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A Report from birdtours.co.uk

Singapore, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Flores, Rinca and KomodoIslands,

Author

24th May-4th August 2001. Andy Adcock

Notes on sites visited.

Singapore

Singapore Botanical gardens is an oasis in the midst of an urban jungle.  My main reason for visiting this site was for a Spotted Wood Owl, which I had been told about.  There are also Goffins Cockatoo's (feral) in the gardens.  The book shop in the grounds is excellent and carries just about every title on any given field but is rather expensive, it is managed by Morten Strange, well known author on the region's birds.

Sime Road forest runs around the Singapore Golf and Country Club and provides some good woodland habitat, not too much seen here but did get Banded Woodpecker, Chestnut-bellied Malkoha and Short-tailed Babbler.

Pulau Ubin is a lovely little island in the strait of Johor, you can walk the island or hire a bicycle.  Head for Changi village to make the short boat crossing.  The island provides mangrove and forest habitat and a host of tiny but particularly vicious, Mosquitos.  I saw a pair of Vinous-breasted Starlings here which, no one can decide upon the origins of, they could be vagrants or feral.  The only place on the trip where I saw Laced Woodpecker and also got quite good views of Red Junglefowl and Mangrove Whistler but no Mangrove Pitta.  The day I was there coincided with a cycle-cross rally and lots of track marshals with megaphones rather spoilt the day. 

Peninsular Malaysia

I traveled by train from Singapore to Jerantut in Malaysia, which is cheap and simple to do.  Once in Jerantut I stayed at the 'Hotel Sri Emas' howann@tm.net.my from where you can book a ticket for the boat to Taman Negara.  The ticket included the bus for the short drive to Kuala Tahan from where the boat departs. 

Taman Negara needs no introduction and provides some of the best birding to be had in Malaysia in an ancient forest setting.  I stayed in the cheap hostel called the Liana on the opposite side of the river where all the floating restaurants are.  I paid about £2 per night for a dorm with eight people in it and met some great people this way.  One night we all sat on the step drinking whisky during a fantastic, spectacular electrical storm.  I found the birding difficult, tall 40-50m trees give you a bad neck after a while and it was the most humid place I have ever been to, my watch, supposedly waterproof to 30 m, steamed up!  Best bird goes to a Great Argus, which holds territory half way down the Jenet Muda trail and showed in exactly the same place three days running, he allowed me to within 10 m before casually walking off in to the forest.  I did get a rather poor view of Malaysian Rail-babbler at the bottom of the Jenet Muda which, flushed from the track and walked off under a log with its head moving backwards and forwards Pigeon style. It didn't reappear sadly.  Potentially fantastic and others do much better than I did.  I could only stay four nights due to the place being booked solid for the King's birthday and even the campground had several hundred people pitching tents the day I left.  This meant that I had to waste two days in Kuala Lumpur, as my next destination was also fully booked for the same reason.

Fraser's hill was arguably my favourite place on the whole trip.  This former hill station has great birding with easy access and a variety of places to stay and eat.  The birding even from the road can be fantastic.  I was fortunate that my visit coincided with the annual bird race and through this I met some great people and had a wonderful time.  Best birds here were Cutia, White-hooded Babbler and Bamboo Woodpecker and the supporting cast was superb.  I didn't see any of the big three here i.e. Marbled Wren Babbler, Malaysian Whistling Thrush or Rusty-naped Pitta although the latter was heard, but the overall birding was enough to compensate for that.  The winners of the bird race, the team lead by Morten Strange, amassed nearly 90 species, we only managed 50, but we did not have a car and they did!  I don't think it would have made any difference though.

The gap is 8 km down the road from Fraser's hill and you need a couple of days here to see some of the lower altitude stuff, although only a few hundred metres lower, there are several species which will not be seen higher.  Best birds here were fly-over Pin-tailed Parrotfinch (4,not great views admittedly), Malaysian Eared Nightjar, Orange-breasted Trogon and Black-thighed Falconet.  The Nightjars were seen whilst sat drinking tea on the verandah of the guesthouse.

Cameron highlands was not on my itinerary but I had time to kill before leaving for Indonesia due to the short time spent at Taman Negara. I had met Chris and Lucy Bennetts who are rather passionate about the environment and they persuaded me to help with the clean up of Parit falls, a local beauty spot in Tanah Rata.  The falls are also the site of a possible Malaysian Whistling Thrush but this remains to be confirmed.  The only place I got good views of Lesser Shortwing, and the only place I saw Chestnut-tailed Minla, White-tailed Robin and Rufous-winged Fulvetta.  I stayed at 'Father's hostel' where there are cheap dorms or slightly more expensive single rooms.  All the hostels send a bus to the station to meet incoming travelers so just ask for their bus.  The place is great with a real sense of kinship between the travelers there.  There are three films shown daily for the days when you either can't be bothered to move or the weather won't allow you to and there is an e-mail facility.  The meals are good and you can buy wine and beer at the hostel but it is only a short walk in to Tanah Rata where there are numerous restaurants and 'The Ranch' pub where I enjoyed a few rowdy nights.  Made is a local guy with intimate knowledge of the trails in the area and will usually accompany people who want a bit of a hike.  Be warned that it is easy to get lost on the trails as they are not marked and there was a Polish guy who went missing for three days while I was there.  He wandered out eventually in to a tea plantation and was able to report that 'the lonely planet will not burn'!  He tried to set fire to his for warmth.

I got the bus from Tanah Rata to Penang where I stayed overnight at the '75' guesthouse on Love lane and was able to book a boat ticket at the hostel for a next day departure to Medan in Sumatra. The old guy on reception here was particularly friendly and helpful.

This boat trip set the theme for the rest of the trip with locals regularly, throwing up, even on buses.

Sumatra

I spent one night in Medan where I was able to book a plane ticket for a flight down to Padang (c£30) the next morning; this was done at the hotel Tobali where I stayed.  I was informed that no afternoon flight/bus is available to Padang but did not really investigate properly and suspect that there may be a flight or bus and that the hotel just desired my company for the evening.  Medan is a biggish town and I took the opportunity to stock up on things like razors and soap from the shopping mall here.

Upon arrival in Padang I went straight to the Mandala Airline office in the airport where I arranged a flight to Jakarta (c£50) for about ten days hence.  I next took a taxi to the bus station where contrary to previous reports that tickets were only bookable in advance the previous day, I was able to board a bus straight away to Gunung Kerinci.  The buses have Kerinci painted on them in yellow and are silver, the touts will soon grab you, and it cost me Rp100, 000 for the seven-hour journey.  I suggest arrival at the bus station around 0900hrs in order for a speedy departure.  I arrived on site late afternoon, in time for a bit of orientation ready for an early start next day.

Gunung Kerinci famed as the site of mouth watering rarities such as Schneider's Pitta, Sumatran Cochoa and Salvadori's Pheasant, the site is both spectacular and active with the volcano smoking on most days.  Realisation of how much work is needed to see the birds soon kicks in when you have spent two full days in the forest and seen only common stuff and even this is not easy.  I found this a very difficult site and of the target species I only saw the endemic Rusty-breasted Wren Babbler which, is common and a single sighting of Blue-tailed Trogon.  I spent ten days here and was very disappointed with the result.  Schneider's Pitta was heard once and I never got a sniff of any pheasants or partridges, even the commoner ones eluded me.  On reading the log in Pak Subandi's homestay, others have done much, much better, next time maybe.   A cause for concern here is the amount of illegal trapping in the area.  A friend of mine, Chris Artuso found snares in the forest one, of which held a Salvadori's Pheasant which, thankfully he was able to release unharmed.  I read a report in the homestay, I think it was by Joe Tobias to the effect that upon showing a picture of Schneider's Pitta to a local, he got the reply 'oh no, not any more, I think I've eaten them all'!

From here it is possible through Pak Subandi to hire a 4WD to do the Mauro Sako road which is good for endemic bulbuls and Blue-masked Leafbird.  A 4WD is advisable on this road as there are land slips everywhere and a regular vehicle might struggle.  The hire cost me Rp200, 000 for the day.

The letter 'W' waterfall is also a site for the leafbird and Waterfall/Giant Swiftlet, I saw the swiftlet on the second attempt when c60 piled over and were gone in less than two minutes.  I didn't see the leafbird anywhere.  Pak Subandi or his son will be happy to take you there on their motorbike for a small fee.  It really is very cheap here, my bill for a bed, two sometimes three meals a day, a couple of beers each night and transport was about £60 for nine days! 

