Peninsular Malaysia , we also call West Malaysia which ~2-3 hours flight to Borneo part (Sabah, Sarawak).
Its area is 130,590 square kilometres (50,420 sq mi). It shares a land border with Thailand in the north. To the south is the island of Singapore.[1]
in such small country , we have 719 birds found here … and due to the similar and close to Thailand and other region, we only have 3 endemic birds which we going to share here
too busy to share all reports, am trying to catch up all pending one ..
last assignment was Malaysian Rail-Babbler @South Peninsular Malaysia for 3 days with a England birder with 6000++ bird count and another USA birder .. both of them are really good birder , they are really fast in our tropical forest .
no much picture to be share due to I am injured .. so no camera with me most of the time …
Day 1 – Panti
We were lucky have a view of the Rail-Babbler for few second , but it is not a good day for 2nd half and 2nd day of the tour . raining + cloudy day make ourselves … we so make decision moving to another forest for better luck.
overall weather raining , cloudy make the activities really slow but we still have
We had Japan guests for some target in Peninsular Malaysia .
Day 1 – Kuala Lumpur
We mainly at center of Kuala Lumpur before heading Kuala Selangor for next day Mangrove targets .
we quickly start a day with Barred Eagle-Owl, with very small window but still we got it clear view ..
very soon , another cute bird approaching … black and yellow Broadbill
after here , we quickly move to another nearby forest .. here we quickly tick
Rufous-backed Kingfisher
Black-and-red Broadbill
etc
with very short stay time, we rush to west-Kuala Lumpur for Mangrove Pitta and etc .. very fast within 5 minutes, we got the pitta in frame and we would like to try
Savanna Nightjar
with long search, finally we see one …
……. we got most the targets tick and yet we have some time, we go for earlier dinner … immediate after the dinner, we very soon tick both
3 Gray-breasted Partridge (Malayan)
1 Crested Serpent-Eagle
1 Asian Emerald Dove
1 Whiskered Treeswift
1 Greater Yellownape
3 Bay Woodpecker
1 Large Cuckooshrike
1 Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo
4 Mountain Fulvetta
3 Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush
1 Malayan Laughingthrush
1 Streaked Spiderhunter
Day 3 – Fraser Hill
we spend almost whole day at Fraser Hill , but seem like weather getting misty and rain after lunch … which slow down our bird list
but some how most the target got hit and miss few …
while our visit of Telekom loop, we bumped into few birds wave . and heard Blue Nuthatch but too bad mist just too thick for us to have a view and picture .. but again, lucky to got
Collared Babbler
Bamboo Woodpecker
to close a beautiful day with most the Fraser Hill star birds e.g
Fire-tufted Barbet , Pygmy Cupwing, Sultan Tit , Red Headed Trogon, Dark-Hawk cuckoo etc …
we only had 3 hours , so we trying our best and still missed the Ferruginous Partridge & Rail-Babbler. no call at all for the morning. but lucky we had Mountain Peacock-Pheasant family with displaying male and Silver-breasted Broadbill .
We had 4 Beijing, China guests for this customize bird photography tour. On the arrival pick up, seem like each of everyone has different target … but all have common interest on raptor and owl … than immediate fine tune the location again to try to cover most the possible owls
We are lucky enough to have most the plan targets picture except a missed on Silver Breasted Broadbill .. missed the good chance while looking for another target 🙁
almost can conclude this is a owl tour where we search for owls almost every night and day time 😀 , guests really enjoy to see and photograph the owls ..
