In June of 2022, I had the pleasure of doing some birdwatching at Buntal Bay in Sarawak, which is noted to be one of the top migratory birding locations in Borneo.

While the migratory season is from November to March, I had not planned to visit Buntal Bay, but I was in Kampung Buntal; hence I took the opportunity to explore this birding hotspot in Sarawak.

Birdwatching at Buntal Bay

Kampung Buntal is a small fishing village near the mouth of the Sarawak River that provides a view of part of the Bako-Buntal Bay IBA. And this hotspot is popular during the rainy season as large numbers of wintering shorebirds can be seen here.

Over 55 species of waterbirds have been recorded in the area, with an estimated 20,000–25,000 shorebirds using the bay and its immediate environs, which are part of the East Asian-Australasian Flyways. (EAAF112).

Malaysia became a partner of EAAFP in 2012, and on Aug 23, 2013, Bako Buntal Bay was recognised as the country’s first East Asian-Australasian Flyway site. This place is also known as Bako-Buntal Bay, where the core area comprises a scenic 15km half-moon of intertidal mud and sand flats fringed by mangroves.

The Bako-Buntal Bay migratory bird watch site stretches from Buntal and Bako to Sadong Jaya along the coast. It is an Important Bird Area (IBA) and is Malaysia’s first migratory bird watch site.

What Shorebirds can be seen at Buntal Bay?

This would be the most common question for birders who are interested in exploring Buntal Bay, and below are the bird species that can be spotted here during the migratory season;

• Nordmann’s Greenshank (Tringa guttifer)
• Asian Dowitcher (Limnodromus semipalmatus)
• Far Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis)
• Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
• Great Knot (Calidris Tenuirostris)
• Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii)
• Lesser Sand Plover (Ch. mongolus)
• Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
• Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes)
• Malaysian Plover (Charadrius peronii)
• White-faced Plover (C. [alexandrinus] dealbatus)
• Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
• Black-tailed (Godwit L. limosa)
• Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Calidris pygmaea) [Spotted on Feb 27 2022]
• Chinese Crested Tern (Sterna bernsteini)[Historical Records]

In a shorebird conservation report done by MNS Kuching Branch, endangered species like the Far Eastern Curlew and Great Knot seeking refuge in Bako Buntal Bay and Sejingkat are rising globally, and their population is in decline.

Another star bird is the Chinese Egret, among the rarest egrets in Asia, and Bako-Buntal Bay supports 1.14% of its global flyway population.

What other birds can be seen at Buntal Bay?

While I was there during the non-migratory season in June 2022, several shorebirds were in the bay area, but I did not go down to the sand bar to see them closer. Several birds were spotted there when I walked along the esplanade mangrove area. They include;

• Collared Kingfisher
• Pied Triller
• Ashy Tailorbird
• Asian Glossy Starling
• Eurasian Tree Sparrow

What else is at Buntal Bay?

Buntal Bay is located by Kampung Buntal, which is a small fishing village that has a local wet market, local restaurants, seafood restaurants and several convenient shops. It is a village; therefore, there are no modern cafes, banks, 7-11’s and so on.

For those planning to spend the day here, you can arrive in the morning, do your birding, have a local seafood lunch, take a break and continue birding in the esplanade or at the main bay area until evening.

Conservation Efforts at Bako-Buntal Bay

Over the last 15 years, many conservation efforts have been put into the migratory shorebirds at Bako-Buntal Bay, which has led to more awareness on this subject.

In 2021, a special scientific research paper on Bako-Buntal Bay was done by Batrisyia Teepol, Jia Jie Ng, Daniel Kong and Ding Li Yong.

For anyone interested in scientific research for shorebirds here, you can contact the Malaysian Nature Society or MNS Kuching Branch.

When is the Best Time to Visit Buntal Bay for Birding?

The migratory season from October to March is probably the best time to visit Buntal Bay. I’ve spoken to some birders, who tell me that December to February is also optimum.

When I visited in June 2022, there were only a few shorebirds to be seen, but again, I did not plan to visit and somehow ended up here. So, this was indeed a bonus to visit the place during off-peak.

