Duncan Birding
Here is a summary of the trip with Duncan and Carol from Arizona, USA. We met Duncan and Carol in the afternoon and drove all the way up to the Gap.
Fraser’s Hill: By the time we reached the Gap, it was drizzling and time is already 4pm which means we have to stop and wait for the gate to open. We decided to take a short break - had hot milo, tea and ‘goreng pisang’ (fried banana). Since it was already late and Duncan need to take a rest, we didn’t go birding with Duncan. A leisure drive around the hill station provides a glimpse of rufous-browed flycatcher.
The first morning in Fraser’s Hill, we waited for the Malayan Whistling Thrush. No luck! But we had other good birds in Little Cuckoo-dove, Fire-tufted Barbet, Slaty-backed Forktail, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Silver-eared Mesia, Mountain Fulvetta, Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush and Streaked Spiderhunter. The Dusky Langur and White-thighed Surili were around early in the morning with the birds. After breakfast, we were out in the field again to continue our targets. We met WengChun’s master, Mr Durai along the way. Along Hemmant Trail, we spotted Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Buff-breasted Babbler, Golden Babbler, White-throated Fantail, and glimpse of a wren-babbler (no confirm ID yet). White-tailed Robin was calling though. By noon, we had some new sightings which include Asian Brown Flycatcher, Grey-chinned Minivet, Black-browed Barbet, Black Laughingthrush, Black Eagle, and a Lesser Yellownape Woodpecker. After a noon break, we went into Hemmant Trail, Abu Suradi and Telekom Loop. We had a few bird waves. The new species sighted include black-eared shrike-babbler, golden babbler, mountain tailorbird, large niltava, and chestnut-crowned laughingthrush, long-tailed broadbill, and bronzed drongo.
On Day 2, we tried looking for the malayan whistling thrush again. Yet, no call and sighting. We did the Old Road this morning but generally it was very quiet and birds were shy. At Telekom Loop, things look a little better. Among the new species recorded include verditer flycatcher, common tailorbird, ochraceous bulbul, red-headed trogon, grey wagtail, sultan tit, crested serpent eagle, emerald dove, white-browed shrike-babbler, buff-bellied flowerpecker, pygmy wren-babbler, siberian thrush, and rufous-browed flycatcher. Another highlight of the day is a family of siamang. The calls were deafening and the group was spotted along Old Road.
On the 3rd day, even though after twice waiting for the malayan whistling thrush, we finally heard the call. However, it did not show up. We went around telekom loop again today.
Last day at Fraser’s Hill, we went down to Old Road again to try our luck with the bamboo woodpecker before we set off to Taman Negara.
Taman Negara: It has been raining quite frequent at the national park. We manage to get some good species and lifers for Duncan. Among the new birds in our list for this trip include black magpie, asian paradise flycatcher, orange-backed woodpecker, chestnut-backed scimitar babbler, gold-whiskered barbet, hairy-backed bulbul, white-rumped shama, white-chested babbler, greater racket-tailed drongo, brown fulvetta, magpie robin, blue-winged pitta, golden-throated barbet and great argus. Refer to the list below for more birds sighted in Taman Negara. We’ve covered Swamp Loop, Lubok Simpon, and other trails in this national park.
The updated species list.
Birds: oriental magpie robin, black-crested bulbul, rufous-browed flycatcher, fire-tufted barbet, slaty-backed forktail, little cuckoo dove, silver-eared mesia, crestnut-capped (spectacled) laughingthrush, crestnut-crowned (malaysian) laughingthrush, black laughingthrush, white-hooded babbler, streaked spiderhunter, buff-bellied flowerpecker, black-throated sunbird, white-browed shrike-babbler, black-eared shrike-babbler, black-browed barbet, buff-breasted babbler, asian brown flycatcher, verditer flycatcher, common tailorbird, ochraceous bulbul, barn swallow, pacific swallow, house swift, glossy swiftlet, crested serpent eagle, black eagle, long-tailed broadbill, white-throated fantail, pygmy wren-babbler, red-headed trogon, emerald dove, mountain imperial pigeon, orange-bellied leafbird, blue-winged leafbird, greater yellownape woodpecker, lesser yellownape woodpecker, mountain tailorbird, chestnut-crowned warbler, golden babbler, sultan tit, fiery minivet, grey-chinned minivet, grey wagtail, large niltava, bronzed drongo, lesser racket-tailed drongo, everett’s white-eye, black-and-crimson oriole, mountain bulbul, mountain fulvetta, blue-winged minla, long-tailed sibia, black magpie, asian paradise flycatcher, orange-backed woodpecker, chestnut-backed scimitar babbler, gold-whiskered barbet, hairy-backed bulbul, white-rumped shama, white-chested babbler, greater racket-tailed drongo, brown fulvetta, magpie robin, blue-winged pitta, black-capped babbler, cream-vented bulbul, raffles malkoha, chestnut-bellied malkoha, grey-breasted spiderhunter, rufous-crown babbler, buff-rumped woodpecker, crested fireback, chestnut-naped forktail, scaly-breasted bulbul, grey-bellied bulbul, streaked bulbul, rufous-winged philentoma, chestnut-winged babbler, purple-naped sunbird, tiger shrike, white-bellied yuhina, arctic warbler, spectacled bulbul, grey-headed canary flycatcher, black-and-red broadbill, red-eyed bulbul, yellow-vented flowerpecker, black-throated babbler, yellow-rumped flycatcher, golden-throated barbet and great argus.
Mammals: himalayan striped squirrel, pallas’s squirrel, long-tailed macaque, dusky langur, white-thighed surili, siamang, …
Some of the birds that were exclude in the list above were either heard only or unable to confirm its identification. These include rhinoceros hornbill (heard only), white-tailed robin (heard only), a possible eye-browed thrush (ID) and a streaked wren-babbler(ID) .
