September 2026

John and I attended Carl Chapman’s Memorial Celebration along with many other Norfolk birders and wildlife enthusiasts at Cley Visitor Centre. It was good to see so many faces that we have not seen for a long time who will all miss Carl for his input into the wildlife scene in Norfolk. He was so good at sharing his passion and educating people in the love of nature. Tania, Simon Barnes and Tony Leech gave excellent speeches about Carl and I know we shall all miss him. R.I.P. Carl.

John and I then drove down to Heathrow where we spent the night in an airport hotel.

John and I flew to Kuala Lumpur, in Malaysia.

John and I flew from Kuala Lumpur to Kotu Kinabalu, where we were met by Annie and Jerry who took us to the Holiday Inn for a quich shower and change before spending the afternoon in a cafe catching up with each other. We then had a delightful evening meal and discussed the coming days’ events.

We were up at 4am and drove to Gunung Alab where we stopped at a roadside house where there was a balcony overlooking the jungle valley. There we watched many birds at dawn catching the moths that had landed on the white sheets that had been hung out overnight. Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrushes and Sunda Laughingthrushes joined in the feast of moths along with Bornean Treepie, Bornean Green Magpie, Little Pied Flycatchers, White-throated Fantail and Grey-throated Babblers. We also watched Eyebrowed Jungle Flycatcher, Yellow-breasted Warbler, Chestnut-crested Yuhinia, White-browed Shrike-babbler and Snowy-browed Flycatcher. A Bornean Whistler suddenly appeared as Plume-toed Swiflets flew overhead. A Mountain Tailorbird appeared before we were called over to see a Golden-naped Barbet that was hiding in the trees.

A Bornean Leafbird flew in, a lifer for me as we watched a Sunda Scimitar Babbler. Back by the lookout we saw a Temminck’s Sunbird and a Black-capped White-eye before descending the steps to a hide to see a pair of Crimson-headed Partridges feasting on some seed.

We had a cup of tea and added Mountain Barbet and Penan Bulbul, before jumping in the car to drive up the track to see Bornean Shortwing and Bornean Stubtail. Eventually we left and drove to Tambunan where we unloaded our luggage at the hotel and had a few hours rest before setting out to Trusmadi. The higher elevation saw us adding Oriental Magpie-Robin, Ashy Drongo, Pacific Swallow, Golden-faced Barbet, Bornean Brown Bulbul, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Thick-billed Green Pigeon, Bornean Barbet, Yellow-bellied Prinia and Verditer Flycatcher

We were up for 4.30am and drove to the Trusmadi Hide where we walked up a steep bank to reach the hide. Once inside and settled down we were soon watching the birds come and go. We added Crocker Jungle Flycatcher, a lifer for me, White-crowned Shama, Rufous-chested Flycatcher and another lifer of Dayak Blue Flycatcher to our list. After an hour and a half Annie spotted a Bulwer’s Pheasant coming down through the steep vegetated bank and got us all on to it. It took its time and eventually came out and posed for us for a short while before scuttling back up the hillside. It did this another two times over a couple of hours, at one time being photobombed by a Bornean Banded Pitta!!!! What a sight this was!

There were many Crested Partridges present and colour was added by two Orange-headed Thrushes.

We returned to the hotel to revel in the morning we had just enjoyed consumed a picnic before driving to the Gunung Alab Hide once again where we saw two Mountain Wren-Babblers and a Mountain Leaf Warbler which was new for our lists.

We were up for 5.30am and after teas and coffees saw a Long-tailed Shrike and Green Imperial Pigeon in the car park of the hotel before we drove to Trusmadi once again.  Here we saw a few additions to our list including: Crested Honey-buzzard, Chestnut Munia, several Little Spiderhunters, Sunda Cuckooshrike, Black-and-crimson Oriole in flight before a Black-and-yellow Broadbill flew into a tree and posed for a photograph. A Lesser Cuckooshrike flew over the road before we started to make our way back down hill and watched a small flock of Dusky Munias in the roadside vegetation.

We drove to Tambunan and called in at Tambunan Country Club where we saw a Common Sandpiper, a flock of Asian Glossy Starlings, Asian Palm Swifts and a Crimson Sunbird. It was now very hot and we went to a café for some refreshments before checking out of the hotel.

