Fraser's Hill Bird Race 2014

The Fraser's Hill Bird Race is held annually in June. We decided to give it a try this year, and we had a really fun weekend. There was a good crowd, probably the most people we had ever seen, in Fraser's. Each team consists of three persons and this year there were 25 entries, half the number of last year. Evidently this is a World Cup phenomenon that has been noticed previously.

Common Green Magpie (Cissa chinensis)

At 1 pm on Saturday 21st June the race kicked off, and finished 24 hours later, when the log-books need to be submitted before 1 pm on Sunday. During the race, each log-book also had to be stamped by marshals at 4 checkpoints, to ensure you were in the locations where the species are seen at the time you recorded them.

Our team consisted of myself, my wife and her brother Tat. Our "race" was definitely laid-back and it really helped that we had a car to drive to the further locations.We were happy with 41 birds logged (and a White-thighed Leaf Monkey). Some "little brown jobs" were unidentifiable and missed getting into the count.

Large Niltava (Niltava grandis)-Juv

After lunch on Sunday we attended the closing ceremony and could not  believe it when our team  "Funseekers" was announced as, the 2nd Runner-up in the Novice category. A bonus to our fun trip. This is an incentive to return for next year's Bird Race.

There were a number of exhibitors on hand, including Minox, Steiner and Swarovski, where you could get your hands on the latest Binos, Scopes ans other gadgets as well as  information on other birding and nature locations in Malaysia. 

Rufous-browed Flycatcher (Anthipes solitaris)

                                              FH Bird Race 2014

Golden Babbler (Stachyridopsis chrysaea)

Birding Chiang Dao and Doi Lang with Friends - March 2014

Silver Pheasant (Lophura nycthemera)

An invitation from, our friend Lioe, to join their trip saw us back again in Doi Lang/Doi Angkhang. We had been here last September, but the chance of new birds was enough for us. We flew Tiger Airways on the 15th directly to Chiangmai from Singapore and stayed the night in the Old City.

Sunday morning at 5 am Uthai collected us from our guesthouse and we were soon on our way to the Chiangdao temple.   

Silver Pheasant (Lophura nycthemera)

At the top of the temple forest we were very lucky to see the beautiful Silver Pheasant strutting its stuff. There were other birds, of course, but this was definitely the standout of the morning.

After an excellent American breakfast at the nearby Nest resort, we were heading for Angkhang and the Ban Luang Resort, where we had stayed 2 years ago. 

Siberian Blue Robin (Luscinia cyane)-F

Ban Luang is a great place to see birds and a favourite with local birders.

The garden has plenty fruit trees and there is a waterfall and stream only metres away.

White-browed Scimitar Babbler (Pomatorhinus schisticeps)

Some of the winter migrants had already left on their way home but there was still much to see. There were White-browed Scimitar Babblers nesting not far from our room.

Taiga Flycatcher (Ficedula albicilla)

We visited the King's Project and had good views of the Hill Blue Flycatcher, White-tailed Robin, Rufous-bellied Niltava, White-capped Redstart, Taiga Flycatcher and a pair of Silver-eared Mesia.

White-tailed Robin (Myiomela leucura)

White-tailed Robin (Myiomela leucura)

Hill Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis banyumas)

Rufous-bellied Niltava (Niltava sundara)

White-capped Redstart (Chaimarrornis leucocephalus)

Silver-eared Mesia (Leiothrix argentauris)

Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush (Monticola rufiventris) -F

Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus)

We drove to the  Thai-Burma Border at Nor-Lae lookout; enjoyed the view and saw the Daurian Redstart very clearly. Later we visited Doi Pha Hom Pok Nat'l Park and got the Eurasian Kestrel, Asian Barred Owlet and Olive-backed Pipit among or sightings.

We then drove to Fang and checked in at the Vieng Kaew Resort for a good nights rest before hitting Doi Lang next morning.

Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus)

Asian Barred Owlet (Glaucidium cuculoides)

Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni)

At 6 am we were on our way and spotted a Yellow-throated Marten crossing the road, followed soon after by a pair of Mountain Bamboo Partridges, one of our target birds. unfortunately no Mrs Hume's Pheasant!

Mountain Bamboo Partridge (Bambusicola fytchii)

Rufous-bellied Niltava (Niltava sundara)-F

Along the way, with the help of Uthai, we lured the Ultramarine Flycatcher out for some very good views.

Ultramarine Flycatcher (Ficedula superciliaris)

Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler (Pomatorhinus erythrogenys)

Later we saw the White-browed Laughingthrush, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler and feeding above in some red flowers were the Grey-headed Parrotbill, Spot-breasted Parrotbill and one Eyebrowed Thrush. On a low branch near to our hide was a nesting Hodgson's Frogmouth, which we tried not to disturb.

Siberian Rubythroat

Hodgson's Frogmouth

The following morning we tried again for Mrs Hume's with no luck, but we did see the the Siberian Rubythroat before she headed North.
In the afternoon we headed back to Chiangmai and stayed, again, in the Old City for our last night.
We enjoyed the trip, even though we missed some of the migrants, and still managed 7 lifers.
Link to Chiang Dao Photos Doi Angkhang Photos Doi Lang Photos

Baan Songnok, Kaeng Krachan December 2013

Kalij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos)-F

This was our third visit to Kaeng Krachan and this time we stayed at Baan Songnok (GPS 12.84689 deg N 19.57989 deg E), Auntie Aek runs this homestay with her daughter, "X". As it was a short stay we thought we would just take advantage of the waterhole and hides in their gardens.

Kalij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos)

Scaly-breasted Partridge (Arborophila chloropus)

The first morning at the blind we were in luck and saw the Kilaj Pheasant, male and female, the Scaly-breasted Partridge, Taiga Flycatcher and Black-naped Monarch and big flocks of Red Junglefowls. After lunch the smaller birds came, the Siberian Blue Robin, Hill Blue Flycatcher, Babblers with the highlight of the Slaty-legged Crake being the last visitor of the day for their evening bath.

Black-naped Monarch  (Hypothymis azurea)

Slaty-legged Crake (Rallina eurizonoides)

It was good easy birding at Baan Songnok and in addition to having good views of some hard to see babblers we could take  coffee breaks when it was quiet.  We enjoyed their hospitality and the good Thai food that X cooked, she also gave us a complimentary ride to Lung Sin's waterhole and blind for a morning stakeout where we found the visiting birds were similar species found at Baan Songnok.  In between our visits to the hides, we took walks in the gardens and the surrounding area.  Our short stay produced 38 species with 4 lifers.  Auntie Aek recommended that the mountain in April will have more interesting birds as they will be breeding so another trip at that time?

Hill Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis banyumas)-F

Hill Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis banyumas)

More Photos from Baan Songnok

Doi Inthanon re-visited November 2013

Rufous-throated Partridge

This was our second visit to Doi Inthanon and as the first visit had been in April it was to check the birds in a different season this time.

As before, our guide Uthai, from Chiang Mai Birding picked us from the hotel in Chiang mai early in the morning and headed for the Mae Hia ricefields where some migrant Red Avadavats had been seen there but we only managed several very fleeting views. We did see many others including Pied Bushchats, EasternStonechat, Indochinese Bush Lark, White Wagtail and many Munias and Black-collared Starlings.

Our next stop was Ob Khan National Park which is still in the process of being established. We stayed only a couple of hours and saw Rosy Minivet, Ashy Drongo, Black-hooded Oriole and both Grey and White Wagtails.

We continued to Li town and checked into our guesthouse, had lunch and headed straight to Mae Ping to look for the woodpeckers. Unfortunately it was not our day, although we did hear many, we only managed a very poor view of a Black-headed Woodpecker. We tried again the following morning before going to Inthanon but again, it was not to be.

