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Shah Alam & Hulu Langat - 19 & 21 Jan 24

Friday, January 19, 2024
First tour for the year! After a long "holiday", I am back in the field guiding a couple from Japan. The main target is a Blue-winged Pitta. We were made to wait for a while before the bird show up.






For this 2 days, we covered the popular areas around Kuala Lumpur such as the Botanical Garden of Shah Alam and the forest of Hulu Langat while staying in comfortable hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

Some of the highlights from the trip: Blue-winged Pitta, Short-tailed Babbler, Black-and-red Broadbill, Van Hasselt's Sunbird, Red-throated Sunbird, Sooty Barbet, Banded Woodpecker, Crimson-winged Woodpecker, Common Flameback, Barred Eagle-Owl, Buffy Fish-Owl, Dusky Broadbill, Rufous-collared Kingfisher, Siamese Pied Starling, Banded Bay Cuckoo, and more.

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Contact me to make a reservation for a private birding tour with an experienced and licensed tourist guide specialize in birdwatching and photography tours. I have been guiding professionally since 2007 with birders coming from United States, Canada, UK, Finland, Sweden, France, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Ecuador, Greece, South Africa, Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Brunei and others.

Send messages via WhatsApp to +60183632738 or email to wengchun@gmail.com

Follow my year 2024 sightings with photographs from camera and mobile phone: Bird of Year 2024 

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Check out the following bird families:

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Birds of Year 2024

Sunday, January 7, 2024
Thank you for visiting this post where I will try to compile some of the birds that I have seen and photographed this year. The list shows the species that I first seen in the year and I will add more photos of the same species if I have managed to take more photographs later part of the year.


Spotted Wood-Owl
Strix seloputo seloputo
4th January 2024
Olympus EM1X + Olympus 300mm f4 IS PRO

Buffy Fish-Owl 
Ketupa ketupu ketupu
4th January 2024
Olympus EM1X + Olympus 300mm f4 IS PRO

Oriental Pied Hornbill
Anthracoceros albirostris convexus
4th January 2024
Olympus EM1X + Olympus 300mm f4 IS PRO

Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea jouyi
4th January 2024
Olympus EM1X + Olympus 300mm f4 IS PRO

Purple Heron
Ardea purpurea manilensis
9th Jan 2024
Panasonic Lumix G7 + Olympus 300mm f4 IS PRO

Pink-necked Green-Pigeon
Treron vernans
9th Jan 2024
Panasonic Lumix G7 + Olympus 300mm f4 IS PRO



Slaty-breasted Rail
Lewinia striata
13th Feb 2024
EM1X + Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm f/5-6.3 IS

Barred Eagle-Owl
Ketupa sumatrana sumatrana
13th Jan 2024
EM1X + Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm f/5-6.3 IS

Asian Glossy Starling
Aplonis panayensis strigata
13th Jan 2024
Olympus EM1X + Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm f/5-6.3 IS

Siamese Pied Starling
Gracupica floweri
13th Jan 2024
Olympus EM1X + Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm f/5-6.3 IS

Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker
Yungipicus canicapillus
14th Jan 2024
Olympus EM1X + Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm f/5-6.3 IS



Black-and-red Broadbill
Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos
15th Jan 2024
Olympus EM1X + Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 100-400mm f/5-6.3 IS

Medium Egret
Ardea intermedia
Medium Egret is formerly known as Intermediate Egret. 
Read more on this link: Taxonomy Update
4th January 2024
Olympus EM1X + Olympus 300mm f4 IS PRO

Blue-eared Kingfisher
Alcedo meninting verreauxii
3rd March 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

Oriental Darter
Anhinga melanogaster
3rd March 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

Copper-throated Sunbird
Leptocoma calcostetha
Monotypic.
29th February 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

Crested Goshawk
Accipiter trivirgatus indicus
27 February 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9 

Long-billed Spiderhunter
Arachnothera robusta robusta
23 February 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

Siberian Blue Robin
Larvivora cyane
A regular migratory species to Peninsular Malaysia, usually seen from October to April.
18 March 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

White-rumped Shama
Copsychus malabaricus tricolor
There are 13 subspecies distributed from the Indian subcontinent, South China, Southeast Asia to the Greater Sunda.
18 March 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

Orange-breasted Trogon
Harpactes oreskios uniformis
Usually found in the hill forest in central Peninsular Malaysia but it can also be found in the lowland forest near Kuala Lumpur and northern region of Peninsular Malaysia. 5 subspecies are recognized.
18 March 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