This trip, we follow KL-Kuala Selangor-Fraser Hill-Bukit Tinggi
DAY1
for start , we tried to search for Buffy-Fish Owl… we got 2 in the day time but too bad they are bit shy and playing hide and seek with us
very soon , we also found another Owl day roosting . where we got 2 in same tree .. a Brown-Hawk Owl
with extra effort at night , we were lucky to have another 2 owls ; Barn Owl and Spotted Wood-Owl…
in same day make it 4
When we almost end our day, Large-tailed Nightjar stand still for us for a good view
DAY 2
we spend morning inside a mangrove . lucky to have Crested Goshawk, little late for Crested Serpent-Eagle feeding when we stop our car. We actually saw the male bring the snake to the female .
we also got various woodpeckers nearby mangrove e.g. Rufous Woodpecker ,Common Flameback+Greater Flameback fighting for same stand
after morning walk, we heading Fraser Hill… on the way we got various bird like Whiskered Treeswift, Red-bearded Bee-eater stand close and long for us
immediate arrive Fraser Hill, we actually got Malaysian Hill Partridge family
as usual , we tried quick night walk for owl again.. very lucky we got our 5th owl : Brown Wood-Owl in less than 30minutes
we end our day with laugh and smile 😀
DAY3
in the Morning, we had our Red-headed Trogon displaying for us ~1 hour make guests fill up almost card for single beauty
we also had our Fire-tufted Barbet fill up guests another card again
beside the 2 star birds, we also have pygmy Wren-Babbler, lesser short wing, long-tailed sibia , SIlver ear mesia etc .. but we still missing our SIlver Breasted Broadbill.
at Night , we managed to see another Brown-Wood Owl and also a gray nightjar
DAY 4
we rushing from Fraser Hill to Bukit Tinggi. we able to had Mountain Peacock-Pheasant displaying and Ferruginous Partridge in pair …
Banded Kingfishers (both male and female), Rufous-Collard Kingfisher,Blyth’s Hawk-Eagle etc seem show customer good view
most the pictures captured using handhled .. and am too busy sharing all .. and birding season here seem getting active .. let’s birding
We start 2017 with previous 2 short bird watching tours which with very limited target . follow by this 14 days tour from Kuala Lumpur-Kuala Selangor-Fraser Hill-Bukit Tinggi-KRAU forest-Taman Negara. Quite a lot of miss due to raining almost every evening especially Bukit Tinggi-KRAU-Taman Negara (think mostly we lost 3-5 days due to rain L)
with 2 Switzerland guests , we have very good start from Kuala Lumpur, got few very special target hit and we got first pitta (hooded pitta) and Frogmouth for guests. A lucky day where rain stop ~830pm and we reach there 845pm and got the buffy fish owl, Blyth’s frogmouth and another very special target (guests just saw it flying hmmmm and they mark it count as this is so special owl) .. 54 species for day 1
Next morning, we heading to Pulau Indah for another target, struggle a bit but we still finally got the Mangrove Pitta after 3-4 hours tried for few locations.
Following to Kuala Selangor, spend evening walking nearby mangrove … got most the targets hit again and customer favor is Common Flameback woodpecker … how I wish everyday got such easy target 😀 . it was heavy rain after dinner, but we still try our luck and YES. Got the Spotted wood owl just before another heavy rain hit …
Day 2 : 46 species
Morning, we heading to Natural Park. A long walk , got most the target again but missed out Copper-Throat Sunbird L … after lunch slowly travel to Fraser Hill, on the way… what a lucky under a fruiting tree easily hit few target : Yellow-Crowned Barbet, Gold Whiskered Barbet … follow Chestnut-naped Forktail , Dark-Sided Flycatcher , Temminck’s Sunbird, Scaly-Breasted Bulbul etc …. Ohh forgot Rufous-Bellied Swallow and family of Silver-Breasted Broadbill make our day .
Day 3 : 50 species
For Day 4, very good weather at Fraser Hill … but we missed the Malayan Whistling-Thrush Hill Partridge in the morning !!! But with the half day, we got back some star Birds : Collared Owlet, Malaysian Nightjar, Fire-tufted Barbet, Rufescent Prinia, and very good view of Marbled Wren-Babbler … at night we also got Sunda Slow-Loris .
