Bilit Rainforest Lodge

1st - 3rd July 2009

Spent few days at this lovely new lodge which begun its operation last year and has been receiving constant visitors to enjoyed the wildlife such as Orang Utan and Proboscis Monkey along the Kinabatangan River and the facilities offered by the lodge itself is superb !

• Internet room plus Wifi (Wifi didn't work well unfortunately, hope they will fix it soon).
• Optional caterpillar shoes and leech socks for visitor chargeable daily RM 15 per person for trekking at oxbow lake.
  

Each building that houses 2 rooms is connected by walkway


View of the restaurant from the pier


Pier with boats for cruising along the river


Map of the lodge plus trails to Oxbow lake


View of the forest and good place for birds such as Dusky Munia, Crested Serpent Eagle and Blue-eared Barbet




Spacious room with 2 twins and 1 single bed with air condition and fan

Living room with satellite television

Dining area

The bird life around the lodge and surrounding areas is good and the closest smaller river from the lodge is the Tanegang Besar. Heard Bornean Ground Cuckoo and saw a Hooded Pitta on the 2nd day in the morning but it was only brief.

Aboundant Raptors such as Lesser Fish Eagle, Bat Hawk and Crested Goshawk together with 5 species of Hornbill i.e Rhinoceros and Bushy-crested Hornbill.

JD the boatman, Alven and Chai waiting for the Bornean Ground Cuckoo

Wrinkled Hornbill


Chestnut-breasted Malkoha


Lesser Fish Eagle seen daily


Green Broadbill digiscoped at Oxbow lake


Common resident at the lodge, Eurasian Tree Sparrow


Lesser Adjutant



Blue-eared Kingfisher


Oriental Pied Hornbill


Crested Serpent Eagle caught sleeping

Images digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn Mk II adapter and Fujifilm F31D

The lodge is situated at Bilit village which is around 120 km from Sandakan city on the east coast of Sabah. Daily direct flights from Kota Kinabalu is available and for journey via land, it takes 5 hours drive passing through one of the best landscape scenary in Borneo.

For more info, please visit their website at http://www.tropicalg.com/

Thanks to Chai Cherong Absolute Borneo for the trip and Alven for the laugh hahaha :)

Nikon Photography Workshop And Fieldscope EDG 85

20th - 21st June 2009

The 1st Nikon Photography Workshop in Sandakan held at Rainforest Discovery Centre was a big success with more than expected last minute participants registered on the first day even though all seats was booked a week before the event.

At the same time, Nikon Malaysia decided to unvield the new Nikon Fieldscope EDG 85 in Malaysia with a selling price around RM 13k for body and the eyepiece. It was officiated by the Honourable Mr. Au Kam Wah, State Assembly for Elopura Parliment during the workshop.

From a quick test done by me and few others friends, it is cleared that the EDG 85 is brighter, sharper and more contrast than the ED82 using the same 38x eyepiece on both scopes. The test lasted until sunset and colour fringing is invisible for the EDG 85 while looking at bird against the grey sky.

Now I need the EDG 85 and compare it with my friends's Kowa 883 and 884 to see who is the king of spotting scopes !

Some of the pictures taken during the workshop and courtesy of my best friend, John Prudente and Tee from Nikon Malaysia.

Registration counter

John Kong with Landscape Photography and Capture Nx2

Participants throughout the state

Kavid Yan from Nikon Malaysia for Nikon Creative Lightning

Jollence Lee in Wedding Photography

Seng, Mark, Me and Syakila

Mr. Sim (middle) Regional Manager for Nikon Malaysia with Kelvin Chan for Portrait Photography

Group Photo

John Kong with his new Mac !

Cede Prudente for Nature Photography

From left to right; Kavid, Irene, John Prudente, Carol Prudente and Mr. Sim

Hahaha future Nikon ads ? :p


Crested Serpent Eagle captured with 18-70mm lens !


