Mike is the name Birding is the game ( Birding in Malaysia - Malaysian birds in photos ): Avian Lifer March 2026

MikeBirder - Malaysian Birds

Hi

Welcome to my Malaysian Birding Blog. I migrated to blogspot.com as my blog at multiply.com closed shop in 2012. I wish to showcase all Malaysian birds that I have photographed whether here or overseas. My countdown of lifers started in 2005. Coming to March 2026 my countdown of lifers photograph has reached

590/688 species of birds of Malaysia in photos.

My shooting gear was a EF400mm f4 DO lens and Canon 7D body which to me is the ideal setup for mobility and bird chasing at that time. Eventhen the weight over my shoulder is more that 5.5 kg. As of June 2016 I have also acquired a Fuji XF 100-400mm OIS lens to complement my travelling cum birding trip overseas. My Fuji X-T2 went kaput recently and I upgraded to the X-T5 in 2023 ; the weight over my shoulder is much lighter now by 30%. In December 2018 I acquired the Nikon Coolpix P1000 as supplementary camera for distance shooting of 3000mm.

Fuji have finally made available their new XF 200-600mm lens which I yet to decide to spend another RM10,000. As for Fuji body I will stop with X-T5 36megapixel ..........

I am a weekend birder. Do feel free to drop me a line at mikebirding@gmail.com and I see whether you can tag along in my outings. My usual day trip is just an hour ride away to Hulu Langat, Lancang, Kemensah, Krau, Awana, Hulu Kali, Gombak Ole Road, Fraser's Hill , Bukit Tinggi and KSNP & Coastal Sg Janggut Jeram side of the coast . Overnite trip to Merapoh & Amp; Cameron, Air Hitam and further north to Kuala Sidim is a seldom affair but for lifer we travel. Panti in Johor is another good birding site that I yet to go. Then there are the Borneo birds of Sabah and Sarawak of Malaysia which I seriously much go to chalk up more lifers. This I did in 2018 to Sepilok Sandakan and Kinabalu Park. Next Danum and LahatDatu . In 2024 I visited a new happening birding spot inTalang Seremban.......

WARNING Birding is an addiction once you started its hard to stop. The wifey and children are now birding widow and orphan.

ALL PHOTOS IN THIS BLOG ARE COPYRIGHT OF MIKEBIRDER. KINDLY SEEK PERMISSION FROM THE OWNER IF YOU want to use them for commercial purposes.

Tuesday, 31 March 2026

Avian Lifer March 2026 - White-throated Rock Thrush Male

10 years ago I got the female in Bukit Tinggi. This time we took the effort to travel to Perlis (Husaini's port) to shoot this rarity male White-throated Rock Thrush . The bird is probably on its way back north. It may be leaving soon to mate and nest in May-July. So guys do make the effort to see it. This is my lifer male nevertheless and it was in breeding plummage !

Adult male white-throated rock thrushes have white patches on their chins and throats. However, the rest of their undersides are a chestnut-orange color. Adult females have brown or olive-brown upper parts and "boldly scalloped" lower parts. Young males have gray or golden-brown feathers and orange undersides. The birds are also cobalt blue and black in places. The bird's song has been described as "melancholy, flute-like, drawn-out rising whistles" (Wiki)

The white-throated rock thrush has a very sizable range, 1,710,000 square kilometers. It is native and breeds in Manchuria, the Russian Far East and neighboring areas; it winters in Indochina and southern China. The birds are occasionally seen in Japan. They have also been observed in Hong Kong and Singapore. The bird's population is unknown, but is not increasing or declining. (Wiki)

Husaini Port .You have to pay a RM100 per pax levy to shoot the bird and I would say it is worth it. The bird will come out to feed several time until 11 am. You have to bring you own hide as you be shooting in the open at a rocky outcrop. You should position your hide to get a side profile rather than a frontal view.

He has another shaded port to shoot a pair of Banded Pitta, Puff-throated babbler and Ruddy Kingfisher. He charge another RM50 pax if you want to shoot them. We hope he will be able to lure a Giant Pitta to his port in the future....