How to Go to Buntal Bay?

From Kuching City, it takes about 45 to 60 minutes to drive there, depending on the day and time. If you hire a guide, they will drive you there, and if you choose to go by yourself, you may need to rent a car and self-drive there.

Conclusion

For more photos, you can also check out my Birdwatching Malaysia Facebook Page, as I posted several location and bird photos there. And visit this article for birdwatching locations in Sarawak, as I have compiled a basic list there.

My next trip here would possibly be in the migratory season, when I will get down and explore the sand bar of Buntal Bay. The sand bar runs for quite a distance, so it can take several hours if you plan to visit here.

You can also read about my birdwatching at the Sejingkat Ash Pond in Kuching, as similar shorebirds are also sighted here. For those interested in doing some birdwatching at Buntal Bay, make sure you book well ahead and get the correct guide to lead you here.

The post Birdwatching at Buntal Bay first appeared on Bird Watching Asia.

Among some of the unique birding adventures I have done is birdwatching by motorbike in Bario, Sarawak. Let me say that this was a surreal yet fascinating birding experience.

Therefore, this article was based on my experience here several years ago, and you should read this through before even thinking of doing this.

Bario Birdwatching by Motorbike

Firstly, Bario is a remote village in the Kelabit Highlands at the Pulong Tau National Park in northeast Sarawak. It is in the highlands, and the easiest way to get here is via a turboprop flight from Lawas or Miri in Sarawak.

If you plan to take a drive here, it will be one to remember as from the city of Miri; it will take you about five to six hours drive. And that is non-stop on a good day, so for me, I have personally done both as I have visited Bario several times.

Since I started birdwatching in 2007, I have been to Bario about five or six times, and only on my third time onwards, I start to pay more attention to birdwatching in Bario.

This is where I met Scott, a local who used to do birdwatching and bird photography. He has since stopped doing it, but I managed to convince him to lead me to the best area around Bario.

Scott also recommended using a motorbike as it was faster and easier to access some birding spots. Often, we would ride to an area, park the bike and then take a short walk to look for these highland birds.

Once, I did a trek from village to village, which took me six hours one way, and of course, I managed to do some serious birding along that trek from Bario to Pa’ Lungan village.

Bario also offers several types of bird species. They have paddy fields in the highlands where water birds are often spotted, montane birds due to the high elevation of 1000 meters above sea level, and sub-montane birds.

Birdwatching Photos in Bario, Sarawak

Below are random photos taken by me during my multiple trips to Bario since 2014. Please note that I have not filled out each description of the images as I will do it eventually.

When to go Birdwatching in Bario?

The best time is anytime, but take note that it can rain all year round, and the rainy season is towards the year-end in November and December.

I would avoid any Christian celebration period as a majority of the Kelabit people there are Christians. Holiday periods like Easter and Christmas are best avoided.

Conclusion

Bario is one of my personal favourite birdwatching destinations because of the untouched landscape and its far proximity from any town or city. The people and the landscape make this place surreal and comfortable for anyone who enjoys natural privacy.

Scott no longer does guiding for birdwatching, but I know someone else there learned about this. So my next trip here would probably be with a new guide in Bario.

You can also read one of my other articles on what to do in Bario for anyone heading here. Until my next trip for birdwatching in Bario, I wish all my readers to be safe during the pandemic and always be responsible when travelling.

The post Bario Birdwatching by Motorbike first appeared on Bird Watching Asia.

One of Malaysia’s least explored birding destinations is no other than Sarawak due to the lack of bird guides and bird tours. Well, I have compiled a list of the best birdwatching locations in Sarawak for anyone who plans to visit here.

Also, you should note that there are minimal bird guides in Sarawak and in most cases, they are always fully booked for birding trips around the Land of the Hornbills.

Bird Watching Locations in Sarawak

As Sarawak is the largest state in Malaysia, almost 70% of the land is still covered in rainforest or palm oil estates, but not to worry, as the government does monitor the situation here.

This means that bird watching in Sarawak is one of the best in Malaysia, with so much abundance of natural and secondary rainforests found in abundance over here.

