“Yesterday was a real highlight of our cruise. Tanya and I thoroughly enjoyed our birding with you. Thank you for your patience with us and determination to wait for the Mangrove Pitta to finally come out and greet us in the open. What a thrill it was! ….. one among many during the day. Thank you for the book. I look forward to studying it, reviewing our notes from yesterday and seeing what possible trips / itineraries would be of interest for a future trip with you. Thanks again for a fabulous day! “
- Blanche, USA
The final weeks of 2025 brought a special highlight today as I met Blanche and Tanya at the cruise terminal. The morning started with a soft tropical drizzle at 8:30 AM—a reminder that nature doesn't always provide perfect weather, but it often provides perfect birds. We didn't let the rain stop us, beginning our checklist right there in the car park before heading toward Taman Botani Negara Shah Alam.
We spent three hours wandering through the botanical gardens. The park felt alive and fresh after the rain. It was a joy to witness their first real introduction to Malaysia’s avian diversity; there is something uniquely rewarding about guiding "first-timers" and seeing the forest through their eyes.
After a relaxing lunch to escape the humidity, we set our sights on the day's main target: the Mangrove Pitta. This is a bird that requires patience, and I was determined to find it for them. We headed to a quiet patch of mangroves, the air thick with the scent of salt and mud.
The wait wasn't long, but the payoff was spectacular. Not one, but two Mangrove Pittas showed themselves in the open. For Blanche and Tanya’s first-ever Pitta species, the "Jewel of the Mangroves" truly performed. Seeing their excitement as the birds emerged from the shadows was the absolute peak of the trip.
We ended the day with a gentle drive through the local village area, soaking in the rural scenery before I dropped them back at the terminal. I left them with a birding book to help them study their sightings. Based on Blanche’s kind words, I think we’ve planted the seed for a return trip to Malaysia.
Today’s sighting include: Ornate Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Zebra Dove, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Lineated Barbet, Oriental Magpie Robin, Javan Myna, Common Myna, Great Myna, White-headed Munia, Medium Egret, Great Egret, Spotted Dove, White-throated Kingfisher, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Black-and-red Broadbill, Drongo Cuckoo, Olive-winged Bulbul, Stripe-throated Bulbul, Dark-necked Tailorbird, Pin-striped Tit-babbler, Pacific Swallow, Long-tailed Parakeet, Crimson-winged Woodpecker, Little Green Pigeon, Green-backed Flycatcher, Rock Pigeon, Ashy Tailorbird, Malaysian Pied Fantail, Mangrove Pitta, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Dollarbird, Brown Shrike
*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.*
