Trip Report: Peninsular Malaysia, October 9-19, 1999

Phil Benstead, United Kingdom; Phil.Benstead@tesco.net

The following notes describe a brief trip made to the Highlands of Peninsula Malaysia prior to and during the recent BirdLife conference.

9/10: The Gap and Fraser's Hill

Arrived at by plane from London at dawn and got straight on a bus into KL and from there to KKB. Usual lowland common birds from the bus, the big surprise was an immature Rufous-bellied Eagle from the bus station at KKB. Then took a taxi up to the Gap to wait for the bus up the hill (at 1500 hrs). A few birds around the Gap but really too tired to bird at this point.

Checked into the Puncak Inn after the bus journey up the Gap road. Staggered off at 1600 to check out the Pine tree trail (heard Long-billed Partridge). Also looked for the Mager trail but could not find it; ended up on some god forsaken trail at dusk but did see male Siberian Blue Robin.

10/10: Hemmant Trail and Gap road, Fraser's Hill

Spent the morning walking the road down to the Gap (had superb views of Siamang), had lunch there then hitched up with Dennis Yong, who drove back up the road and did the rubbish dump and roads around Fraser's Hill. Birds included another Rufous-bellied Eagle, Black Eagle, Dusky Broadbill, Red-billed Malkoha, Black Laughing-thrush and Olive-backed Woodpecker.

11/10: Fraser's Hill

Spent the day around the trails at Fraser's Hill. Pine tree trail produced Mountain Peacock-pheasant (heard)! Could also hear rhino and Helmeted Hornbill from here. After lunch did the Bishop's trail connecting straight away with a male Rusty-naped Pitta, taped in from high up a gully. The bird flew in and landed nearby. Superb! Also here Long-tailed Broadbill. Finished the day by walking down to the new road, looks good but will have to wait for another trip I think. Dennis had arranged to pick me up to go spotlighting in the evening, and he did not disappoint. We all crowded into the van, and Dennis whistled up a Mountain Scops Owl and then found it for us in 30 minutes. The guy is incredible. Had superb views of my first new bird of the trip, sitting angrily just 5 m from Dennis and the rest of us.

12/10: The Gap Road

Quiet day with a few notable birds, spent on the road down to the Gap and well below the Gap on the road to KKB and on the road towards Raub. Looked at Mike Chong's seeding bamboo for Pin-tailed Parrotfinch but unlike them did not score. Walking back up the hill heard Marbled Wren-babbler and Ferruginous Wood-partridge and saw 8 Black Laughingthrush. Had fleeting glimpse of a Pig-tailed Macaque along the road.

13/10: Fraser's Hill

What a day! Hit the Pine Tree trail (0715-0830) and taped out a superb male Mountain Peacock-pheasant. I was shaking like a leaf for the first minute and a half but luckily it hung around and then doubled round me and ran in front of me up the path on my way back to High Pines. Fantastic! Could also hear Helmeted Hornbill from the trail.

Walked along the road (Slaty-backed Forktail) and decided to head down Hemmant Trail as Durai had mentioned that he had seen Sumatran Hill Partridge the day before. Sure enough there they were, I and got fleeting views of one of the birds. Magic.

14-19/10: Genting Highlands

Here to attend the BirdLife conference so not a great deal of time for birding. Managed to get out most mornings and technically had two days at the end (but had a terrible cold). So managed to see some birds including two more ticks; Ferruginous Wood Partridge and Marbled Wren Babbler. Delegates located a superb fruiting fig which was visited on a number of occasions and produced Yellow-vented Green Pigeon and a number of hornbills.

