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Peninsular tour report 11 –17 April 2014 Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd PO Box 2008 BERRI SA 5343 AUSTRALIA Ph. 1800-BIRDING Ph. +61409 763172 www.bellbirdtours.com @bellbirdtours.com ABN 40 159 352 002

Peninsular Malaysia tour report 2014

Dates of tour: 11-17 April 2014

Leaders: Peter Waanders and local guides

next Peninsula Malaysia tour: 17 May 2015

go to our tour program page

download 2015 tour brochure

Photo gallery of this tour

Red-bearded Bee-eater, © LiewWk

Tour overview

Our Peninsular Malaysia tour has been designed for those birders who have always wanted to South-east , but have had some reservations – until now, that is! Jointly guided by Bellbird Tours’ Peter Waanders and one of Malaysia’s top bird guides Terence Ang, participants were treated to a smoothly run tour full of amazing birds. Malaysia has become quite sophisticated and modern in the past decade, and as a result travelling and birding here are a breeze. We stayed at comfortable, quality lodgings with a range of food to suit all taste-buds while the roads were excellent and the locals friendly and helpful. Visiting Krau Forest, Fraser’s Hill, Taman Negara, the Kuala Selangor and Paya Indau wetlands, we saw an amazing variety of birds, with many highlights including Rhinoceros Hornbill, Banded Pitta, Black-bellied Malkoha, Blue-rumped , Reddish Scops Owl, Rufous-backed , Banded , Crested Jay, Great Argus, Large Wren-Babbler, Long-billed , Crimson-breasted , Malayan Peacock-Pheasant, four of Leafbirds, and the Peninsular Malaysia tour report 11 –17 April 2014 highly sought-after Malaysian Rail-Babbler, to name but a few. A grand total of 222 bird species were recorded. The full bird list follows at the end of this document. Other sightings of interest included Grey-bellied, Pallas’, Plaintain and Himalayan Striped Squirrel, Three-striped Ground-squirrel, Black Giant Squirrel, Tree Shrew, Common Palm Civet, Silver Leaf Monkey, Long-tailed Macaque, White-handed Gibbon, Eurasian Wild Boar, Indian Muntjac and tracks and dung of Asian Elephant.

Banded Pitta, Fire-tufted Barbet, © Endemic Guides Malaysia

Daily account

The inaugural tour started in Kuala Lumpur on 11 April. An early departure saw us arrive at Krau Forest not long after sunrise. Birding this lowland forest for a couple of hours yielded, amongst others, good views of a Greater Yellownape, 1 Fire-tufted Barbet, a few Blue-throated Bee-eaters, photographic opportunities of a spectacular Orange-breasted Trogon, while a pair of beautiful but secretive Malaysian Banded Pittas were foraging on the forest floor. Also seen here were two species of Broadbill: Silver-breasted and Black-and-yellow, and we hit the jackpot with views of the elusive Malaysian Rail-babbler! Late in the morning, as bird activity started slowing down, we moved onto Frasers Hill. This attractive hill station is surrounded by excellent broadleaved evergreen forests. A buffet lunch at the restaurant adjacent to our hotel provided us with the energy to bird these cool forest-clad hills for the rest of the day. We were kept busy with birds such as Black-and-crimson Oriole, Grey- chinned Minivet, Rufous-browed Flycatcher, Sultan Tit, Chestnut-capped and Spectacled Laughing-thrush, White- browed Shrike-babbler, the beautiful Blue-winged Minla and equally stunning Silver-eared Mesia.

