We had Japan guests for some target in Peninsular Malaysia .
Day 1 – Kuala Lumpur
We mainly at center of Kuala Lumpur before heading Kuala Selangor for next day Mangrove targets .
we quickly start a day with Barred Eagle-Owl, with very small window but still we got it clear view ..
very soon , another cute bird approaching … black and yellow Broadbill
after here , we quickly move to another nearby forest .. here we quickly tick
Rufous-backed Kingfisher
Black-and-red Broadbill
etc
with very short stay time, we rush to west-Kuala Lumpur for Mangrove Pitta and etc .. very fast within 5 minutes, we got the pitta in frame and we would like to try
Savanna Nightjar
with long search, finally we see one …
……. we got most the targets tick and yet we have some time, we go for earlier dinner … immediate after the dinner, we very soon tick both
3 Gray-breasted Partridge (Malayan)
1 Crested Serpent-Eagle
1 Asian Emerald Dove
1 Whiskered Treeswift
1 Greater Yellownape
3 Bay Woodpecker
1 Large Cuckooshrike
1 Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo
4 Mountain Fulvetta
3 Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush
1 Malayan Laughingthrush
1 Streaked Spiderhunter
Day 3 – Fraser Hill
we spend almost whole day at Fraser Hill , but seem like weather getting misty and rain after lunch … which slow down our bird list
but some how most the target got hit and miss few …
while our visit of Telekom loop, we bumped into few birds wave . and heard Blue Nuthatch but too bad mist just too thick for us to have a view and picture .. but again, lucky to got
Collared Babbler
Bamboo Woodpecker
to close a beautiful day with most the Fraser Hill star birds e.g
Fire-tufted Barbet , Pygmy Cupwing, Sultan Tit , Red Headed Trogon, Dark-Hawk cuckoo etc …
we only had 3 hours , so we trying our best and still missed the Ferruginous Partridge & Rail-Babbler. no call at all for the morning. but lucky we had Mountain Peacock-Pheasant family with displaying male and Silver-breasted Broadbill .
this time , we visit both favorite birding spots Danum Valley and Sukau .. even didn’t get any lifer but got few improve picture capture .. one of them
as usual , this Monotypic species endemic to Borneo move fast .. this time more challenge due to the ground full with mud and leeches so make movement to chase more difficult .. I always enjoy to see and photograph Babblers and Wren-babblers here is some of my favorite Wren-babbler collection
We start 2017 with previous 2 short bird watching tours which with very limited target . follow by this 14 days tour from Kuala Lumpur-Kuala Selangor-Fraser Hill-Bukit Tinggi-KRAU forest-Taman Negara. Quite a lot of miss due to raining almost every evening especially Bukit Tinggi-KRAU-Taman Negara (think mostly we lost 3-5 days due to rain L)
with 2 Switzerland guests , we have very good start from Kuala Lumpur, got few very special target hit and we got first pitta (hooded pitta) and Frogmouth for guests. A lucky day where rain stop ~830pm and we reach there 845pm and got the buffy fish owl, Blyth’s frogmouth and another very special target (guests just saw it flying hmmmm and they mark it count as this is so special owl) .. 54 species for day 1
Next morning, we heading to Pulau Indah for another target, struggle a bit but we still finally got the Mangrove Pitta after 3-4 hours tried for few locations.
Following to Kuala Selangor, spend evening walking nearby mangrove … got most the targets hit again and customer favor is Common Flameback woodpecker … how I wish everyday got such easy target 😀 . it was heavy rain after dinner, but we still try our luck and YES. Got the Spotted wood owl just before another heavy rain hit …
Day 2 : 46 species
Morning, we heading to Natural Park. A long walk , got most the target again but missed out Copper-Throat Sunbird L … after lunch slowly travel to Fraser Hill, on the way… what a lucky under a fruiting tree easily hit few target : Yellow-Crowned Barbet, Gold Whiskered Barbet … follow Chestnut-naped Forktail , Dark-Sided Flycatcher , Temminck’s Sunbird, Scaly-Breasted Bulbul etc …. Ohh forgot Rufous-Bellied Swallow and family of Silver-Breasted Broadbill make our day .