Systematic List

  1. Long-billed Partridge
    Pair heard duetting below the Pine Tree trail on 9/10.
  2. Grey-breasted Partridge
    Single bird seen briefly along the Hemmant Trail (FH) on 13/10.
  3. Ferruginous Partridge
    Birds heard along the Gap road on 12/10. Single bird taped in along the Awana trail (GH) on 18/10. Gave very good views. One of four new birds seen during the trip.
  4. Mountain Peacock-pheasant
    Bird heard calling at close range along the Pine Tree trail on 11/10. On my last day at FH (13/10) I finally managed to see a single male which was watched at length, after being taped in along the High Pines trail. Without a doubt the highlight of the trip.
  5. Speckled Piculet
    Several noted along the Gap road on 12/10.
  6. Lesser Yellownape
    Birds recorded at FH (using nest hole).
  7. Crimson-winged Woodpecker
    Single bird in mixed species flock along the pumphouse road (GH) on 16/10.
  8. Greater Yellownape
    Recorded at FH (almost daily) and GH.
  9. Olive-backed Woodpecker
    Single male along the Gap road on 10/10.
  10. Bamboo Woodpecker
    Male seen well below the Gap on the KKB road on 12/10.
  11. Maroon Woodpecker
    Single heard along the Gap road on 12/10. Recorded on two dates at GH.
  12. Bay Woodpecker
    Single bird along the Pine Tree trail (FH) on 11/10.
  13. Orange-backed Woodpecker
    Single bird at the rubbish dump (FH) on 10/10.
  14. Fulvous Woodpecker
    Single female along the Gap road on 10/10.
  15. Buff-rumped Woodpecker
    Single in mixed flock along pumphouse road (GH) on 15/10.
  16. Fire-tufted Barbet
    Common at FH.
  17. Gold-whiskered Barbet
    At least two in large fruiting fig at GH on 15/10. Others seen.
  18. Black-browed Barbet
    Common at FH and GH.
  19. Blue-eared Barbet
    Several birds noted in fruiting fig 12 km down towards KKB below the Gap on 12/10.
  20. Brown Barbet
    Single bird noted in fruiting tree below Gap on 12/10.
  21. Rhinoceros Hornbill
    Heard at FH on a number of occasions. Two birds regularly seen in the fig tree along the Awana trail at GH.
  22. Great Hornbill
    Two or three birds regularly using the large fig tree along the Awana trail (GH).
  23. Helmeted Hornbill
    Birds heard at Fraser's Hill on two dates.
  24. Bushy-crested Hornbill
    Seven birds in the fig tree along the Awana trail on 17/10.
  25. Red-headed Trogon
    Four along the Bishop's Trail (FH) on 11/10. Small group encountered along road to pumping station (GH) on 14/10.
  26. Dollarbird
    Two birds over the Gap resthouse on 9/10.
  27. White-throated Kingfisher
    Seen from buses in the lowlands.
  28. Red-bearded Bee-eater
    Two along the Gap road on 10/10, and another below the Gap on the road to Raub on 12/10. Pair along road to pumping station (GH) on 14/10. Single along the Awana trail the next day.
  29. Blue-throated Bee-eater
    Commonly encountered at FH.
  30. Raffles's Malkoha
    1-2 birds in mixed species flock below the Gap on the KKB road on 12/10. Also recorded along the Awana trail (GH) on 18/10.
  31. Red-billed Malkoha
    Single bird along Gap road on 10/10.
  32. Chestnut-bellied Malkoha
    Single bird along the Awana trail (GH) on 18/10.
  33. Blue-crowned Hanging-parrot
    Single bird seen on two dates flying around the large fig tree along the Awana trail (GH).
  34. Glossy Swiftlet
    Recorded at FH.
  35. Silver-rumped Needletail
    Only seen from Mike's van as we drove up to the Gap along the KKB road on 12/10.
  36. Fork-tailed Swift
    Single bird noted along the Gap road on 10/10.
  37. House Swift
    Ubiquitous over towns.
  38. Grey-rumped treeswift
    Seen over the Gap road on 12/10.
  39. Whiskered Treeswift
    3+ along the Awana trail feeding from a bamboo clump.
  40. Mountain Scops Owl
    Heard at FH. Single bird spotlighted by Dennis Yong for an appreciative audience on 11/10. A tick for me.
  41. Brown Wood Owl
    Single bird up at the old naval station on 11/10, gave excellent views.
  42. Collared Owlet
    Heard commonly at FH.
  43. Little Cuckoo Dove
    Common FH and GH.
  44. Thick-billed Green Pigeon
    10+ in fruiting fig with next species on 18/10 (GH).
  45. Yellow-vented Green Pigeon
    At least two noted in a large fruiting fig at GH on 15/10. At least 20 birds there on 17/10.
  46. Mountain imperial Pigeon
    Common at FH and less so at GH.
  47. Oriental Honey-buzzard
    Three birds seen on 12/10 below the Gap. A large wave (25+ birds) went over the pumphouse road (GH) on 19/10.
  48. Crested Serpent Eagle
    Single bird well below the Gap on 10/10.
  49. Accipiter sp.
    Single flew past High Pines on 11/10.
  50. Black Eagle
