Strong wind, high tide, rough sea for today...

Night Cruise along Likau

It's been awhile since the last cruise plus I was eager to check out the floating dead wild boar encountered by the enforcement team earlier. Apparently the wild boar was attacked by a crocodile and left to rot I assumed? Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the wild boar as the weather did not permit.

The night fruitful as always.

Red and black broadbill sleeping soundly


Little Heron


Green Imperial Pigeons


Baby Estuarine crocodile

Another attempt off the trail

Torches on and we were on our way scanning the jungle along the main road in search of that shy animal when just not far from the guard house, Apai Elan spotted a nightjar sitting on a bare ground nearby access to the telephone tower area. It did not move at all which enabled me to see and photographed this close! It was only until my itchy hand wanted to touch it that it flew off immediately and that was when we discovered it was actually brooding.

A male Large-tailed Nightjar


Probably hatched already?


Brown Wood Owl sitting on the power line

At least 6 nightjars and an owl spotted throughout the 1.6km road walk. There wasn't any sign of Slow Loris. At this point, we just cut through jungles heading to the beach.That was about 400m distance.

The tide was low just perfect for a walk back but I'm not sure why it felt ages to return. (^_____^) Luckily the cool breeze in the air kept me going!

Next walk will cover similar route, agi idup, agi ngiga instead!

Off The Trail

Jungle Night Walk has always been fruitful but so far we've yet to spot that particular nocturnal wildlife. Probably too shy too be seen along the established trails so we decided to try off the trails this time. Apai Elan did some minor clearing off the Circular Loop earlier. And the findings? Rewarding for birders but Slow Loris again absent...Listening to another encounter by Uncle Jau, our Park In-house Contractor, our next "off the trail" will be the forest along the Main Road. Fingers crossed!

Apai Elan and Subia trudging through the jungle

Development in the Park

There's another upgrading work taking place in the Park Headquarters now. The brand new One Stop Centre is expected to be completed early January 2011. As for now, hoping this won't stop public appreciation of the wonders of nature! On behalf of the Park management, wishing all a very Happy Chinese New Year!!


Construction in progress

Loris...o Loris...

I was even more determined after listening to Kak Nor's personal encounter with that creature not far from the Guard House some more! Just that she didn't manage to photograph it but her family sighting it, was enough to convince us that the Park still is the creature's home.

So off we walked this time along Batu Anchau trail for better chances as suggested by Apai Elan,one of the experienced Park staff here. Among spotted;


Babbler

Little Spiderhunter

Black-backed Kingfisher


A frog


A lizard


A tree frog


The bright, shining round eyes of the Bear Cat

Although Loris was absent again and the 5.5 hours walk causing my legs busted but it was totally worth it because the jungle was filled with so many other mysterious creatures! We spotted eyes of various wildlife as claimed by Apai Elan, they were two rats off the trail, a Bear cat wondering on a way up high tree, several sleeping birds (and as usual i couldn't help disturbing and thanks Dave for identifying the species!), a Lesser mousedeer, a bat, a lizard (in local it's called cicak kubin or cicak terbang) not forgetting the crawly ones as well as vocals of few animals, i remembered Owl being one of them!

As for Loris, looking forward to see you in the next walk! (^_^)

Beauty Up North

Photographs by Park Staff, Abdul Rahim and his dedicated team during last month's overnight patrolling work along Similajau river, the northern boundary of the Park.


A flock of egrets nearby basecamp


They actually encountered with two Reticulated Phytons. The first one


And the condition of the other one after swallowing its prey


Warm sunrise...