Fraser's Hill, Bt Tinggi 02-03Aug17

From Con

2 Aug

Scaly-breasted Bulbul. The smallest of the bulbuls in SE Asia @ 14-16cm (much smaller than the common Yellow-vented Bulbul @ 19-20cm). Thanks to Mark Welfare found at about 1080 meters on Fraser's Hill (New Road) on fruiting trees.

Everett's White-eye, about 30 of them feeding almost constantly on the same "macaranga" trees as the Scaly-breasted Bulbuls. A real challenge to photograph, tiny and very active!

Leaf Insect. Another interesting Insect from Malaysia. This one from Fraser's Hill. Just about 2 inches long.

3 Aug

A couple of views of a day roosting Gould's Frogmouth (rufous morph).

Bt Tinggi, Bt Rengit, Fraser's Hill 03-05Jul17

From Con

3 Jul - Bt Tinggi

Ferruginous Partridges at Bukit Tinggi, Malaysia. A pair plus three chicks, very low odds to get all five in focus at the same time in the low light. (altho I could have cloned them all in) A female and one chick, and a male (notice the spurs).

Bukit Tinggi is surely one of the best places to see the Orange-breasted Trogon, here is a nice full back view of the male.

4 Jul - Bt Rengit

5 Jul - Fraser's Hill

This Brown Wood Owl was being mobbed at Fraser's Hill. How many different species can you identify from the calls?

Where is the woodpecker? At Fraser's I was looking around until I spotted the Fire-tufted Barbet making this call, instead of its usual buzzing song. Just a couple of recordings on Xeno-Canto of this call, perhaps not often made, or at least not recognized.

The Large Niltava sings a very pleasant soft song, always enjoyable. This male popped out and gave me a nice serenade.

Fraser's Hill 21-23May17

From Con

Just back from a few days in Fraser's Hill. This Red-headed Trogon (male) was very confiding, but he asked me not to reveal his location.

Here is a shot of a Rufous-browed Flycatcher. I can never resist these cuties. This fellow was down in a ravine singing his heart out. The light was very dim, I could barely see the bird, but the autofocus had no trouble picking him up.

Fraser's Hill 24-27Feb17

Con, Danny and GC were at the 30th Fraser's Hill Bird Race.

From Con

Collared Owlet

From GC

1. Long-tailed shrike - Shahzan Inn - 1304
2. Oriental magpie robin
3. Sultan tit - Telecom Loop - 1318
4. Black-browed barbet
5. Chestnut-capped laughingthrush
6. Mountain fulvetta
7. White-throated fantail
8. Golden babbler
9. Mountain tailorbird
10. Streaked spiderhunter
11. Malayan cuckooshrike
12. Black-throated sunbird
13. Little pied flycatcher
14. Glossy swiftlet
15. Buff-bellied flowerpecker
16. Long-tailed broadbill
17. Mountain bulbul
18. Lesser racket-tiled drongo
19. Black-eared shrike babbler
20. Fire-tufted barbet
21. Siberian thrush
22. Orange-headed thrush
23. Mugimaki flycatcher
24. Rufous-browed flycatcher - Jln Valley - 1538
25. Brown shrike
26. Orange-bellied leafbird - Jln Lady Maxwell - 1554
27. Silver-eared mesia - Jln Ampang - 1610
28. Green magpie
29. Pacific swallow
30. Mountain leaf warbler
31. Lesser yellownape
32. Black-crested bulbul - New Road - 1804
33. Dark-necked tailorbird
34. Grey wagtail
35. Silver-breasted broadbill
36. Dark hawk cuckoo
37. Large niltava - Jln Lady Guillemard - 0727
38. Asian brown flyctcher - Jelai resort - 0740
39. Blue-winged minla
40. Stripe-throated bulbulb
41. Slaty-backed forktail - New Road
42. Ochraceous bulbul
43. Yellow-bellied warbler
44. Arctic warbler
45. Pygmy wren babbler
46. Blue-winged leafbird
47. Grey-headed canary flycatcher
48. Common tailorbird
49. Wreathed hornbill
50. Grey-chinned minivet
51. Greater racket-tailed drongo
52. Sooty barbet
53. Black-thighed falconet
54. Asian fairy bluebird
55. Blue-crowned hanging parrot
56. Rufescent prinia
57. Pin-striped tit babbler - Old Road - 0924
58. Crimson-winged woodpecker
59. Bronzed drongo
60. Yellow-crowned barbet
61. Red-billed malkoha
62. Crested honey buzzard
63. Blue nuthatch
64. Black-and-crimson oriole
65. Eastern crowned warbler
66. Chestnut-breasted malkoha
67. Large woodshrike
68. Red-headed trogon - Telecom Loop - 1116

Panti, Fraser's Hill 22-28Sep16

From Con

Panti

24 Sep: White-crowned hornbill near second yellow sign

Male Buff-rumped woodpecker ©Con Foley

Fraser's Hill

25 Sep: I finally saw the Collared owlet in Malaysia on Telecom Loop. Also recorded call of the owlet.
26 Sep: Best bird for today: a pair of Large scimitar babbler
27 Sep: Today Malaysian whistling thrush, Bamboo woodpecker and Bay woodpecker all seen. Got my first Slow loris!

