attila
Active member
Hi,
Shortly back from a 2-week trip to Peninsular Malaysia between 17 and 31 March. Trip list is still on the way and I am not sure whether we will put together a proper trip report but here are some observations. If you need some more information I am glad to provide it.
We (a group of 5 birdwatchers and my girlfriend) visited Kuala Selangor/Tanjung Karang, Fraser's Hill, the Gap and Taman Negara. The weather was very rainy it was raining almost every afternoon what was really unexpected.
We spent 2 mornings and an afternoon at Taman Alam NP at Kuala Selangor, which was a great introduction to Malaysia. Highlights were the many Brahminy Kites, Pink-necked Green-Pigeons, Large-tailed Nightjar, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Blue-throated and Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Laced and Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker, Pied Triller, Ashy Tailorbird, Mangrove Whistler, Golden-bellied Gerygone and Tiger Shrike. We couldn't find Chestnut-bellied Malkoha, Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher and Olive-winged Bulbul though.
We also visited the seaside at Tanjung Karang that only produced a few waders and terns. The most interesting was to see at least 3 Javan Pond-Herons in summer plumage that should be vagrants according to Robson's Birds of South-East Asia. The ricefields at Tanjung Karang were rewarding with Cinnamon Bittern, White-breasted Woodswallow and 4 species of Munia including White-headed and Black-headed.
Bad news is that the Gap Resthouse is closed due to renovation. The new road and the road to Raub was also closed because of landslides. The new road won't be opened for some time, we saw the landslide that tore half of the hillside apart along with a 50m section of the road. The upper section of it can be birded, you can drive all the way to the landslide and walk along the road where birding is great. There was also a half day closure of the old road because of a smaller landslide.
Best birds at Fraser's Hill where we spent 4 days were Malaysian Whistling-Thrush, Slaty-backed Forktail and nest building Silver-breasted Broadbills at the waterfall; Siberian and Orange-headed Thrush, Dusky Broadbill and a very close Blyth's Hawk-Eagle at the Dump; Raffle's and Red-billed Malkoha, Red-throated and Brown Barbet, Scaly-breasted Bulbul, Great and Wreathed Hornbill, Red-bearded Bee-eater, Blue Nuthatch along the upper section of the New Road; Long-tailed Broadbill and Collared Owlet on Bishop’s trail among many others. We failed to see any partridges on the trails, Cutia along the Telecom Loop and we searched for Brown Wood-Owl at the army camp but could only see Grey Nightjar.
We spent a morning and an afternoon at the Gap and saw Black-thighed Falconet, Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot, Malaysian Eared Nightjar, Orange-breasted Trogon, Whiskered Treeswift, Gold-whiskered Barbet, Rufous Piculet, Orange-backed and Maroon Woodpecker, Black Laughingthrush and White-hooded Babbler among many others.
We spent 6 days at Taman Negara and we could have spent another week if we wanted to see all the specilities of the park. We walked the Jenet Muda trail 3 times and we observed new species on each occasion. The best bird and undoubtedly bird of the trip was Great Argus that we saw twice crossing the trail in front of us. It was not at the usual lek but between the two gullies. Further good birds on Jenet Muda included Black-and-yellow and Green Broadbill, Rufous-chested Flycatcher, Black-capped and Grey-headed Babbler, Chestnut-backed Scimitar-Babbler, Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler and Crested Jay. We only heard Garnet Pitta and Malaysian Rail-Babbler.
The Lubok Simpon and River trails were also very productive, we saw here Crested Partridge, tame Crested Firebacks (also at the Mutiara Resort), Cinnamon-rumped Trogon, Black-backed Kingfisher, Crimson-winged and Buff-rumped Woodpecker, Fiery Minivet, Grey-bellied, Cream-vented, Grey-cheeked, Yellow-bellied, Hairy-backed, Buff-vented and Streaked Bulbul, White-chested, Sooty-capped, Moustached and Rufous-crowned Babbler, Long-billed Spiderhunter and Rufous-winged Philentoma.
The Mutiara Resort was very good in the early morning, there were 2-3 fruiting trees attracting Little Green Pigeon, Blue-rumped Parrot, Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot, Blue-eared Barbet, Black-headed, Red-eyed and Spectacled Bulbul and we saw Grey-breasted Spiderhunter and Black-bellied Malkoha there too.
We took a boat to Lata Berkoh at 8 in the morning and saw the Lesser Fish-Eagle, 2 Blue-banded Kingfishers, Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike, Straw-headed Bulbul, Spotted Fantail, Malaysian Blue-Flycatcher, Black Magpie along the river and Diard’s and Scarlet-rumped Trogon, Red-bearded Bee-eater, Rufous-chested Flycatcher along the trail to the rapids.
We also took a boat to Kuala Trenggan and walked to Kumbang Hide and back one morning seeing Large Wren-Babbler, Ferruginous and Horsfield’s Babbler, Brown Fulvetta among others.
Our only pitta seen was a confiding beautiful male Banded Pitta at the Swamp Loop Trail, while elsewhere Banded Pittas were frequently heard but not seen.
We participated at a night jeep safari where we saw Leopard Cat, Common Palm Civet and Slow Loris.
Finally we head very good views of a Spotted Wood-Owl at Jerantut close to the railway station following the description of the lady at LBK Restaurant’s travel office.
We saw 305 species of birds, many mammals, reptiles and butterflies during the two weeks in Peninsular Malaysia and we can only recommend this friendly and nice country to anyone interested in birds and wildlife.
