Steve Happ Photography Ramblings and dissertations

Rainforest Discovery Center Sepilok.

31/01/2020. Morning. Up again nice and early and after breakfast wandered up the road to the Rainforest Discovery Center at Sepilok. I paid my money and followed the Kingfisher Trail, which wound through some jungle and creek areas. After that I went on to the Boardwalk and got some good photos with a little patience.

Little Green Pigeon (Treron olax)

Chestnut-winged Babbler (Stachyris erythroptera)

Lesser Green Leafbird (Chloropsis cyanopogon) – male

Fiery Minivet (Pericrocotus igneus)

Grey-bellied Bulbul (Pycnonotus cyaniventris)

Buff-rumped Woodpecker (Meiglyptes grammithorax)

Copper-throated Sunbird (Nectarinia calcostheta)

Orange-bellied Flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma)

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus curvirostris)

Green Iora (Aegithina virissima)

Spectacled Bulbul ( Pycnonotus erythrophthalmos )

Rainforest Discovery Center Sepilok bird list

Little Green Pigeon (Treron olax)
Chestnut-winged Babbler (Stachyris erythroptera)
Copper-throated Sunbird (Nectarinia calcostheta)
Puple-throated Sunbird (Nectarinia sperata)
Orange-bellied Flowerpecker (Dicaeum trigonostigma)
Green Iora (Aegithina virissima)
Grey-bellied Bulbul (Pycnonotus cyaniventris)
Spectacled Bulbul ( Pycnonotus erythrophthalmos )
Lesser Green Leafbird (Chloropsis cyanopogon)
Fiery Minivet (Pericrocotus igneus)
Buff-rumped Woodpecker (Meiglyptes grammithorax)
Chestnut-breasted Malkoha (Phaenicophaeus curvirostris)
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Black Hornbill
Pied Fantail Rhipidura javanica)
Scaly-breasted Munia ( Lonchura punctulata)
Crested Serpent Eagle
Ashy Tailorbird

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Rainforest Discovery Center

30/01/2020. Sepilok. Morning. I got up this morning just before 7am, then went down to have breakfast, which I spilt all over my pants, then set off down the road to the Rainforest Discovery Center at Sepilok. I think the road to the RDC is better than the actual rainforest. There were a few birds around but not as many as I had hoped. But nevertheless I got a good haul of good birds.

Copper-throated Sunbird (Nectarinia calcostheta)

Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja)

Purple-naped Sunbird (Hypogramma hypogrammicum)

Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis)

Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea)

Dusky Munia (Lonchura fuscans)

Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot (Loriculus galgulus)

maybe a Changeable Hawk-eagle

I don’t know.

Giant Tree squirrel ( Ratufa affinis sandakanensis)

Prevost’s Squirrel

Sepilok bird list

Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis)
Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea)
Dusky Munia (Lonchura fuscans)
Copper-throated Sunbird (Nectarinia calcostheta)
Purple-naped Sunbird (Hypogramma hypogrammicum)
Olive-backed Sunbird
Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja)
Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis)
Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot (Loriculus galgulus)
Red-headed Tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficaps) aka Ashy Tailorbird
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum)
Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker (Prionochilus maculatus)
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Cream-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus simplex)
Common Iora

tree lizard
GiantTree squirrel ( Ratufa affinis sandakanensis)
Prevost’s Squirrel

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Rainforest Discovery Center

30/01/2020. Sepilok. Morning. I got up this morning just before 7am, then went down to have breakfast, which I spilt all over my pants, then set off down the road to the Rainforest Discovery Center at Sepilok. I think the road to the RDC is better than the actual rainforest. There were a few birds around but not as many as I had hoped. But nevertheless I got a good haul of good birds.

Copper-throated Sunbird (Nectarinia calcostheta)

Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja)

Purple-naped Sunbird (Hypogramma hypogrammicum)

Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis)

Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea)

Dusky Munia (Lonchura fuscans)

Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot (Loriculus galgulus)

Changeable Hawk-eagle ( Nisaetus cirrhatus)

Thanks to Boas for help with the identification.

Giant Tree squirrel ( Ratufa affinis sandakanensis)

Prevost’s Squirrel

Sepilok bird list

Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis)
Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea)
Dusky Munia (Lonchura fuscans)
Copper-throated Sunbird (Nectarinia calcostheta)
Purple-naped Sunbird (Hypogramma hypogrammicum)
Olive-backed Sunbird
Crimson Sunbird (Aethopyga siparaja)
Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis)
Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot (Loriculus galgulus)
Red-headed Tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficaps) aka Ashy Tailorbird
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (Dicaeum cruentatum)
Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker (Prionochilus maculatus)
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Cream-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus simplex)
Common Iora
Changeable Hawk-eagle ( Nisaetus cirrhatus)

tree lizard
GiantTree squirrel ( Ratufa affinis sandakanensis)
Prevost’s Squirrel

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Sungai Kinabatangan six

27/01/202 Morning. Another boat ride up the river. Not many birds because it was a short one because we had to get back early to have breakfast and get on the bus to Sandakan.