Fraser's Hill 11-15Jul16

From Con

Great Hornbill (male), flyover, Fraser's Hill, today. No tape. In obvious moult.

Gold-whiskered Barbet, the largest of the peninsular Malaysia barbets. Normally high in the canopy, luckily this bird was pretty low on the New Road at Fraser's Hill.

One my favorite shots from Fraser's Hill. Long-tailed Broadbill. Nicknamed the Elvis bird because of it's black hair and long sideburns.

Finally got photo of Bamboo Woodpecker, but only the female.

Other birds of note include a Scaly-breasted Bulbul at around 600 m elevation, Large Scimitar Babbler, and Crimson-winged Woodpecker at Telecom Loop at 1290 m elevation!

Fraser's Hill 27Jul-1Aug12

From Con

Weather was sunny and dry, no leeches. But bird activity was confined to early hours and very late afternoon. Only three new species for me, the Yellow-throated Marten, a Speckled Piculet and a Bamboo Woodpecker.

No Rusty-naped Pittas seen or heard. I tried for Marbled Wren Babbler around the Phenology Trail area, no luck. I spent a lot of time on The Old Road and down in The Gap. I got trogons every day! And I had a nice long session with the Black Laughingthrush, those birds sure have a nice variety of calls.

But the bad news was Fraser’s Hill and Kuala Lumpur were blanketed with smoke haze from Sumatra. It was quite bad, PSI must have been over 100. I but I see the PSI is okay here in Singapore.

Yellow-bellied Warbler

Fraser's Hill, Merapoh 27Apr-3May12

From Con

At Merapoh, there is a nice Black-naped Monarch nest to add to the mix of pittas and philentomas.

Hulu Langat, Bt Tinggi, Fraser's Hill 22-27Apr10

From Con

Dark Hawk-cuckoo taken on Telecom Loop this morning, perched open until a motorbike flushed it. This is the only view it gave none of the chest.

I spent a lot of time observing a pair of Rufous-browed Flycatchers building a nest near PKR bungalow. There was also a family of three Slaty-backed Forktails frequenting that section of Telecom Loop, I guess one must be the juvenile. Also got the Streaked Wren-babbler.

Here are mine of the Chestnut-backed Scimitar-babbler at Bt Tinggi. I found about 3 who were very responsive to tape, but also once they saw me took off in an instant! I just got an SMS from Jean Rene that someone saw Cutia near Green Acres very recently, sigh. This is the GPS coordinates for the ODKF nest at Hulu Langat near KL. Probably the ODKF fledges very soon, but Jean Rene's wife saw a Giant Pitta near this spot this week, about 200 meters up the hill on the right hand side. The Giant Pitta has been seen by several people over the last couple of months so it is not a one in a million chance, but somewhat better than that.

Fraser's Hill 15-18Apr10

From KH

Once again, it's time for our annual migration to Fraser's Hill. 93 species were seen/heard this time, with a number of lifers. Sighting highlights are:

1) Streaked and Pygmy Wren-babblers, and Lesser Shortwings: didn't know they are roadside birds!
2) Male Hill Blue FC at Old Gap while leaving for home!
3) Grey-capped Woodpecker at Old Gap
4) Striated Swallows at Silver Park.
5) Dark Hawk-cuckoo at Silver Park and Hodgson's Hawk-cuckoo at Old Gap
6) Raptors: Black Eagle, BHE, CHE and a Japanese Sparrowhawk.
7) Malayan Whistling Thrush heard behind guardhouse. Didn't know they call late in the afternoon too! Waited in the morning, heard but no show.
8) White-hooded Babbler, female Red-throated FC and Chestnut-backed Scimitar-babbler only seen by JS.
9) Juvenile Crake, possible Slaty-legged as the legs were not red.
10) An Otter jumped out of the undergrowth while we were engrossing with the Pygmy Wren-babbler. There was a stream in the undergrowth.

Male Red-headed Trogon

Black Eagle under harsh lighting, resulting in a "Rainbow Eagle"!

