Malaysia (1 Viewer)

[thyoloalethe]

I'm planning my first trip to Malaysia next year, both Peninsular and Sabah, along with a bit of Thailand, and most of it non-guided. I'm not likely to get there until September, but I'm wondering if there are better times of the year to get some of the more desirable and difficult species such as Malay Banded Pitta and Rail-babbler?

I'm also looking for advice on field guides--I seem to be settling on Craig Robson's Birds of Southeast Asia (2nd Edition) for the Peninsula and Thailand (despite the lack of range maps), and the Susan Myers guide for Borneo (rather than the Phillipps' Guide), but please redirect me if you think I should be considering something else!

Cheers,
Liam

 

[halftwo]

Hi Liam,

First of all the books are spot on.

If you're heading for Thailand I'd hold off until Nov if you can. The rains don't finish until Oct - and eg Kaeng Kachan will be closed until after that.
Let us have some more details and we can give further advice.

H

 

[thyoloalethe]

Great, thanks for the tip. Will seek further advice here as the plans advance over the coming months.

 

[amears]

Liam, I just had a quick scan of Birdtour Asia's trip report list and they feature a lot of Pen Malaysia and Borneo trips from March through to Nov. Suggest a close look would be very worthwhile and you could do the same for Thailand.
Cheers,
Andy

 

[thyoloalethe]

Thanks Andy - I'll read through these. Looks like most of the year is good for Malaysia.
Cheers,
Liam

 

[Jim M.]

I'm also looking for advice on field guides--I seem to be settling on Craig Robson's Birds of Southeast Asia (2nd Edition) for the Peninsula and Thailand (despite the lack of range maps), and the Susan Myers guide for Borneo (rather than the Phillipps' Guide), but please redirect me if you think I should be considering something else!

The Robson book you reference is the full guide. There is also a concise guide: http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/birds-of-south-east-asia-9781472924230/

The concise guide (2005) is lighter and has all the text opposite the plates; however, the 2d ed. of the full guide (2009) covers a few splits/species not covered in the concise guide, and has a bit more descriptive text. But the concise guide is better for use in the field. The Robson Thailand guide (2002) is also more convenient for field use in Thailand since it has maps and only includes Thai birds. I opted for the lighter guides, and don't regret it--though would be nice to have the full 2d edition as a reference, and the most up to date guide, as well.

As for timing Nigel Wheatley suggests March-April is peak time for peninsular Malaysia, since vocal activity for e.g. Pittas is highest.

 

[amears]

A few real examples. I visited Pen Malaysia in April and July; and Sabah in April and August:

Giant Pittas called both times at Danum but not much. What was thought to be an unpaired female was very responsive in April however;
Blue-banded and Blue-headed were calling both times;
Garnets were calling at Taman Negara both times;
Malay Banded was slightly easier in April;
Bornean Banded was hard both times;
Rail-babblers were calling and responsive at Taman Negara both times;
Rusty-naped Pittas were calling in April but not in August - and this might be the most meaningful example here in fact.

 

[Jim M.]

Some more data: Was at Taman Negara in July and both Garnet and Malayan Banded were calling, as well as Rail-babbler. But I didn't see the last (though others did). Mangrove Pitta was not calling at Kuala Selangor.

 

[James Eaton]

Birds in Malaysia call throughout the year, no specific calling period in my opinion except for weather and fruit related periods which vary from year-to-year and are very unpredictable. I haven't noticed any specific vocal periods in my years of living here that remain consistent year-after-year. I think a lot of talk about peak vocal periods in tropical, lowland South-east Asia is very much a myth.

It does rain more December-February however.

Kuala Selangor only has 1-2 pairs of Mangrove Pitta now unfortunately, I rarely hear them.

You'll have a great time whichever month you visit - next year will be interesting as the last half of 2015 was really poor due to the chronic droughts and fires due to El Nino, I'm sure a lot of life passed away in the forests during this time.

James

 

[amears]

Hi James, your thoughts on RN Pitta...?

 

[James Eaton]

Hi James, your thoughts on RN Pitta...?

Hi Andy,

It may call any week in the year - one week they are vocal, next week they might or might not, no particular seasonal vocal activity that I am aware of, unless evidence over multiple years states otherwise?

Cheers

James

 

[amears]

Thanks, James. Interesting and I certainly don't have that evidence...

HNY to you.

 

[thyoloalethe]

You'll have a great time whichever month you visit - next year will be interesting as the last half of 2015 was really poor due to the chronic droughts and fires due to El Nino, I'm sure a lot of life passed away in the forests during this time.

