Fraser's Hill & Bukit Tinggi 29 April - 3 May 2013

As we had not been to Fraser's or Bukit Tinggi for almost a year, we headed north in our VW Golf, with its smaller turbocharged engine and found it as comfortable as our previous SUV. A 6 hour drive and we arrived at The Gap and stopped to check if any birds, but it was all quiet.

Blue Nuthatch

Rufous-browed Flycatcher

After check-in at the Shahzan Inn we went for a recce of the Telecom Loop, and later drove over to Jelai. We found that Jelai had closed.

Next morning we had an unpleasant surprise waiting for us, a flat tyre, not a good start!

Fortunately a quick call to our friend Durei and Mr Amin arrived on his scooter to assist. He advised a trip to Raub to get the tyre repaired, as there are no facilities in Fraser's.

After changing for the spare we continued birding before heading to Raub for lunch. At Goh Tyre they had the tyre fixed in no time, we were very impressed with the service and price (RM20). The cause of the flat was a new shiny screw through the tread?

Back in Fraser's we continued our birding and got some nice birds at the Telecom Loop. Another morning of birding gave us 30 species over the 2½ days.

On 3rd day we left for Bukit Tinggi and checked into the The Colmar Tropicale. We did not have much daylight left and a quick trip up the Organic Farm road was all we managed.

Early the next morning we were at the Japanese Garden carpark. The Silver-breasted Broadbill was still nesting near the carpark. In the garden we met Zaidi, an assistant gardener with 7 years there and an interest in birds. He was kind enough to show us some of his more interesting finds. With his help we spotted the Red-bearded Bee-eater, the Banded Kingfisher nesting and a pair of Whiskered Treeswifts also nesting, on a small tree along the side of the road. We saw 16 species including the Rhinoceros Hornbill.

Silver-breasted Broadbill

Orange-breasted Trogon

Banded Kingfisher

Black-and-yellow Broadbill

Rhinoceros Hornbill

On the way back home we drove by the Janda Baik area with its camping areas and eco resorts. It was a good trip even allowing for the puncture and definitely proved the fuel efficiency of our new car.