Borneo for Bird's Wildlife & Nature - Day 2 - 4th June 2025

After a sultry night we headed out through town to catch a boat out to an offshore island in search of species more happy with the quieter life away from the hubbub of the mainland.  It was a somewhat bouncy crossing in our wooden rib but there were almost no birds to see anyway.  A Black-naped Tern was on a buoy as we undulated past and two more flew between the islands but that was it.  We docked on a beautiful sandy beach and were initially distracted by the fish in the crystal clear water as they fed around the pontoon.  There were some stunners with stripes in all directions and so much colour while huge Gar cruised the surface and Black-tipped Sharks slunk along the bottom.

Eastern Reef Egrets

Gar

Surf Parrotfish

We spent the next few hours walking the trails around the forested island.  Philippine Megapode was one key target and we heard several males at close range but despite trying, never saw one.  However, it was such a distinctive wail that reminded me of the winding down siren of an old American Police car.  Mangrove Whistlers were vocal and briefly seen – a non-descript bird but with some effort the Mangrove Blue Flycatchers were seen well although they very rarely stopped for more than a second or two.  Olive-winged Bulbuls were roving around with the Yellow-vented Bulbuls and Malaysian Pied Fantails flashed across the path, occasionally stopping to wag that tail. 

The skies were darkening and the wind was getting up and it was getting tricky to find anything but we still managed to locate Pied Trillers, Magpie-Robins and Rufous-tailed Tailorbird and both Ornate and Brown-throated Sunbirds but we wisely decided to head back to the mainland.  

Great Mormon

Crested Green Lizard

Pied Triller

Incoming

The journey back could best be described as an ‘experience’ as the wind had somewhat chopped things up and we might as well have been in the warm salty South China Sea rather than on it and spent the entire trip having bath tub after bath tub of water thrown over us.  Thankfully the shower cap protected my camera to some degree but two of the ladies cameras succumbed to the deluge – not a great start.  We tried to take a group pic when we got back but we were too wet to even unlock a phone!

We were taken back to the hotel to dry off and have lunch – I slept – before heading out again in the later afternoon to visit some nearby fishponds.  My camera was fogging up too and the switch from air con to such heart and humidity was not helping.  It did not hinder the birding. 

There were various Egrets and I was already getting the impression that the Great Whites out here were smaller and more slightly built than those back home and I seem to recall when in Japan, Dave talking about and showing us two forms. Our first Nankeen Night Herons were in the ditches and looked more impressive in flight when the entirely rufous wings were visible. 

Nankeen Night Heron through my fogged camera

There were Wandering Whistling Ducks and a variety of reed dwelling rails with White-breasted Waterhens, Black-backed Swamphen, the humble Common Moorhen and skittish White-browed Crakes.  Ruddy-breasted Crakes were somewhat less tied to the water and seemed quite happy running up and down the road where various small Doves and Munias fed.  Amongst the Munias were some Scaly-breasted and Yellow-bellied Prinias. Ashy Tailorbirds posed nicely and Collared Kingfishers patrolled the ponds and seemed to have a preference to perching up as high as possible. A Plaintive Cuckoo was calling but remained elusive but we did find a Plantain Squirrel and a pair of Common Ioras whilst looking for it.

Collared Kingfisher

Ruddy-breasted Crakes 

Ruddy-breasted Crakes 

A couple of Whiskered Terns were dip feeding and the dull and humid conditions seemed to be keeping the Swiftlets down low.  Without courting too much controversy, I was starting to feel that I could see differences between those around me.  The Plume-toeds were quite easy – tiny, blue-black above with pointy wings and a smudgy white belly but the others all seemed to fall within the Edible-nest complex with the paler and more obviously cream coloured rumped birds seeming to fall within the range of Germain’s Swiftlet which it suggests is the predominate coastal species – if it is even actually one!  I did not try and pin Lee down on Swiftlet id!

Whiskered Tern

Loved the local long-legged megachickens

One last stop (passing a Javan Myna on the way) at a public park and jogging track which I think was called Likas.  We said hello to a zillion healthy joggers perambulating their way around the tarmac circuit through the grass and trees and made our way down to a lake where a colony of Oriental Darters were clamouring in a huge tree while the three Egret species were loafing lower down.

Terminalia catappa - Jane loved the leaves - as did the Ants!

A couple of Purple Herons dropped into the Darter tree and an immature Black-crowned Night Heron was found in a tree further round the lake. Three Grey Rumped Treeswifts were cruising amongst the tiny Swiftlets making them look even smaller.  A Plaintive Cuckoo sung here too but we were lucky this time and actually got the scope on this dinky grey and cinnamon species as he sung from different canopy perches.  Finding these Asian cuckoos always seems to be tricky.

The sun was setting and we stickily made our way out for dinner before returning to the hotel.  However with two camera medical emergencies some of us headed out on a tour of late night electrical outlets and somehow managed to replace the two terminally ill Canon bridge cameras which would give the ladies a chance once again to capture holiday moments.