Orange-headed Thrush
Geokichla citrina
A regular migratory species to Peninsular Malaysia, usually seen from October to April.
1 March 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

Rufous-browed Flycatcher
Anthipes solitaris
March 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

Gold-whiskered Barbet
Psilopogon chrysopogon laetus
March 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

Mountain Peacock-Pheasant
Polyplectron inopinatum
Near Threatened and monotypic, this species is found on the Titiwangsa mountain range.
18 March 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

Chestnut-winged Babbler
Cyanoderma erythropterum erythropterum
3 April 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

Chestnut-necklaced Partridge
Tropicoperdix charltonii
3 April 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

White-bellied Sea-Eagle
Icthyophaga leucogaster
5 April 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird
Chalcoparia singalensis
6 April 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

Little Cuckoo-Dove
Macropygia ruficeps
Usually seen in highland but it is also possible to find it in the lowland forest while feeding on fruiting trees.
20 April 2024
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE + Kowa TSN-773

Little Green-Pigeon
Treron olax
29 April 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

Ornate Sunbird
Cinnyris ornatus
This species is formerly known as Olive-backed Sunbird.
29 April 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

Brown-throated Sunbird
Anthreptes malacensis malacensis
29 April 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

Black-crowned Night Heron (Eurasian)
Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax
6 May 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Eastern Cattle Egret
Bubulcus coromandus
6 May 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Little Egret (Western)
Egretta garzetta garzetta
6 May 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Painted Stork
Mycteria leucocephala
Monotypic. This species is known to hybridized with M. cinerea in the wild and in captivity.
6 May 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Hill Blue Flycatcher
Cyornis whitei
May 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Baya Weaver
Ploceus philippinus
May 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Asian Openbill
Anastomus oscitans
May 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Malayan Partridge
Arborophila campbelli
May 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Rufous-backed Dwarf-Kingfisher
Ceyx rufidorsa
May 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Grey-throated Babbler
Stachyris nigriceps davisoni
May 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
This subspecies can be found in southern peninsular Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia.

White-tailed Robin
Myiomela leucura leucura
May 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Great Egret
Ardea alba
May 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Blyth's Frogmouth (Blyth's)
Batrachostomus affinis affinis
May 2024 / Sabah (Borneo)
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Malaysian Blue Flycatcher
Cyornis turcosus
May 2024 / Sabah (Borneo)
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Olive-backed Woodpecker
Gecinulus rafflesii dulitensis
May 2024 / Sabah (Borneo)
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird
Chalcoparia singalensis borneana
May 2024 / Sabah (Borneo)
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

White-crowned Shama
Copsychus stricklandii
May 2024 / Sabah (Borneo)
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Striped Wren-babbler
Kenopia striata
May 2024 / Sabah (Borneo)
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Black-throated Wren-babbler
Turdinus atrigularis
May 2024 / Sabah (Borneo)
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Black-crowned Pitta
Erythropitta ussheri
May 2024 / Sabah (Borneo)
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Buff-breasted Babbler
Pellorneum tickelli tickelli
23 June 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9
A friendly encounter with this small warm buffish babbler in the morning while birding in the cool weather in the hill station. There are 5 subspecies of Buff-breasted Babbler and this particular subspecies can be found in Southern Myanmar (Tenasserim), Western and Southern Thailand, and Peninsular Malaysia.

Red-billed Malkoha
Zanclostomus javanicus
23 June 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9
Found this species a few times while birding in the hill station but this is the time when I managed to get a good view of its bill. This is a monotypic species and the range covers Southern Myanmar (Tenasserim) and Southern Thailand through Peninsular Malaysia to Sumatra, Natuna Island, Borneo and Java.

Black-and-yellow Broadbill
Eurylaimus ochromalus
23 June 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9
Whenever I go into a lowland forest on my own or while guiding, I will be looking for this cartoonish looking broadbill. The turquoise bill and pinkish front is just stunning.  

Long-billed Spiderhunter
Arachnothera robusta robusta
23 June 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9
Close encounter with this spiderhunter while taking photographs of 3 Yellow-bellied Warbler nearby. On the same day, we found this species at 2 separate locations but this individual is more obliging than the other individual we saw earlier.

