Peninsular Malaysia. Leader: Wilbur Goh. Participant: Gruff Dodd

Transcription

1 Peninsular Malaysia 18 th 22 nd April 2017 Leader: Wilbur Goh Participant: Gruff Dodd Mountain Peacock-Pheasant Wilbur Goh/Birdtour Asia This five-day tour was organized to have a taste of Peninsular Malaysia s best lowland rainforest birding in the forest of Taman Negara with Rail-babbler as one of the main targets. En route, we had short forays to stake out one of Malay Peninsula s avian megastar, Mountain Peacock-Pheasant and Sundaic specialties such as Reddish Scops Owl, Malaysian Peacock-Pheasant, Large Frogmouth and Ferruginous Partridge, along with a bonus migrant Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher. The tour started with an afternoon session in Krau Wildlife Reserve, a good introduction to the closed up forest of Taman Negara. Highlights include close views of attractive Black-throated Babblers and a smart Ferruginous Babbler before hearing the bizarre calls of Malayan Black Magpies that alerted us to their presence. The skies overhead had House and Asian Palm Swifts, and the occasional Brown-backed Needletail buzzing pass. At dusk, the distinctive calls of the Malaysian Eared Nightjar were heard and subsequent sighting of at least two individuals signaled to us for a dinner break. Here after, a foray into the forest yielded a glimpse of Large Frogmouth, a calling but distant Collared Scops Owl and after a short chase, superb views of a Reddish Scops Owl, perched at head height on a palm, nonchalantly hooting its soft, haunting call. The next morning, we took an early drive up the hill to a stake out for Mountain Peacock-Pheasant. As we were walking, a male Orange-breasted Trogon was a good start to the day and as we approached the spot, we flushed a Rail-babbler that was on the trail, out in the open particularly frustrating for Gruff having just spent some days in south Malaysia unsuccessfully searching for this must-see species. Efforts to lure it out

2 were not entertained but we were compensated with a pair of Ferruginous Partridges. This tricky partridge is quite regular now and they are certainly attractive looking birds. After waiting for another hour, the main target appeared, with female in tow! The sight of Mountain Peacock-Pheasants feeding slowly in open view not more than 10 meters away is surely one of the highlights of a trip to Peninsular Malaysia. With the targets in the bag, we headed to the steamy lowlands of Taman Negara. First up, the many fruiting trees in the resort area. Asian Fairy Bluebirds were numerous, as were flyby Blue-rumped and Blue-crowned Hanging Parrots. Bulbuls were represented by Black-headed, Red-eyed, Grey-cheeked and Stripe-throated. Other birds visiting the fruiting trees were Greater Green Leafbird and Thick-billed Green Pigeon while Tickell s Blue Flycatcher was flirting at the edges of the resort. Moving into the trails late afternoon, birding was always expected to be slow but Chestnut-rumped Babblers put on a show and the endangered Strawheaded Bulbuls came close and serenaded us with their bubbly song. As we headed back to the resort, Banded Woodpecker was the last bird of the day; the late evening rain curtailed our efforts to go for night birding. Black-throated Babbler and Ferruginous Partridge Straw-headed Bulbul and Banded Woodpecker Next morning, we hit the trails early and encountered classic Taman Negara conditions: misty, humid and wet, thanks to the rain the previous night. Although numbers could have been better, we struck with some key species. While walking along the trail, the call of a Malayan Banded Pitta got us excited and we sneaked in as stealthily as possible. A few minutes of waiting and it popped on to a hanging liana, perched out in the open; it s bright fiery head and dark blue underparts for all to see. A while later, its smaller cousin, the Garnet Pitta only offered a glimpse. Later on while breaking for lunch, a fruiting tree provided a feast for a few species of bulbuls and here we had a pair of Black-and-white Bulbuls, one of the hardest bulbuls to see. A female Cinnamon-rumped Trogon offered us close views, and we could pick out it s rusty eye patch, one of the field marks to distinguish it from the similar Scarlet-rumped Trogon, which was also seen later. Other notable additions during the day were Jay Shrike (what was Crested Jay but it s actually a shrike!), a blue morph Rufous-winged Philentoma, Maroon and the cute Grey-and-Buff Woodpecker. The following morning, we took a boat ride to a less frequented trail. While soaking in the idyllic scenery, two Large Green Pigeons flew above us and as we got off the boat, a flock of White-bellied Munias passed by as they were foraging. Shortly after, we flushed a Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher next to the trail; this globally scarce species was a welcome bonus as it passes through Peninsular Malaysia before migrating back to its breeding grounds in China. Further along, the monotone whistle of Rail-babbler was heard and off we go to look for this enigmatic species. With some careful positioning, patience and a little bit of luck, we had

