The Bornean Falconet surveys the neighbourhood

The tallest dead twig from where the falconet surveys the neighbourhood for insects and small birds
Location : Cempedak Hill, Zone G

 A sharp shriek sent me looking around for its origin.  I saw something dashing above me and my eyes followed its movement till it  landed on the tallest twig of the Cempedak tree at Zone G.  Today's sighting is a pleasant surprise for the fact that the Bornean Falconet (Microhierax latifrons) have never come this close to the house.  The best shot I got of it was about 40 meters from the tree before it flew away.  The falconet belongs to the smallest raptor species in the world.  What strikes me about this bird is the pale buffish belly and an overall black and white body.  Its sighting is always welcomed at the park.  

View of the group of trees not far away from the sighting where I worked and saw the dashing movement of the bird above ....

Falconet on the hunt

Borneon Falconet (Microhierax latifrons)
Location : Licuala Hill, Zone I

 This morning the weather was a bit cloudy and taking pictures can be problematic especially when taking long ranges.  The Borneon Falconet came early looking for breakfast and was well-rewarded on this trip when I saw it devouring its prey on the branch of the tall dead tree.  I saw it making short sallies down and even circling around a group of trees before making a swoop and then rushing back to the branch to enjoy its catch.  Falconets are the smallest raptors of the world.  It's only this year that I stumbled or 'discovered' its presence at the park.  I guess they love the intact environment of the lowland dipterocarp forest ecology here, tall dead trees, and its forest edges that support a myriad of insects, bees, lizards etc. I hope they visit the park  more often because food is plenty here.

About 100 meters away on a tall dead tree is the falconet.
Location: Licuala Hill
Zone I

Two lifers in a day - Osprey and Borneon Falconet

Osprey ( Lang Tiram - Malay)

Osprey high above the land

 Today has been very special with two new birds sighted at the park.  Both are birds of prey.  The big one of the two is an Osprey seen circling high above the trees and hills.  Ospreys are a wonder to see in flight and their sightings are rare in Borneo.  Today's sighting is a lifer for me.  Not too far from the sighting of the Osprey I caught a glimpse of the Borneon falconet ( Microhierax latifrons).  They came in a pair perching on the tall dead tree at Licuala Hill. It has been said that this species of falconet is the smallest raptor in the world. I wish I could have gotten a clearer picture of the pair but its tiny size taken from afar makes it difficult to obtain a sharper image.  Nevertheless, it was easy to identify with its white forehead and cheek and upper white breast.

Borneon Falconet (Microhierax latifrons) perching on a tall dead tree at Licuala Hill.
One of the birds was seen making sorties and came up to the branch with its prey.

Not a perfect picture but excellent for the record.
Location : Licuala Hill