Mount Kinabalu Day 2

Our second full day on Mount Kinabalu didn’t begin too well as we had driving rain that delayed our departure from the hotel until after 6am. However it soon eased and we set ourselves up in the shelter of the restaurant in the park where we could scan the forest edge, despite the constant drizzle. There was quite a lot of activity here with both Sunda and Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrushes, Bornean Green Magpie, Grey-chinned Minivet, Bornean Whistling-Thrush, Eye-browed Thrush and Blue-and-white Flycatcher all seen here. 

Blue-and-white Flycatcher

With the weather improving we set out on a walk around the lower areas of the mountain and we finally got the tickable views required of the endemic Black-sided Flowerpecker, plus a Crested Goshawk, Mountain Tailorbird and we followed this up with a pair of endemic Red-breasted Partridges showing reasonably well and calling back at us from a heavily forested slope.

Mountain Tailorbird

Black-sided Flowerpecker (female)

Black-sided Flowerpecker (male & endemic)

A close endemic Bornean Whistler was also much appreciated and a close Yellow-breasted Warbler put on a fine show. 

Bornean Whistler (endemic)

The nearby Silau-Silau Trail was quiet so we drove up higher. It was very frustrating here as after a brief Whitehead’s Trogon appeared a Whitehead’s Broadbill called 3 times before flying right over us and across the road before disappearing for good. We spent an age searching for the broadbill without relocating it, but a walk along a narrow trail was very rewarding with a pair of Mountain Wren-Babblers performing just a few metres in front of us.

Mountain Wren-Babbler (endemic)

After lunch in a nearby restaurant we headed back up the mountain and at the Timophon Gate area we had really closed looks at Yellow-breasted Warbler, Mountain Leaf-Warbler, White-throated Fantail, Sunda Bush-Warbler and Grey-throated Babbler before the rain came in again. 

Mountain Leaf-Warbler

Yellow-breasted Warbler

Some of these birds were way too close to photograph and it was a great experience to see these birds right in front of our faces. Just before the rain arrived Lee called in a pair of endemic Mountain Black-eyes – our only sighting of the entire tour. With the day passing all too quickly we made one final stop with a short walk along a gloomy trail and with the mist descending rapidly we called in a trio of endemic Bare-headed Laughingthrushes that came in right over our heads but a little too high for any decent photos. 

Bare-headed Laughingthrush (endemic)

And that was our day.