Peninsular Malaysia tour report 17 – 23 May 2015 Bellbird Tours Pty Ltd PO Box 2008 BERRI SA 5343 AUSTRALIA Ph. 1800-BIRDING Ph. +61409 763172 www.bellbirdtours.com birds@bellbirdtours.com ABN 40 159 352 002

Peninsular Malaysia tour report 2015

Dates of tour: 17-23 May 2015

Leaders: Peter Waanders and Lee Kok Chung

next Peninsula Malaysia tour: 19 May 2016

go to our tour program page

download 2016 tour brochure

Photo gallery of this tour

Garnet Pitta, © P Waanders

Tour overview

Our second Peninsular Malaysia tour was another resounding success. Designed for those who have always wanted to bird South-east Asia, but have had some reservations, this tour visits the birding highlights of Peninsular Malaysia while staying at comfortable, quality lodgings with a range of food to suit all taste-buds. Participants were treated to a smoothly run tour full of amazing birds. Jointly guided by Bellbird Tours’ Peter Waanders and one of Malaysia’s top bird guides Lee Kok Chung, we notched up a grand total of 210 bird species in a week, visiting Krau Forest, Fraser’s Hill, Taman Negara and the Kuala Selangor woodland and mangroves. Some of the many highlights included Crested Fireback, Mountain Peacock-Pheasant, six species of Malkoha, Buffy Fish Owl, four species of Trogon, four species of Hornbill, twelve (!) species of Woodpecker, five species of Broadbill (four in one day!), Rusty-naped, Banded and Garnet Pitta, and the elusive Malaysian Rail-Babbler, to name but a few. The full bird list follows at the end of this document. Other sightings of interest included five species of Squirrel, Tree Shrew, five species of primate, 2 Slow Loris, one Malaysian Tapir and evidence of Asian Elephant. Peninsular Malaysia tour report 17 – 23 May 2015

Mountain Peacock-pheasant, Malaysian Tapir, Crested Fireback © P Waanders

Daily account

After dinner and introductions the evening before, the tour started in earnest early in the morning of 17 May. First stop was Bukit Tinggi where we had a quick breakfast while the sun came up, then we went in search of our first major target: Mountain Peacock-pheasant. These took some time to show, but while we waited, we were treated to Orange-breasted Trogon and Red-bearded Bee-eater. After a single female Mountain Peacock- pheasant provided photographic views, we explored the nearby botanical gardens which yielded Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, 3 species of Bulbul and views of the beautiful Asian Fairy Bluebird. Our next stop was the lowland rainforest of Krau, where we were treated to no less than four species of Broadbill: Green, Silver-breasted, Banded and Black-and-yellow Broadbill! But the highlight was no doubt a Garnet Pitta which provided spectacular photographic opportunities, After lunch we drove to Taman Negara National Park, stopping at a few sites on the way (Orange-bellied Flowerpecker, Whiskered Treeswift, Dark-throated Oriole, Sooty Bulbul…). This magnificent park protects the largest remaining tract (over 4,000 km2) of virgin rain forest in peninsular Malaysia. We arrived here at dusk and as it was raining, proceeded to have dinner, in preparation for a full day’s birding tomorrow.

The next day, 18 May, we started off birding around the park headquarters to ‘get into the groove’ of rainforest birding. It did not take long to accrue a long species list, including highlights such as Raffles’ and Red-billed Malkoha, Red-naped Trogon, Blue-throated Bee-eater and a pair of Black-and-red Broadbill. But the absolute cracker of the morning was a pair of Crested Firebacks casually wandering past! After lunch and a short break, we birded some of the many rainforest trails in Taman Negara. Birding here isn’t easy, with the dense jungle and tall trees providing many challenges to obtaining views of birds you can hear. Nevertheless we added good species such as Rufous-winged Philentoma, Black-naped Oriole and four species of Woodpecker: Banded, Orange-backed and Rufous. Highlight of the afternoon was no doubt the secretive Malaysian Banded Pitta which provided good views after a lot of hard work. Bulbuls are ever-present and we had 10 species today, including the increasingly rare Straw-headed Bulbul. Following an excellent dinner at our accommodation, we went out for a spotlighting session, which yielded great views of Slow Loris and a Short-tailed Babbler sleeping on a palm leaf.