Ashy-throated Warbler

Arriving at Inthanon, within 1 hour or so we had excellent views of a Plumbeous Redstart, a White-capped Redstart and a Slaty-backed Forktail. So it was off to dinner feeling very satisfied with our day. For the next 2 ½ days we enjoyed the cool weather and saw many birds, the highlights being the Rufous-bellied Niltava, Small Niltava, Grey-throated Babbler, Mrs Gould's Sunbird, Rufous-throated Partridge, Eurasian Woodcock, Ashy-throated Warbler and White-headed Bulbul.

All too soon it was time to leave and head back to Chiang mai, with a quick stop at Mae Hia, and again, apart from some glimpses of the Red Avadavats it was very quiet.

After a relaxing night in our hotel it was on the plane home. We saw 84 species with 12 lifers.

Grey-throated Babbler

Rufous-bellied Niltava

Eurasian Woodcock

Small Niltava

Plumbeous Redstart

More Inthanon Photos

Birding Taiwan October 2013

Swinhoe's Pheasant

We eventually made our trip to Taiwan this October after thinking about it for a while and reading various trip reports about the easy birding at Dasyueshan for the endemic pheasants. We wanted to do a self-drive trip but for first time birding in Taiwan, we had doubts on directions and getting accommodation reserved at the Forestry website http://tsfs.forest.gov.tw/cht/index.php?   

After reading a recent trip report from a UK group complimenting local guide Kuen-dar Chiang, we decided to do the trip with a guide. We contacted Kuen-dar in early September and got a reply with a proposed itinerary for the two places we want to go, Dasyueshan and Kenting (for the Grey-faced Buzzard migration); a yearly event held at Manhjou during their National Day, October 10th. He also was able to make all the accommodation arrangements and recommended we fly direct to Taichung and return from Kaohsiung to cut down on road transfers. We found Cathay Pacific offering this routing and on 8th October, flew via Hongkong and arrived in Taichung at 2 pm. Kuen-dar met us and to our relief the weather was fine, as with sheer luck, we had just missed typhoon Usagi. 

Guguan

Our first stop was Guguan for the night and to check out some lower level species with a target to see the Taiwan Blue Magpie. We checked into the Dragon Valley Spa Hotel and started birding at 4 pm. We saw the White Wagtail, Plumbeous Water Redstart and Grey Wagtail feeding in the river far down the ravine but no Blue Magpie that late afternoon. Next morning we started 5.30 am in search of the Blue Magpie but they were not flying and it was the same birds seen yesterday although the Brown Dipper was sighted in the morning mist.

Taiwan Scimitar Babbler

A stop at the nearby forestry office was more rewarding with Grey-cheeked Fulvetta, Varied Tit, Taiwan Barbet, Black Bulbul, Taiwan Scimitar Babbler and an obliging Rufous-capped Babbler, were some of our sightings.

Rufous-capped Babbler

After breakfast we drove to Heping on our way to Dongshih's Dasyueshan Forest Road (formerly road No.200) and the ascent up the mountain. We stopped at KM7 for lunch at a fruit farm with a homestay and Pacific Swallows, Straited Swallows were feeding on insects in the air. After lunch we headed up to the bird watching deck at KM23 where the Swinhoe's Pheasant appeared on cue together with Long-nosed Squirrel and the White-whiskered Laughingthrush (locally called the "iPhone" bird as they come close looking for food).

After the thrill of seeing the Swinhoe's so close, we continued to the Tourist Service and Ticketing Booth at KM35 where we stopped for a short look around. As it was quiet, we continued to the Visitors Centre at KM43 to quickly check-in to our lodge and continue our birding.

A Pair of Mikado Pheasants

As soon as we approached KM42 the Mikado Pheasant was already visible crossing the road and we had good views of both male and female birds. Kuen-dar then decided to try for the Rose-finch and we took a walk near a car-park before the summit. There were only the "iPhone" birds amusing the visitors at the car-park.

