Birds, Beasts and Bugs- Trekking in Sabah, Borneo

[kittykat23uk]

Wednesday 26^th March

 

We were both up early and since our morning wasn't due to start until after a leisurely breakfast Paul and I decided to go exploring on our own for a little bit and so took the nature trail opposite the restaurant. This proved to be rather productive as we found a more colourful treeshrew, we debated as to whether this was painted or large, I think we decided it was probably large treeshrew. Paul also spotted a confiding mouse deer, which I totally failed to get a shot of as Paul was blocking my view! Hopefully when he finally gets round to editing his shots, I'll be able to share some images of these diminutive creatures. The boardwalk led down to the river and we sat there for a while in the hope of seeing some otters, but no luck there. We returned to the restaurant for breakfast, seeing a white-crowned shama on the way.

 

P3264231 Large Tree shrew by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3264232 Large Tree shrew by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3264236conv76 Large Tree shrew by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3264241 Litter skink by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

[Kitsafari]

I'm enjoying the TR so far, and couldn't wait for you to get to BRL. What a shame Your request for a private guide was messed up. Hopefully it turned alright. But the viewings seemed quite productive there.

 

I rally like the pix of the true frogs. Are both frogs in post 75 the same species of tree frogs? The tiny one looks so different but pretty cute.

 

Nice shots of the tree shrew.

According to the Animal Files, the tree shrew has the highest brain to body ratio of any animals, including humans! thats amazing, considering its size.

[kittykat23uk]

Thanks @@Kitsafari, It's reading comments like yours that keep pushing me to get the next installment updated. I think the frogs are the same species, maybe a male and female, but not 100% sure.

 

Over breakfast we saw more of the same as the previous day's birds as well as olive-winged bulbul. We met up with Aznil and the other guide and guests and headed out on the Jacuzzi loop trail. On our walk we saw orange-bellied flowerpecker, brown fulvetta, angle-headed lizard, buff-necked woodpecker and brown wood owl.

P3264248 rufous winged philentoma. by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3264251 Litter skink by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3264261 (Gonocephalus bornensis)Bornean Angle-headed Lizard by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3264265 (Gonocephalus bornensis)Bornean Angle-headed Lizard by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3264278 adj Buff-necked woodpecker by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3264284 Brown wood owl by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

Jacuzzi pool by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3264307 Jacuzzi pool by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

After spending some time around the jacuzzi pool we encountered a bird wave consisting of scaly-crowned babbler, brief views of Diard's Trogon and rufous-winged philentoma, short-tailed babbler, a small party of curious-looking crested jays and several woodpecters including checker-throated and orange-backed all in the same area. For mammals we saw another unidentified treeshrew and a probable plantain squirrel. Later on we also picked up a dusky broadbill.

P3264313conv adj Checker-throated woodpecker by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3264334 Crested Jay by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3264336 Orange-backed woodpecker by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3264340conv75 Checker-throated woodpecker by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3264350 Moth by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3264351 Litter skink by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3264355 White-crowned Shama by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

Over lunch we added blue-eared barbet to the birds seen around the restaurant. Sadly our afternoon walk was rained off. Over the course of the afternoon and previous evening we had chatted with several of the other guests. A few of them had been lucky enough to see elephants on their way into the reserve and a couple who had come from Tabin told me that they had been spoilt with views of a herd around the lodge there. So whilst I was rather gripped off by news of the former, I was also buoyed by the knowledge that Tabin was our last stop and we also had several drives within the Danum Valley ecosystem so surely our luck would change and we would see elephants eventually?

P3264360 Blue-throated bee-eater by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3264364 Blue-eared barbet by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3264373 White-throated fantail by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3264379 Yellow-rumped flowerpecker by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

We found some whiskered myotis bats roosting in furled leaves..

 

Whiskered myotis bats by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3268286 Whiskered myotis bats by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

[kittykat23uk]

The weather thankfully cleared in time for our night drive. The colugo had reappeared on the bare trunk of a tall tree (well of course it might well have been a completely different colugo, but that's by the by). Despite it being high up in the tree we had a much clearer view and I was able to take a record shot of the weird-looking mammal. To the colugo we added tree frogs, black giant flying squirrel and then a wonderful small-toothed palm civet.

After we got back we walked along the nature trail where on of the other guides pointed out a scorpion that scuttled further into a dead tree stump. Then all of a sudden I felt a stinging sensation on my toe! Oh no! I thought I'd been stung by a scorpion!! But as a guide took a look he reassured me that it was just a fire ant that was crawling over my sandal. Phew!