3 this in the bag, with views of the bird calling and exposing its blue vocal sacs. The black eyestripe, rich chestnut brown head and head bowing when calling were all seen well as the bird was rooted to its spot. Surely worth crossing waist high streams for, and hungry leeches too! Flight views of Rusty-breasted Cuckoo, soaring Lesser Fish Eagles, Spotted Fantail, bright red Temminck s Sunbird, Large Wren Babbler calling from a distant and glimpses of White-necked Babbler were other notable records. Before we headed back to the resort, a Violet Cuckoo was seen perched high up in the canopy; views were welcomed as flight views are more likely with this species. In the afternoon, a short walk to Tahan Hide brought us Blackthighed Falconets and a walk to a picnic spot brought a pair of Black Hornbills, Green Broadbill, Checkerthroated and Buff-necked Woodpeckers to add to the list while a Blue-winged Pitta, which called closely, was unable to be enticed into view. Cinnamon-rumped Trogon and Malayan Banded Pitta Malaysian Peacock Pheasant and Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher Rufous-winged Philentoma and Tickell s Blue Flycatcher In the final morning, we headed out for a stake out thanks to an observation from friendly birders the day before. While waiting patiently, we observed the beautiful Black-naped Monarch taking a bath while Silverrumped Spinetails swooped past in the air. And then, the cackle of the Malayan Peacock-Pheasant announced its presence and not long after, it crossed the trail and foraged in the open, keeping its distance

4 but not too skittish while we kept still. Stake-out successful! Seeing there s a bit of time, we walked up the hill where we found a Diard s Trogon, perched in the open on a hanging branch, fondly enjoying the views before we called time on a fruitful trip to Taman Negara. A drive out of the national park to a patch of forest on the way to the airport yielded our last target, Large Frogmouth, with ridiculously close views of this large night bird, to end th short but highly succerssful tour. For further information on our tours to Malaysia please contact us via our or click here for our scheduled departure tours. Black Hornbill and Black-and-red Broadbill Spotted Fantail and Diard s Trogon Violet Cuckoo and Banded Woodpecker Systematic List GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae Ferruginous Partridge Mountain Peacock Pheasant Malayan Peacock Pheasant Caloperdix oculeus Polyplectron inopinatum Polyplectron malacense

5 Great Argus Argusianus argus Heard only Accipitriformes: Accipitridae Lesser Fish-Eagle Crested Serpent-Eagle Columbiformes: Columbidae Little Green-Pigeon Thick-billed Pigeon Large Green-Pigeon Ichthyophaga humilis Spilornis cheela Treron olax Treron curvirostra Treron capellei Cuculiformes: Cuculidae Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis Heard only Raffles's Malkoha Rhinortha chlorophaea Chestnut-breasted Malkoha Phaenicophaeus curvirostris Violet Cuckoo Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii Heard only Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus Heard only Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris Heard only Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus Heard only Strigiformes: Strigidae Reddish Scops-Owl Otus rufescens Sunda Scops-Owl Otus lempiji Heard only Brown Boobook Ninox scutulata Caprimulgiformes: Podargidae Large Frogmouth Caprimulgiformes: Caprimulgidae Malaysian-eared Nightjar Caprimulgiformes: Apodidae Silver-rumped Needletail House Swift Asian Palm-Swift Brown-backed Needletail Swiftlet sp Caprimulgiformes: Hemiprocnidae Whiskered Treeswift Batrachostomus auritus Lyncornis temminckii Rhaphidura leucopygialis Apus nipalensis Cypsiurus balasiensis Hirundapus giganteus Aerodramus sp Hemiprocne comata Trogoniformes: Trogonidae Red-naped Trogon Harpactes kasumba Heard only Diard's Trogon Harpactes diardii Cinnamon-rumped Trogon Harpactes orrhophaeus Scarlet-rumped Trogon Harpactes duvaucelii Bucerotiformes: Bucerotidae Helmeted Hornbill Buceros vigil Heard only Black Hornbill Anthracoceros malayanus Rhinoceros Hornbill Buceros rhinoceros Coraciiformes: Alcedinidae Banded Kingfisher Stork-billed Kingfisher White-throated Kingfisher Lacedo pulchella Pelargopsis capensis Halcyon smyrnensis Piciforme: Megalaimidae Red-throated Barbet Psilopogon mystacophanos Heard only Yellow-crowned Barbet Psilopogon henricii Heard only Gold-whiskered Barbet Psilopogon chrysopogon Heard only Piciformes: Picidae Banded Woodpecker Checker-throated Woodpecker Maroon Woodpecker Picus miniaceus Picus mentalis Blythipicus rubiginosus

