Wildlife of S. E. Asia and S. America. A Photo Journal by Francis Burlingham.: 2026

Introduction

Over the last few years I have been lucky enough to live in Thailand, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Colombia and now Brunei. In my spare time I have had the opportunity to travel fairly widely, camera in hand, in search of wildlife. In these posts I aim to share some of these experiences and show you some of the extraordinary wildlife that can be found in these regions. All of the photographs you see within the posts and pages here are my own unless otherwise stated. Copyright © Francis Burlingham 2015

Wednesday, 23 September 2026

Flying Frogs and Horned Frogs in Temburong.

Last night a couple of friends invited me on a night walk to look for unusual frogs in Temburong near the Malaysian border. We spent several hours on a trail into the jungle and came across upwards of 15 species of frog.

Leptomantis rufipes (Red-legged Tree Frog) Temburong Brunei Borneo

I was lucky enough to take advantage of my companions keen eyesight and experience as I would have walked past many of these cryptic frog species. My main wish was to see a flying frog for the first time and I was not disappointed.

Rhacophorus pardalis (Harlequin Flying Frog) Temburong Brunei Borneo

The beautiful harlequin flying frog was one of the first species that we encountered.

Rhacophorus pardalis (Harlequin Flying Frog) Temburong Brunei Borneo

Shortly after the flying frog we came across this huge file-eared tree frog sitting in the middle of the trail.

Polypedates otilophus (File-eared Tree Frog) Temburong Brunei Borneo

Another specimen was found in the trees by the trail.

Polypedates otilophus (File-eared Tree Frog) Temburong Brunei Borneo

Next we came across a rather rarer flying/tree frog species mating by a puddle.

Leptomantis rufipes (Red-legged Tree Frog) Temburong Brunei Borneo

In the same puddle were a pair of mating sticky frogs and a crested toad.

Kalophrynus pleurostigma (Black-spotted Sticky Frog) and friends

The sticky frogs had laid many single eggs which were floating in the pool.

Ingerophrynus divergens (Crested Toad) Temburong Brunei Borneo

We found the Red legged tree frog pair had moved from the branch to the puddle on our return journey, where clinging to the bank they displayed the vivid red webbing between the toes.

Leptomantis rufipes (Red-legged Tree Frog) Temburong Brunei Borneo

The next unusual frog we encountered was the charismatic horned frog. A creature superbly camouflaged in the leaf litter and sporting a number of incredible horns and spikes that give it a unique appearance. We saw both a male and female.

Pelobatrachus nasutus (Malayan Horned Frog ) Temburong Brunei Borneo. (Female)

Pelobatrachus nasutus (Malayan Horned Frog ) Temburong Brunei Borneo. (Male)

Pelobatrachus nasutus (Malayan Horned Frog ) Temburong Brunei Borneo. (Female)

We also encountered roosting black hornbills, a mouse deer and a couple of vipers.

Tropidolaemus subannulatus (Bornean Pit Viper) Temburong Brunei Borneo

This cool leaf mantis was another good find and we also encountered a nice phasmid.

Leaf Mantis species Temburong Brunei Borneo.

I did not shoot the phasmid, but got these photos of the same species last time I was in Temburong.

Haaniella sps Temburong Brunei Borneo

Saturday, 5 September 2026

A Tarsier in Brunei's costal forest at Jerudong.

Last night I went in search of Tarsiers. A friend had somewhat surprisingly, photographed one in heavily degraded secondary forest at Jerudong and was kind enough to take me along in the hope of another sighting. Along the way we came across this beautiful whip snake sleeping in the low bushes near the path.

Ahaetulla prasina (Oriental Whip Snake) Jerudong Brunei Borneo

Along the path we spotted the eye shine of a few mammals. At one point a pair of eyes glowed back at us with an incredibly bright almost greenish hue. This was possibly a slow loris, these had been spotted in the area previously. Giving a more orange eye shine were a number of civet cats which moved quickly through the branches. None of these mammals were either still enough or close enough to get a good photo.

Civet cat species. Jerudong Brunei Borneo

We were not disappointed however in our search for the Tarsier. Unfortunately this beautiful little mammal was a little disturbed by our presence and did not hang around for long before leaping off through the bushes. I did manage to get a few shots but not of the best quality, and only one blurry one with it looking at the camera.

