Bird nesting outside my house window.

I was away for almost 2 months and didn't notice that a bird had made a nest just out side my house window. It is quite interesting as this type of bird (a Kind of Sunbird) normally would create their nest in the tress near parks or forest. I am still trying to figure out what sort of sunbird this is till I see rest rest of the body. In the mean time I will look out for this bird. If anyone knows this bird please feel free to give the name. Thanks.

Photo taken from my house room with D300 300mm.

Ross Garden group Australia

The group with Basri our guide in Sandakan (far left) , Libby (centre) and me (most right)

I have just completed another special interest group that goes around Sabah for 12 days with 18 person.

Mt. Kinabalu from air over to Sandakan with my new D300 Nikon ISO 400 , 70-300mm VR

Kinabalu Park, Mesilau, Poring Hot Springs, Sandakan Sepilok, Sukau, Keningau, Tenom and of course Kota Kinabalu city. The group mostly comes from Australia and a few from UK.
I would say my trip with this group this time are very lucky. At Poring Hot Springs we saw 3 flowering Rafflesia Keithii at same spot,

Rafflesia Keithii at Poring Hot Springs

at Sukau we saw a group of Wild Borneo Elephants


and an Asian Paradise Flycatcher

Tony and Libby at Kipandi Butterfly Park n Orchid Garden Tambunan

and at Tambunan we met the man behind The Beautiful Tenom Agriculture Park-Mr. Anthony Lamb.

We had a wonderful time and infact we saw most of what we have expected to see in Beautiful Sabah.

Orangutan

Rajah Pitcher Plant

Extra Large Crocodile at Kinabatangan River

We also visited some of Sabah unique weekly market (Tamu) , which shows the real charater and colours of the people of Sabah.

Tamu Market Ranau

Tour Leader Ms. Libby Cameron had been taking yearly groups to Sabah 4 times in a row now and next one will be on march 09.
I thank you Exotic Borneo Holidays Sdn. Bhd. KK ground handler in Sabah for giving me a chance to lead this group throughout Sabah. Also thanking the crew Wendy (Organizer), Martin (Horticulturalist) , Jeffrey (Coach driver), Basri (Sandakan Wildlife guide) & Bonnie (Assistant guide KK)

Martin - Exotic Borneo Director cum Horticulalist, briefing the group on Sabah Agriculture on our trip to Tenom Agriculture Park.

Also a big thank you for Ms. Libby T/L (Australia) for leading and managing the group professionaly and with lots of Fun.

WWF Donors Group roundtrip With Dato Dr.Mikail Kavanagh 8 days.

It has been quite some time that I have not been updating my blog as per my busy schedule and not so much interesting fotos taken the last few months. However this time with this WWF Donors Group roundtrip program for 8 days has been quite an interesting sightings especially today where we sighted the super rare ground cuckoo and plus others which some are rare and beautiful.

This group of interesting people whom I am taking are supporters and Donors to WWF UK which are going to support the fundings of Heart of Borneo program. This program will somehow help to protect the core of Borneo's remaining Forest to save the key species of animals of Borneo in particular Orangutan, Borneo Elephants and Sumatran Rhino. By protecting this key species it will then also protect the same habitat for other endangered animals of Borneo such as Clouded Leopard, Malayan Sun Bear rare Sunda Ground Cuckoo and many more o the list.Dato Dr. Mikail Kavanagh who is leading the group is the former CEO WWF Malaysia now retired and kind enough to spend his time to take us around to show areas of his work before. Organizer of this group to come here in Borneo is Ms. Anna Morling from WWF UK of whom was also here last year with a group of same itinerary. The Donors are Mr.David Smith (UK), Mr. & Mrs.Michael & Hermione Ruddell (UK), Mr. Jonathan Hancock & partner Ms. Stephanie Wong Hong Kong).On our 5th day in Sabah- at Menanggul River in Sukau Kinabatangan, on an early morning cruise I then spotted some big birds like wild fowls flying over the tree tops by the side of the river. At first I was not aware of what it is and thought it was some kind of hornbill. It then jumpoutof the trees to the side and it is the Sunda Ground Cuckoo. A pair of them playing around as it the male it trying to court the female by flapping the wings and tail. It was a shocking moment for me and for the rest of the group to find this rare and almost extinct bird. It was almost the same place where i saw the Cuckoo in septenbre 2007. However thistime I got a better picture of it. Please See the picture below.Please click to enlarge it.
Sunda(Borneo) Ground Cuckoo - A very rare sighting and almost extinct
Spotted by John Prudente at Menanggol River Sukau Kinabatangan with WWF Donors Group

WWF Donors Group April 2008 Planting forest trees (Durian Trees) at Kg. Bilit Kinabatangan

Mr. David Smith- UK

Mrs. Hermione Ruddell -UK

Mr. Michael Ruddell- UK

Ms. Stephanie Wong - Hong Kong


Mr. Jonathan Hancock - Hong Kong

Ms. Anna Morling -
Fund Raising officer WWF UK

aPurple Heron

Female Proboscis Monkey and child

A morning cruise at Menanggol River Sukau Kinabatangan River Sabah.

