6-Day Birding Adventure with Granger – A Journey Through Malaysia’s Avian Wonders
What a fantastic 6-day birding journey it's been with Granger! Our route took us through some of Peninsular Malaysia's most rewarding birding locations—Hulu Langat, Kuala Selangor, Fraser’s Hill, Lanchang, Bukit Tinggi, and several urban green spots around Kuala Lumpur.
This trip was especially rich in owls and woodpeckers, offering us memorable encounters with some elusive and charismatic species. From the misty montane forests of Fraser’s Hill to the lowland wetlands of Kuala Selangor, every stop added something special to our bird list.
The diversity we experienced—both in habitat and species—made this trip a rewarding one, filled with lifers, great photo opportunities, and shared enthusiasm for birds and nature. Thank you, Granger, for the great company and keen eyes in the field!
Looking forward to more birding adventures soon!
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Some of the highlights for this trip (seen or heard ONLY):
Grouse, Quails and Allies: Malayan Partridge, Mountain Peacock-Pheasant, Red Junglefowl
Pigeons and Doves: Rock Pigeon, Spotted Dove, Little Cuckoo-Dove, Asian Emerald Dove, Zebra Dove, Pink-necked Green-Pigeon, Mountain Imperial-Pigeon
Cuckoos: Greater Coucal, Raffles's Malkoha, Green-billed Malkoha, Asian Koel, Little Bronze-Cuckoo, Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, Dark Hawk-Cuckoo
Nightjars: Malaysian Eared-Nightjar, Large-tailed Nightjar, Savanna Nightjar
Swifts: Plume-toed Swiftlet, House Swift
Treeswifts: Whiskered Treeswift
Rails, Gallinules, and Allies: Slaty-breasted Rail, White-breasted Waterhen
Shorebirds: Black-winged Stilt, Red-wattled Lapwing, Barred Buttonquail
Storks: Asian Openbill, Painted Stork
Herons, Ibis, and Allies: Oriental Darter, Little Egret, Striated Heron, Eastern Cattle Egret, Medium Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron
Vultures, Hawks, and Allies: Black-winged Kite, Crested Serpent Eagle, Blyth's Hawk-Eagle, Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Black Eagle, Brahminy Kite, White-bellied Sea-Eagle
Owls: Eastern Barn Owl, Mountain Scops-Owl, Dusky Eagle-Owl, Barred Eagle-Owl, Collared Owlet, Spotted Wood-Owl, Brown Wood Owl, Brown Boobook
Trogons and Quetzals: Orange-breasted Trogon, Scarlet-rumped Trogon, Red-headed Trogon
Hornbills: White-crowned Hornbill, Helmeted Hornbill, Rhinoceros Hornbill, Bushy-crested Hornbill, Black Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill
Bee-eaters: Red-bearded Bee-eater, Blue-throated Bee-eater
Kingfishers: Banded Kingfisher, Stork-billed Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher
Rollers and Allies: Dollarbird
Barbets and Toucans: Sooty Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, Black-eared Barbet, Fire-tufted Barbet, Yellow-crowned Barbet, Gold-whiskered Barbet, Black-browed Barbet
Woodpeckers: Grey-and-buff Woodpecker, Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker, Maroon Woodpecker, Bay Woodpecker, Greater Flameback, Rufous Woodpecker, Buff-necked Woodpecker, Buff-rumped Woodpecker, Bamboo Woodpecker, Common Flameback, Lesser Yellownape, Crimson-winged Woodpecker, Laced Woodpecker, Banded Woodpecker, Greater Yellownape, Checker-throated Woodpecker
Falcons and Caracaras: Black-thighed Falconet
Parrots, Parakeets, and Allies: Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot
African and Green Broadbills: Green Broadbill
Asian and Grauer's Broadbills: Long-tailed Broadbill, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Black-and-red Broadbill, Banded Broadbill, Black-and-yellow Broadbill
Old World Pittas: Rusty-naped Pitta, Mangrove Pitta
Thornbills and Allies: Golden-bellied Gerygone
Cuckooshrikes: Scarlet Minivet, Malayan Cuckooshrike, Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike, Pied Triller, Lesser Cuckooshrike
Shrike-Babblers and Erpornis: White-browed Shrike-Babbler, Black-eared Shrike-Babbler
Whistlers and Allies: Mangrove Whistler
Old World Orioles: Dark-throated Oriole, Black-naped Oriole, Black-and-Crimson Oriole
Woodswallows: White-breasted Woodswallow
Vangas, Helmetshrikes and Allies: Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike
Ioras: Common Iora, Green Iora, Great Iora
Fantails: Malaysian Pied-Fantail, White-throated Fantail
Drongos: Bronzed Drongo, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
Monarch Flycatchers: Black-naped Monarch, Blyth's Paradise-Flycatcher
Jays, Magpies, Crows and Ravens: Common Green Magpie, House Crow, Large-billed Crow
Fairy Flycatchers: Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher
Tits, Chickadees and Titmice: Sultan Tit
Cisticolas and Allies: Common Tailorbird, Dark-necked Tailorbird, Ashy Tailorbird, Rufescent Prinia, Yellow-bellied Prinia
Cupwings: Pygmy Cupwing
Martins and Swallows: Pacific Swallow, Rufous-bellied Swallow
Bulbuls: Hairy-backed Bulbul, Grey-cheeked Bulbul, Ochraceous Bulbul, Finsch's Bulbul, Buff-vented Bulbul, Cinereous Bulbul, Mountain Bulbul, Black-headed Bulbul, Spectacled Bulbul, Grey-bellied Bulbul, Black-crested Bulbul, Red-eyed Bulbul, Stripe-throated Bulbul, Yellow-vented Bulbul
Leaf Warblers: Chestnut-crowned Warbler
Bush Warblers and Allies: Yellow-bellied Warbler, Mountain Tailorbird
White-eyes, Yuhinas and Allies: Swinhoe's White-eye, Hume's White-eye
Tree-Babblers, Scimitar-Babblers, and Allies: Pin-striped Tit-Babbler, Golden Babbler, Chestnut-winged Babbler, Black Laughingthrush, Black-throated Babbler, Chestnut-rumped Babbler
Ground Babblers and Allies: Puff-throated Babbler, Malayan Black-capped Babbler, Buff-breasted Babbler, Streaked Wren-Babbler
Laughingthrushes and Allies: Mountain Fulvetta, Malayan Laughingthrush, Long-tailed Sibia, Blue-winged Minla, Silver-eared Mesia, Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush
Nuthatches: Blue Nuthatch, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch
Starlings and Mynas: Asian Glossy Starling, Common Hill Myna, Common Myna, Javan Myna
Old World Flycatchers: Oriental Magpie Robin, White-rumped Shama, Large Niltava, Verditer Flycatcher, Rufous-browed Flycatcher, Hill Blue Flycatcher, Lesser Shortwing, Slaty-backed Forktail, White-tailed Robin, Little Pied Flycatcher,
Flowerpeckers: Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker,
Sunbirds and Spiderhunters: Long-billed Spiderhunter, Little Spiderhunter, Spectacled Spiderhunter, Grey-breasted Spiderhunter
Fairy-bluebirds: -
Leafbirds: Greater Green Leafbird, Lesser Green Leafbird, Blue-winged Leafbird, Orange-bellied Leafbird
Weavers and Allies: Baya Weaver
Estrildids: Scaly-breasted Munia, White-rumped Munia
Old World Sparrows: Eurasian Tree Sparrow
*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.*