6 Gray-and-buff Woodpecker Great Slaty Woodpecker Falconiformes: Falconidae Black-thighed Falconet Psittaciformes: Psittaculidae Blue-rumped Parrot Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot Passeriformes: Calyptomenidae Green Broadbill Hemicircus concretus Mulleripicus pulverulentus Microhierax fringillarius Psittinus cyanurus Loriculus galgulus Calyptomena viridis Passeriformes: Eurylaimidae Black-and-red Broadbill Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos Banded Broadbill Eurylaimus javanicus Heard only Black-and-yellow Broadbill Eurylaimus ochromalus Heard only Passeriformes: Pittidae Garnet Pitta Erythropitta granatina Malayan Banded-Pitta Hydrornis irena Blue-winged Pitta Pitta moluccensis Heard only Passeriformes: Acanthizidae Golden-bellied Gerygone Gerygone sulphurea Heard only Passeriformes: Vangidae Rufous-winged Philentoma Passeriformes: Aegithinidae Green Iora Passeriformes: Oriolidae Dark-throated Oriole Passeriformes: Dicruridae Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Passeriformes: Rhipiduridae Spotted Fantail Philentoma pyrhoptera Aegithina viridissima Oriolus xanthonotus Dicrurus paradiseus Rhipidura perlata Passeriformes: Monarchidae Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea Blyth's Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone affinis Heard only Passeriformes Crested Jay Passeriformes: Corvidae Black Magpie Passeriformes: Eupetidae Rail-babbler Passeriformes: Hirundinidae Pacific Swallow Passeriformes: Stenostiridae Gray-headed Canary-Flycatcher Platylophus galericulatus Platysmurus leucopterus Eupetes macrocerus Hirundo tahitica Culicicapa ceylonensis Passeriformes: Pycnonotidae Black-and-white Bulbul Pycnonotus melanoleucos Puff-backed Bulbul Pycnonotus eutilotus Heard only Black-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus atriceps Straw-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus zeylanicus Gray-bellied Bulbul Pycnonotus cyaniventris Stripe-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus finlaysoni Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier

7 Olive-winged Bulbul Pycnonotus plumosus Cream-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus simplex Red-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus brunneus Spectacled Bulbul Pycnonotus erythropthalmos Hairy-backed Bulbul Tricholestes criniger Finsch's Bulbul Alophoixus finschii Heard only Ochraceous Bulbul Alophoixus ochraceus Gray-cheeked Bulbul Alophoixus bres Yellow-bellied Bulbul Alophoixus phaeocephalus Buff-vented Bulbul Iole olivacea Passeriformes: Cisticolidae Common Tailorbird Rufous-tailed Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius Orthotomus sericeus Passeriformes: Timaliidae Pin-striped Tit-Babbler Mixornis gularis Heard only Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler Macronus ptilosus Chestnut-winged Babbler Cyanoderma erythropterum Black-throated Babbler Stachyris nigricollis Chestnut-rumped Babbler Stachyris maculata White-necked Babbler Stachyris leucotis Moustached Babbler Malacopteron magnirostre Sooty-capped Babbler Malacopteron affine Scaly-crowned Babbler Malacopteron cinereum Rufous-crowned Babbler Malacopteron magnum Passeriformes: Pellorneidae Black-capped Babbler Pellorneum capistratum Ferruginous Babbler Pellorneum bicolor Abbott's Babbler Turdinus abbotti Large Wren-Babbler Turdinus macrodactylus Heard only Passeriformes: Irenidae Asian Fairy-bluebird Irena puella Passeriformes: Muscicapidae Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus Pale Blue-Flycatcher Cyornis unicolor Heard only Tickell's Blue-Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae Brown-chested Jungle-Flycatcher Cyornis brunneatus Mugimaki Flycatcher Ficedula mugimaki Passeriformes: Sturnidae Common Hill Myna Gracula religiosa Heard only Passeriformes: Chloropseidae Greater Green Leafbird Passeriformes: Dicaeidae Orange-bellied Flowerpecker Passeriformes: Nectariniidae Plain-throated Sunbird Temminck's Sunbird Purple-naped Spiderhunter Gray-breasted Spiderhunter Passeriformes: Estrildidae White-bellied Munia Chloropsis sonnerati Dicaeum trigonostigma Anthreptes malacensis Aethopyga temminckii Arachnothera hypogrammica Arachnothera modesta Lonchura leucogastra For further information on our tours to Malaysia please contact us via our or click here for our scheduled departure tours.