Fraser's HIll

We headed to a different area of mangroves this morning and quickly notched up several White-headed Munias amongst a large gathering of Chestnut Munias. A short walk then produced a couple of reasonably cooperative Mangrove Pittas, as well as Copper-throated Sunbird before returning to the minibus a little damp in the light drizzle that had descended. We checked out the nearby mudflats and added plenty of waders to our lists, with the pick of the bunch being Terek Sandpiper and Greater Sandplover amongst the more familiar shorebirds, with a few Lesser Adjutants patrolling the tideline as well. A few White-winged Terns were found amongst a gathering of Whiskered Terns along a narrow creek a little later before we began our journey towards Fraser’s Hill. A wetland area full of dead trees meant plenty of perches for species such as Dollarbird, Black-shouldered Kite, Long-tailed Parakeet and all the usual mynas and Asian Glossy Starlings. A Changeable Hawk-eagle was seen attending to a large nest and a Crested Goshawk was scoped before a pair of Grey-headed Lapwings flew in. Then we spent the next few hours driving towards the highlands and once the road began to rise steeply the habitat became very good with plenty of stands of bamboo amidst the lush tropical forest. Our first stop was simply amazing as a large mixed flock came into view with Brown Fulvetta, White-bellied Erpornis, Pin-striped Tit-babbler, Green Iora, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Scaly-breasted and Grey-bellied Bulbuls present, and a cracking Whiskered Treeswift perched prominently. Overhead, hundreds of Oriental Honey-buzzards were migrating north as the skies began to clear after a day of low cloud and drizzle. Moving up to The Gap we walked slowly up the hill adding Hill Blue and Ferruginous Flycatchers, Black-browed Barbet, Glossy Swiftlet, Little Cuckoo-dove, Yellow-bellied Warbler and Ochraceous Bulbul to our day’s tally.