After breakfast early the next morning (12 April) we were out birding again shortly after sunrise, a time of the day that is amazingly cool in these hills. At a fast-flowing stream, a pair of Slaty-backed Forktails entertained us, while luck was with us when a Malaysian Whistling-thrush came flying in for a drink. Focusing on some of the harder-to- find species produced Rufous-browed, Mugimaki & Blue Hill Flycatcher, a Lesser Niltava with a small as prey, Malaysian Cuckoo-shrike, Yellow-browed Babbler and a small party of Malaysian Whistling-thrushes, to name but a few. After lunch and a short break, we continued birding a different part of the reserve, where the elusive Malaysian Hill Partridge was found as well as other good species including Marbled & Pygmy Wren-babbler, Large Niltava, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Crow-billed Drongo, Grey-and-buff Woodpecker and a small flock of Everett’s White-eyes. We finished around dark to be treated to an excellent meal at our hotel, with a variety of authentic Malaysian dishes as well as Western food. Peninsular Malaysia tour report 11 –17 April 2014

Our final morning (13 April) birding at Frasers Hill was once again very productive. Another well-camouflaged Malaysian Hill Partridge was recorded while in the tree above it, a pair of beautiful Black-and-red Orioles were showing off. weren’t in short supply this morning: both Lesser and Greater Yellownapes were seen multiple times, while Crimson-winged and Buff-necked Woodpecker were also recorded again. We were treated to unusually good views of the normally elusive Large Scimitar-babbler, while a Malaysian Rail-babbler was heard in the distance. Of the small, colourful nectar-feeding birds, we had both Black-throated and Fire- breasted Flowerpecker, while an Asian Fairy-bluebird posed for photographs. After lunch we reluctantly departed for the drive into the interior of the peninsula, to the jewel in the crown of Malaysia’s National Parks: Taman Negara , which protects the largest remaining tract (over 4,000 km2) of virgin rain forest in peninsular Malaysia. On entering the forest one is immediately overwhelmed by the awesome tranquillity and timelessness of this vast natural cathedral. Tall evergreen trees with their huge buttress roots, luxuriant lower storey undergrowth, clambering vines, spectacular butterflies and strange-looking are all integral features of this superbly-balanced and stable environment which is the end-product of millions of years of . The jungle here is claimed to be the oldest in the world: none of the Ice Ages had any effect here, and Taman Negara has eluded volcanic activity and other geological upheavals. After settling into our accommodation on the edge of the National Park we did an introductory walk into the park. Birding here, in of the world's most pristine primary , is an experience not to be missed. Our late-afternoon walk was used to ‘get into the groove’ of rainforest birding, yielding species such as Raffles’ Malkoha, Whiskered , Blue-eared Kingfisher, various species of and the beautiful, small, ever-active Orange-bellied Flowerpecker. An excellent dinner was had at one of the many establishments surrounding the park entrance, overlooking the river where earlier we’d seen a White-bellied Sea-eagle flying past!

The following two days, 14 & 15 April, were spent birding the forest trails of Taman Negara National Park. A gentle pace, largely flat terrain and no rain made for excellent yet relaxed birding. Each day we started early, then retreated to our lodgings for lunch and siesta during the quiet hours of the day (while Crested Firebacks walked around the rooms!) to continue birding again later in the afternoon and into the evening. The resulting bird list was impressive and included specialties as Crested Fireback, various species of Hornbill including the rare Rhinoceros Hornbill, Black-bellied Malkoha, Blue-rumped Parrot, various species of Woodpecker including the sought-after Banded Woodpecker, Crested Jay, the cute Striped & Large Wren-Babblers, Long-billed Spiderhunter, Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker, the tiny Black-thighed Falconet, Large Green Pigeon, Black-bellied Malkoha, Blue- rumped Parrot, Rufous-backed Kingfisher, Banded Woodpecker, Banded Pitta, Black Magpie, Crested Jay, Black- throated and White-necked Babblers, Long-billed Spiderhunter and Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker. We were lucky enough to come across the secretive Great Argus and a pair of Malayan Peacock-Pheasants, allowing photographic opportunities, as well as the elusive Rufous- and Grey-chested Jungle Flycatcher. A nocturnal spotlighting trip yielded Reddish Scops Owl and Malaysian Eared Nightjars.

The morning of 16 April was our last morning in this beautiful park and after a few hours’ birding we reluctantly packed our bags and headed back towards Kuala Lumpur. We still had one major birding destination ahead of us: the Kuala Selangor mangroves. Some welcome cloud cover kept the temperature down to agreeable levels, while we walked the trails through the mangroves. Birds such as Whistler and Mangrove Blue Flycatcher were recorded without much difficulty, while Mangrove Pitta and Buffy Owl required harder work but eventually both species rewarded us with good views. Towards dark we moved on to the airport where we Peninsular Malaysia tour report 11 –17 April 2014 dropped off some people for their flight home, while others stayed in the airport hotel. Some of us went to the Paya Indau wetlands near the airport for a couple of hours the next morning (17 April), picking up a good number of additional species including Red Junglefowl, Changeable Hawk-eagle, Black-capped Oriole, Baya Weaver, Barn and 1 Cinnamon, 1 Black and 4 Yellow Bitterns!

For 2015, we’ve slightly changed the itinerary by making the last day a full day, which means we can be at the mangroves in the morning, and we’ll visit the Paya Indau wetlands for the afternoon before saying goodbye to everyone. Read the 2015 brochure here.

Grey-whiskered Tree-, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Scarlet-rumped Trogon © Endemic Guides Malaysia

Pitta, Bee-eater, Barbet, Sultan Tit, Hornbill (c) Endemic Guides Malaysia

Malaysian Peacock-Pheasant,, Rufous-browed Flycatcher © Peter Waanders, Bellbird Tours Peninsular Malaysia tour seen 11 –17 April 2014

1 Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus 31 Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis 2 Crested Fireback Lophura ignita 32 Raffles’s Malkoha Phaenicophaeus chlorophaeus 3 Malayan Peacock Pheasant Polyplectron malacense 33 Chestnut-breasted Malkoha Phaenicophaeus curvirostris 4 Great Argus Argusianus argus 34 Black-bellied Malkoha Phaenicophaeus diardi 5 Striated Heron Butorides striatus 35 Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis 6 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 36 Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea 7 Little Egret Egretta garzetta 37 Little Bronze Cuckoo Chrysococcyx minutillus 8 Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus 38 Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii 9 Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela 39 Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus 10 Changeable Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus 40 Reddish Scops-Owl Otus rufescens 11 Blyth’s Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus alboniger 41 Malaysian Eared-Nightjar Lycornis temminckii 12 Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus 42 Grey-rumped Treeswift Hemiprocne longipennis 13 White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster 43 Hemiprocne comata 14 Lesser Fish-Eagle Ichthyophaga humilis 44 Glossy Swiftlet Collocalia esculenta 15 Black-thighed Falconet Microhierax fringillarius 45 Germain’s Swiftlet Collocalia germani 16 White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus 46 Silver-rumped Spinetail Rhaphidura leucopygialis 17 Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus 47 Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus 18 Rock Dove Columba livia 48 Asian Palm-Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis 19 Spotted Dove Columba livia 49 House Swift Apus nipalensis 20 Little Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia ruficeps 50 Red-naped Trogon Harpactes kasumba 21 Common Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica 51 Scarlet-rumped Trogon Harpactes duvaucelii 22 Zebra Dove Geopelia striata 52 Orange-breasted Trogon Harpactes oreskios 23 Little Green-Pigeon Treron olax 53 Red-headed Trogon Harpactes erythrocephalus 24 Pink-necked Green-Pigeon Treron vernans 54 Oriental Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis 25 Thick-billed Green-Pigeon Treron curvirostra 55 Rufous-collared Kingfisher concretus 26 Large Green-Pigeon Treron capellei 56 Lacedo pulchella 27 Green Imperial-Pigeon Ducula aenea 57 Stork-billed Kingfisher capensis 28 Mountain Imperial-Pigeon Ducula badia 58 White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis 29 Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot Loriculus galgulus 59 Collared Kingfisher chloris 30 Blue-rumped Parrot Psittinus cyanurus 60 Blue-banded Kingfisher Alcedo euryzona Peninsular Malaysia tour list of birds seen 11 –17 April 2014

