Friday, April 18, 2008

14 Days Birding And Bird Photography Tours In Sabah, Borneo


Birding tours at Tambunan Rafflesia Centre, Kinabalu National Park, Sepilok Forest Reserve, Kinabatangan River and Tabin Wildlife Reserve or Danum Valley Forest Reserve or Sungai Kapur Forest Reserve


Custom made trips also available. Impact-Site-Verification: d562ec3d-4724-4f6e-b5e7-8f6ad3b6e16a


Day 1-2: Mt. Trusmadi and Mt. Alab



Depart early to Mt. Trusmadi bird hides for Bulwer's Pheasant, Bornean Banded Pitta and Crested Partridge. Overnight at Padi View Resthouse.

Type of accommodations:

Standard


Bulwer's Pheasant



Bornean Banded Pitta



Red-breasted Partridge



Crimson-headed Partridge



Crested Partridge



Bornean Shortwing



Mountain Barbet



Temminck's Sunbird



Blyth's Shrike-Babbler



Mt. Trusmadi Bird Hide



Mt. Alab Bird Station




Day 2-5: Kinabalu Park



Continue to Kinabalu Park for another 3 nights. This is one of the best places in Borneo to search for the endemic such as the Whitehead’s Trogon, Broadbill and Spiderhunter.  Early start in the morning at Power Station for species that is confined to the montane forest such as Mountain Blackeye, Pale-faced Bulbul, Grey-chinned Minivet and Bornean Treepie. Overnight at Nabalu Lodge
Type of accommodations:

Standard

Other option: Deluxe

 

Whitehead's Trogon



Whitehead's Broadbill



 Whitehead's Spiderhunter



Fruithunter



Mountain Serpent Eagle



Bornean Treepie



Indigo Flycatcher



Mount Kinabalu




Day 5-7: Telupid and Sepilok Forest Reserve ~ Breakfast

2 hours drive to Telupid for the Bornean Peacock-Pheasant and Blue-banded Pitta. Required to walked for 1.5 KM from the village to the bird hide. Drive to Sepilok late in the afternoon. Check in to the lodge and birding at Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sepilok. Overnight. Main highlights are the Bornean Bristlehead, Black-crowned Pitta, Rufous-collared Kingfisher and White-bellied Woodpecker. Overnight at Sepilok Bed & Breakfast

Type of accommodations:

Standard

Other option: Deluxe




Bornean Peacock-Pheasant



Black & Yellow Broadbill



Rufous-collared Kingfisher



Bornean Bristlehead



Black-crowned Pitta



Red-naped Trogon



Bornean Black-capped Babbler



Rufous Piculet



White-bellied Woodpecker 




Telupid Bird Hide



Skywalks at Rainforest Discovery Centre, Sepilok




Day 7- 10: Kinabatangan River (Sukau Village) - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive to Kinabatangan River which is famed for its wildlife such as wild Orang Utans, Proboscis Monkeys, Silver Leaf Monkeys, Bornean Pygmy Elephants and over 200 species of birds has been recorded here. Notable birds such as Bornean Ground Cuckoo, Rhinoceros Hornbill and Storm's Stork. Cruise along the river and smaller tributaries for birds and wildlife. Overnight at Borneo Nature Lodge


Type of accommodations:

Basic 
Standard



Rhinoceros Hornbill



Lesser Fish Eagle



White-fronted Falconet


Oriental Darter



                                                                   Stork-billed Kingfisher



Blue-eared Kingfisher



Bat Hawk



Cruising at Kinabatangan River



Simud Puteh platform for the bats exodus watching and Bat Hawks




Day 10-13: Danum Valley Forest Reserve or Tabin Wildlife Reserve or Sungai Kapur Forest Reserve - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Transfer to Danum Valley Forest Reserve or Tabin Wildlife Reserve and took about 4 hours 30 minutes drive from Kinabatangan River. Check in to Tabin Wildlife Lodge, Utan Rainforest Lodge or Borneo Rainforest Lodge and spend the next few days birding in this beautiful reserve. Target species such as Blue-headed, Western Hooded and Giant Pitta, Black-throated Wren Babbler and Bornean Bristlehead. Night walks and drives for nocturnal species. Overnight at Tabin Wildlife Lodge

