Our Winter Trip to Malaysia
Well… after a few months planning we are on our way…and a very, very long flight to Singapore … and as I still remember it – what an incredible place to visit!! Despite all the urbanisation, the traffic and high rise skyscrapers …. Nature and wildlife is all around you and you can’t help feeling its a real shame that some cities don’t follow Singapore’s blueprint instead of fighting Nature just go with with it… make concessions for it … and most of all enjoy it!!!
Singapore really is a place where you can’t help admiring what the authorities have done to help Nature… and I think Nature has reciprocated and made people happier: it certainly is a place to wonder at and enjoy.
SINGAPORE
5th January… A short walk round the hotel and nearby local area produced a nice little list and also we got caught up in a massive localised thunderstorm that produced some of the loudest thunder I have ever heard!!Birds seen included the following; Eastern Spotted Dove, Ring-tailed Parakeet, Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker, Yellow Vented Bulbul, Common Myna, Blue-Tailed Bee Eater, Collared Kingfisher, Brahminy Kite and Tree Sparrow.
6th January…. Our first full day in Singapore; the weather outside was really sultry and humid -what a change from Manchester!! The first birds I saw this morning were Blue-tailed Bee-eaters hawking for food just outside our balcony-completely surreal.
Today, we were going to visit one of Singapore’s most iconic attractions the Botanic Gardens.. This was one place that I was really looking forward taking my Mrs too, as she loves her garden, flowers and plants. Plus there were the Orchid Gardens !!
As per usual the gardens didn’t disappoint and my Brownie points doubled!!. The Botanical Gardens is one of those unique places you can literally get lost in for a day and still go back on your next visit and find something else to marvel over.
The gardens themselves are immaculate and urban birding is at its best with surprises around every corner with birds such as: Hornbills, Sunbirds, Kingfishers Bee-eaters and I didn’t include Butterflies and Lizards especially the Water Monitors that can grow to over 5 feet walking by without a care in the world … but don’t worry they are no threat to us.
The bird list was getting better with some amazing sightings new birds for the trip included: House Crow, Asian Koel, White Bellied SeaEagle, Red Junglefowl, Coppersmith Barbet, Black Naped Oriole, Himalayan Swiftlet, Crimson Sunbird, Common Tailor Bird, Olive Backed Sunbird, Blue throated Bee-eater, Malaysian Fantail, Oriental Magpie Robin, White Breasted Waterhen and White Breasted Kingfisher
7th January …. Today saw us visiting Marina Gardens by the Bay another one of the must see sites in Singapore. The gardens are based on a huge site with miles of pathways through and around meadows, dense gardens, jungle ponds and a canal.
Towards the rear of the site is a huge bay which is part of the reclamation flood control project. Dominating the site are two huge greenhouses ; the biggest in the world which contain thousands of themed based plants and exhibitions with a waterfall that’s nearly a hundred feet tall!!
Overlooking the site is the Marina by the Bay hotel with its iconic top floor in the shape of a boat. The gardens attract a huge number of birds with a number of rarities seen. It certainly is a great place for a day’s birding. There are plenty of cafes, toilet facilities etc.
Another good birding session with the following birds recorded: Zebra Dove, Little Spider Hunter, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Ashy Tailor Bird, Javan Myna, Scaly Breasted Munia, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Pacific Swallow, Scarlet Backed Flower Pecker and Little Green Pigeon.
Apart from a good bird list an added bonus was watching a family of Asian Smooth coated Otters ‘porpoising’ across the Bay, unfortunately they swam right across the bay and even though we were hopeful of their return … they had other plans.
8th January…. Early walk this morning .. headed over to Fort Canning for a quick bird watch before breakfast; and made two fundamental errors .. the place is very big and very hot too.. even at 7:30 am in the morning .. so make sure you take plenty of water.