John Bakar

Gary Albert

Dan Fiel @ Dulce


Dan and Carol

Birding and Digiscoping in Sabah by me :)


Officiating the new Nikon Fieldscope EDG 85


Enjoying the view from the new scope

The straight EDG 85 construction is similar like Nikon Telephoto Lens and getting on the target if faster than the old ED82

Pied Fantail

Rufous Night Heron

Special thanks for Irene and her staffs from Sandakan Foto for the workshop. See you on the next workshop hehehe :)

My next birding tour is on the 10th until 25th of July and at this moment, attending my brother in law wedding ceremony until this Sunday.

Happy birding !

Rajah Brooke Birdwing Butterfly Vs Plain Pygmy Squirrel

16th June 2009

As I walked back from the Kingfisher spot yesterday heading to my car, I couldn't believe I saw clean perched and eye level of this biggest butterfly in the world ! Hahaha after many years seeing this beauty in flight resembled like black colour bird, now I got the shot using my scope :p (Almost impossible to digiscoped when it was flying around)

And one of the smallest squirrel in the world is this resident species in Borneo, Plain Pygmy Squirrel measuring from head to taill, 13 inch. Feeds on algae that grow on a tree trunk and one of the fastest squirrel i have seen moved and jumped from tree to tree.

As usual, birding a bit slow nowadays with less activity in the forest. Only 2 species of birds was digiscoped recently.

Large Woodshrike

Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot

I will be off to Sandakan this Friday attending workshop and giving talk about birding and digiscoping in Sabah during the Nikon Workshop at Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sepilok.

Happy birding and hope to see you there :)

Green Broadbill

31st May 2009

Spent the Harvest Festival with Andrew and Gwenda at Lok Kawi hoping for the Black-backed Kingfisher. Despite arriving in the afternoon, action only begun after 3pm hahaha :p

This is the shots of Green Broadbill and considered as uncommon species in Borneo. The female yesterday was more cooperative than the male and while digiscoping the female, I did not realized the male was only less than a metre below ! So I got the female and Andrew had the male :)

Digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn Mk II adapter and Fujifilm F31D

Metallic green colour of this male



Female

Happy birding everyone.

Rufous-collared Kingfisher

26th May 2009

Thanks to Chai for the info of the Rufous-collared Kingfisher at Lok Kawi Park. Today I went there with Karim and less than few minutes waiting, suddenly the male flew past us and landed exactly in front of me :p

Enjoy the pictures and digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn Mk II adapter and Fujifilm F31D

This particular male was seen at one time perched only a metre from Karim !

Female was a bit shy for the camera. Hope can get better angle next time hahaha :p

Good birding :)

Nikon Photography Workshop 20th - 21st June 2009

In conjuction with Sandakan Fest 2009, Sandakan Foto and Nikon Malaysia will be conducting a Nikon Photography Workshop for the public. Talks will be conducted by experts in their respected fields and details of the program as shown below :


Location : Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sepilok, Sandakan

Dateline for sign up : 13th June 2009 (Saturday)


20th June 2009 Workshop A

• 0830 - 0930 hrs : Registration & Tea Reception (RDC Balcony)
• 0900 - 1700 hrs : Basic Digital Photography by Kelvin Chan (Kuala Lumpur)
  
• 1200 - 1300 hrs : Lunch (Lakeside Pavilion)
• 1500 - 1530 hrs : Tea Breal (RDC Pavilion)

• Registration Fee : RM 25 (With Voucher RM 25 Redeemable at Sandakan Foto)
• Limited Participants : 50
  

20th June 2009 Workshop B

• 0830 - 0900 hrs : Registration & Tea Reception (RDC Corridor)
• 0900 - 1200 hrs : Introduction To Landscape Photography by John Kong (Kota Kinabalu)
  
• Nature Photography by Cede Prudente (Sandakan)
  
• 1200 - 1300 hrs : Lunch (Lakeside Pavilion)
• 1300 - 1700 hrs : Post Production With Capture NX2 by John Kong (Kota Kinabalu)
  
• 1500 - 1530 hrs : Tea Break (RDC Corridor)

