Another lifer...the Whitehead's spiderhunter

If not for Jay, I don't think I would be able to see them this soon, let alone photograph them.

But luck is on our side that day. I couldn't believed it when Jay hollered 'spiderhunter' to hubby and started pointing his hand to the top of the fruiting tree.

I squinted my eyes trying to locate their movements coz by that time the sky was overcast and the rain somehow picked that very moment to start drizzling. My heart started to race faster and I think I even willed the rain not to pour as this is the first time I've seen this most elusive bird. Ignoring the gloomy sky and the cottonish background, I started to shoot at will.

I'm not proud of these photos but I just could not refrain myself from sharing my accomplishment.

Please be warned though. These record shots were heavily cropped and tweaked.



Whitehead's spiderhunter (Arachnothera juliae)












Good...not even close...
Proud...oh oookay...just a little bit...
Relief...a definite yes...
And Jay, least I forgot to thank you...
Yeah, yeah...I could hear it...Teh C Ping...
Thank you my friend...
You're the man...:D

A beautiful lifer...the Long-tailed broadbill

Of late we would normally travel in a group of people but on this particular trip, there's only hubby and myself, and this translates to only 2 pair of eyes to spot the birds and only 2 sets of ears to hear and distinguish their callings and singing. We are greatly at a disadvantage I'm afraid. Unperturbed, we can only hope that the feathered ones would grant us an audience.


The Long-tailed broadbill and the Whitehead's Spiderhunter are the star birds that has been on my wish list for since so long and Tambunan has graciously granted this wish. It was not an easy accomplishment I have to admit. Well, bird photography never is and never will. That being said, so, please do excuse us if we are a bit 'protective' with our precious photos as we put out our sweat and blood for them, seriously...


And only on the 3rd attempt...
on the 3rd sightings...
on the 3rd trip to Tambunan this month...
Only then I managed to get decent shots of this beautiful lifer...
...the Long-tailed broadbill (Psarisomus dalhousiae)


















Decent shots, yes...
Good shots, not yet...
Killer shot, wishful thinking...
One does not need to be a rocket scientist to guess where we're going this weekend...:D