Not a lot seen as I only had a limited window .. but I did get a new bird for the trip: Common Iora. Well one day was just not enough for a Marina Gardens visit; so we went back and walked a different route today. Another great visit .. from a birding perspective I saw nearly all the same species as yesterday – some closer than others and a new bird for the trip: Yellow Bittern
LANGKAWI
9th January…. Early start today as we transferred from Singapore over to Langkawi today. Usual Airport procedures to go through with a relatively short transfer of about 2 hours…arriving at the our new hotel about 1pm local time. What a great place … with a little lagoon right outside our balcony.
Had a good walk around the hotel some really nice birds on the first afternoon including Two Oriental Honey Buzzard soaring over the hotel, at least 5 White Bellied sea eagles…and an amazing roost of at least 200 Chesnut Headed BeeEaters they were just by the beach in a small palm plantation.
New birds included the following: Intermediate Egret, Little Green Heron, Red Turtle Dove, Common Sandpiper and Brown Shrike.
10th January…. Up early for a walk around the hotel grounds, and just outside the hotel entrance and over the road I discovered a whole network of rice paddies: well worth an explore!! A very nice day relaxing around the hotel. New birds for the trip included: Asian Palm Swift, Pacific Reef Egret (Dark Phase bird), Indian Pond Heron, Grey Wagtail, Large Billed Crow and Kentish Plover.
Other notable sightings included; Black Squirrels, Lots of Brahminy Kites and Collared Kingfishers, a beautiful Malay Butterfly Lizard and at least 4 soaring White Bellied Sea Eagles whilst having a Sundowner!!
11th January.. Early morning walk around the hotel grounds produced Asian Glossy Starling and Greater Coucal. Other new birds seen during the day included a Yellow browed Warbler calling incessantly from a Causrina tree close to the hotel’s main swimming pool.
Other highlights included a Brown Shrike and 2 White Bellied Sea Eagles circling very low over our sun beds in the late afternoon – but unfortunately I didn’t have my camera with me!!
12th January…. Early morning walk around the hotel grounds produced an Asian Brown Fly Catcher and again brilliant views of White Bellied Sea Eagle this time 2 juveniles interacting quite noisily with the local Brahminy Kites.
We had a tremendous downpour today which put a real damper on the sun bathing…. After the rain subsided had a walk into town, and this walk took us passed the rice fields, new birds included: Oriental Reed Warbler, Malay Plover, Little ringed Plover and Paddy field Pipit.
13th January…Early Morning Walk 3 with Selva; Hotel Nature Guide so interesting and informative!! Honey Buzzard this morning and 2 Brilliant low flying W.B.Sea Eagles!! New birds included Dollar Bird and Edible Nest Swiftlet. An afternoon Walk provided another new bird for the list in the form of a stunning little White Headed Munia – an added bonus here, as it was a lifer for me!!
14th January….. A morning walk into Cenang produced a real surprise in the centre of town !! Two stunning Oriental Hornbills and later on in the afternoon Eastern Yellow Wagtail and Oriental Bay Weaver were recorded on my daily afternoon walk. Interestingly the weather is becoming very humid looks like we are building up to a big thunderstorm!!
15th January…. This morning 3a.m distant thunder then a familiar call … must have been on the beach front very close to our room Red Wattled Lapwing!! A couple of walks this pm produced no new birds but good to see .. Cattle egret interacting with the local Water buffalo at Laman Padi.
16th January….No New Birds were recorded today but I did get stunning views of Chestnut Headed Bee-eater as I did the daily circuit around Laman Padi today.
17th January…. Again about 3:40 am Red -wattled Lapwing heard – but still have not seen them!!A long walk this morning towards the Bon-Ton/Lemon Tree resorts masses of small swifts … a lot of searching dug out Glossy Swiftlet!! And whilst having an evening beer at the hotel beach bar – a familiar but distant wader heard!! Greenshank: probably just passing through
18th January…. A brilliant day over at Langkawi Skybridge and cable car… Chaffeured there in a BMW …, But I am afraid vertigo got the better of me!! Raptors and Needletails were the highlights with a Crested Serpent Eagle showing well and Oriental Honey Buzzard near to the entrance for the Skytrain.
