Greater Painted Snipe (Rostratula benghalensis)

Using Canon 7D, 800mm Lens, ISO320, 1/800, Av, f8.0

This scarce resident scattered records from paddy fields throughout Borneo indicate an expanding range. They are crepuscular and nocturnal.  Female is larger and brighter than male. I photographed this pair at Penampang paddy fields. They are much easier to local after the workers cleared the fields.

Female

Male

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Medium-sized, plump wading bird. Long reddish-brown bill, slightly decurved at tip, and distinct white or pinkish eye patch. Rounded, buff-spotted wings and short tail. White of breast extends up around top of folded wing. The Painted Snipe is not related to the true snipes and differs from them in habits, flight and appearance, being far more colorful and having longer legs than the snipes. It is unusual in showing reversed sexual dimorphism; the female is larger and more brightly colored than the male, with the sides of the head, neck and throat a rich chestnut brown, and a distinct black band across the breast; the male is paler and greyer.

Not a vocal species; the male at times utters a shrill trill, while the female makes a guttural ook sound as well as hissing noises during breeding displays.

Usually found close to the fringes of reed beds along shorelines of marshes, swamps, ponds and streams.

Solitary or in pairs, sometimes in groups of up to 12. Rather shy and retiring, skulking close to the vegetation so that it can retreat to cover if disturbed. When flushed, flies like a rail with legs dangling. Bobs hindquarters on landing and sometimes when walking. Probes for food in the mud. The female initiates courtship and may mate with more than one male. The male incubates the eggs.

The feed on insects, crustaceans, molluscs and seeds.

Black-Winged Stilt (Himantopus Himantopus)

Using Canon 7D, 800mm Lens, ISO320, Av, 1/60, f8.0

This scarce winter visitor is increasingly common now a days around west coast of Sabah. Feeds in freswaters and wet paddy fields, usually with small groups. It distinguished from Black-necked Stilt by clean white neck of adults although immature often has a variable amount of dark grey on hind neck (like the one shown on photo).

Common Moorhen

Using Canon 7D, 800mm Lens, ISO200, Av, 1/200, f9.0

You probably have seen this bird at any of the wetlands grown with vegetation around Kota Kinabalu.  Yes, this is a common residents at wetlands, paddy fields or swamp areas.  Seen this at Likas Lagoon, paddy fields at Penampang, and wetlands at Tuaran. This bird has similar plumage as the Dusky Moorhen, distinguish by its green and not red legs and no white on flanks.    They live together with other wetland birds like the Purple Swamphen, Watercock, Water rail etc.

Following is an update of the record, on the right hand side, it’s a female Common Moorhen. Taken at Wetland in Tuaran.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) is a distinctive species, with dark plumage apart from the white undertail, yellow legs and a red facial shield. The young are browner and lack the red shield. It has a wide range of gargling calls and will emit loud hisses when threatened.This is a common breeding bird in marsh environments and well-vegetated lakes. This species will consume a wide variety of vegetable material and small aquatic creatures. They forage beside or in the water, sometimes upending in the water to feed. It is often secretive, but can become tame in some areas.