Day 3 : 50 species
For Day 4, very good weather at Fraser Hill … but we missed the Malayan Whistling-Thrush Hill Partridge in the morning !!! But with the half day, we got back some star Birds : Collared Owlet, Malaysian Nightjar, Fire-tufted Barbet, Rufescent Prinia, and very good view of Marbled Wren-Babbler … at night we also got Sunda Slow-Loris .
Day 5, misty+raining ohhhhh … and we got brief view of Malayan Whistling-Thrush in the morning. Than follow by very good view of Large Scimitar Babbler, Bay Woodpecker, Black-Browed Barbet, Black-and-Crimson Oriole, Black Laughingthrush, Malayan Laughingthrush, Brown Wood-Owl and what surprise Barred Eagle-Owl show off here too …
Day 6, again !!! MISTY+RAINING … but luck is on our site, with limited hours … We managed to got some main target like Yellow-vented Pigeon, Silver-rumped Needletail, Bamboo Woodpecker, Long-Tailed Broadbill + Blue Nuthatch (under the heavy rain !) … and very lucky to have pair of Collard Babbler stay long for us for very good view and photo …
Day 7, we had almost everything we need … but we missing those common bird like mountain Bulbul, little cuckoo dove (joke from customer… it is a must and how can we missed it , lets stay few more days for Mountain Bulbul ) .. no joke we really missed this bulbul for 4 days @Fraser Hill .
Before we heading to Bukit Tinggi, we record Scarlet-Rumped Trogon @890m (think may be little too high but it show up there) and a pair of Banded Kingfisher …
Day 8, from Genting Highland to Krau forest. We didn’t get much target meet but Cinamon-rumped Trogon is our favor of the day .
with 2 fruting trees , we managed to see some barbets, bulbuls, etc but to our surprise. We saw local climb up to a tree may be 30-40m height to hunt for birds !!!!!! L
Day 9 : full day raining at Bukit Tinggi, guests enjoy red wine 80% of the day
Day 9 : 7 species
Day 10 : we have beautiful Moutain Peacock Pheasant displaying 2 hours for us , before we leave. Got a very good view of Rhinoceros and Helmeted Hornbill follow by heading to Taman Negara with raining full 2nd half day.
Arrived Taman Negara Dusk, both Great Hornbill and Great Argus welcome us at lobby area
Day 10 : 21 species
Day 11-16 : we spend few days at Taman Negara but 40% of the time raining or cloudy make the whole birding slowing. But within few days of tracking in the mud, pond etc . We cover a lot of Bulbuls, barbet, parrot, hornbill but the 10 star birds over days
1. Marbled Wren-Babbler, 石纹鹪鹛, 石紋鷦鶥, Turdinus marmoratus, ウロコサザイチメドリ, KEKICAU-MURAI BESAR BUKIT
– a sub-montane bird which big in size .. shy and move fast
– normally low almost close to ground
update 202411
– A large Wren-babbler that is highly vocal, active, and shy. It is one of the most thrilling birds to spot and photograph.
–
Another fortunate morning! After successfully spotting one of the main target Pittas, this bird, as always, actively looked for other interesting birds near the hotel.
– as usual, this shy bird always hiding behind something. But this time with CANON R3, using single point to touch any part of the bird body. The bird eye will be lock focus and track. So simple compare to old time.
How I wish can spend more time with this beautiful bird, but guests still has targets.. lets move on.
