"Decided to do a 7 day birding trip from Kuala Lumpur during a sightseeing trip of peninsular Malaysia, and found exactly that we wanted. I Contacted the guide Cheong Weng Chun many months before the trip in order to be able to be sure to book with him. He was available for our required dates, and arranged to collect us from our hotel in Kuala Lumpur. During my communication with him I found him to be efficient friendly and helpful and I looked forward to meeting him. We found him to be an exceptional guide. Our tour took us to different environments and habitats, always with an expectation of seeing new birds. He knew precisely where to look for them. His complete knowledge of the bird calls and ability to find the birds for us was outstanding. I feel he was able to adapt to our level of ‘interested and keen but not expert’ because as he found the birds he explained the identifying features- something we have not had before. He was always careful to advise us if there was a need for insect protection ( leech socks- it was the monsoon season!) because of his energy and enthusiasm we saw 200 species in a week which was amazing. The highlights for us were the 6 different species of hornbill, the broadbills, barbets, woodpeckers and kingfishers, not to mention a brown boobook which took some time to track down! Our time on Fraser’s Hill was tiring, stimulating, and enjoyable . Apart from being a great guide Weng Chun was an excellent driver and organiser and we had complete confidence in him. We had a wonderful week and cannot recommend his services highly enough. Thank you Weng Chun for an unforgettable week of birding." - Bev, United Kingdom
I have been expecting this trip for a long time since it was confirmed months ago. The trip turned out to be a good one with lots of laughter. We covered the coastal habitats (open field, mudflat and mangrove), highland and lowland forest.
Our first stop at a coastal village provided us with great views of Pink-necked Pigeon, Common Flameback, Pygmy Woodpecker, Laced Woodpecker, Asian Koel, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher and many more.
We also made a stop here to scan the mudflat for waders and personally I think the highlight here is the Lesser Adjutant, classified as Vulnerable under the IUCN Redlist. The population of this large sized stork is declining due to several factors including human disturbance, agriculture, aquaculture and others.
Approaching the Crested Serpent Eagle perching next to the trail.
Bev and John busy admiring the partridge. We were there with another birding couple - Mabel and Bill.
Still enjoying the partridge .... can't get enough of the views
In the morning, after breakfast we birded near the hotel in Fraser's Hill.
One of my favorite spots up in the hill station. We spotted Rufous-browed Flycatcher here.
Another usual spot for birding but need to be extra careful with the traffic.
Alerted by Andrew who was guiding Mabel and Bill. A Binturong was spotted resting high up in the tree. Our birding tour is not just about birds, we will try to see whatever possible in our journey.
Red-bearded Bee-eater and Speckled Piculet - 2 of the best birds during our stay in Fraser's Hill.
Birding in the lowland forest - along the road. Again, need to be alert at all times for speeding cars and motorcycles.
Waiting in the bird hide for babblers and bulbuls. The leech socks were useful at this spot. Not exactly many leeches but there are plenty to keep you busy looking around. :D
Black Hornbill - photographed with a iPhone through a spotting scope.
2 more shots with iPhone through the spotting scope. Left shows a Banded Kingfisher while right photo shows a brilliant Rhinoceros Hornbill.
Up in another highland, while waiting for our target birds, a mixed flock greeted us and kept us busy for a while. Notable species is a White-bellied Erpornis.
Finally, our target bird! Mountain Peacock-Pheasant.
So, many birders around the world have birded in dirty and smelly places. It is not an exception here in Malaysia. We came to this small place, situated between 2 sewage ponds.
