Our birding trips

Fraser's Hill 14-17Jun08

From Con

Danny and I went to Fraser's Hill from June 14-17th. Leaving at 5am on Saturday morning, we reached in time to catch the 11am window up the Old Road, had lunch across from the Police Station, checked into Jelai and were out birding by 12:30pm!

First went to Hemmant Trail to check out the partridge and others. No partridge, but did see a nice Lesser Yellownape.

Next to Jln Air Terjun to check out the broadbill, nest didn't look active. Back to Jln Mager, which was quite productive. Spent much time trying to lure out a Lesser Shortwing and Pygmy Wren Babbler, saw both but no photo. Saw Blue Nuthatch and a bunch of Grey-chinned Minivets. Dinner across from the Police Station and early to sleep as it was a long day.

Sunday awoke early skipping Jelai breakfast and stationed ourselves at the Malayan Whistling Thrush site, to be joined shortly by CT Tan & his wife Cindy. Saw a dark shadow fly quickly across the road at about 6:45am. Danny saw the fellow near the flower pots!

Next to Bishop Trail for the partridge & scimitar babbler. Went down about 200 meters and sat in chair hide for about an hour. Heard what must have been the Malaysian Partridge (Arborophila campbelli), but no sound on Scharringa or http://www.birdinginmalaysia.com/ to confirm. On OBI this is called Campbell's Hill Partridge. Danny saw the back side of a Large Scimitar Babbler.

Next to Pine Tree trail hiking in about 500 meters looking for Mtn Peacock Pheasant, sat in chair hide for 30 minutes, saw nothing, left. Back to Hemmant, ran into Mr. Tee who showed us a Mtn Fulvetta nest. CT Tan turned up and was going down the New Road until the landslide area. We followed. Saw two Blyth's Hawk Eagles flying together, one larger, perhaps male / female or adult / juvenile pair. Saw flocks of White-rumped Munia & Everett's White-eye. Saw the landslide worksite, a really huge landslide and very big project to repair, at least another year. Back to town for lunch at the temporary site for Malay stalls as the town centre is being upgraded.

After lunch went to check out Jln Mager, Jln Richmond and the road to Methodist bungalow. Usual birds, including Rufous-browed Flycatcher.

Later went to Telecom Loop. Large flock of Golden Babblers, perhaps more than 10 birds, first time seen such a large group! Came across a figging tree opposite Buena Vista that was raided by 10-20 barbets, mainly Black-browed and Fire-tufted. Never seen so many barbets in one place before!

Circled Telecom Loop and back to stay for the White-bellied Swiftlet roosting. Finally all swiftlets came to roost by 7:45pm, quite a phenomenon of nature. After dinner then to see the Brown Wood Owl at Jelai, but a no-show.

Monday morning, another cup of noodles, and early to the Malayan Whistling Thrush site. This time saw and photographed (poorly) the fellow near the flower pots. Heard it's call clearly. Next over to Bishop Trail, zero, no call, no significant sightings. Back to Hemmant Trail, saw the Mtn Fulvetta nesting.

Next the first Trogon of a hat trick on Trogon day. I think this one is a juvenile female, as the eye hasn't turned dull reddish yet, still brownish. And, the feather coloration seems not yet adult.

Next drove down Jln Air Terjun, saw a magnificent Orange-breasted Trogon (male) who was quite obliging.

And couple of forktails on the way back up. Back to the Malay stalls for lunch and a rain break. Afterwards to Telecom Loop, and saw two Red-headed Trogons, both males, fighting! Here's one of them.

Back to the figging tree and some more views of the barbets. After dinner to the Brown Wood Owl site, saw two owls around 9:30pm, but no photos.

Tuesday morning, cup-of-noodles. Malayian Whistling Thrush site, great views, still poor pictures. Hemmant Trail, zero. Telecom Loop, saw a Magpie Robin beating a poor worm to death! Onto High Pines, and the Pine Tree trail for me. Flushed two birds about 1km in on the Pine Tree trail, which by there size and coloration should be the Malaysian Partridge. I took photos of the moss covered fallen trees. Danny saw a nesting Pied Flycatcher.

Back to Jelai to shower & checkout. Down the Old Road just after 12noon, going slowly, saw a female Red-headed Trogon and forktails. Reached the Gap followed closely by the "chase car" at 12:55pm. Went via Raub and saw the landslide that came all the way down from the New Road, causing extensive damage to the road still under repair but open. Drove back to Singapore reaching home by 8:00pm.

1 Black Eagle
2 Blyth's Hawk Eagle
3 Malayan Partridge
4 Mtn Imperial Pigeon (heard only)
5 Little Cuckoo Dove
6 Green-billed Malkoha
7 Brown Wood Owl
8 White-bellied Swiftlet
9 House Swift
10 Orange-breasted Trogon
11 Red-headed Trogon
12 Fire-tufted Barbet
13 Black Browed Barbet
14 Greater Yellownape
15 Lesser Yellownape
16 Long-tailed Broadbill
17 Pacific Swallow
18 Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike
19 Malayan Cuckoo Shrike
20 Grey-chined Minivet
21 Orange-bellied Leafbird
22 Mtn. Bulbul
23 Lesser Racquet-tailed Drongo
24 Black-and-crimson Oriole
25 Large billed Crow (heard only)
26 Sultan Tit
27 Blue Nuthatch
28 Large Scimitar Babbler
29 Pygmy Wren Babbler
30 Golden Babbler
31 Grey-throated Babbler
32 Stripted Tit Babbler
33 Chesnut-capped Laughingthrush
34 Chesnut-crowned Laughingthrush
35 Silver eared Mesia
36 Blue-winged Minla
37 Mtn. Fulveta
38 Long-tailed Sibia
39 Lesser Shortwing
40 Oriental Magpie Robin
41 Slaty-backed Forktail
42 Malayan Whistling Thrush
43 Yellow-bellied Warbler
44 Mtn. Tailorbird
45 Verditer Flycatcher
46 Rufous-browed Flycatcher
47 Little Pied Flycatcher
48 Large Niltava
49 Grey-headed Flycatcher
50 White-throated Fantail
51 Black throated Sunbird
52 Streaked Spiderhunter
53 Buff-bellied Flowerpecker
54 Everett's White-eye
55 White-rumped Munia
56 Black-crested Bulbul

Photos from Danny

Attached Barbets' pics taken during the trip. The FT Barbet is a beautiful bird, unfortunately couldn't get a clear shot.

Black-browed Barbet

Fire-tufted Barbet

Attached is a pic of the Little Pied Flycatcher. The nest was part of the typical dangling debris from a Causaurina look alike tree in the compund of the Pines Bungalow. Due to its height (about 30 ft hi) could only manage an angled shot of the female in the nest with the male within close vicinity. There was a chick inside with the shorter, smaller tail visible in the pic and the frequent feeding trips by the female. The male did take a peek but not involved in feeding.

The Mountain Fulvetta nest is pretty low, about 4 ft above ground in the midst of a low road side bush. Manage to take on overview of the nest and the 2 chicks. Adult flew in while my camera was over the nest, unbelievably it didn't care of my camera and continue to feed the chicks.