I left on the evening bus to be back in Padang for my flight to Jakarta early next morning and Pak Subandi made a phone call and arranged that the bus stop outside his house for me so no need to wait across the road at the bus stop.  On arrival back in Padang, the bus driver took me straight to the airport which was closed as it was about 0400hrs and I slept on a bench for a couple of hours until I could check in.

West Java

On arrival in Jakarta I was met at the airport by the driver of Julien De Groot, a Belgian businessman living in Jakarta whom I had met during the bird race at Fraser's Hill. The driver took me straight to my first destination at Pantai Indah Kapuk, this is the site for several good species, none of which I saw at the first attempt.  The place I stayed at in Jakarta in the Cikini district I have forgotten the name of but it was memorable for its stuffed Victoria Crowned Pigeon in the lobby!  After enjoying Julien's hospitality that evening I retired and made plans for the next morning to be back at the same site.  This time I had more luck recording my first Bar-winged Prinia, Racket-tailed Treepie and the endangered Sunda Coucal.  I took the walk to the fishing ponds and had Small Blue Kingfisher and Little Black Cormorant and on the dry football pitches I found a few Javan Plover. The bay here behind the hospital did not produce any Milky Storks.

Carita beachis a small resort used by wealthy Jakartans and is the site of the rarest Babbler in Indonesia, White-breasted.  I stayed here for two days then moved on back to Sumatra for Way Kanan.  It is easier to do it this way to avoid a marathon bus journey the length of Sumatra, the world's second largest island.  During my stay here I was again unlucky and did not see the babbler or any barbets, which although vocal, proved impossible to see.  I did see Banded Pitta and plenty of Horsefield's Babblers.

Way Kanan- Sumatra

I chartered a vehicle to get to Way Kanan which, turned out really well.  As well as saving time, it turned out that the driver was a radio ham and as we approached the park at about 2000hrs, he was able to get the rangers at the park on their radio and inform them of my imminent arrival and arrange permits.  It also meant that when he was unsure of the route in the dark, the rangers were able to guide us in by radio.  This cost me Rp200, 000, money well spent.  As we drove in to the park I met Phil and Charlotte Benstead who were night birding and was able to share the next week or so with them. Good company with people with a common interest is scarce in these parts.

The next morning Phil had arranged a walk with a guide to try for the endangered White -winged Duck and said that I could go with them, what a good decision that was.  Within half an hour our guide was peering through tall grass and exclaiming 'Mentoc'   Indonesian for the Duck.  We watched the bird for nearly a minute but it was on to us immediately and soon took flight.  We were able to collect a few feathers from the small muddy pond where the bird had been.  Soon after this we had c6 Cinnamon-headed Green Pigeons another target species followed quickly by Dusky Broadbill and Red-naped Trogon, both new birds for me.  Why can't it be like this all the time?  We went lamping again and got Gould's and Large Frogmouths, Phil got Reddish Scops but I could not get in to where he was before it flew.  Amazingly we also had a Hooded Pitta calling which we lamped as well.

 The next day was a lazy day but we had a Storm's Stork fly by up the river and I went on the Loop Trail to view a pool where Phil had seen one feeding.  As I got to the site I heard a low growl, I heard it again and by this time I was familiar with most Squirrel and other mammal calls, this was different.  I knew instinctively what it was and by the time it roared even closer the third time my trousers were a definite shade of brown. Tim Allwood reports a sighting of Tiger on the very same trail in his report and when I got back to camp breathless and sweating and told Phil of the encounter he replied casually 'oh, I thought I heard one down there this morning'!  It put the fear of god up me recalling the tragic tail of British birder David Hunt who was killed by a Tiger in India and when Phil wanted to go lamping down that trail in the evening, it was always going to be without me.

West Java

Carita again. Phil and Charlotte were going to Carita where I had just come from so I decided to go back with them as I had missed the babbler.  We set off next day and it took us nearly all day to get there.  Some of Phil's friends arrived and again we night birded but with no luck, my only tick was one stuck to my backside the next morning.  We finally managed to get a group of c6 babblers and they are worth the effort, great little birds.  I got a lift to Bogor where Pete, one of Phil's friends and a Birdlife international worker was living and spent a few days there.

Bogorhas a botanical garden where it's possible to see Black-naped Fruit Dove and Grey -cheeked Green Pigeon as well as a few other bits and bobs.  I saw both pigeons and three, Blue -eared Kingfishers on the lake.  I liked Bogor so spent a few days here at the 'Bali net' bar where there are clean, cheap rooms.  This accommodation can be found by finding the post office then crossing to the small road almost opposite. The bar is on the left after about 30 m. The town is bustling and it was nice to reacquaint myself with such fancies as Kentucky Fried Chicken and I could get a decent beer in the bar where I lived as well as games of pool, free for residents.  The Bali is also very convenient for buses and the entrance to the botanical gardens.  I'm afraid to say I had a bit of a scuffle here with a local.  He reacted to my show of disdain at seeing his Leopard cat kitten in a small mesh cage by kicking it.  I kicked him and it went from there.  The police became involved and much to my surprise, they kicked him as well and took him away, result! 

From here I went to Gunung Gede, and stayed at 'Freddy's homestay from where it's only a short walk to the botanical gardens and park entrance. I stayed at Gunung Gede for six days and recorded Javan Hawk-Eagle, Spotted Kestrel, Javan Cochoa, Mountain Serin, Tawny breasted Parrotfinch and Javan Tesia, remarkably I managed to miss the supposedly common, endemic White-flanked Sunbird. I returned to Bogor in order to get the bus to Baluran.

I made friends with Elya the barmaid who took me to the bus depot to buy my ticket for the 20-hour journey down to East Java and Baluran National Park.  The owner of the bar has good local knowledge and will advise on buses and bus stops etc.  The journey took about 19 hours and cost Rp 180,000 on an air conditioned bus and included two meals taken at café's en-route. The bus dropped me off right outside the gates from where I arranged an ojek (moped) with the guard.  You will have to explain to the drivers where you want to go to, they were a bit vague but realised in the end where I wanted to be.  The drop off is on a right hand bend with a couple of shops, the barrier with guard-post is easily seen on the left and if you can't see it, you're in the wrong place!

Baluran famed, as a site for Green Peafowl did not disappoint.  Everything I had read suggested that only a short stay was required, as the birds here were easy to see.  This turned out to be true, I saw several Peafowl on the road on the way in as well as Green Junglefowl.  Also seen here were Large-tailed Nightjar which came up out of the grass as we walked and on the beach at Bama we were able to watch a Great-billed Heron eating an enormous Blenny type fish.  I met two train enthusiasts here from my hometown of Nottingham!  They were casual birders who were birding before they started an organised trainspotting trip.  John and Dave were very good company and we enjoyed a few beers together as we discovered there was a limited supply available at the park.  Food is also available upon request if they have advance warning, the park now has a website through which bookings can be made www.balurannationalpark.com Tel 0333 424 119.  I departed after two nights and got the ferry across to Bali.

Bali

Gilimanuk is the place to base yourself to see Bali Myna and I stayed at the Nusantara II.  From here I contacted KT. Wahyudi to arrange a trip in to the park.  He is a guide at the park and took me in on his motorbike for$60 for the afternoon.  We saw two Mynas, one bird was a release and had returned to the pre-release area for water and the other was an un-ringed bird scoped at c50 m distance through a x50 scope.  During my visit the pre-release area held ten birds.  I was assured that only wild birds remain un-ringed but who knows?  He also took me out at low tide to a small mangrove island in the bay opposite the guesthouse.  The island is easily viewable with a scope and the right-hand end should be checked for Beach Thick-knee, I saw two as I waded around the island in bare feet, we also had two Sacred Kingfishers in the mangroves.  The island is very small and it's easy to walk all the way around it.  I paid Rp100, 000 and Rp 20,000 for an old guy to paddle us out in his canoe.  It would be possible to do this without the guide and just get someone to paddle you out there.  If you don't want to go over, then just scope the island, it's only a couple of hundred metres away.

KT Wahyudi
BR ARUM TIMUR
Gg11/214 Gilimanuk
Bali-82253
Tel 0365 61224

Bali Barat National Park office
Cecik-Gilimanuk
Bali 82253 Indonesia
Tel 0365 41060

I was lucky to get a lift all the way to my next destination of Ubud with a park employee who was going there on business; I tipped him Rp50, 000.