Type of accommodations:

Tabin Wildlife Lodge http://www.tabinwildlife.com.my/ (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
  • Standard  
Borneo Rainforest Lodge http://www.borneonaturetours.com/www/brl_default.aspx (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
  • Deluxe
Utan Rainforest Lodge https://tabinrainforestlodge.com (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
  • Deluxe



Striped Wren-Babbler

Malaysian Blue Flycatcher



Bornean Ground-Cuckoo



Bornean Crested Fireback



Sabah Partridge




Bird hide at Utan Rainforest Lodge






View of the rainforest of Sabah




Day 13-14: Mt. Silam

Depart to Lahad Datu town then another 30 minutes drive to Mt. Silam bird hide in the afternoon for the Blue-banded Pitta, Rufous-tailed Shama including Orange-breasted Trogon and Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker etc along the trail. Overnight at Deleon Hotel.

Type of accommodations:

Standard



Blue-banded Pitta



Rufous-tailed Shama



Orange-breasted Trogon




Day 14: Kota Kinabalu

Morning birding at Mt. Silam then depart to Lahad Datu Airport after lunch for flight back to Kota Kinabalu. Upon arrival in Kota Kinabalu, transfer to the hotel. End of tours.

Type of accommodation:

Standard


Other wildlife could be seen during the trip:
  • Orang Utan
  • Bornean Grey Gibbon
  • Silver Leaf Monkey
  • Red Leaf Monkey
  • Long-tailed Macaque
  • Pig-tailed Macaque
  • Horsfield's Tarsier
  • Slow Loris
  • Bornean Pygmy Elephant
  • Salt water Crocodile
  • Proboscis Monkey


Orang Utan



Proboscis Monkey



Saltwater Crocodile



Silver Leaf Monkeys



Bornean Pygmy Elephants





Price RM 56068 for 2 pax (2025-2026) #



Extension trips ~ Optional :

 3 Days 2 Nights :
  • Mantanani Island - 3 species of Frigatebirds, Mantanani Scops-Owl, Pied and Grey Imperial Pigeon.


Custom made birding itinerary also available upon request

    Includes : English speaking bird guides, accommodations based on twin sharing, entrance fees at birding places and bird hides, meals as stated above, domestic flight from Lahad Datu to Kota Kinabalu, private river cruises and transportation on private basis.

    Excludes : International airfares, travel insurance, other meals, drinks, camera and video camera fees (if required) and personal expenses.


    For further information, pricing and specialized itinerary, contact :


    Jason Bugay Reyes
    Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, 
    Malaysia
    Tel : +60178205098

    eBird: https://ebird.org/profile/MzQ0MTM2/MY-12

    Xeno-canto: https://xeno-canto.org/contributor/EXRPOCMOXC

    Email: horukuru@gmail.com or horukuru@yahoo.com

    Visit my other birding blog for latest sighting and news of birds and other wildlife in Sabah at;
    https://jasonbugayreyes.blogspot.com



    Bird guide:

    Jason Bugay Reyes profile :

    Working as a registered bird guides (S0154) in Sabah and currently represents Swarovski Optik, Austria as an ambassador in promoting bird watching activity in Sabah.

    Images were published in Sepilok Bird Book, Nikon Vision Japan, Swarovski Optik Austria and promotional materials by Sabah Tourism Board mostly related with bird watching. Involved with Radio Televisyen Malaysia Kota Kinabalu (RTM) for documentary regarding birds in Sabah titled Sayap Borneo and were aired in November 2014

    A member of Borneo 500 Club and Sabah Bird Guides with current Bornean species at 552 birds.

    Specialized in Digiscoping ~ A concept of taking pictures and videos through spotting scopes connected with compact camera and DSLR by Nikon. Preferred Sony, Swarovski Optik and Think Tank Photo equipments for birding and photography with Apple machines for pictures editing.

    Other interest includes Sport Photography mostly in rugby and extreme sports

    References:

    Posted by at
    Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
    Location: Sabah, Malaysia
    Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)