Kuala Lumpur - August 2009

During a business trip to Malaysia in August 2009 I managed a few opportunities to see the local wildlife. Common Mynas were seen everywhere, in the city and along the roadsides. White-Breasted Kingfishers were fairly common along the ditches at the side of the road in the countryside SW of Kuala Lumpur, which is where the factory was located. Barn Swallows and other hirundines and swifts were regularly seen. Around the factory House Sparrows were nesting.

The countryside around the factory was primarily palm oil plantations.







Monkeys were occasionally seen along the road to the factory. At lunch one day by the river at Banting a large (1.5metre) Monitor Lizard (Malayan Water Monitor Lizard - Varanus salvator) was seen swimming from the other side of the river (40 metres) to the bank just below the restaurant veranda. Mudskippers were also on the bank here.


Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve



The reserve is situated at the foot of the KL Tower and is an oasis of ancient forest within the heart of Kuala Lumpur. See http://www.malaysiavacationguide.com/bukitnanas.html.

The skyscrapers of KL are never far away!

The KL Tower looming through the canopy.

Lizard

Monkeys in the trees

Squirrel(?)

Unripe bananas

Oriental Magpie Robin - Murai Kampung - Copsychus saularis

Batu Caves
Batu Caves in the North of KL are a sacred Hindu site.

The many steps leading up to the caves

Macaque Monkeys take food from the tourists!

Some of the flora on the cliffs at the mouth of the caves

KLCC Park

Petronas Towers
Situated beneath the twin towers of the Petronas building this is very much a recreational park rather than a wildlife area, however some interesting wildlife was seen.

Common Myna - Tiong Gembala Kerbau - Acridotheres tristis

House Crow - Gagak Rumah - Corvus splendens

The only animal in the park was seen running across the grass and darting into some bushes.

Common Tree Shrew - Tupaia glis

These colourful pigeons are presumably a male (with orange breast) and a female. They were busy feeding on berries.

Pink-necked Green Pigeon - Punai Siam - Treron vernans

A short walk beyond the southern end of park along Jalan Kia Peng I was most surprised to a Kingfisher.

White-throated Kingfisher - Pekaka Dada Putih - Halcyon smyrnensis

Banana Tree






Monitor Lizard - near the National Mosque

Bird identifications with help from http://www.birdinginmalaysia.com/.