Peninsula Malaysia 11th-25th April 2015 (1 Viewer)

[simmojunior]

This may turn out to be a bit long... I plan to put it up in instalments here and then collate it in to one report and upload that to Cloudbirders.

Summary

I had booked the last two weeks of April off with the intention of going to Turkey but the situation in the region made my plans unfeasible. I, together with a few others, considered a variety of other locations from Morocco to Sri Lanka but, following a suggestion on the Oriental Bird Club Facebook page, settled on Malaysia. I had hoped other Next Generation Birders would want to come but when it became clear that for various reasons they could not, I resolved to go myself. This was to be my first visit to Asia since I became a birder (I went to Sri Lanka when I was about 10!). After reading various itineraries, I decided one night at Kuala Selangor, 5 at Fraser’s Hill and 6 at Taman Negara. I received a lot of help with planning the trip and I’d like to particularly thank Andy Walker, Chris Goodie, Steve Keen, Mike Edgecombe and Helena Craig for their advice.

I birded independently for most the trip but spent two days birding at Taman Negara with David Eades from Australia who seemed to be the only other birder there during my stay! I did not use guides throughout the trip for two reasons; one was money but the other was that I quite like to find the birds myself.

During the trip, I identified 218 species of bird (10 + Heard Only) and 22 species of mammal. I am pretty happy with this for a first visit and it included some real crackers like Garnet Pitta, Rail-babbler, Malayan Laughingthrush and Great Argus. I think I would have got a few more species with a guide but the species I seemed to miss were Hornbills and Trogons – only one species of each – which I did not imagine would be difficult to find! In the case of Banded Pitta, I think I was desperately unlucky to flush two off the path and not get any sort of tickable views.

Logistics

The whole trip cost in the region of £1250 including flights and food. I flew with Emirates via Dubai and this was very good. Malaysia was a cheap country and the food was generally good as long as you like rice. At Kuala Tahan/Taman Negara, the shops did not sell a great variety so it is a good job I like biscuits. I travelled around by taxi as I do not drive and a car is unnecessary at each location but may have been helpful at Fraser’s Hill.

5 Ringgit (RM) = £1

The journeys were as follows:

Airport - Kuala Selangor: Taxi (140RM) – make sure the ticket seller is clear where you went to go as I had a bit of confusion as the attendant sold me the wrong ticket so I had to get it changed.

Kuala Selangor – Fraser’s Hill: Car (200RM) – Stephen Hogg, owner of Buona Vista where I stayed, did the pick up which was very kind of him.

Fraser’s Hill – Taman Negara: Taxi (260 RM) & Boat (37RM) – Very pleasant boat trip and good for seeing birds. I arranged the taxi through the Puncak Inn.

Taman Negara – Airport: Bus (7RM) & Taxi (300RM) – I had planned to do the whole journey by bus but when I found I had a 2 hour wait in Jerantut, I splashed out on a taxi. Several tour operators offer transfers to Kuala Lumpur for 100RM but these leave at 9am and I wanted to maximise my time in Taman Negara.

Places I stayed

Sun Inns, Kuala Selangor – This was cheap and did the job but was too far from the nature park so I had to take taxis each way.

Buona Vista Bungalow / Stephen’s Place, Fraser’s Hill – I cannot recommend this place enough. It was comfortable & clean with great food. The location on the Telekom Loop was great for birds and Stephen was an excellent host, dropping me off where I wanted to be each day.

Mutiara Hostel, Taman Negara – It was bizarre being in an expensive hotel and getting things like a “welcome drink” to then stay in a fairly shabby hostel. The showers & toilets were not great but I had the hostel all to myself and was more than adequate. The food in the restaurant was pricey by Malaysian standards but pretty good and breakfast was included. I think I would have got more for my money in town but it was good being the right side of the river.

Concorde Inn, Kuala Lumpur Airport – Functional airport hotel.