Ubud is the art centre of Bali and every other shop is a gallery of some kind.  I came here in order to walk the paddies for Javan Kingfisher and Java Sparrow.  The Kingfisher was common but I saw no Sparrows.  I booked a return ticket to Flores from a local travel agent (c£120).  I also hired a motorbike to take me to Bedugal where I managed to see plenty of Brown Honeyeaters as well as Fulvous- chested Jungle-Flycatcher.  I hired a taxi to take me to the airport in Denpassar for Rp 150,000.

Flores

Labuanbajo is a lovely place, I stayed at the Gardena which was basic but adequate and with the biggest Toke (large blue spotted Gecko, about seven inches, which I think eats little Gecko's) in my toilet.  The view over the bay is incredible and I could watch White -bellied Sea Eagles whilst sat drinking a beer on my veranda.  From here you could walk to the New Bajo beach hotel, this road is very productive.  To find this road, walk left out of the 'Gardena' and continue for c1.5k, past a left turn and over a small bridge.  After the bridge take the first right and this is the road.  Best birds were Elegant Pitta, Flores Crow, Helmeted Friarbird, Common Golden Whistler, Moluccan Scops Owl and Spotted Kestrel.  Further down this road, about 2k and through the small village around the bend, is a wetland area holding Ducks and I had Buff-banded Rail and White-browed Crake also.  The Rareng road described by Tim Allwood was good for him but not for me, I saw Black-naped Fruit Dove but that was it.  The Puarolo telecom station is the site for the endemic Flores Monarch and is reached by taking the Ruteng bus and asking to be let off at the station.  I did not see the Monarch but did get Wallace's Hanging Parrot and Red-cheeked Parrot.

Ruteng is a town in the hills inland and must be visited to see Bare throated Whistler. I stayed at the 'Hotel Dahlia' which was adequate. The restaurant next door was expensive by local standards, especially beer but I found one not far away that was much cheaper, it was called 'The Bamboo curtain' or something similar, definitely bamboo something.  The hills south of town are said by TA to be good for this species but I only saw one bird and none were singing. I did have a couple of Black-backed Fruit Doves here though and one real surprise was a Sunda Thrush hopping across the road.  From Ruteng I hitched to LakeRanamesewhich is an excellent spot.  Best birds here were Pacific Black Duck c200, Black-backed Fruit Dove, Russet-capped Tesia, Brown-winged Fantail and Russet -backed Jungle Flycatcher.

Rinca and Komodo

Visited by hiring a boat for two days and one night, this cost me Rp200, 000 and included food.  I slept on deck with a mat and a blanket.  The trip took us first to Rinca where I was greeted by my first Komodo Dragon at the end of the pier, a small one-metre chap.  I skirted him nervously, as I had to go around him to get in to the park.  We saw a total of six Dragons here and it was the only place I saw Orange-footed Scrubfowl, two birds seen very well.  We sailed on to Komodo another hour away and moored offshore, this was our overnight anchorage.  The Skipper served food whilst I eagerly awaited the flight of several thousand 'giant' fruitbats.  The sound of the bats starts as a few faint squeaks and builds up to a cacophony as they start to take to the air.  They wheel around and then fly off to feed, this is repeated in reverse at dawn when the bats wake you as they start to return.  We landed on Komodo the next day and rather disappointingly, only saw one Dragon but it was the biggest by far at about two and a half metres.  Birds seen were Variable Goshawk and Yellow-crested Cockatoo, this is one of the few places to see this species now.   The boat hire can be done through the 'Gardena Hotel'.

Systematic list for Malaysia and Indonesia not including Wallacea

Nomenclature follows ' A checklist of the birds of the Oriental region, Inskipp and Lindsay' as this is now the standard 'Oriental Bird Club' reference.  www.orientalbirdclub.org

* Lifer

1. *Wedge-tailed Shearwater One only on the crossing from Penang to Medan, 22/6.

2.*Little Black Cormorant Several on the fishing ponds at Muara Angke 2/7.

3. Little Black Cormorant As above.

4. Darter 3/6 A tree containing c30 birds at Muara Angke.

5. Frigatebird Sp 3 unidentified birds on the crossing from Sumatra to West Java 9/7.

6. *Great-billed Heron One seen well on the beach at Bama eating a large Blenny, 21/7.

7. Grey Heron 1 at Muara Angke 3/6 and two at Gilimanuk 23/7.

8. Cattle Egret Daily around Ubud

9. Little Egret 2-3/6 at Muara Angke

10. Little Heron 27/5 when 1 at Pulau Ubin and 1 on 8/6 at Way Kanan.

11. Black-crowned Night Heron Daily at Bogor where there is a roost in the middle of the lake in the botanical gardens, two on 21/7 at Baluran and three on 24/7 at Gilimanuk.

12. Cinnamon Bittern 3/7 when one at Muara Angke.

13. Woolly-necked Stork Two seen on 21/7 at Baluran.

14. Storm's Stork One seen at Way Kanan 9/7.

15. Lesser Adjutant 7/7 at Way Kanan when one seen and five seen 24/7 at Gilimanuk.

16. *Sunda Teal c10 seen at Muara Angke 3/7 and two at Baluran 21/7.

17. *White-winged Duck One seen at Way Kanan 7/7.

18. Osprey 5/6 Carita, 8/6 Way Kanan

19. Black-winged Kite Two seen from the train en-route to Taman Negara 28/5 and one quartering the fields at Gunung Kerinci 23/6.  What was probably the same bird was seen mobbing a Black Eagle 24/6.

20. Brahminy Kite One seen in Penang 21/6.

21. Lesser Fish Eagle One bird 7-8/7 Way Kanan.

22. Grey headed Fish Eagle 7/7, One at Way Kanan.   

23. Crested Serpent Eagle seen at Frasers Hill, Cameron highlands, Mauro Sako, Carita and Baluran.

24. Black Eagle 8/6 at Frasers hill, 24/6 and 30/6(2) at Gunung Kerinci, and 21/7 at Baluran. 

25. Changeable Hawk Eagle 5/7(2) and 10/7 Carita.

26. *Javan Hawk Eagle One soaring over the waterfall at Gunung Gede 16/7.

27. *Blyth's Hawk Eagle 8 and 11/6 at Frasers hill, 18/6 Cameron highlands and 28 and 30/6 at Gunung Kerinci.

28. *Black-thighed Falconet 12/6 at the gap when 2 and a party of 4 at Way Kanan on 7/7.

29. *Spotted Kestrel A single seen twice over the cliffs at the end of the golf course at Gunung Gede.18/7.

30. *Great Argus A male in territory on the Jenet Muda trail at Taman Negara seen three days running in exactly the same spot where he would come on to the path and call across the hillside 31/6 and 1-2/7.

31. *Green Peafowl Very easily seen at Baluran where they were first seen on the entrance road as I went in on a motorbike, 21/7 c10.

32. Barred Buttonquail 25/7 when 3 at Gunung Kerinci and 23/7 when 1 at Bedugal.

33. *Crested Fireback A female seen at Taman Negara on the swamp loop trail 31/6 and a female running along the road next to Phil Benstead's motorbike at Way Kanan 9/7.

34. *Red Junglefowl Pulau Ubin 27/5 where common but hard to see and on the road in to Baluran 21/7.

35. *Green Junglefowl Baluran, where again they are easily seen on the main road 21/7.

36. White-breasted Waterhen 25/5 at Botanical gardens I Singapore, 18-19/6 at Cameron highlands, 29/6 Gunung Kerinci and 3/7 at Muara Angke.

37. Common Moorhen 19/6 at Boh tea plantation lake and 3/7 at Muara Angke.

38. Purple Swamphen 3//7 Muara Angke.

39. Grey Plover 23/7 at Gilimanuk where three. 

40. *Javan Plover c10 seen on the dry football pitch between Muara Angke and the fishing ponds 3/7.

41 Whimbrel Gilimanuk where 6 on 24/7.

42 *Beach Thick-knee Two seen at the end of the small mangrove island in the bay opposite Nusantara II at low tide, Gilimanuk, 24/7.

43 *Black-naped Tern Two seen on the crossing from Sumatra to West Java, 9/7.

44 Bridled Tern  c10 Seen on the crossing between Penang and Medan, 22/7.

45 Great Crested Tern One one the crossing between Sumatra and West Java, 9/7 and 23-24(c10) and 25/7 at Gilimanuk.

46 *Sumatran Green Pigeon One seen at Gunung Kerinci and others which remained unseen in the same tree may have been this species, 1/7.

47 *Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon 25/6 when one at Gunung Kerinci.

