Day 1: Bukit Rengit & Kuala Lumpur
We started the day with a early morning drive to Bukit Rengit and spent some time (roughly 1.5 hours) observing the birds in open areas. Then we moved into the stakeout for other species and the prime target is a Rail Babbler but it never appear and did not even make a single call. Fortunately, we did not stay long. It rained in the late afternoon so we drove back to KL where I showed Colin a small local birding patch. The highlight for today is Red-bearded Bee-eater (which we saw in both sites), a family of Oriental Pied Hornbill, Black Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Banded Woodpecker, Rufous Woodpecker, Orange-backed Woodpecker, Common Flameback, Black-capped Babbler, Ferruginous Babbler, Short-tailed Babbler, Yellow-bellied Bulbul, Grey-cheeked Bulbul, Hairy-backed Bulbul, Black-and-Red Broadbill, Black-and-Yellow Broadbill (feeding a young Indian Cuckoo), Painted Stork, and many more.
At the stakeout with bird photographers (all eyeing the Rail-babbler that did not even show up. sigh...well, that's birding. you can't never expect everything to appear. there is no 100% or guarantee birds. Not even the most common birds.
Coming back to KL, we tried to look for more target species.
Day 2: Fraser's Hill
An early morning drive up to the highland, Fraser's Hill with a brief stop at the Gap. We continued birding at the hill station before coming back to KL in the late afternoon. Well, we also made a brief stop at another site between Fraser's Hill and KL. Let's see what we have... Rufous-browed Flycatcher, Pygmy Cupwing (Pygmy Wren-babbler), Lesser Shortwing, Large Niltava, Silver-eared Mesia, Fire-tufted Barbet, Black-browed Barbet, Long-tailed Sibia, Collared Owlet, Buff-breasted Babbler, Little Cuckoo-dove, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Greater Yellownape, Bamboo Woodpecker, Little Bronze Cuckoo, Red-wattled Lapwing, Blue-throated Bee-eater, and others.
We spent some time at the Gap before coming to this spot. I realized there was (or were) bird photographer(s) earlier in the morning. The evidence is obvious. :D We still get the enjoy the birds with great views!
Rufous-browed Flycatcher never fail to impress bird watchers and photographers.
Day 3: Hulu Langat
Our last day trip, we went to the nearby forest in the morning and in the afternoon to an open wetland. Although we did not get as many birds as we had for the past 2 days yet we managed to get to see some of the better species in Colin's target list. I would say our highlights for the day are Banded Broadbill, Green Broadbill, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Rufous-backed Kingfisher, Rufous-chested Flycatcher, and White-chested Babbler.
Ok. great! Colin got his target bird....
