Another day in the rainforest

Arrived at Rainforest Discover Centre (RDC) at Sepilok, Sandakan -again! Cannot stop from coming here for photographing; there is this soul-healing peace , tranquility and beauty of Mother Nature that keeps me inspired and balanced - the blazing sun, the sound of rain, those amazing birds, beautiful trees and wild flowers and forest fruit, the great apes, Gibbons and unpredictable monkeys, the butterflies, the Dragon flies, the frogs, the snakes, the bats, the squirrels of all sizes - also that flying-one, all those weird, interesting-looking insects and  other "creatures",not to forget my not-yet discovered Slow Loris and that tiny, cute Tarsier  - never got enough of them!

Today, I'm welcomed by this curious, tiored-looking Long-tailed Macaque Monkey sitting on a tree branch at canopy walk-way...well, the night was pretty stormy, no wonder it's tired after well-deserved breakfast.

 

Walking further I meet other bird-photographers and some bird guides...lucky me, since soon we can get again a glimpse of that Bornean Endemic, Bornean Bristlehead (26 cm), that is no. 1 at every bird photographer's list here.  Even they fly high on the treetop, I manage to take that some kind of "record shot", somehow... 

Soon we can spot a group of Raffles's Malkohas (30 cm), with them, a new baby with slightly shaky legs taking one of its first learning trips with mum and pap.  Suddenly it drops down in front of me, crying desperately after its mother but soon understands how to fly over the fence of the canopy...really sweet and touching.  Soon other birds come around to see this new-comer.

 

 

 

Moving forward I can see a group of beautiful Blue-crowned Parrots upside-down (13 cm) in a fruiting tree, though quite far at distance from the canopy. 

 

 

 

Back to the trail!  Soon I can hear and see a noisy mixed flock of Hornbills high up on a tall tree - like a group of restless teenagers they seem to gather for hours, looks like there is this never-ending game of " who is the leader" going on.

 

 

 

...hope they settle the things fast, since there is always danger lurking around!  I heard that a couple of weeks ago one of the Hornbills was taken by a White-bellied Sea Eagle (70 cm) -poor fellow!

 

 

Near the Hornbill Tower, another predator is looking around and waiting for a chance for a meaty meal - a Crested Serpent Eagle (50 cm).  It looks straight into my blue eyes and does not care at all about my existence!

 

 

 

Walking down the Belian trail, a Black-naped Monarch (16 cm) emerges from the forest for a quick snack.

 

 

 

...and a Plaintive Cuckoo (21 cm) is quietly sitting on a tree branch, clearly planning something "fishy".

 

 

 

 

When arriving back to the "headquarters", a Copper-Throated Sunbird (13 cm) is making a quick round for that early-afternoon meal, just before the rain...

 

 

It's time to go home...

Please,
enjoy,
Paula Camilleri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Down the river...

Take a boat tour down the river- and seaside. Let the boat move slowly and observe the peaceful, guiet life around.  If it is a low-tide, you might be lucky enough to see hundreds of colorful crabs  moving on the riverbank; white, yellow, red, blue... you name it!

 

 

 

... and, maybe looking for those crabs, a group of Longtailed Macaque Monkeys could be wondering around the river bank.

 

 

 

 

Moving forward, and you could catch a glimbse of a curious Proboscis Monkey taking a rest high up on a  tree branch after an early breakfast.

 

 

 

 

 

...or a beautiful Egret perching on the river bank among the lush mangrove vegetation.

 

 

 

 

 

A very self-confident Stork-billed Kingfisher might just be sitting  quietly for ages observing it's 'kingdom"...

 

 

 

And a solitary Dollar bird could be calling it's mate high up on a hollow tree top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A "majestic" White-bellied  Sea Eagle might be sitting on a Rhu-tree branch looking for the next meal, hungry babies waiting in a huge nest nearby... 

 

 

 

 

Crusing forward, you might be surprised to see a tiny Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker feeding it's offspring on a hollow tree-branch .

 

 

 

 

 

A Brahminy Kite, hunting on higher grounds, just before the storm hits in...

 

 

 

 

 

 

...and just before you would turn the boat back home, you might be delighted by an Oriental Darter perching on the river bank - what amazing view!

 

 

 

What a great way to spend another day in Sandakan!

 

Enjoy,

 

Paula Camilleri 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(all rights reserved) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sights and sounds of the rainforest at RDC, Sepilok...

After a short holiday in native Europe it's time to return to the rainforest...

Immediately I'm welcomed by a noisy flock of Bushy-crested Hornbills ( 68 cm), flying high from a tree to another and calming down only in a couple of hours when finding some irresistible, tasty looking berries.

 

 

As usual, down the Kingfisher trail my "old friend", Little Spiderhunter (16 cm) is feeding on Banana- and Ginger flowers.