61 Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting 91 Rufous Woodpecker Celeus brachyurus 62 Rufous-backed Kingfisher Ceyx rufidorsa 92 Buff-rumped Woodpecker Meiglyptes tristis 63 Red-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis amictus 93 Buff-necked Woodpecker Meiglyptes tukki 64 Blue-throated Bee-eater Merops viridis 94 Green Broadbill Calyptomena viridis 65 Bushy-crested Hornbill Anorrhinus galeritus 95 Black-and-red Broadbill Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos 66 Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris 96 Long-tailed Broadbill Psarisomus dalhousiae 67 Black Hornbill Anthracoceros malayanus 97 Silver-breasted Broadbill Serilophus lunatus 68 Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis 98 Banded Broadbill javanicus 69 Rhinoceros Hornbill Buceros rhinoceros 99 Black-and-yellow Broadbill Eurylaimus ochromalus 70 Wreathed Hornbill Aceros undulatus 100 Mangrove Pitta Pitta megarhyncha 71 Fire-tufted Barbet Psilopogon pyrolophus 101 Malayan Banded Pitta Pitta irena 72 Golden-whiskered Barbet Megalaima chrysopogon 102 Golden-bellied Gerygone Gerygone sulphurea 73 Red-throated Barbet Megalaima mystacophanos 103 Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus 74 Black-browed Barbet Megalaima oorti 104 Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus hirundinaceus 75 Yellow-crowned Barbet Megalaima henricii 105 Rufous-winged Philentoma Phylentoma pyrrhoptera 76 Blue-eared Barbet Megalaima australis 106 Common Aegithina tiphia 77 Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala 107 Green Iora Aegithina viridissima 78 Brown Barbet Calorhamphus fuliginosus 108 Javan Cuckooshrike Coracina javensis 79 Speckled Picumnus innominatus 109 Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike Coracina striata 80 Rufous Piculet abnormis 110 Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris 81 Grey-and-buff Woodpecker Hemicircus concretus 111 Mangrove Whistler Pachycephala grisola 82 Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos moluccensis 112 Black-eared Shrike Babbler Pteruthius melanotis 83 Banded Woodpecker mineaceus 113 Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis 84 Greater Yellownape Picus flavinucha 114 Black-and-crimson Oriole Oriolus cruentus 85 Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus 115 Crow-billed Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus 86 Crimson-winged Woodpecker Picus puniceus 116 Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus 87 Laced Woodpecker Picus vittatus 117 Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus remifer 88 Common Flameback Dinopium javanense 118 Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus 89 Maroon Woodpecker Blythipicus rubiginosus 119 White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis 90 Orange-backed Woodpecker Reinwardtipicus validus 120 Spotted Fantail Rhipidura perlata Peninsular Malaysia tour list of birds seen 11 –17 April 2014

