Lifer 593 - BULBUL 26 /29 : Black & White Bulbul (August 2026)

Finally after more than 20 years of birding my gang got  news of the re-appearance of this rarity bulbul down south of Peninsula Malaysia. We missed the June-July sighting report by other birders;  that case it was nesting and too sensitive to divulge . This time  my gang made the effort to drive 4.5 hours to Kota Tinggi  to try our luck with our Johor gang. Thanks AT and ML ; JB John and Lim for their company.

Photo courtesy of MingLee@2026

It was not an easy bird to see as they are arboreal canopy bird   and feed in the clearstory of 50-100 feet fruiting trees. They have a wide range where there are fruiting trees.  They may stay a week or two here and then moving to the next fruiting spot. So whenever there are sighting it is best to take the trip soonest to the spot. The best time to chance on them is during the mating and breeding season from May - July of the year. Popular places to see them are at Merapoh, Taman Negara Tahan, Panti, Endau Rompin in Peninsula Malaysia. It is recorded as a visitor to Singapore in Pulau Ubin.

Don't mistake them for a OMR or Philentoma if you chance on them in the lower storey from afar. Its body is dark or brownish black with a obvoius splayed white patch on its upper covert of its wing. Supposedly red-eyed. Its rather small upto tp 6-7 inches.

Listen for its  metallic chweet call and hope they response to you. If there other birds around they may take their turn to feed as they tend to be bullied or harassed because of its small size.

When they are breeding they make their nest at low lying tree as low as 2-3 feet high. Here is a photo of a previous nest which surprising in the open without  undercover which is unusually tidy.

Photo courtesy of JB birders

We found a gem of a place to eat  here in Kota Tinggi for seafood dinner popular amongst  the locals- I would rate it 3.5/5 pulled down by its pricing which equal KL rates. Total damage RM162 for 3 dishes as shown.

Avian Site Taman Melati Kangar - Bronze-winged Jacana

We reached the venue at about 6.30pm as dusk is approaching we managed to see the pair of  "resident" Bronze-winged feeding at the lily pond amongst joggers and picnickers nearby. We were shooting at close quarters of 40-50 feet. For me it was tought shooting with the contrasty backdrop. The birds can be seen year thru here in the urban park.... I think. If you are there do keep yourself in the car and shoot. It is not advisable to get out to chase them in the open as they are weary of you with your bazookas.

You can really see the bronze color of their wings 

 We did not manage to see the Plain-backed Sparrow at the padi field nearby.

Avian Sighting Jun2026 - 2 Nuthatches sighting

Seeing the two species of Malaysian nuthatches  in Frasers was so exciting. They came in a birdwave amongst the minivets, leafbirds, sunbird, ioras,  flycatcher-shrike and others. My gang was hunting the Wedge-tailed Pigeon at Hermant's trail side but alas the pigeon was a no show that morning to our dissappointment as many of the trees were fruiting but only started to ripen I think. This  attracted Asian Glossy Starlings and other fructivorous to the locale. 

Blue Nuthatch in its somersault attics

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch are rarely seen in  highlands while the Blue not commonly seen below 800m ASL forest.

 

Avian Sighting March 2026 - Olive-winged Bulbul

 I have not seen  the Olive-winged Bulbul for quite awhile. The trees at the temple hotspot of Maxwell hill Taiping were fruiting well in March attracting plenty of frugivorous birds especially the many  bulbuls 

Red-eyed Bulbul I would say is the most likely be seen amongst the 28 odd species in Malaysia

Avian Sighting June 2026 - Himalayan Cutia

Went to Genting Highland for cooling fresh air and some birding. a surprise is the present of a family of Himalayan Cutia the opposite side of Ulu Kali Mossy forest. As it was in the early morning the lighting was a bit harsh in clear sky condition. Nevertheless it was an exciting shooting with my buddy ML.

 

Avian site report Feb 2026 - Visiting Bukit Lancang Pahang after MCO

Bukit Lancang has not been what it used to be; many areas have been opened for various privatised scheme and farming This is very sad that this forest reserve have been violated Some more  the road towards Perhilitan centre is fully closed.

The good thing is the  port A77 is still active. Somebody had place a water shed and placed fishes to lure this rufous-backed kingfisher. It was active during the morning dropping in several time to feed.  The Pittas and Railbabbler was not heard there in the month of April- May this 2026. If you are going do bring along fish fries and a change of water so that the birds continue to strives there.

 

WOODPECKER 23/25 - Olive-backed Woodpecker female (Lifer 592/688)

 I thought I got this woodpecker before but after scrolling my photo collection of Woodies It looks like I got a lifer! Next I would like to get the Bay Woodpecker in Bkt Fraser and the elusive Grey-headed in Ulu Kali or Brincang Cameron.

The olive-backed woodpecker has yellow-green upperparts and gray-olive underparts. The side of the head has two black and white stripes. The male has a large red crest, the female has a smaller black crest.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland, mangrove and montane forests; the species avoids clearings and secondary forest. Found in most South East Asian countries dwelling in the middle storey of lowland and hill forest. It is not common to see and they are very vocal and loud.  If they are active they do response to your call. We were lucky in the month of June/July I believe its their breeding period.