Unexpected surprises

 April 20

There was a massive rainstorm last night, so we awoke to slightly cooler temperatures and even higher humidity than yesterday. The mosquitos and the leeches, which had not been evident yesterday, were clearly happy with the new conditions. To be fair, leeches are an important food source for ground birds like pittas, and many creatures munching on mosquitoes. Our group is well prepared with leech socks (to prevent leeches getting inside your shoes or to your legs). We’ve only had 3 leeches across our group of 8 so far, and all were found before they latched. So it’s worth the reduction in our stylish appearances. 

Carrying on from yesterday’s treks uphill and downhill through the rainforest, today we climbed 400+ boardwalk steps up to a shoulder on the neighboring hill. This is certainly an aerobic birding trip! We then went down a muddy rooted track to an area with good chances for rare birds. We didn’t see the one we came for, but we did see several other spectacularly beautiful birds, including one that we had searched for repeatedly yesterday (the Garnet Pitta). We also saw two types of broadbill that we were not expecting to see during this hike. It continues to amaze us that these brightly colored creatures are so very hard to find! 

On our return trip we walked carefully around a Wagler’s pit viper perched on a small tree next to the stairs. It was ready to spring (it had wrapped its tail around the stem of the plant so that when it did spring it could return to its perch). We were grateful that it did not, as a full dose of venom is fatal in 30 minutes without treatment. But he was beautiful. On the way to lunch we saw a cloud monitor on the lawn… another reminder that we are staying in the wilderness! 

After lunch we chose to return to our cabin on a woodland track, and were rewarded with a flock of Malayan Crested Firebacks. These large pheasants skulk through the forest. We were hoping to get a glimpse of one; we were lucky enough to have a whole flock wander through an open area just off our trail…five males and three females. They look like they are going to a masquerade party.

In the late afternoon we returned to the blind near the cabins. Although many of the species enjoying the fruiting trees were the same as at prior visits, we also had some amazing new birds including two kinds of hornbills. 

Pictured: Garnet Pitta (another skulker), Green Broadbill, Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Malayan Crested Fireback, Wrinkled Hornbill (eating a fruit), our group in full regalia including leech socks, Wagler’s Pit Viper.