The Raptor Watch 2025 event is one of the longstanding traditions at the Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve, held at the iconic Cape Rachado Lighthouse atop a small hill. This nature-friendly gathering brings together bird enthusiasts and nature lovers, offering more than just raptor sightings. Various activities and attractions unfold throughout the area, making it a day filled with learning and exploration.

Raptor Watch 2025

Throughout the event, visitors can enjoy guided walks through the lush surroundings, offering a closer look at the local wildlife and ecosystem. Knowledge-sharing sessions will also be available, where experts provide fascinating insights about raptors and the ongoing conservation efforts. Various booths will line the area, offering merchandise and educational materials and promoting local NGOs dedicated to preserving conservation areas.

The Raptor Watch event is often kicked off with an official launch, including a VIP guest’s speech, with support from Tourism Melaka and Negeri Sembilan. This collaboration adds a special touch to the event, drawing attention to preserving the region’s natural beauty while promoting tourism to this part of the country.

Program / Itinerary for Raptor Watch 2025

Location of Raptor Watch 2025

The heart of the action takes place at the Cape Rachado Lighthouse, located at the top of the hill. Visitors must take a short but pleasant 10-minute walk up the road to get there. Cars are prohibited on the road as the park management closes the main gate to preserve the area’s tranquillity.

Only authorized vehicles, such as those ferrying equipment or VIPs, can enter. Therefore, visitors are asked to park outside Tanjung Tuan and walk to the main gate before heading to the event area.

Once you reach the top, you’ll find booths near the lighthouse offering a variety of snacks, simple meals, and both hot and cold drinks. The MNS main booth is also at the foot of the lighthouse, where attendees can learn more about joining as a member or purchasing event-related merchandise.

Visitors eager to explore the lighthouse themselves are welcome to enter but are restricted to a designated area. A special cordoned-off section reserved for the MNS staff and volunteers involved in the critical task of raptor counting remains off-limits to the public.

Raptor Watch 2025

• Date: 8-9 March
• Venue: Tanjung Tuan, Melaka

Conclusion

Overall, Raptor Watch is not just an event for birdwatching but a celebration of nature, knowledge, and community. Whether you’re there to spot majestic birds or enjoy a day in nature, the Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve offers something for everyone. Check out our article for Raptor Watch 2024.

See you at Raptor Watch 2025, and don’t forget to come prepared for the outdoor weather and mingle with like-minded people who are into nature and birds.

The post Raptor Watch 2025 first appeared on Bird Watching Asia.

This March, Raptor Watch 2024 will take place at Tanjung Tuan between the Melaka and Negeri Sembilan border. It is a two-day event that happens over the weekend for the public this March 9-10.

The birding event is free and encourages anyone interested in knowing more about raptors and their migratory flyways to drop by, as volunteers will be there to help answer questions.

Raptor Watch 2024

The Raptor Watch event has been going on for a long time at the Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve, at the iconic Cape Rachado lighthouse on top of the small hill here. During this nature-friendly event, many other activities take place around the vicinity.

There will be guided walks, knowledge sharing, booths selling merchandise and NGO booths promoting the different conservation areas. There will also be an official launch and speech by an invited VIP in collaboration with Tourism Melaka and Negeri Sembilan.

The main event occurs at the top of the hill where the Cape Rachado lighthouse is located. Therefore, visitors must take a short and easy 10-minute walk up the road to the lighthouse.

Cars are not permitted to use the road as the park management will close the main gate; only authorised vehicles are allowed in, namely to ferry items or VIPs. Please park your car outside Tanjung Tuan and then walk to the main gate and up the road to the Raptor Watch event area.

One or two booths near the lighthouse sell snacks, simple food, and hot and cold drinks. The MNS main booth is also at the foot of the lighthouse for anyone wanting more information about joining as a member or getting merchandise.

Visitors can enter the lighthouse but are restricted to a certain area. There is a special cordoned area for the MNS staff and volunteers who are doing raptor counting, which is not open to visitors.