 

[simmojunior]

Day 1: Sunday 12th – Kuala Selangor

My flights ran smoothly and I arrived at Kuala Lumpur at around 08:30 a little weary but raring to go. As soon as the plane landed, I picked up my first species – a Purple Heron, the only one I saw all trip! A small mix up over the taxi ticket meant that the taxi driver had to turn back to the airport but this small loop produced my first three lifers, Spotted Dove, Javan Myna and, best of all, my only Chinese Pond Heron flying out of a ditch. A few minutes later, everything was sorted out and I was on my way. The 90 minute drive was surprisingly productive as I recorded a further 12 species. The picks of the bunch were 2 Crested Serpent Eagles perched on lampposts, a Black-shouldered Kite, several White-throated Kingfisher and a Brown Shrike. A sizeable flock of thermalling storks escaped identification and I am still completely baffled by them.

After leaving my bags at the hotel, I was in the Kuala Selangor nature park by late morning and immediately started picking up new species. Even in the car park, new species included the abundant Oriental Magpie Robins and a Black-naped Oriole, while the first of several superb White-bellied Sea Eagles flew overhead. The path through the initial woodland produced more new species including a Pied Fantail and migrants such as Arctic Warbler and Brown Flycatcher. Arriving at the tower, I immediately noticed my first Collared Kingfisher as well as the circling Brahminy Kites. For the next few hours, I walked around the nature park. The lagoon itself was pretty quiet apart from Mudskippers, Crabs and Water Monitors but the bushes held Common Iora, Ashy Tailorbird, Yellow-bellied Prinia and Olive-winged Bulbul, amongst others. A flyby Flameback species was too quick to secure the identification. The mangrove area was particularly productive with 3 Mangrove Whistlers, a Mangrove Blue Flycatcher and the familiar sight of 4 Great Tits (apparently now split!).

By late afternoon, I walked in to town for an overdue lunch and a short break but soon returned to the nature park. During the walk, I saw my first monkeys, both Silvery Langurs and Long-tailed Macaques, as well as Ruby-cheeked and Olive Sunbirds, Zebra Dove and an overflying Blue-throated Bee-eater. Frustratingly, a high flying Sparrowhawk sp. was too distant to make any attempt at identifying it. I returned to the tower for the next hour and added a brief Laced Woodpecker and flocks of Pink-necked Green Pigeons. By early evening, the weather had turned so I decided to take a taxi back to the hotel but I still managed to add White-breasted Waterhen and Asian Koel before dark from the hotel. By this stage, I was shattered but it had been a very good start to the trip.

Species count: 44

 

[Bananafishbones]

Good start, I missed the Mangrove Blue Flycatcher.

Is the Boardwalk to the coastal area still unusable? and did you get to do an owl session with Shanker?

 

[simmojunior]

Good start, I missed the Mangrove Blue Flycatcher.

Is the Boardwalk to the coastal area still unusable? and did you get to do an owl session with Shanker?

No, I could not get to the mudflats. I asked the woman in the centre about owls but I did not try too hard so no owl session. I was so tired that I headed back to the hotel at around 5.30.

A few photos from the first day attached. Collared Kingfisher, White-bellied Sea Eagle & Silvery Langur

 

[simmojunior]

Day 2: Monday 13th – Kuala Selangor to Fraser’s Hill

I toyed with the idea of heading to Pantai Remis to look for waders but in the end decided to return to the nature park with certain targets in mind. One of these targets, Abbott’s Babbler, I found almost instantly having learnt the call overnight. During the next few hours, I recorded a total of 6 new species for the trip including key targets as Black-capped Kingfisher, Pied Triller, Brown-throated Sunbird and Coppersmith Barbet. An overflying Bee-eater revealed its brown throat to secure its identity as the only Blue-tailed Bee-eater of the trip, while a superb male Mugimaki Flycatcher was a bit of a surprise. Raptor activity continued to be noticeable and I attach a photo of a bird I initially took to be an Oriental Honey Buzzard but I now believe is a Crested Serpent Eagle. Thoughts welcome!

