Thanks Frogfish! Nature Lodge Kinabatagan is the place we are actually planning on staying, but I have been a bit hesitant as it seems hardly any birders go there! I found one trip report which included it, and all it said essentially was that that NLK did not know how to cater for birders and they had to share with 50 other guests! Very much looking forward to your trip report now - it will be good to finally get an idea of what the birding is like there
Cheers,
Josh
Hi Josh. I think that all of these places are generally catering to nature enthusiasts rather than dedicated birders per se. I did not see one other birder (long lens) on the river or at the lodges though lots of people interested in birds and from talking to the few Malaysian birders I met there are but a handful of them so most birders come from overseas.
TBH the river trips cover mainly large birds as they are most visible and are an integral and interesting (to the other clients) aspect of the trip. They seemed to enjoy views of gorgeous birds such as the KFs & Bee-eater too ! Most smaller birds on the river trips disappear into the forest though since there are always a few boats around that will scare them off before you arrive. There are a wide variety of mammals/reptiles to see on the trips and these are fascinating and of course what most people have come to see (Pygmy Elephants, Orang-Utan, Monkeys, Civets, Snakes, Monitors etc. etc.).
BTW on the one morning I spent at NLK, just as I was preparing to leave, I met one of the staff there who saw my long lens and came over, he is a birder (I think he called himself A.J.) and said if I came back to ask for him and we could work out a more dedicated birding program. Worth an enquiry.
Jungle birding is tough, both physically (if you are toting 15kgs in gear around with you as I do !) and in spotting birds, though easier in places like KNP & Poring (and I believe Danum though I didn't have time to visit there on this occasion) and of course I don't need to carry all that gear on river trips so it's very relaxing and enjoyable, the Canopy Walks (RDC and Poring) don't produce many birds, very very few in fact, though the views are great !
There is just so much habitat and bird densities are relatively low though species numbers high. Those 7 days produced about 70-80 species for me (I only count those I photographed or had great views of) though I know many flybys went unrecorded and a guide would find you may more birds and help you ID them too. Probably 90% of those birds are lifers for me though as there is very little species duplication with China !