Summary
This trip to Sabah was part of a 7 week get away to SE Asia and due to the time of year not a clean up trip. I had certain goals, most of which I saw including Fruithunter, Bristlehead, Bornean Ground Cuckoo and Urang Utan. We saw a total of 238 species with another 8 heard only.
Logistics
I booked a flight with Etihad through Travel Up to Bangkok for £520. I then booked internal flights with Air Asia to Kota Kinabalu via Kuala Lumpar and Sandakan to Bangkok also via Kuala Lumpar and one internal flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan for a total cost of around £200.
Having booked my flight to Bangkok I checked to see if I could get into Danum Valley Field Centre as I could not afford to stay at the much more expensive Rainforest Lodge, once I had acceptance I booked my flights to Sabah.
We hired a car for the days we would be visiting Mount Kinabalu, this cost £117 for five days and was a nice new Proton which was more than adequate. This was booked on arrival at a kiosk inside the airport - KMT Global rent a car, their website is www.kmtglobalrentacar.com
Money
There are plenty of ATM machines in all the towns and cities, but make sure you have plenty of cash to pay for accommodation at Danum Valley as credit cards are not accepted. We paid with credit cards at Labuk B+B and could have done for Kinabatangan Lodge but paid in cash, we also paid by credit card at Rose Cabins at Mount Kinabalu.
The exchange rate was about 6 MR to the pound sterling.
Food and Drink
Excellent Asian food was served at all the lodges in ample portions, the large towns had all the typical western food outlets. Tiger Beer, Heineken and sometimes Stella was available at Rose Cabins, Labuk B+B, Kinabatangan Lodge where a can would cost between 6 and 8 MR and a large bottle up to 16 MR. There is no alcohol available at Danum Valley, so we bought a crate of Tiger each in Lahad Datu and took it in with us.
Weather
At Mount Kinabalu the weather pattern was the same every day, in the morning it was generally clear with good views of the summit, then clouds would build mid-morning and it was raining by 11am every day, some days continuous all afternoon and others on and off but always heavy rain at some point in the afternoon.
We drove to Poring Hot Springs one afternoon to get away from the rain and it was very warm and sunny but still had a light shower later afternoon.
At Sandakan and the Kinabatangan River the weather was mixed. It was hot and humid, several days were sunny with some rain, and one day at the river it rained almost all day apart from a couple of hours and cleared up in the evening for a night boat trip.
Danum Valley was really good weather for the first two days, then on the next two it rained heavy from mid-morning, clearing for a while before raining again in the afternoons.
Leeches
An annoyance more than a problem, but still it’s not nice bleeding for hours after been ‘sucked on’! I only had one attached at Mount Kinabalu and that was on the last day and that was the first we’d seen. At the Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sepilok we only saw them and JW had 2 attached on the Pitta Path. They were more obvious on the trails at Kinabatangan River, but it is rare that you get out of the boat and we only walked the trail at the lodge twice. However, at Danum, you are on the trails all day and they are prevalent. Leech socks work to a degree, but the Tiger Leeches will also climb vegetation and drop onto other parts of your body. If you don’t feel them bite (which you rarely do) then they will just fill up with your blood and drop off and the first thing you know is when there is blood in your sock or on your shirt. If you feel them bite, put some salt on them or just pull them off and it shouldn’t bleed too much.
Itinerary
30th November I met Chris in Bangkok Airport and we caught a flight with Air Asia to Kuala Lumpar and then onto Kota Kinabalu, landing at 18.00 hrs local time. We went to a local car hire firm in the airport and arranged for a car for four days and then set off for Kota Kinabalu. We took a wrong turn to start with but eventually found the right road, unfortunately there was torrential rain for the first half an hour and then just light rain for the next hour or so. We arrived at Mount Kinabalu at about 8.30pm and found a hotel called Rose Cabins – a nice Chinese owned hotel, spacious but simple rooms, we had a family room for the cost of 130 ringits a night. They stopped serving food at nine so we had a meal and some beer before we went to unpack.
1st December We drove straight up to the top at Timpohon Gate and started birding. The first birds we saw were a flock of Grey-throated Babblers, but while I went to fetch my field guide from the car, Chris had two Red-breasted Partridges scurry across the path on the way to the Waterfall View. The clouds had cleared for a short while and the top of the mountain could be seen, but not for long. We had a dry walk along Bukit Ular and had several Snowy-browed Flycatchers and our first Sunda Laughingthrushes mixed in with the common Chestnut-crested Laughingthrushes, however the rest of the trail was fairly quiet. When we got back to the road we came across a couple of mixed flocks which had Chestnut-crested Yuhinas, Bornean Whistler, Indigo Flycatcher and Golden-naped Barbet. It then started to rain, so when we got back to the car, we decided to go back down and outside the gates to a cafe and have a late breakfast of beef curry and rice. It cleared for a while so we decided to do some more trails and walked up Pandanus Trail to meet Kiau View Trail and followed that until it met the road and then dropped back down Silau-Silau Trail to the visitor centre, the whole time it chucked it down, but there were quite a few bird flocks moving through, most of the same few species, but a few more new ones mixed in - Yellow-breasted Warblers and Eye-browed Jungle-Flycatchers. Two White-crowned Forktails on the Silau-Silau Trail were a nice sight. We were soaked through and the rain didn’t look like giving up (and it didn’t before dark) so at 15.20 we packed in for the day and went back to the hotel and got out of our wet gear and had a nice hot shower before going to the restaurant at 4pm for a few beers and a meal and ended up getting pissed!
2nd We were up at 6am and as the weather looked good we decided to do the Summit Trail with the hope of a few more endemics including the Friendly Warbler. Because of this we called in at the cafe outside the park for some breakfast. It didn’t open until 06.40 but there were a few birds around the cafe and park entrance including our first endemic tick of the day – Dusky Munia. After breakfast we drove up to Timpohon Gate, unfortunately we had to have a chunder stop on the way as Chris was suffering a bit from last nights beer. It was 07.30 and we were allowed through the gate after paying 10 ringits and getting our permits. It was a very tough climb with steep steps and Chris was struggling and it wasn’t easy for me with my sprained ankle. Birding was quiet but we had a few mixed flocks which included the first Mountain Black-eyes, then at the 1.5km stop the Pondok Ubah I found a young male Fruithunter and had crippling views, probably the bird I most wanted to see at Mount Kinabalu. Eventually Chris caught me up and I left him there to see the bird. I carried on up the hill but found it hard going and decided to turn round at 3.5 km, my ankle was starting to hurt, I’d seen hardly any birds and I knew I wouldn’t make it to 4.5 km where the warblers started to appear. I met Chris on the way back down and we came across a few more flocks. It was nearly as hard walking back down and was a relief when we got back to the gate. At the gate we had a Sunda Cuckoo-Shrike, and also White-browed Shrike-Babblers and our first Temminck’s Babbler. It had started to rain now and it was after 1pm so we went and found a restaurant outside the park for some food. When we finished it was still pissing it down and continued for the rest of the afternoon. We went back to the hotel to relax and have a steady night on the beer.
