

H

Urosphena whiteheadi

Sunda Bush-Warbler

3

15

 

Cettia vulcania

Friendly Bush-Warbler

1

1

 

Bradypterus accentor

Mountain Tailorbird

3

4

 

Orthotomus cuculatus

Dark-necked Tailorbird

3

3

 

Orthotomus atrogularis

Rufous-tailed Tailorbird

6

5

 

Orthotomus sericeus

Ashy Tailorbird

3

6

 

Orthotomus ruficeps

Mountain Leaf-Warbler

3

25

 

Phylloscopus trivirgatus

Yellow-breasted Warbler

3

6

 

Seicercus montis

Striated Grassbird

1

2

 

Megalurus palustris

Gray-chested Jungle-Flycatcher

1

1

H

Rhinomyias umbratilis

Eyebrowed Jungle-Flycatcher

2

2

 

Rhinomyias gularis

Dark-sided (Siberian) Flycatcher

3

2

 

Muscicapa sibirica

Narcissus Flycatcher

1

1

 

Ficedula narcissina narcissina

Mugimaki Flycatcher

2

3

 

Ficedula mugimaki

Snowy-browed Flycatcher

3

3

 

Ficedula hyperythra

Little Pied Flycatcher

3

10

 

Ficedula westermanni

Blue-and-white Flycatcher

3

3

 

Cyanoptila cyanomelana

Verditer Flycatcher

4

1

 

Eumyias thalassina

Indigo Flycatcher

4

3

 

Eumyias indigo

Large-billed Blue-Flycatcher

1

2

 

Cyornis caerulatus

Malaysian Blue-Flycatcher

2

10

 

Cyornis turcosus

Bornean Blue-Flycatcher

2

2

 

Cyornis superbus

Oriental Magpie-Robin

5

20

 

Copsychus saularis pluto

White-crowned Shama

5

6

 

Copsychus stricklandii

Rufous-tailed Shama

1

2

 

Trichixos pyrropyga

White-crowned Forktail

2

2

 

Enicurus leschenaulti

White-throated Fantail

4

5

 

Rhipidura albicollis

Pied Fantail

1

2

 

Rhipidura javanica

Spotted Fantail

5

2

N

Rhipidura perlata

Black-naped Monarch

2

3

N

Hypothymis azurea

Asian Paradise-Flycatcher

5

3

 

Terpsiphone paradisi

Grey-headed Flycatcher

2

2

 

Culiccicapa ceylonensis

Bornean Whistler

3

5

 

Pachycephala hypoxantha

Sunda Laughingthrush

2

7

 

Garrulax palliatus

Black Laughingthrush

1

5

 

Garrulax lugubris calvus

Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush

4

20

 

Garrulax mitratus treacheri

White-chested Babbler

2

5

 

Trichastoma rostratum

Ferruginous Babbler

2

1

 

Trichastoma bicolor

Horsfield's Babbler

3

2

 

Malacocincla sepiarium

Short-tailed Babbler

3

1

 

Malacocincla malaccensis

Temminck's Babbler

1

1

 

Pellorneum pyrrogenys

Black-capped Babbler

2

2

 

Pellorneum capistratum

Sooty-capped Babbler

4

8

 

Malacopteron affine phoeniceum

Rufous-crowned Babbler

2

2

 

Malacopteron magnum

Chestnut-backed Scimitar-Babbler

1

2

 

Pomatorhinus montanus

Striped Wren-Babbler

2

1

H

Kenopia striata

Black-throated Wren-Babbler

1

2

 

Napothera atrigularis

Mountain Wren-Babbler

2

6

 

Napothera crassa

Grey-throated Babbler

2

5

 

Stachyris nigriceps

Gray-headed Babbler

1

2

 

Stachyris poliocephala

Chestnut-rumped Babbler

4

2

 

Stachyris maculata

Chestnut-winged Babbler

5

6

 

Stachyris erythroptera

Striped Tit-Babbler

5

5

 

Macronous gularis

Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler

3

2

 

Macronous ptilosus

White-browed Shrike-Babbler

3

5

 

Pteruthius flaviscapis

Brown Fulvetta

4

8

 

Alcippe brunneicauda

Chestnut-crested Yuhina

3

50

 

Yuhina everetti

White-bellied Yuhina

1

1

 

Yuhina zantholeuca

Golden-bellied Gerygone (Flyeater)

1

1

H

Gerygone sulphurea

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

4

6

 

Sitta frontalis

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird

1

2

 

Chalcoparia singalensis

Plain Sunbird

2

1

 

Anthreptes simplex

Brown-throated Sunbird

1

1

 

Anthreptes malacensis

Red-throated Sunbird

2

1

 

Anthreptes rhodolaema

Purple-naped Sunbird

1

1

 

Hypogramma hypogrammicum

Purple-throated Sunbird

1

1

 

Leptocoma sperata

Crimson Sunbird

1

3

 

Aethopyga siparaja

Temminck's Sunbird

4

3

 

Aethopyga temminckii

Spectacled Spiderhunter

2

2

 

Arachnothera flavigaster

Little Spiderhunter

4

5

 

Arachnothera longirostra

Yellow-eared Spiderhunter

2

2

 

Arachnothera chrysogenys

Gray-breasted Spiderhunter

4

4

 

Arachnothera modesta

Whitehead's Spiderhunter

1

4

H

Arachnothera juliae

Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker

2

1

 

Prionochilus maculatus

Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker

2

2

 

Prionochilus xanthopygius

Orange-bellied Flowerpecker

5

2

 

Dicaeum trigonostigma

Black-sided Flowerpecker

3

2

 

Dicaeum monticolum

Black-capped White-eye

3

20

 

Zosterops atricapillus

Pygmy White-eye

1

8

 

Oculocincta squamifrons

Mountain Black-eye

2

25

 

Chlorocharis emiliae

Dark-throated Oriole

3

1

 

Oriolus xanthonotus

Asian Fairy-bluebird

4

6

 

Irena puella

Brown Shrike

1

1

 

Lanius cristatus lucionensis

Rufous-winged Philentoma

3

1

 

Philentoma pyrhopterum

Maroon-breasted Philentoma

2

2

 

Philentoma velatum

Ashy Drongo

4

3

 

Dicrurus leucophaeus

Bronzed Drongo

2

3

 

Dicrurus aeneus

Hair-crested Drongo

4

5

 

Dicrurus hottentottus

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

2

1

 

Dicrurus paradiseus

White-breasted Woodswallow

3

4

 

Artamus leucorynchus

Bornean Bristlehead

3

2

 

Pityriasis gymnocephala

Crested Jay

2

1

 

Platylophus galericulatus coronatus

Black Magpie

4

7

 

Platysmurus leucopterus atrimus

Short-tailed Magpie

4

5

 

Cissa thalassina

Bornean Treepie

5

8

 

Dendrocitta cinerascens

House Crow

1

1

 

Corvus splendens

Slender-billed Crow

5

12

 

Corvus enca

Asian Glossy (Philippine) Starling

3

100

 

Aplonis panayensis

Common Hill Myna

2

6

 

Gracula religiosa

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

4

25

 

Passer montanus

Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch

1

1

 

Erythrura hyperythra

Dusky Munia

5

35

 

Lonchura fuscans

Chestnut Munia

4

10

 

Lonchura atricapilla