Today was one of those days that reminds me why birding is a marathon, not a sprint. I was out with Lee, who flew in from the UK, and we hit the ground running in Hulu Langat just as the sun was peeking over the ridges.
The roadside warm-up was decent—Spotted Doves and starlings—but the real test started once we went deep into the forest. We did my usual routine: drive, stop, listen, repeat. For about five hours, the forest was holding its breath. It was quiet. But if you look close enough, the forest always gives you something. We managed to spot both the migratory Yellow-rumped Flycatcher and Asian Brown Flycatcher.
By lunch, we were still missing the Broadbill on our checklist. I hate to let a guest go without seeing the common broadbill from Hulu Langat, so I made a call to switch spots. Sometimes you have to trust your gut. We sat in silence, testing our patience against the humidity. Finally, two calls and a pair drifted closer and that make the wait worthwhile.
We closed out the day with an incredible owl. We’d already spotted the Buffy Fish-Owl in the forest, but a quick detour to a park near the city gifted us a Barred Eagle-Owl right at its usual roost. We spent the drive back counting our lucky stars; the weather had been perfect for birding, though the sky finally broke as we neared the hotel. With lightning flashing in front of us and a light drizzle starting to fall, we felt the satisfaction of a mission accomplished. It was a fantastic trip, a solid list of lifers and some great shots.