Day 5, misty+raining ohhhhh … and we got brief view of Malayan Whistling-Thrush in the morning. Than follow by very good view of Large Scimitar Babbler, Bay Woodpecker, Black-Browed Barbet, Black-and-Crimson Oriole, Black Laughingthrush, Malayan Laughingthrush, Brown Wood-Owl and what surprise Barred Eagle-Owl show off here too …
Day 6, again !!! MISTY+RAINING … but luck is on our site, with limited hours … We managed to got some main target like Yellow-vented Pigeon, Silver-rumped Needletail, Bamboo Woodpecker, Long-Tailed Broadbill + Blue Nuthatch (under the heavy rain !) … and very lucky to have pair of Collard Babbler stay long for us for very good view and photo …
Day 7, we had almost everything we need … but we missing those common bird like mountain Bulbul, little cuckoo dove (joke from customer… it is a must and how can we missed it , lets stay few more days for Mountain Bulbul ) .. no joke we really missed this bulbul for 4 days @Fraser Hill .
Before we heading to Bukit Tinggi, we record Scarlet-Rumped Trogon @890m (think may be little too high but it show up there) and a pair of Banded Kingfisher …
Day 8, from Genting Highland to Krau forest. We didn’t get much target meet but Cinamon-rumped Trogon is our favor of the day .
with 2 fruting trees , we managed to see some barbets, bulbuls, etc but to our surprise. We saw local climb up to a tree may be 30-40m height to hunt for birds !!!!!! L
Day 9 : full day raining at Bukit Tinggi, guests enjoy red wine 80% of the day
Day 9 : 7 species
Day 10 : we have beautiful Moutain Peacock Pheasant displaying 2 hours for us , before we leave. Got a very good view of Rhinoceros and Helmeted Hornbill follow by heading to Taman Negara with raining full 2nd half day.
Arrived Taman Negara Dusk, both Great Hornbill and Great Argus welcome us at lobby area
Day 10 : 21 species
Day 11-16 : we spend few days at Taman Negara but 40% of the time raining or cloudy make the whole birding slowing. But within few days of tracking in the mud, pond etc . We cover a lot of Bulbuls, barbet, parrot, hornbill but the 10 star birds over days
– another shy and beautiful partridge found from 600-1000m sub-montane
update 202403
– another bird that everyone still hope to see while looking for while visiting one of the feeding spot. But it is never easy to meet this bird … finally it is active last few weeks and I managed to see it for 3/4 trips there.
update 2017 Nov 11
just another bird … same behavior as the previous one .. too tame 🙁
update 2017 Jan 28
– very good sighting of this rare bird and able to shoot with my SONY RX10 m3
4. Sabah Partridge, 沙巴山鹧鸪, 沙巴山鷓鴣, Tropicoperdix graydoni, クリチャミヤマテッケイ, SERUK-BUKIT SABAH
– also call Sabah Partridge, the look slightly different on the chest & head.
– behavior, environment very similar
– comparative common or more sighting compare to the Arborophila Charlton
update 202402
– after got the Bornean Bristlehead, this bird soon come and make loud call for us .. really beautiful and loud call
– 看到棘头鵙后，这鸟就来很近+叫的很大声。这鸟也很漂亮虽然叫的大声恐怖。
update 202310
– as usual, one of the very tame bird to be seen and photograph, never missed over the years .. sometime I am just worry of the bird behavior
– 这鸟有时间，到对的地方。几乎没错过。可是就太乖了，我真的有点担心这鸟的安全。
202208, Sukau, Malaysia
#####
update 202305
– a noisy and lovely Partridge, with the name of Sabah Partridge ** . We got it at Sabah and as usual this bird come to say “hi” to me again over the years same location.
– found and seen 2 birds at 2 locations. lucky group
– a very similar to Pen Malaysia, same call, same behavior and it is a good bird that never miss so far for 2022
– 正式被名为沙巴鹧鸪。
– 与西马的非常像，叫，”脾气“都一样。2022美好的一年，没错过这鸟。
202209, Sabah, Malaysia
update 202208
– shooting this from boat, the R7 just auto lock focus on the bird eye even this was at quite dark environment and shaky boat (7 people moving for better view). But almost all picture focus lock on
– last bird for previous Sabah trip, we can’t wait for better view as we are rushing back to airport. But this bird never failed as I told my guests, it is always here since years back.
