Peninsular Malaysia

TBC 2027

Leader: Wilbur Goh

Peninsular Malaysia is one of the classic tours of Asia. Visting the old colonial hill-station of Fraser's Hill and one of the most magnificent rainforests there is, Taman Negara, it is an iconic tour, with plenty of iconic birds. This extremely comprehensive tour is using our intimate knowledge from living in Malaysia, visiting little-known spots few other know about.

With advancements in taxonomy, it's becoming a popular country to visit once again. Thai-Malay Peninsula endemics not likely outside of Malaysia include Malayan Partridge, Whistling-thrush, Peacock-pheasant, Laughingthrush and Cuckooshrike, also Mountain Peacock Pheasant.
Rail-babbler is one of the most sought-after species on the tour, while in the lowlands, Malayan Banded and Garnets Pittas, Cinnamon-rumped Trogon, Grey-breasted Babbler, Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker, Large Wren Babbler, Malayan Crested Fireback and Mangrove Pitta are notable species.
In addition, Plain-pouched Hornbill, the world's only true migratory hornbill, so frequently left-out of a Malaysia itinerary is one of the main targets, with over 1,000 birds possible on their evening flight to roost - one of Asia's most remarkable, yet little-known avian wonders.

Day 1:
International arrivals into Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL). Night in hotel near the airport.
 
Day 2:
We drive to Bukit Tinggi on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur for Mountain Peacock Pheasant and occasionally, Ferruginous Partridge. The surrounding hill forest at an elevation of about 1,000 m is good for Orange-breasted Trogon, Scaly-breasted, Cinereous and Grey-bellied Bulbuls, and with the right fruiting trees, a host of barbets – Black-eared, Yellow-crowned, Gold-whiskered, Sooty and Red-throated. Having had our first taste of birding on this tour, we will then make our way to Fraser’s Hill. Night at Fraser’s Hill.
 
Days 3-4:
Two full days here in Malaysia’s best montane birding site, the roads meandering this ex colonial hill station is best for seeing some of the endemics, near-endemics, as well as a few Himalayan species at their eastern-most extent. Here, we will look for Malayan Whistling-thrush, Malaysian Partridge, Malayan and Chestnut-capped (or Spectacled) Laughingthrushes, Malayan Cuckooshrike, Hawk Cuckoo, Red-headed Trogon, Blue Nuthatch, Long-tailed Broadbill, Pygmy Cupwing, Streaked Wren Babbler, Large Niltava, Mountain Fulvetta and Rufous-browed Flycatcher. We will also make time to visit The Gap, a little lower down in elevation, to look for Black Scimitar Babbler (or more commonly known as Black Laughingthrush), Bamboo Woodpecker, Marbled Wren Babbler and Pin-tailed Parrotfinch. Nights at Fraser’s Hill.
 
Day 5:
A morning here in Fraser’s Hill before we depart for the town of Gua Musang which would be our base for exploring the western entrance of Taman Negara National Park. Taman Negara is Malaysia’s oldest and largest national park, covering over 4,000 sq km, protecting a large swath of primary lowland rainforest. Though we will only be at its edges, the potential for some of South-East Asia’s most stunning birds can be found here. We should have a late afternoon here for our first introduction to the steamy and hot lowlands of the tropics as well as some night birding, primarily in search for Large Frogmouth. Night outside Taman Negara.
 
Day 6:
One full day in Sungai Relau, Taman Negara. The only surfaced road within the national park’s borders, with magnificent forest on both sides, we will look out for Garnet and Malayan Banded Pittas, Green, Black-and-red and Black-and-yellow Broadbills; Red-naped, Diard’s, Scarlet-rumped and Cinnamon-rumped Trogons; Rhinoceros and Helmeted Hornbills, Jayshrike, Malayan Peacock-Pheasant, Black-throated, White-necked, Striped Wren and Large Wren Babblers; Orange-backed, Olive-backed, Buff-necked, Grey-and-buff Woodpeckers; Blue-rumped Parrot and Large Green Pigeon. Night outside Taman Negara.
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Day 7:
A morning here before we depart to the southern, more visited entrance to Taman Negara, at Kuala Tahan. An afternoon here within the vicinity of the resort, we will look for Malayan Crested Fireback and checking out the fruiting and/or flowering trees nearby for spiderhunters, bulbuls and leafbirds. Night at Mutiara Resort, Taman Negara.
 
Day 8:
Our one morning here, we will take a boat to go upriver, deeper into the national park and look for the Critically Endangered Straw-headed Bulbul, an unfortunate species trapped heavily for its singing prowess in the songbird trade. The bulbul prefers riverine habitat and while here, also search for Malayan Blue-banded Kingfisher along with any other species that we may encounter. After that, we head south to Mersing on the eastern side of the peninsula. Night at Mersing.
 
Day 9:
The last remaining peatswamp forests of mainland Southeast Asia are in the southern portion of the Malay Peninsular and we will visit a patch close to the town of Mersing where specialties like Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker, Cinnamon-headed Green Pigeon, Chestnut-bellied Malkoha and Grey-breasted Babbler occur. Mangroves nearby will also be visited for Mangrove Pitta, Mangrove Jungle Flycatcher, Mangrove Whistler and Copper-throated Sunbird. Depending on how we fare, we’ll move south to Kota Tinggi some time during the day. Night at Kota Tinggi.
 
Days 10-11:
Two full days in Panti Forest primarily for the monotypic Rail-babbler, perhaps the best place in the world to see this much-wanted species. Though the forest inhabitants here have a large overlap with Taman Negara, there will be a lot of birds on offer that are easier here such as Banded and Dusky Broadbills, White-bellied, Great Slaty and Checker-throated Woodpeckers, Malayan Black Magpie, Finsch’s, Cream-vented, Red-eyed and Puff-backed Bulbuls, Orange-bellied, Yellow-breasted and Crimson-breasted Flowerpeckers; Red-crowned Barbet, Thick-billed Spiderhunter and the rare Malaysian Honeyguide. Nights at Kota Tinggi.
 
Day 12:
We have a short morning in Panti Forest before we leave for Johor Bahru International Airport (JHB) for our flight north to Penang International Airport (PEN). Now that we’re in the largest city of north west Malaysia, we’ll switch to cars and drive out of the island and back to the mainland, further into the interior and to the edge of Muda Lake. Then, we switch our mode of transport again, using boats to take us further inside. We should be in time to watch the spectacle of multiple flocks of Plain-pouched Hornbill flying back to their roost sites at dusk. These hornbills migrate here in the middle of the year from their breeding grounds in southern Myanmar/western Thailand. Though a yearly occurrence here, so little is known about their biology. After enjoying this nature spectacle, we hop back onto our boats and head further upstream to our lodge. Night in a basic lodge, Ulu Muda.
 
Day 13:
The logged forest of Ulu Muda extends to the Thai border and is protected for its importance as a water catchment area. We should have more opportunities to see Plain-pouched Hornbill again though the old logging trails branching from the resort have decent birding opportunities for the restricted ranged Chestnut-necklaced Partridge and we will prioritise our time to find this bird. Other birds likely to be seen here are Lesser and Grey-headed Fish Eagles, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Black-throated, Grey-headed and Chestnut-rumped Babblers; and at night, Dusky Eagle, Collared Scops and Reddish Scops Owls are all possible. Night in a basic Lodge, Ulu Muda.
 
Day 14:
A morning birding around the lodge in Ulu Muda before we make our way to Penang to fly to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, in time for a farewell dinner. Night in hotel near the airport.
 
Day 15:
International flights out of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL).