Bird-watching at Panti Forest and Sedili, 12-15 September 2008

The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Selangor Branch organised a 4 days bird-watching activity at the Panti Forest and Sedili, situated adjacent to Kota Tinggi town of Johore State.

How to go to Kota Tinggi from Kuala Lumpur? Just Travel towards south at the North-South Highway, exit at Kulai and drive eastward, then you’ll be at Kota Tinggi.

Our birding activity commenced almost immediately after checking into the hotel.

Our destination : The Bunker Trail of Panti Forest Reserve.

Look at the picture below, so now understand why was it called the “Bunker Trail”?

These bunkers were built by the British during the Japanese occupation, part of their strategies to halt the enemy’s further intrusion.

Panti Forest Reserve is a well known birding site worldwide. 27,500 hectors had been gazetted as forest reserve. The logged forests on both side of the Bunker Trail were made into birds’ sanctuary.

Picture below shows the entrance of the trail.

Bird-life here was fantastic. We had spotted quite a number of exotic birds.

Our star bird, the Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker, had only favoured our leader, Alan. This resulted in much envy and commotion amongst the team members. Alan had thus gave this feather friend a nickname = Lollipop.

I had a good glimpse of my lifers like the Orange-backed Woodpecker; Violet Cuckoo; Grey-chested Flycatcher; Malaysian-eared nightjar, but unfortunately I didn’t have their pictures taken.

The above picture is aTiger Shrike, a winter visitor from Northern China/Russia, arrived rather early.

Scarlet-rumped Trogon. Suprisingly, quite commonly seen there, and were rather friendly.

The movie of it.

The Pale Blue Flycatcher with its melodious call attracted all of us.

On the last day, we were rewarded with a big bonus, the Javan Frogmouth.

Birds were uncomfortable, and their worried calls led us into the discovering of this snake.

What a beauty

Watching waders at the coast around Sedili was quite good experience. One should be able to stand the heat generated by the hot sun.

Our target bird was the Malaysian Plover, where the sandy shores in the East Coast were preferred by them. The Sedili coast of East Johore met their requirement.

Sorry that I don’t have a descent picture of it.

But instead, I had a picture of one of our team member, who had put herself under the hot tropical sun, just for the craze and love for her avi-friends.

I salute you, my friend.