A short photo trip for this week with a couple from China. We covered the usual traditional key sites with a few quick stops in between to hit some targets in the list. The following photos show the some of the birds that we managed to locate and photographed for the trip duration.

Mangrove Pitta (Nikon V1 + CX 70-300mm VR)

Banded Broadbill ((Nikon V1 + CX 70-300mm VR)

Another view of the Banded Broadbill

a female Banded Kingfisher (Nikon V1 + CX 70-300mm VR) 

Ferruginous Babbler (Nikon V1 + CX 70-300mm VR)

Hairy-backed Bulbul (Nikon V1 + CX 70-300mm VR)

Short-tailed Babbler (Nikon V1 + CX 70-300mm VR)

Ferruginous Partridge (Nikon V1 + CX 70-300mm VR)

Mountain Peacock Pheasant (Nikon V1 + CX 70-300mm VR)

Indian Cuckoo (Nikon V1 + CX 70-300mm VR)

Black-and-Yellow Broadbill (Nikon V1 + CX 70-300mm VR)

Blyth's Hawk-eagle (Nikon V1 + CX 70-300mm VR)

Diard's Trogon (Nikon V1 + CX 70-300mm VR)

White-bellied Woodpecker (Nikon V1 + CX 70-300mm VR)

Other species photographed includes: Rufous-backed Kingfisher, Ashy Tailorbird, Mountain Tailorbird, Red-headed Trogon, Rufous-browed Flycatcher, Large Niltava, Streaked Wren-babbler, Pygmy Cupwing (Wren-babbler), Buff-breasted Babbler, Grey-throated Babbler, Brown Wood Owl, Mountain Scops Owl, Fire-tufted Barbet, Long-tailed Sibia, Silver-eared Mesia, Black-and-Crimson Oriole, Malaysian Partridge, Malayan (Chestnut-crowned) Laughingthrush, Spectacled (Chestnut-capped) Laughingthrush, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Black-throated Sunbird, Streaked Spiderhunter, White-tailed Robin, Greater Yellownape, Black-throated Babbler, Black-capped Babbler, Short-tailed Babbler, Ferruginous Babbler, Banded Kingfisher, Crimson-winged Woodpecker, Grey-and-Buff Woodpecker, Black-and-Yellow Broadbill, Banded Broadbill, Grey-cheeked Bulbul, Yellow-bellied Bulbul, Hairy-backed Bulbul, White-rumped Shama, Whiskered Treeswift, Gold-whiskered Barbet, Black-thighed Falconet, Diard's Trogon, Scarlet-rumped Trogon and many more. 

Read more »

When the sighting of a Jambu Fruit Dove was reported recently, I truly believe not many birders would want to miss this one. After a early morning long walk to the spot, we waited for a few good minutes (Sooty Barbet, Buff-vented Bulbul and Red-eyed Bulbul entertained us) and finally got our first look at a Jambu Fruit Dove.

The fruiting tree also attracted Sooty Barbet, Pink-necked Pigeon, Little Green Pigeon, Red-eyed Bulbul, and Buff-vented Bulbul. Among the other birds that were sighted and heard during our short visit include Indian Cuckoo, Drongo Cuckoo, Black-and-Red Broadbill, Long-tailed Parakeet, Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot, Grey-capped Woodpecker, Common Flameback, Crimson-winged Woodpecker, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, Oriental Magpie Robin, Common Myna, Javan Myna, Scaly-breasted Munia, and Striped Tit-babbler.

Then we proceed to the coastal to hunt for our next target. Instead of nailing our target, we managed to bagged the following species: Red-wattled Lapwing, Blue-throated Bee-eater, Osprey, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Brahminy Kite, Black-winged Kite, Plain-throated Sunbird, Copper-throated Sunbird, Paddyfield Pipit, Brown Shrike, Collared Kingfisher, Common Sandpiper, Lesser Adjutant, and Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker.

Read more »

"We had an enjoyable 3-day bird watching trip with WengChun at Fraser's Hill. We flew into Kuala Lumpur, and the pick up by WengChun was smooth. With WengChun's expert guiding (plus some luck!); we had the opportunity to have some pretty nice viewing of the Long Tailed Broadbills & the Silver-Breasted Broadbills. And surely had a good amount of time viewing the Red Headed Trogon on a misty morning. There were many other birds during the short trip; yet the three mentioned above were our favorites for our trip this time. Certainly the cool weather up at the hill was very refreshing too. Overall, we both appreciate WengChun's expertise and flexibility to make our trip so enjoyable including a stop to have Musang King durian! Well worth our flight from Hong Kong despite a very short trip. Thanks WengChun." - Carmen & Ken, HK

Carmen and Ken have been planning for this trip few months ago. Both have experience birding in Borneo and Thailand, but this is their first time birding in Fraser's Hill (Peninsular Malaysia). Carmen prefers to have good look at the birds while Ken spent a little more time to observe and capture the moments through his camera. During our stay up in the hill station, we managed to see some of the interesting species including star birds such as Red-headed Trogon, Long-tailed Broadbill, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Chestnut-capped (Spectacled) Laughingthrush, Silver-eared Mesia, Green Magpie, White-throated Fantail, Mountain Fulvetta, Sultan Tit, Fire-tufted Barbet, Black-browed Barbet, Javan (Large) Cuckooshrike, Black-and-Crimson Oriole, Lesser Yellownape, Grey-throated Babbler, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Yellow-crowned Warbler, Mountain Bulbul, Black-crested Bulbul and many more.

It was a weekend trip and we met several photographers targeting the Red-headed Trogon in a misty morning in Fraser's Hill. 

Ken is also targeting the trogon just like anyone else

Fire-tufted Barbet - very vocal and we saw a few of this species 

Little Cuckoo Dove. Not easy to spot this bird in the forested area.

Chestnut-crowned Warbler came close to us during our morning walk

On our back to KL, we stopped by for a Durian break. I didn't expect Carmen and Ken enjoy eating the local Durian. No other choice of Durian, the only one available is Musang King.

Read more »

It was a casual birding trip up to the highland.

Read more »

Thomas is on his usual hunt for new species to be added to his Malaysian checklist while almost any bird is a new one for Hugo. We tried to search for birds up at the forest canopy as well as browsing the undergrowth. Not an easy task and despite the rain in the afternoon, we had a pretty good day. I must admit Thomas is getting better at spotting the birds in the Malaysian forest and can instantly identify the birds.

Early in the morning, upon arrival, we almost nailed a Banded Kingfisher. Lighting was really bad, though. We proceed to walk the path and managed to get some spectacular birds which performed very well for us. These include Orange-backed Woodpecker, Rufous-tailed Tailorbird, Rufescent Prinia, Black-and-Yellow Broadbill, Spectacled Spiderhunter, Long-billed Spiderhunter, Emerald Dove and Greater Racket-tailed Drongo. Thomas pointed out a quietly perched Rufous-backed Kingfisher while I managed to record my first sighting of a Silver-breasted Broadbill in the lowland forest. Rufous Piculet also made it appearance as well as a pair of Scarlet-rumped Trogon. A variety of Babblers was seen in a mixed flock.

Black-and-Yellow Broadbill (Nikon V1 + CX 70-300mm VR)

Orange-backed Woodpecker (Nikon V1 + CX 70-300mm VR)

Orange-backed Woodpecker (Nikon V1 + CX 70-300mm VR)

Read more »