On 9/4/23, the Birdwatching Asia team went on a special excursion – night birding at FRIM. Organized by the Wild Bird Club of Malaysia (WBCM), we joined 17 other participants for this rare chance to see nocturnal forest birds in their habitat. The Forestry Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) is located near the township of Kepong, and is an area encompassing 545 hectares of mature secondary forest adjacent to the Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve.
Night Birding at FRIM
The birding session started around 8.15 pm, and it was already fully dark. The target species was the elusive Blyth’s Frogmouth, a rarely seen denizen of the dark that has been seen at FRIM before. Of course, nocturnal birds are welcome, and some participants spotted the savanna nightjar and black-crowned night heron early on.
It wasn’t long before we stumbled upon a very nice find – a roosting Hooded Pitta! The bird rested on a horizontal branch at eye level, providing everyone with amazing views and photo opportunities.
The Highlight of the Night Birding at FRIM trip
Our night birding at FRIM session was off to a good start, and it got even better half an hour later. Several participants saw a frogmouth but were too fleeting to identify. However, the call was heard a few minutes later, indicating the bird was still nearby. A short call playback later, the star bird revealed itself – flying to an exposed perch allowing great views!
The bird itself was remarkable. It was surprisingly small and dumpy looking, with an intricate, cryptically patterned plumage. Piercing yellow eyes and cold black pupils stare into the darkness. Weird bristly feathers extend around the head, creating a fuzzy fringe. The bill was short and broad, accentuating the bird’s bizarre appearance. Not a bird to win a beauty contest; nevertheless, it is beautiful in its own special way.
The bird flew off after several minutes, leaving everyone elated. The bird was a lifer for most participants, as well as for the Birdwatching Asia team.
The Last Bird of the Night
Before concluding the night birding at FRIM, we visited another location within the campus – the Paya Burung area. As soon as we arrived, the distinctive two-note call of the Brown boobook was heard. It didn’t take long to locate it. Just like the frogmouth before, this bird was very obliging, perching relatively close to us. Therefore, everyone was able to get fantastic views of the owl.
Seeing any owls at night is special, as they are alert and active. The boobook was observed rotating its head from side to side, almost 360 degrees, presumably scanning for prey.
The trip concluded at around 10.30 pm, with everyone tired but overjoyed at the night’s results. The birds seen were:
- Hooded Pitta
- Blyth’s Frogmouth
- Brown boobook
- Savanna Nightjar
- Black-crowned Night Heron
Visiting FRIM
Currently, admission into the FRIM main campus is only on a pre-arranged basis. WBCM has a prior agreement with the FRIM management to enable them access to FRIM for various activities, including bird surveys and birdwatching trips for WBCM members. For more information on WBCM, please check out their website here.
For the general public, access is more restricted. Head over to the FRIM website for information on how to go there for birdwatching or other activities. This usually involves contacting the Visitor Information Centre and hiring a compulsory guide.
Alternatively, you can visit the publicly accessible Kepong Botanical Gardens adjacent to FRIM. Check their website for more information.
Conclusion
Our night birding at FRIM trip was certainly successful, with the Blyth’s Frogmouth and Hooded Pitta being the highlight. Hopefully, the Birdwatching Asia team can participate in more nocturnal birding sessions in the future.
