LangkawiTour Review: Bird Watching Tour with Wendy Chin

Wendy Chin - bird watching tour - Langkawi

Wendy Chin – naturalist – on a bird watching tour on Langkawi

Langkawi Tour Review:

Bird Watching Tour with Wendy Chin

On my request, Wendy picked me up at 7:30 at the restaurant where I ate breakfast.

This was my second bird-watching tour with Wendy, so I knew she’d be punctual and well-prepared. Even so I was taken aback at how extremely well-prepared she was. Before we headed out she already knew which Langkawi birds I’d seen and which I hadn’t. I didn’t even know that myself!

Wendy keeps records of all her bird tours, with guest names, locations visited and a list of birds they’d spotted that day. With those lists she can decide which birds to target for the day and the best places on the island to spot those new birds for her returning guests. Brilliant.

This morning we were in Cenang early, so we first stopped off at Leman Padi, the Rice Field Museum. Wendy explained that it was a fantastic place for novice bird-watchers like myself to spot birds due to its wide open spaces, rice fields and proximity to the sea.

Red-Collared Dove – photo by Wendy Chin

A huge variety of birds pass through Leman Padi. Indeed, we spotted 18 species there that morning. We saw Oriental Pied Hornbills, Common Mynas, Koels (my favorite SE Asian bird due to its stark song), various doves and herons, and several Braminy Kites to name a few.

Eighteen birds under our belt and still early, we headed off to our next destination, a little-known boat pier on a mangrove-lined river. En route Wendy’s birding enthusiasm and keen eye meant that she continuously spotted birds along the way. We stopped several times to watch birds she’d spied. We added the vibrantly-colored Blue Tailed Bee Eaters and Red Wattled Lapwings to our list (another one of my favorites).

Red-Wattled Lapwing – photo by Wendy Chin

However, I started getting exhausted from all the stopping, starting, in and out of the car, and dodging traffic, so I asked Wendy if we could refrain from stopping along the road and just drive directly to our destination. Sure, no problem.

Wendy is quite flexible and service-oriented with her guests. You got a request? Just ask. (Though I think Wendy had a hard time containing her excitement atbout several other birds we passed, but she managed to keep driving. Lol)

remote boat pier – Langkawi

The remote boat pier, down a long dirt track was a wonderfully serene, peaceful spot where a few local people were hanging out fishing and chatting quietly. Wendy was disappointed about the unusual lack of bird activity there that morning. But I loved the peaceful environment so much that from my perspective the trip was well worth the effort even if we didn’t see a single bird. I ate my take-out meal while Wendy searched in vain for a few key birds.

Just as we were about to leave, Wendy suddenly heard the call she’d been waiting for. A Brown Winged Kingfisher. She jumped and hopped about, pinpointing the call location, pulling out her tripod and eyepiece again, and searching excitedly for the bird.

Brown-Winged Kingfisher – photo by Wendy Chin

A new call sounded from the other side of the pier and we raced over with our gear to search again. Finally, there it was. Wendy jumped up and down, eyes shining, as she signaled me over to see the Kingfisher through her scope.

“Wow,” is all I have to say. What a spectacularly colored bird. No wonder Wendy went all the way out to the remote pier to show me.

Wendy was finally satisfied so we packed up and headed back towards Cenang, with a stop off at our final destination – Bonton Resort. Their open-aired restaurant looks out over a large tropical pond, home to several unusual water bird species. Wendy quickly spotted a Black Backed Swamp Hen and a Purple Heron.

Purple Heron – photo by Wendy Chin

Gazing at the vibrant indigo-colored Swamp Hen I couldn’t help but remark that the birding world sorely needed someone else to name their birds! How about ‘Purple-Backed Wild Hen’ or ‘Indigo Pond Hen’. The title ‘Swamp Hen’ is no good at all, the poor beautiful, misnamed bird.

Before we knew it, four hours had rolled by and it was time to finish our tour. In all we’d seen 30 species. Of those, 25 I’d seen on my first tour with Wendy. Five were new sitings for me, including the elusive koel, my favorite SE Asian bird, which until that day I’d only ever heard but never seen. Thanks Wendy!

Wood Sandpiper – photo by Wendy Chin

If you’re planning a trip to Langkawi island and you like birds, I highly recommend Wendy’s Bird-Watching Tours. You’ll have a fun time, be well taken care of, and spot dozens of amazing birds. Her enthusiasm will inspire you and her keen eye will reward you with sitings of the beautiful, tiny, rare, elusive and famous birds that Langkawi is becoming increasingly famous for.

Wendy’s tours last 4- 5 hours. She prefers private tours, with a maximum of four guests, and tailored to their specific interests and bird targets, if they have any. At the end of each tour she gives her guests a list of all the birds they spotted that day.

Wendy Chin – bird watching on Langkawi

In addition to bird-watching tours, Wendy also leads kayaking in mangrove tours and jungle treks, both evening and early morning tours.

Find out more about Wendy and her tours at: Wendy Nature Guide

To arrange a tour with Wendy directly, contact her at:

WendyNatureGuide@gmail.com

+6012–595-2906

(* Note: I’d like to thank Wendy for sponsoring me on her very enjoyable bird-watching tour. Although my tour was sponsored, all the opinions and comments I’ve expressed here are my own candid views about the tour. )

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You might also enjoy my other Langkawi Travel Tips & Tour Reviews here.

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