Photos of Raptor Watch

Below are random photos taken during the last Raptor Watch 2023 at Tanjung Tuan.

When is Raptor Watch 2024? 

Raptor Watch 2024 will be held from March 9-10 this year at the Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve.

Raptor Watch 2024

• Date: 9-10 March 2024 (Saturday & Sunday)
• Location: Tanjung  Tuan Forest Reserve (Cape Rachado Lighthouse)
• Website: MNS Raptor Watch Website

You can also read about my previous article on Raptor Watch 2023, as I always provide the information as early as possible so people can start to make plans. If anyone wants to know more, they will find this article.

Conclusion

Those planning to attend Raptor Watch 2024 can easily self-drive from Kuala Lumpur or any other city to Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve. If you plan to spend a night here, there are several hotels, resorts, and Airbnb places around Port Dickson.

The post Raptor Watch 2024 first appeared on Bird Watching Asia.

Raptor Watch 2023 takes place from 11-12 March at the usual location of the Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve, which is located at the border of Melaka and Negeri Sembilan, just south of Kuala Lumpur.

I highly recommend doing so this year if you have never participated in this unique event. Apart from watching the raptors, there will be several activities, and this event caters to all walks of life, young and old.

Raptor Watch 2023

While there has not been any official information or announcement made for the event this year, I am proceeding to share the news beforehand so that anyone interested can start to block off dates or make any necessary bookings for accommodations.

Usually, the event will take place on Saturday and Sunday, with several ongoing activities. The main raptor-watching will occur at the lighthouse area, while other activities will happen below and at the main entrance of the forest reserve.

Because of the Covid-19 Pandemic, Raptor Watch 2021 was made as an exclusive virtual event streamed online for people in Malaysia and worldwide. This was not the same as being at the actual event, but somehow there was good participation through the online talks.

Raptor Watch 2022 came back as a physical event and saw a large turnout after two years of being locked down due to the pandemic. Many brought their families to experience seeing the raptors flying.

Raptor Watch Activities

Multiple activities will be available throughout the event, including bird-watching, raptor counting, nature walks, mangrove tree planting, beach clean-up, and the not-to-missed Amazing Raptor Hunt.

Some activities require signing up as limited spaces are available; interested participants should inquire about the specific booths or organisers. Please note some of the programs may take place earlier so do arrive early for them.

Program for Raptor Watch 2023

Raptor Watch 2023

• Date: 11 & 12 March (Sat & Sun)
• Time: 7.00 AM to 3.00 PM
• Location: Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve, Melaka

For more information, please visit the official website for Raptor Watch. Or you can also visit the Malaysian Nature Society website for updates on RW2023.

Volunteers can visit this Raptor Watch Volunteer Google Form and sign up.

Conclusion to Raptor Watch

One of the main objectives of Raptor Watch 2023 is to ensure the continued conservation of Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve by promoting this iconic celebration as a national eco-tourism event.

And if you did not know, BirdLife International, National Geographic Society and Hawkmountain have listed Tanjung Tuan as an important raptor site in this part of the world.

For anyone interested in the first birding event in Malaysia for 2022, please take note of the dates, make your accommodation booking early and see you there.

The post Raptor Watch 2023 first appeared on Bird Watching Asia.

Great news: Raptor Watch 2022 is coming back to the shores of Tanjung Tuan as a physical event after two years of the Covid19 pandemic. The birding event will be held on 12-13 March 2022 (Saturday & Sunday) and at the Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve.

In 2020 and 2021, the Covid19 pandemic forced many physical events to be held online, and Raptor Watch was one of them. Now, in the Omicron age and near the endemic stage, events have been given the green light to proceed with strict SOPs.

Raptor Watch 2022

Raptor Watch is one of the exciting eco-tourism events organised by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS). The birding event is a festival celebrating the return of the migratory birds of prey, better known as raptors, on their journey back to their breeding grounds in the northern hemisphere.

This public event is meant to raise awareness of the conservation of raptors and their habitats and has been around for more than 20 years. The first Raptor Watch event was held in 2000 and has grown tremendously in the last two decades.