After leaving Telupid in Borneo we headed for Kinabalu National Park where we managed some birding before lunch. The cloud base was very low giving a misty atmosphere as we drove up to the entrance gate, stopping for Annie to obtain the lanyard giving us special permission to go birding in the park and to drive up to the top gate. Once Annie had the lanyard we started to drive but soon came to a stop as John had spotted a Bornean Forktail in one of the gullies. We stopped to admire it and then continued to the top gate. On the platform we admired a Least Pygmy Squirrel as well as a Black-sided Flowerpecker and an Aberrant Bush-warbler. We walked down a short section of the hill where we chanced upon a flock of birds adding Hair-crested Drongo before suddenly two Checker–throated Woodpeckers appeared, which I was delighted at seeing as these were a life tick for me.

After a delightful lunch, we garnered some information about where we could see Whitehead’s Trogon and Whitehead’s Spiderhunter but after a short while, we were beaten by thunder and rain and took shelter in the restaurant where we had drinks until the rain had stopped.

In the poor light at dusk we added Whitehead’s Broadbill and Bornean Whistling Thrush before retiring to the Kinabalu Pine Resort for the night.

After a good breakfast at the Kinabalu Pine Resort Jerry, Annie, John and I made our way back up to the top gate of Kinabalu National Park where the porters were all getting ready to carry all the goods on their backs up the mountain for the visitors, who were making the climb to the top of the mountain. It was a fascinating hive of activity. Unfortunately for us the target of Pale-faced Bulbuls were nowhere in sight. We cut our losses and drove back down to kilometre one and started our search for the Whitehead’s Trogon. We noted Indigo Flycatcher, Grey-chinned Minivet and Velvet-fronted Nuthatch before taking a break for coffees and hot chocolates.

During this time Annie found out that the Giant Pitta had been seen at the Kinabantangan bird hide. Panic set in for us all as arrangements were hastily rearranged for us to make our way across to Sukau junction for the night this afternoon, which gave us a couple of hours to continue our search for the Whitehead’s Trogon. Annie and I wandered up the road whilst John and Jerry took the lower part of the stretch of road. Luckily for me, Annie saw the trogon sitting, dangling its tail and I managed to see the Whitehead’s Trogon just as it took off and flew right before landing again and then dropping down. It started to rain and we made our way back to the car, collected our luggage form the Kinabalu Pine Resort and started our 4 hour drive to our homestay, stopping en route for some lunch in Ranau.

Annie very kindly brought us a cup of tea and coffee at 4.30am so we loaded up our luggage into the car and drove to Kinabatangan Bird Hide half an hour away. Here we were greeted by our host and loaded into the back of the jeep for the short journey up the track to the start of the trail to the bird hide. John and I needed some poles to negotiate the short sections of the steep jungle trail to the hide through the palm oil plantations. We were first to arrive in the large hide with 15 chairs and made ourselves comfortable as we assembled our binoculars and cameras ready for the wait for the main action of the long anticipated nail-biting event. John and I were both anxious if we would ever be lucky enough to see the elusive Giant Pitta that many of the top world listers still have to see.

We arrived at the hide at 6.15 and heard the pitta calling in response to a tape being played. We were joined by birders from all over the world that had also flown in to see the Giant Pitta. Within half an hour this big blue bird came and sat on a log near the front side of us. We could not believe that we were looking at the mythical Giant Pitta. Emotion took over and we all had a hug! Result! Thanks to Jerry and Annie for keeping their finger on the pulse and re-making the arrangements for us. Twitching at its best!

The Giant Pitta did not stay long and we enjoyed watching a Ruddy Kingfisher and a Yellow-bellied Bulbul. A Rufous-backed Dwarf Kingfisher also sat and posed when the Giant Pitta reappeared but this time it came right in front of us picking up the mealworms. Jerry tried to distract me with a Bornean Black-capped Babbler but you can imagine my response with a Giant Pitta right in front of me posing for a photograph! (Sorry Jerry!) A Banded Kingfisher joined the party as did a Rufous-collared Kingfisher. Four spectacular kingfishers and a Giant Pitta! Birding at its best! All of a sudden several Sabah Partridges joined the party as a Purple-naped Spiderhunter flitted around along with an Ashy Tailorbird.