 

 

P3264397conv78 Colugo by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3264401 Tree frog by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3264405 Black giant flying squirrel by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3264406 Small-toothed palm civet by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3264408 Bornean Angle-heaed Lizard by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3264412 Tree frog by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3264414 Moth by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3264415 cicada by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

[Kitsafari]

what a scare the ant gave you! glad it was just an ant bite and not anything worse.

 

love that pix of the frog lying on the branch and looking at you so inquisitively and calmly.

[TonyQ]

@@kittykat23uk

I have realy enjoyed catching up on this

You have a great variety of photos - the orang utan, insects frogs, bats, lots of birds - glad you got a shot of the colugo

and of course a leech

You create a great feel for being in the jungle - I am glad to was an ant and not a scorpion that got you!

[kittykat23uk]

Thank you @@TonyQ!

 

Thursday 27^th March

 

We started with another stroll along the boardwalk nature trail before having breakfast, spotting a lesser mouse deer and oriental dwarf kingfisher and a beautiful whiskered tree swift. After breakfast I joined Aznil, but Paul hung back, preferring to do his own thing. We walked along the road, spotting a troop of red leaf monkeys. As we were enjoying their antics, a stunning Malay weasel ran out from the verge and stopped momentarily in the middle of the road. I had just clocked it and was readying my camera when everyone else also realised it was there and the weasel looked up at the onlooking crowd and then darted off into the trees!

 

P3274423 Whiskered tree swift by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3274469 Red leaf monkey by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

Malay Weasel copy by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

We headed on towards the canopy walkway. A Diard's trogon put in a brief appearance before fluttering off into the forest. Then another beautiful bird, an Asian Paradise flycatcher was also seen flitting around. Aznil pointed out a Bornean ibon (pygmy white-eye) and crimson-breasted flowerpecker. I had expressed my desire to see pittas and I was not to be disappointed as Aznil picked up on the plaintive whistle of a black-crowned pitta and tracked it along the Sapa Berbandil Trail below the canopy walkway. With a lot of patience we were finally able to gain the bird's confidence and I was rewarded with crippling views of this little stunner!

 

P3274476 adj Black-crowned Pitta by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

After watching the pitta until it disappeared from view we then headed up to the canopy walkway where we managed to spy a banded broadbill, chestnut-breasted malkoha and green imperial pigeon.

 

P3274491 Banded broadbill by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3274497 adj Oriental dwarf kingfisher by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

We then crossed the road as Aznil heard another pitta calling and we were soon treated to more crippling views of blue-headed pitta!! As we continued further along the trail a small group of people had gathered to watch a great argus pheasant strutting his stuff in the open. Hope as we might the bird did not dain to entertain us with a full on dance but he was beautiful nonetheless.

P3274510 adj Blue-heaeded pitta by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3274545 Great Argus Pheasant by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

[kittykat23uk]

Here's a video of the great argus:

 

 

And some shots of the lodge surroundings:

 

P3278289 Views from the lodge BRL by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3278290 Views from the lodge BRL by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3278291 Views from the lodge BRL by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

Sneaky pic of Paul- this is where the bee-eaters congregated:

 

P3278295 Views from the lodge BRL by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

Deluxe cabin:

 

P3278297 Views from the lodge BRL by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3278298 Views from the lodge BRL by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3278300 by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

Views from the restaurant

 

P3278304 Views from the lodge BRL by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3278305 Views from the lodge BRL by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3274554 Yellow-rumped flowerpecker by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

Angry bird:

P3274560 Chestnut-winged babbler by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

After our walk it was time to get ready to leave BRL, but not Danum Valley as we were just moving “next door” to Danum Valley Field Centre.

[kittykat23uk]

BRL made the transfer along the forest roads. Again I hoped we might chance upon a herd of elephants, but again we were not lucky. When we arrived we stopped in at reception and found that they didn't have our booking. But it was soon sorted out and we were on our way to where the chalet rooms were. DVFC has cheaper dorm rooms as well as chalets. As we got out of the car helmeted hornbills flew over the room, high up so too far to really get a good view but their tail streamers gave them away. We met a familiar face, a lady who we'd bumped into at both Kinabalu and Sepilok and chatted for a while.

After settling in we went for a walk and spotted red leaf monkeys near reception.

