Destinations: Kuala Selangor, Fraser’s Hill, Taman Negara, Bukit Tinggi
Central Route (ex Kuala Lumpur ) and the first site that we will visit is the mangrove forest of the Kuala Selangor Nature Park and the surrounding areas. Mangroves are a very unique ecosystem, which is influenced by the rise and fall of the tides. Second site is the hill resort of Fraser’s Hill (also part of an IBA) for highland & lower montane birds. Here we will get to see about 50 -70 highland species and we will hope to catch good views of mostly sunda endemics. The third site is Bukit Tinggi where we will target a rare endemic and other highland birds. Our adventure concludes at one of South East Asia’s finest national park – Taman Negara. It is the most favored birding destination for Peninsula Malaysia to primarily get the fantastic lowland birds.
Read Trip Report : Birding the traditional Peninsular Malaysia Route – In search of Tapir and Birds
Pick up point: Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Target Birds : 150 to 200 species
Destinations: Kuala Selangor, Fraser’s Hill, Taman Negara, Bukit Tinggi
Departure: On request
Duration : 8 days and 7 nights
Our birding adventure will take us through several habitats that will include tidal mangrove forest, lowland rainforest and montane forest. Along the journey we will also search for the birds that frequent the rice paddies. This will offer a broad spectrum of Malaysian birds. These birding sites are well known among the worldwide birding community and our guides second to none. At all times we will ensure our clients the best Malaysia can offer in birds, accommodation and food.
The first site that we will visit is the mangrove forest of the Kuala Selangor Nature Park and the surrounding areas. Mangroves are a very unique ecosystem, which is influenced by the rise and fall of the tides. Here we target to see a unique list including Mangrove Whistler, Mangrove Blue Flycatcher, Lesser Adjutants, Eagles (Created Serpent & White-bellied), Brahminy Kite, Black Baza, Honey Buzzards etc (Migration season), Red Junglefowl, White-breasted Waterhen, Slaty-breasted Rail, Pink-necked Pigeon, Malaysian Bronze-cuckoo, Black-bellied Malkoha, Greater Coucal, Barred Eagle-Owl, Buffy Fish-Owl, Large-tailed Nightjar, Kingfishers (Stork-billed, White-throated, Black-capped, Collared & Common), Dollarbird, Barbets (Coppersmith & Lineated), Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker, Greater Goldenback, Common Iora, Bulbuls (Red-eyed & Yellow-vented), Black-naped Oriole, Warblers (Oriental Reed & Inornate), Flyeater, Ashy Tailorbird, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Malaysian Fantail, Paddyfield Pipit, White-breasted Wood-swallow, Tiger Shrike, Mynas (Common, Javan), Sunbirds (Ruby-cheeked, Olive-backed, Brown-throated), Scarlet Flowerpecker, Oriental White-eye, Munias (White-rumped, Scaly-breasted, Black headed & White-headed), Baya Weaver etc.. Kuala Selangor is also an part of Birdlife International’s Important Bird Area (IBA) and is good for its waders and waterbirds. Common sightings during the migration season end Sept-March would include Plovers (Little Ringed & Mongolian), Whimbrel, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Ruddy Turnstone, Curlew Sandpiper, Terns (White-winged, Caspian, Black-naped & Little) etc..
Our second site is the hill resort of Fraser’s Hill (also part of an IBA) for highland & lower montane birds. Here we will spend the next 3 days in birding heaven. At Fraser’s Hill we will get to see about 50 -70 highland species and we will hope to catch good views of mostly sunda and Peninsular Malaysia endemics such as Malaysian Hill Partridge, Malaysian Laughing-thrush, Malayan Whistling-thrush, Yellow-vented Pigeon, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot, Green-billed Malkoha, Brown Wood-owl, Treewsifts (Whiskered, Grey-rumped), Laughing-thrush (Black, Chesnut-capped), Trogons (Red-headed & Orange-breasted), Red-bearded Bee-eater, Hornbills (Rhinoceros, Great, Wreathed), Barbets (Black-browed, Gold-whiskered, Brown), Yellownape (Greater & Lesser), Broadbills (Silver-breasted & Long-tailed), Large Woodshrike, Grey-chinned Minivet, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Bulbuls (Black-headed, Black Crested, Ochraceous & Mountain), Drongos (Bronzed, Lesser), Asian Fairy Bluebird, Black and Crimson Oriole, Green Magpie, Sultan Tit, Blue Nuthatch, Babblers (Buff-breasted, Striped-Tit, Golden, Grey-throated, White-hooded & Large Scimitar), Silvered-eared Mesia, Mountain Fulvetta, Long-tailed Sibia, Slaty-backed Forktail, Flycatchers (Verditer & Little Pied), Large Niltava, White-throated Fantail, Black-throated Sunbird, Streaked Spiderhunter, Flowerpeckers (Buff-bellied & Orange-bellied), Everett’s White-eye etc..