121 Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea 151 Yellow-bellied Warbler superciliaris 122 Asian Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi 152 Mountain Orthotomus cuculatus 123 Crested Jay Platylophus galericulatus 153 Chestnut-crowned Warbler Seicercus castaniceps 124 Black Magpie Platysmurus leucopterus 154 Rufescent Prinia Prinia rufescens 125 House Crow Corvus splendens 155 Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris 126 Rail-babbler Eupetes macrocerus 156 Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius 127 Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis 157 Dark-necked Tailorbird Orthotomus atrogularis 128 cinereus 158 Ashy Tailorbird Orthotomus ruficeps 129 Sultan Tit Melanochlora sultanea Chestnut-backed Scimitar 159 Babbler Pomatorhinus montanus 130 Straw-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus zeylanicus 160 Grey-throated Babbler Stachyris nigriceps 131 Black-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus atriceps 161 Chestnut-rumped Babbler Stachyris maculata 132 Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus melanicterus 162 Black-throated Babbler Stachyris nigricollis 133 Scaly-breasted Bulbul Pycnonotus squamatus 163 Chestnut-winged Babbler Stachyris erythroptera 134 Grey-bellied Bulbul Pycnonotus cyaniventris 164 Golden Babbler Stachyridopsis chrysaea 135 Stripe-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus finlaysoni 165 Pin-striped Tit-Babbler Macronous gularis 136 Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier 166 Mountain Fulvetta Alcippe peracensis 137 Olive-winged Bulbul Pycnonotus plumosus 167 Large Wren-Babbler Napothera macrodactyla 138 Cream-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus simplex 168 Streaked Wren-Babbler Napothera brevicaudata 139 Asian Red-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus brunneus 169 Abbott’s Babbler Malacocincla abbotti 140 Pycnonotus erythropthalmos 170 Moustached Babbler Malacopteron magnirostre 141 ochraceus 171 Scaly-crowned Babbler Malacopteron cinereum 142 Grey-cheeked Bulbul Alophoixus bres 172 Rufous-crowned Babbler Malacopteron magnum 143 Yellow-bellied Bulbul Alophoixus phaeocephalus 173 White-chested Babbler Trichastoma rostratum 144 Hairy-backed Bulbul Tricholestes 174 Ferruginous Babbler Trichastoma bicolor 145 Buff-vented Bulbul olivacea 175 Striped Wren-Babbler Kenopia striata 146 mcclellandii 176 Black-capped Babbler Pellorneum capistratum 147 Ixos malaccensis 177 Spectacled Laughingthrush Rhinocichla mitrata 148 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 178 Black Laughingthrush Melanochichla lugubris 149 Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica 179 Malayan Laughingthrush Trochalopteron peninsula 150 Pygmy Wren Babbler Pnoepyga pusilla Peninsular Malaysia tour list of birds seen 11 –17 April 2014

180 Blue-winged Minla Siva cyanouroptera 210 minullum 181 Silver-eared Mesia Mesia argentauris 211 Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectus 182 Long-tailed Sibia Heterophasia picaoides 212 Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Chalcoparia singalensis 183 Everett’s White-eye Zosterops everetti 213 Brown-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis 184 Asian Fairy Bluebird Irena puella 214 Purple-naped Sunbird Hypogramma hypogrammicum 185 Blue Sitta azurea 215 Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis 186 Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis 216 Black-throated Sunbird Aethopyga saturata 187 Common Hill-Myna Gracula religiosa 217 Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra 188 Javan Myna Acridotheres javanicus 218 Long-billed Spiderhunter Arachnothera robusta 189 Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 219 Grey-breasted Spiderhunter Arachnothera affinis 190 Lesser Shortwing Brachypteryx leucophrys 220 Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna 191 Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis 221 Passer montanus 192 White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus 222 White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata 193 Malayan Whistling Thrush Myophonus robinsoni 194 Slaty-backed Forktail Enicurus schistaceus 195 White-crowned Forktail Enicurus leschenaulti 196 Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni 197 Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassina 198 Hill Blue Flycatcher Cyornis banyumas 199 Malaysian Blue Flycatcher Cyornis turcosus 200 Mangrove Blue Flycatcher Cyornis rufigastra 201 Rufous-browed Flycatcher Anthipes solitaris 202 Large Niltava Niltava grandis 203 Pygmy Blue Flycatcher Muscicapella hodgsoni 204 Chloropsis sonnerati www.bellbirdtours.com 205 Chloropsis cyanopogon 206 Blue-winged Leafbird Chloropsis cochinchinensis 207 Orange-bellied Leafbird Chloropsis hardwickii next Malaysia tour: 17 May 2015 208 Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker percussus 209 Orange-bellied Flowerpecker Dicaeum trigonostigma go to our tour program page tour brochure