P3274569 adj red-leaf monkey by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3274572 adj Red-leaf monkey by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

There is a river with a rope bridge that leads over to a network of trails and I spent a bit of time around that area in the afternoon, spotting more whiskered tree swifts.

P3274627 Whiskered tree swift by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3274638 Whiskered tree swift by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

Over dinner I asked about the possibility of a night drive. We were in luck, there was one going tonight and space to join so I got ready for that.

A buffy fish owl was calling right near the dining area before we left and we soon spotted sambar deer as well. Three Malay civets, a red giant flying squirrel and a black giant flying squirrel were the highlights during the night drive.

P3274641 buffy fish owl by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3274642 sambar by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3274652 black giant flying squirrel by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3274657 Malay civet by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3274658 cicada by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

[TonyQ]

@@kittykat23uk

BRL looks good around the lodge

The red leaf monkey is beautiful - and good to see the Malay Civet!

[Thursday's Child]

Really enjoying reading this report & looking forward to the rest of it. Hoping to go to Borneo next year so all information very helpful as well.

[kittykat23uk]

Thanks@@Thursday's Child, @@TonyQ. Reason I haven't updated is I'm working on another painting at the moment to illustrate the next day. I've been side tracked by the Hare workshop and our trip to the Farnes so haven't had time to finish the painting yet. Plus it's grey and miserable so difficult to work on it in the evenings at the moment. Hopefully I'll have an update next week...

 

Oh and BTW @@Safari Cal managed to avoid getting himself thrown overboard!

[Safari Cal]

Oh and BTW @@Safari Cal managed to avoid getting himself thrown overboard!

 

I only wish I had a shot of a clouded Leopard to trump you with... that would be worth getting thrown overboard for

[Kitsafari]

 

Oh and BTW @@Safari Cal managed to avoid getting himself thrown overboard!

 

I only wish I had a shot of a clouded Leopard to trump you with... that would be worth getting thrown overboard for

 

 

@@Safari Cal I'm very eagerly waiting for your report in addition to @@kittykat23uk next instalment! i'm off tomorrow morning. wish us luck.

[kittykat23uk]

Yes @@Safari Cal, "ditto" is not going to cut it with @@Game Warden. Have a great trip @@Kitsafari.

[kittykat23uk]

Friday 28^th March

 

In the morning I took a walk across the bridge, spotting eastern crimson sunbird and a party of long tailed macaques and a short-tailed babbler.

 

P3284667 eastern crimson sunbird by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3284673 Short-tailed babbler by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

Then I headed onto the nature trail and found myself staring up at the tree platform which is accessed by a very long ladder, after trying to climb it and not getting very far I gave up on the idea and decided to walk the river view trail instead. I didn't see an awful lot, and certainly nothing new. However, I did manage to lose the better beamer on my flash so when I arrived at the more accessible tower hide, whereupon I found Paul, I realised that I needed to double back and look for it. This proved to be rather fortuitous as, having found my better beamer I returned along the trail and spotted furtive movement on the ground in some undergrowth. This turned out to be a fantastic hooded pitta! What a score! I watched him for a while until he disappeared from view and then headed back along the trail.

 

P3284676 Hooded Pitta by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3284682 Hooded Pitta by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

I also found a colourful lantern bug. At the large fig tree by the bridge I spotted another little tree shrew though I am not sure of the identity of this one (possibly slender or lesser). A sooty-capped babbler and rhinoceros hornbill was also noted.

 

P3284684 Lantern bug by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3284685 sooty Capped Babbler by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3284689 by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3284692 Pacific Swallows by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3284721 Butterfly by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3284737 Treeshrew by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3284738 Skink by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

[kittykat23uk]

After lunch all thoughts of heading out again were scuppered by torrential rain, so we spent the afternoon chatting to the guests. With the rain unabating I decided to try and have a nap, when I opened my eyes and looked out of the back door I spotted a Sambar grazing by the river.

P3284739 In Borneo, when it rains, it pours!! by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3284742 Sambar by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

As night fell the (rather soggy) buffy fish owl set up itself in the tree right in front of the verandah offering fabulous views. Then it was time for dinner and we were joined at the restaurant by a spectacular rhinoceros beetle.

P3284746 Buffy fish owl by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3284755 Buffy fish owl by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3284761 Buffy fish owl by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3284774 Gecko by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3284778 Rhinoceros beetle by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

An American, Ryan was working there as a guide and planned to run a night walk that evening with one of the local staff which we were able to join. This proved to be an excellent evening as we first spotted a banded palm civet under the struts of the restaurant.