Our adventure continues to one of South East Asia’s finest national park – Taman Negara. It is the most favored birding destination for Peninsula Malaysia to primarily get the fantastic lowland birds. Sitting amidst towering rainforest trees and among the oldest rainforests and the Tahan River is a gem of a resort that will be your base for the next 3 days of fantastic birding. The lowland rainforest at Taman Negara is home to over 240 species of birds and it is your guide’s regular sites.
Its primary forests and the network of jungle trails among the forest understorey houses some of the most diversified bird list Malaysia has to offer. We will try for gems such as the Lesser Fish-Eagle, Bat Hawk, Black-thighed Falconet, Ferruginous Wood-Partridge, Crested Fireback, Malaysian Peacock Pheasant, Great Argus, Pigeons (Thick-billed, Little Green, Large Green, Wedge-tailed, Green Imperial & Green-winged), Long-tailed Parakeet, Parrots (Blue-rumped & Blue-crowned), Cuckoo (Indian, Oriental Banded Bay, Plaintive, Drongo & Asian Emerald), Malkohas (Raffles & Red-billed), Lesser Coucal, Owls (Reddish Scops, Collared Scops, Brown Hawk & Spotted-Wood), Nightjars (Malaysian-Eared & Large), Trogons (Red-naped, Diard’s & Scarlet-rumped), Kingfishers (Blue-eared, Oriental Dwarf, Rufous-collared & Stork-billed), Hornbills (Bushy-Crested, Black, Oriental, Rhinoceros, Great & Helmeted), Barbets (Gold-whiskered, Red-crowned, Red-throated, Blue-eared & Brown), Woodpeckers (Grey-headed, Crimson-winged, Grey-and-Buffed, Great Slaty, White-bellied, Buff-rumped & Buff-necked), Broadbills (Dusky, Banded, Black-and-Red, Black-and-Yellow & Green), Pitta (Garnet, Banded & Blue-winged), Black-winged Flycatcher Shrike, Scarlet Minivet, Green Iora, Leafbirds (Blue-winged, Greater & Lesser), Bulbuls (Straw-headed, Scaly-breasted, Stripe-throated, Cream-vented & Red-eyed), Greater Racquet-tailed Drongo, Asian Fairy Bluebird, Black-naped Oriole, Black Magpie, Large-billed Crow, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Babblers (Abbott’s, Rufous-crowned, Grey-headed & Chestnut-winged), Malaysian Rail-Babbler, Flycatchers (Dark-sided & Asian Brown, Grey-headed & Tickell’s Blue), Asian Paradise-Flycatcher, Monarchs (Black-naped & Rufous-winged), Spotted Fantail, Forest Wagtail, Hill Myna, Scarlet Sunbird, Little Spiderhunter, Flowerpeckers (Scarlet-breasted, Yellow-vented, Orange-bellied, Pin-tailed Parrotfinch and many others and if we are very lucky, we’ll see unique wildlife too.
The tour then heads back towards Kuala Lumpur with a final stop at a unique birdwatching destination, Bukit Tinggi. This lower montane site is about 1,000m asl and this is the best place to target the endemic and rare Mountain Peacock Pheasant and other highlands birds. This is also the best site to end a bird tour as we will be granted access to areas that are restricted to other birdwatchers and we’ll target birds that we have missed from previous sites. Also part of an Important Bird Area (IBA), this site has so much of birds and wildlife to offer.
Day 1: Meet at KLIA. Travel to Kuala Selangor. Afternoon coastal birding around the area. Dinner & Optional Amazing Synchronous Fireflies (Pterotryx tener) boat tour. Check-in to resort. (De Palma Inn)
Day 2: Drive (5 minutes) to Kuala Selangor Nature Park, spend the morning on the mangrove and secondary forest trail. Break for Lunch. Drive to Fraser’s Hill Check in Shahzan Inn, Hotel. exciting birds ahead.
Day 3: Fraser’s Hill Birding. More birds Last night Overnight in Shahzan Inn Hotel
Day 4: Drive to Taman Negara via Kuala Tahan and arrive Taman Negara (National Park). Check in at guest house Hans Resort.
Day 5/6: Exciting birding with a boat ride in Taman Negara National Park’s pristine Lowland Rainforest.
Day 7 : Taman Negara Birding Last look for birds still not on our list, check out and drive to Bukit Tinggi.
Day 8: Morning birding in Bukit Tinggi, check out and drive to Kuala Lumpur
Minimum 2 persons on twin sharing room
Accommodation: Selangor : De Palma Inn**, Fraser’s Hill : Shazan Inn Hotel**, Taman Negara : Hans Resort**, Bukit Tinggi : Colmar Trpicale***
Package Inclusive of : Accommodation in twin sharing room, breakfast, bird guide, all land transportation.
Not Included in Price: Domestic airfare, Lunch, Dinner, Beverages, Camera fees where applicable, Tips and porter