Late morning I returned to the hotel and, at midday, Stephen Hogg from Buona Vista bungalow picked me up for the three hour drive to Fraser’s Hill. The journey was quiet apart but I did add Paddyfield Pipit and Emerald Dove and, as we neared Fraser’s Hill, Slaty-backed Forktail, Mountain Bulbul and the numerous Glossy Swiftlets. That afternoon, I headed out for a walk round the Telekom Loop with Stephen’s nine year old son, Adam, and we recorded an excellent total of 21 new species. It started quietly but soon I was seeing the common birds of the area such as Long-tailed Sibia, Silver-eared Mesia, Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush, Streaked Spiderhunter, Bronzed Drongo, Mountain Fulvetta, Mountain Tailorbird, Blue-winged Minla, Rufous-browed Flycatcher and White-throated Fantail. The walk did produce some scarcer birds including a Little Spiderhunter, a Blyth’s Shrike-babbler, 2 Black Laughingthrushes, a male Fire-throated Flowerpecker, a superb male Red-headed Trogon and a much-desired Long-tailed Broadbill. Other birds seen included Grey-chinned Minivet, Fire-tufted & Black-browed Barbets, Little Pied Flycatcher and Black-throated Sunbird. I heard a Collared Owlet closeby at the start of the walk but, in my excitement to get going, I did not search for it thoroughly. This was a decision I now regret as I never did see a Collared Owlet. Another frustrating Owl was the Mountain Scops Owl, which called in the evening but was distant and unresponsive to tape. Nevertheless, it had been a brilliant start to my time at Fraser’s Hill.

Trip list after day 2: 77

Photos: Pacific Swallow, Mudskipper, presumed Crested Serpent Eagle & terrible photo of Mangrove Blue Flycatcher

 

[foresttwitcher]

Enjoying the read, thanks for posting.

 

[MKinHK]

The making of a great trip here

Definite Crested Serpent Eagle with that white band on the wing.

Do you have any plumage details on your storks. I believe Openbill or Milky are most likely.

As for being desperately unlucky to only see Banded Pittas flush off the path . . . it sure beats not having a sniff of a pita after several days at Taman Negara!

Cheers
Mike

 

[simmojunior]

Day 3: Tuesday 14th – Fraser’s Hill (Telekom Loop am, Bishop & Hemmant’s trail pm)

After the success of the previous day’s walk, I decided to start the next day with a circuit of the Telekom Loop. It was noticeably quieter but I soon found my first bird lifer of the morning, a couple of Little Cuckoo Doves, and my first mammal lifer, a couple of Dusky Langurs. Next was a stunning Common Green Magpie, a bird missed on several recent Birdquest tours but I found them quite common. After an hour or so, I encountered my first decent bird wave including a Greater Yellownape and 2 Blue Nuthatch, a key target for the trip. A second bird wave contained a Black-eared Shrike-babbler, several Golden Babblers and a Buff-breasted Babbler. The latter two were particularly pleasing as I thought I might struggle with babblers without a guide. Another highlight of the morning was a brief Blyth’s Hawk Eagle that drifted overhead.

Just after midday, I returned to Buona Vista and Stephen dropped me off in town where I enjoyed an excellent afternoon’s birding. In fact, even in the centre of town, I found my first lifer of the afternoon, an Orange-bellied Leafbird. I then set off and started the Hemmant Trail. A quiet start soon burst in to life as I heard some crashing below the trail so I looked down and briefly saw some round bright orange game birds before they flew off, making a clucking noise. Ferruginous Partridge! Further crashing revealed my first White-thighed Leaf Monkeys and I also flushed an Emerald Dove. My first bird wave was a long time coming but it was a really good one as in addition to the usual species, it contained Greater Yellownape and Black Laughingthrush. More interesting for me was my first Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, a Dark-necked Tailorbird and an Eastern Crowned Warbler that eventually revealed its crown stripe to secure its identification. At the exit to the trail, I found my only Large Niltava of the trip and some House Swifts flew overhead.

