Great Hornbill [Female]

5th December 2019,  Awana Genting, Selangor DE

Species:Great Hornbill

Local Name: Burung Enggang Papan
Scientific Name: Buceros bicornis
Equipment: Nikon 1 V2 + Nikkor 400 f2.8 AFS-VR

White-Crowned Hornbills

27th November 2016, Nuang, Selangor 

Local Name:  Enggang Jambul Putih

Scientific Name: Berenicornis comatus

Equipment: Nikon 1 V3 + Nikkor AFS-VR 400mm f/2.8 ED-VR

The male

The female

Black Hornbill: Male

2nd March 2013, Bukit Rengit, Pahang

Species: Black hornbill Local Name: Enggang gatal birah Scientific Name: Anthracoceros malayanus Equipment: Nikon 1 V2 + Nikkor AFS-VR 400mm f/2.8G

Rhinocerous Hornbill

1st September 2012, Sungkai, Perak

Local Name:  Enggang Badak Scientific Name: Buceros rhinoceros Equipment: Nikon D7000, Nikkor AFS 400mm f2.8ED VR

Early Surprise: Black Hornbills

16th September  2011, Kemensah, Selangor

I haven’t been to Kemensah for over a month  and this visit yielded a big surprise, a Black Hornbill (Anthracoceros malayanus). There were three birds,  two males and a female, perched high on  a large tree  against strong backlighting. Took this shot from a distance for fear of missing the chance of recording my first Hornbill in Kemensah. This is a variant species with the white supercillium.

Rhinocerous Hornbill

31st October 2010, Old Pump House Road, Genting Highland, Pahang

Local Name: Enggang Badak.  Scientific Name: (Buceros rhinoceros)  My head was in auto mode, searching for the source of the loud  ‘whooshing’ sound. Then I saw this female Rhinocerous Hornbill stopping on a nearby tree.- a truly magnificent sight.

Day of the Hornbills

6th December 2009, Awana trail, Pahang

It was  my first trip to this location ( thanks to Yen for directions). Arrived there at 7.15 am.  The objectives were the Hill Blue and Mugimaki flycatchers. This was how the day began, dark and misty. It was cold (yes, not cool) and it felt even colder in the  slight breeze. The hills were shrouded in  low  clouds  cutting off most of the much needed light.   It wasn’t  ideal condition for birding but it was interesting to see how the landscape changes with the light .     The mist started to clear  about an hour later. That was when a Racket –Tailed Drongo ( with only one trailing tail feather) alighted onto a dead tree, probably to signal  the start of that day’s birding. Then the jungle started to come alive. From far I could see a group of Siamang  howling away. Then the valley  resounded  with the calls of the Hornbills, I knew they were quite close. Probably harassed by the Siamang a pair of Great Hornbills appeared from the thick jungle and flew up the valley. What a sight that was!

The first  Great hornbill  flying gracefully up the valley The second hornbill  following her mate. On the way back to the car I met a group of 3 birders (from Shah Alam) with cameras and scopes trained on a nearby tree. This is what they were shooting, a female Rhinocerous Hornbill  (Buceros rhinoceros). My Lifer of the day.    She hops on the branches       Up up and away………………………………then she was gone. Not bad for a first trip, not bad at all.

My First Hornbill- It’s Great!

28 June 2009, Old Pump House Road, Gohtong Jaya

They probably could hear us on Genting Highland! There was a lot to cheer about for the four of us, myself, two elder brothers and my son Ilyas. This was the first Hornbill for all of us. It was raining since early morning in Taman Melawati but we still took a chance to go. When we arrived it was still raining! Decided to start walking up at about 9.00am, still drizzling. Was hit by a minor bird wave in front of the entrance gate. Continued up the slope for about 500m when we heard the familiar sound of a Hornbill. All hands on deck and eyes scanning the area, we finally saw him, on a huge tree about 100m from where we were. No way to get closer, severely limited by a 400mm lens and still misty, these are highly cropped photos of my lifer, a male Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis).

I gave myself a small birding license after getting my first Broadbill. So after almost 2 yrs of serious birding this Hornbill is the license I was really waiting for!