Collared Bush Robin

Steere's Liocichla

With the 2 pheasants in our bag it was the "small birds" that we were looking out for the next day at the summit, KM48, also known as "Siaosueyshan" where we spent the full day looking for specialties like Nutcracker, Flamecrest and Rosefinch. Indeed the next morning we were quite relaxed and up early on our own checking the gardens around the lodge. Although we heard the Wren Babblers we could only see it darting between bushes in the morning mist, however we had good views of the Steere's Liocichla feeding on fallen insects near the lights.

White-whiskered Laughingthrush

Rusty Laughingthrush

White-backed Woodpecker

 

At the summit, Siaosueyshan, we watched a documentary at the visitor center then walked up to the highest point the Tianchih at KM50 where we saw the Nutcracker very high in the treetops. Lunch was at the restaurant and we birded along the trail 230 and it was rather quiet with occasional bird waves of Taiwan Yuhina and Black-throated Tits. As it was 10-10 their National Day there were many visitors trekking and picnicking at the park also. On 11th we had an early start at 5.30am to the summit and after a long time saw the Flamecrest feeding in the pine tree tops, then it was down to KM42 to look for the Hill Patridge and were lucky to see one bird with the Mikado pheasants but it quickly moved off and never came back into view. Back at the KM43 for our breakfast and then check-out, we drove around, and at KM32 we got the White-eared Sibia and at the waterfall two Little Forktails were feeding. A glimpse of the Eurasian Jay up in the trees and further down we saw Nuthatches in a bird wave. We checked into the home-stay at KM7 and birded in the lower levels and in the evening had dinner in Dongshih. On our last day at Dasyueshan 大雪山 we started early at 6 am and drove up to KM23 for the Hill Patridge but had no luck, instead the Swinhoe's Pheasant and White-eared Sibia and a pair of White-backed Woodpecker came to a tree near the deck.  The surprise of the morning birding was seeing a group of 12 Rusty Laughing Thrushes. We then drove down to check out a trail at KM7 for the Taiwan Huaimei and while it was calling loudly in the bushes we did not get a good view of it.  At 11 am it was time to start the 6-hour drive to Kenting, it was 4 hours on the free-way with another 1.5 hours coming off at Xinqi Township. We arrived at the raptor watch site at Manhjou at 5pm when Gray-faced Buzzards were seen coming in to roost in the trees. 

On Sunday, we left the home-stay at 6am for Kenting National Park and the early birds on the wires were Styan's Bulbuls, Grey Treepies, and near the temple, the White-bellied Green Pigeons feeding on the fig tree. We drove further into the park and walked up to the watch-tower where it was windy. A big group of volunteer raptor counters,  raptor watchers and photographers were already there. Each time a flock appeared; sounds of excitement and lots of clicking from the cameras.

Grey Treepie

Styan's Bulbul

White-shouldered Starling

Because it was very windy some flocks were turning back to the trees. By 11.30 am it was getting hot and too crowded and we left as the raptor count on the tower would also end at 12 noon. It was time for lunch in town. We returned to Manhjou in the afternoon where we visited the few booths one of which the Wild Bird Society of Taipei and bought t-shirts and stickers while Kuen-dar chatted with his old friends, some volunteers who came to do the raptor count. We stayed two nights in Hengchun, an old town in Kenting and left for Kaohsiung for one more night at  http://liuheyeshi.kindness-hotel.com.tw which really impressed with its service, which included free laundry and all day free coffee and ice cream with free snacks!

The following morning, 15th October, we flew home via Hong Kong very pleased with our 7 days birding and glad to have Kuen-dar not only to guide us but also arranging the accommodation and taking us to sample some traditional Taiwanese street food. Kuen-dar is an experienced English-speaking bird guide and his preferred contact is via https://www.facebook.com/kuendar.chiang.