I was up and dressed early and as I made my way to the meeting place, I chanced upon April and Ugin shooting something. Siyempre naki shoot na din ako.
My first photo for this day is a Pacific Swallow taken on my walk to the resort lobby/restaurant.
Pacific Swallow
As soon sa the group was complete, we set off. Aside from Saat, we were joined by Iking, a Pinoy staff of SJR (Sepilok Jungle Resort). The main target for the day was the Black-throated Babbler which Iking was reportedly feeding. While walking, we saw a White-bellied Woodpecker and a Blue-throated Bee Eater. Both birds can be seen in Subic. BUT said Bee Eater Philippine has been split and renamed the Rufous-crowned Bee Eater, a different species already. So being a separate species, this Blue-throated Bee Eater may be counted as a lifer.
A very poor docu shot of a Blue-throated Bee Eater, Sabah Lifer # 14
While walking we encountered another lifer...
Buff-necked Woodpecker, Sabah Lifer # 15
The Black and Yellow Broadbill also made an appearance as did the Blue-eared Kingfisher. Soon we reached the spot of the target bird. Iking pointed to a mound where the target bird was expected to appear. He directed us where to set up our tripods (basically in the middle of the path). Since we were visible, Ben asked Iking if we did not need to put some sort of covering so that we will not be seen. But he said no need so we complied and waited. And took some selfies.
The path was very muddy due to the rains. And with it came leeches. The first one I saw was on April's shoes and I calmly told her (in order not to startle her), squatted, and then sprayed it with alcohol. She and Sarita promptly relocated to another spot away from the muddy trail.
Before long, a bird appeared on the mound, it was not the target, but a lifer nonetheless.
White-crowned Shama, Sabah Lifer # 16
After several more minutes, it became apparent that the target bird was not going to make an appearance today. So we walked back to the restaurant for our breakfast. Along the way we came across a Raffles Malkoha which is Sabah Lifer # 17. But my photos at that spot are all disappointing.
When we reached the resort's restaurant (the Banana Cafe), the sunbirds were putting on a show so we did a photo shoot before having our breakfast. Breakfast was a simple buffet with red and juicy watermelons!
Brown-throated Sunbird, male
Brown-throated Sunbird, female
After eating we all proceeded to our rooms to gather our other gear needed for RDC. We then boarded the mini bus for the 5-minute ride to RDC. Unlike the previous day, it was not as rainy. Aside from lifers, one of my personal targets for the day was to get a better photo of the Wallace's Hawk Eagle. And the birding gods probably heard me because as soon as we reached Tower 1, Saat pointed to a distant tree where a nesting Wallace's Hawk Eagle was situated. As per my habit, I fired several bursts but it was really far bur after maybe twenty minutes, the bird left its nest and flew towards us. Fire at will!
Wallace's Hawk Eagle in flight.
The bird put on a show by making several circles. I was already happy with my shots but it was not done for the day. We birded on the canopy from Tower 1 to Tower 2. While I was resting near Tower 2, I saw Saat and Ben standing several meters away and the former was waving to me. I quickly made my way to them and there on a nearby tree, maybe 10-12 meters away, at almost eye-level, the Wallace's Hawk Eagle was perched with a prey! Fire at will again!
Wallace's Hawl Eagle with a prey, looked like a skink.
Soon the others arrived and took photos also. Saat wandered ahead and he came running back calling us. We ran past Tower 2 and found him at a spot about 10 meters from the tower. He was pointing to something inside a dark tree canopy. It took sometime before I could find it and get a clear view. A woodpecker and another lifer!
Crimson-winged Woodpecker, Sabah Lifer # 18
The Saat pointed to something a little higher than the woodpecker. At that time he said it was a Chestnut-breasted Malkoha. It was so dark that all I could see was a black lump. I took several shots and I had a big surprise when I processed said photo (back in the Philippines), because it turned out to be a Raffles Malkoha! A pretty good shot at that!
Raffles Malkoha, Sabah Lifer # 17
And Saat was not done, he said there was another bird at a higher branch somewhat to the left. This one's perch was really bad and no matter what we did we could not get a good view. Still, it is a lifer.
Buff-rumped Woodpecker, Sabah Lifer # 19, a docu shot
It was drizzling a bit by this time but ever the greedy birders, we continued to look for better vantage points. I was able to find one for the Crimson-winged Woodpecker.
Crimson-winged Woodpecker, a better shot.
While taking another breather and drinking from my jug near the stairs of Tower 2, I saw Saat standing on the canopy walk about 10 meters (on the way to Tower 1), looking at something. Ugin was much farther and was already shooting at something. I made my way to Saat who pointed at something above us and the Wallace's Hawk Eagle was there again virtually on top of us. I had to walk to where Ugin was to get a better angle and background. Paul, Ben, and Henrick soon joined us.
