When the chance to go back to Panti Forest with expert birders to try again for the MRB, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse…..so off we set at 0430 from Singapore, arriving at Panti about 645am…we drove down the trail before the old bunker trail, our group of 7 in two cars….
Panti at day break and as the light increased…First bird of the day was the charming buff rumped woodpeckerBuff rumped WP..female as no red moustache2nd bird was the cream vented bulbulCream vented bulbul with its typical white eyeThen the rather attractive yellow bellied bulbul although the yellow belly is not really seen here….
So far no sign of the MRB calling…sigh
bashing on in the trail at the Y junction, racquet tailed drongos were plentifuldark throated tailorbird…Having drawn a blank for the MRB at the trail, we drove down to the ranger’s house….where an empty nest beckonedBut this handsome fellow was busying himself nearby..the orange breasted flower peckereventually the orange breasted FP flew into the nest and poked its head outFP in nestRufous tailed tailorbird also appearedA dusky broadbill watched over usdusky broadbill; not as pretty as the black and red or banded but still a charmer…then in a nearby bush, this lovely bird appeareda fluffy backed tit babblerfluffy backed tit babbler..he sang lustily puffing his cheeksand then the song of the pale blue flycatcher led us to itPale blue FCvery similar to the dull blue FC we saw in Sri Lanka a few months agoand then in a brilliant flash of colour, this large malkoha hopped up in the tree
a gorgeous chestnut breasted malkohamuch more colourful than the chestnut bellied malkoha we get in singaporenote the bicoloured beak, light green above and half red below…yellow nape checkered neck woodpecker or checker throated WPhere the checkered neck can just be seen..
So far we had not seen nor heard the MRB at all…..but around noon on our way out, the call was heard! We set up our hides and played the call, but the MRB teased us and ultimately refused to show…sigh Whilst we waited for the Malayan Rail Babbler, I amused myself by shooting this drop of water in the sunlightand just before we left, we stopped once more at the Y junction and found a few blue winged leaf birdsBlue winged leafbird
By this time it was 1pm and rather hot, so we adjourned for a sumptuous lunch in Kota Tinggi before checking in to the Heritage Hotel for rest and recharging of batteries and emptying of SD cards…We set off at 5pm again to try for the frogmouths at Panti and this time we entered where the white bunkers were located ending at the park visitor center where a 4 storey observation tower was…we spent an hour or two birding before the sun set….
the visitor centre at Pantiview from the observation tower over an unsightly car park being built….this was where we looked for the frogmouths and nightjars laterseveral buff vented bulbuls flitted amongst the foliage Buff vented bulbulthe melodious song of the white rumped shama led us to this beautywhite rumped shama…and as night fell, one of our group tested out his new infrared monocular….and easily found this juvenile white rumped shama in the darkness…..here with a light on him..the juvie white rumped shama
The call of a few Malayan eared nightjars was heard and one flew right over us; Blyth’s frogmouth was also heard and shown by the infrared scope but unfortunately flew off…. so we ended the night back in Kota Tinggi at a restaurant called ‘Public Restaurant’…very good but a long wait for the food… we rested well that night in prep for another 430am start to Lenggor reserve….
Panti is always good but the dense foliage often means it’s quite hard work to find the birds. And it seems to be getting more difficult to hear, let alone see the elusisve MRB….
Thanks to KC Lim, SB Yeo and friends for ID and guiding.
The Natural Traveller 
Great report, what a fantastic place.
thanks Nick!