48 *Thick-billed Green Pigeon 10/7 when two at Carita.

49 *Yellow vented Green Pigeon (c8) 8-12 (1) at the Gap.

50*Grey cheeked Green Pigeon 13/7 when 2 seen in Bogor botanical gardens.

51 *Cinnamon-headed Green Pigeon A flock of five flew over and lande in a tree to give good views at Way Kanan, 7/7.

52 Little Green Pigeon c4 Seen at Way Kanan 7/7.

53 *Pink-necked Green Pigeon Afew seen well in the botanical gardens in Singapore, 25 and 27/5.

54 *Black-naped Fruit Dove Two birds seen well on two dates in Bogor botanical gardens, 12 and 13/7.

55 Mountain Imperial Pigeon 14-15/6 at Cameron highlands, 27 and 29/6 Gunung Kerinci .

56 Barred Cuckoo Dove 14/6 Cameron highlands when nest found with a single egg.

57 Little Cuckoo Dove 4-7-8-9-11/6 At Fraser's Hill and 19/6  Cameron highlands.

58 *Island collared Dove 22/7 on the Mauro Sako road.

59 Spotted Dove 25-27/5 Singapore, 28/5 Taman Negara, 3/6 Kuala Lumpur, 13-14/6

Cameron highlands, daily at Gunung Kerinci.

60 Red Collared Dove 27/5 Pulau Ubin and 30/5 at Taman Negara

61 Emerald Dove 27/5 Pulau Ubin, 12/6 The gap, 22/7 at Gilimanuk.

62 *Red-breasted Parakeet 25/5 Singapore botanical gardens, 27/5 Pulau Ubin.

63 Long-tailed Parakeet 2/6 (1) on the river at Taman Negara.

64 *Goffin's Cockatoo 25/5 Singapore botanical gardens.

65 Blue-rumped Parrot 7(2)-8(1)/7 at Way Kanan.

66 Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot 25/5 Singapore botanical gardens, 1/6 Taman Negara and 7/7 Way Kanan..

67 Oriental Cuckoo 27/7 Bedugal.

68 Banded Bay Cuckoo 11/7 Carita.

69 Plaintive Cuckoo 3/7 Muara Angke, 8-9/7 Way Kanan but heard much more often than seen.

70 Black-bellied Malkoha 7/7 Way Kanan.

71 *Chestnut-bellied Malkoha Sime forest 26/5 and Carita 5/7

72 *Green-billed Malkoha 5/6 the gap, 28/6(2) Mauro Sako. 

73 Raffle's Malkoha 18/6 Boh tea plantation extra-limital elevational record at nearly 2000 metres (950m, Robson).

74 *Red-billed Malkoha 8/6 Gap road.

75 *Chestnut-breasted Malkoha 2/6 Taman Negara, 11/6 the gap.

76 Greater Coucal 28/6 Mauro Sako road,23/7 Gilimanuk.

77 *Lesser Coucal 25-26/6 and 1/7 Gunung Kerinci, 23/7 Gilimanuk, 26/7 Ubud.

78 *Sunda Coucal On my second visit to Muara Angke as I sat in the lookout tower, I noticed a large dark shape sat on top of a bush.  The bird was below a tree full of Darters and at first that's what I thought it was.  When I scoped it, it was a Coucal sat sunning itself 3/7.

79 Barn Owl 30/5 In the Palm nut plantation on the night drive at Taman Negara.

80. *Spotted Wood Owl I was given this site prior to arrival but it took me two attempts to see the bird.  The Owl sits in a tree behind the new coolhouse and becomes vocal at dusk, 27/5.

81. *Malaysian Eared Nightjar c6 seen from the gap resthouse as we sat drinking tea at dusk, 10-11/6.

82. Large-tailed Nightjar 25 and 27/5 when a pair in the Singapore botanical gardens, 30/5 one sat on a telephone wire at Taman Negara showed a moulted tail feather, the replacement feather was only half grown.

83. Savannah Nightjar 4 disturbed from grassland at Baluran 20/7 and a single at Gilimanuk, 23/7.

84. Bonaparte's Nightjar Heard only and too distant to tape in, Way Kanan 7/7.

85. *Giant/Waterfall Swiflet c60 seen at the second attempt at the Letter W waterfall.  The birds appeared distantly and gradually came closer and passed over in a swirling flock.  They were passing through only and did not linger, they were gone in less than two minutes. 30/6.

86. Edible-nest Swiftlet Daily at Kerinci, these should be Linchi Swiftlet but even at close range it was not possible to discern the true colouration of the sheen.

87. Glossy-nest Swiftlet Common throughout.

88. Brown-backed Needletail One at Kerinci 24/6.

89. *Silver-rumped Swift A few at Way Kanan 7/7.

90. Little Swift Common Throughout Malaysia.

91. Grey-rumped Treeswift 25/5 Singapore botanical gardens, 18/6 Boh tea estate.

92. Whiskered Treeswift 7/6 The gap, 28/6 Mauro Sako road.

93. *Blue-tailed (Sumatran) Trogon One sighting of a male at Kerinci 29/6.

94. *Red-naped Trogon One immature seen at Way Kanan 7/7.

95. *Diard's Trogon One male at Taman Negara 1/6.

96. *Orange-breasted Trogon One calling male found on the main road next to the foodstalls opposite the road up to Fraser's hill at the gap 12/6.

97. *Red-headed Trogon Much easier than expected, sitting quietly at the top of the Bishop's trail at Fraser's hill usually paid dividends, 5-8-10/6.

98. Common Kingfisher 22-23/7 At Gilimanuk.  

99. Blue-eared Kingfisher One29/6 on the river going to Taman Negara, one at Way Kanan 7/7, one on 12/7 and three chasing each other on the lake in Bogor botanical gardens.

100. *Small Blue Kingfisher Muara Angke fishing ponds where c3 2-3/7 and Gilimanuk 12-13/7.

101. Stork-billed Kingfisher 25/5 Singapore botanical gardens, 27/5 Pulau Ubin, 29/5 Taman Negara, 7-8/7 Way Kanan.

102. *Javan Kingfisher Common in the paddies around Ubud 26/(1), 27(5) and 29/7(1).

103. Collared Kingfisher Regular throughout.

104. *Sacred Kingfisher Two on the small mangrove island opposite the Nusantara II in Gilimanuk.

105. Blue-tailed Bee-eater 2/6 when one at Taman Negara.

106. Red-bearded Bee-eater Regular at the upper end of the gap road where a family party of two adults and a juvenile were seen a couple of times 4(3), 5(1), 6(1) and 8/6(3).

107. Dollarbird 2/6 Taman Negara was surprisingly the only sighting.

108. Wrinkled Hornbill 5/6 When one at Fraser's hill

109. Oriental Pied Hornbill 27/5 Pulau Ubin (2), 29/5 Kuala Tahan whilst waiting for the boat to Taman Negara (2), 30/5 (1), 2/6 (2) Taman Negara, 21-22/7(2) Baluran.

110. Great Hornbill One at Fraser's hill 7/6.

111. *Fire-tufted Barbet Daily in Malaysia and Sumatra.

112. Lineated Barbet 22/7 One scoped in a treetop whilst looking for Bali Myna at the ranger station lookout.

113. *Red-crowned Barbet One seen very well whilst looking at a Red-naped Trogon at Way Kanan 7/7.

114. *Golden-throated Barbet 15/6 when one at Gunung Brinchang in the Cameron highlands.

115. *Black-browed Barbet 11-12/6 The gap,15-18/6 Cameron highlands and 27-28/6 at Gunung Kerinci.

116. *Orange-fronted Barbet Heard daily but only one seen, 16/7 Gunung Gede.

117. *Blue-eared Barbet 10/6 The gap.

118. Coppersmith Barbet 10/6 The gap,  and heard daily at Gunung Kerinci.

119. Rufous Woodpecker 8/6(3) At Fraser's hill, were in a mixed flock.

120. *Bamboo Woodpecker I was pleased with finding this as it went a little way to repaying Chris Bennetts for all the good info he provided me with. The bird flew and perched on a bamboo stem for thirty seconds or so and when it disappeared we could hear it tapping on the bamboo stems..  This was a bird that Chris had spent a lot of time searching for, he even bought me a beer for finding it!  11/6 c half a kilometre from the bottom of the Gap road.

121. *Buff-rumped Woodpecker During a bit of survey work with Chris Bennetts at Boh tea plantation we found a single bird.  Woodpeckers are a favourite family of mine and although not a rare bird, this species had previously eluded me.  Had to buy Chris a beer back for this one!

