The promise of a new birding day often brings clear skies, but today had a different plan for us. Heading out from KL towards the lush forests of Hulu Langat, the morning greeted us with an unexpectedly thick fog. The kind that wraps itself around the trees, muting the vibrant greens and making the sunlight a mere whisper. It was clear the birds might take a while to stir, so we made a quick, strategic stop. There’s nothing quite like a warm cup of teh tarik and freshly made roti canai at a local Indian Muslim restaurant to kickstart a misty morning.
Fuelled and ready, we drove deeper into the forest, eyes peeled for any movement. The initial quiet was palpable; even with a few fruiting trees around, the avian residents seemed to be enjoying a slow start to their day. But patience, as every birder knows, is key.
Our persistence soon paid off. We were thrilled to spot Thick-billed Green Pigeons and White-rumped Munias diligently carrying nesting materials, a wonderful sign of life flourishing even on a cloudy day. Nearby, we observed a flurry of activity with Plain Sunbirds, Orange-bellied Flowerpeckers, Buff-vented Bulbuls, and Scaly-breasted Bulbuls all busy feeding.
As we ventured further into the forest proper, the true treasures began to reveal themselves. We added some fantastic species to our morning list: Banded Broadbill, Black-and-yellow Broadbill and Black-and-red Broadbill, the striking Buff-necked Woodpecker and Checker-throated Woodpecker, along with the energetic Sultan Tit, the elusive Rufous-tailed Tailorbird, the brilliant Blue-eared Kingfisher, and the charming Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher. Each sighting, a small victory against the persistent cloud cover.
After a well-deserved lunch break, our birding expedition continued into the afternoon, this time closer to the urban fringes of Kuala Lumpur. This shift in habitat often brings a new set of winged residents, and today was no exception. We were rewarded with sightings of majestic raptors like the Barred Eagle-Owl, alongside colorful passerines such as the Black-naped Oriole. Nearby, we had sightings of Painted Stork, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Asian Openbill, Black-crowned Night Heron, and the common but graceful Little Egret and Cattle Egret. Forest patches here yielded more woodpeckers, including the Common Flameback and Banded Woodpecker, plus the charismatic Sooty Barbet and the ever-active Pin-striped Tit-babbler.
Despite the grey skies and cloudy conditions that persisted throughout the morning, our birding trip was undeniably a success. To have encountered such a diverse array of species, from the deep forest dwellers of Hulu Langat to the urban-adapted birds near Kuala Lumpur, made for a remarkably fulfilling day. It just goes to show that there's always something incredible to discover for those willing to look.