3rd We were in the park at 06.00, the weather was great with complete views of the mountain. We drove straight up to Timpohon Gate and birded around there for the first half an hour. We scored straight away with Bornean Whistling Thrush on the road by the gate and then a Short-tailed Green Magpie in the trees there. Our plan of action for the morning was to walk down the full length of the Liwagu Trail which follows the Liwagu River for most of the way, the trail was 5.6 km and some steep downs at the beginning but not too bad after the first kilometre. The trail was particularly good for Mountain Wren Babbler, a bird I had missed earlier in the week, we had eight along the trail including 4 together. It was a very birdy trail with lots of mixed flocks but the only addition to the trip list was a Little Pied Flycatcher. We saw the first leech in Borneo and it was attached to my leg, it was a big Tiger Leech. We came off the trail at 11am and walked to the cafe for lunch. We then walked back into the park and caught a taxi back up to the top to pick our car up. We decided to do the Bukit Ular trail again as it wasn’t raining and more or less straight away we had good views of 2 Red-breasted Partridges. However by the time we got to 500m it had started raining heavy so we turned back and decided to go back to the hotel and then head lower down the valley in search of better weather. We had never planned to go to Poring Hot Springs, but having found out it was only 35km downhill it seemed a good idea to visit and get away from the weather. We arrived at 3pm and realized we only had a couple of hours so we walked up towards the Bat Caves along the Waterfall Trail. Going through secondary growth and forest edge we picked a few new birds including a tick for me – Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter and then just up the hill we came across a big flock of mixed bulbuls, babblers, flowerpeckers etc, including the endemic Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker. A Banded Broadbill was probably the highlight but also a flying lizard and a tiny Mouse Squirrel were quite nice. We left just as the light was starting to fade.
4th We drove straight up to Timpohon Gate at first light and had the first half an hour there again, pretty much the same birds as the last few days and nothing new. We then had a slow walk down Bukit Ular and just after the 500 m mark, we had 3 Crimson-headed Partridges on the path – stunning birds! The trail produced very few other birds, Chris was trailing behind so when I got to the road I started walking up hill to fetch the car and saw a large green bird fly across the road, another bird followed but perched on the side of the road for about 2 minutes before flying across to join the other – a superb male Whitehead’s Broadbill. we then kept moving the car downhill so far and sticking to the road in the hope that Chris may get the Broadbill. That didn’t happen but he did find a Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch feeding on flowering bamboo which showed very well. We had little else and the last bird we had at Mnt Kinabalu was a Crested Goshawk watched from the cafe. After a quick pack and settle our hotel bill we set off downhill and back to KK, we arrived at Likas Bay mid-afternoon and started to check the lake by the sea shore. A nice selection of common water birds but also a Grey-tailed Tattlers We pulled up and checked the northern lake, a few mangroves and muddy rubbish filled edges which had a few waders, Pacific Goldies, a Tattler and a few Common Sands, then we went over to the beach where there were some more waders roosting on some rocks, Greater Sandplovers with 1 Lesser, a Broad-billed Sand and a Red-necked Stint. We then continued to the next area which was a reasonable sized area of marsh and water lilies and this produced another good selection of birds to add to the trip list. We found a hotel in KK and after dropping the car off at the airport we had a steady Friday night round town!
5th We took the 06.50 flight to Sandakan landing at 08.00 and had to wait until 11am for John Wozencroft to arrive. We caught a taxi to Labuk B+B next to Sepilok and settled in. The lodge is run by Annie the wife of Robert Chong who owns Kinabatangan Jungle Lodge. After lunch we got a taxi to the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), a very good visitor and educational set up with the best canopy towers and walkways we have been on. We went to the aptly name Bristlehead Tower where we were told by Annie that between 2 and 3pm was a good time to see this fantastic enedemic. At 14.50, two flew over and then five minutes later 3 appeared in a tree opposite giving excellent views Bristlehead Tower. The tower had a few fruiting trees next to it which attracted a few birds to keep us interested, but also it was a good vantage point for watching Bushy-crested and Wreathed Hornbills. We walked to the Trogon Tower along the walkway and had a small feeding flock including a Green Broadbill at eye-level. We spent the rest of the afternoon there, JW and CR staying for the hope of Flying Squirrels and myself off to a local bar/shop with some of the park staff, which turned into a very good session.
6th After a quick coffee we were at the RDC FOR 06.45, and headed straight for the Bristlehead Tower. It was a little quieter than yesterday afternoon but still added Black Hornbill, Long-tailed Parakeet and Black and Yellow Broadbill to the trip list. Our taxi picked us up at 08.30 and took us back for breakfast, we then met Robert Chong and at 09.30 we set off for his lodge on the Kinabatangan River. First we had a 90 minute drive to Sukau and then a 15 minute boat journey on the river to the Kinabatangan Jungle Camp. We had good views of Rhinocerus Hornbill by the river and were greeted at th e lodge by a 2 metre long Estuarine Crocodile. We had lunch at 1.30 pm and while we were eating a pair of Storm’s Storks came into the camp and started taking scraps of food from one of the kitchen hands! We had a walk round the camp and found an Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher perched up and our first views of Proboscis Monkeys and then at 3.30pm we went for a trip on the river until dusk. The river was excellent for hornbills, adding Wrinkled and good views of a male White-crowned Hornbill, we also had a few raptors including Lesser Fish-Eagle. Robert was excellent at impersonating birds and was trying for the ground-cuckoo and pitas. We heard a Hooded Pitta but it didn’t respond. As we pulled up back at the camp, one of the workers took us a few yards and showed us two Orang-Utans, a fine male which came down to about 15 feet off the floor and looked straight at us – fantastic! After an excellent dinner we watched Common Palm and Malay Civets and a Malay Badger searching for food around the camp.
7th After an early breakfast it was still raining as we set off out on the river at 6.30. It wasn’t too bad to start with, then before we had left the main river it chucked it down, soaking everything, even with an umbrella and raincoat. We entered a small tributary where Robert kept trying to call out Bornean Ground-Cuckoo. Eventually one responded and called for a long time, however it wouldn’t show itself. The rain eased and eventually stopped and we did see a few birds including White-chested Babbler and Grey-headed Fish Eagle. At around mid-day we turned back and went back to the camp. getting there at just after half past. I stripped my clothes off and put them out to dry and wrote a few notes. We had dinner at 1.30pm and it started to rain again, we sat it out for a while and it stopped raining about 4pm and we decided to have for a walk on the local trail to look for pitas but had very little apart from a few leeches and a couple of Bearded Pigs. We then had the last 40 minutes on the river having some great views of some male Proboscis Monkeys. The weather was still fine in the evening so we went out on the boat for nearly two hours searching for night birds and mammals, the only sightings of note were three Buffy Fish Owls.