The pitta left the arena and so did we but whilst waiting for the jeep we watched a Crested Serpent Eagle sat in a tree above us. Back in the car Jerry drove us back to Kinabalu, stopping for lunch en route before a good evening meal back at the Kinabalu Pine Resort where we spent the night. What a day! 

We were up for 4am as Jerry had made arrangements with Ali to take us up Swine Hill to look for Friendly Bush Warbler. We climbed up a very steep hill after a jeep ride but sadly despite all our efforts and listening to the bird when we arrived, we failed to see it. On the way up and down we watched six Grey Wagtails flying over along with a lifer of Bornean Swiftlet. We returned back to the Kinabalu Pine Resort for breakfast and packed our bags before birding in the park where we added Dark Hawk-Cuckoo to the trip list but saw little else except a Snowy-browed Flycatcher posing.

Jerry drove us back to Kota Kinabalu where we enjoyed a good meal together before checking in to the Holiday Inn for the night.

After a leisurely breakfast with Jerry and Annie in the hotel, John, Jerry, Annie and I got a couple of taxis to the airport at Kota Kinabalu and caught a flight to Lahad Datu, Borneo.

14^th September

We left the hotel at 7.30am and drove to the Tower of Heaven entrance to Danum Valley Conservation Area where we met up with Kai again and drove to the bird hide. We settled in and looked through the holes in the netting at the logs in front of us. Kai put out some mealworms which soon attracted a White-crowned Shama which we watched for quite some time before being joined by a Short-tailed Babbler and a couple of Grey-breasted Jungle Flycatchers. Later a Bornean Black-capped Babbler joined in the feast as did a Rufous-tailed Shama. We stayed until 11am when we left for some refreshments back in Lahad Datu until 2.30pm when we left again for a second session in the hide.

After a leisurely, rather decadent breakfast we were picked up in a minibus taxi and driven to Sepilok Rainforest Resort where I enjoyed a swim in the very warm swimming pool set in the forest. After a quick shower I joined Annie, Jerry and John and went birding in the lodge grounds where we saw a Brown-throated Sunbird, a fly-by Cinnamon-headed Pigeon, a small flock of Long-tailed Parakeets, a pair of sitting Pink-necked Green Pigeons, a Coppersmith Barbet and an Ornate Sunbird which were all added to our lists.

We all enjoyed some drinks and a delightful meal in the lodge restaurant before a taxi picked us up for night walk put on by a local guide from the Sepilok Jungle Resort for the tourists. We joined 14 others and set out in the dark and soon saw an Oriental Pied Hornbill in his torchlight followed by a pair of Blue-eared Kingfishers at roost. Unfortunately a thunder storm started and we had to abandon the walk as we were getting drenched and returned back to our lodge for the night.

John, Annie, Jerry and I had a leisurely breakfast sitting on the open deck of Sepilok Rainforest Resort in the warmth of the morning watching a Long-tailed Macaque getting shooed away by a member of staff. All too soon it was time to load up our bags into the taxis that took us to Sandikan airport for our flight to Kuala Lumpur. Whilst waiting for our flight we saw several Brahminy Kites sitting on the airport surrounds.

By late afternoon after an uneventful flight we were all ensconsed in The Holiday Inn before going out for an evening meal together.

After a late leisurely breakfast we boarded the shuttle bus from the hotel and arrived at Sandakan airport where we boarded a 3 hour flight to Denpsar in Bali. After a long wait for my suitcase to arrive we managed to pass through immigration and customs without any problems after Jerry and Annie managed to negotiate the online immigration visa for us during breakfast and sending us the customs clearance to my phone. However Jerry had trouble at the e-gate which Annie eventually solved. We loaded up our suitcases into a hired car and Jerry drove us to their home in Ubid where we spent the night.

We were up for 6am and driven to the Royal Botanical Gardens at Bedugul in Bali where we saw Olive-backed Tailorbird, Javan Flowerpecker, Javan Helia, Collared Kingfisher, Cresent-chested Babbler, Tenggarra Whistler, Freckle-breasted Woodpecker and Flame-fronted Barbet which were new for our trip besides other birds which we had seen in Borneo.