Crested Myna
Acridotheres cristatellus
15 July 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

Pacific Reef-Heron
Egretta sacra
15 July 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

Fire-tufted Barbet
Psilopogon pyrolophus
2 July 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

Orange-bellied Leafbird
Chloropsis hardwickii malayana
2 July 2024
Panasonic Lumix G9

Banded Kingfisher
Lacedo pulchella pulchella
17 July 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Banded Kingfisher
Lacedo pulchella pulchella
19 July 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS



Black-and-red Broadbill
Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos malaccensis
19 July 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Rufous-collared Kingfisher
Actenoides concretus concretus
19 July 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Scarlet-rumped Trogon
Harpactes duvaucelii
19 July 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Black-headed Bulbul
Microtarsus melanocephalos melanocephalos
19 July 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Black-and-yellow Broadbill
Eurylaimus ochromalus
25 July 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Red-bearded Bee-eater
Nyctyornis amictus
25 July 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Rufous Piculet
Sasia abnormis abnormis
26 July 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Rufous Piculet
Sasia abnormis abnormis
26 July 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Short-tailed Babbler (Mourning)
Pellorneum malaccense malaccense
26 July 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Malaysian Blue-banded Kingfisher
Alcedo peninsulae
27 July 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS


Buff-breasted Babbler
Pellorneum tickelli tickelli
1 August 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS


Speckled Piculet
Picumnus innominatus
1 August 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Malayan Partridge
Arborophila campbelli
1 August 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS



Asian Openbill
Anastomus oscitans
3 August 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Silver-eared Mesia
Leiothrix argentauris tahanensis
3 August 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Maroon Woodpecker
Blythipicus rubiginosus
2 August 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Black-eared Shrike-babbler
Pteruthius melanotis tahanensis
2 August 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
tahanensis: Gunong Tahan, Pahang, Malaya

Blue Nuthatch
Sitta azurea expectata
2 August 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Red-headed Trogon
Harpactes erythrocephalus chaseni
3 August 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
Subspecies chaseni is named after Frederick Nutter Chasen (1896-1942) British ornithologist, Director of Raffles Mus., Singapore 1932-1942

Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush
Pterorhinus mitratus major
3 August 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Watercock
Gallicrex cinerea
3 August 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

Yellow-vented Flowerpecker
Dicaeum chrysorrheum chrysorrheum
3 August 2024
Sony α6700 + Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS

























* check out the origin of species / subspecies names:

ACCIPITER: Hawk

ANHINGA: little head, for an evil spirit of the forests, the devil bird

ANTHREPTES: (anthos) refers to flower or blossom; (threptes) means feeder

ARACHNOTHERA: arakhnēs = spider; -thēras = hunter

ARBOROPHILA: arbor, arboris = tree; philos = lover

AZUREA: azureus azure-coloured, azure-blue

CALCOSTHETHA: bronze breast

CAMPBELLI: Charles William Campbell (1861-1927) British diplomat, traveller in China and Mongolia (Arborophila). Archibald James Campbell (1853-1929) Australian ornithologist, collector. Robert Watt Campbell (fl. 2017) Scottish ornithologist, ringer (Chenorhamphus). Dr Archibald Campbell (1805-1874) Scottish physician in the Bengal Medical Service, botanist, explorer. Col. William Alfred Campbell (1880-1962) South African Army, business magnate, big-game hunter. 

CHASENI: Frederick Nutter Chasen (1896-1942) British ornithologist, Director of Raffles Mus., Singapore 1932-1942

CITRINA: resemble yellow or lemon color and citrina is a German name for Canary

COPSYCHUS: the word derived from ancient Greek "kopsukhos" or "kopsikhos" meaning blackbird

CONVEXUS: vaulted, arched, rounded

CHRYSORHOEUS / CHRYSORRHEUM / CHRYSORRHOA / CHRYSORRHOEA / CHRYSORRHOEUS: khrusos = gold; orrhos = rump

CYANE: dark blue, sea blue, greenish blue

DICAEUM: 

DUVAUCELI / DUVAUCELII: Alfred Duvaucel (1796-1824) French naturalist, collector in Sumatra and India

EXPECTATA: expectata / expectatus / exspectatus  awaited, welcome  

FLOWERI: Maj. Stanley Smyth Flower (1871-1946) British Army, zoologist, Advisor to Zoological Mus., Bangkok 1896-1898, Director of Egyptian Zoological Service 1898-1924

GALLICREX: Gallus Brisson 1760, fowl, and Crex Bechstein, 1803, crake

GEOKICHLA: geo refers to ground or earth while kichla (kikhle) means thrush

HARPACTES: originates from Greek word "harpaktes" meaning robber

INDICUS: refers to India

INOPINATUM: unexpected, unforeseen, surprising

JOUYI: Pierre Louis Jouy (1856-1894) US civil administrator, naturalist, collector in Korea, Japan and China 1881-1889, and Mexico 1892.