122. Buff-necked Woodpecker 22/7 Baluran.   

123. White-bellied Woodpecker A single showed well at Way Kanan 7/7.

124. *Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker A pair at Muara Angke were the first 2/7 then 21-22-23/7 at Gilimanuk and (2)27/7 at Bedugal.

125. Grey-capped Woodpecker 3(2)-5/7 Carita, 7/7 Way Kanan.

126. *Laced Woodpecker A pair on a palm tree were just about the first birds I saw on Pulau Ubin 27/5.

127. * Greater Yellownape 4-6-8-9/6 At Fraser's hill.

128. Crimson-winged Woodpecker 1/6 Taman Negara, 8/6 Fraser's hill, and 16/7 Gunung Gede.

129. *Lesser Yellownape 7-9/6 Fraser's hill.

130. *Banded Woodpecker Sime forest 26/5 and 2/6(2) Taman Negara.

131. Orange-backed Woodpecker 1/6 (2) Taman Negara and 8/7 at Way Kanan.

132. *Dusky Broadbill One bird flew from the forest and landed in a dead tree for about twenty seconds before flying off to another small stand of trees, Way Kanan 7/7.

133. Black and red Broadbill Two birds at Mauro Sako 28/6.

134. *Long-tailed Broadbill Two birds at a nest at Fraser's hill 10/6 and two birds on the road between Mauro Sako and Kerinci 28/6.

135. Schneider's Pitta Heard only, once, 27/6 Gunung Kerinci.

136. Rusty-naped Pitta Heard once in response to tape but was never heard again and did not respond to tape either, Bishop's trail at Fraser's hill 5/6.

137. *Hooded Pitta A bird heard calling at Way Kanan during night birding was briefly lamped 8/7.

138. Barn Swallow Daily in Singaporeand Taman Negara.

139. Pacific Swallow Regular throughout.

140. *Striated Swallow First seen at 'The gap' 7/6 where birds of the rufous bellied race badia regularly perched in the eves of the guesthouse, then daily in the Cameron highlands and Gunung Gede.

141. Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike 6(2)-8/6 At Fraser's hill, 19-21/6 Cameron highlands, 26-27-28/6 Kerinci,

142. Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike 5-6/6 The gap, 5/7 Carita, 22/7 Baluran 23/7 Gilimanuk.

143. Large Woodshrike c4 5/6 Fraser's hill,

144. Malaysian Cuckooshrike One at Fraser's hill 6/6 and two 22/7 at Baluran.

145. Sunda Cuckooshrike 24-25/6 Kerinci.

146. Large Cuckooshrike 15/6(2) Cameron Highlands, 19/6 Boh tea estate.

147. *Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike Two birds at Fraser's hill 5/6.

148. Lesser Cuckooshrike One seen at 'The gap' 9/6.

149. Pied Triller Two at Baluran 23/7.

150. *White-shouldered Triller 23-24/7 Gilimanuk.

151. Small Minivet 10-11/7 Carita, 22/7 Baluran.

152. Grey-chinned Minivet Daily at Fraser's hill and Cameron highlands.

153. *Sunda Minivet 27/6 c4, 29/6 at Gunung Kerinci and 18/7 at Gunung Gede.

154. Scarlet Minivet 4/6 Fraser's hill and 18/6 Cameron highlands.

155. Green Iora 28/6 At Mauro Sako.      

156. Common Iora 25/5 Singapore botanical gardens, 26/5 Sime forest, 27/5, Pulau Ubin, 4-5/7 at Carita, 12/7 Bogor botanical gardens and 22-23/7 Gilimanuk.

157. Greater Green Leafbird 31/5 Taman Negara.

158. Blue-winged Leafbird 8/6 Fraser's hill, 18/6 Cameron highlands, 28/6 Mauro Sako.

159. *Orange-bellied Leafbird 7-9-10-11/6 At Fraser's hill.

160. Straw-headed Bulbul 27/5 Pulau Ubin when c4.

161. *Cream-striped Bulbul c10 28/6 At Mauro Sako.

162. Black-headed Bulbul 28/6 Mauro Sako.

163. Black-crested Bulbul Almost daily at Fraser's hill and Cameron highlands, race johnsoni.

164. *Grey-bellied Bulbul One on Mauro Sako road 28/6.

165. *Sooty-headed Bulbul 23-25-26-30/6 At Gunung Kerinci where the birds were extremely wary and usually only flight views were obtained.  3/7 Muara Angke, 7/7 Way Kanan and 13-14/7 at Bogor botanical gardens.

166. *Stripe-throated Bulbul 29-30-31/6 Taman Negara.

167. *Orange-spotted Bulbul The only views were at the golf course Gunung Gede where four on 18/7.

168. Yellow-vented Bulbul Daily in Singapore, 31/5 Taman Negara, and daily in the Cameron highlands, 25-29-303/6 Kerinci, 3/7 Muara Angke and daily in Bali.

169. Olive-winged Bulbul 7-8-/7 Way Kanan, 12/7 Bogor botanical gardens. 

170. Cream-vented Bulbul 29/5 Taman Negara.

171. Red-eyed Bulbul 4/7 Carita.

172. Ochraceous Bulbul 31/5 Taman Negara, daily at Fraser's hill, 18/6 Boh tea estate28/6 Mauro Sako and 30/6 at Gunung Kerinci.

173. Grey-cheeked Bulbul 28/6 Mauro Sako, 4 and 10/7 Carita.

174. Yellow-bellied Bulbul 28/6 Mauro Sako road, 4/7 Carita.

175. *Sunda Bulbul 28/6 Mauro Sako Road, 16/7 Gunung Gede.

176. Streaked Bulbul 1-2/6 Taman Negara.

177. *Ashy Bulbul One bird seen at Fraser's hill on 'The gap' road, 9/6.

178. Mountain Bulbul Daily at Fraser's hill and Cameron highlands.

179. Black Drongo 25/6 Kerinci, 22/7 Baluran and 23/7 Gilimanuk.

180. Ashy Drongo 10-11//7 Carita, 15-16-17-18/7 Gunung Gede and 27/7 at Bedugal.

181. Bronzed Drongo Daily at Fraser's hill.

182 *Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo Daily at Fraser's hilland Cameron highlands, 28/6 Mauro Sako road 1nd 16-17/7 at Gunung Gede.

183. Hair-crested Drongo 15/7 Gunung Gede.

184. *Sumatran Drongo Two birds seen well that fitted the criteria for this species, Gunung Kerinci 27/6.

185. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo 25/5 Singapore botanical gerdens, 26/5 Sime forest, 31/5 and 2/6 Taman Negara and 4-5-11/6 Fraser's hill.

186. Black-naped Oriole Common in Singapore even in the city where they seem only to require a few trees. 3/7 Muara Angke, 12-13/7 Bogor botanical gardens and 23/7 at Gilimanuk.

187. Black and Crimson Oriole 10/6(2) Fraser's hill, 18/6(3) Boh tea estate in the Cameron highlands and 28/6 Mauro Sako road.  Very often heard but elusive.

188. Asian Fairy Bluebird 5-911-12 Frasers hill.

189. *Green Magpie Common at Fraser's hill.

190. *Sumatran Treepie 28/6 Mauro Sako road where only one.

191. *Racket-tailed Treepie Three seen from the lookout tower at Muara Angke.

192. House Crow Daily in Singapore, 2-3/6 in Kuala Lumpur, 7/6 Fraser's hill, 21/6 Penang 22/6 Medan and 23/6 at Padang.

193. *Pygmy Tit Nowhere near as common as I thought they would be with only one definite sighting, Gunung Gede c6 in a single flock 15/6.

194. Great Tit 2/7 At Muara Angke, daily at Gunung Gede, 22/7 Baluran and 23/7 Gilimanuk.

195. *Sultan Tit 5 and 7/6 Fraser's hill and two on 17/6 at Boh tea estate.

196. Velvet-fronted Nuthatch 8/6(3) Fraser's hill, 7/7 Way Kanan, 10-11/7 Carita.

197. Blue Nuthatch Frasers hill on 4(3)-5(3)-6(3) and 12-6, 17(2)/6 Cameron highlands, 26(c6)-27(2)/6 Gunung Kerinci, 15(c8)-16-17-18/7 Gunung Gede.

198. *Lesser Shortwing Heard often throughout but only one decent view, Cameron highlands 13/6 also 17/7 Gunung Gede.

