Montane Birds of Malaysian Highland

Streaked Spiderhunter

Selangor Bird Fair 2019 was held over two days from 20th to 21st April 2019 at Kuala Kubu Bahru, a quaint town at the foothills of the Titiwangsa range. The town is also popular for its kaya pastries, muffin cakes and there is a shoplot hidden at the end of the corner of the town, which is quite well-known for its curry wantan mee, yong tau foo and claypot mee. The district council of Hulu Selangor hosted this annual event to promote birdwatching amongst the local community, including schoolchildren, college and university students. The closing ceremony was held at Mini Stadium in Kuala Kubu Bahru, which started quite late. I needed to drive back up to Fraser Hill, since I needed to check in at Puncak Inn by 6pm. Luckily I manage to reach the Gap, Selangor in time to birdwatch a bit. My checklist from eBird Malaysia is available HERE. Some of the birds sighted at Fraser Hill included the Streaked Spiderhunter above from the early morning walk near the entrance to Gap Road at Selangor-Pahang border (see checklist HERE), the Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo (don't think I've seen this species yet at Fraser Hill - see checklist HERE), Long-tailed Broadbill, the Malaysian Hill-Partridge (only 1 turned up that day as I sat quietly from across the road - see checklist HERE). Final birdwatching stop was back at the Gap Selangor as I drove down from Fraser Hill. A Gold-Whiskered Barbet was perched out in the open in a bare tree nearby the public toilets and I observed it for a few minutes in the hot mid-day sun. The checklist submitted through eBird Malaysia for this Barbet is available HERE.   

Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo

Malaysian Hill-Partridge (Arborophila campbelli) 

The police station at the Pahang border of Fraser Hill reminds us all of the hills' 100th year anniversary - the Little England of Malaysia celebration of a century in 2019! 

MINDEF accommodation for government staff only

Beautiful yellow moth - food for the montane birds