– Sabah and Sarawak (Center of Borneo) race seems a bit different
update 202311
– it is off season for here now, after all Malaysia tours… time for some rest and process some 2023 pictures for sharing.
– this is one of the best encounter at Bakelalan, which look different from the Sabah race.
– 进入“雨季“+鸟安静的季节。我们马来西亚的鸟团都停了。是时候休息或看看2023的照片。
– 这是沙捞越的亚种，与沙巴的不一样。有机会看看吧。
202307, Bakelalan, Sarawak, Malaysia
update 202307
– just another not good weather day, we stucked and cannot proceed to ours destination so we birding where the car can reach. This bird is the only bird calling and very soon we have very good view and some picture of this Borneo endemic
Red-breasted Partridge, Arborophila hyperythra (Sarawak , center of Borneo)
At the center of Borneo (Sarawak) all the birds seen with white or light grey supercilium, brighter throat, chin …. which never seen at Kinabalu National Park, Crocker Range.
– a colorful, shy, noisy, moving in group partridge.
– 非常漂亮，害羞，吵的鹧鸪。通常群体行动。
update 202310
– 2022-2023 so much rain across Borneo – Pen Malaysia … I forgot how many times I got all wet when in the forest .. how many times we cancel our drive due to heavy rain .. but bird still coming for food while heavy rain
– when I am at the feeding station (without feeding, how we can see it so well), it is boring so I am trying to have some “small like mosquitoes” series support one of my friend always like to shoot environment shots
– love to have slow motion 4k recording. R3 still good option overall for me . compare to R7, R6II for the moment. Fast AF, Accurate AF, button orientation, battery, speed, video format etc
– a lovely and shy bird captured in control environment(feeding station in wild jungle). It is real tough to have it in wild environment.
– sometime really need to give some respect to Bird photographers that really have patient. I don’t have any good photo for this bird before this group of birds that never stop come even heavy rain.
– Smaller than Himalayan snowcock, this species has a grey head and neck with a white patch behind the eye and above the dark cheek. Chin, throat and breast are white, with two grey bands on the breast. Grey wing coverts and tertials have a white trim. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_snowcock
52. Green Peafowl, 绿孔雀, 綠孔雀, Pavo muticus, マクジャク, MERAK HIJAU
– lovely big bird and freely move around at Chiang Mai, Thailand
– lucky to see the displaying
– 在泰国,清迈.保护工作非常好。它们自由自在的活动。也幸运的看到它们开屏。
202212， Chiang Mai, Thailand
101. Indian Peafowl, 蓝孔雀, 藍孔雀, Pavo cristatus, インドクジャク
An unmistakable, large ground bird. The unmistakable iridescent blue male spreads out its ornamental upper tail feathers when courting females. Females have a shorter tail, an iridescent green neck, and browner plumage. Found in forest, forest edge, and agricultural land. Often seen on paths or alertly feeding in the undergrowth. Can be fairly confiding especially when found close to human habitation. Its loud screaming “may-yow” calls are heard incessantly during the rainy season. [eBird]
– in Sri Lanka, the most common bird to be seen is not sparrow, crow .. but one of them is this beautiful and big bird which can found almost any where, urban, forest edge, forest etc.
– 在斯里兰卡岛上，这鸟几乎哪都看到。大+漂亮
202312, Yala NP, Sri Lanka
151. Red-billed Partridge, 红嘴山鹧鸪, 紅嘴山鷓鴣, Arborophila rubrirostris, アカハシミヤマテッケイ, Puyuh-gonggong sumatera
a very beautiful dark, highland partridge, saw it move it pair
update 202401
– another bird suppose to hope come to feeding station but not, but we managed to heard and found the bird. Again this is another reason setup customize button for my R3 which can shoot in complex environment (just like this) point the focus points (I using 5 point) on to any part of the bird and eye will be lock focus ..very useful and suitable for people like shooting wildbird in move
I had trying very hard to get open picture for Malaysian Hill Partridge, finally I managed to got decent photo 2016 March … this bird is not rare but just never like to show up in the open
Malaysian Hill Partridge 砍氏山鹧
update 2016 April 18
update 2016 Apil
previously my keeper for this bird
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related posts
Birds Watch/Photograph tour feel free to contact me
– a bird that told me weeks to just have few look, few seconds for picture ….
