Kalimantan May - July 2014, Sabangau National Park

Before heading back to the dipterocarp forests of Batikap we spent two days in the peatswamp forests of Sabangau National Park. It was very interesting to note the differences between the two forest  types. Peatswamps are definitely the harder environment, but the diversity is lower. Although several species are confined to this forest type or are easier to see here than in other forest types. Again our stay was aided by a conservation organisation and this time it was the Orangutan Tropical Peatland Project (OuTrop). Besides doing some birding just for fun, one day was also "work" as I was helping with the Rainforest: Live project.

My main targets of this forest were Crestless Fireback, Storm's Stork, Lesser Adjutant, Bonaparte's Nightjar and Hook-billed Bulbul. Obviously I did not see all of these rareties, in fact I only saw Hook-billed Bulbul. I was surprised how hard to find this species was and how skittish and shy they were, but eventually they showed reasonably. Surprisingly another team that went out searching for wildlife for Rainforest: Live stumbled upon a female Crestless Fireback! I guess it is just a matter of luck and walking stealthily whether or not you manage to see them.

Hook-billed Bulbul (Setornis criniger)

We also tried on during one morning and one night for the Nightjar, but without success. However we heard two different Blyth's Frogmouths, several Sunda Scops-owls and a Brown Wood-owl. We also spent a morning on a 35 meter high research tower in the hope to see Storm's Storks or Lesser Adjutant, but without success. We still got some nice views of other species like Greater Green Leafbird, White-bellied Woodpecker, Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Thick-billed Green-pigeon and Chestnut-bellied Malkoha and it was amazing to see the sun rise above the forest as well.

White-bellied Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis)

Thick-billed Green-pigeon (Treron curvirostra)

Surprisingly many mammals were recorded as well including the well studied Orangutans, Bornean White-bearded Gibbon and Maroon Langurs, next to Lesser Mouse Deer, Slender Squirrel, Plaintain Squirrel, Painted, Slender and Long-footed Treeshrew. A nice Malaysian Brown Snake was also observed. As with Batikap Protection forest, this site is of the regular tourist radar and might be difficult to visit for "normal birders". I would recommend Tanjung Puting as an alternative, as they have most key species (exept the Bonapartes Nightjar) there as well.

Bornean White-bearded Gibbon (Hylobates albibarbis)