However, Raptor Watch 2021 was made as an exclusive virtual event streamed online for people in Malaysia and worldwide.

Raptor Watch 2022 will be held for one and a half days with a staple of favourite activities, including guided walks by volunteers, multiple exhibition booths and various games for children. More information will be added here when I get it.

What and Why?

The spring raptor migration begins in mid-February and lasts till mid-April. Over the years of monitoring this phenomenon, MNS has discovered that the peak period to watch the most number of birds is the first weekend of March.

And the best time to watch the raptors will be between 11.00 AM and 3.00 PM. There have been records of raptors flying as late as 6.00 PM too. Raptors choose to fly during the hottest day because they need thermals.

Thermals are hot air columns produced by the land due to the heat from the sun. As raptors are enormous creatures, they require these thermals to help them glide in the sky without using energy to flap their wings. Thermals will assist the raptors in returning them to their breeding grounds in far northern temperate Asia with minimal energy usage.

Raptor Watch 2022

• Date: 12 & 13 March (Sat & Sun)
• Time: 7.00 AM to 3.00 PM
• Location: Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve, Melaka

You can also visit the official website for more information about Raptor Watch.

Conclusion

One of the main objectives of Raptor Watch 2022 is to ensure the continued conservation of Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve by promoting this iconic celebration as a national eco-tourism event. Tanjung Tuan has also been listed as an important raptor site by BirdLife International, National Geographic Society and Hawkmountain.

For anyone interested in the first birding event in Malaysia for 2022, please take note of the dates, make your accommodation booking early and see you there.

The post Raptor Watch 2022 first appeared on Bird Watching Asia.

One of the lesser-known raptor migration sites in Malaysia is found in Bedong, in the northern state of Kedah, which is roughly about four hours drive from Kuala Lumpur.

At Bedong, the site is actually a small hillock that provides multiple views around the Gunung Jerai (Mount Jerai) vicinity. It is here that most of the volunteers from the Malaysian Nature Society and bird enthusiasts will congregate.

Bedong Raptor Migration Site

The raptors come here because it is one of the major routes taken by Far East Asian raptors migrating south is along with coastal China into mainland Southeast Asia and onwards to the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and beyond. This is during the northern hemisphere autumn.

The raptors fly through here because Malaysia is along the Eastern Asian Flyway, and each autumn (from the end of Sept to mid-Nov) as hundreds of thousands of raptors migrate south along this path.

Possible Raptor Migration Spotting Sites in Bedong

While the known main area is around the Gunung Jerai vicinity, there have also been other locations where raptors have been spotted, and they are;

• Gurun – Sungai Petani Area
• Jeniang
• Sik
• Bukit Selambau Hills

When Does the Raptor Migration Take Place in Bedong?

During the northern autumn from late September to early November. It also happens during the span of six weeks.

How Many Raptors Are Spotted in Bedong?

I do not have all the exact numbers but judging from previous records shared, over 50,000 raptors have been counted in recent years.

• 2012 Autumn – a total of 64,268 raptors counted
• 2013 Autumn – a total of 55,915 raptors counted

What Type of Raptors are Spotted in Bedong?

The usual species are commonly sighted and spotted in Bedong, and they are;

• Black Baza (Aviceda leuphotes)
• Chinese Goshawk (Accipiter soloensis)
• Grey-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus)
• Japanese Sparrowhawk (Accipiter gularis)
• Oriental Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhyncus)

However, depending on the time you go, you may even see some rarities there. On one counting, volunteers managed to see Booted Eagles, Ospreys, Aquilas, Black Kites, Harriers (both Pied and Eastern Marsh), Common Buzzard, Changeable Hawk-eagle and the rare Rufous Bellied Eagle.

Where is Bedong in Malaysia?

Bedong is a township located in Kedah, about 10 km north of Sungai Petani and 10 km south of Gurun. The specific survey location to observe the migratory raptors is also at Kampung Kongsi Enam where it is in the middle of a palm oil estate area.

It is not recommended to go alone, but you can contact the MNS to arrange for someone to go with you or show you the exact location.