Our luch was taken at Lake Buyan where we watched several Javan Pond Herons and Moorhens before driving to Banyuwedang. Here we had numerous waders in the searing heat including the lifer of Javan Plover. Other waders included: Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Redshank, Greenshank, Tibetan Sand Plover, Long-toed Stint and Whimbrel. Whilst watching these we saw Pied Stilt, Purple Heron, Cerulean Kingfisher, Zitting Cisticola, Blue-tailed Bee-eater and Little Tern. We walked along a bund and Annie found a Savanna Nightjar and Golden-bellied Gerygone. Meanwhile Jerry found an Oriental Plover which we walked over to see and found three more. We also saw a Sunda Collared Dove. It was lovely birding. Jerry drove us to Menjanggan Jetty where we saw many Bali Mynas sitting in trees.

Later we joined the absolutely chaotic queues for the Javan ferry where we queued for nearly six hours before the 15 minute crossing to Java and then had to wait for another ½ hour to berth the ferry in the harbour. We eventually arrived at our hotel around midnight in east Java, Indonesia.

After a lovely hotel breakfast we drove to Baluran National Park where we saw Green Peafowl and Green Junglefowl at the side of the road. It was extremely hot and we suffered in the heat. We stopped in the shade and I stepped inside the forest for a comfort stop and heard a Javan Banded Pitta calling. Annie had also heard it. After sheer determination and quick eyes Annie located it but sadly John and I missed it. Jerry also had a brief view of it, so we crept inside the dry deciduous forest, tripping over many tree roots and tried to hide as best we could. Eventually the Javan Banded Pitta ran across in front of us before briefly stopping, turned around and ran back again. We also saw a Javan Black-capped Babbler here too thanks to Annie’s perseverance.

We continued on down to the beach where we stopped for some refreshments and to sit some of the heat out watching a Lesser Adjutant Stork and Long-tailed Macaques foraging on the beach. Later we drove back to the forest and added Red-rumped Swallow and Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike to our lists.

We drove up the Mount Ijen and stopped on a bridge where we saw a pair of Blue Whistling-Thrushes on the river below before checking into the Grand Harvest Resort for the next two nights.

We were up at 4.45am for a session in the lower bird hide on Mount Ijen as it got light. As we set off from the resort we saw a few Javan Munias before we met up with Sam, climbed the mountainside and pulled into a layby as many Javan Minivets flew over and landed in the trees above us. Annie, Jerry, John and I followed Sam along a jungle trail and settled into the hide once we sorted out somewhere to sit. We soon added Javan Whistling Thrush to our lists as well as many birds that we had seen in Borneo.

Our time was soon up and we drove back to the resort for breakfast, noting Striated Grassbird en route. After a substantial breakfast we headed back up the mountain once again and we entertained by a mountain bike event that had been carved out alongside the road in the forest. Jerry pulled into a clearing where we saw Sunda Warbler and Javan Scimitar Babbler before walking to another bird hide that had been recently constructed. Here we watched two Scaly Thrushes as well as Pied Shrike-Babbler, Trilling Shrike-Babbler, White-bellied Fantail, Pale Blue Flycatcher, Javan Bulbul and Lesser Shortwing from just outside the hide.

We headed back down the mountainside for some refreshments before making our way to the lower bird hide once again, as Sam recommended that it was good in the afternoon. After a bit of a wait a Javan Banded Pitta came hopping in after Annie had put out some mealworms. We had stunning views of it as the cameras clicked away! Soon after, about a dozen Grey-breasted (White-faced Partridges) ran through the clearing in front of us. Once again we had been extremely fortunate and we can’t thank Jerry and Annie enough.

We returned to the Grand Harvest Resort where we enjoyed another lovely meal together.

We were up at 5am for a 6am breakfast, packed our bags before driving up Mount Ijen where John soon had a Little Barbet for us to look at. We were lucky as a flock of birds came through which included Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Blue Nuthatch and a couple of Javan Leafbirds which flew in. We were also lucky to see a Black-banded Barbet which sat and posed for us. Jerry drove u s further up the hill when Annie spotted a Wreathed Hornbill flying over. We watched a Checker-throated Woodpecker (Javan Yellownape) make its way up a tree before Jerry suggested we drove up to the mast as Annie said this would be a good spot to see some raptors. She wasn’t wrong, as we saw a pair of Javan Hawk-Eagles soaring. Little did we know we were to see two others shortly after, back down the hill. Annie’s superb ability at bird-finding also spotted the Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon that had been calling here too, hidden in the tree top.

