Malaysia tour thoughts by Colin Bushell

Sitting, watching the snow fall in my garden near Spurn on the Yorkshire coast, it is hard to believe I was in the tropical climate of Peninsula Malaysia only a fortnight ago. Replacing Yellowhammers and Chaffinches with an array of tropical bird species, from hornbills to pittas and broadbills, it was a fantastic way to escape the cold, dark winter days of February. The only similarity was that some of the headline birds, Blue-winged Pitta and Mountain Peacock-pheasant, did indeed come to feeding stations!

Limosa’s Peninsula Malaysia itinerary includes two of the most famous, but very different, birding sites in Southeast Asia, Fraser’s Hill and Taman Negara. Fraser’s Hill with its cooler upland climate, is the home to many of the region’s most desired birds including Blue Nuthatch, Fire-tufted Barbet, Malay Whistling Thrush and Red-bearded Bee-eater.

In contrast, the lowland evergreen forests of Taman Negara, which can accessed by boardwalks, trails and boat, are renowned for the diversity of tropical birds that include Crested Fireback, Garnet Pitta, Green Broadbill, Rufous-collared Kingfisher and the huge Great Slaty Woodpecker.

Visiting a carefully selected but small number of sites means we are able to look for a high number of bird species with relatively little travelling making this an excellent tour for anyone who wants to maximise on their birding without spending extended periods driving.

Our superb local guide, Lee Kok Chung, possesses phenomenal forest bird-finding skills, with a knack for locating a bird and almost instantaneously presenting it in his ‘scope. Combined with a good sense of humour and a great knowledge of good restaurants, all serving fine Malayan cuisine; Lee is the perfect man for the job!

The 2023 Peninsula Malaysia tour report will be published shortly with the next departure scheduled for February 2024. However, if it is a summer getaway you fancy, Lee and I lead Limosa’s Borneo ‘Bristleheads and Orangutans’ tour, where he is equally at home locating the many endemic birds to be found on the island.

Colin Bushell

8 March 2023