While most know of familiar places for birdwatching around Kuching and Miri, this list aims to provide you with more birding destinations around Sarawak. And just so you know, I have been to only a few with a master mission to explore all.

Most of the bird watching locations in Sarawak are also found at the many national parks, which are well spread throughout the state and are also divided into four main areas, which are;

1. Southern Sarawak
2. Central Sarawak
3. Northern Sarawak
4. Interior Sarawak

Bird Watching in Southern Sarawak

This is probably the most popular place for bird watching in Southern Sarawak. There are many locations near Kuching, and it can be done on a day trip and back to the city for a Sarawakian dinner.

The locations below will require transportation to and from best done with a local bird guide, especially if you are non-local.

• Bako National Park
• Borneo Highlands Resort
• Buntal Bay
• Ash Pond Kuching
• Kubah National Park
• Gunung Gading National Park
• Chupak
• Semenggoh Nature Reserve
• Kuching Wetland National Park
• Maludam National Park
• Batang Ai National Park
• Tanjung Datu National Park

Bird Watching in Central Sarawak

One of the least explored regions of Sarawak for bird watching is the central region, which is quite vast in terms of open areas. Not much infrastructure could be one of the main reasons. But there are a few notable places to explore.

• Bukit Tiban National Park
• Upper Rajang River to Kapit (via Sibu)
• Belaga area

Bird Watching in Northern Sarawak

This is also one of the popular destinations for bird watching in Sarawak.

• Kuala Baram Wetlands
• Piasau Nature Reserve
• Gunung Mulu National Park
• Lambir Hills National Park
• LoaganBunut National Park
• Similajau National Park
• Niah National Park (241 Species of Birds)

Bird Watching in Interior Sarawak

The interiors of Sarawak are pretty vast, but I have selected the places below due to the infrastructure, accessibility and availability of bird guides there.

• Bario
• Bakelalan
• Paya Maga Wetlands
• Pulong Tau National Park

Before this birding website, I did some articles on my other main website, Malaysia Asia. You can also read my Bakelalan birdwatching trip report from 2019, just before the Covid19 pandemic hit the world.

I have also been birding in Bario, the sister village of Bakelalan, and these are the two popular locations in the interior of Sarawak, Malaysia, Borneo.

Some of the more remote birdwatching destinations in the interior of Sarawak are harder to get to but require proper planning and a lot more time. They include the villages of;

• Long Banga
• Long Lamai
• Long Lellang

Conclusion

While most birdwatching locations above are not fully explored, more people will visit them in the next decade. But, again, this also falls back on how many bird guides will be available.

Sarawak Forestry once participated in hoping to train a particular batch of bird guides, but I never got around to finding out if this project went through. However, as I mentioned in the article, only a handful of bird guides are available in Sarawak.

Hopefully, with this article on birdwatching locations in Sarawak, more interest and emphasis will be paid to training more bird guides.

The post Bird Watching Locations in Sarawak first appeared on Bird Watching Asia.

If you are heading to the city of Kuching in Sarawak, you may want to experience some bird watching at the Kuching Ash Pond at the Sejingkat Power Station.

It is here that you will be able to spot several shorebirds of Sarawak, which congregate from time to time at any of the three ash ponds around here.

The Ash Ponds of Kuching is one of two popular birding sites where the other is known as the Bako-Buntal Bay area and both being quite near to each other.

Bird Watching at Kuching Ash Pond

It was my first time visiting the Sejingkat Ash Ponds to see the shorebirds, and the journey was a relatively short one from the city of Kuching. It only took about half an hour to drive here.

The ash pond actually belongs to the Sejingkat Power Station, and when you come here, you need to go through their land, which of course, is private property. But the management of the power station knows that birders come here to observe and photograph the shorebirds.

However, local birders move in and out freely; hence I would recommend visiting this place with one of them as you will need to know the exact ash pond and how to get in.

For me, it was ‘Lifer’ day as it was my first time here, and I spotted at least 8 Lifers in one viewing through a digiscope.

How Many Birds Can Be Spotted at the Ash Pond in Kuching?