Time was marching on and we drove back down the hill, for a refreshment break, stopping for some other opportunities to add to our list. We pulled in a spot by the road and added White-flanked Sunbird before stopping once again at a little bridge where once again Annie’s eagle eyes spotted a Sunda Forktail not far from the spot that a Blue Whistling Thrush was occupying. All too soon it was time to join the queue for the ferry back to Bali. We queued for several hours and eventually got on the ferry at 3pm for the short crossing, watching Great Crested Terns,  a Common Tern, Bulwer’s Petrels and a Brown Booby.

After disembarking we drove to the Menjangang Resort passing a Chestnut-headed Bee-eater and a Green Junglefowl. We sat on the decking after checking in and enjoyed a wonderful meal together in the tropical warmth of the evening, listening to the sea lapping against the shore beneath us.

I had a later start today as John had gone birding and I made the most of sitting on the decking looking out at a tropical sea in the warm with my cup of tea. Absolute bliss! Annie, Jerry and John returned for breakfast and I then joined them before John and I walked down to the jetty at the Menjangang resort and boarded our boat that was going to take us snorkeling for the morning after fitting us up with flippers and a snorkel mask.

We sailed out towards some islands for half an hour before jumping over the side and snorkelled on a reef surrounding the island. There were so many wonderfully coloured beautiful fish of every shape and size beneath us in the warm sea. We swam around with our snorkel guide and then moved to another island for two hours. It was just magical as we admired all the fish and a Hawksbill Turtle. All too soon we returned to the resort where we packed our bags and had lunch on the decking overlooking the reserve, passing Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters en route, before Jerry drove us back to his home at Ubud, Bali.

By 10.15am John, Annie, Jerry and I were at Benoa Harbour meeting up with Scott Squires and Ye Wint Phyoe overlooking the bridge onto the mud as the tide was just beginning to fall. It was seriously hot and I had far too much clothing on. I cursed at my choice of clothes as I sweated in the sun. We followed along the fenceline following Scott, until we found a way through the mangroves and rubbish, until we could see the exposed mud. We quickly picked out a Far Eastern Curlew to John’s delight as this was the reason we came here as he needed it for his list. Yeh Yeh picked out a Silver Gull, a sixth record for Bali lurking between two mangrove bushes at a great distance in the heat haze. It took off and I managed some quick photos of it.

Great Knot were feeding on the mud along with Tibetan Sand Plover, Javan Plover, Greater Sand Plover and Red Knot. We also noted Redshank, Greenshank, Grey Plover, Pacific Golden Plover, Eurasian Curlew and Whimbrel on the mud. Sacred Kingfisher and Collard Kingfisher flew in and sat in the mangrove bushes as we noted Gull-billed Tern, Whiskered Tern and Australian Tern sitting on the mud at a great distance in the heat haze.

Annie heard a Racket-tailed Treepie calling and taped it out for me to see as I had missed it at Menjangang. It was now exceedingly hot and we returned to the vehicles to cool down with the air-conditioning on and I could change into something cooler (if not quite appropriate for birding!)

Jerry drove us to Nusa Dua Water Treatment Plant. Sewage works are always a delight!!!! Here we saw Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Purple Heron, Javan Pond Heron, White-breasted Waterhen and a White-browed Crake. Annie and I walked further around the perimeter of the sewage ponds and saw a Coppersmith Barbet as well as an Asian Water Monitor.

A short drive further on we watched Lesser Frigatebirds chasing Great Crested Terns from the beach and I enjoyed a paddle in the sun. Later we all enjoyed a Japanese meal together in Ubud.

Annie and I were booked in for a massage and a facial at the spa just above their home to relieve some of the neck strains of the last few weeks. Jerry was kind enough to drive us there. We drove up their lane and were just in time to see a Black-winged Kite fly over the other side if the road.

