Avian Site Report in September 2019 - Bukit Tinggi (Yellow morph Pin-tailed)

With the promising find at Awana I was enthusiastic to go to Lancang on Sunday but because of a car issue I decided to go to the  nearer destination in Bukit Tinggi instead. On the way up the winding road I heard  the barking call of a pair Great hornbill which were roosting on a tree  near the roadside. Dare not move out from the car  so as not to spook them As it was still dark before 7.00am;  I have to boost up ISO of my Fuji to 3200 and shooting at 1/8s I can only manage a few shots before they flew away.

The security is now even more stringent to pass  the boomgate after paying up the entry fees of RM16.00 at Colmar. By time the guard confirm my car no and open up it was already passed 7.35am. On the way up  to the Japanese Garden  I saw some tiny birds  in the distance. It was a beautiful encounter with a colony of parrotfinch (of about a dozen or so)!!!! they were feasting on the many bamboo outcrops  below the ravine. Alas I did not bring my P1000 as the birds is about 150-200 ft away I cannot get any good resolution photos as the tiniest subject are just too out.

This is my first for me seeing a parrotfinch with a yellow tail and yellow bellied but with a blue face. It supposedly a yellow morph male specimen. It is a rarity 5-8 % of its population.

 The above bird look unfamiliar; perch on a dead tree for quite sometime............. cropped  far out in the ravine.

At the chicken port, I met Bubu and his gang of three who are there for the third time to catch the Ferruginous Partridge for the past two months. He is Burmese working in Subang. They failed again today. The resident Mountain Peacock Pheasant were in attendance though. Both were male with 3 spiked legs and turquoise spotted tail. Wish to report there are no migrant birds so far. Hope you guys have better luck..........

The famous ficus tree is again fruiting so its is a good time to plan a trip  in middle October to BT again. BTW I manage to sight a Chestnut-winged Scimitarbabbler there. No good photo but a blur one.

Avian Birding Site - Lenggor Forest Park Johor

In 2019 I got an invitation from my good birding buddies ML with AT tagging along to this  "Babbler" paradise in Johor.  It is supposedly in par with Bukit Rengit. Pahang when comes to babblers. Lenggor is about 330km away or 3.5 hours plus from Kuala Lumpur. The nearest town is Kahang where you can stay overnight which we impromptu check in to Hotel 128 a very decent shophouse convert. Best room, of course, is the front-facing one with windows but if you cannot take the lorry noise during the wee hours you may opt for the phobic intermediate rooms. Cost for 3 pax room RM110.

The target birds here is the Garnet Pitta, Rail Babbler,  Grey-breasted Babbler, Striped Wren-Babbler & Scimitar Babbler. They say even the Spotted fantail and seasonal Scarlet breasted Flowerpecker can be sighted here too.

For us birder good food comes synonymous with our outing. Dennis eat your heart out....lol.  In Kahang there are a few Chinese restaurant to wilt your appetite. Cheap and good. However bear in mind in small town food outlet close early. If you reached their restaurant pass their business hours you go without lunch. Some bread/pastry can come in handy.

Avian Birding Site - Panti Forest Reserve Johor

Before embarking on your trip please take note that you have to apply for an entry permit. I do not know how well and efficient is the Rangers' enforcement though. MNS should write to Perhilitan Johor to make available e-application so that we do not have to spend a whole morning/ day to just drop by their office in JB town to do the paper work.......Also we birders from other states comeby on a day or upto 3 days trip. Why do we need a 2 months permit. We also bird in smaller group of 2-4 and not 10 pax. Can I assumed you do not need permit if in smaller group........😖

"Apa buat susah susah bang hoi"

Extract from JohoreBirder Group

Panti Bird Sanctuary - Info on Entry Permit Application

Forestry Dept Tel no : 07-2243048

Effective from Sept 2018 : 07-2242211

Person to contact : Miss Nana / Miss Intan

Address : Pejabat Hutan Daerah Johor Selatan
Aras 9, Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim
Jalan Bukit Timbalan
80000 Johor Baru
Johor Darul Tazim

a) Permit costs RM150-00 for 10-person and valid only for 2mths, request for longer period is possible but subjected to FD's approval.

b) Each vehicle is required to pay RM50-00 to use the main bunker trail for the validity of your permit. Vehicle Registration number must be submitted during your application.

c) For Malaysian will be given one mth period instead of the normal 2mths.

As such, for group application, you should apply permit separately for Malaysian and non-Malaysian.

d) For walk-in application, call Forest Dept in advance if you want the permit approved on the spot/on the same day.

