A Leisurely BY 2022 from Herman and Kit

[Kitsafari]

397/MY48. Bushy-crested Hornbill

 

This is the typical sighting of the hornbills!

 

[Kitsafari]

398/MY49. Plain-pouched Hornbill

 

This year, the flock of plain-pouched hornbills was large. the count was for nearly 400 individuals. A lifer for both of us. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

399/MY50. Rhinoceros Hornbill

 

We had our first glimpse of the Rhino hornbill when we were in Danum Valley Sabah but the hornbills were always above the treetops and you know how high the trees are in a primary rainforest! we didn't really count that as a first look.  Now this was a proper look of the magnificent hornbill. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

400. Helmeted Hornbill

The most trafficked and hunted hornbill in the world, no thanks to the demand from China. It is estimated that less than 100 remain in Thailand while it is probably extinct if not totally vanish in Sumatra. This hornbill has the longest tail of all hornbills and its casque is solid - the only hornbill species to have it, hence the cause for its illegal poaching. It is actually quite an ugly bird but when in flight, the hornbill is a striking and majestic bird. 

Herman's lifer. It was the star hornbill that everyone wanted to see. and we had only two chances - when it flew twice across a short distance between the lakes. 

 

 

 

 

[Tdgraves]

 Congrats on the 400!

[PeterHG]

Congratulations on #400! Some amazing hornbills and, as always, a host of excellent photos.

[Galana]

Good to see you hit your fourth century  with such an excellent collection of birds to get there.

[TonyQ]

You did really well for Hornbills, and a magnificent one for your 400.

Well done 

[michael-ibk]

Congraluations on #400, many excellent sightings and birds! Awesome to see so many Hornbills, I love them. And wonderful photos of Kingfishers, Barbets and Broadbills - magnificent!@xelaswill be very happy about the dozens of Bulbuls you seem to have.

[xelas]

Congratulations for #400 ... and yes, thank you for all the bulbuls !

[Dave Williams]

Nice one...400 up! Makes me so angry just reading about the poaching and more so those that buy the end product who are totally stupid.

[Peter Connan]

A truly spectacular bird to reach the milestone on, and a great effort.

My feelings about China could easily get me banned from this forum.

[pedro maia]

Congrats on #400, and with an incredible bird, maybe ugly but it´s an amazing one!!

[Kitsafari]

Thank you @Tdgraves  @PeterHG @Galana  @TonyQ @michael-ibk @xelas @Dave Williams @Peter Connan @pedro maia

 

@Peter Connan  @Dave Williams  Don't get me started on those b%#@d! idiots too. 

[Zim Girl]

Congratulations on getting to 400!

Beautiful set of birds from Malaysia, especially those kingfishers.

[Kitsafari]

Thank you @Zim Girl 

[lmSA84]

Congratulations on the 400! Some fascinating and incredible birds 

[Kitsafari]

I've been bogged down by work, travel, and just plain laziness to get a move on in our BY. 

I guess I'd better get going, filling some of the dated shots of SG birds from Sept, i think, to try and catch up without choking in the dust some speedy Roadrunner kicked up in its race to beat the 4-figure count. 

 

401. Red-Legged Crake, Gardens by the Bay

 

 

Edited November 19, 2022 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

402. Black-tailed Godwit, Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserves

 

 

[Kitsafari]

403. Pacific Reef Heron, Marina East Drive

 

 

[Kitsafari]

404. Sunda Scops Owl, Pasir Ris Park

 

The pair of resident scops owls may look large but they are as tiny as my palms from where we would see them (well, scops tells you how small they are) 

 

 

Edited November 19, 2022 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

405. Greater Sand Plover, Yishun Dam

 

 

[Kitsafari]

406. Yellow-bellied Prinia, Marina East Drive

 

[Kitsafari]

407. Terek Sandpiper, Sungei Buloh WR

 

No. B5 was ringed back in 2013, and it faithfully returns to this wetland every year. it's a big favourite among birders.  

 

\]\

 

[Kitsafari]

408. Aleutian Tern, Singapore Straits

 

Herman went on another pelagic trip, a big no-no for me, and got this nice tern. a tiny consolation for the absence of skuas or shearwaters or frigates.