    Singles at FH on 9/10, below the Gap on 10/10, and along the Gap road on 12/10.
  51. Rufous-bellied Eagle
    Single immature from KKB bus station on 9/10 was unusual. Adult well below the Gap on 10/10.
  52. Blyth's Hawk Eagle
    Single adult over the Gap restaurant on 9/10. Adult well below the Gap on 10/10. Recorded nearly daily at GH.
  53. Rusty-naped Pitta
    Bird heard along the Pine Tree trail on 11/10. Superb male taped in along the Bishop's Trail at Fraser's Hill on the same day.
  54. Blue-winged Pitta
    Heard at FH at dusk on 9/10.
  55. Hooded Pitta
    Heard along the Gap road on 12/10.
  56. Dusky Broadbill
    Several noisy birds seen along the Gap road on 10/10.
  57. Banded Broadbill
    Single bird at GH on 14/10.
  58. Silver-breasted Broadbill
    Small flock seen at GH along Awana trail on 18/10.
  59. Long-tailed Broadbill
    Flock of 6+ along the Bishop's Trail (FH) on 11/10. At least three birds in a flock encountered along the road to the pumping station (GH) on 14/10.
  60. Green Broadbill
    Heard at GH along the Awana trail on 18/10.
  61. Asian Fairy Bluebird
    Single bird along the Awana trail on 18/10.
  62. Blue-winged Leafbird
    Common at FH and GH.
  63. Great Green Leafbird
    Birds observed in fruiting fig below the Gap on 12/10.
  64. Orange-bellied Leafbird
    Small numbers at FH.
  65. Tiger Shrike
    Common migrant recorded at FH, GH and even feeding under the floodlights at night at the airport.
  66. Brown Shrike
    Seen from the bus to the airport.
  67. Green magpie
    Recorded daily at FH.
  68. Large-billed Crow
    Only bird in notebook is a single at FH on 13/10. Unusual at site?
  69. Black-naped Oriole
    Common at golf course at GH.
  70. Black-and-crimson Oriole
    Seen most days at FH.
  71. Large Cuckooshrike
    Recorded in small numbers at FH.
  72. Lesser Cuckooshrike
    Recorded at the Gap (single female in canopy flock).
  73. Grey-chinned Minivet
    Recorded in canopy flocks at FH.
  74. Scarlet Minivet
    Noted at the Gap and at GH.
  75. Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike
    Fairly common in canopy flocks at FH and GH.
  76. White-throated Fantail
    Recorded at FH.
  77. Pied Fantail
    Recorded at the Gap.
  78. Bronzed Drongo
    Recorded at the Gap, FH and GH.
  79. Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo
    Recorded at FH and GH.
  80. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
    Recorded at the Gap, FH and GH.
  81. Asian Paradise-flycatcher
    Noted well below the Gap and at GH.
  82. Large Woodshrike
    At least 8 birds in flock along Awana trail on 17/10.
  83. Blue Whistling Thrush
    Small numbers at FH and GH.
  84. Asian Brown Flycatcher
    Small numbers at FH and GH.
  85. Rufous-browed Flycatcher
    Single along the Bishop's trail (FH) on 11/10 and several along the Hemmant trail on 13/10.
  86. Little Pied Flycatcher
    Single male in mixed flock along pumphouse road (GH) on 15/10.
  87. Verditer Flycatcher
    Noted at the Gap, FH rubbish dump and GH.
  88. Large Niltava
    Recorded daily at FH
  89. Hill Blue Flycatcher
    Pair at the rubbish dump (FH) on 10/10.
  90. Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher
    Small numbers at FH and GH.
  91. Siberian Blue Robin
    Male along trail behind the tennis court at FH on 9/10. Female/immature along the Pine Tree trail on 11/10. Single female/immature along the pumphouse road (GH) on 16/10 and an 1st W male along the Awana trail on 18/10.
  92. Oriental Magpie Robin
    Ubiquitous in open, disturbed habitats.
  93. Slaty-backed Forktail
    Single bird along a stream at the start of the new road, below the nursery (FH) on 11/10. Another by the end of the Hemmant trail on 13/10. Recorded at the pumping station near Awana and a single bird along the Pumphouse road at GH on /10.
  94. Asian Glossy Starling
    Seen from bus in lowland.
  95. Common Myna
    Seen from bus in lowland.
  96. White-vented Myna
    Seen from bus in lowland.
  97. Blue Nuthatch
    Two birds at FH on 10/10 and another the next day. Several along the pumphouse road (GH) on 15/10 and 19/10.
  98. Sultan Tit
    Single along the Gap road in mixed species flock on 12/10. Recorded in mixed species flocks at GH.
  99. Barn Swallow
    Recorded in lowland areas from buses.
  100. Pacific Swallow
    Common at all sites.
  101. Black-crested Bulbul
    Only recorded along the pumphouse road (GH).
  102. Ochraceous Bulbul
    Recorded along the Gap road and the Bishop's trail (FH). Also along the pumphouse road (GH).
  103. Ashy Bulbul
    Recorded along the Awana trail and pumphouse road (GH).
  104. Red-eyed Bulbul
    Single bird along the Awana trail (GH) on 18/10.
