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

Perak 9-16Aug07

From Con

Here's a trip report, checklist & sampling of photos for a journey almost to the Thai border. Leaving Singapore on August 9th at 5am, reaching Ipoh at Noon, we rested and spent some hot afternoon hours birding at Gua Kek Look Tong (a Buddhist limestone cave temple complex), which yielded three lifers for me, Javan Sparrow, Blue Rock Thrush, and Blue Whistling Thrush. Dinner later at the Yum-Yum Restaurant in downtown Ipoh revealed that this trip was as much about food, as birds.

August 10th drove to Banding Island and took the boat to Tasik Temenggor Discovery Island, to be our floating home for the next two nights. After two lunches, one in Gerik and the second on Steve Chong's houseboat, did some walk around of Steve's islands seeing domestic ducks. Took an afternoon boatride to Pos Chiong for hornbill watching. The afternoon light was absolutely fantastic. Did see several dozen hornbills, and what was to be our closest encounter with Plain-pouched Hornbills, but still rather too far away to be entirely satisfying.

Next morning August 11th, boat ride during pre-dawn to Pos Chiong for morning hornbill watching. Light was rather poor, misty and hazy. Climbed to the top of a clear cut hill above an Orang Asli village. Heard many birds in the forest across Lake Temenggor, including the call of the Great Argus, but saw few birds. Did see several dozen hornbills in flight in the distance. On the way back stopped at the Rafflesia spot. A lifer for me, we saw Rafflesia in bloom, well almost full bloom, as well as a number of buds and decaying flowers.

In the afternoon, we stopped at Sungei Halong, the site of the MNS scientific exhibition in 1993 when the first sighting of thousands of hornbills was made. Seeing an Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (juvenile) very close and sightings of Green Broadbill and Slaty-backed Forktail. Later went to the near-by Asli village for hornbill watching, but saw few. Still a very interesting late afternoon in the Asli village, watching the children play.

August 12th morning, my group went back to Sungei Halong to photograph the cooperative Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher.

The other group went back to Pos Chiong for hornbills, seeing several dozen in poor light, they did continue on to the Rafflesia site to see the flower now in full bloom. After lunch, transferred back to Banding Island and regrouped in Gerik for a second lunch. Arriving in Ipoh in the afternoon, birded in Paradise Valley for the reaming twilight hours. Dinner in 1919 Restaurant confirmed the foodie status of the trip.

August 13th morning, an hour birding in Gua Kek Look Tong before beginning the journey to Kuala Gula. Lunch in KG with terrific prawns & crabs. Late afternoon birding in Kuala Gula, and night owling on the country roads in the area. Approximately 30 owls, mostly barn owls and spotted wood owls, also a buffy fish owl.

Morning of August 14th, birding in Kuala Gula, typical mangrove habit birds, but the lifer was an Asian Leopard Cat Felis bengalensis. These cats are mostly nocturnal, so seeing one in the daytime was a real treat. After lunch headed to Maxwell Hill. Misty & foggy the views were obscured and then cleared and then obscured again. Terrific sighting of a flight of four bushy crested hornbills. Chilly.

The next morning August 15th, rain. Headed downhill to Burmese Pool on the 10am transport. Burmese Pool was rather quite, yielding few sightings but a couple of leeches. After lunch headed to Kinta Nature Park, Batu Gajah, where there is an active heronry with purple herons, gray herons, black crowned night herons, little egrets nesting there. Next, headed to Cameron Highlands passing through Pos Slim. Saw the white crowned forktail and grey wagtail in the late afternoon near twilight.

Morning of August 16th headed up to Gunung Brinchan at 6666 feet. The entire morning was very birdy, though the summit was foggy. Higher than Fraser's Hill, the area has several species not found at lower elevations. Lifers for me included Chestnut-tailed Minla, Barred Cuckoo Dove , Grey-head Canary Flycatcher, Rufous-vented Niltava and Yellow-breasted Warbler.

After a quick lunch, headed back to Singapore, arriving past 9pm tired, 2008 kilometers total journey. Special thanks to Connie Khoo for organizing the trip to Temenggor Lake, and CT Tan for the trip to Kuala Gula, Maxwell Hill & Cameron Highlands. Nice meeting so many birders. Stay in touch.

