30 years ago: 9-14 February 1982, Taman Negara (last week)

Tuesday 9th February 1982:  Taman Negara (Bukit Teresek)

Heavy early morning rain so had late breakfast.  Decided to go up Bukit Teresek but Colin caught up with us having seen a perched frogmouth while leaving the trail for a call of nature.  He took us back to the spot but it had gone.  Spent a lot of time looking, to no avail.  Continued up Bukit Teresek to where we’d seen Roulrouls but nothing doing and turned around to return to HQ, although as rain stopped continued birding until late afternoon.  Then went back for a torch and was at the frogmouth site at dusk but no luck with the bird.  Lots of leeches and falling branches today and the river in flood due to the rain.  Threw up fish and chip supper after being in bunk an hour.  Felt immediately better after.

Birds seen included:  Great Argus Pheasant 2 females, Pink-necked Green Pigeon 3, *Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo 1 immature, Chestnut-breasted Malkoha 1, Southern Pied Hornbill 1, Checker-throated Woodpecker 2, Maroon Woodpecker 2, Black and Red Broadbill 3, Chestnut-naped Forktail 1 female, White-crowned Forktail 1, Short-tailed Babbler 2, Horsfield’s Babbler 1, White-necked Babbler 2, Thick-billed Spiderhunter 2, Crested Jay 2, Hill Myna 2.

view from Bukit Teresek, airstrip visible bottom left

me at Bukit Teresek

Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo at Taman Negara

Wednesday 10th February 1982:  Taman Negara (Bukit Teresek)

All day on usual route including a trip up Bukit Teresek, but only to the first observation point.  First and last parts of day spent photographing birds in flowering trees and Hooded Pitta in its ravine with film speed 4-8 times too slow.

Birds seen included:  *Grey-headed Fishing Eagle 1 adult, Great Argus Pheasant 2 females (same?), Mountain Imperial Pigeon 5, Malay Hanging Parrot 5, Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo 1 (same), Raffle’s Malkoha 4, Chestnut-breasted Malkoha 2, Asian Palm Swift 2, White-whiskered Treeswift 1, Bushy-crested Hornbill 5, Wreathed Hornbill 2, Southern Pied Hornbill 2, Brown Barbet 1, White-bellied Woodpecker 1, Hooded Pitta 1 (same as 30/1), Bar-bellied Cuckoo Shrike 3, 12 sp. of bulbul (including 1 Puff-backed, 1 Crested Olive & 2 Olive-winged), Short-tailed Babbler 2, Ferruginous Babbler 1, Striped Wren Babbler 3, Black-capped Babbler 3, Red-throated Sunbird 2, Scarlet Sunbird 1 male, Long-billed Spiderhunter 4, Spectacled Spiderhunter 1, Tiger Shrike 1 juvenile, Bronzed Drongo 2.

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha at Taman Negara

Dark-necked Tailorbird at Taman Negara

female Magpie Robin at Taman Negara

male Magpie Robin at Taman Negara

Long-billed Spiderhunter at Taman Negara

Long-billed Spiderhunter at Taman Negara

Spectacled Spiderhunter at Taman Negara

Spectacled Spiderhunter at Taman Negara

Malay Hanging Parrot at Taman Negara

Malay Hanging Parrot at Taman Negara

Malay Hanging Parrot at Taman Negara, not doing much hanging

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Tiger Shrike at Taman Negara

Tiger Shrike at Taman Negara

Tiger Shrike at Taman Negara

Hooded Pitta in the ravine, requires some imagination but it is facing left and a bit away, the blue shoulder flash visible above the sunlit stem

Thursday 11th February 1982:  Taman Negara (Bukit Teresek), Malaysia

The others left Kuala Tahan to revisit Kumbang again.  I wasn’t much interested and went up Bukit Teresek along the ‘closed’ trail.  It was disappointing but there were some good birds near the summit.  Came back by the usual route and saw the top half of Dave’s Garnet Pitta for about a second.  Few birds generally but a nice day to wander around.