The following day, 19 May, we travelled by boat down the river to explore another part of the rainforest using various narrow trails. A gentle pace, largely flat terrain and no rain made for excellent yet relaxed birding. New species added to the list today included 4 species of Woodpecker including a family of the largest woodpecker in the world: Great Slaty Woodpecker; Diaird’s Trogon; the elusive Malaysian Rail-babbler; a Blue-rumped Parrot checking out a nest hollow; the amazing Crested Jay; the cute Large Wren-babbler; the Crimson-breasted Peninsular Malaysia tour report 17 – 23 May 2015

Flowerpecker, a tiny flash of colour; and many more. Returning to our accommodation we stumbled upon a Malaysian Tapir! Continuing the mammal theme, we found a Short-toed Palm Civet Cat in our spotlight, feeding in a fruiting tree, together with Lesser Black-capped Fruit Bats.

Our last morning, 20 May, promised more birding in Taman Negara which was cut short by an unexpected downpour but not after seeing Black-bellied Malkoha, Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo, Abbott’s Babbler, Red- throated Barbet and after much perseverance, Banded Kingfisher. Late in the morning, as bird activity started slowing down, we started the journey towards Frasers Hill. Along the way we had a very productive stop with a pair of Scarlet-backed Flowerpeckers, both species of Tree Swift and a Buffy Fish Owl posing beautifully for photographs! We arrived at Frasers’s Hill late in the afternoon and a short foray around the hotel grounds before dark yielded Fire-tufted Barbet and Long-tailed Sibia.

The next morning (21 May) we were out birding well before sunrise, a time of the day that is amazingly cool in these hills. Frasers Hill, an attractive hill station, is surrounded by excellent broadleaved evergreen forests. While searching for the elusive Malayan Whistling-thrush we had great views of Chestnut-naped Forktail, while the main target remained heard only. The morning flew past as we observed highlights such as Black-browed Barbet, Blyth’s Shrike-babbler, Black-and-crimson Oriole, Chestnut-backed Scimitar-babbler and the beautiful Silver-eared Mesia. An elusive Rusty-naped Pitta scratched around in the undergrowth. After lunch and a short rest, we had done up new energy to bird the cool forest-clad hills for the rest of the day. We had a spate of raptors including Crested Serpent-eagle, Crested Honey-buzzard and Blyth’s Hawk-eagle, and later we added birds such as Rufous- browed Flycatcher, Sultan Tit, Long-billed Spiderhunter, Brown-throated Sunbird, the beautiful Large Niltava and the skulking Lesser Shortwing, White-browed Shrike-babbler and the colourful Blue-winged Minla. 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. The keen amongst us went night birding, adding Mountain Scops-owl to the list.

Our second day (22 May) birding at Frasers Hill was declared by some participants as their best day birding ever. Birds came thick and fast all day long. With hard work and a bit of luck, we finally got views of three species of hornbill: Great, Oriental Pied and Wreathed Hornbill. A well-camouflaged Malaysian Hill Partridge was seen briefly. As we explored the various tracks and trails throughout these hills, we recorded Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Asian Palm Swift, Red-headed Trogon, Greater and Lesser Yellownape, Rufous-bellied Swallow, Mountain Tailorbird, Streaked Wren-babbler, Chestnut-capped Laughtingthrush, Blue Nuthatch, Orange-bellied Leafbird…. Too many birds to mention here, the full list follows at the end of this report. Apart from the birds, we saw some amazing butterflies today, including the Birdswing as well as two species of primate and four species of squirrel.