– lowland bird that can found both 2nd forest and primary forest
– very beautiful calling
– small Wren-babbler with white breasted and normally move in pair
202409
– a bird that usually quite difficult to be photograph at Peninsula Malaysia, seem easier at Borneo. Almost never missed this bird at Danum Valley. But when I am at another famous birding spot Tabin Wildlife Reserve, this bird seem same like Danum Valley. not really shy … easy to get picture too
– a difficult to miss bird in Danum Valley, it will come even from far and normally just stand quite still not far from us. A lovely Wren-babbler
– 丹浓谷非常普通也很少会错过的鸟。非常漂亮
202409, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
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update 202408
– almost never miss bird from Danum Valley, very first few bird for the morning. It just stand there for us ..but still dark .. ISO 10000
– 丹浓谷几乎不会错过的鸟。在第一个早上，这鸟一大早就跳出来让我们看个够。
202408, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
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update 202407
– a bird that never miss and bore to see and photograph again and again. This time, it just appear just ~100m from the lodge. very active to be calling non stop
– this bird seem not easy at any where, but Danum Valley, BRL seem very easy .. I almost never miss this bird even for picture … but not this time, day1…day2 we tried very hard even went into trail but this bird seem very quick show and gone no one seem have good view except me 🙁 …but this bird just sudden appear at main road after we got the Finsch’s Bulbul … it just stand there and sing+dance for us
– very lucky moment, I am suppose to look for ours last missing target. But I saw these 2 birds keep moving together and I decided to spend minutes to have some good video and pictures. After I got few clips, the Giant Pitta call and that’s the best moment happen. Got the Giant pitta calling for everyone of us
– this lovely bird always accompany me when I looking for some special targets for guests. As usual, think one of most easy place to see this bird is Sabah.
– 这鸟每次当我找目标鸟时，它总是在附近叫不停。在沙巴这鸟应该很容易看到。
202305, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
update 2017 Jul 18
update 2016 Sept 19
beautiful call
update 2016 Jul 10
3. Streaked Wren-Babbler, 短尾鹪鹛, 短尾鷦鶥, Turdinus brevicaudatus, ノドフサザイチメドリ, KEKICAU-MURAI GUNUNG BIASA
– streaky breast small wren-babbler
– another small and moving non stop found near sub-montane and montane area
update 202410
– a very active Wren-Babbler as other Wren-Babbler. Very good in details if photograph close.
– lucky morning meet this pair active bird real close and stay long for us to capture many lovely photos.
– 与其他鹪鹛一样，非常活跃。很上镜的一只鸟，拍起来非常好看。
– 一个幸运的早上，遇上这一对鸟。非常的乖，跑来很近+就让我们拍到美美。
202410, Fraser Hill, Pahang, Malaysia
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update 202403
CANON R3, CANON RF200-800mm
Pahang, Malaysia
– lucky to have this bird calling non stop at road side when we just arrive to check out
4. Large Wren-Babbler, 大鹪鹛, 大鷦鶥, Turdinus macrodactylus, オオサザイチメドリ, KEKICAU-MURAI BESAR BIASA
– big and active Wren Babbler
– many different calls
– lowland
update 202410
– a large and really shy bird, keep changing call. sometime can difficult to spot even it stand near and close
– travel 1 hour special target to this bird, first bird sight .. only heard and not seen. 2nd bird came close and stay so long .. everyone has good view
– another example to show .. my picture is different ? I am sure many say, why so bad quality, not an open picture, bla bla … but do you know ? most of my situation … the bird is in the forest, I need to make sure my guests have a view of it and gave them good angle than only my turn to look for “leftover” angle to have a photo … no complaint ahhhhh …give a like please haha
– and normally we see it mean we need to look for other bird soon .. not stay there waiting ..
– a day tour end up with this amazing active bird which stay at open for more than 25 minutes … good view, picture and video
– 一日观鸟，尽然遇上这么一只很“傻”的活跃+害羞的鸟。站着叫了最少25分钟。
202308, Lanchang, Pahang, Malaysia
update 202308
– a very tough trip at Taman Negara, even we had some good birds but most the birds really difficult to even seen. This bird make use suffer for 3 days, finally in the evening stand so long for us to have good view
– a very active bird, lucky to have few moment captured it calling but too bad I can’t handle the 400mm well with handhled. can see shaky
– as usual it making funny calls, it change call for more than 4 differents
– lucky guest to see this bird for 2 times in 2 days. He insist to have a better look at this target bird. But the first bird seem does not cooperate for him to have good look. Next day , next destination this bird stand long for us.
– so far, this bird just too difficult to capture video, saw them display before but inside dark area and deep in bush or else moving fast and calling .. finally one of the moment I want to share .. how this bird making this song and hope one day capture how it making the call .
– another good moment with this bird, it is difficult to while this bird love to moving near ground and very active. Some of us just see the bird jumping around … but after lunch I decide to check out again. Very lucky to have this bird just ~10 feet from me ..