  105. Mountain Bulbul
    Recorded at FH (nest-building) and GH.
  106. Yellow-vented Bulbul
    Recorded around the golf course at GH.
  107. Mountain Tailorbird
    Recorded daily at FH.
  108. Common Tailorbird
    Heard in KL and KKB.
  109. Dark-necked Tailorbird
    Recorded at GH.
  110. Arctic Warbler
    Recorded in small numbers at FH and GH.
  111. Eastern Crowned Warbler
    Recorded in small numbers at FH.
  112. Mountain Leaf Warbler
    Two birds in the High Pines garden on 11/10 were the only birds seen during the trip.
  113. Chestnut-crowned Warbler
    Small numbers in flocks at FH.
  114. Yellow-bellied Warbler
    Small numbers at FH and GH.
  115. Black Laughingthrush
    Two birds at FH on 10/10. A flock of at least 10 birds seen just above the Gap on 12/10. At least two birds along the Awana trail (GH) on 18/10.
  116. Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush
    Common at FH and GH.
  117. Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush
    Recorded in small numbers daily at FH.
  118. Large Scimitar Babbler
    Pair taped in along the road that contours above the Bishop's Trail on 10/10.
  119. Chestnut-backed Scimitar Babbler
    Single bird in huge flock of Chestnut-capped Laughingthrushes along the Pumphouse road (GH) on 19/10.
  120. Marbled Wren Babbler
    Heard at Fraser's Hill at usual place just above the Gap on 12/10. Single bird eventually seen well after 1.5 hours of frustration along the Pumphouse road (GH) on 15/10.
  121. Pygmy Wren Babbler
    Pair watched at unbelievably close range (literally 18 inches going along a bank in front of me - collecting food for young) along the Abu Suraidi trail at FH on 11/10. Commonly heard at GH with birds being seen on 14/10.
  122. Rufous-fronted Babbler
    Single along the Gap road on 10/10.
  123. Golden Babbler
    Fairly common component of flocks at FH.
  124. Grey-throated Babbler
    Small numbers encountered in some flocks at FH and GH.
  125. Silver-eared Mesia
    Commonly encountered at FH.
  126. White-browed Shrike Babbler
    Seen daily at FH. Less often recorded at GH.
  127. Black-eared Shrike Babbler
    Recorded almost daily at FH.
  128. White-hooded Babbler
    Four birds together in bamboo along the Gap road on 12/10. At least two encountered along the Awana trail (GH) on 18/10.
  129. Blue-winged Minla
    Common at FH.
  130. Mountain Fulvetta
    Common component of flocks at FH and GH.
  131. Brown Fulvetta
    Small numbers in flock encountered well below Gap on road to KKB on 12/10.
  132. Long-tailed Sibia
    Commonly encountered at FH and GH.
  133. White-bellied Yuhina
    Noted on the Gap road on 12/10 and along the Awana trail (GH) on 18/10.
  134. Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker
    Single along the Awana trail on 18/10.
  135. Orange-bellied Flowerpecker
    Single bird in a fruiting fig well below the Gap on 12/10.
  136. Fire-breasted Flowerpecker
    Recorded almost daily at FH.
  137. Black-throated Sunbird
    Common FH and GH.
  138. Ruby-cheeked Sunbird
    Single along the Awana trail (GH) on 18/10.
  139. Plain Sunbird
    Single bird well below Gap on KKB road on 12/10.
  140. Little Spiderhunter
    Single bird recorded at the Gap on 12/10. Recorded at GH.
  141. Streaked Spiderhunter
    Commonly encountered at FH and GH.
  142. Yellow-eared Spiderhunter
    Several in flowering tree at GH on 14/10.
  143. Eurasian Tree Sparrow
    Ubiquitous.
  144. Grey Wagtail
    Common, FH and GH.
  145. Richard's Pipit
    Birds recorded on the golf course at GH.
  146. Scaly-breasted Munia
    Small flock encountered around the golf course (GH) on 18/10.
  147. White-rumped Munia
    Recorded in open grassy roadside areas at FH and GH.

Mammals

  1. White-handed Gibbon
    Heard low down on Fraser's Hill and around the Gap, not seen.
  2. Siamang
    Two groups seen on walk down to the Gap on 10/10. One group consisting of three adults and a small baby and the other three plus a half-grown juvenile. Another group was encountered along the Pine Tree trail on 11/10, but not seen well.
  3. Pig-tailed Macaque
    Solitary male seen crossing the road below the Gap on 12/10.
  4. Dusky Macaque
    Seen at FH and GH.
  5. Red Giant Flying Squirrel
    At least three seen during a spot-lighting session around the Awana hotel area on 14/10.
  6. Red-bellied Mountain Squirrel
    Common at FH, where one individual watched feeding on a column of ants.
  7. Yellow-throated Marten
    Single along the pumphouse road (GH) on 19/10.
  8. Javan Civet
    One seen poorly on evening of 14/10.

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