KETUPA: According to Horsfield 1821, Blo-ketupu was the Javanese name for the Buffy Fish Owl (cf. Malay name Ketupok) (Ketupa)

LARVIVORA: probably refers to mask or caterpillar larvae while vorus or vorare means to devour 

MAJOR: maior, maioris  greater, larger

MALABARICUS: southwest coast of India

MALACCENSE / MALACCENSIS / MALACENSE / MALACENSIS: Malacca, Malaysia. Melaka or Malaka are Malay names for a type of tree abundant in the region.

MANILENSIS: Manila, Philippines.

MELANOCEPHALOS: melanos (black) & kephalos (headed)

MELANOGASTER: melanos black; gastēr, gastros belly

MELANOTIS: melanos  black; -ōtis  -eared

MENINTING: Javanese name Meninting for the Deep-blue Kingfisher

MITRATUS: mitrata / mitratus L. mitratus  crowned, mitred, turbanned  < mitra  head-dress  < Gr. μιτρα mitra  head-band.

NYCTYORNIS: nukti-, nuktos = night; ornis, ornithos = bird

OLAX: to smell

ORESKIOS: mountain-bred

PANAYA / PANAYANUS PANAYENSIS / PANAYUS  Panay I., Philippines

PELLORNEUM: pellos = dark-coloured, dusky; orneon = bird

POLYPLECTRON: Poly or polus means many while plectron (plēktron) means cock’s spur

PTERORHINUS: pteron feather; ῥις rhis, ῥινος  rhinos nostrils

ROBUSTA: powerful, strong

RUFICEPS:

SACRA: sacred

SELOPUTO: Javanese name Selo-puto for the Spotted Wood Owl (Strix)

SITTA: sittē = bird like a woodpecker 

STRIATA: striated

STRIGATA / STRIGATUS: furrowed

SUMATRAE / SUMATRANA / SUMATRANUM / SUMATRANUS / SUMATRENSIS: Sumatra (Indonesia)

TAHANENSIS: Gunung Tahan, Pahang, Malaysia

TRERON: pigeon, dove

TRICOLOR: three colors

TRIVIGATUS: "tri" means  three; while "virgatus" means striped

UNIFORMIS: uniform

VERREAUXII: Jules Pierre Verreaux (1807-1873) French natural history dealer, collector 


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List of Birds “Seen & Photographed” ("Seen Only" or "Heard Only" species are omitted from this list).
  1. Spotted Wood-Owl Strix seloputo seloputo
  2. Buffy Fish-Owl Ketupa ketupu ketupu
  3. Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris
  4. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea jouyi
  5. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea manilensis
  6. Slaty-breasted Rail Lewinia striata
  7. Barred Eagle-Owl Ketupa sumatrana sumatrana
  8. Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis strigata
  9. Siamese Pied Starling Gracupica floweri
  10. Black-and-red Broadbill Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos
  11. Medium Egret Ardea intermedia
  12. Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting verreauxii
  13. Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster
  14. Copper-throated Sunbird Leptocoma calcostetha
  15. Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus indicus
  16. Long-billed Spiderhunter Arachnothera robusta robusta
  17. Chestnut-winged Babbler Cyanoderma erythropterum erythropterum
  18. Chestnut-necklaced Partridge Tropicoperdix charltonii
  19. White-bellied Sea-Eagle Icthyophaga leucogaster
  20. Little Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia ruficeps 
  21. Little Green-Pigeon Treron olax
  22. Ornate Sunbird Cinnyris ornatus
  23. Brown-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis
  24. Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax
  25. Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus
  26. Little Egret (Western) Egretta garzetta garzetta
  27. Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala
  28. Hill Blue Flycatcher Cyornis whitei
  29. Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus
  30. Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans
  31. Malayan Partridge Arborophila campbelli
  32. Rufous-backed Dwarf-Kingfisher Ceyx rufidorsa
  33. Grey-throated Babbler Stachyris nigriceps davisoni
  34. White-tailed Robin Myiomela leucura leucura
  35. Great Egret Ardea alba
  36. Blyth's Frogmouth (Blyth's) Batrachostomus affinis affinis
  37. Malaysian Blue Flycatcher Cyornis turcosus
  38. Olive-backed Woodpecker Gecinulus rafflesii dulitensis
  39. Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Chalcoparia singalensis borneana
  40. White-crowned Shama Copsychus stricklandii
  41. Striped Wren-babbler Kenopia striata
  42. Black-throated Wren-babbler Turdinus atrigularis
  43. Black-crowned Pitta Erythropitta ussheri

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Licensed Tourist Guide specialized in birdwatching and photography tour in Peninsular Malaysia. BSc Forestry (Parks & Recreation Management).

