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THE MALAY PENINSULA
Monday 9th August - Sunday 22nd August 2010
Simon Harrap
The 2010 Birdquest to the Malay Peninsula continued our long run of successful trips to this classic birding destination, and we recorded 265 species. At Kuala Selangor we found Mangrove Whistler and Mangrove Blue Flycatcher, had great views of Mangrove Pitta, and enjoyed both Barred Eagle-Owl and Buffy Fish-Owl. At Fraser’s hill we added Collared Owlet, Mountain Scops Owl and Brown Wood Owl to our tally, as well as the local specialities Yellow-vented Green Pigeon, Black-browed and Fire-tufted Barbets, Malayan Whistling Thrush, Malayan, Black and Spectacled Laughingthrushes and Blue Nuthatch. More widespread species such as Dusky and Banded Broadbills, Streaked and Pygmy Wren-Babblers and Chestnut-backed Scimitar-Babbler were also found, and we had a real treat with a tremendous chorus from Siamangs and even saw a couple of these impressive gibbons. An extended stay at Taman Negara provided Crested Fireback and (for some) Malayan Peacock-Pheasant, Bat Hawk, Lesser Fish Eagle, Rufous-collared Kingfisher, four species of hornbill, Great Slaty Woodpecker (and the trip recorded 17 species of woodpecker in total), Garnet and Banded Pittas, two philentomas, the bizarre Crested Jay, Rufous-chested Flycatcher, Straw-headed Bulbul and a host of babblers, including Large Wren-Babbler and the elusive White-necked Babbler. There was a dearth of fruiting trees, hitting out list of bulbuls and flowerpeckers, but we did find three species of green pigeon and record numbers of Blue-rumped Parrots.