Key Location
BT Belum-Temenggor
KLT Gua Kek Look Tong
PV Paradise Valley
KG Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary
MH Maxwell Hill
KNP Kinta Nature Park, Batu Gajah
CH Cameron Highlands
BP Burmese Pool


1 Blue Whistling Thrush KLT
2 Java Sparrow KLT
3 House Swift KLT
4 Spotted Dove KLT
5 Common Myna KLT
6 Rock Pigeon KLT KG
7 Mountain Leaf Warbler CH
8 Eurasian Tree Sparrow KLT KNP CH
9 Blue Rock Thrush KLT
10 Coppersmith Barbet KLT
11 Yellow-vented Bulbul KLT CH
12 Asian Glossy Starling KLT KG BP
13 Pink necked Green Pigeon BT KLT KG
14 Asian Koel KLT
15 Black naped Oriole KLT PV KNP CH
16 Bat Hawk KLT
17 Brahminy Kite BT KLT KG KNP
18 White bellied Sea Eagle BT KLT KG KNP
19 Lesser Fish Eagle BT
20 Changeable Hawk Eagle BT
21 Great Argus (h) BT
22 Large Green Pigeon BT
23 Mountain Imperial Pigeon BT
24 Chestnut bellied Malkoha BT
25 Swiftlet (sp) BT KLT
26 Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher BT
27 Stork-billed Kingfisher BT
28 White bellied Woodpecker BT
29 Plain pouched Hornbill BT
30 Black Hornbill BT
31 Oriental Pied Hornbill BT
32 Rhinoceros Hornbill BT
33 Great Hornbill BT
34 Banded Broadbill (h) BT
35 Green Broadbill BT
36 Pacific Swallow BT KLT
37 Greater Racquet Tailed Drongo BT
38 Large billed Crow BT KG
39 Striped Tit Babbler BT KG BP CH
40 Scaly Crowned Babbler BT
41 Moustached Babbler BT
42 Oriental Magpie Robin BT KLT PV KG MH KNP CH
43 Slaty-backed Forktail BT 44 Pied Fantail BT KLT
45 Brown-throated Sunbird BT
46 Green billed Malkoha BT MH
47 Raffles Malkoha BT
48 Red eyed Bulbul BT
49 Hill Myna BT
50 Dollarbird BT KG
51 Banded Woodpecker BT
52 Plaintive Cuckoo BT
53 Javan Myna KLT
54 Lineated Barbet PV
55 Baya Weaver PV
56 Yellow-bellied Prinia PV
57 Barred Buttonquail PV
58 White Throated Kingfisher PV KNP
59 Emerald Dove (h) KLT
60 Streaked Spiderhunter MH
61 Black throated Sunbird MH
62 Bushy crested Hornbill MH
63 Rufous browed Flycatcher MH
64 Black browed Barbet MH
65 Everett's White Eye MH
66 Sultan Tit MH
67 Black crested Bulbul MH
68 Chestnut headed Bee-eater PV
69 Common Iora PV KNP
70 Common Tailorbird PV
71 Ochraceous Bulbul MH
72 Blyth's Hawk Eagle CH
73 Golden throated Barbet CH
74 Lesser Shortwing CH
75 Grey headed Canary Flycatcher MH CH
76 White tailed Robin CH
77 Large Niltava CH
78 Little Pied Flycatcher CH
79 Lesser Racquet tailed Drongo CH
80 Golden bellied Gerygone KLT KG CH
81 Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush CH
82 Blue Nuthatch CH
83 Lesser Yellownape CH
84 Silver eared Mesia CH
85 Grey Wagtail BP CH
86 White crowned Forktail CH
87 Blue Throated Bee-eater PV BP
88 Barred Cuckoo Dove CH
89 Mountain Fulvetta CH
90 Blue winged Minla CH
91 Zebra Dove KLT KNP CH
92 Milky Stork KG
93 Black shouldered Kite KG
94 Red Junglefowl KG
95 Purple Heron KG KNP
96 Grey Heron KG KNP
97 Striated Heron KG
98 Black crowned Night Heron KNP
99 Little Egret KNP
100 Lesser Adjutant KG
101 Ashy Tailorbird KG
102 Sunda Woodpecker KG
103 Barn Owl KG
104 Buffy Fish Owl KG
105 Spotted Wood Owl KG
106 Greater Coucal (h) KG
107 Lesser Coucal (h) PV
108 Common Sandpiper KG
109 Crested Serpent Eagle KG
110 Sooty Capped Babbler BT
111 Leafbird (sp) MH
112 Malaysian Cuckooshrike CH
113 Grey-chinned Minivet CH
114 White-browed Fantail CH
115 Rufous-vented Niltava (juvenile male) CH
116 Mountain Bulbul MH
117 Mountain Tailorbird CH
118 Crimson winged Woodpecker BP
119 White breasted Waterhen KG
120 Yellow-breasted Warbler CH
121 Chestnut-tailed Minla CH
122 White-rumped Munia KG
123 Collared Kingfisher PV KG
124 Scaly-breasted Munia KLT