Black Hornbill (Anthracoceros malayanus) – female

“The black hornbill (Anthracoceros malayanus) is a species of bird of the hornbill family Bucerotidae. It lives in Asia in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand.
It is the major seed disperser for Durio graveolens, a species of durian. The connection is strong enough to reflect in some of the common names for the fruit: The Kenyah and Dayak peoples call it durian anggang (lit. ‘hornbill durian’), and in Malay it is called durian burung” (wiki)

Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris)

Female and male.

Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis) – male

This is a really crap photo. Record shot only.

Kinabatangan River

Kinabatangan River bird list

Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis)
Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris)
Black Hornbill (Anthracoceros malay pnus)
Crested Myna (Acidotheres cristatellus)
Crested Serpent Eagle

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Sungai Kinabatangan Five

26/01/2020 Afternoon. I cannot remember what we did, it has been a few days since I took these photos. I guess we just took a boat ride up the river and into the side creek.

Helmeted Hornbill (Buceros vigil)

The Malay name is Burung tebang mentua.

Wrinkled Hornbill (Aceros corrugatus)

Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris)

Male and female.

Blue-eared Kingfisher (Alcedo meninting)

Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis lavartus)

Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus morio)

This Orangutan was building a nest in a palm oil tree on the edge of a plantation.

Kinabatangan River bird and animal list

Helmeted Hornbill (Buceros vigil) – Malay Burung tebang mentua
Wrinkled Hornbill (Aceros corrugatus)
Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris)
Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica)
Green Imperial Pigeon
Blue-eared Kingfisher (Alcedo meninting)

Saltwater Crocodile
Water Monitor

Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis lavartus)
Long-tailed Macaque
Pig-tailed Macaque
Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus morio)

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Sungai Kinabatangan Four

26/01/2020 Morning. It was hard getting out of bed this morning in the dark before 6am. And the coffee was crap. ugh. Not such a great morning but a couple of new birds and a Bearded Pig.

Storm’s Stork (Ciconia stormi)

Bushy-crested Hornbill (Anorrhinus galeritus)

Worst photo ever. ugh. Record shot only.

Olive-backed Sunbird (Nectarinia jugularis)

Bornean bearded pig (Sus barbatus)

“It can be recognized by its prominent beard. It also sometimes has tassels on its tail. It is found in Southeast Asia—Sumatra, Borneo, the Malay Peninsula, and various smaller islands like in Sulu archipelago such as Tawi-Tawi, where it inhabits rainforests and mangrove forests. The bearded pig lives in a family. It can reproduce from the age of 18 months, and can be cross-bred with other species in the family Suidae.” (wiki)

Silvery Lutung (Trachypithecus cristatus)

Also known as the Silver Langur or Silvered Leaf Monkey

Kinabatangan River bird and animal list

Storm’s Stork (Ciconia stormi)
Bushy-crested Hornbill (Anorrhinus galeritus)
Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris)
Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalus) Malay Tiong batu
Slender-billed Crow
Olive-backed Sunbird (Nectarinia jugularis)
White-bellied Sea-eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle
Purple Heron
Oriental Darter
Black-crowned Night Heron

Bornean bearded pig (Sus barbatus)
Proboscis Monkey
Silvery Lutung (Trachypithecus cristatus)

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Sungai Kinabatangan three

25/01/2020 pm. About 4pm we hopped in the boat again and headed down-stream. We nearly saw some more Orangutans, a mother and child, but they were too far back in the trees to get a good look at them. So we continued up the river and went into a smaller river. I was hoping to see some hornbills but such was not to be the case.

Green Imperial Pigeon (Ducula aenea)

Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela)

Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris)

Male and female side by side.

Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelogarpis capensis)

Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis lavartus) – female

Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis lavartus) – male

Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)

Kinabatangan River bird and animal list

Green Imperial Pigeon (Ducula aenea)
Purple Heron
Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela)
Brahminy Kite
Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris)
Little Egret
Great Egret
Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelogarpis capensis)

Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis lavartus)
Bornean Orangutan
Long-tailed Macaque

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Sungai Kinabatangan Two

25/01/2020 Morning. I woke up at 5:30am this morning and got ready for my morning boat ride along the Kinabatangan River. This morning we went up-stream and saw a few crocodiles and had a good look at some Pig-tailed Macaques. After breakfast we went for a walk through the jungle but did not see anything, except mosquitoes, which bit us.

White-bellied Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis)

Also known as the Great Black Woodpecker.