– never want to missed this bird while I am in Borneo, one of my top 3 birds to be seen and photograph. It happen to my last bird of long main tour. Good view for all, record picture for this super active bird.
– a must see bird at Danum Valley, one of favorite. It is always active and good to have good view.
– 婆罗洲我最喜欢鸟之一。每次到丹浓谷，我都非常期待看到他。他的活跃，叫声是多么的吸引人。
202403, Danum Valley, Sabah
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update 202310
– 2023 is very good year, I didn’t missed any chance to look for this at Danum Valley. active and beautiful bird for photography
– 2023 我在丹绒谷，几乎没错过一次拍这鸟。很活跃，漂亮的鸟。
202307, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
udpate 202309
– Wren-Babbler always my favorite bird to photograph, it is just challenge , beautiful … this bird always my number 1 bird to be chase each time I am at Borneo
– 鹪鹛是我最喜欢拍摄鸟种之一。因为充满挑战+漂亮。特别是这一只，每次到婆罗洲我都要挑战他的。
202307, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
update 202307
– really like the front view of this active bird. most of the time on low near ground.
– 它的正面，真的很好看。这鸟，通常在很低活动。
202307, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
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– this bird seldom stop more than 1-2s. it always on the move and on low ground. I had tried long to get a video. But always failed, not even more than 3s so far .. finally this time I got ~10s even it is not really focus and good view but this is how the bird behave – hope one day can have better video … – 这鸟总是不停的动，几乎不停多过1-2秒。还要主要在地上，试了好几年还是没办法拍多过3秒的视频。还是觉得，不是这么容易。这次拍到好几秒它怎么动。虽然，没很好对焦。可是先加减看看。
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– when look close it is so gorgeous especially the front pattern
– most of them really shy, it is so difficult to have a open view this time. But I still meet one over the after lunch walk. managed to have some pictures and “walking” video
– as usual, a fast moving “ground” level wren-babbler come close to me but just quiet stand there looking at me while the Stripe Wren-Babbler calling non stop nearby,
– 这鸟如常鬼鬼祟祟的在附近看我，以为我看不到他。真的很喜欢这鸟。
202306, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
update 202305
– my favorite bird and this make another favorite picture for me as it look at me for ~1s just like the way it stand and sing.
– 最喜欢鸟种之一，这也是我最喜欢照片之一。这样看我很可爱。
202305, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
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– one of my favorite bird of Malaysia, I heard Blue-headed Pitta, Striped Wren-Babbler & this bird calling and while I am hiding and waiting for Blue-headed Pitta to show. This bird suddenly appear as this, shooting 500mm at almost no crop.
– never boring to see this bird and happy to see it again after long
– 疫情关系，2年没到婆罗洲非常高兴又见到它了。
202205, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
update 2020 March 22
– rare lowland Borneo Endemic
update 2017 June 12
#
6. Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler, 纹胸鹪鹛, 紋胸鷦鶥, Napothera epilepidota, コサザイチメドリ, KEKICAU KENING PANJANG
– an active small wren-babbler ..
– limited locations for this bird
update 202411
– It’s one of those tiny, mysterious birds that appears briefly and disappears just as quickly. Rare and shy, it’s often challenging to get a clear view. I photographed this bird in Sumatra last year, and this year, with the Photography group, we put in extra effort for a better shot. Finally, we were rewarded with some truly amazing moments with this elusive bird…
– another favorite bird of mine, active and beautiful Borneo endemic. But for last few months, seem difficult to have some photo of this bird. Lucky morning to have this small flock moving along the road side.
– very small wren-babbler no tail that move very fast
– split to different family Pnoepygidae, may make another sharing
– 被分鹩鹛属
update 202409
– one of my favorite birds of Malaysia, it is small, cute, active and lovely bird. It always moving with wing span open. But it almost invisible by naked eye.