The final morning, 23 May, we departed early to our final major birding destination: the Kuala Selangor woodlands and mangroves. Some welcome cloud cover kept the temperature down to agreeable levels, while we walked the trails through the mangroves. We were treated to sightings of Stork-billed, White-throated and Collared Kingfisher, and observed a pair of Oriental Pied Hornbills quietly feeding in a tree. Entering the mangroves, birds such as Mangrove Whistler, Golden-bellied Gerygone and Mangrove Blue Flycatcher were recorded without much difficulty, while on the water’s edge a stately Lesser Adjutant (stork) provided prolonged views. Here we also recorded our sixth species of Malkoha: Chestnut-bellied, while on the way back, we were treated to excellent views of our 12th species of Woodpecker, the colourful Common Flameback. After a final Peninsular Malaysia tour report 17 – 23 May 2015 farewell lunch in a seafood restaurant (with Black-crowned Night-herons flying by!), participants were returned to their city hotel or the airport.

For 2016, we’re adding an optional extension to Sabah, the Malaysian part of Borneo (7 days) with or without the Danum Valley Rainforest Lodge (an extra 3 days). Read the 2016 brochure here.

Scarlet –backed Flowerpacker, Fire-tufted Barbet © P Waanders, Bellbird Tours

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

Malaysian Banded PItta © Endemic Guides Malaysia,, Great Slaty Woodpecker © Peter Waanders, Bellbird Tours Peninsular Malaysia tour list of birds seen 17 – 23 May 2015

1 Malaysian Partridge Arborophila campbelli 31 Large Hawk-Cuckoo (h) Hierococcyx sparverioides 2 Crested Fireback Lophura ignita 32 Indian Cuckoo (h) Cuculus micropterus 3 Mountain Peacock-Pheasant Polyplectron inopinatum 33 Mountain Scops Owl (h) Otus spilocephalus 4 Malayan Peacock-Pheasant (h) Polyplectron malacense 34 Oriental Scops Owl Otus sunia 5 Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus 35 Buffy Fish Owl Ketupa ketupu 6 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 36 Grey-rumped Treeswift Hemiprocne longipennis 7 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 37 Whiskered Treeswift Hemiprocne comata 8 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 38 Glossy Swiftlet Collocalia esculenta 9 Crested Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus 39 Germain’s Swiftlet Aerodramus germani 10 Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela 40 Edible-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus fuciphagus 11 Black Eagle Ictinaetus malaiensis 41 Silver-rumped Spinetail Rhaphidura leucopygialis 12 Blyth's Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus alboniger 42 House Swift Apus nipalensis 13 Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus 43 Red-naped Trogon Harpactes kasumba 14 Rock Dove Columba livia 44 Diard's Trogon Harpactes diardii 15 Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis 45 Orange-breasted Trogon Harpactes oreskios 16 Little Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia ruficeps 46 Red-headed Trogon Harpactes erythrocephalus 17 Common Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica 47 Oriental Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis 18 Zebra Dove Geopelia striata 48 Banded Kingfisher Lacedo pulchella 19 Large Green Pigeon Treron capellei 49 Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis 20 Yellow-vented Green Pigeon Treron seimundi 50 White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis 21 Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis 51 Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris 22 Raffles's Malkoha Rhinortha chlorophaea 52 Blue-banded Kingfisher Alcedo euryzona 23 Red-billed Malkoha Zanclostomus javanicus 53 Red-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis amictus 24 Chestnut-breasted Malkoha Phaenicophaeus curvirostris 54 Blue-throated Bee-eater Merops viridis 25 Chestnut-bellied Malkoha Phaenicophaeus sumatranus 55 Rhinoceros Hornbill Buceros rhinoceros 26 Black-bellied Malkoha Phaenicophaeus diardi 56 Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis 27 Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis 57 Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris 28 Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus 58 Wreathed Hornbill Rhyticeros undulatus 29 Rusty-breasted Cuckoo (h) Cacomantis sepulcralis 59 Fire-tufted Barbet Psilopogon pyrolophus 30 Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris 60 Lineated Barbet Psilopogon lineatus Peninsular Malaysia tour list of birds seen 17 – 23 May 2015

