Butterflying in Malaysia Part 2 - Chongkak Part & Resort

On a fine morning 4 June, after about a 2-hour drive, we reached the Chongkak Park and Resort in Hulu Langat District, Selangor.  This park is surrounded by a secondary forest and it is popular with locals who come here for family outings and retreats in a tranquil and peaceful forest park.

The Sugei Chongkak river flows through the park and we saw many groups of people swimming and camping along the riverbanks. The sounds of the cascading waters dominates the ambience. 

We walked leisurely and looked out for butterflies along the main path but we didn't encounter many butterflies until we met LC's friend Wong who had spotted a Common Red Forester (Lethe mekara gopaka) near a shelter. 

Some butterflies were found congregating at a dustbin. This is the Malayan Owl (Neorina lowii neophyta).

We continued walking towards the end of the path where there is an open space and a shelter. This place reminds me of Chiang Dao butterfly puddling ground in Chiangmai.

I was told that the open space at the end of the gravel road has been a popular puddling ground for butterflies. Indeed, the moment I put my bag in the shelter, Wong shouted Glorious Begum (Agatasa calydonia)  

I approached it slowly and took some shots - we were lucky. 

There were a few puddling butterflies on the ground from time to time. This is the Blue Helen (Papilio prexaspes prexaspes)

This is an upperside shot. 

I have not seen a Magpie Crow (Euploea radamanthus) in SG for a very long time. However, it is very common in Malaysia.

A Banded Swallowtail (Papilio demolion) was enjoying the hot sun on the ground.

Getting a good shot with details under the sun is not easy - the green tends to be overexposed.

I like to photograph two or more butterflies puddling together though the Chocolate Albetross (Appias lyncid) and the Great Orange Tip (Hebomoia glaucippe)  are rather common here.

 Two different species of Nawab came down at different time (about 6-minute apart). This is P. athamas

This is P. hebe.

I was hoping to see other Rajahs but somehow the Tawny Rajah (Charaxes bernardus crepax) always appeared on puddling ground. 

From time to time, we could also see smaller butterflies puddling on the ground. This is a skittish Sunbeam, likey to be the C. santana.

This small lycaenid was quite tame and stayed on the ground even though its surrounding butterflies scooted off when a person passed by.

 The Orange Albatross (Appias nero figulna) came down to puddle at a shady spot near the shelter. 

The Orange Gull (Cepora iudith malaya) was hovering arou nd the shelter before it perched on a leaf for a very short time.

I didn't encounter many skippers but when they were cooperative, I usually would take some shots as there were many look-alikes. This one looks like The Dark Banded Ace (Halpe ormenes). 

When we were on our way out, this Straight Baron (Euthalia alphed) landed in front of us.
A long-distance shot was taken before it disappeared when we approached it. 

From FB posts. I noticed that Chongkak Park is very rich in butterfly species. I will definitely visit this place again in the near future. 
  

To be continue