What are other Raptor Migration Sites in Malaysia?

There are two other raptor migration sites in Malaysia, and both of them are located on the west coast of the peninsular. They are;

1. Taiping Raptor Migration Site in Perak – Scotts Hill, Taiping
2. Tanjung Tuan Raptor Migration Site in Melaka – Tanjung Tuan National Park, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan

Conclusion

To experience this phenomenon, you can always contact the Malaysian Nature Society or MNS and see if they have a volunteer trip there. You may also be required to join the membership for this.

They should update the information on their website or even on their official Facebook page, so keep a lookout if you are interested in visiting the Bedong Raptor migration site in Kedah, Malaysia.

The post Bedong Raptor Migration Site first appeared on Bird Watching Asia.

One of the more low key birding events is the Taiping Raptor Watch or Festival Helang Taiping, which takes place at Scotts Hill in the historical city of Taiping in the state of Perak.

The Taiping Raptor Watch event’s objective is to do a raptor count as in Autumn, the migratory raptors from the north will head down south, passing the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

Taiping Raptor Watch

If you are a raptor lover or want to know more about raptor migration, this event is perfect for you, as it revolves around these birds of prey, consisting of kites, hawks, eagles, bazas and buzzards.

There are a few places around Malaysia to visit to see the raptor migration during the seasons. Still, for a community event, there are specially curated counting events done.

The most famous counting event is no other than Raptor Watch at Tanjung Tuan in Negeri Sembilan, followed by the Taiping Raptor Watch and the not so popular Bedong Raptor Watch Kedah.

Why Do The Raptors Fly Pass Taiping?

This is due to the northern hemisphere autumn; this is one of the major routes taken by Far East Asian raptors migrating south and coastal China into mainland Southeast Asia.

They will pass through the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and the south during this migration. The prominent location includes choking points for the raptors, which are in Thailand, Perak and Melaka.

Migratory raptors breed in eastern Russia, Nepal, China, Mongolia, and Japan. During winter, they fly south to countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Bali and the Indonesian islands.

Notable locations to spot these migratory raptors are at Chumphon in Thailand during the Chumphon Raptor Watch, Gunung Jerai, Sungai Petani, Jeniang, Sik and Bukit Selambau Hills, and also in the Bedong area in Kedah. However, Scott’s Hill is in Taiping is the main location for the event.

What Raptors Can Be Seen At Taiping  Raptor Watch?

The whole objective is to spot and count raptors that use the East Asian Fly Way, and there are many raptors to be spotted which include;

• Black baza
• Oriental honey-buzzard
• Grey-faced Buzzard
• Ospreys
• Chinese sparrowhawk
• Japanese sparrowhawk

How Many Raptors Can Be Seen At Raptor Watch?

While the numbers have significantly dropped over the years, on average, you can see around 7,000 to 10,000 raptors during the peak.

In 2012, the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) managed to count a whopping total of 64,268 raptors from 13 migratory species. The following year, the number of raptors dropped to 55,915.

There has not been any official announcement on the numbers spotted in recent years, but you can contact MNS Ipoh or Perak for the information if you want to know.

When Does The Monitoring Of Raptors Start? 

Officially, the monitoring of raptor watch starts from the last week of September till the first week of November and makes it a total of six weeks of the northern hemisphere autumn.

Activities at Taiping Raptor Watch

Due to the small scale of the event, some activities occur during the main event, changing from year to year. But I will list down what you may expect at the next event, based on the previous year’s activities.

• Raptor Count
• Presentation by Malaysia Nature Society
• Mini-Exhibition
• Merchandise Stall
• Mangrove Tours
• FireFly Tours

Taiping Raptor Watch
Venue: Scott’s Hill, Taiping, Perak
Date: End October or early November
Organizer: Malaysian Nature Society (MNS Ipoh branch)
Website: –
Tel: –

Other Raptor Migration Sites in Malaysia

There are also a couple of other raptor migration sites located around Malaysia, and those interested can also read about them below;

1. Bedong Raptor Migration site in Kedah
2. Tanjung Tuan Raptor Watch site in Melaka

Conclusion

This is probably the only bird watching event in Taiping on a large scale level with involvement from MNS and the local council. However, since the Covid19 pandemic in 2020, the event was cancelled.