Impressed Tortoise. There's a crack in its shell, but it's well and alive.

From JS

Here's the list of birds seen/heard at Fraser's Hill (including Highway 55) from 15-18/4/10.

1. Hairy-backed Bulbul (2)
2. Red-eyed Bulbul (2)
3. Mountain Bulbul
4. Yellow-vented Bulbul (>5)
5. Ochraceous Bulbul (3)
6. Black-crested Bulbul
7. Malaysian Hawk-cuckoo (h)
8. Dark Hawk-cuckoo (1)
9. Drongo Cuckoo (1)
10. Indian Cuckoo (h)
11. Collared Owlet (h)
12. Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo (1 nest located)
13. Bronzed Drongo (1 nest located)
14. Orange-bellied Leafbird
15. Blyth's Hawk-eagle (4)
16. Crested Serpent-eagle (2)
17. Black Eagle (2)
18. Japanese Sparrowhawk (1)
19. Large-billed Crow
20. Common Myna (1)
21. Javan Myna
22. House Swift
23. Glossy Swiftlet
24. Swiftlet
25. Silver-rumped Spinetail (2)
26. Pacific Swallow
27. Striated Swallow, badia (>15 seen at Silverpark Resort)
28. White-bellied Yuhina
29. Yellow-bellied Warbler
30. Rufous-crowned Babbler (h)
31. Grey-throated Babbler
32. White-hooded Babbler (1)
33. Golden Babbler
34. Buff-breasted Babbler (>5)
35. Black-browed Barbet (>5)
36. Streaked Wren-babbler (>7, 1 juvenile confirmed)
37. Pygmy Wren-babbler (2)
38. Eye-browed Wren-babbler (h)
39. Fire-tufted Barbet
40. Red-throated Barbet (1)
41. Brown Shrike (>3 Breeding)
42. Fire-breasted Flowerpecker
43. Black-eared Shrike-babbler
44. White-browed Shrike-babbler (>5)
45. White-throated Fantail
46. Large Scimitar-babbler (h)
47. Chestnut-backed Scimitar-babbler (1)
48. Mountain Tailorbird
49. Dark-necked Tailorbird (2)
50. Mountain Fulvetta
51. Black-throated Sunbird
52. Lesser Yellownape
53. Greater Yellownape
54. Lesser Shortwing (5, 2 wrayi male)
55. Long-tailed Sibia, wrayi
56. Little Cuckoo-dove, malayana
57. Emerald Dove (1)
58. Mountain Imperial-pigeon (>2)
59. Rufous-browed Flycatcher, malayana
60. Pale Blue Flycatcher, harterti? (1)
61. Verditer Flycatcher, thallasoides? (>3)
62. Red-throated Flycatcher (1 non-breeding/female)
63. Little Pied Flycatcher (>3)
64. Hill Blue Flycatcher (1 male)
65. Asian Paradise-flycatcher (3, 1 white morph  male)
66. Speckled Piculet (>4)
67. Spectacled Laughingthrush
68. Malayan Laughingthrush (>3)
69. Grey-breasted Spiderhunter (1)
70. Little Spiderhunter (1)
71. Streaked Spiderhunter
72. Magpie Robin
73. Javan Cuckooshrike (>9)
74. Lesser Cuckooshrike (1 male)
75. Black-and-crimson Oriole (>5)
76. Silver-eared Mesia
77. Crake (1), possibly Slaty-legged
78. Red-bearded Bee-eater (h)
79. Blue-throated Bee-eater (>25)
80. Grey-chinned Minivet
81. Blue Nuthatch (>7)
82. Large Niltava (4, 1 juvenile male seen)
83. Rusty-naped Pitta (h/s?)
84. Common Green Magpie (>3)
85. Red-headed Trogon (>4)
86. Long-tailed Broadbill (>3)
87. Sultan Tit (>6)
88. Everett White-eye (>10)
89. Blue-winged Minla (>3)
90. Ferruginous Partridge (h)
91. Slaty-backed Forktail (2)
92. Malayan Whistling-thrush (h)
93. White-tailed Robin (h)

Adult Streaked Wren-babblers. During this trip, we first encountered these birds along the road outside Bishop Trail and there was a family of 4-6 of them. We saw another few along Jalan Lady Guillemard. And then another two birds at Telecom Loop, again along the roadside.

Juvenile Streaked Wren-babbler - one of the family members outside Bishop Trail.

Another Wren-babbler, a Pygmy Wren-babbler. When KH first sighted it, he thought an egg was rolling on the road!

Male Lesser Shortwing. It makes a very musical tune and responds well to playback. However, it always remain in the undergrowth, making clear shots tough.

