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
