Blue-banded Kingfisher [Female] @ Sungai Congkak, Selangor, Malaysia

Blue-banded Kingfisher (Alcedo euryzona) [Female] is a very colorful, fast and active bird among hundred species of birds can be found in Sungai Congkak Recreational Forest, Selangor, Malaysia. The bird can be found at the forest edges, along the small stream, in the recreational forest.  

Male Blue-banded Kingfisher is featured by blackish blue wings and head, mottled blue breast-band. The female lacks blue breast-band. The photos were taken using Nikon D500 paired with Nikkor 500 PF lens, ISO 3200, F 5.6, EV -0.7.

Sungai Congkak Recreational Forest is yet another wonderful birding destinations in Selangor, Malaysia as it is a residence to many exotic birds. The recreational forest covers a large area of tropical rain forest, waterfalls, trekking and streams. Whereas accommodations, camp sites, food and recreational activities are provided along the stream, right outside the entrance to the forest. It can be reached in approximately one hour from Kuala Lumpur by car. Sungai Congkak Recreational Forest has a large bird population and varieties. It certainly entices many birders to be there. The main target birds in Sungai Congkak Recreational Forest include different types of kingfisher, babblers, sunbirds, shrikes, malkoha just to name a few.

Other neighboring areas to Sungai Congkak for birding destinations include Sungai Tekali, Sungai Tekala, Sungai Perdik, Sungai Lopo and Pangsun.  

Since Sungai Congkak Recreational Forest is also a popular destinations for family get away especially during weekend, be there early and wait for the desire lighting to come and search for the exotic birds.

Great Slaty Woodpecker [Male] @ Old Gombak Road, Selangor, Malaysia

Great Slaty Woodpecker (Mulleripicus pulverulentus) [Male] is a colorful, fast and attractive bird among hundred species of birds can be found in old Gombak road, Selangor, Malaysia. The bird can be found at the forest edges along the old Gombak road.

Male Great Slaty Woodpecker is a very large size woodpecker featured by slaty-grey body and tail and red cheek-patch. The female has the same color but, absent the red cheek-patch. The photos were taken using Nikon D500 paired with Nikkor 500 PF lens, ISO 1000, F 6.3, EV -0.3. 

Old Gombak road can be reached in approximately half an hour from Kuala Lumpur by car through a winding road. Since it is located a long large forest reserve, old Gombak road has a large bird population and varieties. It certainly entices many birders to be there. The main target birds include different types of broadbills, babblers, sunbirds, hornbills, woodpeckers, flycatchers, kingfisher, parrots, shrikes, malkoha just to name a few.

Scarlet-rumped Trogon [Female] @ Old Gombak Road, Selangor, Malaysia

Scarlet-rumped Trogon (Harpactes duvaucelii) [Female] is a colorful, fast and attractive bird among hundred species of birds can be found in old Gombak road, Selangor, Malaysia. The bird can be found at the forest edges along the old Gombak road.

Male Scarlet-rumped Trogon is featured by reddish rump, black head and red underparts. The female has distinctive different from the male, featured by pinkish rump, brownish head and paler buffy-brown breast. The photos were taken using Nikon D500 paired with Nikkor 500 PF lens, ISO 2000, F 6.3, EV -0.7. 

Old Gombak road can be reached in approximately half an hour from Kuala Lumpur by car through a winding road. Since it is located a long large forest reserve, old Gombak road has a large bird population and varieties. It certainly entices many birders to be there. The main target birds include different types of broadbills, babblers, sunbirds, hornbills, woodpeckers, flycatchers, kingfisher, parrots, shrikes, malkoha just to name a few.

Greater Painted-snipe [Pair] @ Sungai Balang, Muar, Malaysia

Greater Painted-snipe (Rostratula benghalensis) [Pair] is a colorful, attractive and fast action bird among hundred species of birds can be found in Sungai Balang, Muar, Malaysia. The bird is a resident to Sungai Balang. It can be found around the paddy field area and surrounding plantation.

The male Greater Painted Snipe is featured by greyish brown head and greyish brown wing with buff streaking and spotting. The female counterpart has distinctive different color from male, featured by rich vinous brown head and breast and dark brown wing coverts. The photos was taken using D500 paired with Nikkor 500 PF lens, ISO 800, F 6.3, EV -0.3.

Sungai Balang is another wonderful birding destinations in Johor, Malaysia as it is a residence to many exotic birds and has become migratory birds' destination too. The place has large area of paddy field, mangrove forest, seashore, and streams. Muar is a popular weekend destination to the local for family get away, fishing, kite flying and cycling. Adequate accommodations, restaurants, local food stalls and recreational activities are provided in the area and nearby town, Muar.

Other nearby birding destination to Sungai Balang is Parit Jawa where fisherman village and jetty are located. The area includes nearby mangrove forest and beaches.  

Sungai Balang can be reached in approximately two and half hour from Kuala Lumpur city center by car. The place has a large bird population and varieties. It certainly entices many birders to be there. The main target birds in Sungai Balang includes different types of kingfisher, woodpeckers, land birds,  shore birds. stilts, shrikes, kites, pigeons, egrets and herons just to name a few.

Great Slaty Woodpecker [Pair] @ Old Gombak Road, Selangor Malaysia

Great Slaty Woodpecker (Mulleripicus pulverulentus) [Pair] is a colorful, fast and attractive bird among hundred species of birds can be found in old Gombak road, Selangor, Malaysia. The bird can be found at the forest edges along the old Gombak road.

Male Great Slaty Woodpecker is a very large size woodpecker featured by slaty-grey body and tail and red cheek-patch. The female has the same color but, absent the red cheek-patch. The photos were taken using Nikon D500 paired with Nikkor 500 PF lens, ISO 1000, F 6.3, EV -1.0. 

Old Gombak road can be reached in approximately half an hour from Kuala Lumpur by car through a winding road. Since it is located a long large forest reserve, old Gombak road has a large bird population and varieties. It certainly entices many birders to be there. The main target birds include different types of broadbills, babblers, sunbirds, hornbills, woodpeckers, flycatchers, kingfisher, parrots, shrikes, malkoha just to name a few.