A last chance at some montane birds before dropping back down into Kota Kinabalu and flying straight over to Sandakan in the east. With no breakfast (or anything else) on offer at the Tambunan Inn we headed straight to the Raffelesia Information Centre by the road up and over the Crocker Range. It wasn't open but they allowed us access to the gardens. Sadly these are a bit limited and access to the gated trails out the back is by special arrangement only. Around the carpark and gardens I winkled out several
Temminck's Sunbirds, Olive-backed Sunbird, Bornean Whistling Thrush, 2 Chestnut-crested Yuhinas, 3 Black-sided Flowerpeckers, 2 Black-capped White-eyes and
Bornean Treepie. Then a stroke of luck - a
Black-breasted Fruithunter flew over my head in the carpark!
I found the whole area frustrating to bird because apart from the RIC the birding is limited to roadsides only and the road is busy. We did find a spot to check a few km further on where I finally scored with a nice pair of
Bornean Leafbirds plus
2 Fiery Minivets and
Raffles Malkoha.
Temminck's Sunbird
Chestnut-crested Yuhina
Dropping back down into KK via a roadside local cafe we returned the car and after a wait and a traditional meal (McDs!) we caught our plane over to Sandakan and the lowlands of eastern Sabah for the next phase of the trip. We arrived after dark so took a taxi to Sepilok Forest Edge Resort where we checked in, had dinner and looked forward to what tomorrow would bring.
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