Bird Watching at Bukit Rengit, Lanchang, Krau Forest Reserve

Bukit Rengit is famous as a tourist attraction for its deerland park and an elephant sanctuary. It is also famous among birders for its variety of birds. It takes about an hour and 45 minutes drive as well as 3 tolls (about RM10.00 per way) to reach the place from KL. The landscape of Bukit Rengit is quite similar to Merapoh where there is a long track of tar road flanked by pristine jungle on both sides of the road. Although Merapoh in Pahang is much more quiet but Bukit Rengit has its own unique profile of birds. For example there were calls of Great Argus in three locations along the road as compared to zero heard in Merapoh. I reached the place close to 8.00 am and started birding as i turned in to the road leading to the Deerland. As i turned in, suddenly a Red Jungle fowl flew across the road to the opposite side. There were also many birds calls along the trail leading to a bridge eg Garnet Pittas, Hill Mynas, Sooty-capped Babbler, Stripped-Tit Babblers and a host of other calls which i am still in the process of identifying them with the help of experts. Have also sighted a few birds which i did not manage to photograph them such as Rhinoceros Hornbills, Greater Coucal, Red-bearded Bee Eater, White-Rumped Sharma etc.

Here are some which i managed to take:

A lone Drongo perched on a misty morning.

This is a noisy Maroon Woodpecker, drumming and probing at a tree branch while calling out loud!

As the sun came out, so did this woodie. I think woodie looks more like an Olive-backed woodie.

There were woodpeckers galore at this place...saw at least a few of this Checker-Throated Woodpecker along the trail.

Then this Crimson-Breasted Flowerpecker flew in and say come and snap me ! - it stayed on the branch for several minutes staring curiously at me.

This could be a Lesser-Racket Tail Drongo.

A male Chestnut-Breasted Malkoha collecting nesting materials.

This is a rather confusing Warbler. Note: according to experts, the bar markings on the wings may not be a good indicator for an eastern crown as some were observed not having any white bar markings. Now that was interesting ! So according to the experts one also has to look at the colour of its vent. But this bird's vent has no yellow like what an eastern crown usually has. At the same time its face has no speckles like an artic warbler. But the more i look at this picture, the more i would say that this bird is an Eastern Crown Warbler ! 

I turned back after this sign board.

As i headed for home i came across this Red-billed malkoha along the trail.

It was close to noon and this fellow is still busy looking for insects to eat.

All these photos certaintly do not do justice for the numerous birds which can be seen at this place. Perhaps with a bit more luck, i could take more pictures the next time. Conclusion: this place is certaintly worth going for the second time and with this i conclude my birding trips for year 2011. Certaintly look forward for more birding trips next year - 2012!! Until then wish you birders and visitors a Merry X'mas and Happy New Year !

Note: After having obtained confirmation from a local bird calls expert - Mr Choo Jiin Hwa, here are the few bird calls which were identified later:

i) White-Rumped Sharma

ii) Rufous-Crowned Babbler

iii) Grey-Cheeked Bulbul

iv) Scarlet-Rumped Trogon

v) Diard's Trogon (possible)