This morning the Cheaws picked me up from the hotel at 7.15am and we set off for the Cameron Highlands and in particular for birding in the upper montane area. En route we stopped to buy Pork steamed buns for breakfast and after driving through some of the more touristy parts of the Cameron Highlands we reached the beautiful mossy forests of Gunung Brinchang at 6666 feet/2031 metres where rhododendrums, pitcher plants and orchids abounded and the trees were moss encrusted. Bird highlights included White-tailed Robins, Snowy-browed flycatchers, Golden-throated Barbet, Golden Babbler, Mountain Leaf Warbler, Orange-bellied Leafbirds, Mountain and Chestnut-winged Fulvettas and Mugimake Flycatcher amongst others. The bird waves are amazing and head-spinning when they happen. We stopped at the top and Kuan Yaow cooked us up some some Ipoh 'white coffee' which is roasted quite differently and has a taste all of its own. On the trip down we called in at the Lutheran Mission Bungalow area to look for Slaty-backed Forktail and dipped there, but had Black and Crimson Oriel and Barred Cuckoo Dove here. A final try at Parit Falls Recreation Forest at Tanah Ratah got us several of the Forktails flying along the watercourse and perching on the rocks. We finished up at he 'Boh' Tea Plantation enjoying a selection of teas and cakes for a late afternoon tea and headed back to Ipoh arriving back around 7pm. Tomorrow we'll head off again early and bird locally as I have to be back by midday for Shirly Teh's Sunday dance class. Called Linda and mum to catch up on their news and they have both had a great day in Kl at the Malaysian cooking class.