The start of the Bishop Trail was also productive as the bird wave there contained new birds including Grey-throated Babbler and Lesser Yellownape. I’m fairly certain I saw the back end of a Green-billed Malkoha but cannot be certain and this was a bird that frustrated me during my time at Fraser’s Hill. The rest of the trail was full of bird sound but I struggled to find birds but did manage to turn up a superb Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, a bird that was not even on my radar for the trip! I also found 3 Everett’s White-eyes at the exit to the trail and a superb but brief Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo along Lady Maxwell’s Drive. I then decided to give the Hemmant Trail another try as some birders told me they had seen a White-tailed Robin along the trail.

Then came the jammiest moment of the trip: I tried a speculative play of the White-tailed Robin tape but I left it on too long by mistake and the next song happened to be Lesser Shortwing. This, which had not been calling, then started responding so I left the tape on and it came and sat on the path. What a fluke! It was a brilliant end to the day but the day was not over as while waiting for Stephen in the centre of town, I was surprised to see a Dusky Crag Martin circling above the golf course.

Trip list after day 3: 98

Photos: Green Magpie, Large Niltava & Little Pied Flycatcher

 

[PJSharp]

I am enjoying the report, thank you. I am not an expert on Malaysian birds, but from my trips Painted Storks are relatively common in and around KL and down to Kuala Selangor - I think they are a feral population. I've certainly seen them in good numbers (50+). I have also seen single Lesser Adjutant and Openbill in the Kuala Seleangor area, but think Milky Stork is pretty scarce.

Best wishes, Paul

 

[simmojunior]

I am enjoying the report, thank you. I am not an expert on Malaysian birds, but from my trips Painted Storks are relatively common in and around KL and down to Kuala Selangor - I think they are a feral population. I've certainly seen them in good numbers (50+). I have also seen single Lesser Adjutant and Openbill in the Kuala Seleangor area, but think Milky Stork is pretty scarce.

Best wishes, Paul

Interesting. I saw a few storks fly over the road in the failing light in Kuala Lumpur at the end of the trip but I was fairly sure they were Milky. Are they present in KL too?

 

[simmojunior]

Day 4: Wednesday 15th – Fraser’s Hill (Golf course, New Road, Hemmant Trail, Telekom Loop)

I had planned to go down to the Gap this morning but the heavy overnight rain had caused several landslides and the road to town was blocked meaning that Stephen had to drop me off at the edge of town. I decided to head along the golf course and down the New Road in the vain hope of finding Malayan Whistling Thrush, which were not being reliably seen, and some hornbills, which I had terrible luck with all trip. This turned out to be a good decision as I soon found two Yellow-throated Martens running along the road, one of the mammal highlights of the trip. While unsuccessfully trying to refind them, I stumbled across my first White-rumped Munias. Just above the New Road, a decent bird wave contained Common Tailorbird, Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker and 3 funky Sultan Tits. I then spent a frustrating half an hour or so chasing a very uncooperative Pygmy Wren-babbler, which seemed to get close and then move further away. I did not even see movement and this species must go down as one of the worse misses of the trip. I walked a couple of kilometres down the road and, while quiet in terms of bird waves, I did manage 4 new species (Stripe-throated Bulbul, Black-crested Bulbul, Gold-whiskered Barbet and Hill Blue Flycatcher). In hindsight, I wish I had spent longer walking down the road as who knows what I might have found?

