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Peninsular Malaysia 27 th July – 8 th August 2014 Leader: Dave Bakewell Participants: Nick and Claire Oliver, Tony Hull Mountain Peacock Pheasants © Dave Bakewell Despite the weather this year being some of the driest on record, which meant that several normally vocal species were almost completely silent, this two-week tour notched up a creditable 288 species (of which 23 were heard only). These included both peacock pheasants, 8 hornbills, 21 out of 23 possible woodpeckers, 3 pittas, and a clean sweep of broadbills and spiderhunters, as well as several smaller families and the most important of all, Rail Babbler. Among the 26 mammal species (not including bats), good views of Dhole and Crab-eating Mongoose, both gibbon species and all three large squirrels stood out as highlights.

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Peninsular Malaysia

27th July – 8th August 2014

Leader: Dave Bakewell

Participants: Nick and Claire Oliver, Tony Hull

Mountain Peacock Pheasants © Dave Bakewell

Despite the weather this year being some of the driest on record, which meant that several normally vocal

species were almost completely silent, this two-week tour notched up a creditable 288 species (of which 23

were heard only). These included both peacock pheasants, 8 hornbills, 21 out of 23 possible woodpeckers, 3

pittas, and a clean sweep of broadbills and spiderhunters, as well as several smaller families and the most

important of all, Rail Babbler. Among the 26 mammal species (not including bats), good views of Dhole and

Crab-eating Mongoose, both gibbon species and all three large squirrels stood out as highlights.

Making little of the rigours of a 12 hour flight from London to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the group

arrived raring to go, preferring to get straight on the road rather than waste time with niceties like breakfast!

During the 3 hour plus drive to our first destination, we had time to swap Top 5 ‘Hit Lists’, in which pittas, Rail

Babbler, forktails, hornbills and woodpeckers featured prominently. None of these were the focus of our first

stop however, which was as incongruous as it was unexpected. On arrival at a sumptuous golf resort in the

state of Johor, we were ushered by a friendly Housekeeping Manager to the Presidential Suite to meet its

honoured resident; a female Barred Eagle Owl nesting in a flowerbed on the balcony!

Barred Eagle Owl, Senai © Nick Oliver

After heading further south, we checked into our hotel in Kota Tinggi and then proceeded straight to Panti in the late afternoon for our first experience of lowland rainforest birding. The weather was hot and hazy (due to the relentless burning of peat-swamp forests in Sumatra), but despite the less than ideal conditions, we

encountered a good selection of species by birding along the road, the famous ‘Bunker Trail’. Woodpeckers

were a particular target of Tony’s, and a Checker-throated Woodpecker got the ball rolling, followed immediately by a showy pair of Orange-backed Woodpeckers. Other noteworthy species included Streaked Bulbul (a species we were not to see again till the last full day of the tour), Blue-crowned Hanging-parrots, small parties of Brown Barbets, Fiery Minivets and Green Iora, and always delightful Blue-winged Leafbirds. Our first spiderhunters of the trip were two which are usually the hardest of all to see; Long-billed and Thick-billed, both feeding in the same fruiting tree. As dusk fell, we watched Malaysian Eared Nightjars flying high overhead, and heard the laughing (some might say mocking!) calls of a Blyth’s Frogmouth, before we returned to town to

track down dinner (not the easiest of tasks on the last day of the fasting month of Ramadan!) and a well-earned rest. Our first full day started an hour before dawn as we attempted to see the Blyth’s Frogmouth which had eluded us the previous evening. The bird flew back and forth across the road, but the thick undergrowth on both sides meant that it remained well hidden, and as daylight arrived, we abandoned the search and headed for a roadside clearing for breakfast. Almost immediately, we heard at least one Rail Babbler, the main target species

of our Panti visit, and a bird very high on everyone’s Top 5 wishlist. Needless to say, breakfast plans went on hold! To our disappointment, the bird stopped calling after some time, and we were eventually distracted by the appearance of a resplendent male Green Broadbill, some Horsfield’s Babblers, and a delightful pair of Grey-and-buff Woodpeckers. These distractions proved our undoing however, as a movement at the side of the road caught the eye of only one of the group – the Rail Babbler – in full view, but only for a fleeting moment before it was gone, never to be seen again! The disappointment of missing the Rail Babbler was partly compensated for by a flurry of activity which added Banded, Crimson-winged, more Checker-throated and Orange-backed,

and Maroon Woodpeckers, and, as we had breakfast, a selection of quality birds which included Little and Thick-billed Green Pigeons, Red-crowned Barbet, Violet Cuckoo, Brown-backed Needletail, a flock of Dusky Broadbills, Scarlet Minivets, a pair of close Finsch’s Bulbuls, Spectacled and Yellow-eared Spiderhunters, Crimson-breasted, Plain and, best of all (at least for the leader!), Brown-backed Flowerpecker, which perched up on a dead tree preening and sunning itself for five minutes – a very rarely encountered species, anywhere.

After breakfast, we headed into the forest, enjoying great views of Banded Broadbill, and adding Red-naped

Trogon, Chestnut-rumped, Scaly-crowned and Grey-headed Babblers, and Crested Partridge – the latter a lone male crossing the trail ahead of us. Despite hearing another Rail Babbler, this one remained obstinately distant, and no further glimpses were to be had. After lunch (and a torrential downpour), some of the group had fleeting views of an Oriental Pied Hornbill, while a pair of Whiskered Treeswifts exceeded expectations to the extent that they were named ‘Best Bird of Panti’ by one of the group. Two more Red-naped Trogons were seen at close range, and the usually elusive Chestnut-bellied Malkoha was the first malkoha of the trip. The first of

many Banded Kingfishers of the trip was heard (“Banded Kingfisher – heard only” was to become a familiar

refrain at log time as the trip progressed), and in the late afternoon, a Brown-streaked Flycatcher was observed at the breakfast clearing. The second full day at Panti started before dawn as did the first, attempting to see Blyth’s Frogmouth. We

decided to risk abandoning yesterday’s calling bird in favour of another, much more open site, and were rewarded by cracking views of a male at eye level – a promising start to the day. New birds over breakfast included Raffles’s and Chestnut-breasted Malkoha and the always impressive White-bellied Woodpecker, while on what had become known as the ‘flowerpecker trees’, Buff-rumped Woodpecker, Lesser Cicadabird and

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch performed to an appreciative audience. Green and Dusky Broadbills and Grey-and-buff Woodpeckers were noteworthy repeats from the previous day.

