Phillipps’ Field Guide to the Birds Of Borneo – Book Review
The Phillipps’ Field Guide to the Birds of Borneo – Third Edition Revised
This updated, revised guide is the work of Quentin Phillipps and Karen Phillipps.
Covering a total 673 species of birds from the Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Kalimantan areas. The colorful bird illustrations surpass the 2000 mark in 141 color plates.
As one can immediately realize you have a complete description in multiple stages of bird development, mapping of occurrence and distribution for all locations.
This guide gives account of all the best bird locations, information that includes description of the complete environment.
I consider it to be a very important idea of having this guide in my luggage along with my photographic gear when I visit picturesque Borneo!
This review was written by H.J. Ruiz – Avian101.wordpress.com – April 4th, 2014
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Spring Loaded
It’s so nice to wake up to a sunny and bright morning lately. One is able to hear the birds singing… (Most likely voicing their protests for more seeds!)
Really, as soon as I get up in the morning I look out the window, and already can see a bunch of birds perched on the deck railing giving me the evil eye! Oh yes, they can be demanding, of course they do it purposely to make me feel guilty.
By the way, I bought bird seeds because I was low but I went to Sam’s Club this time instead of The Tractor Supply. Noticed big difference when it comes to quality and diversity of seeds. I usually buy the wild bird mix, I was very pleased with Sam’s mix seeds, looked clean and fresh, no weird seeds or pumice rocks!
- – My Eastern Bluebird tenants are still there but I don’t see them often. They’re very independent and not so social.
- – One day right after I finished a photo session and put the camera away, I looked outside and I saw a Cooper’s Hawk on the deck, he saw me and got spooked.
- – The Brown-headed Cowbird and Red-winged Blackbird are back in town and I see them more often.
- – I was happy to see a couple of Northern Mockingbirds back too.
- – Many trees are in bloom others are getting more dense with new leaves, the grass is beginning to show green.
“If you ask me… I’m happy to feel the Spring as should be felt!”
Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz – Avian101
Eastern Bluebird (M)
Northern Mockingbird
Red-winged Blackbird (F)
Red-winged Blackbird (M)
Red-winged Blackbird (F)
Red-winged Blackbird (M)
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Dancing in the Rain…Not!
It rained hard and for long periods of time overnight and extended throughout the next day but in less intensity, added to this it was dark and not so encouraging for photography. Of course I could care less and went out anyway, filled the bird feeders and got my camera ready to shoot, my purpose was to witness first hand what birds go through in more detail under rainy days!
At first I had a bit of difficulty to get the camera to give the shots I wanted, being so dark and…wet! Plants, ground, wood, leaves, etc most everything turns darker when wet! Then I got the camera set the way I wanted finally. Shot a series of pictures of what goes on with birds to get their meals under the rain. This session showed me the drama scene of all the participants: Birds with flaring tempers, sopping wet feathers, water-repelling feathers in others, soggy seeds and water dripping wings.
Some birds opt for not braving the rain for a while and shelter under brush or shrubs. They eventually take advantage of lulls of the rain force and go for their meals. It’s tough for everybody when it rains for long periods of time.
“I imagine that these birds wouldn’t have Gene Kelly as a friend!”
Have a look at some pictures, enjoy!
Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz – Avian101
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O be some other name! What’s in a name?
Considering the possibility that some of my readers might be getting a bit confused with the type of sparrows that I usually display on my daily posts. I decided to feature a gallery of the five sparrows that frequent my backyard. This way you may easily distinguish the main characteristics to identify them from each other and name them correctly.
Visual comparison is the key for correctly identify these sparrows, the difference in size variance is minimal so is not a factor in this case.
Right now the most abundant sparrow in my backyard is the Field Sparrow, albeit almost absent last year.
I hope that by doing this visual comparison might help you dissipate your doubts about sparrows and distance you from saying just “sparrows” regardless of what type they are.
Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz – Avian101
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Read Past Reviews
Book # 69
Quote from the Author
“A good chuckle is healthy, it helps you break the monotony of a serious life.” ~ H.J. Ruiz
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