8th The weather was good and we were on the river by 06.30. we headed straight to the tributary where we heard the ground-cuckoo yesterday. We heard two ground-cuckoos calling to each other across the water and positioned ourselves, while doing so 4
Jerdon’s Bazas started chasing each other around. The cuckoos continued to call and eventually we could see one of the birds tail pumping. We positioned ourselves so we could see the head and it sat there calling away for about 15 minutes and eventually it moved to another hanging liana and gave full views for another 10-15 minutes before it walked off into the undergrowth– what a bird. We continued along the tributary, but there were no calling Pittas and a Moustached Hawk-Cuckoo would not respond. The nice weather seemed to keep bird activity low, so mid-morning we made our way back to the lodge seeing plenty of raptors on the way. We lazed about during the heat of the day, then at 3pm we headed for an afternoon to Gomantong Caves. The caves were very impressive, but tens of thousands of cockroaches all over the cave floor, boardwalk and handrails were not! Most of the swiftlets nests were empty, just a few Glossy and Black-nest Swiftlets sitting. Afterwards we positioned ourselves to view the caves from a distance and witnessed hundreds of thousands of bats coming out en masse and waiting for them were 4 Bat Hawks, picking them off in flight along with a couple of Brahminy Kites. Also there was our first Whiskered Treeswift and another Orang-Utan. We returned to the lodge at dusk and settled down for a few celebratory beers.
9th Another start on the river by 06.30, we trundled down the main river and saw another male Orang-Utan and also 2 Bornean Gibbons singing to each other across the river. We then moved up the first tributary and watched a massive troop of Proboscis Monkeys and also 3 trip ticks – Greater Green Leafbird, Brown Barbet and Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, but still no pitas. It was hot and sunny again and at 9am we went back to pack. We were took by boat to the car and then Robert’s driver dropped us off at the Sukau junction. A pre-arranged taxi was waiting for us with a great big fat driver, he was to take us to Lahad Datu but when about half way there (an hour into the journey) he pulled off the road and hid the car and told us to wait. It became apparent there was a road block ahead and he didn’t have any road license, so we were put onto a mini bus for the rest of our journey. We arrived at the Danum Valley Field Centre office in Lahad Datu with two hours to wait for our transfer, so we went to the bank, had some lunch and bought 3 crates of Tiger to last us our 6 days at Danum Valley as there is no alcohol there. We set off for Danum Valley Field Centre at nearly 4pm and once off the main road it was about 60km along a very bumpy unmade logging track. The journey was broken when a bull Bornean Pygmy Elephant was stood in the middle of the road, it stayed there for about five minutes before crashing through the bush and out of view. We arrived after dark at about 18.30. We couldn’t check in until the following day an very little was explained to us, so we had our dinner, a couple of beers and had an early night.
10th We were up at six milling around the HQ area, we had breakfast at 7am but couldn’t check in until 8am. So we had a walk over the suspension bridge to the grid system to find strict signs no entry without a ranger present. We went and checked in properly and found out that there were very few traisl we could do without a ranger first showing us the way. I was a little pissed off as I wanted to spend time on the trails on my own and at my pace, we booked a guide for the afternoon for the Coffin Trail and one for tomorrow for the Waterfall Trail. We had a walk along the access road and a few of the short trails around the HQ before lunch, the best bird being Fluffy-backed it-Babbler. At 3pm we met our guide and he took us across the river and along W0 for 1 km to the Coffin Trail and down there for about 500m, seeing a couple of probable dance grounds of the Great Argus. We hardly saw any birds and it was very quiet. We got to the river and had the choice to walk across the river or retrace our steps. We decided to walk across the river, so we took our boots and socks off and waded waste high across the river, which was very nice and refreshing. The evening was spent along the road but was fairly quiet apart from a Long-billed Spiderhunter.
11th I got up at 6am and was out by 06.15, I went straight over the suspension bridge and up S5 as far W5 turning down there for a few hundred metres before turning back. It was a good hour or so, with Crested Jays, Rufous Piculet and several babblers. Once back at the road a fruiting tree held about 40 barbets of 4 species and a few other birds. After breakfast we met our guide at 08.45, he took us on the path to the waterfall although we never got that far as we were running out of time. A Great Argus was calling very close, we didn’t see the bird but did see the dance ground it would have been using. A little further up the trail the guide was trying to call in a Black-headed Pitta and I noticed a movement on the floor but I was surprised to see a Banded Pitta hopping away from me. Unfortunately only I got on it. A little further on we had a Red-naped Trogon before turning back. We had a chase for a Black-headed Pitta but couldn’t find it. We also heard Bristleheads on the way back. I got back and had a shower and checked emails before going for lunch. We were the only ones left in the field centre and had it all to ourselves. After lunch we did our own things, and after a swim in the river, I had walk along the access road and came to the dormitory clearing where I found a pair of perched White-fronted Falconets, I tried to find the other but they were out. John had Dusky Broadbill and Black Eagle on access road and Chris had Bornean Blue Flycatcher on the nature trail. John and Chris went on an extended 4 hour night drive at 8pm and had a Brown Wood Owl, Gould’s Nightjar, Slow Loris and 4 sp of Civets but no cats.
12th I was on the Waterfall Trail by 06.20. It was a good walk, a pair of Crested Firebacks crossed the path in front of me, then a little way after finally a male Great Argus walked across the path and slowly away into the undergrowth – a bird I’ve dipped on twice at Taman Negara. There was a lot babbler activity and the odd Siberian Blue Robin. Then when I got to the plae where the pittas were yesterday, I started imitating Black-headed and was surprised to see one jump up onto a fallen trunk for a minute or so.
I continued along the trail for about a kilometre then the heavens opened. I turned back just stopping if I heard birds calling and one stop produced Maroon-chested Philentoma. I bumped into John who had had very little and then carried on back, the rain easing off as I went along. A little further down I heard Black Magpies and had brief views and also some more Crested Jays and 2 Paradise Flycatchers. As I got back to the camp it started raining again. John and Chris had seen Cinnamon-rumped Trogon and Large-billed Blue Flycatcher. At 4pm I went back out and had a walk across the river again up to W5 and back, I heard a two more Black-headed Pittas and also added White-bellied Woodpecker. There were loads of leeches after the rain and I knocked a lot off me, I came out and met John and Chris at the clearing to look for the falconets. No sign and it was rather quiet.
13th Rain continued into the night, but it was clear when I went out at 6am. I had a walk along the nature I had breakfast and then went up the Waterfall Trail again, another Black Magpie and a pair of Great Argus, the male doing a dance before he saw me then he sloped off, I also heard Giant Pitta on this part of the trail. I walked as far as part way down the down slope to the waterfall when it started to rain again. I turned round and bumped into John half way up. I stayed with him for a while picking up a Moustached Hawk Cuckoo, before I continued back down for lunch. It rained all afternoon, giving up just a little in the early evening, so we had a little walk along the road for 40 minutes but saw little out of the ordinary. John arranged to do another night drive tonight, and we will be decided to leave a day early tomorrow morning. Their night drive produced no night birds but they did have 2 Leopard Cats.
14th I had a walk up W0-W5 before breakfast and it was busy with birds calling again and a few showing though little out of the ordinary. A party of 3 Buff-necked Woodpeckers and a Dark-sided Flycatcher were new by the access road. After breakfast we left on the scheduled mini bus back to Lahad Datu, we got to the town about 11.30. we arranged a private taxi to Sandakan for 250 ringits for the 2 hour journey. We went straight to Labuk B+B and had some lunch. John and Chris went to RDC and I had a steady walk along the road and to the shop/bar where we had a cracking evening.