Brown-backed Flowerpecker, Panti Red-naped Trogon, Panti

A short drive to the Elephant Trail was brought to a sudden stop by the deafening and unmistakable call of a Great Argus just inside the forest fringing the road. Access was a challenge, and by the time we found a way in, the Argus was probably long gone. It was not an entirely fruitless exercise however, as we got good views of a furtive Black-capped Babbler (a kind of ‘poor man’s Rail Babbler’!) creeping around on the forest floor. At the trail entrance a pair of Rufous Woodpeckers gave great views, and a Scarlet-rumped Trogon was briefly seen in

a clearing. Hearts and minds were elsewhere however, and it wasn’t long before we heard the object of our desire – a Rail Babbler calling distantly to our left. Positioning ourselves so that we could all get a good view of the forest floor was difficult, and the bird was seen rather distantly by only two of the group, leaving us feeling a mixture of elation and frustration. While waiting for the Rail Babbler to come in, a Wrinkled Hornbill flying over was a good record (if not a great view). Further along the trail we came across another calling Rail Babbler, and this one too, was reluctant to approach close enough to give us a chance of a view. Black-throated

Babblers surprised everyone by how much better they look in the field than in the field guides, and we also got

good views of Moustached and Sooty-capped Babblers, and, continuing our trend of getting the harder spiderhunters before the easier ones, added Purple-naped and Grey-breasted to our tally, leaving only Little of the lowland spiderhunters to see! Given our lack of success in detecting Rail Babblers the previous afternoon, we decided on a change of scene in the afternoon and travelled further afield. A recently discovered (by birders) expanse of lowland forest is tragically being rapidly cleared to make way for oil palm plantations, and the access road led through kilometre

after kilometre of clear-felled devastation. Once into the forest, bird activity in the heat of the afternoon and with thunderclouds on the horizon was understandably low, but we soon found our main target – the poor soil forest-loving Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker. A male sat low in the roadside scrub for some minutes, allowing fantastic views. We had fine looks at another Red-naped Trogon, and new birds here included Blue-rumped Parrot, Silver-rumped Spinetail, Bushy-crested Hornbill, Buff-necked Woodpecker, Grey-bellied Bulbul and our first look at the ubiquitous and incessantly calling Blue-eared Barbet. Horse-tailed Squirrel was a notable mammal sighting, and perhaps the most unusual (and poignant) record was of a pair of Rufous Piculets (our

10th woodpecker species of the trip) in long grass and scrub along the logging trail (habitat more suited to munias) where there must have been forest till very recently. Our last morning at Panti was spent desperately seeking Rail Babblers, but by the time we had to leave we had

not even heard a hint of one. Solace was provided by the sighting of a pair of Rhinoceros Hornbills – a species

high on most people’s Most Wanted lists – and a pair of Olive-backed Woodpeckers was possibly an even better

sighting of a species that is generally scarce and difficult to see. Other new birds were Changeable Hawk Eagle

(a juvenile in the “flowerpecker trees”), Rufous-winged Philentoma and, at last, Little Spiderhunter! A party of

four Buff-necked Woodpeckers was a nice reprise following our initial sighting the previous day. Before leaving,

we just had time to hear our daily Banded Kingfisher, and to see for the second time a/the Brown-backed

Flowerpecker in its favourite tree.

The long drive north from Kota Tinggi to Kuala Selangor was notable mainly for long periods of torrential rain

(at least we didn’t lose any birding time!), and was made entertaining by the group’s insistence on scanning

every patch of open water for wildfowl! This peculiarly British obsession paid off surprisingly with the sighting of

a pair of Lesser Whistling Duck, a species that was not even on the checklist of potential birds for the trip, on a

roadside pond!

Buff-necked Woodpecker, near Panti © Nick Oliver Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker, near Panti

The following morning, Kuala Selangor Nature Park, a coastal mangrove ecosystem managed by the Malaysian

Nature Society, offered a complete change of both habitat and bird assemblage, comprising both common open

country pioneers and mangrove specialists. At dawn we watched several Coppersmith Barbets competing for

the best canopy calling spots, while a procession of Brahminy Kites with the occasional White-bellied Fish Eagle

flew overhead from their overnight roosts. Pink-necked Green Pigeons were very much in evidence, along with

other common scrubland denizens such as Common Iora, White-throated Fantail, Yellow-bellied Prinia and Ashy

Tailorbird. There were four potential woodpecker species on offer here (seeing as many woodpeckers as

possible had now become something of a mission!), and the first of these, Laced Woodpecker, gave itself up

rather easily, flying into the tree where we were watching the barbets. Common Flameback soon followed, with

several vocal and mobile birds offering good views. A male Little Bronze Cuckoo was more elusive, but

eventually settled in view, while Collared Kingfishers were decidedly showy. A Smooth Otter hunting in one of

the lakes was added to a list of mammals which also included Sunda Silvered Langur and Long-tailed Macaque.

Once we entered the dense mangroves via a circular boardwalk, things became quieter, but we gradually

encountered most of the mangrove specialists, a couple of Mangrove Blue Flycatchers singing quietly close to

the ground, a female Greater Flameback attending a hole in a rotting tree stump, three Sunda Woodpeckers

completing the woodpecker quartet, a Cinereous Tit prospecting for grubs, and a number of Golden-bellied

Gerygones which zipped around our heads while we debated the correct way to pronounce their name! Several

singing Mangrove Whistlers and a White-chested Babbler seen by only one of the group were the only notable

omissions.

By late morning it was time to leave the steamy heat of the lowlands and make the relatively short trip

eastwards to the cooler climes of Fraser’s Hill, a popular hill resort about an hour and a half’s journey north of

Kuala Lumpur.We made a short roadside stop along the road which winds toward the bottom of the hill to scan

the forested ridges opposite, and were rewarded with our only Black Eagle sighting of the trip, scope views of

Black Giant Squirrel, and the distant but evocative call of a Helmeted Hornbill, one of the most bizarre and

iconic sounds of Sundaic rainforest.

Having arrived at Fraser’s Hill by mid-afternoon, we went straight to a spot near the golf course where a

Malayan Whistling Thrush had been seen regularly. Although there was no sign of the thrush, close views of a

pair of robin-like Rufous-browed Flycatchers enthralled and provided excellent photo opportunities. A Streaked

Spiderhunter, surely the smartest of them all, completed our ‘set’ of Peninsula spiderhunters, and a Blyth’s

Shrike Babbler peered down at us in typical fashion from the top of a pine tree. The first of three

laughingthrush species on offer was the normally tricky Black Laughingthrush, which we saw regularly each day

at Fraser’s thereafter, and this was followed in quick succession by both Spectacled and Malayan

Laughingthrushes. Having completed the laughingthrush trio, we opted to try walking the fabled Bishop’s Trail,

and almost immediately heard the sound of wingbeats in the canopy over our heads. Moments later we were

enjoying the sight of a massive Great Hornbill feeding quietly in a fruiting fig. The faint calls of a Rusty-naped

Pitta enticed us to sit quietly for an hour’s hopeful vigil, but this, not unexpectedly, was the closest we got.