199. Black-capped Babbler 28/6 Gunung Kerinci, 4-5-10/7 Carita.

200. Ferruginous Babbler 31/5 Taman Negara.

201. Short-tailed Babbler 25/5 Sime forest when a very vocal bird showed well next to

the path.

202. *Buff-breasted Babbler The very loud song is often heard at Fraser's hill but only two sightings 7/6 and 8(2)6.

202. *Horsefield's Babbler 29/5 Taman Negara and 4-5-6-10/7 Carita where very vocal but elusive.

204. *Moustached Babbler 29/5 Taman Negara.

205. Sooty-capped Babbler 2/6 Taman Negara.

206. Scaly-crowned Babbler 10-11/7 Carita.

207. *Chestnut-backed Scimitar Babbler 16(c6) 17(2)/7 Gunung Gede.

208. *Rusty-breasted Wren Babbler One taped out 29/6 and one seen at the base shelter 1/7 Gunung Kerinci.  Very loud explosive song gives the bird away but still difficult to see without a tape.

209. *Streaked Wren Babbler One brief view of a bird on the Bishop's trail at Fraser's hill 10/6.  Chris Bennetts who was in the area for several months reported the birds as going from multiple daily sightings to not even weekly, post breeding?

209. *Eye-browed Wren Babbler 30/6 Gunung Kerinci and 17/7 Gunung Gede.209.

210. *Pygmy Wren Babbler 4/6 Fraser's hill,one showed extremely well, perching half way up a stem and singing17/6 Gunung Kerinci, 27/6, 30/6 Gunung Kerinci, and seen or heard daily at Gunung Gede.

211. *Golden Babbler 4-5-6/6 Fraser's hill, common at Gunung Kerinci.

212. *White-breasted Babbler Having failed on my first trip to Carita we finally connected with a flock of c6 birds not far from the waterfall at Carita 11/7.

213. Grey-throated Babbler 6-9/6 Fraser's hill, 13-14 and 18-19/6 Boh tea estate, Cameron highlands, daily at Gunung Kerinci.

214. *White-bibbed Babbler 17(c20-18(c10)-19(c10)/7 Gunung Gede.

215. *Chestnut-winged Babbler 29/5 Taman Negara.

216. *Crescent-chested Babbler 15(c6)-16(c4)/7 Gunung Gede.

217. *Grey-cheeked Tit Babbler 4(c8)-5(c4)/7 Carita, 18/7 Gunung Gede.

218. Striped Tit Babbler Commonly heard but seldom seen.  8-10/6 Fraser's hill.

219. *Javan Fulvetta 16-17-18/7 Gunung Gede. 

220.*Mountain Fulvetta Daily at Fraser's hill and Cameron highlands.

221. *Rufous-winged Fulvetta Only seen on Gunung Brinchang in Cameron highlands 15/6.

222. *Spotted Crocias 17(1)18(3)/7 Gunung Gede.  I was surprised by the yellowness of the underparts of this bird, which are shown white in 'Mckinnon'.

223. *White-hooded Babbler Three together at Fraser's hill 5/6.

224. *Long-tailed Sibia Daily at Fraser's hilla nd Cameron highlands.

225. White-bellied Yuhina 7-8/6 Fraser's hill.

226. *Malaysian Rail-babbler A bird flushed from the Jenet Muda trail at Taman Negara gave poor views as it walked off under a fallen tree exhibiting Pigeon like movements with it's head and neck.

227. *Rufous-fronted Laughingthrush 16(1)-17(3)/7 Gunung Gede.

228. Black Laughingthrush 4-5-6-7 /6 Fraser's hill.

229. Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush Daily at Fraser's hill and Cameron highlands.

230. Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush Regular at Fraser's hill and Cameron highlands.

231. *Silver-eared Mesia Daily at Fraser's hill and Cameron highlands.

232. *Cutia I arrived at The 'Puncak inn' to be told that my room would not be ready for a couple of hours so I went for a short orientation walk.  A single bird seen in pines at the edge of the golf course during this walk was the only one seen.  The bird showed well for about two minutes, moving treecreeper like up the main trunk..

233. White-browed Shrike-Babbler 8(1male)-7/(1 female)/6 Fraser's hill, 29(3)/6 Gunung Kerinci, 16/7(2) Gunung Gede.

234. *Chestnut-fronted Shrike Babbler 16-17/7 Gunung Gede.

235. *Black-eared Shrike Babbler 6/6(2) Fraser's hill and 15/6(1) Gunung Brinchang in Cameron highlands

236. *Blue-winged Minla Daily at Fraser's hill and Cameron highlands.  It took me a while to figure out what these birds were as none showed any blue in the wing.  The whitish eye is a real feature.

237. *Chestnut-tailed Minla Only seen on Gunung Brinchang in Cameron highlands 15/6.

238. Oriental Magpie Robin Common throughout Malaysia but irregular in Indonesia where one on 30/6 Gunung Kerinci and one on 7/6 were the only records in the region, trapping?

239. White-rumped Shama 27/5 Pulau Ubin, 29-31/5 and 1-2/6  Taman Negara.

240. *Sunda Blue Robin One female seen at Gunung Kerinci 30/6.

241. *White-tailed Robin Only seen in Cameron highlands where regular, even a pair in 'Father's' guesthouse vegetable patch,

242. *Slaty-backed Forktail Daily at Fraser's hill with a peak of four 6/6 in the concrete culvert just inside to the right of the entrance gate, also seen at Parit falls in Cameron highlands during the clean up 17/6.

243. *Lesser Forktail Only seen on the Mauro Sako road where one 28/6 and one on the golfcourse at Gunung Gede 18/7.

244. *Javan Cochoa A bird previously identified as a Sunda whistling Thrush which was at the top of a tree eating fruit is now considered to have been this species 18/7 Gunung Gede.

245. Pied Bushchat One at Ubud 28/7.

246. *Shiny Whistling Thrush Despite reports that this species is common on Gunung Kerinci, only one was seen, 27/6.

247. Sunda Whistling Thrush 27/6 Gunung Kerinci and two at Letter W waterfall were of the brown Sumatran form castaneus.  Records at Gunung Gede 15-16 and 17/6 were of the blue form glaucinus.  The birds on Sumatra were very shy but the Javan birds were quite the opposite and would perch out in the open for long periods.

248. Chestnut-capped Thrush A bird singing on a telephone wire in the middle of the Balinese resort town of Cuta, was almost certainly an escaped cage bird, 31/7.

249. *Golden-bellied Gerygone or Flyeater Pulau Ubin where a very bright juvenile with a very obvious eye ring confused the life out of me was the first, 27/5 then 3-4/7 Muara Angke and 12/7 at Bogor.

250. *Chestnut-crowned Warbler 8/6 Fraser's hill and 14-15-16 Cameron highlands.

251. *Sunda Warbler 25-26-27-30/6 and 1/7 Gunung Kerinci.

252. Yellow-breasted Warbler 14/6 Cameron highlands.

253. Yellow-bellied Warbler Daily at Fraser's hill and Cameron highlands and 29/6 at Gunung Kerinci.

254. Mountain Leaf Warbler Daily at Fraser's hill and Cameron highland including a pair at the nest, daily at Gunung Kerinci and Gunung Gede.

255. *Eastern Reed Warbler 2-3/7 at Muara Angke.

256. *Striated Grassbird Only one bird but seen well as it sat atop a grass stem singing at the edge of the golf course at Gunung Gede, 18/7.

257. *Javan Tesia I had no trouble seeing these birds as they pish out as easy as any bird I have tried it with.  Gunung Gede 16(1)17(c5)/7.

258. Common Tailorbird Regular throughout.

259. *Dark-necked Tailorbird Taman Negara 2/6, Fraser's hill 7/6, Cameron highlands 18-19/6, this bird is thought to be an extra-limital, altitudinal record.  Robson states that this species occurs up to 1200m and our record relates to over 1500m.

260. Ashy Tailorbird 27/5 Pulau Ubin and 8/7 at Way Kanan.

261. *Olive-backed Tailorbird 16-17/7 Gunung Gede.

262. Rufous-tailed Tailorbird 28/6 Mauro Sako road.

263. Mountain Tailorbird Heard or seen daily at Fraser's hill, 'The gap', Cameron highlands, Gunung Kerinci and Gunung Gede.

264. *Rufescent Prinia A very skulking bird, 14/6 Fraser's hill when one was seen.

265. *Hill Prinia 23-24-27/6 Gunung Kerinci and 28/6 Mauro Sako road.