A family of three Speckled Piculets were found at the Old Gap. The juvenile is shown on the left, while the right shows an adult feeding the youngster.

Adult Dark Hawk-cuckoo. The photos below were taken on our first day right outside SilverPark. It made this distinctive ascending call that made it easy to identify. However, it still took some sharp eyes to locate it.

Now we have photographic confirmation of the existence of these hypothetical birds. This juvenile Hodgson's Hawk-cuckoo was seen at the Old Gap. While the photo shows the front view, we had a good view of the back, showing the prominent white tertials.

The Japanese Sparrowhawk was seen at SilverPark, while we were shooting the Striated Swallows. It was flying very high up. Only sharp-eyed JS could've spotted it!

This bird is not even on the hypothetical list! It's a immature/female Red-throated Flycatcher. JS saw it flicking its tail.

This Black Eagle was sighted close to the Jeriau Waterfall carpark.

A House Swift in flight.

A female White-browed Shrike-babbler.

From Danny

Refer to the Striated Swallow below, notice the streaked throat, rufous rump and deep folk tail - only found at SilverPark ?

Mountain Imperial Pigeon at Telecom Loop. It perched there all the time until we lost interest.

Regarding the Crake:

After checking out on the possible crakes from Internet, I have ruled out the 1st winter banded-bellied, as the underpart bars are confined to the belly behind the legs, the bird we saw had extensive thick black bars. I tested out yellow lights (like my car headlights) on different color surfaces in the dark, red came out clearly but grey/blue/black tended to appear yellowish. The crake we seen had plain headsides and wings, no red on legs, ruling out red-legged crake. I am for 1st winter slaty-legged crake.

Fraser's Hill 20-22Mar09

It has been almost 2 years since my last visit to Fraser's Hill. 71 species were seen this time, with a number of lifers. Sighting highlights are:

1) 3 Malaysian Hill Partridges foraging at Hemmant Trail.
2) Bat Hawk in flight at Telecom Loop
3) Brown Wood Owl at its usual haunt
4) 2 species of large cuckoos (Large Hawk Cuckoo and Oriental Cuckoo) very vocal during this session
5) 2 species of Zoothera (Orange-headed Thrush and Siberian Thrush) on Jln Lady Maxwell near Hemmant Trail entrance
6) 2 species of trogons (Orange-breasted Trogon and Red-headed Trogon)
7) 2 Bay Woodpeckers at Telecom
8) Yellow-throated Marten at the entrance of Telecom Loop
9) 4 Wild Piglets at dawn

We dipped at the Mountain Peacock Pheasant, but we managed to see its relative. 3 Malaysian Hill Partridges were foraging in the undergrowth at Hemmant Trail!

I missed the Orange-breasted Trogon last trip, but got great view this time! It was really fortunate to nail it because it was sighted after The Gap when we were leaving for home.

This Blyth's Hawk Eagle was on the road when we were going uphill below The Gap.

Some other raptors encountered on this trip are the Black Eagle (1st photo) and Crested Serpent Eagles (2nd photo). The Black Eagle is a highland raptor, whereas the Serpent Eagle is common at low elevation.

A pair of Long-tailed Broadbills seem to be nesting at Telecom Loop. They were collecting nesting materials.

Fire-tufted Barbets are common and noisy birds of the Hill. Its cicada-like call is unmistakable. The photo on the right shows why it is so named.

This Dark Hawk Cuckoo was very vocal and it gave us a hard time searching for it. I actually walked pass it while it was calling above!

The male Sunda Cuckoo also very vocal. The one was calling at Telecom Loop and it was still sing away when we left it. ©Danny Lau

Black-browed Barbet - one of the most commonly heard bird at Fraser's Hill and yet difficult to see. ©Danny Lau

Really unexpected to find this lowland bird, Banded Woodpecker, at Maxwell. ©Danny Lau

Glossy Swiftlets are very common and most of the swifts you see flying around belong to this species. There are much less nests in the garage this time round.

The House Swift is larger with a prominent white rump. They are also nesting as can be seen by the returning parent on the right.

2 species of migrant thrushes - Siberian Thrush (1st photo) and Orange-headed Thrush (2nd photo) - were seen, but no Malayan Whistling Thrush...

We did not expect to see so many migrants at this time of the year, but there were quite a few Mugimaki Flycatchers around.

Grey-chinned Minivets are common in bird waves. The male is an unmistakable red and black, while the female is yellow and black.

Large Niltavas are also common. There is one pair at Hemmant Trail and they are very confiding. The male is a beautiful dark blue, while the female is brown. Both have a bright blue collar and cap.