Soon our attention was drawn to the high-pitched squeals of a flock of Long-tailed Broadbills, and before long

we had at least six of these fluorescent-coloured birds directly overhead. Later, we heard another Rusty-naped

Pitta calling from a gully below the main road while stopping to admire two Common Green Magpies. Back on

Lady Maxwell Road, we found ourselves in the midst of one of Fraser’s Hill’s famous ‘bird waves’, and for a

while, every raise of the binoculars seemed to result in another new bird: Little Cuckoo Dove, Fire-tufted and

Black-browed Barbets, Greater and Lesser Yellownapes, Mountain Tailorbird, Silver-eared Mesia, Blue-winged

Siva, Black-throated Sunbird, Everett’s White-eye and resplendent Sultan Tits were all added in a frenetic final

hour before dusk. Continuing after dark, our good fortune began to falter as we had only fleeting views of a

very vocal young Brown Wood Owl, and no views at all of a close but maddenly invisible Mountain Scops Owl. A

road-crossing Masked Palm Civet was our only reward for our nocturnal extension. After a long and overall,

rewarding day, it was time for bed!

We were ‘up and at ‘em’ again an hour before dawn on our first full day at Fraser’s Hill in another attempt to

see Mountain Scops Owl. This time we were frustrated by thick fog and complete silence on the part of the

owls, so at dawn we made our way to the whistling thrush stake-out, where we waited for a couple of hours.

The thrush was again conspicuously absent, but compensation was provided by a White-tailed Robin on the

road, several Buff-breasted Babblers and a Bay Woodpecker, our third of the montane woodpeckers. A drive

around the top gate of the Old Road up from the Gap produced another White-tailed Robin and three obliging

Slaty-backed Forktails, before a mid-morning walk along the Hemmant’s Trail yielded a number of new

passerines: Lesser Shortwing, Mountain Leaf Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, White-throated Fantail,

Black-eared Shrike Babbler, Golden and Grey-throated Babblers and Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo. A Red-

headed Trogon called once briefly, but that was the only encounter we had with this normally easy species.

Other birds such as Streaked Wren Babbler, Pygmy Cupwing and Bock’s Hawk Cuckoo were notably silent;

though we managed to fluke great views of the latter as it sat quietly in the understorey. Malaysian

Cuckooshrike was another species which proved uncharacteristically difficult to locate; we finally found one near

the Silverpark Apartments - this taxon is currently considered a form of either Javan or Large, depending on

which authority you choose, though surely it is more closely related to Sunda, or as a stand-alone species. As

the clouds lifted and more sunlight filtered down to the forest floor, we decided to try again for the second of

the Rusty-naped Pittas we had heard the previous day, positioning ourselves by the roadside, looking

downslope into the bottom of the gully. This time the bird responded to playback of the call close by, and it

wasn’t long before we were all feasting our eyes on a superb male as it made its way slowly up the slope to our

left, at one point hopping onto a log and fixing us with a beady glare before disappearing down the slope again.

Once our hands had stopped shaking, we all decided that a celebratory lunch of sausage, egg and chips at the

Hill View Restaurant was called for. The almost mythical ‘RNP’ was a bird we had not counted on even hearing,

let alone seeing, so we took time to savour the experience! After lunch we took a lengthy walk around the

Telekom Loop. As was to be expected in the heat of the day, birding was slow initially, but our perseverance

paid off as we added a pair of Blyth’s Hawk Eagles, Grey-chinned Minivet, Little Pied Flycatcher, Large Niltava

and Black-and-crimson Oriole. A fruiting tree gave eye-to-eye views of Fire-tufted and Black-browed Barbets,

and more Sultan Tits were certainly welcome, as was an uncharacteristically high Buff-rumped Woodpecker. We

found another vocal and responsive Rusty-naped Pitta, but this one behaved more true to form, and we were

unsuccessful in getting a glimpse. Toward the end of the afternoon we came across our first Black-thighed

Falconet of the trip, but this was soon eclipsed by stunning views of a party of at least three Large Scimitar

Babblers uttering their strange vocalisations and enabling us to appreciate the distinctive plumage of the

endemic wrayi subspecies. The final hour of daylight was spent around Jalan Mager, where we finally found a

singing Pygmy Cupwing, though views were limited by the failing light.

Black-browed Barbet, Fraser’s Hill © Nick Oliver

Day Three at Fraser’s Hill started at the Malayan Whistling Thrush stake out, and we revisited the spot again

after lunch and for the last hour of daylight, all with depressingly similar results. For reasons unknown the bird,

which had been dependably present as recently as two days before our arrival, was now nowhere to be seen or

heard. The rest of the morning and early afternoon were spent walking up the Old Road from the Gap. On our

way down to the Gap on the New Road we had good views of a Crab-eating Mongoose crossing the road, and a

brief stop brought us a flock of vocal Yellow-bellied Warblers. At the Gap itself, a Gold-whiskered Barbet feeding

low in a fruiting fig was a new bird, as were small flocks of Mountain Imperial Pigeons flying overhead, and no

less than three Orange-breasted Trogons. Typical bulbuls of the lower slopes included Stripe-throated, Black-

crested, Ochraceous and Cinereous, and Greater Green Leafbird was another addition to the list. Verditer and

Hill Blue Flycatchers gave good views, as did a Rufous Piculet, this time in more typical habitat. A male Bamboo

Woodpecker perched briefly close on a roadside bamboo stump was our 4th new woodpecker species at the site

and 20th of the trip, and this was rivalled by excellent views of a splendid female Chestnut-breasted Malkoha,

providing us with our first good looks at an example of this curious family. Two Chestnut-backed Scimitar

Babblers impressed in the late morning sunlight, but a Red-bearded Bee-eater was a little too distant for us to

appreciate its stunning colours. The effects of the drought-like conditions were obvious in the number of trees

dropping leaves and the lack of water in the most stream gullies. This seemed to have driven most forest floor

birds far from the ridge-tops, and we struggled to even hear a Marbled Wren Babbler – just one bird calling

below us which would not be tempted up slope. Ferruginous Partridges called distantly in the valleys below us,

and a normally reliable Rail Babbler was completely silent. We revisited the spot where we had heard the

Helmeted Hornbill on our first day and, although we didn’t hear the hornbill, we did see a Blyth’s Hawk Eagle in

a dead tree on the ridge across the valley. By the time we drove up to the top of the hill it was getting hot, but

we still managed to flush one of the group’s Most Wanted birds – a Chestnut-naped Forktail – only seen well by

those sitting in the front, and missed completely by one of us, so it was a bittersweet moment. We spent most

of the afternoon birding the road down to Jeriau Waterfall on the other side of the hill, but it was extremely

quiet, and only Bronzed Drongo, Erpornis and a resplendent male Fire-breasted Flowerpecker were added to the

triplist. In late afternoon, driving rain began to fall, and this continued into the night, curtailing any owling

plans, but hopefully livening up prospects for the next day.