Ayer Keroh, Bt Rengit, Bt Tinggi, Genting 12-13May07

99 species for this Malaysia trip. The highlites are the 2 trogons (red-naped, orange-breasted), 3 broadbills (banded, black-and-red, silver-breasted), and the grand finale at Telecom of Genting (golden-throated barbet, white-browed shrike-babbler, chestnut-tailed minla). The dips are the barred eagle owls and banded kingfisher at Ayer Keroh, the cinnamon-rumped trogon at Bt Rengit and red-billed malkoha at Bt Tinggi. However, we did meet many birders and photographers. At Ayer Keroh, we met Ang, who is none other than the keeper of the Ayer Keroh birdlist. At Bt Rengit, we met Tee Lian Huat, one of the Malaysian pioneers of digiscoping, as well as Korinpoh & Sree's gang of photographers at Bt Rengit.

Ayer Keroh (120507 0730-1100)
1 Common flameback 2
2 Banded woodpecker 1
3 Orange-backed woodpecker 1
4 White-throated kingfisher 1 pair
5 Asian koel heard
6 Chestnut-bellied malkoha 1
7 Long-tailed parakeet common
8 Blue-crowned hanging parrot 1
9 Grey-rumped treeswift common
10 Spotted dove common
11 Zebra dove 1
12 Pink-necked green-pigeon common
13 Banded broadbill 1 male
14 Black-and-red broadbill 1 nesting
15 Greater racket-tailed drongo >5
16 Black-naped oriole 1 heard
17 Common iora 1
18 Pied triller 1
19 Black-winged flycatcher-shrike >5
20 White-rumped shama 1
21 Oriental magpie robin common
22 Asian glossy starling common
23 Javan myna common
24 Pacific swallow common
25 Black-headed bulbul 4
26 Red-eyed bulbul 5
27 Yellow-vented bulbul common
28 Cream-vented bulbul 1 pair nesting
29 Olive-winged bulbul 1
30 Stripe-throated bulbul 1
31 Common tailorbird heard
32 Abbott's babbler heard
33 Striped tit-babbler heard
34 Orange-bellied flowerpecker common
35 Scarlet-backed flowerpecker common
36 Scaly-breasted munia 1

Bt Rengit (1400-1830)
1 Red junglefowl 1
2 Brown barbet 1 pair
3 Black hornbill 1 pair
4 Oriental pied hornbill 1 pair
5 Red-naped trogon 2
6 Scarlet-rumped trogon 1 heard
7 Rufous-backed kingfisher 1 pair
8 Indian cuckoo 1 seen, 1 heard
9 Drongo cuckoo 1 heard
10 Chestnut-breasted malkoha 1
11 Raffles' malkoha 1 pair
12 Lesser coucal 2
13 Dollarbird 1 nesting
14 Long-tailed parakeet common
15 Blue-rumped parrot 2
16 House swift 1
17 Emerald dove 1
18 Black-thighed falconet 3
19 Black-and-yellow broadbill heard
20 Greater racket-tailed drongo common
21 Bronzed drongo 1
22 Large-billed crow common in town
23 Black-naped monarch 1 female
24 White-rumped shama 1
25 Oriental magpie robin common
26 Asian glossy starling common
27 Javan myna common
28 Pacific swallow common
29 Yellow-vented bulbul 1
30 Spectacled bulbul 1
31 Hairy-backed bulbul 1
32 Yellow-bellied bulbul 1
33 Grey-cheeked bulbul 1
34 Abbott's babbler heard
35 Purple-naped sunbird 1

