Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Joint Event between Fraser Hill Community Library and Wild Bird Club Malaysia Part 2


Some of the birds seen during the birdwatching activity included the Silver-eared Mesia above as well as the following:-
Streaked Spiderhunter
Fire-tufted Barbet
Buff-breasted Babbler in hopping action that Saturday afternoon
Mountain Bulbul
Greater Yellownape
Green-billed Malkoha
Rufous-Browed Flycatcher

Which MYSTERIOUS bird literally made us (including our presenter Mr Mark Ng) so excited that we were sprawled on the tar road at Fraser Hill below, trying to catch a glimpse of it? It was a pair of Mountain Scops Owl of Fraser Hill. This was a very difficult species of owl to see in the highlands. We were very lucky indeed that Saturday evening to see this nocturnal bird during daylight since our birdwatching activity was scheduled to end by 5pm!  


The individual Scops Owl peered at us from within the thick foliage
Walk along Hemmant’s Trail, Fraser’s Hill (FH) 11th June 2016

The walk started from FH town center, towards the mosque and then turning left into Hemmant’s trail. The trail itself was relatively quiet in terms of bird life. A few Chestnut-capped Laughing Thrushes were seen as the group walked along the trail. A Large Niltava was calling at the edge of the forest canopy. It was fairly wet after the rain but there were some interesting find in the trail itself that kept some of the first-timer excited. The group was shown various Begonias along the trail. Also present was a wild ginger species.

Recording Bird Sightings

We re-grouped at the Fraser Hill Sports Complex to record the bird sightings for that Saturday, 11th June 3.15 to 5.15pm. 

The joint event between WBCM and FHCL concluded by 5.30pm. It was a successful inaugural event. WBCM will continue to work closely with FHCL, to educate the community of Fraser Hill on the importance of preserving the rich and unique avifauna and its habitat, more so for the benefit of our children and the next generation of Malaysians. WBCM will enter the list of birds seen at Fraser Hill that Saturday afternoon through EBIRD portal. The list is reproduced below:-  
Number
Common Name
Latin Name
Count
Note
1
Long-tailed Sibia
Heterophasia picaoides


2
Streaked Wren Babbler
Turdinus brevicaudatus
1

3
Rufous-browed Flycatcher
Anthipes solitaris
1

4
Buff-breasted Babbler
Pellorneum tickelli
1

5
Slaty-backed Forktail
Enicurus schistaceus
1

6
Large Niltava
Niltava grandis
2
Male and female
7
Fire-tufted Barbet
Psilopogon pyrolophus


8
Pacific Swallow
Hirundo tahitica


9
Black-throated Sunbird
Aethopyga saturata
1

10
Little Pied Flycatcher
Ficedula westermanni
1

11
Silver-eared Mesia
Leiothrix argentauris


12
Chestnut-capped Laughing Thrush
Ianthocincla mitrata


13
Streaked Spiderhunter
Arachnothera magna
1
Vocalizing & feeding
14
Oriental Magpie Robin
Copsychus saularis


15
Mountain Scops-Owl
Otus spilocephalus
2

16
Mountain Bulbul
Ixos mcclellandii
2
Perched
17
Greater Yellow-naped Woodpecker
Picus flavinucha
4

18
Blue Nuthatch
Sitta azurea
2

19
White-throated Fantail
Rhipidura albicollis


20
Black & Crimson Oriole
Oriolus cruentus
2

21
Lesser Yellow-naped Woodpecker
Picus chlorolophus


22
Blyth’s Shrike Babbler
Pteruthius aeralatus


23
Green-billed Malkoha
Phaenicophaeus tristis


24
Grey-chinned Minivet
Pericrocotus solaris
2
Male and female
25
Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus remifer







Below are some of the members from WBCM who took part in this joint activity with FHCL. WBCM held a Committee meeting on Saturday, 11th June night at Seri Berkat Bungalow. Three (3) media members (NST, Unreserved Magazine & The Star) joined WBCM during this 2-day 1 night outing to Fraser Hill. WBCM members continued birdwatching in Fraser Hill on Sunday, 12th June 2016 morning. 


Joint Event between Fraser Hill Community Library and Wild Bird Club Malaysia Part 1



Wild Bird Club of Malaysia organized a 2 days 1 night trip to Fraser Hill from 11th to 12th June 2016. This outing included a joint event with Fraser Hill Community Library (FHCL). Members are welcomed to visit FHCL website here. It was a clear and sunny day when we arrived at FHCL. The event was held at Maxwell Room, First Floor room next to the Bird Interpretive Centre. Joint event poster with Fraser Hill Community Library above.

Ms Nalini Lechumanon, Vice-President of FHCL gave her welcoming remarks to participants. 

Mr Andy Lee, President of WBCM introduced the Club to the participants. 

WBCM donated three (3) boxes of books and magazines to FHCL during this joint event. The official handover of donated books from WBCM, between Ms Nalini and Mr Andy. 


 
Mr Mark Ng, Vice-President of WBCM gave a talk on “Montane Birds of Fraser Hill.” The participants (around 50 including 15 members from WBCM) listening intently to Mr Mark Ng’s presentation as he took them through some of the endemic and resident species of Fraser Hill. The Spectacled Laughingthrush dropped by and “attended” the talk as well:)
 



WBCM literally walked the talk, since the birdwatching activity was next once the talk concluded. Mr Sanadure, a member of WBCM led the participants during walk as we headed towards the Hemmant Trail along the Valley Road which winds around the Golf Course of Fraser Hill.





Pre-walk briefing by Mr Dure, since our youngest participant was 11 years old. Dure showed where the birds were to the participants which included children of both primary and secondary school-going age, during the walk.