Helmeted Hornbill and Bamboo Woodpecker, Fraser’s Hill/The Gap © Nick Oliver

Although there were a number of hilltop specialities not yet seen, the group elected to spend our final morning

at Fraser’s on the Old Road and the Gap area, with three targets chiefly in mind – Chestnut-naped Forktail,

Marbled Wren Babbler and Silver-breasted Broadbill. Initially this seemed as if it might be a decision we would

regret. Although Slaty-backed Forktails were easily seen near the upper streams, all those checked lower down

proved forktail-less. At first light, within three kilometres of the lower gate on the New Road, we flushed a

whistling thrush off the road, but its bulk, as well as the lower altitude identified it as a Blue, rather than the

sought-after, and often misidentified, Malayan. The Old Road produced many of the same birds as the previous

day, with heard only Yellow-vented Green Pigeon and Banded Kingfisher (by now the joke bird of the trip!) and

a female Orange-bellied Leafbird being some of the few new birds. The Marbled Wren Babbler of the previous

day failed to even call, and by the time we turned downhill to go back to the car, we had seen very little reward

for our labours. All this was about to change dramatically though, as we heard the maniacal laughing call of a

male Helmeted Hornbill, much closer than our previous encounters. Hastily making our way to a clearing with a

view across the valley, we were in time to catch sight of the bird flying directly towards us and then landing

pterodactyl-like in a tall dead tree across the valley, where it stayed for the next twenty minutes! It only takes

one bird to turn a bad day into a great one, and they don’t come much more impressive than an adult male

Helmeted Hornbill, which, with a full tail extension (as this one had), measures longer than most of us are tall!

Amid many other appreciative comments, one of the group members declared this “The best bird I have ever

seen!”

More was to come as we went back down the hill, as first, a party of six Silver-breasted Broadbills crossed our

path, giving views to all, and then a pair of Blyth’s Hawk Eagles flew overhead calling, the size difference

between the sexes being very obvious. Almost back at the car at the bottom gate, the soft sound of tapping

alerted us to a male Bamboo Woodpecker on a low bamboo stalk over our heads, and we were able to observe

him extracting ants using his long tongue at our leisure as he remained feeding for the next quarter of an hour,

calling occasionally to an unseen second bird nearby. Our decision to spend a second morning concentrating on

the Old Road had been fully vindicated!

After lunch we decided to spend a more extended time on the Bishop’s Trail, but our plans were aborted in mid-

afternoon by the arrival of torrential rain, which curtailed all further efforts. A male Lesser Shortwing, Black-

naped Monarch and a heard only Rusty-naped Pitta were the only species of note before the rain came down.

Much later, after dinner, when the rain had ceased, good views of Brown Wood Owl on the Police Station roof

provided our final memory of Fraser’s Hill birding.

Mountain Peacock Pheasant chick and male, near Genting Highlands

The following day we made an early departure from Fraser’s Hill to a different area of montane forest. As we

walked up the road to the summit we were entertained by fine views of a pair of mating Masked Palm Civets

which seemed totally unabashed by our presence, before arriving at the site where Mountain Peacock Pheasants

have been baited by photographers for a couple of years. As we arrived, the male pheasant was waiting quietly

by the side of the trail, and shortly after he departed into the forest, we were delighted to watch a female step

onto the trail sheltering a single chick, which we estimated to be not more than a week old. We had previously

noticed that the female seemed much longer legged than the male, and it quickly became obvious why, as the

chick spent most of its time walking along underneath the female.

Next to step onto the trail were a couple of subadults, offspring of a previous brood, which proceeded to chase

one another at breakneck speed directly towards us, until one of our group actually flinched to avoid a collision,

whereupon the birds neatly side-stepped and disappeared noisily into the forest, leaving us to reflect that we

are possibly the first Birdtour Asia group to have been ‘charged’ by a Mountain Peacock Pheasant! The walk

down to the car was equally noteworthy, as we were treated to prolonged views of a Pale Giant Squirrel

performing its morning ablutions, spending much time grooming its spectacularly luxuriant tail. Next up was a

Yellow-crowned Barbet, usually easy to hear but tricky to see, scoped calling from the top of a nearby tree,

followed by good views of Black-bellied Malkoha, Black-thighed Falconet, Brown Barbet, Velvet-fronted

Nuthatch, Grey-breasted Spiderhunter and yet more Sultan Tits. Breakfast in the car park was enlivened by

overflying Silver-rumped Spinetails and Brown-backed Needletails and extended views of a troop of at least 3

Siamang in full whooping chorus in the crowns of some trees below us.

A three hour drive to Kuala Tahan, gateway to Malaysia’s famous Taman Negara followed without incident.

After lunch and a delay getting into our rooms, we wandered into the forest for the late afternoon. As so often

happens in the forest, birdless periods were interspersed with purple patches when there were so many birds

one hardly knew which to concentrate on. At one point we were torn between feasting our eyes on our final two

broadbills – a stunning Black-and-yellow and a pair of Black-and-red Broadbills, and two eye level Malayan

Black Magpies. Though we didn’t have much light left, we headed up and over the first ridge on the Jenet Muda

trail and into the next valley, and came within reasonable range of a calling Malayan Peacock Pheasant. Our

attempts to lure it into view were frustrated by less than ideal viewing conditions and rather too much hiker

‘traffic’ along the trail, but a second bird calling more distantly and a distant calling Rail Babbler at least gave

us hope of better things to come once we could get onto the remoter trails in days to come. We continued

along the Tahan trail near dusk, watching a pair of Malayan Crested Firebacks cross the trail, perhaps on their

way for an evening drink at the river, before watching the male noisily make his way into the crown of a small

tree for the night, where we were later able to get fine spotlit views! While waiting for dusk, we heard both

Rhinoceros and Helmeted Hornbills, and watched a Wreathed Hornbill fly over and distantly drop into the

canopy. A Reddish Scops Owl began calling well before nightfall, but it was not to be tempted closer, and no

other night birds were heard as we made our way back to the Mutiara Resort and the promise of a sumptuous

buffet dinner. Our short sortie into the forest had given us plenty of reason to look forward to our first full day

at Taman Negara in the morning.