The obvious birds to spot here would be the shorebirds or water birds, and if you are lucky, you can easily spot at least 24 species of shorebirds.

Because the ash ponds are located near a mangrove area, you have the opportunity to spot some other birds as well. In total, you can spot up to 37 species of birds around the Sejingkat Ash Pond.

List of Shorebirds Sighted at Kuching Ash Pond

1. Little Ringed Plover
2. Black-bellied Plover
3. Greater Sand-Plover
4. Lesser Sand-Plover
5. Kentish Plover
6. Far Eastern Curlew
7. Eurasian Curlew
8. Common Sandpiper
9. Curlew Sandpiper
10. Marsh Sandpiper
11. Terek Sandpiper
12. Wood Sandpiper
13. Great Egret
14. Intermediate Egret
15. Little Egret
16. Striated Heron
17. Long-toed Stint
18. Red-necked Stint
19. Asian Dowitcher
20. Common Greenshank
21. Nordmann’s Greenshank
22. Common Redshank
23. Great Knot
24. Red Knot
25. Bar-tailed Godwit
26. Black-tailed Godwit

Where is the Kuching Ash Pond?

The Ash Pond is located at the Sejingkar Power Station, which is about 30 minutes drive from Kuching city. In total, there are three ash ponds outside the power station, and the shorebirds move from one to another.

To get here, you need to get to Highway 1002, which is Jalan Bako and then turn right into Jalan Kampung Goebilt. After a short drive, make a left at Lorong Kampung  Goebilt. There should be some signage for Sejingkat Power Station.

There is a turn off to the left before the power station, and you need to take that road that passes the power station and towards the ash ponds.

How to Go to Sejingkat Ash Pond?

The best way is to self-drive there, and you can do so by following any of the bird watchers from Kuching as they would know exactly how to get there and where to stop.

If you go by yourself, you need to know which ash pond to visit as there are two or three of them around the Sejingkat Power Station here.

Conclusion

Overall, I spend a good three hours over here just observing all the shorebirds gathered in the centre of the pond. A bonus was a beautiful and simple sunset where the sky changed.

For anyone who wants to do some bird watching at Kuching Ash Pond, be sure to get the relevant contacts for this as they know the best time to visit. For me, I should be paying this place another visit when I go back to Kuching, Sarawak.

The post Bird Watching at Kuching Ash Pond first appeared on Bird Watching Asia.

One of the beautiful birds in Sabah is the Blue-headed Pitta I photographed at Maliau Basin some years ago. Most birders or bird watchers worldwide have a pitta list, one of the birds they would love to see or photograph.

Over at Maliau Basin Conservation Area in Sabah Borneo’s middle, one has an excellent chance to spot the Blue-headed Pitta. And the best part is that it is usually seen around the Agathis Camp, a short trek from the base camp of Maliau.

Blue-headed Pitta Maliau Basin Sabah

Endemic to Borneo, Pitta hunters worldwide must visit this unique island and head to the Malaysian state of Sabah in the North. The photo shows a beautiful male Blue-headed Pitta standing in the open grassy area around the Agathis Camp when I visited some years ago.

This medium-sized bird usually spends a lot of time on the ground in lowland areas. Though Pitta’s are not easy to come by, over here in Maliau Basin, it is quite common to spot. Habitats usually are the primary forest, but they are often spotted in secondary forests.

The male has bright plumage, a distinctive bright blue crown, black cheeks, and a white throat. The Female is more buff-coloured with a hint of blue at the tail area.

Where To See Blue-headed Pittas in Sabah?

There are several places around Borneo where you can spot the Blue-headed Pitta, and they are;

Sabah

• Kabali-Sepilok Forest Reserve
• Kinabatangan River
• Sukau
• Tabin Wildlife Reserve
• Danum Valley Conservation Area
• Maliau Basin Conservation Area
• Kalabakan Forest Reserve
• Tawau Hills Park
• Ulu Merutai Besar (Tawau)

Sarawak

• Gunung Mulu National Park
• Samunsam Wildlife Sanctuary

Brunei

• Sungai Rampayoh
• Labi
• Ulu Temburong National Park

Conclusion

This is probably the only time that the Blue-headed Pitta was comfortable in the open and allowed me to photograph it from a distance of 10 meters away. Usually, when I look for Pitta’s, it’s not as easy as this one, and to date, I have never had the opportunity to see one so quickly.