 

 

 

 

...and up on a tree branch a Black-and-Crimson Pitta (15 cm) is giving me a welcome whistle, proudly showing off its beautiful plumage - maybe looking for a lady friend?

 

 

 

 

Down the Ridge trail, one Yellow-Eared Spiderhunter (18 cm)  is still busy finding

 "something juicy" for  breakfast. 

 

 

 

 

And, near the Woodpecker avenue, a fast Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike (15 cm) emerges from the forest to have a quick look around...

 

 

 

 

After a short walk, near the Trogon bypass, I have to stop to listen to the tapping sound of that mysterious Rufous Piculet woodpecker (10 cm) - busy, as always 'minding its own business".  

 

 

 

 

When arriving at the Hornbill tower, I meet a flock of Buff-necked Woodpeckers (21 cm) drumming and chattering around, flying from a tree to another for a fast meal before an occational rain shower.

 

 

 

 

Near by, a Banded Woodpecker (23 cm) is taking a short break after an early breakfast...

 

 

 

 

 

...while a very shy Orange-backed Woodpecker (30 cm) is still busy filling up the tummy!

 

 

 

 

Life as usual in the rainforest!

 

Please, enjoy,

 

Paula Camilleri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A big roar from Mother Nature at RDC, Sepilok, Sandakan, Sabah!

The annual Borneo Bird Festival is far behind, but we can still record  the excitement of birdwatchers and bird photographers from various Asian countries , as well as from increasing  local community, who joined this great event this year, some touring around and having fun with it! We had important supportive guests,  nature-lovers from all-over the world, food-stalls, souvenir-shops, we had coloring competitions for children, fun-games for all, photo-competitions, main-stream camera- and lens manufacturers showing their latest gear, some seriously interesting lectures of bird-behaviour of those mysterious Pittas and lovely Hornbills among others, and of''course, we had the bird-race!  And everybody is looking forward to next year's event...specially those, who still did not get a photo of that special Borneo- endemic Bornean Bristlehead!

...anyway, back to the rainforest, and what did I discover this time?

An Oriental Pied Hornbill in that tall beautiful tree at the canopy level at RDC...

One cute Black-and-Yellow Broadbill hunting for a meal down the road...

One tiny, tired-looking Brown-throated Sunbird feeding the "giant" Violet Cuckoo baby. Feeling sorry for the host, but the baby is crying and it is very hungry, indeed!

 

 

Another baby crying...A purple-naped Sunbird is feeding it's baby in a secret corner at the mid- canopy level.

 

 

 

A new Babbler residence!  How I love these little active Chestnut-winged Babblers, always busy with something...

 

 

It's a Babbler time...finally got it!

 

It is hard to photograph this fast-moving Black-capped Babbler, when it "roams" on the ground, turning leaves in a search for hiding meal.

 

 

 

Down the Kingfisher trail, a White-crowned Shama is making veird and mysterious moves...

 

 

 

And, nearby, the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo is taking refreshing bath in a cooling stream...

 

 

 

 

Enjoy!

 

 

Paula Camilleri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, what's been happening at RDC lately?

...Just walking down my favourite path...

this tiny, cute Black-and-Yellow Broadbill (15cm) arrives near me, soon followed by my old friend Black-and-Red Broadbill (23cm), both getting busy as usual, looking for food, then afterwards, just relaxing and grooming; their beautiful cousin Banded Broadbill (21cm) hiding somewhere in the rainforest, maybe in homebuilding activities?

 

 

Ah, there they are again!  In just last couple of weeks I have seen this Dollarbird couple (28cm) hanging around in high treetops near the Keruing Cafe, looking around and listening...maybe just curious about what's happening in the rainforest right now, or maybe looking for a suitable new home?

 

 

...when nearby, the Blue-throated Bee-eaters (28cm) are testing teir flying abilities and catching the food in flight.

 

 

 

The Red-bearded Bee-eaters (30 cm) have their new baby trained for the future jungle activities and can relax now in the afternoon sun.

 

 

 

 

 

The Lesser Green Leafbirds (16 cm) are keeping active on the leafy canopy...

 

 

 

and the Black Magpie (38 cm) couple is finally out from the jungles, clearly ready for the new season.

 

 

 

The cute Little Spiderhunter (15 cm), busy as usual in its favourite spot for nectar...

 

 

 

 

and the tiny Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker (9cm) is looking for a friend between the food sourcing activities.

 

 

 

There are now new babies for the Brown Barbets family...all ready for the new adventures!

 

 

 

So, life as usual in the rainforest!

 

See you at the annual Borneo Bird Festival at RDC, Sepilok, Sandakan this weekend!

 

Enjoy,

 

Paula Camilleri