Pale Giant Squirrel, near Genting Highlands © Nick Oliver

This saw us around the chalets and the nearby Tahan hide before breakfast, which got us off to an excellent

start. A male Malayan Crested Fireback strutted his stuff on the boardwalk, while from the hide we were treated

to a fruiting fig full of Little Green and Thick-billed Green Pigeons, with a Red-throated Barbet also giving great

views. A flock of Large Green Pigeons flew past without landing, but an Oriental Pied Hornbill flew in and

landed, finally allowing the whole group to catch up on this attractive small hornbill. In the tall trees beyond the

clearing, no fewer than five Black-thighed Falconets huddled together, while two Long-tailed Parakeets made

regular screeching circuits from their preferred perches. A Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike appeared briefly in the

same group of trees, while Abbott’s Babblers frequented the foliage around the hide, finally giving good views

after having been elusive at Kuala Selangor. After breakfast we took a short boat ride downstream to a forested

trail. At the jetty we picked up Malaysian Blue Flycatcher, a characteristic songster of the riverbanks, before

proceeding into the forest. Almost the first bird we heard on the trail was a close calling male Malayan Peacock

Pheasant, and we all had amazing views of this bird as it walked (not ran!) across the trail no fewer than five

times within 20 metres of us. Looking at our watches, we realized we had just missed seeing both Peninsular

Malaysia’s Peacock Pheasants inside 24 hours – 24 hours and 15 minutes to be exact! Not far beyond this, we

heard a Rail Babbler. Walking a short way into the forest we positioned ourselves in a relatively clear area and

were finally all able to get good views of this most wanted species. Both Crested Jay and Large Wren Babbler

were heard but not seen, as well as, of course, another Banded Kingfisher, but we were not too discouraged, as

the quality birds kept coming; great views of Red-bearded Bee-eater, Green, Black-and-red, Black-and-yellow

and Banded Broadbills, Raffles’s and Chestnut-breasted Malkohas, plenty of babblers, including Short-tailed,

Scaly-crowned, Rufous-crowned and Grey-headed, and then prolonged views of the much-anticipated Garnet

Pitta. We continued to hear more Peacock Pheasants (at least 4 birds) and Garnet Pittas (2 birds), and we

stopped to call in a nearby Rail Babbler, which obliged by stepping onto the trail and then walking along it for a

few metres before moving down slope, finally giving us the kind of views which we’d been hoping for from Day

1! Our 21st woodpecker of the trip, a party of charismatic and huge Great Slatys, announced their presence by

their cackling calls, and then put on quite a show as we watched three birds spreading their wings and

pirouetting around the top of a dead tree stump, prompting one of the group to mention a passing resemblance

to cormorants! As we approached the Yong hide, not one but two Malayan Banded Pittas began calling, but

would not be coaxed into view despite calling for some time. While we waited for one to show, we added

Ferruginous Babbler and Grey-cheeked Bulbul, and saw a second Thick-billed Spiderhunter of the trip. On the

boat trip back we had good looks at Black-nest Swiftlets, noticeably larger and darker than the Edible-nest

Swiftlets of the coastal plains. We spent the late afternoon around the chalets and in the Tahan hide again,

seeing a small flock of Blue-rumped Parrots, Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, fine views of a Black-bellied

Malkoha in front of the hide, and a perched Black Hornbill. A Collared Scops Owl began calling in daylight close

to the hide, but despite the attentions of many mobbing birds we were unable to locate it in the dense

understorey. What had been the outstanding day of the trip so far day ended much as it had begun, with a

Malayan Crested Fireback sauntering peacock-like past our chalets.

Refreshed by a good night’s sleep, we awoke early for a pre-dawn walk along the Jenet Muda trail and were

amply rewarded by close, eye-level views of a Gould’s Frogmouth. Across the river, at least 2 Brown Boobooks

could be heard.

After an early breakfast, we took a 45-minute boat ride to Kuala Trenggan and the beginning of the trail to

Kumbang hide. The trees around the derelict resort were fruiting and full of bird activity, and we added Ruby-

cheeked Sunbird, Yellow-breasted and Yellow-vented Flowerpeckers before heading into the trail. Before long

we heard the repetitive call of a Rufous-collared Kingfisher, and short diversion led us to good prolonged views

of a female. While watching the kingfisher, a Large Wren Babbler started calling, and after a bit of effort, we all

managed to get views of this unusually elusive individual. At least three Malaysian Peacock Pheasants and a

Rail Babbler were heard. However, the main target of the day was Malayan banded Pitta, and it wasn’t hard to

elicit a brief response from at least four birds. Seeing them was another matter! As we proceeded carefully

along the trail, we were surprised to come across a pair of Lesser Gymnures, large shrew-like rodents more

commonly encountered in montane forest. Bird activity continued to be good throughout the day, and we added

a few new species, such as Brown Fulvetta, a small group of White-bellied Munias drinking at a stream, and

both Maroon-breasted and Rufous-winged Philentomas. Near midday we heard a Malayan Banded Pitta calling

up ahead, and on making a cautious approach the bird was seen perched on a low vine across the trail.

Unfortunately it had also seen us, and hopped off without anyone in the group getting a glimpse. Nearing the

Kumbang hide, we enjoyed excellent views of a candy-striped Prevost’s Squirrel, and from the hide itself, a

small troop of White-thighed Langurs. After a field lunch, we began to retrace our steps, and before long, heard

the familiar call of a Banded Kingfisher. This time, finally, at about the 12th attempt, persistence paid off, the

bird came in, and we all had good views of a male perched well up in the understorey. When we reached the

spot where the pitta had been seen, we made our way through the undergrowth to a point where we could

conceal ourselves reasonably in a gully. The bird was responsive and came in so close we really should have

seen it, but somehow it remained invisible. While straining our eyes for a glimpse of the pitta, we heard the

distinctive, slowly-delivered hoots of a Short-toed Coucal, and a Moustached Hawk Cuckoo called twice and

then relapsed into silence. Three White-handed Gibbons were our first sighting of a species often heard during

the trip. Finally admitting defeat with the pitta, we continued our walk back to the jetty, seeing more Malayan

Black Magpies and a pair of energetic Spotted Fantails. Bushy-crested Hornbills were heard calling as we made

our way to the boat, and on the way downstream we saw several Rufous-bellied Swallows. Again, the last hours

of daylight were spent at the Tahan hide, where Large Green Pigeon was seen perched, and Tickell’s Blue

Flycatcher and Plain Sunbird were added to the trip list.