You will also need to engage a local bird guide for this, and there are some specialist bird guides available in Sabah, who speak good English, Mandarin and some even Japanese or other languages.

The post Blue-headed Pitta Maliau Basin Sabah first appeared on Bird Watching Asia.

In July 2019, I was fortunate enough to do some bird watching at Kuala Baram Wetlands in Miri, Sarawak. This is one of the few birding locations in Miri where many locals and visiting birders head to.

The Kuala Baram Wetlands is located about 40 minutes from Miri and requires a vehicle to get here. There is no public transportation, and usually, birders will engage a local guide for this.

Bird Watching at Kuala Baram Wetlands

The biggest question on your mind is what kind of birds are found at Kuala Baram Wetlands, and, so you know, the water birds and migratory birds attract the birders.

Kuala Baram Wetlands’ total size is also a whopping 600 hectares of marshland, making this place quite large, and you can easily spend half a day bird watching here. As the marshlands are located just by the main road, birders can easily park their cars and do bird watching or bird photography.

The area consists of sandy beaches, brackish marshes and coastal scrub, an area of prawn ponds, oil palm and fruit tree plantations, while further inland, you will find freshwater lakes and open scrub as a result of extensive forest clearance. eBird includes a list of 173 bird species at Kuala Baram as of August 2023. (Updated)

Conservation Efforts at Kuala Baram Wetlands

Over the years, there has been a lot of talk about protecting the wetlands here, and this matter has been brought to the Miri council and even the forestry department.

However, there have been many complications leading to no action taken. The Kuala Baram Wetlands belongs to a private owner, and nothing can be done unless the owner takes action.

Because of this, local poachers come in the day to illegally trap fish, ducks and birds as and when they like. The Miri MNS has been very upset about the lack of enforcement on this matter.

Even though I was there in July 2019, I saw two groups of poachers setting up nets and harvesting their catch in the late morning. Hopefully, the Miri City Council or someone in Sarawak Forestry will take some action to harm the birds and other wildlife there.

Best Time to Visit Kuala Baram Wetlands

The year-end is the best time due to the rising water levels at the wetlands, attracting many migratory birds from November to January.

However, it is also noted that the months from August to April are also an excellent time to do bird watching at the Kuala Baram Wetlands.

Kuala Baram Wetlands Bird Photos

Below are some of the birds spotted at Kuala Baram Wetlands during my bird watching trip here, and I only had about two hours of birding.

Kuala Baram Wetlands Bird List Report

Below is a bird list from me during my birdwatching at Kuala Baram Wetlands in July 2019. Hopefully, this list will come in handy for anyone planning to visit this place.

1. Asian Brown Flycatcher
2. Asian Glossy Starling
3. Barn Swallow
4. Black-Winged Stilt
5. Blue-throated Bee-eater
6. Chinese Egret
7. Collared Kingfisher (many of them)
8. Common Sandpiper
9. Cattle Egret
10. Greater Sand-Plover
11. Little Green Pigeon
12. Grey Heron
13. Hill Myna
14. Intermediate Egret
15. Lesser Coucal (roadkill)
16. Little Egret
17. Marsh Sandpiper
18. Moorhen (sp)
19. Oriental Darter
20. Paddyfield Pipit
21. Spotted Dove
22. Swiftlet (sp)
23. Scaly-breasted Munia
24. Yellow Bittern
25. Yellow-Vented Bulbul
26. Wandering Whistling-Duck (*Star Bird)
27. White-bellied Sea-Eagle
28. White-breasted Woodswallow
29. Wood sandpiper
30. Whiskered Tern
31. Zebra Dove

The list above was made in just two hours of bird watching at Kuala Baram Wetlands, and I am sure it could reach around 40 or 50 birds if I had spent more time here.

Anyway, to share that this place is a great place to do birding if you are in the Miri area and have at least four to five hours of free time.