Wallace's Hawk Eagle
After the Wallace's left, we ambled along the canopy walk until we reached the clearing where we had much success the day before. It was drizzling lightly at this time. We found two Malaysian birders at the rest area and had a chat. They showed us photos of the Black-crowned Pitta that they took that morning at RDC!!! While we were chatting, they suddenly became alert because a woodpecker appeared in one of the trees. Apparently it is a rare one. We saw it also and took some photos but nothing worth posting. After sometime we wandered back to the hut where we were the day before. I saw a brown bird, and took some photos.
Streaked Bulbul, Sabah Lifer # 20
The Crimson Sunbird continued to make a show.
Crimson Sunbird, male
Someone called us to the Bird Tower behind the rest hut and there we found the rare bird that the Malaysians were looking for - Orange-backed Woodpecker
Orange-backed Woodpecker, Sabah Lifer # 21
Then we broke for lunch. While eating the red and juicy watermelon, we asked Robert if we could go to the Pitta site after lunch. We saw two more birds after lunch, a docu shot of a Plain Sunbird, a lifer, and the Violet Cuckoo plus a better shot of the woodpecker.
A docu shot of a Plain Sunbird, Sabah Lifer # 22
Violet Cuckoo, male, a docu shot
Orange-backed Woodpecker
Before leaving the area, the Purple-naped Spiderhunter was back at its favorite perch, a Badjang plant, as we call it in Coron, (Giant Taro in english).
Purple-naped Spiderhunter, male - another docu shot
We went down to the forest floor and Robert told us to stop near a small stream. He played a call and soon a dark bird arrived.
Bornean Black Magpie, Sabah Lifer # 23
While walking, we also saw an Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher flit by. I think Henrick was able to get a shot. After maybe thirty minutes of walking along some muddy trails, we reached the spot where Robert regularly sees the Pitta. He made us set up our tripods in front of a mound. The place was muddy and there were leeches galore! But that did not stop us from taking a selfie!
Luckily no leech was able to penetrate my limatik-proof attire. We waited for the Pitta but like in the morning, the White-crowned Shama first appeared, then another unexpected lifer a few meters up the trail. Meanwhile the ground was crawling with leeches!
Barred Eagle Owl, Sabah Lifer # 24
After the owl left, we went back to the Pitta mound but the bird neither appeared nor answered the call. Instead, we were rewarded by a very curious Babbler who gave us plenty of good looks.
Short-tailed Babbler, Sabah Lifer # 25
After three or four appearances of the Babbler, we all had our fill (at one point, there were two of them), we started our trek back to the bus. Twenty minutes later we were settled in the bus and another five minutes or so, we were disembarking at the SJR parking lot. A group of six muddy middle-aged men slowly getting out of the bus. As soon as we went down, we saw a hornbill glide by and perch on a tree beside the parking lot. And as if a switch was flipped, everyone suddenly went on alert, cameras were whipped out of bags, tripods set, and the sound of shutters filled the air (kami lang pala ni Conrad dahil naka mirrorless na silang lahat, sana all).
Oriental Pied Hornbill
Not to be outdone, the Crimson Sunbird put on a show as well.
Crimson Sunbird, male
It was probably another twenty minutes after arriving before we all trudged to our rooms. Conrad went to the bathroom first, while I sat down on the armed chair in our room to rest my tired legs. I had just taken off my shirt when there was a loud and urgent banging on the door, it was Saat, saying that Iking called and said that the Bristlehead, one of the sought after birds was showing somewhere in the resort. I quickly put on my shirt, grabbed my camera, yelled Bristlehead! at Conrad, put on my shoes (it was outside our door), and ran after Saat. I don't know how far we ran, but run we did, up and down the rolling terrain. I saw Ugin and Henrick ahead of me. Finally reached Iking who was pointing at something. Saw the bird, aim, fire while gasping for breath, and praying that I will get at least one good shot. We followed the bird up an incline, maybe 20-25 meters. As it turned out, the first sequence of shots were the best of the lot because they were the most open.
Bornean Bristlehead, Sabah Lifer # 26
By pre arrangement, we went owling in the resort grounds with Iking but we were not successful as the target owls never came within shooting distance.
Bouyed by the relatively good weather for most of the day, it was already decided that we will proceed with the Kinabatangan River leg as planned. For the next day, we were mulling doing RD in the morning and SJR grounds from 2pm onwards for another chance at the Bristlehead.
Congrats on your lifers! We missed most of those when we were there.