266. Yellow-bellied Prinia 28/6 Mauro Sako road when two and 8/7 Way Kanan when one.

267. *Bar-winged Prinia Muara Angke 2/7, 10/7 Carita, 16/7 Gunung Gede, 21-22/7 Baluran, 23/7 Gilimanuk and 29/7 at Ubud.

268. *Brown Prinia 21/7 Baluran.

269. *Fulvous-chested Jungle Flycatcher 27/7 when two at Bedugal.

270. *Ferruginous Flycatcher 18/6 when one at Boh tea estate, Cameron highlands.

271. Verditer Flycatcher 6-7/6 Fraser's hill.

272. Indigo Flycatcher 25(2)-26(1)/6 Gunung Kerinci and 16/7 Gunung Gede. 

273.    *Rufous-browed Flycatcher 5(2)-6-7-8 Fraser's hill on the Bishop's trail.

274.    Snowy-browed Flycatcher Two at Cameron highlands 15/6, daily at Gunung Kerinci and 16-17 at Gunung Gede.  Very terrestrial for a Flycatcher, often seen on the ground or perched very low, inquisitive and approachable usually.

275.    *Rufous-chested Flycatcher One female seen well at Cameron highlands 13/6.

276.    Little Pied Flycatcher 6-8/6 Fraser's hill, 14-15/6 Cameron highlands, 27/6 Gunung Kerinci, 28/6 Mauro Sako road and 17/7 Gunung Gede.

277.    *Pygmy Blue Flycatcher 25 and30/6 Gunung Kerinci when one.

278.    Grey-headed (Canary) Flycatcher 10/6 Fraser's hill, 14/6Cameron highlands and daily at Gunung Kerinci.

279.    Large Niltava Daily in good numbers at Fraser's hill and Cameron highlands.

280.    Hill Blue Flycatcher A female seen twice at Fraser's hill in a fern gully half way down 'The gap' road 5 and 9/6.

281.     *Rufous-tailed Fantail 17/7 Gunung Gede where two.

282.    White-throated Fantail Regular throughout.

283. Pied Fantail 2-3/7 Muara Angke and 24/7 Gilimanuk.

284. Black-naped Monarch 1/6 when two at Taman Negara.

285. Rufous-winged Philentoma 30/5 when one at Taman Negara.

286. *Mangrove Whistler One sighting at Pulau Ubin, 27/5.

287. White-breasted Woodswallow 3/7 Muara Angke.

288. Long-tailed Shrike Common at Gunung Kerinci and 21-22/7 at Baluran and 23/7 at Gilimanuk.

289. Richard's Pipit Birds of the race rufulus or Paddyfield / Oriental Pipit were observed at Cameron highlands where a semi domed nest containing two young was found, 13-14-18-19/6.

290. *Vinous-breasted Starling Two birds of unknown origin on Pulau Ubin, 27/5.

291. *Short-tailed Glossy Starling Four birds at Bedugal were the only ones seen, 27/7.

292. Asain Glossy Starling Daily in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

293. *Bali Myna Of two birds seen at Bali Barat national park, one bird was a ringed release which had returned to the pre- release cage for water.  The other was un-ringed and seen well from the watchtower through a x50 telescope.  I was assured that only wild birds remain un-ringed (he knew what I wanted to hear)

294. Common Myna 25/5 Singapore botanical gardens, daily at Taman Negara and Cameron highlands.

295. *Javan Myna Common in Singapore.

296. *Plain Sunbird A pair seen on the Mauro Sako road 28/6.

297. Plain-throated Sunbird 26/5 Sime forest when two.

298. Ruby-cheeked Sunbird 31/5 Taman Negara, 10/6 Fraser's hill and 4/7 at Carita.

299. *Copper-throated Sunbird Two seen on Pulau Ubin 27/5.

300. Olive-backed Sunbird 12/6 'The gap', 3/7 Muara Angke, 12/7 Bogor and daily in Ubud.

301. *Violet-tailed / Javan Sunbird  10-11/7 Carita.

302. *Black-throated Sunbird Common and daily in Malaysia.  

303. Little Spiderhunter 29/5 Taman Negara, 5 and 12/6 Fraser's hill, 28/6 Mauro Sako road and 16-19/7 Gunung Gede.

304. Streaked Spiderhunter Daily at Fraser's hill.

305. Grey-breasted Spiderhunter 31/5 Taman Negara, 5/7 Carita and 8/7 Way Kanan.

306. Indonesian Honeyeater 27/7 Bedugal.  Treated as a race of Brown Honeyeater by some.

307. Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker Daily at Fraser's hill.

308. *Yellow-vented Flowerpecker Fraser's hill 9/6 when one bird seen.

309. *Blood-breasted Flowerpecker 16 and 18/7 at Gunung Gede and 27(3)/7 at Bedugal.

310. *Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 13/7 when two in Bogor botanical gardens.

311. Oriental White-eye Daily at Gunung Kerinci and Gunung Gede.

312. *Everett's White-eye 13 and 19(c6) Cameron highlands.

313. *Mountain White-eye 25-26/ 6 Gunung Kerinci and 30/6 'Letter W'.

314. *Tawny-breasted Parrotfinch Two sightings at different levels at Gunung Gede.  The first was on a path bordered on both sides by tall grass just past the first concrete footbridge the second prolonged views of a bird feeding on the path near K1 marker, Gunung Gede 16 and 18/7.

315. White-rumped Munia 6/6 Fraser's hill, 18-19/6 Cameron highlands.

316. *Javan Munia 2-3/7 Muara Angke, 4-10-11/7 Carita, 12-13 Bogor.

317. Scaly-breasted Munia 3/7 Muara Angke and daily on Bali.

318. Eurasian Tree Sparrow Common throughout.

319. *Mountain Serin A pair observed eating small white flowers on bushes just above 4K  at Gunung Gede.  Approached to within two metres and took photographs but due to poor light and no flash images are not very sharp.

Wallacean list including Flores, Komodo and Rinca.

1.      Black-naped Tern 1(c20)-2(c60)/8 between Flores and Komodo.

2.      Great Crested Tern 1-2/8 when common between Flores and Komodo.

3.      Woolly-necked Stork 31/7 when one wet area 'New Bajo beach hotel' road.

4.      Great-billed Heron One on rocks off Komodo 1/8.

5.      Purple Heron 2/8 wet area 'New Bajo beach hotel' road when two and 5/7 Ruteng.

6.      Pacific Reef Egret 31/7(c6) wet area 'New Bajo beach hotel' road and 1/8 on Komodo when one.  All dark morph birds.

7.      Little Heron One on wet area 'New Bajo beach hotel' road 2/8

8.      Cinnamon Bittern Two on wet area 'New Bajo beach hotel' road 2/8.

9.      Brahminy Kite One over Labuanbajo 30/7, one over Rinca 1/8 and two over Komodo 2/8.

10.  White-bellied Sea Eagle Two seen from the veranda of my hotel in Labuanbajo 30/7, four seen around Komodo 1/8 and one 2/8.

11.  Short-toed Eagle What was thought to be this species seen over Labuanbajo 31/7

12.  *Variable Goshawk 1/8 Rinca and 2/8 Komodo.  This race sylvetris is an easy race to identify having white spots on the scapulars.

13.  Spotted Kestrel 31/7 and 3/8 In dry fields'New Bajo beach hotel' road and one seen en-route from Ruteng 8/8.

14.   Australian Kestrel A female bird with a single black sub-terminal tail band was thought to be this species. In dry fields 'New Bajo beach hotel' road 31/7.

15.  Lesser Whistling-duck 31/7 And 1/8 on wet area 'New Bajo beach hotel' road

16.  *Pacific Black Duck c200 Seen on lake Ranamese 6/8

17.   Green Junglefowl Excellent views had of c6 cock birds on Komodo 2/8.

18.   Barred Buttonquail Very common on Flores.

19.  *Orange-footed Scrubfowl Good views of two bird on Rinca 1/8.

20.  *Brown Quail One male bird seen at the edge of forest 'New Bajo beach hotel' road 31/7

21.  *Buff-banded Rail A bird seen twice on wet area 'New Bajo beach hotel' road 31/7 and 2/8.

22.  *White-browed Crake One bird seen at the same time as the above made for good size comparison. Wet area 'New Bajo beach hotel' road 2/8.