Western Tarsier

Cephalopachus bancanus borneanus (Western Tarsier) Jerudong Brunei Borneo

I will return and try to get a better photograph.

I also photographed this lovely bent toed gecko amongst the leaf litter.

Cyrtodactylus pubisulcus (Grooved Bent-toed Gecko) Jerudong Brunei Borneo

Saturday, 4 July 2026

Hissing Sid Has Swallowed Toad

Once again, the spitting cobra made an appearance in my garden. This time I watched as it slowly devoured a toad, putting me in mind of the lyrics from Captain Beaky by Keith Michelle;

Hissing Sid

'Oh how they ran to save poor Toad,

For they must find that Snake's abode.

Guided by old Batty Bat,

Dot - dot, go this way, Dash ¬ go that.

Then Hissing Sid's lair they espied.

Were they too late ? Was he inside ?

Said Reckless Rat, 'I'll get a pole,

And stop him going down his hole.'

Then into sight the Snake came hopping,

Right past his hole, no sign of stopping

Said Reckless Rat, 'That's rather funny,

There's something jumping in his tummy.'

Said Captain Beaky, 'Well, I'm blowed,

Hissing Sid has swallowed Toad.'

And as the Snake hopped out of sight,

Off they chased into the night.'

Toad did not survive.

Naja sumatrana (Equitorial spitting cobra) Brunei Borneo

This harmless whip snake also visited the garden recently.

Ahaetulla prasina (Oriental Whip Snake) Brunei Borneo

Thursday, 14 May 2026

The Teraja Waterfalls of Labi, Brunei

One of my favourite places to walk in Brunei is along the river and numerous waterfalls beyond the Teraja longhouse in Labi. It takes a good 1hour 40mins from Bandar to get there but it is worth the effort.

I always find butterflies here worth photographing.

Losaria neptunus, (Yellow Bodied Clubtail) Teraja Labi Brunei

The river here runs over sandstone rather than the clays nearer the capital and as a result the river is clear with a sandy bottom with many waterfalls creating pools that are perfect for a swim.

Upper Teraja Waterfall

The first and main waterfall has a large deep pool at the base and over the last year has had a couple of large logs wash over it, providing a fun place to jump off.

The main Teraja Waterfall

There are often swiftlets wheeling over the pool in search of insects and they occasionally skim the water surface to drink.

Swiftlet drinking

The forest here is teaming with life and is the only place in Brunei where I have seen red leaf monkeys, although sadly I am yet to get a photograph. There are plenty of frogs here and the black spotted rock skipper is common in the upper reaches of the river.

Black-spotted Rock Skipper (Staurois guttatus).

This frog was resting on a wild banana leaf but was being plagued by mosquitoes, three of which are in this picture.

Chalcorana raniceps (Copper cheeked frog) with hungry mosquitoes

There are always plenty of butterflies and one of the highlights are the tree nymphs, giant butterflies that seem to float like paper on the wind. I haven’t quite worked out which of two very similar species this one is yet. Either Idea lynceus(Malayan Giant Tree Nymph) or Idea stolli (Comnon Tree Nymph).

(Tree Nymph) Wasai Teraja Brunei

A Jay butterfly extracting mineral salts and excreting the excess water.

Graphium evemon (Lesser Jay)

This group of swordtails seemed to be attracted by the colour of the plastic bag that had been dropped near the start of the trail.

Graphium antiphates (Five Bar Swordtail)

Here are few of the other butterflies that I have encountered.

Neorina lowii (Malayan Owl)

Paralaxita telesia (Comon Red Harlequin)

Thaumantis odana pishuna (Malayan Jungle Glory)

This ground orchid is particularly common here covering large areas of the forest floor near the trail.

Plocoglottis plicata (Ground Orchid) Teraja Labi Brunei

This serpent crested eagle was on the wires by the road to the longhouse.

Spilornis cheela (Crested Serpent Eagle)

I have seen plenty of different birds including groups of different hornbill species that I have yet to photograph. I took this picture of a pied hornbill at Luagan Lalak on the way back from my last visit.