It’s Halloween 🎃 👻. So some birds proving nature can be a bit grim… 1. Yellow-billed Oxpecker, drinking blood from 2. Black-winged Kite, tearing into some lunch 3. Southern Ground-Hornbill, dismembers a tortoise 4. Martial Eagle, with an African Wildcat for takeaway #birds #birding #horror

The Birds of Bela Vista Wetland. I spent quite a long time counting birds there, was great fun. journals.uct.ac.za/index.php/AB... Mozambique is really v important for wintering waders, but is very under-surveyed. Definitely needs more work at all estuaries. #ornithology

Sacred Kingfisher A pretty thing. Apparently the ‘sacred’ is because these were respected by Polynesians as they a) frequently lived in burial grounds and b) could control the waves. Bali, Indonesia, Aug 26 #birds #birding #birdphotography #kingfisher #birdsseenin2026

Freckle-breasted Woodpecker Watching a youngster being fed was interesting, especially as these birds were quite defensive of the food, chasing away the bulbuls. Bali, Indonesia, Aug 26. #birds #birding #birdphotography #woodpeckers #birdsseenin2026

Crested Jayshrike A really cool bird and in a monotypic family, i.e. a family with only one species. Quite widespread, but seemingly always hard to see well and trickier still to photograph. Kaeng Krachan, Thailand, Feb 26 #birds #birding #birdphotography #birdsseenin2026

Citrine Canary-flycatcher These little yellow flycatchers are pretty common in Sulawesi once you get above 500m. Also found on islands off Borneo and much of the Philippines. Sulawesi, Oct 26. #birds #birding #birdphotography #flycatchers #birdsseenin2026

Tickell’s Brown Hornbill A medium-sized hornbill found in W Thailand and S Myanmar. They live in small groups and are cooperative breeders, with multiple males bringing food to the female on the nest. Kaeng Krachan, Thailand, Mar 26. #birds #birding #hornbills #birdphotography #birdsseenin2026

Silvereye A white-eye by any other name is still a white-eye… Margaret River area. W Australia. May 2026 #birds #birding #birdphotography #zosterops #birdsseenin2026

Javan Surili (Javan Leaf Monkey) A vulnerable species endemic to Java and now restricted to a few forested areas. Much of its habitat has been deforested. Gede, Java, Indonesia, Sept 26 #primates #mammals #wildlife #conservation

Pygmy Bushtit Only 9cm, it’s one of Indonesia’s smallest birds and it’s only found on Java. Being tiny and fast made them hard to photo, add user error and these are not the best pics. But it is cute! Cibodas, Java, Indonesia, Sept 26 #birds #birding #birdphotography #birdsseenin2026

What’s the (Th)Rush? 1. Scaly (Horsfield’s) Thrush 2. Sunda Thrush 3. Sundaic Island Thrush Cibodas / Gede, Java, Indonesia, Sept 26 #birds #birding #birdphotography #thrush #birdsseenin2026

Javan Cochoa Vu. Endemic to Java, only found at a few spots. Gede, Java, Indonesia, Sept 26 #birds #birding #birdsseenin2026 #birdphotography

Javan Frogmouth Endemic to Java. Seen thanks to Adunbahrum (see FB/Insta) who knew the stakeout. Not the best pic, it was pretty dark and dimly lit. Cibodas, Java, Indonesia, Sept 26 #birds #birding #birdphotography #frogmouth #birdsseenin2026

Salvadori’s Nightjar Caprimulgus pulchellus - see below. Endemic to Java and Sumatra. These would be hard to spot without someone like Adunbahrum who knows a roost tree. Cibodas Botanic Garden, Java, Indonesia, Sept 26. #birds #birding #birdphotography #nightjar #birdsseenin2026

Indigo Flycatcher A rather attractive little creature. Found at montane / sub-montane forests on Java, Sumatra and Borneo. Gng Gede, Java, Indonesia. Sept 26 #birds #birding #birdphotography #flycatchers #birdsseenin2026