• Registration Fee : RM 40 (With Voucher RM 20 Redeemable at Sandakan Foto)
• Limited Participant : 30
• Prerequisite For Participants : Laptop with Nikon Capture NX2 installed & few own images to work with

21st June 2009 Workshop C

• 0830 - 1000 hrs : Photography Business by Jollence Lee
  
• 1000 - 1030 hrs : Tea Break (RDC Balcony)
• 1030 - 1200 hrs : Nikon Creative Lighting System by Mr Kavid Yan (Nikon Technical Support)
  
• 1200 - 1300 hrs : Lunch (Lakeside Pavilion)
• 1300 - 1700 hrs : Portrait Photography by Mr Kelvin Chan (Kuala Lumpur)
  
• 1500 - 1530 hrs : Tea Break (RDC Balcony)

• Registration Fee : RM30.00 (with Voucher RM20 Redeemable at Sandakan Foto)
• Limited Participants : 40
• Prerequisite : Nikon DSLR with optional speedlight (Hands-on
  models shooting at 3-4pm to be held at the RDC Pavilion)

21st June 2009 Presentation And Demonstration

• 1530 - 1700 hrs : Bird Watching Equipment : Digiscoping & Binoculars by Jason Reyes (Kota Kinabalu)
  

See you there :)

Blackberry Bold 9000 For Birding

22nd May 2009

Blackberry Bold 9000 which is good with emails especially for birders on the move and at certain area where I need to access the Internet with only GPRS coverage, the speed is unbelievable hahaha much better than other operators I have used last time.

What I like about this Blackberry is:

1. Big screen for browsing the Internet and replying emails.
2. QWERTY keypads which is good for typing hahaha :p
   
3. Faster Internet connection especially with GPRS.
4. Wireless capability. (Twitter and Facebook updated daily while birding at Borneo Rainforest Lodge recently).
   
5. Connected for 24 hours with Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, Goggle Talk, Twitter, Facebook and Yahoo ! Go services.
6. Blackberry Messenger which is free among Blackberry users around the world !

For birding, this device is capable to delivered my need because:

• As a backup for my Ipod Video with included 1G memory card (up to 8G). Adding bird songs from my laptop into the memory card is easy with card reader.
  
• 2 mega pixels camera and good for landscape shot.
• Good quality recording from the Voice Notes recorder for a short distance birds.
• Wire free from my Blackberry using bluetooth to my Philip speaker via Bluetooth dongle by I.tech.
• Using the built in 3.5mm stereo input for connecting my Philip speaker with Blackberry in case my bluetooth dongle is out of battery while on the field.
  

Blackberry Bold 9000 connected with my portable Philip Speaker via 3.5mm stereo input


Blackberry Bold 9000 transmitting sounds with bluetooth to my portable Philip Speaker via Bluetooth dongle from I.tech

The results:

1. Impressive recording from the Voice Note recorder using the built in mic and sound from the speaker.
   
2. Much better sound from my Blackberry connected either via bluetooth dongle or with the 3.5mm input to the Philip speaker.

Well done Research In Motion company, you are the best ! Good tool for birders.

More info regarding Blackberry smartphones, check this websites:

• www.blackberry.com - Official website for Blackberry.
  
• www.crackberry.com - Forum for Blackberry users.
  

For those who need my Blackberry PIN for inquiry regarding birding tours and etc in Borneo, kindly email me at horukuru@crackberry.com

Happy birding everyone :)

Digiscoping with Nikon Fieldscope ED50 and FSB-U1

4rd - 10th May 2009

Irene from Sandakan Photo passed me the ED50 together with a new universal adapter FSB-U1 from Nikon Malaysia when I was in Sandakan last week hehehe as I've been eyeing this scope after trying it last year during the Sandakan Bird Fair and impressed with the sharpness and colour renditions the little scope delivered.

Nikon Fieldscope ED50 with 13-40x MC II zoom eyepiece while cruising along Kinabatangan River


My current digiscoping kit now which is lighter than the big brother, ED82.