The next stop was the Maxwell trail but a combination of a poorly marked path and numerous leech bites (my only ones of the whole trip) meant that I made a hasty retreat, although I did see another Dusky Crag Martin by the entrance. A change of plan saw me walk along the road to the area between the Hemmant and Bishop trails, consistently one of the best areas for birding during my stay. Here I found both Dollarbird and a rufous Asian Paradise Flycatcher, two birds I did not expect at this elevation. Next I decided to take the Hemmant Trail back to town and was helpfully pointed out a female White-tailed Robin on its nest. However, there was further disappointment with the tape as a calling Rusty-naped Pitta in an accessible area moved further away after I tried the tape. I understand this is fairly typical of this notoriously difficult species.

In the early evening, I walked the Telekom Loop, which was frustratingly birdless. The only highlights were my first Plain Flowerpecker in Buona Vista garden and finally cracking the identity of Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, which were not uncommon though typically elusive in the flocks. A night session however was more productive as I enjoyed good views of Large-tailed Nightjar and Lesser Giant Flying Squirrel. The ever-present Mountain Scops Owl, however, decided better of being responsive.

Trip list after day 4: 112

Photos: Black-crested Bulbul, Brown Shrike, Dollarbird

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Interesting. I saw a few storks fly over the road in the failing light in Kuala Lumpur at the end of the trip but I was fairly sure they were Milky. Are they present in KL too?

when I was in KL a few years ago there was a large feral flock of Painted Storks, which contained a single Milky (that I couldn't bring myself to tick!) Not sure what situation is now, but hasn't there been a Milky release program at Kuala Selangor??

Enjoying the report. I only managed to hear Ferruginous Partridge at FH, and have still never managed to see Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo.

 

[simmojunior]

Day 5: Thursday 16th – Fraser’s Hill (The Gap, Old Road, Jelai Resort, Hemmant Trail)

What a day! I’d been looking forward to trying the Gap since I got to Fraser’s Hill and I was finally able to put the plan in to action. Stephen drove me down the New Road in the morning and even this was productive with better views of Slaty-backed Forktail and a brief Coucal species. At the Gap, I immediately started to add new species. Mountain Imperial Pigeons, Grey-rumped Treeswift and Large-billed Crows flew overhead, while in the trees I immediately found Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Scarlet Minivet and, best of all, a Black-bellied Malkoha. As always, a calling Collared Owlet failed to give itself up but a family party of Pin-striped Tit-babblers were more co-operative. It seemed there had been a bit of a fall as I found a number of migrants including Brown Flycatcher, 2 Arctic Warbler, Brown Shrike and a Dark-sided Flycatcher. The short work from the bottom of the New Road to the Old Gap Resthouse was also productive with Ashy Bulbul, my only Bar-winged Flycatcher-Shrike and a superb Verditer Flycatcher. At the dilapidated Resthouse, I found several Rufous-bellied Swallows, my first peninsular endemic, and saw both Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot and Pacific Swift fly overhead. It had been a brilliant start to the morning with 15 new species in under two hours, although I was unfortunately unable to find the Large Woodshrike that two birders had reported seeing. They were primarily looking for raptors and, like them, I had not at this stage seen any. I, however, decided to walk back to the start of the New Road before ascending the Old Road to see what else I could find and I stumbled on a circling Black Eagle and, while watching it, an Oriental Honey Buzzard drifted past.

At around 11am, I started the long walk up the Old Road. In hindsight, I wish I had spent more time at the Gap as I think I could have added more species, especially if I walked further down the road past the Old Gap Resthouse, but I was eager to check out the Old Road. It was not as productive as I had hoped but in the lower 3 kilometres, I managed Ochraceous Bulbul, Blue-winged Leafbird, Rufous Woodpecker and Red-bearded Bee Eater. Confusion over the location of the Marbled Wren-babbler gully meant I missed the opportunity to dip this notoriously difficult species. I think the gully must be a lot nearer the start of the road than 3 kilometres up as the trip report I read led me to believe. The next few kilometres were quiet but towards the top I stumbled upon a decent bird wave that contained my first few White-bellied Erponis, as well as Greater Yellownape, Blue Nuthatch, Asian Paradise Flycatcher and Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher. I also saw a superb Blyth’s Hawk Eagle circle overhead.