After a relaxing afternoon catching up with some admin, Jerry, Annie, John and I shared a final evening meal out together before our departure for home, sharing our highlights of the wonderful trip that we had all enjoyed. Pittas, ground-cuckoos and pheasants enjoyed the top 5 spots for our highlights of the trip, but I don’t think any of us will forget the moment at the café Kinabalu when Annie leapt out of her seat and yelled ‘ It’s there! lets go!’ referring to the Giant Pitta that had graced the Kinabatang birdhide on 9^th September, meaning that our plans were rapidly altered for Jerry to drive as soon as possible, for us to be in place in the hide for early morning the following day waiting for our amazing views of the amazing Giant Pitta. How lucky we all were thanks to Jerry and Annie!

Annie, Jerry, John and I enjoyed a good breakfast at a local café before Jerry kindly drove us to the airport on Bali. We thanked Jerry and Annie for their hospitality and company throughout our lovely holiday together and promised to return one day.  We boarded a flight to Kuala Lumpur and then an overnight flight to Heathrow.

John and I arrived at Heathrow early in the morning and had an uneventful journey home.

Norfolk has obviously had lots of rain since I have been away as I was surprised to see my dead lawn was now luscious green and had grown far more than I had expected. I had to come back down to earth with a bump and got the lawn mower out to cut the lawn, whilst the washing was on and was joined by a little Robin who enjoyed some grubs that I had disturbed. I don’t suppose a Giant Pitta will be hopping around my lawn looking for mealworms!

Suffering from jetlag, I was up early to sort out my pond vegetation and to renew most of the water that had become very murky with blanket weed which was not good for the fish. This is now a much easier job after a new pipe was installed and saves me bailing out with a bucket. I was disappointed to find many holes in the netting though and was not too sure what had caused them. Some new netting will be required!

Whilst I was tackling this, a Pied Wagtail came and sat on my neighbour’s TV aeriel and sang its dear little heart out. My little Robin also kept me company. While I was watching the wagtail I noticed that my friend had finished painting my upstairs paintwork on my extension. What a good job he has made of it! Thanks Glenn!

I spent the day at home writing up my Borneo trip report which can now be seen on this website.

I was up for 4.15am to get myself down to Snettisham RSPB where I was volunteering for the next round of Wader Spectaculars that the RSPB run. I met up with Ryan in the RSPB car park and was asked to be on the crossbank so that I could direct visitors where to go to get the best view. It was still dark and cold when I arrived. It didn’t take long for the first visitors to arrive and they tentatively walked up the seabank. Les arrived soon after. I was kept busy answering questions as dawn broke. Soon many visitors arrived and were directed to the watch point.

Eventually I found some time to watch a few Dunlin, Turnstone, and Ringed Plovers roosting at the water’s edge as the tide came in, as well as a Little Egret fishing for its breakfast in the pits.

Hayley collected my radio and I stopped to admire the waders all in flight. The sun appeared for a few minutes and made their plumage gleam, as they took to the air when the very high tide covered all the mud in The Wash.

I drove up to  Rotary Hide and joined Marcus and his group after checking all was well in Shore Hide. Together we watched the displays of waders wheeling around over the pits but the birds did not settle as usual. It was a magical sight.

Eventually I returned back home where I uploaded my Borneo trip report to my website.

Once again I had to be up early to volunteer meeting visitors for the Wader Spectacular event at RSPB Snettisham. I picked up Helen in the dark RSPB car park, drove to the crossbank and together we met and directed visitors to the Watch Point overlooking The Wash. Whilst we were waiting for the tide to cover all the mud I took a few photos of some of the roosting waders along the tideline. Turnstone, Knot, Ringed Plover and an Oystercatcher kept company with Little Egrets and a Shelduck feeding nearby.

Once our duties were over I walked up to the Watch Pint where I could see all the waders ahard of the tide. They did not seem to be interested in performing this morning and I wondered if the shooting of geese that we had heard and been told about earlier had put them off flying around. Such a disappointment for our visitors. A rain shower was quite clearly on its way and I beat a hasty retreat back to my car, just in time!

My evening was spent at NarVOS bird club in Swaffham where we were given a talk about re-wilding an area of land near Methwold. Afterwards Frank, our speaker joined a select group of us in the pub afterwards where it was good to have a nice social gathering, which is always enjoyable.