Fraser’s Hill is a wonderful montane region set amidst mature forest, cool by comparison with Kuala Lumpur, and full of birds. During the colonial era the British escaped from the heat of the lowlands to Fraser’s Hill, and the atmosphere is still one of relaxation and slow pace of life.
At 1,500 meters (5000 feet) in the central highlands, the avifauna differs markedly from that of the lowland rainforests, consisting largely of montane species. Several trails run into the forest but many species can be found close to the roads.
Mixed feeding flocks move quickly and noisily through the forests – often the central species is Chestnut-crowned (Malayan) Laughingthrush accompanied by Silver-eared Mesia, Chestnut-crowned and Mountain Leaf-Warblers, babblers including Gray-throated, Golden and Buff-breasted, Streaked and Pygmy Wren-babblers, White-browed and Black-eared Shrike-Babblers, Blue-winged Minla, Mountain Fulvetta, Long-tailed Sibia, and Bronzed Drongo with Black-and-crimson Oriole and Blue Nuthatch. Lesser Shortwings occupy deep gullies, and heavily wooded areas support Sultan Tit, Black Laughingthrush, Red-bearded Bee-eater, Green Magpie and Red-headed Trogon, and with great luck we may encounter the endemic Mountain Peacock-Pheasant and Malayan Whistling-Thrush.
The list of possibilities seem endless: Yellow-vented Pigeon, Jambu Fruit-Dove, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Orange-bellied Trogon, the curious Fire-tufted Barbet, Long-tailed Broadbill, the secretive Rusty-naped Pitta, White-headed Babbler, Javan Cuckooshrike, the endemic Malayan Partridge, Little Cuckoo-Dove, Green-billed Malkoha and Black-browed Barbet. Flycatchers are well represented at Fraser’s Hill. We could well encounter Verditer, Little Pied, Hill Blue, Rufous-browed, Pygmy Blue and Grey-headed Canary Flycatchers, as well as Large Niltava.
Blyth’s Hawk Eagle is quite widespread, and woodlands hold Speckled Piculet, Greater and Lesser Yellownapes, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Grey-chinned Minivet, Orange-bellied Leafbird, Ochraceous and Mountain Bulbuls, Lesser Racket-tailed and Greater Racket-tailed Drongos, Large Scimitar Babbler, White-bellied Yuhina, Slaty-backed Forktail, Mountain Tailorbird, White-throated Fantail, Everett’s White-eye, Black-throated Sunbird, Streaked Spiderhunter and Fire-breasted Flowerpecker. Uncommon but widespread inhabitants include Rufous-bellied Eagle, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Large Hawk-Cuckoo, Oriental Cuckoo, Mountain Scops-Owl, Collared Owlet, Wreathed and Helmeted Hornbills, Bay Woodpecker, Ashy Bulbul and Himalayan Cutia.
We walk the Waterfall Trail to look for Malayan Whistling-Thrush, and in the evening we venture out for Brown Wood-Owl. Mammals include lots of squirrels, Banded Leaf Monkeys and Siamangs, a species of gibbon whose amazing vocalizations echo through the hills in the early mornings. At the bottom of the hill up to Fraser’s Hill is an area known as “The Gap”, where Pin-tailed Parrotfinch, Marbled Wren-Babbler and Black-crested Bulbul occur. Nights at Fraser’s Hill.