On February 25th, 2026, I had the pleasure of guiding Jim and Cathy from the United States for a day of birding in the verdant hills of Hulu Langat. We began our morning in the city centre, fueling up with a quintessential Malaysian breakfast of roti canai, which both Jim and Cathy thoroughly enjoyed.
The birding actually started before we even reached our destination! Just as we pulled away from the restaurant, Jim’s sharp eyes spotted a Painted Stork in flight—a wonderful "first bird of the day" to kick off our adventure.
Morning Melodies and Broadbill Magic
Upon arriving in Hulu Langat, the morning activity was nothing short of spectacular. The forest edge was teeming with life, and we were treated to a vibrant parade of species:
Broadbills: We were lucky enough to see both the Black-and-red and Black-and-yellow Broadbills.
Woodpeckers: A high-energy morning for drummers, including the Grey-and-buff, a pair of Orange-backed, and the Banded Woodpecker.
Forest Favorites: We added the Raffles's Malkoha, Scaly-breasted Bulbul, Little Green Pigeon, and the elusive Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo to our list.
As the sun rose and the temperature climbed, we moved deeper into the forest to bird under the cooling shade of the canopy. This shift in strategy paid off handsomely. We encountered the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher, and the Checker-throated Woodpecker.
The Highlights: A Green Gem and a Blue Jewel
The true "star of the show" for many was the Green Broadbill—its well camouflage plumage always make it difficult to spot it but Cathy found it first. However, just as we were preparing to leave the forest, a flash of blue caught my eye. A Blue-eared Kingfisher zipped through the trees near our car. After a thorough scan, I managed to locate it, allowing Jim and Cathy a stunning view of this "small jewel."
Later, near a local restaurant, we were treated to a second sighting of the Blue-eared Kingfisher, along with Blue-tailed Bee-eaters, a White-bellied Sea-Eagle, and Grey-breasted Spiderhunter.
A Rainy Finale
The afternoon tropical shower, provided a perfect excuse for a tea break. Once the rain eased into a drizzle, we made one final stop, adding the Blue-throated Bee-eater, Common Flameback, and Banded Bay Cuckoo to our tally.
While the rain eventually settled in for the evening—and a long day of birding had finally caught up with Cathy—we decided to head back to Kuala Lumpur. Despite some typical city traffic on the return journey, it was another incredibly successful day trip with a good species count and very happy guests.