James

Yes I'm a bit worried about that - and that the fires might strike again when I do go. Will have to make the most of it, whatever happens. Thanks for the input.

(and thanks Jim M. and amears for your input too)

Liam

 

[James Eaton]

The fires break out every year in Sumatra and Kalimantan - have done since the 90s, from July - September, just that last year was prolonged and much worse due to El Nino, should be back to normal this year.

 

[James Eaton]

The fires break out every year in Sumatra and Kalimantan - have done since the 90s, from July - September, just that last year was prolonged and much worse due to El Nino, should be back to normal this year.

 

[thyoloalethe]

Peninsular Malaysia

Am trying to lay out an itinerary for Peninsular Malaysia at the moment--my main decision is whether or not to go to Panti Forest Reserve in the south, or spend extra time at Taman Negara. Main draw in Panti is of course Rail-babbler - but are they really any easier here than at TN? I know it's not easy to begin with. It's just that travelling to Panti will eat up some time (supposedly 6-7 hrs from TN). Anything else that Panti is better for?

Another main target for me in Taman Negara is Malay Banded Pitta, and I know this isn't a given either--is it any easier in southern Thailand, say at Khao Nor Chuchi or Si Phang-nga?

Plus is Singapore worth a stop at all? Lots of photos of Jambu Fruit Dove from here on IBC, but I'm guessing this is another species I will need luck with. Singapore at least has the benefit of being close to Panti.

Cheers
Liam

 

[James Eaton]

Hi Liam,

TN has a lot of Rail-babbler, but they are harder to see here than Panti due to the denser understorey and larger area to cover, though I've had them on every visit to TN.

Panti is excellent birding for a variety of bulbuls, malkohas and kingfishers, though nothing that isn't possible at Taman Negara. Drive-time between the two is about five hours.

Malayan Banded Pitta is not so easy in Malaysia - better chance at TN than Panti as it's a really low density bird at Panti (like most birds at Panti as it's a small area of forest). They get fed in Southern Thailand which definitely makes them easier!

Jambu Fruit Dove - turns up a handful of times each year in Singapore, so I wouldn't attempt to go there for that species. Singapore offers nothing different, except much easier views of Straw-headed Bulbul than Malaysia (though they are not so difficult still at TN).

James

Am trying to lay out an itinerary for Peninsular Malaysia at the moment--my main decision is whether or not to go to Panti Forest Reserve in the south, or spend extra time at Taman Negara. Main draw in Panti is of course Rail-babbler - but are they really any easier here than at TN? I know it's not easy to begin with. It's just that travelling to Panti will eat up some time (supposedly 6-7 hrs from TN). Anything else that Panti is better for?

Another main target for me in Taman Negara is Malay Banded Pitta, and I know this isn't a given either--is it any easier in southern Thailand, say at Khao Nor Chuchi or Si Phang-nga?

Plus is Singapore worth a stop at all? Lots of photos of Jambu Fruit Dove from here on IBC, but I'm guessing this is another species I will need luck with. Singapore at least has the benefit of being close to Panti.

Cheers
Liam

 

[thyoloalethe]

Thanks James - which site in S. Thailand are they feeding Malay Banded Pittas?

Liam

Hi Liam,

TN has a lot of Rail-babbler, but they are harder to see here than Panti due to the denser understorey and larger area to cover, though I've had them on every visit to TN.

Panti is excellent birding for a variety of bulbuls, malkohas and kingfishers, though nothing that isn't possible at Taman Negara. Drive-time between the two is about five hours.

Malayan Banded Pitta is not so easy in Malaysia - better chance at TN than Panti as it's a really low density bird at Panti (like most birds at Panti as it's a small area of forest). They get fed in Southern Thailand which definitely makes them easier!

Jambu Fruit Dove - turns up a handful of times each year in Singapore, so I wouldn't attempt to go there for that species. Singapore offers nothing different, except much easier views of Straw-headed Bulbul than Malaysia (though they are not so difficult still at TN).

James

 

[James Eaton]

Thanks James - which site in S. Thailand are they feeding Malay Banded Pittas?

Liam

No idea, Liam, just see loads and loads of photos of point-blank photos of them on facebook!

 

[temmie]

Thanks James - which site in S. Thailand are they feeding Malay Banded Pittas?

Liam

Si Phang-nga. Mangrove Pitta present there as well (that one non-fed).