Ipoh & Kek Lok Tong

After a week on Pangkor Island it was time to turn back and start the long journey north. That first meant returning to the transport hub of Ipoh and a little research suggested it might be worth spending a night or two here. Stayed at a place on the Kinta river and walking along here a couple of times revealed a small roost of Night Herons and just about the worst mosquitos I've ever encountered. Purple Heron, Striated Heron, Little and Eastern Cattle Egrets and Pond Herons including a bird showing signs of breeding plumage. The deep maroon colour indicating Chinese Pond Heron

Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus

See here for a brief discussion of winter pond heron plumages.

The birdlife around the town, and the general town itself in our area, was fairly unremarkable. It was even tricky to find places to eat. But we'd read about a number of cave temples dotted around the outskirts and chose to take a taxi out to Kek Lok Tong about 5km from the centre on the SE edge of the city.

Kek Lok Tong

This huge cave passed right through a small group of wooded karst hills with many small lakes. Many statues with Hindu and Chinese Buddhist iconography and impressive calcite formations.

The bird life was pretty good here. High above the large entrance cave were perhaps 150 House Swifts and Jungle Mynas and Asian Glossy Starlings were common. My first lifer was Java Sparrow, which were present in good numbers collecting nesting material. 

Java Sparrow Padda oryzivora

Also around the entrance an Asian Emerald Dove was feeding and showing at close range (but proved tricky to photograph well).

Asian Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica

The troupe of Long-tailed Macaques here were quite entertaining and mainly stayed on the steep cliffs away from the paths.

Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis

The gardens and ponds on the far side of the caves had Yellow Bittern, Grey and Striated Herons and a good selection of common passerines, including a Blue Rock Thrush. Rufous-bellied Swallow and Plume-toed Swiftlets were among the other Swifts and 2 Blue-eared Kingfishers dashed over one of the lakes giving rather brief views for a lifer.

Common Yeoman Cirrochroa tyche

Just 28 species here but a very interesting stop.
Rock Dove
Spotted Dove
Asian Emerald Dove
Zebra Dove
Plume-toed Swiftlet
House Swift
Yellow Bittern
Grey Heron
Striated Heron
Blue-eared Kingfisher
Lineated Barbet
Black-naped Oriole
Common Iora
Brown Shrike
Common Tailorbird
Dark-necked Tailorbird
Rufous-bellied Swallow
Red-whiskered Bulbul
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Red-eyed Bulbul
Asian Glossy Starling
Jungle Myna
Asian Brown Flycatcher
Oriental Magpie-Robin
Blue Rock Thrush
Crimson Sunbird
Java Sparrow
Paddyfield Pipit