Some honourable mentions before I post the pièce de résistance
1) The immaculate Troides andromache were present on all days, and the females, with almost entirely ash-grey forewings, were just spectacular. None provided any shooting opportunities, despite the numerous nectaring plants that seemed to be growing around...
2) The nominate Trogonoptera brookiana ssp. brookiana. As above with Troides...see but no touch.
3) On one day I saw a very unusual butterfly that was entirely new to me show up at the puddling site. It, however, never stayed, and I only saw it land for a split second. But the sight is burned into my brain, and I can't seem to identify it. Here's the description: A nymphalid, about the size of a Dichorragia, or a slightly larger Stibochiona; flight powerful and very erratic, just like Dichorragia; body and wings entirely black and unmarked, sans for a white dot on the tip of the forewing, much like Rohana, but behavior, size, and biology described as above ^. I want to believe its a Stibochiona, and the only Bornean endemic I can think of is S. persephone, but a photo of it is not available online. Aaron, or Dr. Seow, if you're reading this and if anything you know matches the description, i'd be interested in hearing your thoughts.
4) The unique and peculiar Amnosia decora showed up on the first day. Both sexes were seen flying about and ducking under leaves. I didn't get any good shots.
5) At a sunlit patch of forest created by a fallen tree, I saw, in the canopy, a myriad of amazing lycaenids just absolutely living their best lives. Jacoona, Neocheritra, Drupadia, Neomyrina, and the other usual long-tailed canopy dwelling lycaenids were to be found. I saw amongst the mix what I could have sworn to be Iraota abnormis. It was fairly large, white on the underside with some speckling of brown; flight was very territorial and purposeful. Alas without a picture, it will only remain a myth.....
which brings me to this!
Poritia plateni
Poritia plateni
Poritia plateni! Another "book species", and perhaps my best find so far (second only to Hypochrysops coelisparsus I posted some years ago). I found this freshly eclosed female fumbling down a tree like a moth, before resting on a very lofty blade of grass on a vertically inclined slope. For this I had to balance with one hand gripping onto a clump of vegetation, while climbing up the slope, and with my other hand stretched a full 180 degrees with my 2.5 kilogram camera gear. I had to use my tongue and fingers on one hand to change ISO settings! Needless to say sorry for the slightly out of focus shot, but I dare say what a find!
Sabah turned out way better than I had hoped.
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Originally Posted by MinuteMaid