Birds seen included:  Little Green Pigeon 20, Drongo Cuckoo 1, Raffle’s Malkoha 5, Chestnut-breasted Malkoha 3, Himalayan Swiftlet 100, White-vented Needletail 10, Fork-tailed Swift 5, White-whiskered Treeswift 1, Blue-throated Bee-eater 2, Red-bearded Bee-eater 1, *White-crowned Hornbill 2, Wreathed Hornbill 2, Rufous Piculet 1, Buff-necked Woodpecker 2, Black and Red Broadbill 2, Garnet Pitta 1 (briefly), Green Iora 1, White-rumped Shama 1, Eastern Crowned Leaf Warbler 8, Arctic Warbler 2, Chestnut-winged Flycatcher 7, Short-tailed Babbler 1, Moustached Babbler 1, Striped Wren Babbler 2, Chestnut-rumped Babbler 1, Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler 2, Dark-throated Oriole 1, *Slender-billed Crow 2.

Bukit Teresek from the south

view north from Bukit Teresek

Friday 12th February 1982:  Taman Negara (Bukit Teresek & ravines)

Same old routine including visit to Bukit Teresek where saw a male Siberian Blue Robin followed by a Garnet Pitta for 5 minutes in ‘the’ ravine, must be the best in SE Asia.  Not much else of note but still managed two new birds.  Others returned having seen a few nice mammals (primarily a civet and a Gaur) and two Banded Pittas on the walk back.  Have seen 50 new birds in 16 full days at Taman Negara (including 3 new pittas).  Decided to give it one more full day, unless a Giant Pitta is seen then all bets are off!

Birds seen included:  Blyth’s Hawk Eagle 1, *Blue-rumped Parrot 1, Malay Hanging Parrot 2, Brown Needletail 2, White-whiskered Treeswift 3, Scarlet-rumped Trogon 1 female, Bushy-crested Hornbill 1, Rhinoceros Hornbill 6, Blue-eared Barbet 1, Black and Red Broadbill 1, Garnet Pitta 1, Bar-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike 3, *Black and White Bulbul 2, Siberian Blue Robin 1 male, Brown Flycatcher 1, White-necked Babbler 2, Plain Sunbird 1, Fairy Bluebird 20.

Saturday 13th February 1982:  Taman Negara (Bukit Teresek & ravines)

Usual route up Bukit Teresek then two and a half hours in ‘the’ ravine where Banded and Hooded Pittas seen.  No new birds today so appear to be timing departure well.

Birds seen included:  Crested Goshawk 1, Wallace’s Hawk Eagle 1, Black-thighed Falconet 2, Blue-rumped Parrot 7, Malay Hanging Parrot 4, Raffle’s Malkoha 1, White-whiskered Treeswift 4, Scarlet-rumped Trogon 1 male, Black Hornbill 2, Blue-eared Barbet 2, Brown Barbet 1, Great Slaty Woodpecker 2, Black and Red Broadbill 4, Hooded Pitta 2 (1 same as on 30/1), Banded Pitta 1 (same as seen previously), Black and White Bulbul 2, Scaly-breasted Bulbul 1, Puff-backed Bulbul 2, Stripe-throated Bulbul 1, White-rumped Shama 2, Eastern Crowned Leafbird 2, Short-tailed Babbler 2, Black-throated Babbler 1, Plain Sunbird 1, Scarlet Sunbird 2, Spectacled Spiderhunter 1, Yellow-eared Spiderhunter 2, Black-naped Oriole 2, Fairy Bluebird 8, Crested Jay 3, Hill Myna 4.

Black-thighed Falconet from Bukit Teresek

Sunday 14th February 1982:  Taman Negara to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Last breakfast at Taman Negara, with coconut and egg jam – yuk!, I finished up my honey instead.  Paid bill (just under M$70 for boat and 18 nights accommodation).  Left at 09:18 having seen 203 species at Taman Negara.  Boatmen down river seemed pretty dozy, grounding boat 3 or 4 times.  We had to walk round one set of rapids while they took the boat through.  It eventually took exactly 3 hours to get to Kuala Tembling.  Here got taxi to Jerrantut (it was waiting at the quay) which took under half an hour.  A quick change into another taxi to Kuala Lumpur, dropping us off in front of City Hotel two and a half hours later.  Got double rooms (M$6.30 per person) and walked to bus station and booked on the 10:30 bus to Butterworth the next morning.

Birds seen included:  Crested Serpent Eagle 1, Rufous-bellied Hawk Eagle 1, Osprey 1, Common Sandpiper 10, Malay Hanging Parrot 5, White-breasted Kingfisher 10, Black-capped Kingfisher 5, Stork-billed Kingfisher 1, Common Kingfisher 5, Black Hornbill 2, Southern Pied Hornbill 1, Ashy Minivet 8, Yellow-crowned Bulbul 12.

leaving Taman Negara - walking the rapids