Important doc to bring:
Malaysian: a photocopy of IC
Non-Malaysian: a photocopy of passport (the page showing yr photo)

e) For email: Encik Umar - Pengawai Hutan Daerah Johor Selatan.

m1435u2014a@gmail. com

------------------------------------------

Bear in mind the approved permit only bears the sole applicant's name. So for group application all the individual must carry a copy of the approved letter when entering PBS.

Anyway to bird  Panti there are many ports & trails  that you can go without going thru the hassle.For us birders from Klang Valley an overnighter is recommended. As the journey is 6-7 hours with stop for makan-makan.  It is best to have Johor or Singapore birder to bring you to the familiar ports there without hassle. Target birds that you might want to see are the Grey-breasted Babbler, White-necked Babbler, Crested Jay, Short-toed Coucal, Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker and a few uncommon Wren-babbler and my target Rufous-tailed Sharma. 

Adapted from ConFoley writup

Panti forest is about 10,900 hectares. There are a few access trails and forest fringe ports only the local birder know. For the unfamiliar the main access trail is the "Bunker Trail" simply because vehicles can drive in; on the gravel & laterite road with relative good forest cover. There is large scrubby terrain at the entrance and at the end of the road is a disused sand quarry with another scrubland which you can find visiting grassbirds and the Javan Munia!

Yes it was mentioned that the Storm's Stork is a rare encounter here if you are damn lucky at open river crossings.

Peek-a-Boo, I see you!!!!

My other lifer wanted list here in Johor are :-

Long-billed Partridge

Crestless Fireback

Jerdon Baza

Cinnamon-head  Green Pigeon

Malaysian Nightjar

Grey Nightjar

Blyth's Frogmouth

Silver-rumped Spinetail;

Silver-backed & Brown-backed Needletail

Fork-tailed Swift

Giant Pitta

Black&White Bulbul

Grey-streaked Flycatcher

Grey-breasted Jungle flycatcher (Resident)

Javan Munia (PR status)

Thick-billed spiderhunter

Thick-billed Flowerpecker

Avian Birding Site - Migrant Birds Genting Highlands @ Banjaran Titiwangsa

Prologue from yester years

Ulu Kali Genting Highland sits right smack in the Titiwangsa range which stretches 480 km from down under of Peninsula Malaysia until Phuket Thailand. This mountain range is a part of the Tenasserim Range, Phu Khao Tanaosī in Thai, which is the geographical name of a mountain chain forming a natural border between Burma and Thailand.

The period Feb - May of the year spell migrant birds take the flight to return to their natural breeding grounds back in the northern hemisphere. Basing on my sightings of some exotic species at Ulu Kali; I can say that Genting peak is a strategic stopover for  migratory birds enroute to the north!  I have sighted the white morph APF here. Then I have a glimpse of the rufous long-tailed APF but alas no photo then.

The birds flying home during early dawn or late dusk and some in the dark; do encounter hazards of bright lights from building and spotlights which become a beacon which blurred birds vision causing them to hit darken solid walls, lighted glass window and chain fencing. Unlike bats which have sonar built in their system; birds rely only on their vision guided by moon and starlight. A few years back I am fortunate to come face to face with a Hooded Pitta which was disorientated after hitting some structure at the Radar station the night before. Luckily it was not seriously injured; it was freed in my presence at 10am. However, it was not so lucky for a Chestnut-winged Cuckoo which probably injured its neck and spine which may have paralyzed its body. I cut short my birding and rushed it to Zoo Negara hoping the vet can do something to help the poor creature.

Other chance sighting of  rarity like Rufous-headed Robin, Rubythroat, Little Bunting and fly-by raptors like the Eurasian Sparrowhawk have been recorded here. 

Meanwhile, you fellow birders who do not want to go too far up Fraser's or Cameron or even Maxwell can opt to come to Genting Highland because the chances are good for "birding" high rollers to win big time................cheerio and good luck.

Present time

In the month of  March 2019, we managed to sight several good birds. Glad to meet again a pair of Siberian Blue Thrush here. The pair were most obliging and stayed for long periods for us birders that were there to shoot to their heart content. The pair is most possibly in its return leg back to their homeland. Still hoping for a Eye-browed and Scaly Thrush to drop by...........................

Banjaran Titiwangsa is the flying route of the many passage migrants and wintering birds both ways. In March  I would say is a peak season for the return flight. Ulu Kali with its bountiful food source is a stopover station for these birds to fatten up and then moving up Tenasserim range of Thailand and Andaman Burma.