White-bellied Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis)

Blue-eared Kingfisher (Alcedo meninting)

Wrinkled Hornbill (Aceros corrugatus)

Storm’s Stork (Ciconia stormi)

Super bad photo. Too early in the morning. Record shot only.

Cinammon-headed Green-pigeon (Treron fulvicollis)

Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrima)

I think this is a male. He looks tough.

Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrima)

I would not like to argue with this brute.

Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)

kinabatangan bird and animal list

White-bellied Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis)
Blue-eared Kingfisher (Alcedo meninting)
Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis)
Wrinkled Hornbill (Aceros corrugatus)
Oriental Pied Hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris)
Storm’s Stork (Ciconia stormi)
Cinammon-headed Green-pigeon (Treron fulvicollis)
White-bellied Sea-eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle
Slender-billed Crow (Corvus enca)
Purple Heron

Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)
water Monitor (Varanus salvator )
Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrima)

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Sungai Kinabatangan One

I caught a minivan to Lahad Datu from Semporna and then another one to Kota Kinabatangan, where I had to wait about three hours for the bus to the Kinabatangan River. When we got there we registered at the Nature Lodge Kinabatangan and then after a short time, hopped in the boat for our first trip up the river. It was raining at first but it soon stopped and the sun came out and we had a lovely time. No birds, but lots of different monkeys.

Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus morio)

This is the Borneo Orangutan. The other orangutans are in Sumatra. They belong to the only genus of great apes native to Asia. Orangutans share about 97% or their DNA with humans. They stay by themselves and do not hang out in groups. This is a female, feeding on some figs.

Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis lavartus) -female

Proboscis Monkeys feed on vegetable matter. They are ruminants, like cows, and have four stomachs.

Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis lavartus) – male

The male has a big nose which is supposed to impress the ladies. The malay name is Monyet Belanda, or dutch monkey, probably referring to the big red alcoholic noses and fat bellies of the early colonisers.

Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis lavartus)

This young monkey is angry and telling us to go away.

Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrima)

They have a short curly tail, just like a pig.

Silvery Lutung (Trachypithecus cristatus)

I am not quite sure about the proper name yet. I tend to think of them as Langurs. But they do just eat leaves. Also known as the Silver Tipped Langur or Silvered Leaf Monkey. “The silvery lutung (Trachypithecus cristatus), also known as the silvered leaf monkey or the silvery langur, is an Old World monkey. … It has grey-tipped, dark brown or black fur, giving it a uniform silvery appearance. ” (wiki)

Water Monitor (Varanus salvator)

“The Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator), also called common water monitor, is a large varanid lizard native to South and Southeast Asia. It is one of the most common monitor lizards in Asia, ranging from Sri Lanka and coastal northeast India to Indochina, Malay Peninsula, and Indonesian islands where it lives close to water.” (wiki)

Wrinkled Hornbill (Aceros corrugatus)

Not many birds, so I have to put this one last, even though it is a tick. doh!

Sungai Kinabatangan animal list

Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis lavartus)
Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus morio)
Silvery Lutung (Trachypithecus cristatus)
Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis)
Pig-tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrima)
Water Monitor (Varanus salvator )

Wrinkled Hornbill (Aceros corrugatus)
Purple Heron
Oriental Darter

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Pulau Mabul

So from Tawau Hills I headed north for Semporna with my new Italian friend, Marco. We stopped at Semporna for the night, and in the morning jumped on a boat to get to Pulau Mabul, about one hour south-east from Semporna. It is a very small island, less than a kilometer long. It is filled with residents and scuba diving resorts. I went for one snorkelling dive but was not that impressed with the undersea scenery.

Rufous Night Heron ( Nycticorax caledonicus )

Doh, I got this one totally wrong, thanks Khaleb Yordan for the correct ID. Also called Nankeen Night Heron in Australia.

Rufous Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus) – juvenile

Waiting for an ID on this one. I am so stumped. Edit: got this one so wrong. doh!

Rufous Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus) – sub adult

An adult but which one? I cannot work it out. doh! Edit: sub-adult. Thanks Andrew for the ID.

Pacific Reef Egret ( Egretta sacra )

There were three dark morph Pacific Reef Egrets fly past me when I shot this. I am not sure if I saw any white morphs. I do not think so.

Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

We spotted this one on the walkway across the water. Thanks Marco for spotting him and pointing out that it came up for air at regular intervals.

Fruit Bat

I do not know what they ate. I did not see any fruit on the island. Maybe some flowering figs is all the information I can find.

Pulau Mabul bird list

Rufous Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus)
Great Egret
Pacific Reef Egret ( Egretta sacra )
Lesser Frigatebird (Fregata ariel)
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Olive-backed Sunbird (Nectarinia jugularis)
Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)
White-bellied Sea-eagle
Brahminy Kite
Asian Glossy Starling

Fruit Bat
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

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