After a short break in the centre of Fraser’s Hill, I decided to head to the abandoned Jelai Resort, previously the highlight of most visits to Fraser’s Hill. The limited gardens were still full of birds. Speculative plays of a few tapes of birds I had not seen was surprisingly successful as a Black-and-Crimson Oriole responded and I enjoyed decent views. I then walked along the road to the area between the Hemmant and Bishop Trails. I believe I heard some more Collared Owlets on route but the situation was confused by a group of bird photographers blasting it out as a lure for other birds. I have no issue with tapes but I’m not sure I agree with this and, moreover, it did not seem remotely effective. Anyway, at the junction of the two trails, I found another good bird wave containing Eastern Crowned Warbler, Black Laughingthrush and Grey-fronted Babbler. The pick of the bunch, however, was my only Chestnut-crowned Warblers of the trip. That evening, I tried a spot of night birding but to no avail though Stephen’s moth trip was particularly lively.

Trip list after day 6: 136

Pictures: Black Eagle, Blyth's Hawk Eagle, Fraser's Hill sign and White-thighed Langur

 

[simmojunior]

Day 7: Friday 17th – Fraser’s Hill (Pine Tree Trail, Bishop Trail, Hemmant Trail)

After yesterday’s success, today was a great disappointment. I decided that I would walk the Pine Tree trail as this is supposed to be the haunt of some of the rarest birds of Fraser’s Hill including Mountain Peacock Pheasant, Cutia and Long-billed Partridge. I found none of these.

The day started so well as by the entrance to the trail I found both Mountain Leaf Warbler and a couple of Malayan Laughingthrush, an endemic that I had been told was not being reliably seen, on the road by the entrance. Buoyed by this early success, I set off up this trail but it was very quiet and I did not encounter a single meaningful bird wave. After about three kilometres and a couple of hours, I decided to turn around. The way back was marginally more productive as I found my first Buff-necked Woodpecker and a bird wave but it did not contain anything unusual apart from Blue Nuthatch.

I decided to return to town and try the main trails that had been so productive up to this point. Indeed, there were more birds here but I could not find anything new. There were supposedly common birds that I still needed including Streaked Wren Babbler, Speckled Piculet, Green-billed Malkoha, Javan Cuckooshrike, Wreathed Hornbill and Yellow-bellied Warbler but, try as I might, I could not find them. The best I managed was a Grey-fronted Babbler, two Blue Nuthatch and a Yellow-bellied Erponis.

Early evening, I decided to call it a day and Stephen picked me up in town. This proved to be a good decision as I saw a Buff-necked Woodpecker in the garden before dusk. Another attempt at Mountain Scops Owl after dark proved unsuccessful despite two birds calling but I did see two Lesser Giant Flying Squirrels and a smaller Red-cheeked Flying Squirrel. Today may have been a slightly disappointing end to my stay in Fraser’s Hill but the other days had been brilliant and my trip list was still flying.

Species list at the end of Day 7: 140

Photos: Chinese Moon Moth, Malayan Laughingthrush, Lesser Giant Flying Squirrel

 

[simmojunior]

Day 8: Saturday 18th – Fraser’s Hill – Kuala Tembeling – Taman Negara (Tahan Hide & Swamp Loop)

Today was the day that I was leaving the hill station of Fraser’s Hill and heading to the legendary Taman Negara. The day got off to a brilliant start as the first bird I saw was my first and only Javan Cuckooshrike, a bird that had been pestering me by its call for the past few days. This was my final new bird at Fraser’s Hill as by 9 o’clock I was in a taxi. The 3 hour drive was unproductive but I did manage to find a couple of Common Mynas at the jetty. From the boat, I enjoyed three more lifers; a couple of Black Nest-Swiftlets, a Black-and-Red Broadbill and a Red-wattled Lapwing, as well as decent views of Crested Serpent Eagle, 2 Oriental Honey Buzzards and the abundant Blue-throated Bee-eaters.