Also there were lots of Brown Backed Needletail Swifts: which were new to me, sadly, always keeping a great height .. so photographing them was useless. To round the day off, we had a torrential downpour back at the hotel this afternoon after the rain had subsided and moved down the coast we had an afternoon walk and I recorded another lifer in the form of a Pacific Swift!! A great end to a great day!!
19th January….. Morning walk : no new birds but a new mammal .. Malay Giant Squirrel!! A pool day today: usual suspects even the eagles and Brahminy kites were not on show! Afternoon walk to Laman Padi saw a massive Water monitor there!!At least 4-5ft long!! What a beast!!
20th January… No New Birds recorded today: even though I had a long early morning walk. Walked into Cenang along the beach … Massive numbers of Swiftlets. Afternoon walk 16:20 -1800 brilliant views of female Dusky Langur with baby in the Hotel Grounds!!
21st January…. Had a trip out this morning up to Guyu Ranang I think I’m right in saying one of the highest peaks on Langkawi. My target this morning Giant Hornbill!! 7:30 am start… Unfortunately thick mist and rain cloud prevented any birding at the summit.
So did some birding on the way down … some good birds including 2 species of Hornbill!! Species for the morning included the following; Greater Flameback, Giant Hornbill, Arctic Warbler, Germain’s Swiftlet, Wreathed Hornbill, Crow-billed Drongo, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo and Barn Swallow.
Back at hotel by 11:30!! Another big thunderstorm by 3:30pm!! Did some Swallow photography late afternoon after the storm had passed but light not good this evening.
22nd January…. No new birds recorded today despite a lot of searching!! However, some great views of Collared Kingfisher again some really heavy showers !! And Hornbills coming into roost near reception at 7:30pm prompt!! Excellent views!!
23rd January….. Mangrove tour this morning…very disappointed …. Essentially a motorized waterway not quiet at all!! Eagles and Kites close at feeding station…. Managed one new bird!! Again rain this afternoon!! Our new bird for the day was Black-capped Kingfisher.
24th January…. Had a brilliant trip to Kuah: up the coast from Langkawi : very hazy and warm !! Lovely visit to Legenda park, some very confiding Hornbills and fly past White bellied Sea Eagles!! New birds included; Common Kingfisher, Hill Myna, Pied Triller, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and Red Rumped Swallow.
25th January….Decided on a local walk to the supermarket for supplies came across a lovely boggy area!! A bonus on the way back – confiding Wood Sandpiper and also late afternoon a Peregrine shot through – another new bird for the trip.
26th January……..Went for an early morning walk down past the boggy area, we walked past yesterday and a result – flushed a Purple Heron!! Back for Breakfast – then a walk into Cenang and a walk back along the beach but no new birds recorded.
Tonight visited the night market just down the road from the hotel at Laman- very disappointing.. but every cloud… in the fields close to the market lots of Red wattled Lapwing feeding in Laman Padi fields
27th January….No new birds recorded today. Despite some desperate searches no new birds for the trip. !! Had a good look around Laman Padi 1130 – 1pm nothing new!! Lots of Water Monitors and Little Egret but nothing new!!
28th January …. No new birds recorded today. However, Early am I had a walk up to the ‘boggy area’ and Yellow Bittern and Wood Sandpiper showed well. A lazy day by the pool .. nothing much moving … very hot!! Over ninety!! Late afternoon walk into fields at back of hotel 4:30 until 600 .. no new birds.. but Dusky Leaf monkeys showed well!!!
29th January …..Leaving today!!! So a pick up about 1:pm Then our journey home begins!! So our journey today – Langawi to Singapore
Singapore to Dubai
Dubai to Manchester
Arriving back to Manchester 7:30 AM Monday 30th January !!!! Never Again … Knackered.. when we reached Manchester!!! Far better to split the journey … but you live and learn!!!
List Total 88, New birds photographed 24, Lifers 25
However … despite the long plane journeys …. What an Absolutely Brilliant Trip!!!!