The Taiping Raptor Watch or Festival Helang Taiping has been around for almost 10 years now. For more accurate information, I recommend you contact MNS Ipoh to see if they are organizing the yearly event.

Bird Watching Asia is a birding platform in Malaysia that promotes events and other related information to create awareness for this hobby or sport.

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Raptor Watch 2021 at Tanjung Tuan will be different this time around because of the Covid19 pandemic, making it difficult for many to travel around Malaysia. Since 2020, the pandemic has created much chaos in terms of events and travelled around the world.

After one full year of experiencing the up’s and down’s of the movement control order or MCO in Malaysia, the 2021 Raptor Watch will be held virtually on 13th March 2021 (Saturday). This is a first for a bird watching event.

Raptor Watch 2021 Tanjung Tuan

While the main event will occur online, the actual raptor count will still be ongoing by a select group of bird counters. However, instead of the normal 30 days taken to count the raptors, this time around, they have shortened it to just two weeks from the 6th to 21st of March 2021, and with a live feed during the main event.

The main event, the virtual Raptor Watch 2021, will take place for one day and offer multiple activities and contests for viewers and participants. You can expect quizzes, ad hoc contests, webinars and much more.

The entire live feed or virtual Raptor Watch can be accessed by visiting the MNS website or MNS Facebook page on the 13th of March, where they will be hosting the live session there.

Also, add that the MNS Negeri Sembilan and Malacca Branch had organized a special event called Raptor ID 2021 which took place live via Zoom on 6th Feb 2021 on Facebook. The live session was very educational and took place for 90 minutes.

How to Watch Raptor Watch 2021 Live?

There are two ways to do this as below;

1. MNS Website – By visiting the main MNS website, there will be a section for the event live feed.
2. MNS Facebook Page – The live feed will be hosted on their Facebook page.

Cancellation of Raptor Watch 2020 Event

Last year’s Raptor Watch 2020 was also cancelled and announced on the MNS website on 13th March, one day before the event took place at Tanjung Tuan. However, public counting was still done and conducted by a tiny group. Below is the official notice from MNS about the cancellation.

Heading the order from the Malacca State Government on postponement and cancellation of mass public gatherings, we regret to announce that we will have to cancel the Raptor Watch event scheduled from 14^th to 15^th March 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns. Although the public event has been called off, the raptor counting activity will proceed as planned because it is managed by our small group of dedicated counters to generate the Raptor Migration Data for this year.

For members and visitors who are already in Tanjung Tuan or Port Dickson for Raptor Watch 2020, we highly suggest for you to watch the raptors from the surrounding beach area. The Malaysian Nature Society information counter at the entrance of Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve will be open to inquiries and assistance on both days (14^th March : 9.00 am to 5.00 pm,  15^th March : 9.00 am to 1.00 pm).

 

Other Raptor Migration Sites in Malaysia

There are also a couple of other raptor migration sites located around Malaysia, and those interested can also read about them below;

1. Bedong Raptor Migration site in Kedah
2. Taiping Raptor Watch site in Perak

Conclusion

Malaysia is home to many bird watching events, but because of the Covid-19 pandemic, many of them were cancelled in 2020, and for this year of 2021, nothing is confirmed about the other events. Not to worry, as I will do my best to update the information here.

Raptor Watch has been one of the main bird events in Malaysia, and this year (2021) marks the 21st year that the event has been taking place at Tanjung Tuan near the border of Melaka and Negeri Sembilan.

For the first time in the history of this bird watching event, the event was cancelled last year, and they even will go digital this year, so if you do not have any plans this 13th March 2021, log in to participate in the Raptor Watch 2021 virtual event.

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Every March, Raptor Watch Malaysia takes place at Tanjung Tuan in a gazetted forest reserve located at the border of Negeri Sembilan and Melaka.

