I started birding earlier by 7.45am after driving up from Swiss-Garden Genting Highlands to the mushroom farm restaurant which took around 20 minutes to reach. I could hear the calls of the woodpecker as I rounded one of the bends as I neared the summit of Genting Resorts. Mr Damian Gan Bo Hui's checklist for 14th June 2026 which can be viewed HERE contain avian species, some of which matched the species I saw on 13th June 2026 afternoon including the Himalayan Cutia, which he had managed to capture beautiful pictures of through his camera. He definitely saw more species than me in his party of 3. The Himalayan cutia was THE bird of the year for me which renewed and reignited my interest in birdwatching. Although the cutia did not show up again, the minivets did that morning, together with the Golden-throated Barbet which was feeding on a fruiting fig tree before it flew upwards above and beyond my sight. The mountain leaf warbler, chestnut-crowned warbler, arctic warbler, white-browed shrike-babbler, were up and about the forest including the golden babbler, which for the first time, I spotted three of their chicks which were hiding under a thick foliage of leaves. Carefully concealed from predators, these chicks stand a very good chance to fully fledge and carry on bringing joy to birdwatchers like me. My checklist at eBird Malaysia can be viewed HERE. A quick stop at the Chin Swee temple to give thanks to Buddha was a must before I had my late breakfast of Roti Canai and Teh Tarik at Raub Curry Fish Head Restaurant, Goh Tong Jaya. There is a now a charge of RM5 for every vehicle that heads up to Genting Highlands either through the KL-Karak highway or via the Batang Kali, Selangor trunk road. This would apply for those who plan to go shopping at Genting Premium Outlets. A pair of Grey-chinned Minivets appeared next to Buddha, the male and female species, a perfect symbol of YIN and YANG just like how the Dragon and the Phoenix represent the YIN and YANG equilibrium, symbolizing balance, harmony and matrimonial bliss with the Dragon embodying masculine vigor and power, the Phoenix, feminine grace and beauty. The dragon and phoenix symbols remind me of my nieces and nephews, the youngest of which are twins. The new galleria at Chin Swee temple, contained displays of porcelain and ceramic tiles which were carefully dismantled from the temple when it underwent renovations, and included a replica wood carvings of the temple. More about this new galleria can be read HERE. I am also reminded of Ajahn Chan's quote below and may I always remember this, whenever I face any challenges in life:- Anything which is troubling you.
Anything which is irritating you.
THAT is your teacher.
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| The original picture of the Golden-Throated Barbet which I managed to snap that morning. A heavily cropped picture of it is provided below. |
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| The Golden-throated Barbet flew further higher up from the fruiting tree in which it was feeding on earlier. Such a shy montane barbet species. |
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| The Streaked Spiderhunter - one would always hear its high-pitched calls before seeing it! |
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| Golden Babbler - one of two seen at eye-level. No time to adjust the settings on my camera when it perched and called so close in front of me. |
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| One of the Golden Babblers' chicks cleverly hidden in thick foliage and only visible from a certain angle. |
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| Grey-chinned Minivet, a pair of male and female perched that morning at the Mushroom Farm. |
Birds carved in ceramic & porcelain, tiles of which were carefully removed from the temple during renovations. These were on display at the Chin Swee temple Galleria.
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| Porcelain & ceramics tile representing the Phoenix, a mystical creature which together with the dragon are always featured on the card invitations from Chinese wedding ceremonies. |
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| Colourful lion statues which had silently guarded the entrance to the temple. |
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| Porcelain ceramics tile representing what looks like a Blue Magpie perched on a twig of two fully-bloomed flowers. |
A beautiful sunny morning at Chin Swee temple as I completed my birdwatching at Genting Highlands.
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| Buddha from a distance whom I thanked for allowing me to birdwatch safely. |