Bt Tinggi (130507 0630-0930)
1 Red-throated barbet 1 female
2 Black-browed barbet 1
3 Orange-breasted trogon 1
4 Red-bearded bee-eater 1
5 Indian cuckoo 1 heard
6 Drongo cuckoo 1 heard
7 Blue-rumped parrot 1 male
8 Glossy swiftlet common
9 Grey-rumped treeswift common
10 Large-tailed nightjar 1 heard
11 Silver-breasted broadbill 3
12 Black-and-yellow broadbill heard
13 Blue-winged leafbird 2
14 Greater green leafbird 1 male, 1 female
15 Lesser racket-tailed drongo 1
16 Grey-headed canary-flycatcher 1
17 Rufous-browed flycatcher 2
18 Oriental magpie robin common
19 White-tailed robin 2
20 Black-crested bulbul 4
21 Stripe-throated bulbul common
22 Yellow-vented bulbul 1 at hotel
23 Ochraceous bulbul 2
24 Grey-cheeked bulbul 1
25 Rufous-tailed tailorbird 1
26 Grey-throated babbler common
27 Golden babbler 1
28 Purple-naped sunbird 1 male
29 Streaked spiderhunter common
30 Eurasian tree sparrow common at hotel

Genting (1130-1430)
Awana (1130-1230)
1 Black-browed barbet 1
2 Brown barbet 1
3 Orange-bellied leafbird 2
4 Brown shrike 1
5 Olive-winged bulbul 1
6 Grey-cheeked bulbul 2
7 Long-tailed sibia 3

en-route to Telecom
8 Grey-chinned minivet 2

Telecom (1300-1430)
9 Golden-throated barbet 1
10 Glossy swiftlet common
11 Mountain imperial pigeon 3
12 Crested serpent eagle 2
13 Rusty-naped pitta 2 heard
14 Large niltava 1 male, 1 female
15 Mountain bulbul 2
16 Mountain tailorbird 2
17 Mountain leaf warbler 5
18 Chestnut-capped laughingthrush 1
19 Chestnut-crowned laughingthrush 2
20 White-browed shrike-babbler 1 male, 1 female
21 Chestnut-tailed minla 5
22 Black-throated sunbird 1 male, 1 female

Photos from Gim Cheong

The bird does not have 1) black brow 2) black malar stripe 3) yellow throat, which are diagnostic for Black-browed Barbet. Instead it has 1) blue face, 2) greenish throat with yellow tinge, 3) thickset bill, which are diagnostic for female Red-throated Barbet! Robson say it occurs up to 760m but Jeyarajasingam say it occurs up to 1000m.

Cutie of Ayer Keroh.

Ayer Keroh - a male.

Ayer Keroh bird.

Common at both Ayer Keroh and Bukit Tinggi.

Shy fella from Ayer Keroh.

This one was also nesting at Ayer Keroh, bringing food to the chicks which were silent.

Bukit Tinggi bird - Caught in mid air!!

Bukit Tinggi bird - high up, but observing us.

Another Bukit Tinggi bird

A star bird for me @ Bukit Tinggi.

@ Genting Telecom Road

@ Genting Telecom Road.

@ Genting Telecom Road, not recorded at Fraser's Hill due to altitude.

Tiny fella @ Genting Telecom Road, but very nice song, makes you wanna sit down, have a cup of tea and enjoy the song.....

Left: Juvenile at Ayer Keroh. Right: Adult at Ayer Keroh

This bird was very co-operative and kept calling. So co-operative that Danny figured it is somebody's pet!! And Kok Hui wondered whether it needs to go and feed! But I left the camera at ISO 800 cos I was shooting the Black-and-Red Broadbill using daylight and forgot about it. So gotta go back one of these days to get better shots of the Trogon!

Seen at Bukit Tinggi - 2 views. Once again, gotta go back and get shots with less blockage!

Photos from Danny

Banded broadbill at Ayer Keroh

Black-and-red broadbill at Ayer Keroh

Grey-cheeked bulbul at Bt Rengit