15th Myself and John got a taxi to RDC after breakfast, we walked around Pitta Path, an easy 2.8km walk, seeing very few birds apart from a small bird wave which included Puff-backed Bulbul and a pair of Scarlet-rumped Trogons. We then spent about half an hour on each of the three towers but saw very few birds. We had a walk round the ornamental garden and then got the taxi back at 12.30. At 16.45 I had a walk down the road to the Chinese shop/bar, adding Yellow-eared Spiderhunter and Common Iora to the trip list. When I got to the bar/shop Chris and John were already there and a good sesh with a group of English travellers started, which continued back at Labuk.
16th Our last day in Borneo. We had an early breakfast, then to the airport for our flight to KL and onto Bangkok.
SITES
Mount Kinabalu
The highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea needs little introduction, it is within easy access of KK by public transport or less than two hours by car and good sealed roads.
Accommodation in the park is apparently quite expensive, and because we had a car we opted to stay at one of the many hotels outside the park. We stayed at Rose Cabins about 2km east of the park. A comfortable place with great views of the mountain, with a good restaurant, internet and also a good selection of beers. We had a family room (only one available for 130 MR www.kinabalurosecabin.8m.com
Birding in the park can be done on the series of trails that snake down the mountain from Tmpohon Gate. We generally drove to the top for first light and then worked the trails after the first half an hour of daylight. We also birding Bukit Ular trail daily. We spent a full morning walking down Liwagu Trail which was particularly good. It rained heavily every day from late morning making birding almost impossible in the afternoon.
Poring Hot Springs
We only visited this site one afternoon which was about 35 km downhill from Mount Kinabalu. It is much lower in altitude and we started getting into some lowland bird flocks. As we didn’t have a lot of time we just had a walk up the start of the waterfall trail but had a nice selection of birds, the best being a Banded Broadbill.
Likas Bay
This wetland site is about 5km north of KK and a good way to spend an afternoon if you have any time in KK. We spent a few hours there one afternoon on the way back to KK.
The bay itself had a few Crested Terns feeding over the sea and on the rocky shore there were a few roosting waders: sandplovers, Red-necked Stint and Broad-billed Sandpiper. Just inside the bay are two water areas, the one north of the large mosque is open water with slight muddy edges and mangroves. We saw our only Pied Triller here, and also had a few Pacific Golden Plovers and a Grey-tailed Tattler. South of the mosque is a medium sized reed fringed series of pools with gallinules, herons etc and the surrounding trees had a few migrants in them. Just south of here is a large lilly covered pool with breeding Wandering Whistling Ducks, Yellow Bittern and more herons, egrets etc.
Rainforest Discover Centre, Sepilok
This is probably the best place now to see Bristlehead in Sabah. Three canopy towers and a very sturdy walkway, give plenty of viewing opportunities for this canopy loving species, but also a good place to see hornbills, trogons, mixed forest flocks etc and the trails have a few species of pitta at the right time of year. It is situated just a couple of kms from the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre and also with very good accommodation close by. I would recommend at least one afternoon here if not just for the Bristlehead. We stayed at the nearby Labuk B+B (also known as Sepilok Forest Edge Resort) – www.sepilokforestedge.com email labukbb@tm.my , which was very good, superb cabins with air con and an excellent restaurant which was about 180 MR per cabin per night, but there is also a nice clean dormitory which is much cheaper. The lodge is run by Annie who is Robert Chong’s wife, she will arrange taxis to the RDC and back.
Kinabatangan Jungle Lodge
There are many lodges along the Kinabatangan River, however this was the first one set up on this stretch of the river and the owner Robert Chong is an expert on the local birds and wildlife, in particular the enigmatic Bornean Ground Cuckoo. Birding is easy here, you just sit in the boat and Robert attempts to call the birds in. Also there is a trail from the lodge into the seconday forest, which holds Black-headed and wintering Blue-winged Pittas, although we didn’t see any on our visit, there had been Blue-winged Pittas on the lawn two weeks previously. The river is not only good for the ground-cuckoo, it also home to a good population of Storm’s Stork, a pair of which seem to have taken residence at the lodge and even come and take food from the kitchen staff, along with Water Monitors and civets. All 8 species of Hornbill can be seen here, although Helmeted is difficult, also it was the best place of raptors, with both fish eagles, Wallace’s Hawk Eagle and Jerdon’s Bazas. The river is also very good for mammals, we saw at least 4 different Urang Utans, plenty of Probiscus Monkeys and several other primates, Elephants are supposedly common in the area and we also had a Malay Badger at the lodge. Food at this lodge was very good and probably the best we had in Sabah, also there was an endless supply of cold beer. It cost us about £200 each for three nights here, which included three meals per day, two boat trips per day, transport to and from the lodge and the guiding with Robert which we thought was excellent value considering our surroundings. We also had an afternoon excursion to Gomantong Caves for 100 MR each, which was well worth the money just for the squirm value of all the cockroaches never mind the Bat Hawks, swiftlets and Orang Utans.
Danum Valley Field Centre
There are two places to visit at Danum Valley, the very expensive and upmarket Danum Valley Rainforest Lodge (which was closed for refurbishment when we were there) and the Field Centre (email danumvalley@gmail.com ). The situation with staying at the field centre keeps changing, I wrote an email saying I was a voluntary warden at Spurn Bird Observatory in the UK and this seemed to get our acceptance, however when we arrived, there were quite a few backpackers who had just turned up for a couple of days and we heard of others who had been turned away. The total cost of staying here including transport to and from Lahad Datu, full board and guiding service for 2 afternoons was 900 MR (about £150).
There were a lot of restrictions for birding here, with only two short trails allowed to walk without the use of a ranger. We found out later that if you use a ranger for a trail you can then do it on your own so long as you sign out which trails you are going out on. The grid system seems out of bounds without special permission from the station manager, I never got permission and just went on the system on three occasions. We had a guide show us the Waterfall Trail which seemed the most productive and we all spent most time on there than any other trail. Also the access road was quite good which had several fruiting trees and the clearings around the various buildings, particularly the dormitory and science compound which had falconets perched up one evening. Due to the time of year several species were not calling in particular pittas, we only heard Black-headeds and one Giant Pitta.
Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster
One at Likas Bay on 4th, and up to 7 daily along the Kinabatangan River.
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Three at Likas Bay on 4th.
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Four at Likas Bay on 4th. Up to 4 daily at Kinabatangan River.
Eastern Great Egret Ardea [alba] modesta
10+ at Likas Bay on 4th, 10+ seen daily at Kinabatangan River, also a few at Sandakan Airport on 5th and 16th.
Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia
Four at Likas Bay on 4th, 3 at Sandakan Airport on 5th and 1 Labuk B+B on 6th.
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Five at Likas Bay on 4th, and a few ones and twos seen while driving.
Pacific Reef Heron Egretta sacra
Two at Likas Bay on 4th.
Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus
Five at Likas Bay on 4th, 200+ at Sandakan Airport on 5th and 16th, 100 at Lahad Datu airport on 14th.
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis
One at Likas Bay on 4th.
Striated Heron Butorides striata
One at Danum Valley on 12th.
Storm's Stork Ciconia stormi
A semi-resident pair were taking food out of the hand of the kitchen girls at Kinabatangan River, on our last day there they were seen displaying to each other. Only one other bird was seen along the river.
Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus
Two were seen flying over the Kinabatangan River on 8th with a single the next day.
Wandering Whistling Duck Dendrocygna arcuata
Four + 4 juveniles at Likas Bay on 4th.
Jerdon's Baza Aviceda jerdoni
Four were seen together over Kinabatangan River on 8th.
Bat Hawk Macheiramphus alcinus
Four were present at dusk around the Gomantong Caves on 8th, catching bats and eating them on the wing. One over at Danum Valley on 11th.
Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus
Three at Likas Bay on 4th, 1 at Sandakan Airport on 5th, up to 4 a day at Kinabatangan River.
White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
Two at Likas Bay on 4th, singles seen on 3 days at Kinabatangan River, 2 over Labuk B+B on 15th.
Lesser Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga humilis
1-2 seen daily at Kinabatangan River, and 1 at Danum Valley on 10th.
Grey-headed Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus
Two singles seen at Kinabatangan River on 7th and 8th, and one at Danum Valley on 11th.
Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela
Up to 5 daily at Kinabatangan River, seen or heard daily at Danum Valley and 1 at RDC, Sepilok on 15th.
Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus
One at Mount Kinabalu on 4th and 1 at Kinabatangan River on 8th.
Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis
One at Danum Valley on 11th and 1 at Labuk B+B on 15th.
Rufous-bellied Eagle Aquila kienerii
One at Danum Valley on 11th.
Wallace's Hawk Eagle Nisaetus nanus
Singles at RDC, Sepilok on 5th and 15th, seen daily at Kinabatangan River including 6 on 8th.
White-fronted Falconet Microhierax latifrons
Two were perched up behind the dormitory accommodation at Danum Valley on 11th.
Great Argus Argusianus argus
Several heard calling daily at Danum Valley from the grid system or the Waterfall Trail, a superb male was seen walking across the path on the lower part of the Waterfall Trail early morning on 12th and the next day a pair were seen on a dance ground in the middle of the same path.
RED-BREASTED PARTRIDGE Arborophila hyperythra
Two were seen on the small trail to the Waterfall View by the power station by CR on 1st and again at the top of the Bukit Ular Trail on 3rd.
[Chestnut-necklaced Partridge Arborophila charltonii ]
One heard at Kinabatangan River on 7th.
CRIMSON-HEADED PARTRIDGE Haematortyx sanguiniceps
Three feeding on the path on Bukit Ular Trail just past the 500m marker on 4th.
Bornean [Crested] Fireback Lophura nobilis
A pair walked across the path at the start of the Waterfail Trail at Danum Valley on 12th.
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
Two at Likas Bay on 4th and singles at Labuk B+B on 5th and 6th.
Black-backed Swamphen Porphyrio indicus
Four at Likas Bay on 4th.
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
15+ at Likas Bay on 4th.
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva
Seven at Likas Bay on 4th.
Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus
One at Likas Bay on 4th.
Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultia
Eight at Likas Bay on 4th.
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus
Five at Likas Bay on 4th.
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Six at Likas Bay on 4th, 1 at RDC, Sepilok, several daily along the Kinabatangan River, and one at Danum Valley on 13th.
Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes
One at Likas Bay on 4th.
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis
One at Likas Bay on 4th.
Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus
One at Likas Bay on 4th.
Crested Tern Sterna bergii
20+ in Likas Bay on 4th.
Rock Dove Columba livia
Common in the towns and cities.
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
Common in the suburbs of towns and cities.
Little Cuckoo Dove Macropygia ruficeps
Up to 5 seen daily at Mount Kinabalu, 1 at Poring Hot Springs on 3rd.
Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica
One at Danum Valley on 14th and two at RDC, Sepilok on 15th.
Peaceful Dove Geopelia striata
30+ seen around Likas Bay and Kota Kinabalu on 4th.
Large Green Pigeon Treron capellei
Three at Likas Bay on 4th, 2 at Kinabatangan River on 7th.
Pink-necked Green Pigeon Treron vernans
Three at Kinabatangan River on 6th.
Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea
Up to 8 daily along the Kinabatangan River and at Danum Valley.
Mountain Imperial Pigeon Ducula badia
Up to five seen daily at Mount Kinabalu, 4 at Danum Valley on 11th.
Blue-rumped Parrot Psittinus cyanurus
Up to 4 daily at Kinabatangan River, always birds flying over.
Long-tailed Parakeet Psittacula longicauda
Three at RDC, Sepilok on 6th and 4 there on 15th, 7 at Kinabatangan River on 7th.
Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot Loriculus galgulus
One at Poring Hot Springs on 3rd, small numbers seen daily at Kinabatangan River, Sepilok and Danum Valley, all in flight.
Moustached Hawk Cuckoo Cuculus vagans
Two were heard singing at Kinabatangan River on 8th and one showed well on the Waterfall Trail at Danum Valley on 13th.
Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus
A commonly heard bird at Sepilok, Kinabatangan River and Danum Valley.
Violet Cuckoo Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus
One at Kinabatangan River on 6th.
[Drongo Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris]
Singles heard calling at Kinabatangan River on 7th and 8th and RDC, Sepilok on 15th.
Red-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus javanicus
One by the dormitory accommodation at Danum Valley on 11th.
Chestnut-breasted Malkoha Phaenicophaeus curvirostris
Two at Kinabatangan River on 7th, 1 at Danum Valley on 12th and 2 at RDC, Sepilok on 15th.
BORNEAN GROUND CUCKOO Carpococcyx radiates
At Kinabatangan River one was heard on a small tributary on 7th and the next day two were calling there and one fantastic bird showed well for about half an hour sat up calling and preening before walking off into the undergrowth.
[Short-toed Coucal Centropus rectunguis]
One heard at Kinabatangan River on 7th.
Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis
A couple along the access road to Kinabatangan River on 9th.
Buffy Fish Owl Ketupa ketupu
Three showed very well along the Kinabatangan River after dark on 7th.
Brown Wood Owl Strix leptogrammica
One seen on the first night drive at Danum Valley on 11th.
Gould’s Frogmouth Batrachostomus stellatus
One seen on the first night drive at Danum Valley on 11th and photos taken.
Glossy Swiftlet Collocalia esculenta
Common and widespread.Several nests were in the entrance gate to Mount Kinabalu NP, apparently birds (or some at least) nesting at Timpohon Gate are split by some authorities as Bornean Swiflets. Also nests seen at the entrance to Gomantong Caves.
Mossy-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus salangana
Plenty of fresh nests with no birds on inside Gomantong Caves but plenty of unidentifiable swiftlets outside the caves.
Black-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus maximus
About 20 birds were on nests inside Gomantong Caves on 8th.