– walk non stop inside canopy
– when it call, the throat “blue” appear
– 3+1 locations, multiple visits ……
– VERY SHY bird ….
update 202310
– it is amaze that outs’ main target just walk Infront us ~10 feet away .. it walk so beautiful and record with CANON R3 4k 100fps – 这么神奇，我们的主要目标鸟。在我们还没准备前提下。就在我们面前10尺走猫步
update 202309
– it is another good year to have many view and photo of this bird. This particular experience simply amazing where bird just infront of us walking pass
– a special targets tour begin with first target bird – Malaysian Rail-babbler. All of us have very good view of this bird
– 目标鸟团。第一天第一只目标-白眉长颈鸫。 每个人都看得很好。
202309 – Bukit Tinggi, Pahang, Malaysia
update 202308
– are you looking for me ? amazing moment with the special group. have a great time on day1. so close and so long for us
– 你在找我？非常特别的组，特别来找这鸟。第一天就找到这么乖的。让我们看很久也很近
202307, Lenggor, Johor, Malaysia
update 202307
– a quick check before few Rail-babbler groups, arrived welcome by rain (YES, raining again) after Malaysian-Eared Nighjar, Crested Shrikejay… begin my Rail-babbler quick tour. very soon I arrived my friend “spot” put a hide and wait. not long wait the bird calling but it keep quiet after few call. Not a long wait, it stand near the bush edge. – 为了接下来的“白眉长颈鸫”团，到了马来西亚最好的点之一（其实还是觉得吉隆波的鸟点比较有把握）。一大早到了，可是没办法出去。（下雨，对又下雨） 先看到马来毛腿夜鹰，可是没停。之后很快与5只冠鸦玩了一会。就开始慢慢找这非常高需要的鸟。先到朋友给我。等没多久，鸟叫了。可是很快又没声音了。可是我也不大意。周围看看，很快看到这鬼鬼祟祟的站那看我。
202307, Lenggor, Johor, Malaysia
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– a special Rail-Babbler tour, lucky to have it present 4 times show. last appear is like walk left and right for more than 3 minutes. 100+ species first day..
– it is a hot day, this bird is calling any where… only 1 bird willing to give good show and cat walk for me
– 炎热的一天。很多只在叫，可是就只有一只出来走走让我拍拍。
202307, Lenggor, Johor, Malaysia
####
– a quick check before few Rail-babbler groups, arrived welcome by rain (YES, raining again) after Malaysian-Eared Nighjar, Crested Shrikejay… begin my Rail-babbler quick tour. very soon I arrived my friend “spot” put a hide and wait. not long wait the bird calling but it keep quiet after few call. Not a long wait, it stand near the bush edge.
– what a lucky group to sighted 4 rail-babbler and last one even stay long and close for us to capture some picture with all have good view
– 非常幸运的客人，尽然在同一行程里见到这鸟4次。最后一次还站了很久与很近让每个人都看到。
202306, Paya Maga, Sarawak, Malaysia
202112
– another surprise found at this “urban area”, as usual i having my casual birding and all of sudden I heard a long missing sound and by waiting and finally saw it and got a split second picture..
– very first attempt to have good picture of this bird @2013
Malaysian Rail-babble,白眉长颈鸫r,白眉長頸鶇,Eupetes macrocerus,クイナチメドリ, Burung Gembala Kera
update 202105
– seem like no more chance to have a better view of this rare and shy bird in the near future.
– years ago, I told my buddy I got this bird in this location but he never believes until he got leeches to bite, and record a shot of the bird.