23.  Common Moorhen Two seen on lake Ranamese 6/8.

24.  Javan / Kentish Plover c6 Wet area 'New Bajo beach hotel' road 31/7.

25.  Common Sandpiper 31/7 Wet area 'New Bajo beach hotel' road, 1-2/8 Komodo.

26.  Greenshank 31/7(1) Wet area 'New Bajo beach hotel' road.

27.  Spotted Dove 2/8 Komodo.

28.  *Barred Dove c10'New Bajo beach hotel' road.

29.  Emerald Dove 30/7(2) 'New Bajo beach hotel' road and 3/8 Rareng road.

30.  *Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon Three seen at lake Ranamese 6/8.

31.  *Black-backed Fruit Dove One at lake Ranames 6/8 and two on the road in the hills south of Ruteng 7/8.

32.  Black-naped Fruit Dove c6 seen on the Rareng road 3/8.

33.  *Yellow-crested Cockatoo c6 seen on Komodo 2/8.

34.  *Red-cheeked Parrot One seen three times in flight at Puarolo station 4/8.

35.  *Wallace's Hanging Parrot One seen as it flew past me at head height showing the red rump clearly, Puarolo station 4/8.

36.   *Rusty-breasted Cuckoo One seen well at lake Ranamese 6/8.

37.  Lesser Coucal One seen on Rareng road 3/8.

38.  *Moluccan Scops Owl As I walked back from the wet area just after dark, two birds were heard calling to each other at either side of the track.  I was able to spotlight both birds briefly but they flew almost as soon as the light went on them.  The birds were first at head height and flew up to about 15 feet once disturbed. 'New Bajo beach hotel' road 2/8 and heard but not seen the following evening.

39.  Glossy Swiftlet Common.

40.  Savannah Nightjar  'New Bajo beach hotel' road, one bird on 30/7.

41.  Collared Kingfisher  'New Bajo beach hotel' road 2/8 and Ruteng 6/8.

42.  Sacred Kingfisher c6 seen 'New Bajo beach hotel' road 31/7.

43.  Small Blue Kingfisher Rinca 1/8.

44.  Kingfisher species I thought at the time that the birds were Blue-eared but checking the book shows a form of Common floresiana which is almost identical.  31/7 and 2/8 wet area'New Bajo beach hotel' road

45.  Dollarbird One seen Rareng road 3/8.

46.  Blue-tailed Bee-eater Daily with flocks of up to c20.

47.  *Rainbow Bee-eater c10 30/7 and 3 on 2/7 passing over Labuanbajo.

48.  Sunda Woodpecker 6/8 at Ranamese and 7/8 outside Ruteng.

49.  *Elegant Pitta Single birds of the black throated form seen on 31/7 and 8/8.  Occasional calls were heard at dusk but generally silent. 'New Bajo beach hotel' road.

50.  Pacific Swallow One seen over Rareng road 3/8.

51.  *Australasian Bushlark One seen feeding on seeds gave prolonged views and allowed approach to within five metres. 'New Bajo beach hotel' road 2/8.

52.  *Wallacean Cuckooshrike One seen on Rareng road 3/8.

53.  *Little Minivet Just one male seen, 'New Bajo beach hotel' road 30/7.

54.   *Wallacean Drongo 31/6(c4) 1-2-/8'New Bajo beach hotel' road and  3/8 Rareng road.

55.  *Flores Crow I thought I had dipped this one, my very last hour of light on 'New Bajo beach hotel' road and I heard a strange Crow call.  As I approached the bird it flew over me and the whoosh of it's flapping wings was obvious and I remembered,  from the book that this was a feature of the species.  I followed it to where it flew and watched as it pumped it's tail as it called, another characteristic of the species 7/8.

56.  Long-billed Crow Five seen 30/7 New Bajo beach hotel' road.

57.  Pied Bushchat Common around Ruteng.

58.  *Sunda Thrush A real bonus was a bird that landed on the road c20 metres away and hopped in to the undergrowth at the road side, not seen again.  Hills south of Ruteng 7/8.

59.  Fan-tailed Warbler 31/7 'New Bajo beach hotel' road.

60.  *Russet-capped Tesia Commonly heard but very hard to see, two eventually at lake Ranamese 6/8.

61.  *Timor Leaf Warbler One seen at Lake Ranamese 6/8.

62.  Oriental White-eye Common, yellow bellied race.

63.  Mountain White-eye 5-6-7 Around Ruteng.

64.  *Yellow-bellied White-eye Not as common as I thought with only two definitely seen.  The yellow bellied white-eyes commonly seen were the race of Oriental.  The absence of the black loral spot caused me concern so I checked the literature.  The best feature to separate the two according to Coates and Bishop is the rump, bright yellow means Oriental, olive green means yellow- bellied 30/7(2).

65.  *Yellow-spectacled White-eye Common

66.  *Crested Dark-eye 6(2)/8 Lake Ranamese and 7(1) Hills south of Ruteng.

67.  *Thick-billed Dark-eye One seen feeding upside down on a weedy plant just outside Ruteng 5/8.

68.  *Yellow-browed Dark-eye Lake Ranamese (c4)6/8 and hills south of Ruteng when one 7/8.

69.   *Russet-backed Jungle Flycatcher One seen at lake Ranamese 6/8.

70.  Black-naped Monarch 30(2)-31(2)/7 and 2/8 'New Bajo beach hotel' road, 3/8 Rareng road.

71.  *Brown-capped Fantail Common at lake Ranamese 6/8 and hills south of Ruteng 7/8.

72.  *Common Golden Whistler A male 31/7 'New Bajo beach hotel' road and another at Puarolo 4/8.

73.  *Bare-throated Whistler Supposedly common but only one male seen and none knowingly heard.  Hills south of Ruteng 7/8.

74.  Short-tailed Glossy Starling Three seen at lake Ranamese 6/8 and three outside Ruteng including a nest in a hole in a tree 7/8

75.  *Helmeted Friarbird 31/7(2) and 2/8(4) in a fruiting tree 'New Bajo beach hotel' road.

76.  *Scaly-crowned Honeyeater Common around Ruteng.

77.  *Flame-breasted Sunbird Common.

78.  Olive-backed Sunbird Common, the race ornatus which shows the dark metallic colouration of the gorget extending on to the forehead.

79.  *Golden-rumped Flowerpecker 30-31/7 'New Bajo beach hotel' road and 3/8 on the Rareng road.

80.  Thick-billed Flowerpecker 30/7(1) Gardena hotel and 4/8 Puorola station.

81.  *Black-fronted Flowerpecker Common.

82.  *Zebra Finch 31/7 and 3/8 'New Bajo beach hotel' road.

83.   Eurasian Tree Sparrow Common.

84.  Scaly-breasted Munia A small flock on the outskirts of Ruteng 7/8.

References used

Where to watch birds in Asia
Wheatley, Nigel: Buy from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

  • This guide to birdwatching in Asia deals with over 250 sites in detail, and more in passing, from Turkey to Thailand and India to Indonesia. It is designed as much for pre-planning birding trips as for use in the country or countries on the itinerary. The countries are dealt with alphabetically and after a general introduction, there are site details, which include a list of birds to be seen, organized under the headings "Endemics", "Specialities" and "Others"; a list of "Other Wildlife" is also included where there is something of particular interest.

Birding Indonesia
Paul Jepson: Buy from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

  • This guide to birdwatching in Indonesia contains travel tips and articles which cover many species of birdlife, with information on sightseeing tours to many little-known places. Detailed maps show the different habitats. There is an index of English and scientific name

Birds of South-east Asia
Craig Robson: Buy from Amazon.co.uk

  • This field guide to the birds of South-East Asia details the identification, voice, breeding, status, habitat and distribution of the 1250 species and distinctive sub-species of the region covering Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, West Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia

'A guide to the birds of Wallacea' Coates, Bishop and Gardner.

Reports used

Tim Allwoods trip report on the Lesser Sundas '99' ALLWOODT@aol.com
Tim Allwoods reports on Carita, Gunung Gede and Way Kanan, Sumatra, all currently held on birdtours.co.uk
Aidan Kellys' Peninsular Malaysia report for June 1998 agkelly@mail.tcd.ie
Tim Earl, Singapore 1998, tim-earl@guernsey.net
Ron Hoff, Singapore April 2000 dollyron@icx.net

Thanks to Bill Simpson for access to his trip reports (not published) and advice and Tim Allwood for advice.

Thanks also to Subaraj Rajathurai, who is a guide in Singapore and informed me by E-mail of how to find the Spotted Wood-Owl in the botanical gardens.  Serin@swiftech.com.sg

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