Yellow-browed Warbler is a regular sighting here. Wish it was the Hume's but alias the pale legs and beaks and prominent barring give it away. Both are from the same province but one preferred to visit down SEA whilst the latter to the westerly side towards India. Hume's is a vagrant to southern Thai though but no record sighting in peninsula...





















The Siberian blue below have been appearing in UK since last year. I expect it to remain here until next year. Its coat is turning to its adult plumage as compared to the shot I took in January. We will see..............

The Grey Wagtail is another winter visitor.  It looks rather fatten up. Ready to go home liao...........

The Male Mugimaki was not  been seen but the female Fc was still around in March. Sad to hear from Pak Long that one MFc hit its guard glass window a few weeks back and died...............

Avian Birding Site 4/10 - Sungai Balang Muar-Batu Pahat Johor

Sg Balang Padi Field near the seashore between Muar & Batu Pahat is a homing bird  stop-over for many rare and  migrants birds in  transit during the winter of the northern hemisphere. So the best time to visit  this place is during the period of October- early December of the year in their winter colors.

Then in Feb- March when the waders may starts their return journey back to their breeding grounds. You can see  bitterns  and waders in their breeding coats.





Beside Sg Balang padi field you can drop by the seashore of Parit Jawa to chance on other shore birds and pelagic birds.


If you travel from Kuala Lumpur it will take you about 2.5 to 3 hours reach Sg Balang which is a 225km journey. Exiting Tangkak interchange you will drive toward Muar and detour off at the new bypass to Batu Pahat. Quite easy with Waze nowaday.

There is a chinese restaurant at the  nearest town  Sarang Buaya (aka Crocodile Nest) for quick breakfast and lunch  meal of "chapfan" or noodles. Homestay are aplenty around but  I prefer Muar town 23 km  away cos you can savour  hawkerfood  and otak-otak to your heart content. There are  many budget hotels with room rates as low as RM78- 98 per nite. You  just  google them and make your booking.

There is a colony of  Lesser Adjutant here.  You can shoot them in full frame from your car. Beside that  many egrets species can be sighted here too.

They can be seen as early as 7am flying from their roosting trees from the hinterland.

                           

Greater Coucal and Lesser Coucal  are quite easily spotted amongst the peripheral tree along the bunds and amongst the reed   in the open padi field. Open perch is seldom affair. No short-toed though which is a jungle fringe bird.





The "Christmas tree" of Weaver nest is so photogenic dont you think.

The sight of  Egrets and Heron in close range of 50-60 ft give you full frame shot even if you are using a 400mm lens. Stork and Asian Openbill I have not seen here as yet.

And then there are frequent raptor visitors  like the Spotted Eagle and Steppe Eagle, Booted Eagle  and Harriers here.

Then you can also  shoot the  resident Black-winged Falcon, Changeable Hawk Eagle, White-bellied Sea Eagle,  Crested Serpent Eagle and Brahminy Kite in close quarters.

You can see 3 species of Munias namely the White headed Scaly and Black -head here

Wish the Feral Javan Munia have reach  the place from Singapore.

I will still list it as lifer of Malaysia if I see one like the Javan Sparrow of Ipoh.

This Bittern looks different but is actually a Juvenile Cinnamon Wish it was a Von Schrenck's...... now that is a rare bird.

 The Oriental Pranticole is a  regular seasonal visitor but the rare Little Pranticole is the one that everyone want here in Sg Balang. I missed it for past 2 years and will wait for the news of their arrival in anticipation in 2017 to chalk up another lifer.

The Yellow wagtail striding in the muddy field ever vigilant of our present .............

The Brown Shrike is another winter visitor. It  can be obliging as you shoot from your car but   once you try maneuver closer to  ; it will always fly away to a further perch . This the most frus part.                                                                                                     

 A pair of Lesser Whistling Duck was seen at the water canal parallel to the Sg ...............

 That is if there are cooperative enough when you shoot from a distance of 50-60 ft.

 Lawrence in  its suzuki jeep is the hometown  birder here in Sg Balang. Udi of Tokki Group is the other local birder here who can give you a head up on any rarity vagrants and migrant birds here. Not forgetting my good acquaintance Ang TH who will take all effort to come down from Melaka to join you in any rare hunt.

In the month of October ;  juvenile Cinnamon Bittern were common bird to see here as the open canal drains and padi field which are still devoid of vegetation. MO is to drive around in your 4x4 and shoot from the car. I drive around my MPV. It have suffered much  to its underside  because of the undulating track. At one time  it drop off  a  RC canal crossing which I did not realise the bridge was a feet off the dirt track. So be careful.