Edible-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus fuciphagus
Good numbers were present over Kinabatangan River and good numbers around Gomantong Caves but none on the white nests. Also seen at Danum Valley and Sepilok.
Silver-rumped Needletail Rhaphidura leucopygialis
10+ on all visits to RDC, Sepilok, and up to 4 daily at Danum Valley.
Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus
2 over Danum Valley on 10th.
House Swift Apus nipalensis
100+ around Kota Kinabalu on 4th, 2 at Kinabatangan River on 8th.
Grey-rumped Treeswift Hemiprocne longipennis
Two at RDC, Sepilok on 8th, 3 at Danum Valley on 13th.
Whiskered Treeswift Hemiprocne comata
A single at Gomantong Cave on 8th, and one daily by the suspension bridge at Danum Valley.
Red-naped Trogon Harpactes kasumba
One male on the Waterfall Trail at Danum Valley on 11th.
Cinnamon-rumped Trogon Harpactes orrhophaeus
One by the old camp ground at Danum Valley on 12th.
Scarlet-rumped Trogon Harpactes duvaucelii
A pair along Pitta Path at RDC, Sepilok on 15th.
Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting
2+ seen daily at Kinabatangan River.
Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx erithaca
1-2 daily at Kinabatangan River.
Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis
Up to 3 daily at Kinabatangan River.
Collared Kingfisher Todirhamphus chloris
2 at Likas Bay on 4th.
[Red-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis amictus]
Just one heard at Danum Valley on 10th.
Blue-throated Bee-eater Merops viridis
2-3 seen on three dates at Kinabatangan River, 1 at Danum Valley on 13th.
Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis
Singles seen on three dates at Kinabatangan River, and 1 at Danum Valley on 13th.
Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris
Seen daily at Kinabatangan River, with 22 on 7th, the only other seen was at Danum Valley on 12th.
Black Hornbill Anthracoceros malayanus
3 at RDC, Sepilok on 6th, and 6 there on 15th, 4 at Kinabatangan River on 6th and 7th.
Rhinoceros Hornbill Buceros rhinoceros
4 seen on two dates at Kinabatangan River, and up to 4 daily at Danum Valley.
Helmeted Hornbill Buceros vigil
One seen on the Waterfall Trail, Danum Valley on 11th, and two birds dueting there daily.
Bushy-crested Hornbill Anorrhinus galeritus
Three at RDC, Sepilok on 5th, a few heard at Kinabatangan River on 8th, and three at Danum Valley on 11th.
White-crowned Hornbill Aceros comatus
Three singles seen at Kinabatangan River on 3 dates.
Wrinkled Hornbill Aceros corrugatus
16 at Kinabatangan River on 6th and two the next day.
Wreathed Hornbill Aceros undulatus
Three at RDC, Sepilok on 5th, 4 there on 15th and 2 at Kinabatangan River on 7th.
Gold-whiskered Barbet Megalaima chrysopogon
Two in a fruiting tree at Danum Valley on 11th.
Red-throated Barbet Megalaima mystacophanos
Five in a fruiting tree at Danum Valley on 11th.
Golden-naped Barbet Megalaima pulcherrima
Several heard daily at Mount Kinabalu, and three singles seen between the entrance gate and Timpohon Gate.
Blue-eared Barbet Megalaima australis
2 heard at Poring Hot Springs on 3rd, several heard daily along the Kinabatangan River, also common at Danum Valley where 15 were seen in a fruiting tree on 11th.
Brown Barbet Calorhamphus [fuliginosus] tertius
Two at Kinabatangan River on 9th, 10+ in a fruiting tree at Danum Valley on 11th, and two there the next day.
Rufous Piculet Sasia abnormis
One along W0-W5, Danum Valley on 11th.
White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis
One along W0-W5, Danum Valley on 12th.
Orange-backed Woodpecker Reinwardtipicus validus
A pair at RDC, Sepilok on 5th and 14th.
Buff-rumped Woodpecker Meiglyptes tristis
Two at Poring Hot Springs on 3rd, and one at RDC, Sepilok on 5th.
Buff-necked Woodpecker Meiglyptes tukki
Three at Danum Valley on 14th.
Great Slaty Woodpecker Mulleripicus pulverulentus
Two at RDC, Sepilok on 5th.
Dusky Broadbill Corydon sumatranus
Two on the access road at Danum Valley on 11th.
Black-and-red Broadbill Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos
One along the Kinabatangan River on 7th and 4 on 9th. 2 seen on 2 days at Danum Valley.
Banded Broadbill Eurylaimus javanicus
A male seen at Poring Hot Springs on 3rd.
Black-and-yellow Broadbill Eurylaimus ochromalus
Singles were seen at RDC, Sepilok on 5th and 6th, and other heard on 14th and 15th, several were heard daily along the Kinabatangan River and at Danum Valley.
Green Broadbill Calyptomena viridis
A male showed very well by the Canopy Walkway at RDC, Sepilok on 5th.
WHITEHEAD’S BROADBILL Calyptomena whiteheadi
Two flew across the road about 1km down from Timpohon Gate, Mount Kinabalu on 3rd, the male stopping for two minutes before flying off.
[Giant Pitta Pitta caerulea]
One was heard calling along the lower section of the Waterfall Trail, Danum Valley on 13th.
Banded Pitta Pitta [guajana] schwaneri
A male was seen on the Waterfall Trail on 11th. Some authorities treat this race as Bornean Banded Pitta.
[Hooded Pitta Pitta sordid]
1 heard calling at the Kinabatangan River on 6th.
BLACK-CROWNED PITTA Pitta ussheri
One was whistled out into view on the upper section of the Waterfall Trail, Danum Valley on 12th, and up to 4 were heard daily there and on the grid system.
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Widespread in small numbers, although absent from Danum Valley.
Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica
Widespread, with up to 30 a day seen.
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
Up to 4 seen daily at Mount Kinabalu and singles at Danum Valley and Labuk B+B, Sepilok.
Sunda Cuckooshrike Coracina larvata
One at Timpohon Gate, Mount Kinabalu on 2nd.
Pied Triller Lalage nigra
One in the mangroves at Likas Bay on 4th.
Fiery Minivet Pericrocotus igneus
Six at RDC, Sepilok on 5th and 6th, and 10 there on 15th.
Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris
Up to five seen on three dates at Mount Kinabalu.
Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus hirundinaceus
Three at Danum Valley on 10th.
Straw-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus zeylanicus
Up to 4 daily by the river at Danum Valley.
Black-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus atriceps
Up to 6 daily along the Kinabatangan River.
Puff-backed Bulbul Pycnonotus eutilotus
Just two at RDC, Sepilok on 15th.
Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier
A common bird in cultivated areas and suburbs.
Olive-winged Bulbul Pycnonotus plumosus
Two seen on 2 dates at Kinabatangan River and 1 at Danum Valley.
Cream-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus simplex
Two at RDC, Sepilok on 6th.
Red-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus brunneus
4 at Poring Hot Springs on 3rd, then small numbers daily at RDC, Sepilok, Kinabatangan River and Danum Valley.
Spectacled Bulbul Pycnonotus erythropthalmos
Two at RDC, Sepilok on 6th.