Shortly back from a 2-week trip to Peninsular Malaysia between 17 and 31 March. Trip list is still on the way and I am not sure whether we will put together a proper trip report but here are some observations. If you need some more information I am glad to provide it.
We (a group of 5 birdwatchers and my girlfriend) visited Kuala Selangor/Tanjung Karang, Fraser's Hill, the Gap and Taman Negara. The weather was very rainy it was raining almost every afternoon what was really unexpected.
We spent 2 mornings and an afternoon at Taman Alam NP at Kuala Selangor, which was a great introduction to Malaysia. Highlights were the many Brahminy Kites, Pink-necked Green-Pigeons, Large-tailed Nightjar, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Blue-throated and Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Laced and Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker, Pied Triller, Ashy Tailorbird, Mangrove Whistler, Golden-bellied Gerygone and Tiger Shrike. We couldn't find Chestnut-bellied Malkoha, Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher and Olive-winged Bulbul though.
We also visited the seaside at Tanjung Karang that only produced a few waders and terns. The most interesting was to see at least 3 Javan Pond-Herons in summer plumage that should be vagrants according to Robson's Birds of South-East Asia. The ricefields at Tanjung Karang were rewarding with Cinnamon Bittern, White-breasted Woodswallow and 4 species of Munia including White-headed and Black-headed.
Bad news is that the Gap Resthouse is closed due to renovation. The new road and the road to Raub was also closed because of landslides. The new road won't be opened for some time, we saw the landslide that tore half of the hillside apart along with a 50m section of the road. The upper section of it can be birded, you can drive all the way to the landslide and walk along the road where birding is great. There was also a half day closure of the old road because of a smaller landslide.
Best birds at Fraser's Hill where we spent 4 days were Malaysian Whistling-Thrush, Slaty-backed Forktail and nest building Silver-breasted Broadbills at the waterfall; Siberian and Orange-headed Thrush, Dusky Broadbill and a very close Blyth's Hawk-Eagle at the Dump; Raffle's and Red-billed Malkoha, Red-throated and Brown Barbet, Scaly-breasted Bulbul, Great and Wreathed Hornbill, Red-bearded Bee-eater, Blue Nuthatch along the upper section of the New Road; Long-tailed Broadbill and Collared Owlet on Bishop’s trail among many others. We failed to see any partridges on the trails, Cutia along the Telecom Loop and we searched for Brown Wood-Owl at the army camp but could only see Grey Nightjar.
We spent a morning and an afternoon at the Gap and saw Black-thighed Falconet, Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot, Malaysian Eared Nightjar, Orange-breasted Trogon, Whiskered Treeswift, Gold-whiskered Barbet, Rufous Piculet, Orange-backed and Maroon Woodpecker, Black Laughingthrush and White-hooded Babbler among many others.
We spent 6 days at Taman Negara and we could have spent another week if we wanted to see all the specilities of the park. We walked the Jenet Muda trail 3 times and we observed new species on each occasion. The best bird and undoubtedly bird of the trip was Great Argus that we saw twice crossing the trail in front of us. It was not at the usual lek but between the two gullies. Further good birds on Jenet Muda included Black-and-yellow and Green Broadbill, Rufous-chested Flycatcher, Black-capped and Grey-headed Babbler, Chestnut-backed Scimitar-Babbler, Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler and Crested Jay. We only heard Garnet Pitta and Malaysian Rail-Babbler.
The Lubok Simpon and River trails were also very productive, we saw here Crested Partridge, tame Crested Firebacks (also at the Mutiara Resort), Cinnamon-rumped Trogon, Black-backed Kingfisher, Crimson-winged and Buff-rumped Woodpecker, Fiery Minivet, Grey-bellied, Cream-vented, Grey-cheeked, Yellow-bellied, Hairy-backed, Buff-vented and Streaked Bulbul, White-chested, Sooty-capped, Moustached and Rufous-crowned Babbler, Long-billed Spiderhunter and Rufous-winged Philentoma.
The Mutiara Resort was very good in the early morning, there were 2-3 fruiting trees attracting Little Green Pigeon, Blue-rumped Parrot, Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot, Blue-eared Barbet, Black-headed, Red-eyed and Spectacled Bulbul and we saw Grey-breasted Spiderhunter and Black-bellied Malkoha there too.
We took a boat to Lata Berkoh at 8 in the morning and saw the Lesser Fish-Eagle, 2 Blue-banded Kingfishers, Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike, Straw-headed Bulbul, Spotted Fantail, Malaysian Blue-Flycatcher, Black Magpie along the river and Diard’s and Scarlet-rumped Trogon, Red-bearded Bee-eater, Rufous-chested Flycatcher along the trail to the rapids.
We also took a boat to Kuala Trenggan and walked to Kumbang Hide and back one morning seeing Large Wren-Babbler, Ferruginous and Horsfield’s Babbler, Brown Fulvetta among others.
Our only pitta seen was a confiding beautiful male Banded Pitta at the Swamp Loop Trail, while elsewhere Banded Pittas were frequently heard but not seen.
We participated at a night jeep safari where we saw Leopard Cat, Common Palm Civet and Slow Loris.
Finally we head very good views of a Spotted Wood-Owl at Jerantut close to the railway station following the description of the lady at LBK Restaurant’s travel office.
We saw 305 species of birds, many mammals, reptiles and butterflies during the two weeks in Peninsular Malaysia and we can only recommend this friendly and nice country to anyone interested in birds and wildlife.
