Far out in the east, Week 1 Day 3

Today travel.... leaving the reserve at Kuala Selangor we head for Frasers Hill. We intended to spend as little time in the car as possible and get some birding in in-bewteen sites. The weather was cruel to us with persistant drizzle for much of the day and with a blanket of cloud making photography hardwork. However I think the days birds were pretty special. We headed directly for the Rice Fields about 45 minutes away but luckily we took a diversion and somehow stumbled across a fish farm. I had been looking forward to a day without the walking boots so decided to wear the flipflops for the car journey, within a few minutes out of the car I was infested with ants...... stinging ants! Its a good job the birdlife was worth the pain. Oriental Reed Warbler, Watercock, Black capped and Common Kingfisher, Black Headed Munia, Tiger Shrike were all picked up quickly as well as this confiding White Collared Fantail.

However the star of the location was this splendid Crested Serpent Eagle who perched up nicely for a few minutes before retreating to a nearby wood, we then caught a second one shortly after.

We arrived at the Rice fields before lunch, again the drizzle continued so unfortunatly most of the birding of this site was from the confins of the car. Most of the expected species were showing well, Little Egret, White Egret, and vast numbers of Cattle Egrets

We didnt spot any Javan Pond Herons but managed to see plenty of these funky looking

Chinese Pond Herons

The Cinnamon Bittern

as well as Yellow Bittern were playing a little more hard to get for the camera

The Star of rice fields goes to this fella who put on a superb display at the side of the road

White Throated Kingfisher

Pole Dancing

and just Posing .....

We now decide to head staight to Frasers Hill

On the way we picked up Oriental Pied Hornbill, White Breasted Wood Swallow, Dollarbirds and these Long Tailed Parakeets who were part of a dozen strong flock

After another stop close to the base of the long winding road upto the Gap which is situated at the bottom of the Frasers Hill single track road we picked up Chestnut Braested Malkoha, Stripe Throated Bulbul, Grey Breasted Spiderhunter and Pale Blue Flycatcher and finished the journey with a Mugimaki Flycatcher.

We arrived at the Shezan inn to find this lovely lady on the hotel bird feeders!!

Long Tailed Sibia

Happy Days......