Borneo, the world’s third-largest island, is one of our planet’s most biodiverse avian areas with over 50 island endemics found across pristine dipterocarp forests, montane cloud forests, riverine habitats, and also mangrove swamps. On this small-group Bird-Photo-Tour to the East Malaysian State of Sabah on the Island of Borneo, we will aim to setup close photographic encounters with some stunning families of birds including Pittas / Trogons / Kingfishers / Pheasants / Partridges / Hornbills / Broadbills / Bee-eaters / Owls / Frogmouths / Thrushes / Sunbirds / Barbets / Woodpeckers and Bulbuls.
Broadbills: Whitehead’s Broadbill / Black-and-Yellow Broadbill / Black-and-Red Broadbill
Kingfishers: Banded Kingfisher / Blue-eared Kingfisher / Stork-billed Kingfisher / Rufous-collar Kingfisher
Partridges: Crimson-headed Partridge / Red-breasted Partridge / Crested Partridge
Pheasants: Bulwer's Pheasant / Borneo Peacock Pheasant / Bornean Crested Fireback
Hornbills / Frogmouths: Large Frogmouth / Bornean Frogmouth / Blyth's Frogmouth / Rhinoceros Hornbill / White-crowned Hornbill / Wrinkled Hornbill
Pittas / Trogons: Blue-banded Pitta / Blue-headed Pitta / Black-crowned Pitta / Whitehead’s Trogon / Diard’s Trogon / Red-naped Trogon
Guiding Fees / Ground Transportation / Accommodation / Meals / Entrance Fees / Tipping for Drivers, Boatsmen, Hotel and Restaurant Staff.
International Flights / VISA Fees / Travel Insurance / Tips for Local Guide / Alcohol / Laundry / Items of a Personal Nature
Day 1 Kota Kinabalu District [1N / 0D, 1S]. Arrive in Kota Kinabalu for one afternoon photo session. Photographic Targets: Blue-naped Parrot / Javan Sparrow / Western Hooded Pitta.
Days 2-4 Tambunan District [2N / 1D / 4S]. Drive 2-hours to Tambunan District. Photographic targets: Crimson-headed Partridge / Red-breasted Partridge / Bulwer’s Pheasant / Orange-headed Thrush / Bornean Banded Pitta / Crested Partridge.
Day 4-7 Ranau District [3N / 2D / 6S]. Drive 2-hours to Ranau District. Photographic Targets: Whitehead’s Trogon / Whitehead’s Broadbill / Whitehead’s Spiderhunter / Bornean Treepie / Everett’s Thrush / Mountain Black-eye / Fruit-hunter / Golden-naped Barbet / Pale-faced Bulbul / Bornean Green Magpie / Indigo Flycatcher.
Days 7-9 Beluran District [2N / 1D / 4S]. Drive 2-hours to Beluran District. Photographic Targets: Bornean Peacock-Pheasant / Bornean Crested Fireback.
Days 9-12 Sandakan District [3N / 2D / 6S]. Drive 2-hours to Sandakan District. Photographic Targets: Black-and-Yellow Broadbill / Diard’s Trogon / Red-naped Trogon / Rufous-collar Kingfisher / Rufous-backed Kingfisher / Black-crowned Pitta.
Days 12-14 Kinabatangan District [2N / 1D / 4S]. Drive 2-hours to Kinabatangan District. Photographic Targets: Rhinoceros Hornbill / White-crowned Hornbill / Wrinkled Hornbill / Storm’s Stork / Large Frogmouth / Oriental Bay Owl / Blue-eared Kingfisher / Stork-billed Kingfisher.
Days 14-16 Tawau District [2N / 1D / 3S]. Drive 4-hours to Tawau District. Photographic Targets: Blue-banded Pitta / Blue-headed Pitta / Banded Kingfisher.
Day 17 Kota Kinabalu District [0N / 0D / 0S]. Depart Tawau Airport for flight to Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur.
[Key: N: Night / D: Full Day / Session: Half-Day]
Liew is a nature lover who enjoys photographing the natural world in all its glory from landscapes to flora and fauna. Liew started enjoying birds twenty years ago through the prism of his camera and has since become a reputable bird photographer graduating from using a 200mm lens to a 100-400mm lens onto a large 600mm. With patience and significant time spent in the field photographing birds, Liew is now one of our top bird photography guides in Peninsular Malaysia with a portfolio of images that includes the rare Malayan Rail Babbler, Giant Pitta and Garnet Pitta. Outside of Peninsular Malaysia, Liew is widely travelled in Borneo, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam and Sri Lanka. Liew is an experienced bird photography guide who can not just provide expertise in finding and locating the birds of Peninsular Malaysia but can also provide photographic expertise too.
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: Eastern
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(i) The guesthouses are all in close proximity to the bird photography locations (ii) Walking is at a light pace (iii) There is no requirement to hike nor climb. (iv) None of the locations are at altitude (v) There is no camping.