Banded palm civet 3 copy by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

[kittykat23uk]

Then a bearded pig was set on raiding the rubbish bins, making an awful mess in the process before being shooed away by one of the staff.

P3284786 Bearded pig raiding the rubbish bins by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

We headed out to the self-guided nature trail on the hunt for Bornean Tarsier (a subspecies of Horsefield's or westernTarsier). We were not disappointed as the lodge guide managed to spot one bounding from tree to tree as it fled from his spotlight and the arriving crowd of onlookers. Sadly too much vegetation in the foreground meant that my only photos came out totally underexposed:

P3284793conv54 adj Horsefield's (western) tarsier by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

So pastels to the ready again:

Bornean tarsier copy by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

Then on the way back out of the trail opposite the small rope bridge crossing the stream hiding in the bushes was the banded palm civet and alongside was a common palm civet, neither of which were kind to stay still long enough for me to get any decent pictures, though Paul has promised to send me his shots.

Praying mantis were quite frequently seen around the lodge lights and were the subject of an ongoing field study. One of the researchers was very excited as she had found a beautiful orchid mantis, sadly we were not able to see it.

P3284798 Praying mantis by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

P3284799 tree frog by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

[Game Warden]

I think we need a topic entitled "Show us your artwork..." Great stuff @@kittykat23uk

[kittykat23uk]

Maybe we should @@Game Warden

[kittykat23uk]

Saturday 29^th March

 

Before breakfast we took a walk along the orchid and menngaris trails. I managed to get a reasonable shot of a black and yellow broadbill. Also spotted were a bold-striped tit-babbler and chestnut-breasted malkoha. On the boardwalk that leads from the orchid trail down to the main road we spotted movement in the trees which turned out to be another orangutan! It was busily stripping bark from the trees. As it fed it moved away from us deeper into the jungle. At this point it was time for breakfast so we headed back to the restaurant. A streak-breasted spiderhunter was feeding on the flowers as we ate.

 

P3294812 Black and Yellow Broadbill by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3294822 Orangutan by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3294843 Streaky breasted spiderhunter by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

After breakfast we headed further out along the coffin trail. The best of the birds seemed to be right at the start of the trail. Ferruginous babbler was the first to reveal itself, then a splendid red-bearded bee-eater came crashing in causing a mighty commotion before shooting off into the forest not to be seen again. A black-crowned pitta's plaintive whistle rang out through the undergrowth but refused to give up more than the odd glimpse here and there. As we ventured further along the coffin trial the birds all but disappeared and I began to wonder why we were bothering to walk further. We had thought it was a circular route but once we reached the coffin we realised that the way was blocked and so we had a long trek back to the lodge.

 

P3294852 frog by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3294854 by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3294856 ginger flower by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3294860 lizard by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

By now it was nearly lunchtime so I had a quick shower to freshen up. Once again we were “forced” to relax for the majority of the afternoon as the rain poured down until late afternoon.

[kittykat23uk]

Once the sun finally came out again I headed back out towards the other observation tower, which is sited back along the main road beyond the reception office. On the way I stopped to photograph a spectacular Rajah Brooke's birdwing butterfly which must truly be one of the most beautiful butterflies I have ever seen!

P3294891 Rajah Brooke's Birdwing (Trogonoptera brookiana) by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

 

A troop of red leaf monkeys further delayed my arrival at the tower, as they made their way through the trees alongside the road. As I climbed the tower I surprised a snake which slithered away before I could get a good look at it, I don't think it was a viper thankfully. I waited at the top of the tower until I started to feel a bit of rain in the air. By then the six o'clock cicadas were beginning to sing. So I headed down and stopped at the rope bridge where I spotted a flying squirrel gliding across the river.

 

P3294895 red leaf monkey by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3294897 Green imperial pigeons by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3294900 View from canopy tower by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

 

P3294901 View from canopy tower by kittykat23uk, on Flickr

Edited June 14, 2014 by kittykat23uk
Missed out a paragraph! And added a butterfly

[TonyQ]

@@kittykat23uk

Have been away for a few days and am catching up - very enjoyable writing and pictures - and of course your paintings!

[kittykat23uk]

Thanks @@TonyQ just working on another painting for the next installment.

[TonyQ]

@@Safari Cal

How is @@kittykat23uk managing to get paintings done before your photos?