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Activities Report 1999 Nov Newsletter

Birding with MNS Selangor Bird Group 
(In conjunction with the 52nd AGM 28-31 August 1999)


      I had almost decided not to attend this year's national AGM when I received an email from CK Neoh of MNS Selangor. He invited me to join the Selangor birders for a camping-cum-birding trip in Sungei Relau National Park organized in conjunction with the AGM. Immediately, I decided to participate, notwithstanding the fact that I had never been there, that I had no inkling of an idea how to get there and that it was going to be a long journey. I went because I wanted to bird with Neoh and learn a few tricks from him on how to video birds.
      So, on 28 August, I drove to Sg. Relau after work. Accoding to the map faxed by Aun Tiah, I was to go to KL, Karak and then towards Kuala Lipis and thence onto to Sg Relau. It was a seven hours drive, including only a brief stop near Tapah and a quick dinner somewhere between Kuala Lipis and Sg. Relau. When I reached the Merapoh Rest House at 8.00 p.m., the place where Aun Tiah was to meet me and lead me into the park, he was not there yet as I had arrived earlier than expected. It was already dark and I was in the middle of Pahang alone. Fortunately, a Mr. Mah from the Selangor branch who was staying in the rest house gave me direction to the park, which is actually an easy journey from the rest house. I drove to the park alone, taking half an hour.
      When I reached the campsite, naturally all Selangor birders had already pitched tent and finished their dinner (they also had a good time birding that evening). Soon after I pitched my tent, Aun Tiah and Anuar briefed all of us, 31 participants in all, about the subsequent programme. He had to cut short his briefings as it soon started raining. Everybody thus had to rush back into the tents. The rest of the night was memorable! The rain did not stop until about 3 a.m. and most of the tents, including mine, were leaking! I could hear someone (perhaps it was Wong KS or CK Neoh) said he enjoyed it as he was sleeping on a waterbed!
      The following morning (29 August), it was birding in small groups before we had to leave camp and proceeded to Kuala Lipis for the AGM. It was an 85 km journey, taking about one and a half hours. There I met Cheaw, Poon, Hon, Christine, Iris and Liew, all members from Perak.
      Immediately after the AGM, four of us including CK Neoh and I drove back to Sg Relau. We still had time for birding and videoing before it got dark. Unlike the previous night, the chalets at the park were available and we all gladly kept our tents in the boot and stayed in the rooms.
      The following morning (30 August), the rest of the birders came back from Kuala Lipis. Dr Neoh and family, and another Selangor group including Dr. Yap Yen Piau also came to bird. By noon, we were told by the park authorities that despite earlier promise, they could not allow all our cars to go into Sg Jeram (a beautiful and pristine campsite 13 km from the Sg Relau campsite) as planned. Only 4WD were allowed inside and that too was with special permission. Some including me decided to stay put at Sg Relau. So the rest of the day was spent birding along the main jeep track. That evening, we need not cook our own meals for once. Five of us drove to Gua Musang for dinner, a 30 km journey. On reaching back, Neoh took out his portable video light and we went round the park looking for owls, as the park officer said he often see them at night. We were out of luck but from the main hall of the park office, we found a pair of red eyes in a high tree, using Neoh's video light. There was lots of excitement but we could not identify the thing initially and most of us thought we had found an owl. After much hassle with binos, scopes and the addition of my portable spotlight torch, the creature finally flew (or rather glide) to another tree nearby. We then realized that we had seen the Giant Red Flying Squirrel, illustrated in a poster just behind us! Unfortunately, Neoh's portable battery went flat and we could not see more of the animal.
      The next morning, we birded along the jeep track again. Besides a good variety of sightings, we also saw fresh elephant droppings. As I had to drive back to Ipoh, I was the first one to leave the camp, leaving behind Neoh and company to wait for the main birder entourage from Sg Jeram. This time, I stopped by Fraser Hill (about 3 hours drive from Sg Relau) before returning to Ipoh.
      I picked up the following lifers: Great Slaty Woodpecker, Spotted Fantail, White-bellied Woodpecker, Black Magpie, Crested Jay. I missed the following which were sighted by others on this trip: Malayan Rail-babbler (heard its calls), Garnet's Pitta, Scarlet-rumped Trogon, Orange-breasted Trogon, Black and Red Broadbill
      All in all, it was still a wonderful trip and I hope to visit the place again. 


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Created on 11th Nov 1999