Once at Taman Negara, I immediately headed to the Tahan Hide, which was quiet apart from a Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and two ever present distant Mynas that I’m fairly sure were Javan rather than Jungle. I then decided to try the Swamp Loop and soon bumped in to a group of four Crested Partridge, a key target that I certainly did not expect to find quite so easy! The rest of the Swamp Loop was quiet apart from a brief Purple-naped Sunbird so I returned to the Tahan Hide with Australian birder David Eades, who I’d bumped in to on the Swamp Loop. The evening session was more productive as we found a large Bulbul flock that we managed to extract Stripe-headed, Black-headed and Red-eyed Bulbul from, a Drongo Cuckoo and two fairly distant Black-thighed Falconets. It had been a decent start to my time at Taman Negara and I was excited for what the next day would bring.

Species list at the end of Day 8: 151

Photos: Javan Cuckooshrike, some sort of lizard

 

[simmojunior]

Day 8: Sunday 19th April – Taman Negara (Tahan Hide, Swamp Loop, Tabing Trail, Canopy walkway trail)

I started my first full day at Taman Negara at the Tahan Hide and this was fairly productive with my first Little and Thick-billed Green Pigeons and my only Greater Green Leafbird of the trip. I then tried the Swamp Loop but it was quiet so I returned to the resort for breakfast. There was a bird count event going on and I thought about joining it but the sizes of the groups meant I decided I was best off on my own.

After breakfast, I decided to walk the Tabing Trail but in the two hours or so, I struggled to find anything at all. I could hear lots of birds and I got a few brief glimpses of movement but I could not get a proper view of anything. It soon dawned on me that birding Taman Negara alone would be a lot more difficult than I anticipated. The frustration was only broken up by a brief flyby Blue-banded Kingfisher at Lubok Simpon. Around a kilometre from the Tabing Hide, I decided to cut my losses and turn back but the way back was far more productive. I found my first White-rumped Shamas and Black-naped Monarchs as well as scarcer fare such as 2 Green Broadbill, a Yellow-bellied Bulbul and a superb Malaysian Blue Flycatcher. In the clearing at the start of the trail, I found a Greater Coucal, while from the campsite jetty, I enjoyed the first of many Raffles’ Malkohas.

After a late lunch, I started heading towards the Canopy Walkway but rain soon interrupted my progress and I returned to the Tahan Hide. However, just before the rain came, I found my first Pitta – a Blue-winged on the path at the edge of the resort that stayed in the open long enough for me to get my camera out the bag! From the Tahan Hide, I identified my first Spectacled Bulbuls and was delighted to find a Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike after this family had proved so elusive at Fraser’s Hill. Once the rain had passed, I headed back towards the canopy walkway and enjoyed superb views of Plaintive Cuckoo. The canopy walkway was closed when I got there but I found a couple of White-breasted Babbler by the entrance and a Long-billed Spiderhunter on the return.

I arrived back at the resort with about an hour of light spare so I headed to the campsite jetty. This proved to be a good decision as in addition to the superb Blue-throated Bee-eaters, I saw both Blue-eared and Stork-billed Kingfishers. At dusk I headed back to my room but not before I enjoyed superb views of a pair of Crested Firebacks. After a difficult start, I had managed to rack up 20 new species in a single day and I was excited for what I might find in the rest of my time in this stunning forest.

