Hi, thank you so much for the guided birding tour yesterday. Cheers! - Hasitha, Australia
In bird photography, we are often at the mercy of the sky. On the 22nd of December, I met up with Hasitha in Petaling Jaya for a trip into the lush pockets of Hulu Langat. Being primarily a photographer, Hasitha knows as well as I do that the "golden hour" is a fleeting gift. When we arrived after our hour-long drive, the light wasn't quite playing along.
So, we did what any sensible Malaysian birder does: we went for breakfast.
Once the light began to improve, we set out. We spent several hours covering the open areas on the forest fringe. This transition zone is often overlooked, but it’s where the light hits the foliage in ways that allow for beautiful subject isolation. We moved slowly, listening to the calls echoing from the canopy, waiting for that one bird to perch exactly where the shadows could swallow the background.
After a late lunch to recharge, we pushed deeper into the forest. The atmosphere changed immediately—the air grew cooler, and the light became more selective.
As the afternoon progressed and the forest began to dim, the window of opportunity started to close, we knew it was time to pack up.
We left Hulu Langat feeling deeply satisfied. We didn't just come back with memory cards full of images; we came back with a few right images. It was a reminder that birding isn't always about the quantity of the list, but the quality of the moment and the company you keep.
Trip sightings: Rock Pigeon (Feral), Spotted Dove, Zebra Dove, Pink-necked Green Pigeon, Raffles’s Malkoha, Chestnut-breasted Malkoha, Black-bellied Malkoha, White-throated Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher, Rufous-collared Kingfisher, Gold-whiskered Barbet, Crimson-winged Woodpecker, Checker-throated Woodpecker, Dusky Broadbill, Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Black-and-red Broadbill, Dark-throated Oriole, Malayan Black Magpie, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher, Common Tailorbird, Dark-necked Tailorbird, Rufous-tailed Tailorbird, Spectacled Bulbul, Red-eyed Bulbul, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Grey-cheeked Bulbul, Stripe-throated Bulbul, Pin-striped Tit-Babbler, Common Myna, Javan Myna, Long-billed Spiderhunter, Little Spiderhunter, Grey-breasted Spiderhunter, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Grey Wagtail, Blue-tailed Bee-eater
*UPDATE: After a series of consultations, the issue affecting my mobility has been identified. As a result, I will need to attend therapy. My travel plans must be tailored to minimize the amount of time spent walking, trekking on uneven terrain, and to avoid prolonged periods of standing or sitting.*
