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'Scope or not? (2 Viewers)

A

Alf King

Well-known member
A simple question, I hope.

We are doing a birding trip to Sabah in May, taking in Kinabalu Park, Poring, Sepilok, Sukau (Kinabatangan), Tabin and Danum Valley; we have never visited Borneo or even Malaysia before.

Is it necessary or even useful to take a 'scope on a trip such as this or would it be largely superfluous? I am in my 60's and no longer find carrying a 'scope and tripod on my back for long periods to be an easy matter.

Thanks in advance for any constructive advice.
 
short answer

necessary - no

useful - occasionally. particularly at danum valley you may encounter barbets, bristleheads etc. perched at the top of distant trees - here a scope will make the difference between good and bad views, but you need to weigh that against the fact that the majority of the time in the areas you are visiting it will be of limited benefit

cheers,
James
 
One addition: if the weather is crap in Danum, you can't see the top of the trees ;-)
Once in the forest, no scope needed (the forest is bloody dark!). Forest edge: useful.
 
Thanks guys.

On balance I think I'll leave it at home. Binoculars and DSLR with biggish lens will probably be as much as I can cope with.
 
Alf: I do find a scope usefull in Sabah... Especially for the smaller birds and canopy species - I remember great scope time with Whiteheads Spiderhunter as one where a scope was very important. If you have not gotten a guide yet I would recommend you to write horukuru a PM... he is one of the best... In case he is not available he know some great guides there.

I just came back from Sabah last month - not going with horukuru though: but a couple of other great birding guides: 171species in 12days... and this was not a designated birding trip
 
Hi alf, just to confirm, when I went to sabah, neither I nor my guides at danum and kinabatangan had a scope and most of the time it was fine. Of course there were some occasions when it would have been a bonus . but in the forest interior and the canoes it would have been a hindrance
James
 
I think this subject has come up before for Borneo? I'd say it's one of few places where you won't miss taking one vs the hassle of carrying one.
 
There's no hassle in just bunging the scope itself into your backpack, they weigh basically nothing and then it's there if you need it and in the forest there's no shortage of things to balance it on
 
Alf King said:
Do you recommend a scope for all of these sites then Horokuru?

If so, why in particular?

Thanks for your input.
Click to expand...

Alf,

You need to see your priority on these trip. Bird photography or birdwatching. I used the scope when I walked on the access road at those places with Digiscoping and long lens inside the trails and also on the boat for river cruise at Kinabatangan River.

When you wanted to see the Bornean Bristlehead and other birds at Sepilok from the Tower, sometimes it could be seen near the Bristlehead or Trogon Tower, allowing full frame pictures and videos. But it seldom happened based on my observation. So for me, scope is more useful here than the long lens unless you have someone to carry the scope and you carry the long lens ;)

When I lead tours in Sabah, I informed my clients in advance the plan for the next day. Either birding along the access road or trails. Then they will know when to use the scope etc

Whitehead’s Spiderhunter (treetop specialist) from the main road at Tambunan Rafflesia Centre with Swarovski STX 65 + TLS APO + Nikon V1 ~ 25x = 2025mm :king:

DSC_5670 Whitehead's Spiderhunter (Endemic).JPG
 
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I do not own a scope, but my usual guide does so I can use his. I have often gotten by just with binoculars (30+ times in Sabah).

horukuru: excellent picture of the spiderhunter: I usually catch it by the waterfall:)
 
Hi, I saw/identified no species with the scope which I would miss otherwise. Scope was useful only few times, in canopy tower on Sepilok and treetops in Poring but not really necessary in both. Usually there were no good conditions to scan for tree canopies and lots of walking in hot forest where scope is a drag.
 
kurakura said:
I do not own a scope, but my usual guide does so I can use his. I have often gotten by just with binoculars (30+ times in Sabah).

horukuru: excellent picture of the spiderhunter: I usually catch it by the waterfall:)
Click to expand...

Hehehe that's my backup plan if I don't see it on my usual place ;)
 
Thanks guys.

Very valuable and helpful advice from which I shall make up my own mind nearer the time, and bear the consequences of that decision. I do have different guides organised at different places so don't know who, if anyone, will carry a 'scope at the time. I guess that this would be a good time for me to ask the question of the people who are organising it for me - d'ohh!

Oh, and my priority is birdwatching but I do like to take a few amateurish snaps. I never could get to grips with digiscoping!!
 
Well, we had a great trip. I didn't take my 'scope and never needed one although all of the guides that we used had 'scopes of their own they never proved necessary.

Birding was a bit more difficult than we had anticipated, probably due to our ineptitude, and there was a fair amount of walking involved especially around Kinabalu Park.

Sabah is truly a wonderful place with great birding, lovely people and excellent facilities so if anyone is thinking about going, don't think just go - you won't regret it.
 
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