For this year, the Raptor Watch 2020 event takes place from the 14 to 15 of March, and due to the Coronavirus or Covid19 pandemic, there may be less visitors attending.

However, bird watching or doing a bird count can be done at safe distances from one another. Hence, if you have never experienced watching raptors fly high in the Tanjung Tuan skies, this is your chance to do so.

Raptor Watch 2020

If you did not know, Tanjung Tuan has been designated as an IBA or Important Bird Area by international non-profit organisation BirdLife International, one of 55 found around Malaysia.

The coastal-forest is also designated as a Wildlife Sanctuary by Malaysia’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN). Originally, this area was gazetted back in 1921 as a permanent forest reserve until this very day.

At the Raptor Watch event, visitors can spot up to 46 species of raptors, and out of that, 25 are migrant species.

The migration periods are usually from January to April, but mid-March is the peak period to spot the raptors. The best time to spot them is also around 11.00 AM to 3.00 PM.

Why is Tanjung Tuan a good location to spot Raptors?

Tanjung Tuan is also known by its Portuguese name Cape Rachado, is very well known for its virgin old-growth forest where huge tropical lowland forest trees can be found.

Its waters are rich with coral life and seagrass, which attracts a myriad of fish and turtles. Its secluded beaches are ideal as turtle egg-laying grounds.

Overall, the naturalist will be happy to know that 177 different species of plants are found at the forest reserve, with numerous hiking or trekking trails.

What is the Best Time to See the Raptors Flying?

Because the event is held for two days, the best time to watch the raptors will be between 11.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. However, there have been sightings of raptors during other times and some as late as 6.00 pm.

Why from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm? The raptors choose to fly during the hottest period of the day because the birds need thermals, and thermals are hot air columns produced by the land due to the heat from the sun.

Due to raptors being huge birds, they require these thermals to help them glide in the sky without using energy to flap their wings.

What else is available at Tanjung Tuan?

Tanjung Tuan is also home to a very historical lighthouse. The Cape Rachado Lighthouse is believed to be the oldest in the country, with a history dating back to the Portuguese rule of Malacca during the 16th century.

History states that the Cape Rachado Lighthouse was built around 1528 to 1529, after the Portuguese took hold of Melaka in 1511, and in 1863, the lighthouse was rebuilt once again.

Apart from this, a coastal forest reserve attracts many nature and outdoor lovers. Bird watching, hiking and trekking are popular at the Cape Rachado Permanent Reserved Forest.

Activities at Raptor Watch

During this two-day event, there will be several activities happening, and below are some of them;

• Raptor Training Programme
• Raptor counting by Bird Conservatory Council
• IBA Seminar
• Visit Tanjung Tuan Lighthouse

Raptor Watch
Date: 14 to 15 March
Venue: Tanjung Tuan, Melaka
Organizer: Malaysia Nature Society (MNS)
Phone: +603 2287 9422
Website: https://www.mns.my/
Open Daily: 7.00 am to 6.00 pm
Entry fee: RM1.00

Where is Tanjung Tuan?

It is located at the Melaka Alor Gajah district by the border of Negeri Sembilan and Melaka and is a 20-minute drive from Port Dickson.

From Kuala Lumpur, you need to take the North-South Expressway (AH2) and exit at Linggi and drive in towards Tanjung Tuan using Highway 5.

You can also drive via Port Dickson as this would be a nearer option and a scenic route.

How to Go to Tanjung Tuan?

Basically, you can only drive here as there are no buses or trains that stop anywhere nearby. This means that the closest town is Port Dickson, and you need to take a taxi to Tanjung Tuan.

Visitors can always rent a car and self-drive to Tanjung Tuan from Kuala Lumpur, and this will cost you around RM150 to RM300 per day, depending on the type of car or van you rent.

Conclusion

If you have not been to the Raptor Watch event at Tanjung Tuan, this would be a good time to experience this here. However, with the Coronavirus or Covid19 in Malaysia, I strongly recommend being careful when attending the event.

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