Lucky shots of the Oriental Pied Hornbill

I have taken photos of hornbills at varying distances but never close enough in which details of the birds' plumage and features would show up crisp and clear. I had waited for the lucky day. My patience was rewarded with some fabulous shots of the Oriental Pied Hornbill. This juvenile flew quietly to a tree just above my position and immediately went about foraging for figs, one of  the hornbills favorite food. Deeply consumed in it's activity it did not notice my presence. 

I seized the golden opportunity and took aim. After a couple of 'misses and near misses' to get the perfect shot (it was hopping from branch to branch) I finally 'got it' - 'full frame'. :-)

 

Close-up with a Laced Woodpecker ( Picus Vittatus ) 27-33 cm

Birders would invariably wish to watch birds up-close, as close as they possibly could without stressing the birds. However there are occasions when the birds fly and perch so incredibly close that it 'stuns' the birder! All one could do is to remain completely 'stoned stiff' lest the slightest movement frightens off the bird/s.

In this instance I was in luck. This Woody was quite happy jumping around the same vicinity and gave me the opportunity to take some really close shots - although not precisely the full bird I would have wished for. But I am not complaining. 

Green Crested Lizard ( Bronchocela cristatella ) Size (snout to vent) : 13 cm Size (total length) : 57 cm

This Green Crested Lizard had just caught a large cricket for it's lunch. It already had the cricket in it's mouth when I it jumped from the nearby shrub on to a tree. The cricket is enough to keep the lizard 'happy' till dinner time, I guess. :-)

Maliau Basin - home of one of the world's smallest frog!

Variable Sticky frog (Kalophrynus heterochirus) and only found in Borneo (Sabah, Sarawak & Kalimantan).
Whilst the acidic waters in the rivers of Maliau Basin support relatively few fish species, more than 30 species of amphibians have been found , including  a frog that makes it's home in pitcher plants! This specie is just a mere 1/2 in. The following photos demonstrates how tiny this frog is!