Ochraceous Bulbul Alophoixus ochraceus
Eight at Mount Kinabalu on 1st adn 1 there on 3rd.
Grey-cheeked Bulbul Alophoixus bres
One at Kinabatangan River on 6th, 3 at Danum Valley on 13th.
Yellow-bellied Bulbul Alophoixus phaeocephalus
One at Poring Hot Springs on 3rd, 1-4 daily at Danum Valley.
Hairy-backed Bulbul Tricholestes criniger
One at Poring Hot Springs on 3rd, and 4 at Danum Valley on two dates.
Buff-vented Bulbul Iole olivacea
Just 2 at Danum Valley on 10th.
Streaked Bulbul Ixos malaccensis
Up to 4 daily at RDC, Sepilok.
Greater Green Leafbird Chloropsis sonnerati
One at Kinabatangan River on 11th, and 2 on two dates at Danum Valley.
Lesser Green Leafbird Chloropsis cyanopogon
2 at RDC, Sepilok on 5th and 15th, 2 on two dates at Danum Valley.
Common Iora Aegithina tiphia
Just one at Sepilok on 15th.
Green Iora Aegithina viridissima
Two at RDC, Sepilok on 5th, 6th and 15th.
BORNEAN WHISTLING THRUSH Myophonus borneensis
At Mount Kinabalu, a pair on 3rd and a male on 4th by Timpohon Gate.
Orange-headed Thrush Zoothera citrina
One at the Rose Cabins Hotel at Mount Kinabalu on 2nd.
Eye-browed Thrush Turdus obscurus
15 at Mount Kinabalu on 2nd and heard at Poring Hot Springs on 4th.
FRUITHUNTER Chlamydochaera jefferyi
An immature male showed very well on the Summit Trail at the 1.5 km mark on 3rd.
Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris
Several seen in the hotel garden at Mount Kinabalu and the cafe by the park entrance. A few seen in other rank habitat sites.
Sunda Bush Warbler Cettia vulcania
Up to five daily at Mount Kinabalu, they appeared commoner above the 3km mark.
Mountain Tailorbird Orthotomus cuculatus
Up to 4 seen on two dates at Mount Kinabalu.
Dark-necked Tailorbird Orthotomus atrogularis
Small numbers heard and 2 seen at Danum Valley on two dates.
Rufous-tailed Tailorbird Orthotomus sericeus
Single at RDC, Sepilok on 5th, one at Kinabatangan River on 7th.
Ashy Tailorbird Orthotomus ruficeps
One at Poring Hot Springs on 3rd, up to 10 seen daily at RDC, Sepilok and Kinabatangan River.
Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis
Singles at RDC, Sepilok on 5th and Danum Valley on 11th and 13th.
Mountain Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus trivirgatus kinabaluensis
Up to 10 daily on Mount Kinabalu.
Yellow-breasted Warbler Seicercus montis
Up to 10 daily on Mount Kinabalu.
Striated Grassbird Megalurus palustris
Two at Likas Bay on 4th.
EYE-BROWED JUNGLE-FLYCATCHER Rhinomyias gularis
Six were seen at Mount Kinabalu on 1st, mostly on the Pandanus and Kiau View Trails.
Dark-sided Flycatcher Muscicapa sibirica
Two singles at Danum Valley on the access road.
Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica
Singles at Mount Kinabalu by the restaurant on 2nd and 4th and 1 at Danum Valley on 11th.
Mugimaki Flycatcher Ficedula mugimaki
Three singles seen at Mount Kinabalu.
Snowy-browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra
Seen on three days at Mount Kinabalu, including five on 1st, mainly the Bukit Ular Trail.
Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni
One on the Liwuga Trail at Mount Kinabalu on 3rd, 2 were seen on the mountain the next day.
Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassina
Just one at Danum Valley on 13th.
Indigo Flycatcher Eumyias indigo
Up to 6 seen daily at Mount Kinabalu.
Large-billed Blue Flycatcher Cyornis caerulatus
One at the start of the nature trail at Danum Valley on 12th.
Malaysian Blue Flycatcher Cyornis turcosus
Singles were seen at Kinabatangan River on 7th and 8th.
Bornean Blue Flycatcher Cyornis superbus
One was seen along the Waterfall Trail, Danum Valley on 11th.
Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis
1 seen on the Summit Trail at Mount Kinabalu on 2nd.
Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis pluto
Common in gardens and cleared areas.
White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus stricklandii
1 at Poring Hot Spring on 3rd, small numbers were present around the camp on Kinabatangan River, 2 at Gomantong Caves on 8th, and a few seen daily at Danum Valley. This race is often treated as a separate species White-crowned Shama
[Rufous-tailed Shama Trichixos pyrropyga]
One was heard singing on the upper part of the Waterfall Trail at Danum Valley.
Chestnut-naped Forktail Enicurus ruficapillus
A pair seen twice on the Waterfall Trail at Danum Valley.
White-crowned Forktail Enicurus leschenaulti
Up to four of the race borneensis seen daily at Mount Kinabalu, mostly on the road but also on the trails by rivers, this race is sometimes treated as Bornean Forktail. One at Gomantong Caves on 8th, and 1-3 daily at Danum Valley were of the nominate race.
White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis
Very common at Mount Kinabalu, with birds present in every flock.
Pied Fantail Rhipidura javanica
Small numbers seen at Kinabatangan River, Gomantong Caves and Danum Valley.
Spotted Fantail Rhipidura perlata
One in a feeding flock on the upper part of the Waterfall Trail at Danum Valley on 13th.
Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea
1 at RDC, Sepilok on 5th, several along the Kinabatangan River, and 2 singles at Danum Valley.
Asian Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi
Three seen along the Waterfall Trail at Danum Valley including a fine white male.
BORNEAN WHISTLER Pachycephala hypoxantha
Up to 10 daily at Mount Kinabalu, always in the mixed flocks.
Sunda Laughingthrush Garrulax palliatus
Up to 6 daily at Mount Kinabalu, usually in mixed flocks with Chestnut-hooded, mostly high up but two were also seen by the visitor centre on 3rd.
Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush Rhinocichla [mitratus] treacheri
This endemic race is very common at Mount Kinabalu, with up to 40 daily and is often treasted as Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush.
White-browed Shrike Babbler Pteruthius flaviscapis
Only seen high up by Timpohon Gate at Mount Kinabalu with up to 3 daily.
White-chested Babbler Trichastoma rostratum
Four seen along at Kinabatangan River on 7th and two more on 9th.
Ferruginous Babbler Trichastoma bicolor
One on W0-W5, Danum Valley on 11th.
Horsefield’s Babbler Malaconcincla sepiarium
Three along the lower section of the Waterfall Trail at Danum Valley on 13th.
Short-tailed Babbler Malacocincla malaccensis
Up to 3 seen on two dates at Danum Valley.
Temminck's Babbler Pellorneum pyrrogenys
At Mount Kinabalu, one on 2nd by Timpohon Gate and two along the Liwagu Trail on 3rd.
Black-capped Babbler Pellorneum capistratum
Two on the Orchid Trail and 1 on W0-W5 at Danum Valley.