Species Count at the end of Day 8: 171

Photos: Blue-winged Pitta, Crested Fireback

 

[Chlidonias]

when I was in KL a few years ago there was a large feral flock of Painted Storks, which contained a single Milky (that I couldn't bring myself to tick!) Not sure what situation is now, but hasn't there been a Milky release program at Kuala Selangor??

there are loads of painted storks around the area (from the free-range breeding flock at Zoo Negara in KL, which have been spreading elsewhere). I've seen milky storks in KL as well, also from the zoo. Here's a photo of part of the zoo flock (if it works):



The milky stork introduction programme at Kuala Selangor has apparently not been a success. Last time I was there I was adamant I had seen a good number of milky storks flying around in the sky, on the basis that they definitely weren't painted storks and I thought I knew what openbill storks looked like (!). Turns out that for some reason openbill storks look like they have yellow bills when you see them from below - or at least they do to me; it was the same in Burma where all the openbills looked like the bills were yellow when they were flying around. I still don't know why!

My guess for simmojunior's storks would be openbills.

 

[simmojunior]

there are loads of painted storks around the area (from the free-range breeding flock at Zoo Negara in KL, which have been spreading elsewhere). I've seen milky storks in KL as well, also from the zoo. Here's a photo of part of the zoo flock (if it works):



The milky stork introduction programme at Kuala Selangor has apparently not been a success. Last time I was there I was adamant I had seen a good number of milky storks flying around in the sky, on the basis that they definitely weren't painted storks and I thought I knew what openbill storks looked like (!). Turns out that for some reason openbill storks look like they have yellow bills when you see them from below - or at least they do to me; it was the same in Burma where all the openbills looked like the bills were yellow when they were flying around. I still don't know why!

My guess for simmojunior's storks would be openbills.

Ok whatever my stork in KL was will not be going on my list! I really don't think the Storks were Openbills but I'm still none the wiser as to what they were.

 

[GDK]

Congratulations on your first Pitta !! At least one more to come by the sounds of it too.

Enjoying the trip report,
Cheers,

 

[simmojunior]

Day 9: Monday 20th April – Taman Negara (Tahan Hide, Jenut Muda, various trails near the resort)

I had agreed with David Eades to go with him up Jenut Muda to look for a Garnet Pitta that he had heard calling a couple of days earlier but not been able to find and we agreed to meet in the Tahan Hide. While waiting for him, I enjoyed an excellent start to the day including clinching the identity of Silver-rumped Needletail and Cream-vented Bulbul, birds I had previously only had poor views of. In addition, I also found my first Chestnut-winged Babblers, which responded very nicely to tape. On the trail towards the turn off to Jenut Muda, we enjoyed a very decent start to the day with new birds for me like Red-throated Barbet, Hairy-backed Bulbul and a ridiculous-looking Black-and-Yellow Broadbill, as well as a new bird for David in the form of 3 Scarlet Minivet.

The Jenut Muda trail started quietly although we did find a nice Scaly-crowned Babbler. There was no sound of the Garnet Pitta and we were frustrated by a close calling Malaysian Peacock Pheasant that never showed itself and a more distant calling Great Argus. Then David heard a sound that stopped us both in our tracks. An hour or so ensued as we repeatedly appeared to get close before the sound moved further away but eventually I caught sight of it and shouted “there it is!” Somehow David got on to it from these helpful instructions and we enjoyed brief but decent views of one of the most sought after and elusive residents of the forest, Rail-babbler! Many had told me beforehand that I would never find Rail-babbler without a guide but, with the help of David, I had proved them all wrong.

The rest of the trail was predictably an anti-climax but we did find a Sooty-capped Babbler. After lunch, we returned to the Tahan Hide and had good views of a flyby Black Hornbill, remarkably my only Hornbill of the trip. Then we did a “flycatcher swap” where David showed me where he saw a Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher and I’d take him to where I saw the Malaysian Blue Flycatcher. This worked perfectly with both birds seen well and during the walk I saw both Banded and White-bellied Woodpecker, though unfortunately I could not get David on to either. At dusk, we went to the Canopy Jetty to look for Kingfishers but all we managed was a brief Little Heron.

Species list at the end of Day 9: 184