Pink-headed Fruit Dove A truly beautiful dove, possibly one of the loveliest I’ve seen. We saw this at the upper campsite on Gunung Gede definitely worth the hike! @adunbahrum thanks 🙏 for guiding. Gng Gede, Java, Indonesia. Sept 26 #birds #birding #birdphotography #doves #birdsseenin2026

Javan Woodcock Now, this is a special bird… I’ve written a bit of waffle about these in a few replies below. Java, Indonesia, Sept 26 #birds #birding #birdphotography #woodcock #birdsseenin2026

Javan Trogon 1/2 Vulnerable. Another special bird found at only a handful of sites in West Java. Trogons are very pretty colourful birds, but they can sit motionless in silence so are easily missed. Gunung Gede, Java, Sept 26 #birds #birding #birdphotography #trogon #birdsseenin2026

Rufous-fronted Laughingthrush Endangered. Mainly due to the illegal cage bird trade. This species is apparently not seen often and then really only at one or two sites. Java, Indonesia, Sept 26 #birds #birding #birdphotography #endangeredspecies #birdsseenin2026

Javan Whistling-Thrush 1/2 Seen backlit these can look rather blackish and dull, but when seen well the colour shines and a wonderful deep blue is revealed. Only found in montane forests of Java and Bali. Java, Sept 26 #birds #birding #birdphotography #wildlifephotography #birdsseenin2026

Javan Tesia These little (7cm) things behave like mice, crawling through the undergrowth. They do have a tail, albeit a very short one. Quite common on Gunung Gede. Endemic to forested Mtns (1000-3000m) on Java. Gunung Gede, Java, Sept 26 #birds #birding #birdphotography #birdsseenin2026

Fire-tufted Barbet A wasp for food, beaten to eject the sting, as per a bee-eater. Native to Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia. There is a population at Gunung Gede, Java originating from escaped cage birds. Gunung Gede, Java, Sept 26 #birds #birding #birdphotography #barbet #birdsseenin2026

Fulvous-chested Jungle-flycatcher This one is found in dry lowland forests from Myanmar, Thailand, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, Bali and some other smaller islands. Bali, Aug 2026 #birds #birding #birdphotography #flycatcher #birdsseenin2025

Ornate Pitta As with many forest floor species we heard more than we saw. At least 6 were calling at one point, but we only saw 2. One was part of a bird under a bush, but we had clear views of this habilitated bird that put on a show… Lombok, Aug 26 #birds #birding #pitta #birdsseenin2026

The Birds of Bela Vista Wetland journals.uct.ac.za/index.php/AB... Here is an article about Bela Vista Wetlands to the south of Maputo. Hopefully you'll find it interesting, it is a site worthy of more attention and protection. #birds #ornithology #birding

1. Beach Stone-Curlew 2. Barred Buttonquail Representatives or two of the more unusual looking shorebird families. The Beach Stone-Curlew was especially fun, look at that beak! Bali, Indonesia, Aug 26 #birds #birding #birdphotography #waders #birdsseenin2026

Rinjani Scops Owl Lombok’s only endemic bird. Near Threatened due to a small range and habitat loss. They were calling in the grounds of where we stayed and by following the call they were fairly easy to find. Lombok, Indonesia, Aug 26 #birds #birding #birdphotography #owls #birdsseenin2026

Rufous-backed Dwarf Kingfisher One of my girls said it reminded her of a ripe red mango. If only they were as static as a piece of fruit. Instead these beauties zoom past, Technicolor darts through the forest. Bali, Indonesia, Aug 26 #birds #birding #birdphotography #kingfisher #birdseenin2026

Black-naped Monarch An attractive monarch flycatcher. Widespread and common species across much of South Asia. Found in a variety of forests and woodlands. Bali, Indonesia, Aug 26 #birds #birding #birdphotography #naturephotography #birdsseenin2026

Green Junglefowl A snazzy looking chap. But only a first year bird, fully developed males have much more impressive fleshy combs and wattles. Bali, Indonesia, Aug 26 #birds #birding #birdphotography #junglefowl #birdsseenin2026