We reached the GAP Rest House at about 1.00 pm where we checked in, took our lunch and went to recce at the new downhill road. As the road was off limits to vehicles, we just walked a short distance uphill and could not find many birds there. We did not locate the camping site targeted for the next MNS activity - camping along the downhill road. After a brief rest we proceeded to the rubbish dump. We had a good bird wave there, possibly because there were only a few of us so we were less noisy as a result. We had the beautiful Green Magpies, Greater Yellow-naped Woodpecker among other birds such as the Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush and Drongos. We were trying to look for the migratory Mugimaki Flycatcher but could not find it on the first day.
We proceeded to the Telecom Loop to try our luck. This was the first time I saw the Mountain Imperial Pigeon feeding on the tree. Up till then I have only seen these birds in flight. We birded up to around 6.00 pm when we decided to descend to the Gap. Ooi and I walked and birded along the last 2 km of the road while the others went straight back to the GAP to meet those who arrived later. We were out of luck as the road was busy - there was a large group of people walking up the road and few birds were seen. Nonetheless, we had a brief view of a Checker-throated Woodpecker.
Among the late arrivals were Ang Chin Heng who came with Phaik Imm, her son Joe and Leow Kon Fah. The Cheah and Choo families had arrived earlier in the morning and birded on their own.
The following day, we went up the hill to have our breakfast at the food court near the Frasers' Hill Nature Education Centre (FHNEC) run by the WWF (food is cheaper here comparatively). Of course we also paid the centre a visit. The food court overlooked a small field and the entrance to the Hemmant Trail. It looked like a promising place for birding and having coffee at the same time. After breakfast, we went to the Rubbish Dump and the High Pines. Then we went back to the food court for lunch while the two families took their children sight-seeing.
After lunch, we saw a man with his 4WD experiencing low battery power. His alarm was continuously making a lot of noise and his vehicle could not be started. Just as we are willing to help conserve nature, we helped him to jump-start his vehicle using Ooi's 4WD. Following this, we continued birding along the Telecom Loop. In one of the bird waves, we were lucky to see the White-browed Shrike-Babbler. At around 6.00 pm, we proceeded downhill and drove back to Ipoh, stopping several times along the way to bird.
(Report by Dr. Chan Kai Soon & Ooi Beng Yean)