61 Red-throated Barbet Psilopogon mystacophanos 91 Large Woodshrike Tephrodornis virgatus 62 Black-browed Barbet Psilopogon oorti 92 Rufous-winged Philentoma Philentoma pyrhoptera 63 Blue-eared Barbet Psilopogon duvaucelii 93 Common Iora Aegithina tiphia 64 Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephalus 94 Green Iora Aegithina viridissima 65 Sooty Barbet Caloramphus hayii 95 Javan Cuckooshrike Coracina javensis 66 Banded Woodpecker Chrysophlegma miniaceum 96 Pied Triller Lalage nigra 67 Checker-throated Woodpecker Chrysophlegma mentale 97 Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris 68 Greater Yellownape Chrysophlegma flavinucha 98 Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus speciosus 69 Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus 99 Mangrove Whistler Pachycephala cinerea 70 Crimson-winged Woodpecker Picus puniceus 100 Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus 71 Laced Woodpecker Picus vittatus 101 White-bellied Erpornis Erpornis zantholeuca 72 Common Flameback Dinopium javanense 102 Blyth's Shrike-babbler Pteruthius aeralatus 73 Bamboo Woodpecker Gecinulus viridis 103 Black-eared Shrike-babbler Pteruthius melanotis 74 Orange-backed Woodpecker Reinwardtipicus validus 104 Dark-throated Oriole Oriolus xanthonotus 75 Rufous Woodpecker Micropternus brachyurus 105 Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis 76 Buff-rumped Woodpecker Meiglyptes tristis 106 Black-and-crimson Oriole Oriolus cruentus 77 Great Slaty Woodpecker Mulleripicus pulverulentus 107 Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus 78 Black-thighed Falconet Microhierax fringillarius 108 Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus remifer 79 Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot Loriculus galgulus 109 Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus 80 Blue-rumped Parrot Psittinus cyanurus 110 White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis 81 Green Broadbill Calyptomena viridis 111 Malaysian Pied Fantail Rhipidura javanica 82 Black-and-red Broadbill Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos 112 Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea 83 Silver-breasted Broadbill Serilophus lunatus 113 Crested Jay Platylophus galericulatus 84 Banded Broadbill Eurylaimus javanicus 114 Common Green Magpie Cissa chinensis 85 Black-and-yellow Broadbill Eurylaimus ochromalus 115 House Crow Corvus splendens 86 Rusty-naped Pitta Hydrornis oatesi 116 Large-billed Crow Corvus macrorhynchos 87 Malayan Banded Pitta Hydrornis irena 117 Rail-babbler Eupetes macrocerus 88 Garnet Pitta Erythropitta granatina 118 Sultan Tit Melanochlora sultanea 89 Golden-bellied Gerygone Gerygone sulphurea 119 Cinereous Tit Parus cinereus 90 Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus 120 Straw-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus zeylanicus Peninsular Malaysia tour list of birds seen 17 – 23 May 2015