After tested it heavily on rain and shine, the Nikon Fieldscope ED50 lived up to its reputation as being the best compact scope at this moment which is waterproof up to a metre when immersed underwater, fogproof and uses ED glass to minimized colour fringing.

Using the 13-40x zoom eyepiece with the ED50 allowed me to get lots of details on 40x max, even though the field of view is a bit narrow, but for IDing birds from the distance, the scope did not disappointed me hehehe :)

Check this website regarding comments and reviews of the ED50 at Bird Forum;

• http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=112452
  
• http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=94667
• http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=100537
• http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=98959
• http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=86933
• http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=51343
  

My only concern with this little scope is the tripod mount which looked like a cheap plastic. There are few birders who had a problem with broken tripod mount and discussions regarding this is available here;

• http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=80876

The scope is selling less than RM 2500 body only and the weight without eyepiece is around 460g and came along with its stay on case. Light carbon fibre tripod is a nice combo with this scope :)


Meanwhile, the new universal adapter FSB-U1 which I tested on the field needs to be improved in order for Nikon to get their share in universal digiscoping adapter market with other brands such as Swarovski, Kowa and SRB-Griturn;

1. The hinge is a bit loose when I swung out the adapter. Felt a bit unsecured while carrying the scope in case you knock on something i.e tree trunk or branches.
   
2. It swings out for 90 degree only to the right which is a bit troublesome for left sighted birders. They won't be able to use the adapter and it would be much better if it swings out to 180 degree like my SRB-Griturn Mk II adapter.
3. Only usable with Nikon DS eyepiece and the eyepiece sleeve is not changeable. So if you are using your Zoom or MC eyepieces for viewing, you need to purchase the DS eyepiece to start digiscoping.
4. Pricey for local Malaysian market, selling for more than RM 1000. If the price around RM 500 - RM 600, I will buy it first !

Best things about this adapter is;

1. Quality materials used for making this adapter.
2. Feel heavy which is good to minimized vibrations as seen from my digiscoped pictures.
3. Can used it while raining too without worrying it will get rusty.
4. I setup my Fujifilm F31D camera on the adapter took me less than a minute hehehe. Adjusting the vertical and horizontal knobs is easy and fast. Once I got the exact centre for my camera lens on the eyepiece, it stay put forever.
5. No vignetting at all with my Nikon DS16x eyepiece on the ED50 (24x on EDIII and 30x on my ED82 Fieldscope).
   

Overall I like this universal adapter and useful for birders who preferred to view and shoot at the same time rather than the fixed adapter which required to unscrew the adapter to view through the eyepiece.

Highly recommended !

For those who are interested, this scope and adapter is available at

Sandakan Foto (S) Sdn Bhd
Labuk Road: Ground Floor, L12, Block C,
Bandar Kim Fung, Batu 4,
Sandakan.

Tel : 089-238728
Fax :089-216728
Email :sknfoto@pc.jaring.my

Look for Irene, and you will get discount for the Nikon Fieldscope ED50 if you mentioned my name :)

Price list;

• Nikon Fieldscope ED50 = RSP RM 2358
• Nikon DS16x eyepiece = RSP RM 1108
• Nikon DS27x eyepiece = RSP RM 1258
• Nikon MC II Zoom eyepiece = RSP RM 1428
• Nikon universal adapter FSB-U1 = RSP RM 1238
  

90 degree position without the camera

On the Nikon Fieldscope ED82

Few images taken with the ED50 and FSB-U1 :)

Bornean Blue Flycatcher

Hooded Pitta

Red-naped Trogon

Rhinoceros Hornbill

Happy birding folks

Bornean Bristlehead Mission

28th April - 1st May 2009

Stayed at Sepilok Nature Resort for few days together with John and his wife Carol. John's mission of this trip was for the Bristlehead which proved to be too difficult this time at Sepilok Forest Reserve than usual.