We saw three pairs of Little Pied Flycatchers this trip. The male is a nice black and white bird, while the female is paler. The female on the right is carrying nesting material.

Some trash birds :)

Greater Yellownape. Little Cuckoo Dove

Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo. Black-and-crimson Oriole

Green Magpie. Large Cuckooshrike

Black-eared Shrike-babbler. Mountain Fulvetta

Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush. Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush

Mountain Bulbul. Silver-eared Mesia

Blue-winged Minla. Long-tailed Sibia

Mountain Tailorbird. Streaked Spiderhunter

1	Crested Serpent Eagle	2 below Gap: 1 while going up and 1 while coming down
2	Blyth's Hawk Eagle	1 on road below Gap while going up, 3 in flight on Fraser's Hill
3	Black Eagle	1 at Pines
4	Bat Hawk	1 at Telecom flying from West to East
5	Black-thighed Falconet	1 below Gap
6	Malaysian Hill Partridge	3 foraging at Hemmant
7	Mountain Imperial Pigeon	1 at Hemmant
8	Little Cuckoo Dove	common
9	Large Hawk Cuckoo	1 very vocal at Maxwell
10	Oriental Cuckoo	1 at Jln Lady Guillemard, 1 at Telecom
11	Drongo Cuckoo	1 heard below Gap
12	Collared Owlet	1 heard at Telecom
13	Brown Wood Owl	1 at Mager
14	Glossy Swiftlet	common
15	House Swift	common
16	Orange-breasted Trogon	1 male below Gap
17	Red-headed Trogon	1 female at Jeriau
18	Red-bearded Bee-eater	1 heard
19	Fire-tufted Barbet	common
20	Black-browed Barbet	many heard, 2 seen at Telecom
21	Greater Yellownape	common
22	Lesser Yellownape	common
23	Banded Woodpecker	1 at Maxwell
24	Bay Woodpecker	2 at Telecom
25	Long-tailed Broadbill	2 at Telecom
26	Pacific Swallow	common
27	Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike	1 at Maxwell
28	Large Cuckooshrike	occasionally in bird waves
29	Grey-chinned Minivet	common
30	Orange-bellied Leafbird	1 at Jelai, 2 at Maxwell
31	Yellow-vented Bulbul	common at Jeriau
32	Ochraceous Bulbul	2 at Jeriau
33	Mountain Bulbul	2 at Maxwell, 1 at Telecom
34	Bronzed Drongo	common
35	Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo	common
36	Black-and-crimson Oriole	occasionally in bird waves
37	Green Magpie	1 at Pines, 1 at Telecom
38	Large-billed Crow	common
39	Blue Nuthatch	occasionally in bird waves
40	Golden Babbler	common
41	Chestnut-capped Laughing Thrush	common
42	Chestnut-crowned Laughing Thrush	common
43	Silver-eared Mesia	common
44	White-browed Shrike Babbler	1 male at Telecom
45	Black-eared Shrike Babbler	common
46	Blue-winged Minla	occasionally in bird waves
47	Mountain Fulvetta	common
48	Long-tailed Sibia	common
49	Oriental Magpie Robin	common
50	Slaty-backed Forktail	1 at Jeriau
51	Orange-headed Thrush	1 at Hemmant
52	Siberian Thrush	1 at Maxwell
53	Chestnut-crowned Warbler	occasionally in bird waves
54	Yellow-bellied Warbler	common
55	Arctic Warbler	occasionally in bird waves
56	Mountain Leaf Warbler	occasionally in bird waves
57	Common Tailorbird	1 heard at Maxwell
58	Mountain Tailorbird	common
59	Asian Brown Flycatcher	1 on way down Jeriau
60	Mugimaki Flycatcher	1 male below Gap, 3 female on Fraser's Hill
61	Rufous-browed Flycatcher	1 at Telecom
62	Little Pied Flycatcher	1 pair at Pines, 2 pairs at Telecom
63	Large Niltava	common, including 1 pair at Hemmant
64	Grey-headed Flycatcher	2 heard at Telecom
65	White-throated Fantail	common
66	Brown Shrike	1 at Pines
67	Tiger Shrike	1 at Jalan Lady Guillemard
68	Black-throated Sunbird	common
69	Little Spiderhunter	1 at Jalan Lady Guillemard
70	Streaked Spiderhunter	common
71	Buff-bellied Flowerpecker	occasionally in bird waves

Finally, on the way to Bentong while going home, Danny spotted a pair of Grey-headed Fish Eagles circling.

Other animals encountered include:

White-thighed Surili. Grey-bellied Squirrel

Trapdoor Spider. Rhino Beetle