Gould’s Frogmouth, Taman Negara © Nick Oliver

The final full day at Taman Negara was always going to be about one species, and so we elected to repeat our

visit to the Kumbang hide in the hope of seeing Malayan Banded Pitta, the bird at the top of everyone’s

wishlists. We had an early breakfast in order to be first on the trail. Being on the river before most other boats

made a difference too; a Lesser Fish Eagle observed us from its lofty perch as we passed beneath it, a pair of

Blue-eared Kingfishers perched at eye level and a flock of 8 Large Green Pigeons flew along the river. Just

outside the disused lodge we heard our first Malayan Banded Pitta of the morning. This time the bird crossed

the track out of sight and its calls became progressively fainter as it moved into the forest. Good views were

had of a male Red-throated Barbet foraging beside the trail, and we also appreciated a small group of Green

Broadbills feeding above our heads. Other birds seen well included Streaked Bulbul, Asian Paradise Flycatcher

and White-bellied Munias again. Eventually we located a calling pitta and made our way into a damp gully

through razor-sharp rattan clumps. The bird once again came in very close, and this time all but one of the

group managed good views. Those who saw the bird declared that it exceeded expectations, particularly when

it sat on a log for 20 seconds, but the fact that not all of us connected dampened the celebratory mood. A

Striped Wren Babbler presented no such problems as it sat up in full view belting out its monotonous song, and

this too was adjudged to be a far better-looking bird than the field guides suggest. A Great Iora was heard

singing while we had lunch in the Kumbang hide, but could not be persuaded to show itself, but the best and

most unexpected sighting there was of a single Dhole, a large, fox-like, and very red canine which appeared in

the forest opposite us across the clearing. It could clearly sense us, and slowly retreated back into the forest

with many a backward glance. Other noteworthy species heard throughout the day included more Large Wren

Babblers, 2 Garnet Pittas, 3 Malaysian Peacock Pheasants and a Diard’s Trogon. The Tahan hide near dusk

produced further sightings of many species seen previously, including a single Oriental Pied Hornbill and a

group of 4 Black Hornbills.

The final day of the tour had arrived, and we had just a few hours before setting off towards the capital. On our final walk through the forest we had one target in mind – Chestnut-naped Forktail. En route to a likely gully, we heard the strange song of a Large Green Pigeon, and had good views of Banded Woodpecker, Black-capped Babbler and Rufous-tailed Tailorbird. On arrival at the gully, a pair of Chestnut-naped Forktails soon appeared and we spent an enjoyable half hour or more watching them feed and indulge in courtship behaviour – a great bird to end with. On the way back to the chalets we had great views of 4 Great Slaty Woodpeckers, Black-and red and Black-and-yellow Broadbills, Red-bearded Bee-eater and Purple-naped Spiderhunter (quite rightly,

finally assigned from sunbird to spiderhunter). A road trip of about five hours brought us to Telapa Beruk, a forested site at the southern tip of the main mountain range, where we spent a couple of hours before heading to the airport. No new birds were added to the list of species seen, though we had a tantalizing encounter with an Eyebrowed Wren Babbler calling downslope from the road. Other birds of note there included Grey-rumped Treeswift, Glossy Swiftlet, Checker-throated Woodpecker, Erpornis and a flying Wreathed Hornbill, a significantly closer view than the one seen in Taman Negara – a fitting end to a wonderful two weeks.

For information regarding our tours to Malaysia please click here. Alternatively please contact us via e-mail or phone +44 1332 516254 regarding organising a custom tour to Malaysia.

Bird of the Tour

1. Rail Babbler

2. Malayan Banded Pitta

3. Helmeted Hornbill

4. Rusty-naped Pitta

5. Malayan Peacock Pheasant

Systematic List

PELECANIFORMES: Ardeidae Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Little Egret Egretta garzetta

ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae

Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica

ACCIPITRIFORMES: Accipitridae

Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus hypoleucos Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus White-bellied Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga leucogaster Lesser Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga humilis Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis Blyth's Hawk Eagle Nisaetus alboniger Changeable Hawk Eagle Nisaetus limnaeetus

GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae

Malaysian Partridge Arborophila campbelli Heard only

Ferruginous Partridge Caloperdix oculeus Heard only

Crested Partridge Rollulus rouloul Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus Heard only

Malayan [Crested] Fireback Lophura [ignita] rufa Mountain Peacock Pheasant Polyplectron inopinatum Malayan Peacock Pheasant Polyplectron malacense Great Argus Argusianus argus Heard only

GRUIFORMES: Rallidae

White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus

CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae

Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus

COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae

Spotted Dove Stigmatopelia chinensis Little Cuckoo Dove Macropygia ruficeps malayana Asian Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica indica Peaceful Dove Geopelia striata Little Green Pigeon Treron olax Pink-necked Green Pigeon Treron vernans Thick-billed Green Pigeon Treron curvirostra Large Green Pigeon Treron capellei Mountain Imperial Pigeon Ducula badia

PSITTACIFORMES: Psittacidae

Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot Loriculus galgulus Blue-rumped Parrot Psittinus cyanurus Long-tailed Parakeet Psittacula longicauda

FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae

Black-thighed Falconet Microhierax fringillarius

CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae

Bock's Hawk Cuckoo Cuculus [sparverioides] bocki Moustached Hawk Cuckoo Cuculus vagans Heard only

Violet Cuckoo Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus Little Bronze Cuckoo Chrysococcyx minutillus peninsularis Asian Drongo Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris brachyurus Heard only

Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus Heard only

Raffles's Malkoha Rhinortha chlorophaea Chestnut-breasted Malkoha Phaenicophaeus curvirostris Chestnut-bellied Malkoha Phaenicophaeus sumatranus Black-bellied Malkoha Phaenicophaeus diardi Short-toed Coucal Centropus rectunguis Heard only

Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis

STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae

Reddish Scops Owl Otus rufescens malayensis Heard only

Mountain Scops Owl Otus spilocephalus vulpes Heard only

Collared Scops Owl Otus bakkamoena lempiji Heard only

Barred Eagle Owl Bubo sumatranus Brown Wood Owl Strix leptogrammica maingayi Brown Boobook Ninox scutulata scutulata Heard only

Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei brodiei Heard only

CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Podargidae

Gould's Frogmouth Batrachostomus stellatus Blyth's Frogmouth Batrachostomus affinis affinis

CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae

Malaysian Eared Nightjar Eurostopodus temminckii

APODIFORMES: Apodidae

Glossy Swiftlet Collocalia esculenta cyanoptila Black-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus maximus Edible-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus fuciphagus germani Silver-rumped Spinetail Rhaphidura leucopygialis

Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus House Swift Apus [affinis] nipalensis

APODIFORMES: Hemiprocnidae

Grey-rumped Treeswift Hemiprocne longipennis Whiskered Treeswift Hemiprocne comata

TROGONIFORMES: Trogonidae

Red-naped Trogon Harpactes kasumba kasumba Diard's Trogon Harpactes diardii sumatranus Heard only

Scarlet-rumped Trogon Harpactes duvaucelii Orange-breasted Trogon Harpactes oreskios uniformis Red-headed Trogon Harpactes erythrocephalus chaseni Heard only

CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae

Rufous-collared Kingfisher Actenoides concretus peristephes Banded Kingfisher Lacedo pulchella pulchella Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis malaccensis White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis perpulchra Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris humii Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting verreauxii

CORACIIFORMES: Meropidae

Red-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis amictus Blue-throated Bee-eater Merops viridis viridis

CORACIIFORMES: Coraciidae

Oriental Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis

BUCEROTIFORMES: Bucerotidae

Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris convexus Black Hornbill Anthracoceros malayanus Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis Rhinoceros Hornbill Buceros rhinoceros rhinoceros Helmeted Hornbill Rhinoplax vigil Bushy-crested Hornbill Anorrhinus galeritus Wrinkled Hornbill Aceros corrugatus Wreathed Hornbill Rhyticeros undulatus

PICIFORMES: Megalaimidae

Fire-tufted Barbet Psilopogon pyrolophus Lineated Barbet Psilopogon lineata hodgsoni Heard only

Gold-whiskered Barbet Psilopogon chrysopogon laeta Red-crowned Barbet Psilopogon rafflesii Red-throated Barbet Psilopogon mystacophanos mystacophanos Black-browed Barbet Psilopogon oorti Yellow-crowned Barbet Psilopogon henricii Blue-eared Barbet Psilopogon [australis] duvaucelii Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephala Brown Barbet Caloramphus fuliginosus hayii

PICIFORMES: Picidae

Rufous Piculet Sasia abnormis Sunda Woodpecker Dendrocopos moluccensis Rufous Woodpecker Celeus brachyurus squamigularis White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis javensis Banded Woodpecker Picus miniaceus malaccensis Crimson-winged Woodpecker Picus puniceus observandus Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus chlorolophus Checker-throated Woodpecker Picus mentalis humii Greater Yellownape Picus flavinucha wrayi Laced Woodpecker Picus vittatus

Olive-backed Woodpecker Dinopium rafflesii rafflesii Common Flameback Dinopium javanense intermedium Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus Bamboo Woodpecker Gecinulus viridis viridis Maroon Woodpecker Blythipicus rubiginosus Bay Woodpecker Blythipicus pyrrhotis Orange-backed Woodpecker Reinwardtipicus validus xanthopygius Buff-rumped Woodpecker Meiglyptes tristis grammithorax Buff-necked Woodpecker Meiglyptes tukki tukki Grey-and-buff Woodpecker Hemicircus concretus sordidus Great Slaty Woodpecker Mulleripicus pulverulentus

PASSERIFORMES: Eurylaimidae

Green Broadbill Calyptomena viridis Black-and-red Broadbill Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos Long-tailed Broadbill Psarisomus dalhousiae Silver-breasted Broadbill Serilophus lunatus Banded Broadbill Eurylaimus javanicus Black-and-yellow Broadbill Eurylaimus ochromalus Dusky Broadbill Corydon sumatranus

PASSERIFORMES: Pittidae

Rusty-naped Pitta Hydrornis oatesi Malayan Banded Pitta Hydrornis irena Garnet Pitta Erythropitta granatina

PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica gutturalis/mandschurica Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica Rufous-bellied Swallow Cecropis badia

PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae

Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus

PASSERIFORMES: Tephrodornithidae

Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus hirundinaceus Rufous-winged Philentoma Philentoma pyrhoptera Maroon-breasted Philentoma Philentoma velata

PASSERIFORMES: Campephagidae

Malaysian Cuckooshrike Coracina [javensis] larutensis Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike Coracina striatan sumatrensis Lesser Cicadabird Lalage fimbriata neglecta Fiery Minivet Pericrocotus igneus igneus Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris montanus Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus speciosus xanthogaster

PASSERIFORMES: Pycnonotidae

Black-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus atriceps atriceps Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus melanicterus Grey-bellied Bulbul Pycnonotus cyaniventris Puff-backed Bulbul Pycnonotus eutilotus Heard only

Stripe-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus finlaysoni Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier personatus Olive-winged Bulbul Pycnonotus plumosus plumosus Cream-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus simplex simplex Red-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus brunneus brunneus Spectacled Bulbul Pycnonotus erythropthalmos Finsch's Bulbul Alophoixus finschii Ochraceous Bulbul Alophoixus ochraceus sordidus Grey-cheeked Bulbul Alophoixus bres tephrogenys Yellow-bellied Bulbul Alophoixus phaeocephalus

Hairy-backed Bulbul Tricholestes criniger Buff-vented Bulbul Iole olivacea Mountain Bulbul Ixos mcclellandii Streaked Bulbul Ixos malaccensis Cinereous Bulbul Hemixos cinereus

PASSERIFORMES: Chloropseidae

Greater Green Leafbird Chloropsis sonnerati Blue-winged Leafbird Chloropsis cochinchinensis Orange-bellied Leafbird Chloropsis hardwickii

PASSERIFORMES: Aegithinidae

Common Iora Aegithina tiphia horizoptera Green Iora Aegithina viridissima Great Iora Aegithinia lafresnayei lafresnayei Heard only

PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae

Blue Whistling Thrush Myophonus caeruleus Lesser Shortwing Brachypteryx leucophrys wrayi White-tailed Robin Myiomela leucura Chestnut-naped Forktail Enicurus ruficapillus Slaty-backed Forktail Enicurus schistaceus

PASSERIFORMES: Cisticolidae

Rufescent Prinia Prinia rufescens extrema Heard only

Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris rafflesi Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius maculicollis Dark-necked Tailorbird Orthotomus atrogularis atrogularis Rufous-tailed Tailorbird Orthotomus sericeus hesperius Ashy Tailorbird Orthotomus ruficeps cineraceus

PASSERIFORMES: Cettidae

Yellow-bellied Warbler Abroscopus superciliaris sakaiorum Mountain Tailorbird Phyllergates cucullatus malayanus