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About Me

Hi! I love watching birds, taking photographs (and video), and guiding people through nature. Welcome to my blog, A Malaysian Birder. I'll be sharing all the great birds I see and the photos I take right here on this blog. I got into bird watching when I was in university studying parks and recreation management. I used to work in parks and gardens, teaching people about the environment and organizing birding walks. Whenever I go out to look for birds, I always bring my binoculars and spotting scope to help me see them up close. Sometimes, I even bring a microphone to record their calls. It's always an adventure out in the field!

In the past, I will have my Kowa BDXD 8x32 binocular, Zoom H2N recorder, Kowa TSN-501 and my favorite Nikon1 V1 with a 70-300mm lens. This is the lightest setup I have tried and owned. From then onwards, I have used Omicron 8x26 binocular (and i bought 4 units), Leica Ultravid 8x32 binocular, Kowa Spotting Scope TSN773 with 20-60x eyepiece, Panasonic Lumix G7, Panasonic Lumix G9 with a 100-300mm lens and currently experimenting with Sony ILCE-A6700 and Sony SEL 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS lens.

Bird Watching Tours

There are quite a number of birding groups from Australia, United States and United Kingdom that come over to Malaysia annually visiting the traditional key sites that include Kuala Selangor, Fraser's Hill and Taman Negara. There is not doubt that the 3 sites are the preferred birding sites in Peninsular Malaysia. So if you are coming over for birding and intend to hire a guide, you can send me an email at nature2pixel@gmail.com and go over to posting section to view photos and summary of trip reports with testimonials from past clients.

Besides following the traditional route, I also customized trip according to clients needs, preference and interests. So there are some local patches that I can introduce to all bird watchers, digiscopers and photographers.

Here are a few of my favorite birding spots around Kuala Lumpur.

• Kuala Selangor - the habitats include mangrove forest. Good for woodpecker and kingfisher. Some amount of walking is required on flat terrain.

• Fraser's Hill - one of the traditional key sites for birding in Peninsular Malaysia and still the best place to visit. Elevation between 900 - 1200m above sea level. The species found here are different from the city of Kuala Lumpur. Targets may include Trogon, Woodpecker, Partridge, Laughingthrush, Leafbird, Spiderhunter and Sunbird.

• Hulu Langat - one of the most visited birding spot due to its proximity from the city centre. Walking is required but on easy terrain in this lowland forest. Sometimes need to wait at fruiting trees. Generally a good spot for Broadbill, Kingfisher, and Babbler.

• Bukit Tinggi - An alternative spot if you do not want to spend too long hours travelling to Fraser's Hill. It's about 900m to 1,000m above sea level and you get a combination of lowland and highland species at this elevation. Walking is required but just a short distance. Traditional known for Broadbill, Hornbill, Partridge and Pheasant.

• Gombak-Ampang - Generally recommended for photographers targeting Blue-eared Kingfisher and at times during fruiting season, it attracts many species of Bulbul and Barbet. Located in urban area.

Putrajaya - If you are staying in any hotel in Putrajaya, it's a good place to look for herons, egrets, bittern and storks.

Bird Families

Check the bird families and the taxonomy updates HERE.

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Bird Video

I am also interested to take video of birds. Here are some of my favorite videos for your viewing. Video taken with Nikon1 V1 attached to a Sigma 500mm f4.5 and most of the time iPhone SE through the spotting scope. Editing is done on smartphone Power Director for Android device and I also like the iMovie on iPhone. Enjoy.

Recommended Field Guides & Books

If you are interested to get a copy of field guides to assist you to learn and identify birds in Malaysia. Click the followings to find out more.

March 2024. Fortunate enough to meet 1 of the authors before it was launched in Kuala Lumpur. Another great field guide for all birders who want to get the most updated information about birds of Malaysia.