121 Black-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus atriceps 150 Black-throated Babbler Stachyris nigricollis 122 Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus flaviventris 151 Chestnut-winged Babbler Stachyris erythroptera 123 Scaly-breasted Bulbul Pycnonotus squamatus 152 Golden Babbler Stachyridopsis chrysaea 124 Grey-bellied Bulbul Pycnonotus cyaniventris 153 Pin-striped Tit-Babbler Macronus gularis 125 Stripe-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus finlaysoni 154 Mountain Fulvetta Alcippe peracensis 126 Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier 155 Large Wren-Babbler Napothera macrodactyla 127 Olive-winged Bulbul Pycnonotus plumosus 156 Streaked Wren-Babbler Napothera brevicaudata 128 Asian Red-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus brunneus 157 Abbott's Babbler Malacocincla abbotti 129 Ochraceous Bulbul Alophoixus ochraceus 158 Short-tailed Babbler Malacocincla malaccensis 130 Grey-cheeked Bulbul Alophoixus bres 159 Sooty-capped Babbler Malacopteron affine 131 Hairy-backed Bulbul Tricholestes criniger 160 Ferruginous Babbler Trichastoma bicolor 132 Buff-vented Bulbul Iole olivacea 161 Buff-breasted Babbler Pellorneum tickelli 133 Mountain Bulbul Ixos mcclellandii 162 Black-capped Babbler Pellorneum capistratum 134 Streaked Bulbul Ixos malaccensis Chestnut-capped 163 Laughingthrush Garrulax mitratus 135 Cinereous Bulbul Hemixos cinereus 164 Black Laughingthrush Garrulax lugubris 136 Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica 165 Blue-winged Minla Minla cyanouroptera 137 Rufous-bellied Swallow Cecropis badia 166 Silver-eared Mesia Leiothrix argentauris 138 Pygmy Wren-babbler Pnoepyga pusilla 167 Long-tailed Sibia Heterophasia picaoides 139 Yellow-bellied Warbler Abroscopus superciliaris 168 Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus 140 Mountain Tailorbird Phyllergates cuculatus 169 Everett's White-eye Zosterops everetti 141 Chestnut-crowned Warbler Seicercus castaniceps 170 Asian Fairy-bluebird Irena puella 142 Rufescent Prinia Prinia rufescens 171 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis 143 Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris 172 Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis 144 Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius 173 Common Hill Myna Gracula religiosa 145 Dark-necked Tailorbird Orthotomus atrogularis 174 Javan Myna Acridotheres javanicus 146 Rufous-tailed Tailorbird Orthotomus sericeus 175 Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 147 Ashy Tailorbird Orthotomus ruficeps Chestnut-backed Scimitar 176 Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis 148 Babbler Pomatorhinus montanus 177 White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus 149 Grey-throated Babbler Stachyris nigriceps 178 Rufous-browed Flycatcher Anthipes solitaris Peninsular Malaysia tour list of birds seen 17 – 23 May 2015

179 Hill Blue Flycatcher Cyornis banyumas 209 White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata 180 Tickell's Blue Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae 210 Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata 181 Mangrove Blue Flycatcher Cyornis rufigastra 182 Large Niltava Niltava grandis Mammals: White-tighed Leaf Monkey 183 Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassinus Common Tree Shrew Smooth Otter 184 Lesser Shortwing Brachypteryx leucophris Tree-striped Squirrel 185 White-tailed Robin Myiomela leucura Western Striped Squirrel Other: 186 Chestnut-naped Forktail Enicurus ruficapillus Siamay Gibbon Monitor Lizard 187 Slaty-backed Forktail Enicurus schistaceus Dusky Leaf Monkey Birdswing butterfly 188 White-crowned Forktail Enicurus leschenaulti Long-tailed Macaque 189 Malayan Whistling Thrush (h) Myophonus robinsoni Grey-bellied Squirrel 190 Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni Plantain Squirrel 191 Greater Green Leafbird Chloropsis sonnerati Malaysian Tapir 192 Lesser Green Leafbird Chloropsis cyanopogon Slow Loris 193 Blue-winged Leafbird Chloropsis cochinchinensis Rufous-bellied (Horse-tailed) Squirrel 194 Orange-bellied Leafbird Chloropsis hardwickii Wild Boar 195 Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker Prionochilus percussus Short-toed Palm Civet Cat 196 Orange-bellied Flowerpecker Dicaeum trigonostigma Lesser Black-capped Fruit Bat 197 Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectus

198 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker Dicaeum cruentatum

199 Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Chalcoparia singalensis

200 Plain Sunbird Anthreptes simplex

201 Brown-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis

202 Purple-naped Sunbird Hypogramma hypogrammicum

203 Black-throated Sunbird Aethopyga saturata

204 Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra

205 Long-billed Spiderhunter Arachnothera robusta www.bellbirdtours.com 206 Grey-breasted Spiderhunter Arachnothera modesta

207 Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna next Malaysia tour: 19 May 2016

208 Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus go to our tour program page

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