Moustached Babbler Malacopteron magnirostre
Up to 4 daily at Danum Valley.
Sooty-capped Babbler Malacopteron affine
Several heard singing at Kinabatangan River on 8th, and up to 7 daily at Danum Valley.
Scaly-crowned Babbler Malacopteron cinereum
Four at Poring Hot Springs on 3rd, also 4 seen on two dates at Danum Valley.
Rufous-crowned Babbler Malacopteron magnum
Up to 6 daily at Danum Valley.
Mountain Wren Babbler Napothera crassa
One seen along the Pandanus Trail, Mount Kinabalu on 1st, and 8 along the Liwuga Trail on 3rd.
Grey-throated Babbler Stachyris nigriceps
Very common at Mount Kinabalu, with up to 40 daily.
Chestnut-rumped Babbler Stachyris maculate
Two seen on two dates on Danum Valley and 3 at RDC, Sepilok on 15th.
Chestnut-winged Babbler Stachyris erythroptera
Two at Poring Hot Springs on 3rd, several heard daily at Kinabatangan River and Danum Valley with up to 10 seen at Danum Valley.
Bold-striped Tit Babbler Macronous gularis bornensis
Up to 3 seen at Kinabatangan River and up to 10 daily at Danum Valley.
Fluffy-backed Tit Babbler Macronous ptilosus
Two on the Orchid Trail and 4 on W0-W5 at Danum Valley.
Brown Fulvetta Alcippe brunneicauda
Two at Poring Hot Springs on 3rd.
Chestnut-crested Yuhina Yuhina everetti
Common at Mount Kinabalu, usually in singles species roaming flocks, with up to 25 in a flock.
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis
Two at Kinabatangan River on 9th, 2 at RDC, Sepilok on 15th.
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Chalcoparia singalensis
1-2 seen on three dates at Danum Valley.
Plain Sunbird Anthreptes simplex
Two at RDC, Sepilok on 5th and 15th, 1 at Kinabatangan River on 9th.
Brown-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis
Singles at Likas Bay on 4th and RDC, Sepilok on 5th and 14th, up to 20 at Kinabatangan River.
Red-throated Sunbird Anthreptes rhodolema
Two at Labuk B+B on 14th.
Copper-throated Sunbird Leptocoma calcostetha
Two seen on two days at Labuk B+B, Sepilok.
Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis
One at Rose Cabins, Mount Kinabalu on 4th.
Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja
At RDC, Sepilok 4 on 5th, 2 on 6th, and 1 on 14th, 1 at Kinabatangan River on 8th.
Temminck's Sunbird Aethopyga temminckii
Up to 4 daily at Mount Kinabalu.
Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra
Several daily at RDC, Sepilok, up to 4 daily at Daum Valley.
Long-billed Spiderhunter Arachnothera chrysogenys
Singles at Danum Valley on 10th and RDC, Sepilok on 15th.
Grey-breasted Spiderhunter Arachnothera modesta
Just one at Danum Valley on 12th.
Yellow-eared Spiderhunter Arachnothera chrysogenys
One at Sepilok on 15th.
Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter Arachnothera affinis everetti
One at Poring Hot Springs on 3rd.
Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker Prionochilus maculatus
Three singles seen at Danum Valley.
YELLOW-RUMPED FLOWERPECKER Prionochilus xanthopygius
A pair with a mixed flock at Poring Hot Springs on 3rd, 2 at RDC, Sepilok on 5th and 6th, and up to 2 daily at Danum Valley.
Orange-bellied Flowerpecker Dicaeum trigonostigma
1 at Poring Hot Springs on 3rd.
BLACK-SIDED FLOWERPECKER Dicaeum monticolum
Only seen on two days at Mount Kinabalu and both times near the visitor centre, but most of our time was spent higher up the mountain.
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker Dicaeum cruentatum
One at Labuk B+B, Sepilok on 16th.
Black-capped White-eye Zosterops atricapillus
Like the above species only seen on two dates (4 and 2) at Mount Kinabalu and both times by the visitor centre.
MOUNTAIN BLACK-EYE Chlorocharis emiliae
At Mount Kinabalu, 4 seen on the Summit Trail at the 1km mark on 2nd and 3 on the Liwagu Trail on 3rd.
Dark-throated Oriole Oriolus xanthonotus
One on the Waterfall Trail at Danum Valley on 11th.
Black-and-crimson Oriole Oriolus cruentus
Three by Timpohon Gate at Mount Kinabalu on 3rd, with one there the next day.
Asian Fairy Bluebird Irena puella
One at RDC, Sepilok on 5th, 1 at Kinabatangan River on 7th, and up to 4 daily at Danum Valley.
Rufous-winged Philentoma Philentoma pyrhopterum
Up to 4 daily at Danum Valley, on the Orchid and Waterfall Trails.
Maroon-breastd Philentoma Philentoma velata
One on the upper part of the Waterfall Trail at Danum Valley on 11th.
Sunda [Ashy] Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus stigmatops
Up to 6 daily around Timpohon Gate, Mount Kinabalu.
Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus
Two at Danum Valley on 11th.
Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus borneensis
Singles were seen daily at Mount Kinabalu, also 1 at Poring Hot Springs on 3rd and the odd single at Danum Valley.
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus
One at Poring Hot Springs on 3rd, 2 at RDC, Sepilok on 5th and 15th.
White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus
One at Likas Bay on 4th and 1 in Sandakan on 14th.
BORNEAN BRISTLEHEAD Pityriasis gymnocephala
Five of these superb birds were seen very well from the Bristlehead Tower at RDC, Sepilok on 5th. They came into fruiting trees at 14.50 hrs. After being told they usually show between 2 and 3pm. Two were heard on the Waterfall Trail at Danum Valley on 11th but couldn’t be seen in the canopy and 2 were seen again at RDC, Sepilok on 14th.
Crested Jay Platylophus galericulatus coronatus
Up to 8 daily at Danum Valley, easily located with their machine gun-like call, much browner than the ones in west Malaysia.
Bornean Black Magpie Platysmurus aterrimus
Heard along the Kinabatangan River and two on the Waterfall Trail at Danum Valley on 12th with 1 the next day.
Short-tailed Green Magpie Cissa thalassina
Two at Mount Kinabalu on 3rd.
BORNEAN TREEPIE Dendrocitta cinerascens
Up to 6 seen daily at Mount Kinabalu.
Slender-billed Crow Corvus enca compilator
Widespread in small numbers.
Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis
Thousands heard roosting at night in KK, common around Sepilok and Kinabatangan River.
Common Hill Myna Gracula religiosa
Small numbers daily almost daily at RDC, Sepilok and Danum Valley and also 4 at Kinabatangan River on 7th.
Crested Myna Acridotheres cristatellus
Small numbers around Sepilok.
DUSKY MUNIA Lonchura fuscans
Up to 10 seen daily although absent from the Kinabatangan River.
Black-headed Munia Lonchura atricapilla
Widespread in good numbers in the lowlands.
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
Common and widespread, not seen along the Kinabatangan River and only 2 at Danum Valley.