Lesser Shortwing with Nikon V1 + Nikkor CX 70-300mm VR

We missed the sunrise, but luckily we did not miss the birds. As soon as we arrived, we stationed ourselves at designated area for observing and taking photos of birds. The weather in the first hour was almost perfect, but slowly the mist approaches and ruined the session. After a few minutes the mist has cleared and we get good light! (darn it! speak too soon), another round of mist....

Nevertheless, we secured some of our target species along with a pair of Snowy-browed Flycatcher.

Siberian Thrush (Nikon V1 + Nikkor CX 70-300mm VR)

Large Niltava (Nikon V1 + Nikkor CX 70-300mm VR)

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Blue-tailed Bee-eater with Nikon V1 + Nikkor CX 70-300mm VR

Today target is (again) the Crimson Sunbird, Purple-throated Sunbird and Black-and-Red Broadbill. However, we managed to secure 2 targets out of 3. No sign of the Purple-throated Sunbird. The guest today may not be interested with dark or dull birds, but I saw the 2 White-vented Myna again in the morning, this time within the park. I was also excited to see Plaintive Cuckoo at a close range, perched much lower than what I have seen on my previous trip to this park.

Plaintive Cuckoo with Nikon V1 + Nikkor CX 70-300mm VR

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Miguel and his wife admiring a star bird on a misty morning

 Easy target at the town centre however, need to pay more attention to the traffic situation here

“Weng Chun was a fantastic guide and we would highly recommend using his services. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Fraser's Hill and saw over 60 different types of birds and several different mammals as well! Weng Chun knew all the special locations to see particular birds and we didn't stop birdwatching even on the way home. He was able to see and hear things we could not - a real talent. We will take away a lot of knowledge from our day and try and imitate some of his skills when we return to birdwatching at home.” – Miguel & wife

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Crimson Sunbird

Nikon V1 + Nikkor CX 70-300mm VR

Me and Thomas has been talking about White-vented Myna for several weeks. So today, we were lucky. We nailed the boogie bird along with other species which include Black-and-Red Broadbill, Crimson Sunbird, Plain-throated Sunbird, Pied Triller, Plaintive Cuckoo and Hooded Pitta (which is very elusive today). So what did we missed out in our target list? Let's see....Purple-throated Sunbird! Only missed out 1 target bird for today.

White-vented Myna a.k.a. Great Myna

Nikon V1 + Nikkor CX 70-300mm VR

Actually, we were just chatting while driving towards the birding spot and jokingly I said there could be White-vented Myna among all those Javan Myna by the roadside and neither of us believe our eyes when 2 different looking Myna landed on the grass. What else? I quickly stopped the car by the roadside and both of us pull out our binocular and camera to record our 1st bird of the day (a lifer for Thomas!). 

While in the garden, we walked towards the Broadbill nesting site after a tip-off from other bird photographers several days ago. No effort was necessary as 1 Black-and-Red Broadbill flew past me and perched on a tree branch near where Thomas was standing. We only spent the next few minutes at the open area observing another bird perching at the opposite side of the lake before we resume our walk to look for the remaining targets. Some where near the Bottle Brush tree, we heard a Pied Triller calling. After a few seconds, there were movement up on a Melaleuca tree....a Pied Triller!!!! lifer for Thomas. Then, we walked back towards the broadbill nest. Numerous sunbirds were heard and seen with one unusually dark sunbird high up on a tree caught our attention. After carefully observing the bird, we noticed that it was not dark but reddish! That's our target - Crimson Sunbird! Hooray!!!! Somewhere near the broadbill nest, a Cuckoo was calling. We looked up, and got another lifer for Thomas in the form of Plaintive Cuckoo. And the bird really went cuckoo for several minutes before flying away. We tried hard for our next sunbird target but no avail. We just could not find or catch a glimpse of a Purple-throated Sunbird. Nevertheless it was a good day. 

Before we ended our morning session, we drove to another bird stakeout for Hooded Pitta. What was suppose to be easy target turned out to be really difficult one. The Pitta didn't appear at the stakeout nor did it call. We walked around and waited.....there were Spectacled Spiderhunter and Grey-breasted Spiderhunter but still no Pitta. Knowing that the time is getting late, we walked back to the main entrance and suddenly heard the Hooded Pitta calling. It was testing our patience. We walked around and continue searching for the bird among the dried leave and logs. After few minutes, Thomas finally manage to see the bird well while I only managed a glimpse. It is still a good to end the day with a boogie bird. 

Plaintive Cuckoo

Nikon V1 + Nikkor CX 70-300mm VR

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Long-tailed Parakeet

Nikon V1 + Nikkor CX 70-300mm VR

An early morning drive from KL and after several hours on the North-South Highway, we reached Kuala Sepetang. For the next few hours, we found Greater Flameback which is much easier to see than Common Flameback (unlike the situation in Kuala Selangor), the uncooperative Copperthroated Sunbird, Olive-winged Bulbul, Mangrove Blue Flycatcher, Ashy Tailorbird and Chestnut-winged Babbler. There were also Crested Serpent Eagle perching silently, giving us good opportunity to see and take photographs of it. Further on, we saw Black-capped Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Stork-billed Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Cinereous Tit, Pacific Swallow, Brown Shrike, Asian Glossy Starling, Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, Brahminy Kite, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Lesser Adjustant Stork, Little Egret, Great Egret, Striated (Little) Heron, and Black-crowned Night Heron. 

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