– with the new canon Pre-continuous Shooting function, simple when see the bird stay still, half-press shutter .. and when see the wing open or move press the shutter .. than anything happen in before .5s will be record as raw into camera .. make this kind of picture simple
9. Black-throated wren-babbler, 黑喉鹪鹛, 黑喉鷦鶥, ノドグロサザイチメドリ, KEKICAU-MURAI BESAR BORNEO
– Borneo endemic
– few different calls
– can perch high up after alert
update 202409
– long time never been Tabin Wildlife Reserve, this time come here for quick one and meet up my very first Guide from Danum Valley BRL .. Paul .. We spend 3 mornings and 2 evening for birding .. not really bad overall, got all 3 Wren-Babbler .. this is one active moving around
– a Borneo endemic pretty common lowland – sub-montane forest. It is a bird seldom miss at Danum Valley.. but still difficult to have a good photo.
– 一只婆罗洲特有种从低海拔-中海拔都能找到。在丹浓谷很少或看不到。可是拍好照片还是需要点运气。
202406, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
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update 20240324
– another reason to be at Danum Valley, as this bird is common here and difficult to miss it. active and with few different amazing “call”
– 另一个理由要到丹浓谷观鸟。这鸟在这蛮普通，几乎很难错过的。这鸟也蛮活跃+吵的。
202403, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
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update 202307
– all of sudden almost any where also heard this bird calling. very active moving as usual. but this bird seem willing to stand here for me take some good pictures and video
– 突然几乎每个森林都听到他叫。可是还是超活跃，可是这家伙。站蛮久。几乎全部都客人都看的非常好。
202307, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia
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– a bird that make many different call, very active and shy for photography.
– as other Wren-Babbler this one same moving really fast and active surprise it is not very shy. Moving in pair and bush fast
– 与其他鹪鹛一样动作非常快，草丛中跳来跳去，可是好像不是很害羞。
update 202401
– almost not possible to get the picture of this endemic bird with bird watcher … but lucky or not so lucky the main target is no show … while we waiting, I personal looking for this bird and lucky to have this better moment for photo and I actually got 3 in 1 frame.
1. Black Laughingthrush, 黑噪鹛, 黑噪鶥, Garrulax lugubris, クロガビチョウ, KEKICAU-RAYA HITAM BIASA
– difficult bird to get open, noisy bird
– found this ~700mm from sea level
update 202307
– a very lucky morning with this shy and active bird stay so low and long for everyone good view and picture session
– 非常幸运的一个早上。这么活跃与害羞的鸟，尽然站了这么低这么久让我们看+拍够。
202308, Fraser Hill, Pahang, Malaysia
update 202305
– while we walking for general birding after long wait for the partridge. All of sudden this bird calling from far, we toward the direction and this bird just stand ~10feet from us .. what a lucky day after Malayan Whistling-Thrush, Bamboo Woodpecker, Malayan Hawk-Cuckoo, Mountain Scops Owl and many good birds today.
– newly update it may not belong to the Laughingthrush family
– rare and shy montane Borneo endemic
update 202409
– one of my best moment of 2029, this bird stay close and one of best view of this bird
– 我的2029最好的一刻，这鸟站这个位置真的最好角度看这鸟。
202407, Trusmadi, Sabah, Malaysia
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– another main target of the short trip, it is close and fast .. all of us saw the bird .. but sad my buddies didn’t got the picture of it feeding on “fruit” (think my first time saw this bird eat fruit) …
– the bird moving fast and inside dark bush, 2 of the Z9 failed to got the bird in focus 🙁 lucky me with new R5markii , if bring mark 1 may be also dont have this best moment of this rare bird
– 与朋友的几天，主要目标之一。这鸟来的蛮近的。可是有入常态，动很快，在暗的地方动。朋友们Z9都没办法对上焦（在这站了好几秒大家都看到）。幸好佳能R5Mark ii 好好表现还是对上了几张。这鸟非常害羞，稀有。非常不容易拍照，还加上第一次看到它吃果子（通常吃昆虫）.
202409, Trusmadi, Sabah, Malaysia
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update 202408
– before archive the folder, make another picture one of best moment of 2024. This bird stand here more than 3 minutes … making call.. looking at us ..such a handsome
– one of my favorite birds of Malaysia, it is not that rare just too active to have good view. But when lucky strike, me and David enjoy few minutes of best moment with this bird .. amazing bird to look at
