Birds of Gunung Ulu Kali - Apr 2012

Me and Mr CY Tan had planned this trip for quite sometime and decided to proceed no matter whether it rain or shine on that day. Unfortunately it did rained heavily and when it stops thick fog came and enveloped the entire place. We only managed to bird for about 45 - 60 minutes in aggregate despite staying on the hill for 3 hours. Although we did not see the star birds like cutias and wren babblers nevertheless in between the extremes we saw other lovely birds of which some were lifers for both of us. Here are some of the birds we saw here:

These were my first lifers up at this place - "Chestnut-Tailed Minla". Saw a few of them and apparently these birds were only seen here and Cameron Highlands but somehow they do not occur in Fraser's Hill.

Here you can see the bird has got a moth in thick fog. They were using the little window of opportunity to fill up their stomach in between the rain and fog.

This is a common bird - a "Grey-Throated Babbler".

This is another common bird up in the highlands - a "Mountain Leaf Warbler".

We also saw this "Chestnut-Capped Laughingthrush" which was drenched by the rain just like the both of us. After this photo was taken, the thick fog came in full force.

This Mountain Bulbul flew in and perched in the middle of the thick fog. These were the conditions we birded which i would termed as extreme bird watching.

When the fog went away, we saw this "Chestnut-Crowned Laughingthrush". I understand that this bird is also called a "Malayan Laughingthrush". Although it is common up in the highlands but it is more reclusive than the former laughingtrush.

This was my second lifer up here - a "Rufous-Winged Fulvetta". We saw two of them flying between the shrubs and drain to look for insects.

We also saw this jungle moth up here. According to Mr CY Tan, in the day time these moths will not buldge from its place. After the rain stops it was indeed still at the same place. Wonder how its wings were able to withstand the heavy downpour.

We also saw a Mountain Tailorbird (juvenile/sub adult) as confirmed by Yang Chong - note it still lacks the clear supercilium and rufous crown of an adult.

Mountain Tailor Bird (Adult Male)

The photo of this adult male Mountain Tailor Bird was taken from my subsequent trip in July 2012.

On the way down we saw this Large Niltava (Male). It was very curious to see these two birders looking at him. So it flew down quite close to us.

Watching us nearby was his girlfriend - a female Large Niltava. They were both calling at each other - probably telling each other to watchout for the two strange looking and drenched human beings.

Despite the rain and thick fog we certaintly enjoyed the trip and will be back again for the star birds.

Black-Throated Sunbird (Female/Juvenile?)

This sunbird image was taken from my subsequent trip in July 2012

Streaked-Wren Babbler

These images was taken in July 2012. Waited close to 30 minutes for this fellow to come out in the open. Images look quite hazy in view of the thick fog blanketing the entire place at that time.

Note: as at 2015, Gunung Ulu Kali has been closed ! No more access to Public.