Where are the Kuala Baram Wetlands?

Kuala Baram Wetlands is located just 40 minutes from Miri City in Sarawak. It is also very close to the Brunei checkpoint and border.

The location is quite convenient as there are no attractions or anything important found in the area; hence it is peaceful and quiet.

How to go to Kuala Baram Wetlands?

The best way to get here is via a vehicle from Miri City. Only one tour operator offers a unique Miri Birding Tour to several places.

If you want to self-drive, rent a car in Miri and take a nice slow drive in the morning to the wetlands. There is no public transport available to this location.

Conclusion

For anyone interested in bird watching at Kuala Baram Wetlands, contact Wilson Chiam of Brighton Tours. He is probably the only tour company to arrange this trip for you. Wilson also does other bird watching locations around Miri; hence he is your best option in Miri, Sarawak.

And you can also check out my other bird watching places in Sarawak, which I have been writing about over the years.

Visiting the Kuala Baram Wetlands was exciting, considering Miri is not very well known as a bird watching destination. Hopefully, this article can increase the number of bird watchers coming to Miri, Sarawak.

The post Bird Watching at Kuala Baram Wetlands first appeared on Bird Watching Asia.

On a recent birdwatching trip to Borneo’s Highlands, I managed to photograph a Brown Boobook Owl in Bakelalan Sarawak, which is known to be a resident nocturnal bird here.

This was also my first time spotting the Brown Boobook, which I consider a ‘Lifer‘. I have seen a few owls around Sabah and Sarawak, but not this species.

Boobook Owl in Bakelalan Sarawak

The Brown Boobook, or Ninox scutulata, is a known resident of Bakelalan and is also spotted around Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo’s island. Its big yellow eyes are pretty prominent, and it is highly bright when the light is on. In some photos, the white light shining on the Boobook causes red in the eye.

They are not that easy to spot, but not that hard either. One needs to have a sharp eye, and of course, luck is the main factor when looking for these beautiful nocturnal birds.

My sighting was considered lucky, as I was out looking for the endemic Dulit Frogmouth, which is known to be spotted around Bakelalan in Sarawak. After three nights of looking for the Dulit Frogmouth, the final night was the closest I have been to hearing this highly sought-after bird’s call.

Our specialist guide had called the Frogmouth, and it responded with a call-back, only to be hidden high up in the rainforest canopy. Attempts to lure it to a lower and more open branch were unsuccessful as it played games with us. We must have waited three hours for this prized bird to show itself, which it never did.

In the end, we moved to another spot in Bakelalan to look for the Dulit Frogmouth but attempts to call were unsuccessful. However, the bird guide did mention that, at times, they would be lurking somewhere without making a sound.

When we were scanning the forest with our torches, one of us caught an eye reflection, and we were pretty excited about this. It was quite far, perhaps about a hundred meters in, and high up in the open. Looking through my 600mm lens after the soft light was focused on the subject, I saw it was a Brown Boobook.

Due to the distance, the light was not powerful enough, but most of us got the shot after many attempts. The photos here are quite decent, and I am happy with the Boobook sighting in Bakelalan, Sarawak.

Brown Boobook Names

These beautiful owls are also known by other names, such as Brown Hawk-Owl or Oriental Hawk-Owl, and are spotted in various regions. The Brown Boobook has been spotted in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka.

You can find more information about the Brown Boobook if you wish to understand this nocturnal bird, its habitats, breeding, and so on.

Conclusion

Well, as a fact-finding trip, our birdwatching exploration team spent a good three days and nights in Bakelalan, Sarawak. It was not a birdwatching trip, as most would think. Our mission was to study the accessibility, logistics, accommodations, birdwatching locations, food choices, and trails around Bakelalan and promote birdwatching in Sarawak.

While Bakelalan remains one of the up-and-coming birding destinations in Sarawak, more bird watchers have started to head here since the news of spotting the endemic Dulit Frogmouth in Bakelalan.

Bird Watching Asia is a private website and blog dedicated to birding in Sarawak and Malaysia and is operated independently. I am open to working with anyone who is in this fascinating industry.

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