On Tuesday when John arrived, one of the Ranger on duty during the feeding time of the Orang Utan saw 8 Bornean Bristlehead nearby the Platform A in the morning. Earlier before, Gabili saw Giant Pitta trapped among the fallen logs under the walkway !

Spent early morning until evening at Rainforest Discovery Centre and heard it responding to the call once late Wednesday from the Trogon Tower, but could not see the it. Another day passed by without the bird ...

On the very last day this morning, decided to walk along the Bird Trail together with James who accompanied us and luck was on our side when we heard the bird calling from the canopy of Menggaris tree on the way back to the platform.

So we walked as fast as possible to the platform and exactly at 0800 hrs in the morning, saw 3 Bornean Bristlehead with perfect view through my scope after intense search and waiting since last Tuesday. The hard and smart work paid off hahaha :p

It was one of my best trip so far and managed to record new lifer for me, the Rufous-tailed Shama singing nearby the old Bird Tower at Sepilok and total species seen was 99 birds altogether.

John need to complete another 17 families :)

Some of the shot during the trip digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn adapter and Fujifilm F31D from the Bristlehead and Trogon Tower :)

Female Rufous-collared Kingfisher

5 Slender-billed Crow looking after their nest

Oriental Pied Hornbill

Grey-capped Woodpecker

Crested Serpent Eagle with its meal, Bronze-backed Snake

Red-eyed Bulbul seen daily

Purple-throated Sunbird

Black-headed Bulbul

Dusky Broadbill

Violet Cuckoo quite vocal these time

Green Imperial Pigeon at the same perch every morning

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

Yellow-eared Spiderhunter

One of the nest of this Black-naped Monarch and has 2 chicks now hehehe and thanks to Alphon

Wild Orang Utan

Rufous-tailed Shama :p

This is John enjoying the view of his dream bird !

I will be off again this Sunday to Kinabatangan River, Tabin Wildlife Reserve and Danum Valley Forest Reserve until the 10th May.

Happy birding folks !

Birding With Colin And Pam

17th - 23rd April 2009

Had a great time birding with Colin and Pam at Kinabalu Park, Kinabatangan River and Tambunan Rafflesia Centre for a week and during that time, managed to see 182 species with 28 endemics for Borneo.

Key species seen :

• Bornean Ground Cuckoo - Twice seen within 2 days in row at the river ! Thanks to Kecil, the boatman who navigated along the river perfectly for this species.
• White-fronted Falconet - A pair along the river.
• Red-breasted Partridge - Few individuals seen and then crossing the trail.
  
• Whitehead's Trogon - 2 males and 1 female.
• Giant Swiftlet - Saw twice in a day at Timpohon Gate flying very low and my lifer too hahaha :p
  
• Bornean Barbet - 1st bird seen at Tambunan.
  
• Whitehead's Broadbill - Nearly gave up on this. Thanks for the help from Andy and Cameron :)
• Fruithunter - Saw the nest and while walking on the other trails after breakfast, saw a juvenile being fed by the parents.
• Everett's Thrush - No luck at the usual stack out trail, on the way back from Power Station in the evening, saw 1 hopping on the side of the road and Colin managed to get a record shot hahaha :p
  
• Whitehead's Spiderhunter - Seen twice in flight only ...

Some of the shot taken during the trip, digiscoped with Nikon Fieldscope ED82, SRB-Griturn adapter and Fujifilm F31D

View of Crocker Range from the Timpohon Gate

Mt. Kinabalu in the evening from Kundasang Town

Nice hotel with excellent rooms and wireless Internet too :p



Juvenile Fruithunter

Whitehead's Trogon

Whitehead's Broadbill on nest

Kecil, the boatman has an Eagle eye !

Cruising along the longest river in Sabah, Kinabatangan


Scarlet-rumped Trogon digiscoped along the access road to Gomantong Caves


Buffy Fish Owl, the commonest species found on the river


Gunung Alab road


Happy birders, Colin and Pam from England

My next trip would be in Sepilok for the Bornean Bristlehead from the 27th April until the 1st of May.

Happy birding eveyone :)