World-Class Birding Spot And Nature Photography Destination@Sukau
Borneo, Malaysian Sabah, Sukau is one of the world-class birding spot and nature photography destination due to the abundance of food plants at fresh water riverine and swamp forest.
4D3N Tour in the dept of Sukau, Kinabatangan River
The floodplain of the Lower Kinabatangan River is a low-lying wilderness covered by a patchwork of natural rainforest and ever-encroaching oil-palm plantations. The whole area is dotted with oxbow lakes and limestone outcrops, and is home to a wealth of wildlife including, hopefully, our first wild Orang-utans and the remarkable Proboscis Monkey.
Our focus will however be on the birdlife and there is much to look for including Storm’s Stork (Kinabatangan River represents one of the most reliable sites for this endangered species anywhere). Bornean Ground Cuckoo ( rare endemic to Borneo ), Hooded Pittas, Black-Crowned Pittas , Trogons, Stork-billed, Blue-eared and Oriental Dwarf Kingfishers, Oriental Darter, Wallace’s Hawk-eagle, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Lesser Fish Eagle, Bat Hawk, Buffy Fish Owl, Whiskered Treeswift, up to four species of Malkoha, Chestnut-necklaced Partridge, Rhinoceros Hornbills, Purple Heron, Helmeted Hornbills, Asian Black Hornbills, Oriental Pied Hornbills, Bushy-crested Hornbills, Wreathed Hornbills, Wrinkled Hornbills, and with an outside chance of Giant Pitta ( rare and scarce resident ). Of course there are many smaller birds as well, though photograph to these from the boats is not too easy. However, a boardwalk behind our lodge offers access to the jungle on foot and between boat trips we will explore this in hope of finding various babblers and bulbuls and other lowland forest species. Many birds can also be seen from the lodge veranda, while we can relax with a cold drink, especially if one or two of the adjacent trees are fruiting. It is also a great place for photographing dragonflies and butterflies. We will take early morning and afternoon and night boat trips along the river and its tributaries. Once off the main river channel the boatmen of our motorised canoes will turn off the noisy diesel engine motor, enabling us to really enjoy the sights and sounds of this rich wilderness. Here we hope to see wild Orang-utans making their way slowly through the canopy of riverside trees or, in late afternoon, watch them making their night-time nests. We can also watch troops of the bizarre Proboscis Monkey crashing through the branches, these comical creatures often sit in the trees and watch us float by, hands resting beside their huge pot bellies and the males with their extraordinary floppy nose. In addition we may see Long-tailed Macaques and occasional Silvered Langurs and there is always a chance of coming across a herd of Bornean Pygmy Elephants in this area.
Tour Fee included:
a) Foods and accommodation
b) Bird Guide / Nature Photography Guides
c) Destination / Operation Management
d) Transportation
*Land transfer Sandakan-Sukau-Sandakan
*3 birding trips per day at Kinabatangan River (boat ride)
Borneo Sabah Bird Watching / Bird Shooting Tour-World’s Top Ecotourism Destinations and Bird Watching Sites
4 days and 3 nights in BORNEO
Sabah,Sukau Wild Bird Ecological Photography Tour
From SUKAU, take a boat up the KINABATANGAN River and you will see countless “proboscis monkeys” (endemic to Borneo), “silver langurs”, “macaques” and other animals and birds in the quiet mangroves Perched on a branch.
From the second day onwards, after breakfast every day, we will go round by round in an electric boat to search and watch these peat bogs and mangroves, such as the rare “Storm Stork”. “Ordinary” black-bellied snake owl “, ” purple heron “, night heron and various herons. From time to time, various hornbills are appearing on both sides of the strait foraging, such as “Phoenix-crowned hornbill”, “Crown-spotted hornbill”, “Black-bellied hornbill”, “Wrinkled helmet hornbill”, “Malay hornbill” . Wait and from time to time, various raptors are flying in the air, such as “white-bellied fishing sculptures”, “small fishing sculptures”, “gray-headed fishing sculptures”, “crested eagle sculptures”, “small eagle sculptures” . Not to be missed here is the highest chance to find the Bornean Ground Cuckoo, a rare Borneo ground cuckoo.Until the night, there is a round of night exploration activities. At that time, there is a great opportunity to watch and shoot “blue-eared jade”, “stork mouth jade”, “three-toed jade” and “Malay fisherman” that are not easy to approach.
The tour fee includes:
i.Roundtrip vehicle transfer (Sandakan Airport-Sukau-Sandakan Airport)
ii.Private dinghy, travel 2-3 times a day
iii.Provide professional bird guide / ecological photography guide in Chinese
iv. Standard double room (means for air-conditioning)
Tour cost does not include:
1.Air tickets and all personal items