PASSERIFORMES: Phylloscopidae

Mountain Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus trivirgatus parvirostris Chestnut-crowned Warbler Seicercus castaniceps

PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae

Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis musicus White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus Grey-chested Jungle Flycatcher Rhinomyias umbratilis Heard only

Brown-streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa williamsoni Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassinus Hill Blue Flycatcher Cyornis banyumas coerulifrons Tickell's Blue Flycatcher Cyornis tickelliae Malaysian Blue Flycatcher Cyornis turcosus Mangrove Blue Flycatcher Cyornis rufigastra Rufous-browed Flycatcher Anthipes solitaris Large Niltava Niltava grandis

PASSERIFORMES: Stenostiridae

Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis

PASSERIFORMES: Rhipiduridae

White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis Pied Fantail Rhipidura javanica Spotted Fantail Rhipidura perlata

PASSERIFORMES: Monarchidae Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea

Asian Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi

PASSERIFORMES: Timaliidae

Buff-breasted Babbler Pellorneum tickelli Black-capped Babbler Pellorneum capistratum White-chested Babbler Trichastoma rostratum Ferruginous Babbler Trichastoma bicolor Abbott's Babbler Malacocincla abbotti Horsfield's Babbler Malacocincla sepiaria Short-tailed Babbler Malacocincla malaccensis Moustached Babbler Malacopteron magnirostre Sooty-capped Babbler Malacopteron affine Scaly-crowned Babbler Malacopteron cinereum Rufous-crowned Babbler Malacopteron magnum Large Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus hypoleucos Chestnut-backed Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus montanus occidentalis Striped Wren Babbler Kenopia striata Eyebrowed Wren Babbler Napothera epilepidota granti Heard only

Large Wren Babbler Napothera macrodactyla Marbled Wren Babbler Napothera marmorata Heard only

Pygmy Cupwing Pnoepyga pusilla Golden Babbler Stachyridopsis chrysaea Grey-throated Babbler Stachyris nigriceps Grey-headed Babbler Stachyris poliocephala Chestnut-rumped Babbler Stachyris maculata Black-throated Babbler Stachyris nigricollis Chestnut-winged Babbler Stachyris erythroptera Pin-striped Tit Babbler Mixornis gularis Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler Macronus ptilosus Black Laughingthrush Garrulax lugubris Spectacled Laughingthrush Rhinocichla mitrata Malayan Laughingthrush Trohalopteron peninsulae Silver-eared Mesia Leiothrix argentauris Blue-winged Siva Siva cyanouroptera Brown Fulvetta Alcippe brunneicauda brunneicauda Mountain Fulvetta Alcippe peracensis peracensis Long-tailed Sibia Heterophasia picaoides

PASSERIFORMES: Sittidae

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis

PASSERIFORMES: Acanthizidae

Golden-bellied Gerygone Gerygone sulphurea

PASSERIFORMES: Nectariniidae

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Chalcoparia singalensis Plain Sunbird Anthreptes simplex Brown-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis ornatus Black-throated Sunbird Aethopyga saturata wrayi Purple-naped Spiderhunter Hypogramma hypogrammicum Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra Thick-billed Spiderhunter Arachnothera crassirostris Long-billed Spiderhunter Arachnothera robusta Spectacled Spiderhunter Arachnothera flavigaster Yellow-eared Spiderhunter Arachnothera chrysogenys Grey-breasted Spiderhunter Arachnothera modesta Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna

PASSERIFORMES: Dicaeidae

Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker Prionochilus maculatus oblitus

Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker Prionochilus percussus ignicapilla Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker Prionochilus thoracicus Brown-backed Flowerpecker Dicaeum everetti everetti Yellow-vented Flowerpecker Dicaeum chrysorrheum Orange-bellied Flowerpecker Dicaeum trigonostigma trigonostigma Plain Flowerpecker Dicaeum minullum borneanum Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectus dolichorhynchum Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker Dicaeum cruentatum cruentatum

PASSERIFORMES: Zosteropidae

Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus auriventer Everett's White-eye Zosterops everetti tahanensis

PASSERIFORMES: Oriolidae

Dark-throated Oriole Oriolus xanthonotus Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis maculatus Black-and-crimson Oriole Oriolus cruentus

PASSERIFORMES: Irenidae

Asian Fairy-bluebird Irena puella

PASSERIFORMES: Dicruridae

Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus remifer Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus

PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae

Crested Jay Platylophus galericulatus ardesiacus Heard only

Malayan Black Magpie Platysmurus leucopterus Common Green Magpie Cissa chinensis House Crow Corvus splendens Southern Jungle Crow Corvus macrorhynchos

PASSERIFORMES: Paridae

Cinereous Tit Parus cinereus ambiguus Sultan Tit Melanochlora sultanea

PASSERIFORMES: Eupetidae

Rail-babbler Eupetes macrocerus

PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae

Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis Common Hill Myna Gracula religiosa Javan Myna Acridotheres javanensis Common Myna Acridotheres tristis

PASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae

White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata White-bellied Munia Lonchura leucogastra

PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae

Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus

PASSERIFORMES: Vireonidae

Erpornis Erpornis zantholeuca Blyth's Shrike Babbler Pteruthius faeralatus cameroni Black-eared Shrike Babbler Pteruthius melanotis

MAMMALS

Lesser Gymnure Hylomys suillus Common Treeshrew Tupaia glis longipes Sunda Silvered Langur Presbytis cristata White-thighed Langur Presbytis siamensis Dusky Langur Presbytis obscurus Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis White-handed Gibbon Hylobates lar Siamang Symphalangus syndactylus Dhole Cuon alpinus Smooth Otter Lutrogale perspicillata Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus Masked Palm Civet Paguma larvata Crab-eating Mongoose Herpestes urva Eurasian Wild Pig Sus scrofa Pale Giant Squirrel Ratufa affinis Black Giant Squirrel Ratufa bicolor Prevost's Squirrel Callosciurus prevostii pluto Plantain Squirrel Callosciurus notatus Sunda Black-banded Squirrel Callosciurus nigrovittatus Grey-bellied Squirrel Callosciurus caniceps concolor Pallas's Squirrel Callosciurus erythraeus erythraeus Western Striped Squirrel Tamiops mcclellandii Horse-tailed Squirrel Sundasciurus hippurus Low's Squirrel Sundasciurus lowii Slender Squirrel Sundasciurus tenius Three-striped Ground Squirrel Lariscus insignis

For information regarding our tours to Malaysia please click here. Alternatively please contact us via e-mail or phone +44 1332 516254 regarding organising a custom tour to Malaysia.