Appreciation!

Also I would like to add my big Thank you to KK Tours and Travel S/B for Organizing this trip and not forgetting Audley Travel UK for putting up all WWF UK and Scotland groups to Sabah from March to May 2008. WWF Sabah had also put up a tremendous effort in Escorting the group and providing enough support both form the office Staff and also the field staff to make sure all guest are well taken care during their stay in Sabah. Everyone had played their role successfully and managed the group professionally to make WWF donors program a Success. This program had reach its purpose and everyone is Happy about it. Hoping there would be such a group again in near future.

Cuckoo - Juvinile Oriental Cuckoo

I captured this Cuckoo bird in Kinabalu Park Mt Garden on 5th September at 11am.

Crocker Range Park Bird Photo Trip

On 27 Aug 07 a group of us Ced , John Kong, Albert, Wendy Hutton, Jason and myself set out on a trip to Crocker Range for a familiarization trip. The park had been there since the 80's but it was a research station and restricted to researches only. It is just about 12 km from Keningau town. Elevation is about 800m asl. It makes it as a cool place with temperature between 18-27degrees celcius. It has a superb view of the Crocker Range and over looking Keningau town.

It has a beautiful Virgin Rainforest and the Park is surrounded with it. It is also a water catchment for Kota Kinabalu city and west coast area of Sabah. The bird life is very interesting too. We saw Some hornbill- wreathed Hornbill n Pied hornbill, White fronted Falconet - World Smallest Raptor and only to be found in northern Borneo! Drongos and etc.
It has now a new accommodation build in the area to accommodate visitors like Hostels and Resthouses.
The following are some fotos captured on this trip:-

Along the way we saw spectacular view of west coast of Sabah. At one point we saw K.K and the islands off KK- Tunku Abdul Rahman Island park. We stopped several places to take pictures of the breathtaking views and taking in fresh air while giving the car a rest after hard climbing on Long steep slopes coming up to Crocker range Park via 4x4. The road is so nicely sealed and any vehicles may go thru except you have to make sure your radiator water is enough and the brakes is working properly to avoid any incidents.

John Kong and Ced enjoying the scenery

Ced Taking pictures of the fantastic senery

The Scenery of Crocker Range

After reaching the Park we trek the forest an d it was just an exciting trek and something different than the regular trails of Kinabalu Park and Poring Hot Springs. Lots of Wild Salaks Palms and Wild Fish Tail palms, also some oak trees, Pine trees and some wild bananas plants. Part of the trail cross through some former local orchard and Rubber Plantations, which local people did not realise they were in the Park boundary when they planted the crops long ago.

A group foto in the trail between virgin jungle and the Secondary Forest.
L-R: Albert, John K, Ced, Wendy, Alim, Myself & Jason

Sunrise through the trees

The Next morning John K & Albert went Mountain Biking and the rest went bird watching and taking pictures.

John K & Albert went cycling

Wendy had a try on the big lenses with her new D40 Nikon DSLR

Then we spotted an endemic Bird. Time to shoot!

We started shooting with our cameras and enjoying the details of the bird through Jason's Telescope.

Two small birds. Picture taken from far distance.


We get closer and it is the World smallest Raptors!
White Fronted Falconet.
Size a little bigger than Pipit.


Maybe got to Close . And off it goes.

Ced with his Big lens and continued taking pictures ........


The Bird hunters!!!!
L-R: Ced, Jason, Wendy & Me

John K was briefed by The Doc on his situation

Then we got a call from Albert that John had a fall from his bike and quickly rush him to the nearest hospital. Had him X-rayed and found his collar bone was slightly fractured. Good thing it was not that serious.

Further checks was administered and found everything else is normal. except John K couldn't lift his left arm for a while.

The trip was full of excitement and thrill. On just two days trip it was just FUNTASTIC! couldn't wait for the next trip to Crocker Range. We all went back to KK after the John K treatment at the Hospital.
More news on Jason's a.k.a Horukuru blog
http://horukuru.blogspot.com/