A very early start to arrive at the summit of Bukit Tingii pre-dawn to get in position along the trail where Mountain Peacock-Pheasants have been fed for several years now. It was an overcast dank morning and it was no real surprise that we were the only birders present. The photo-blind was quickly found and we made ourselves comfortable. Dawn soon arrived and the first birds to become active were a Siberian Blue Robin and a Tiger Shrike. It was generally rather quiet although a few nice species were seen including a pair of Orange-brested Trogons and a pair of Black Laughingthrushes and a Common Treeshrew kept us entertained, After a couple of hours a female Mountain Peacock-Pheasant quietly appeared on the scene and spent c.5 minutes feeding before receding back into the shadows. Whilst it was tempting to move-on our patience was rewarded when another female appeared this time accompanied by a male, that whilst not in full display, was making a few moves for the benefit of the female. We then left and made our way down the hill to an area of seeding bamboo but again no Parrotfinches obliged although 4 Wreathed Hornbills overflew. A mixed flock moved through that included 4 Sultan Tits. We then left Bukit Tingii with the idea of returning to Krau. However, it soon became evident that heavy skies and heavy rain were persisting to the east of the mountain chain so we decided to abandon our intention and instead head to the nearby Genting Highlands being an area I'd visited on a previous trip with JFC. Whilst it was dry for much of the ascent it was quite foggy, dank and even cold at the summit. As we drove the summit track a female Mountain Peacock-Pheasant with a near fully-grown chick were stood by the side of the track presumably in preference to foraging in the wet forest undergrowth. A little further along the track we saw a Red Junglefowl in similar circumstances. Near the summit itself there were 2 Siberian Thrushes and a male Lesser Shortwing was enticed into view. A mixed flock of Chestnut-capped Laughingthrushes and Chestnut-tailed Minlas moved through and a male Snowy-browed Flycatcher was seen. We then descended the mountain in search of warmer weather and chanced upon a signed IBA. There was far more activity with the highlights seen there including a pair of displaying Blyth's Hawk-Eagles, 6 Blue-throated Bee-eaters and a Red-bearded Bee-eater. At dusk we took a break for a meal in a nearby Chinese restaurant before returning hoping to hear a Frogmouth or an Owl but the forest was silent and it soon started to rain so we returned to the Selasa Resort.
Bukit Tingii
MOUNTAIN PEACOCK-PHEASANT 3
Emerald Dove 1
Plume-toed Swiftlet c.15
Pacific Swift c.100
Orange-breasted Trogon 2
Wreathed Hornbill 4
Swallow 2
Pacific Swallow c.15
Orange-bellied Leafbird 1
Black-crested Bulbul 2
Red-eyed Bulbul 1
Ochraceous Bulbul 2
Sultan Tit 4
Black Laughingthrush 2
Siberian Blue Robin 1 female
Oriental Magpie-Robin 4
White-rumped Shama 4
Tiger Shrike 1
Asian Glossy Starling 3
Streaked Spiderhunter 1
Tree Sparrow 2
Genting Highlands
Blyth's Hawk-Eagle 2
Red Junglefowl 1
Mountain Peacock-Pheasant 2 (female and near fully grown chick)
Little Cuckoo-Dove 6
Spotted Dove 2
Glossy Swiftlet c.15
Blue-throated Bee-eater 6
Red-bearded Bee-eater 1
Black-browed Barbet 2
Grey-chinned Minivet 6
Orange-bellied Leafbird 2
Black-crested Bulbul 2
Cinereous Bulbul 2
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch 2
Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush 3
Chestnut-tailed Minla 2
Lesser Shortwing 1 male
Siberian Thrush 2 male & female
Snowy-browed Flycatcher 1 male
Large Niltava 4
Grey Wagtail 1
Javan Myna 2
Everett's White-eye c.40
Bukit Tingii summit
View from the Bukit Tingii photo blind
Female Siberian Blue Robin at Bukit Tingii
Juvenile Tiger Shrike at Bukit Tingii
Oriental Magpie-Robin at Bukit Tingii
Ochraceous Bulbul at Bukit Tingii
Common Tree Shrew at Bukit Tingii
Female Mountain Peacock-Pheasant at Bukit Tingii
Male Mountain Peacock-Pheasant at Bukit Tingii
the female appears in the background and the display begins...
Red-eyed Bulbul at Bukit Tingii
Female and chick Mountain Peacock-Pheasant at Genting Highlands
Female Red Junglefowl at Genting Highlands
Female Large Niltava at Genting Highlands
Male Large Niltava at Genting Highlands
First-winter female Siberian Thrush at Genting Highlands
First-winter male Siberian Thrush at Genting Highlands
Male Lesser Shortwing at Genting Highlands
The above picture postcard made the resort we were staying in look rather nice sat at the foot of Bukit Tingii but despite staying there 2 nights we never saw it in daylight!
