Having dipped on Spoon-billed Sandpiper on a previous trip in 2006 on my way to Bhutan, as we were there too early and only had a day while we passed through, I was determined to see this amazing shorebird before they are all gone. With a bevy of other assorted shorebird gems and the huge Kaeng Krachan National Park close by I decided to take a week off after the holidays and visit. After hatching a plan, I had several friends tell me they were interested so I worked things out for us all to go and off we went. I contacted Par with Wildbird Eco and he arranged the trip we wanted and all went very smoothly.
When to go: I had arranged the trip for January as this is the driest month of the year and this would guarantee the best time to visit for both Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Nordmann’s Greenshank.
Field Guide: Robson’s, Birds of Thailand served us well though our guide used the older Round/Lekagul guide.
Sounds: I downloaded all the sounds I wanted to learn for the trip from www.Xeno-canto.org, by far the best bird sound site on the internet, and as a contributor to the site I’m not biased in any way! (Sarcasm!)
Visiting Thailand is quite easy as there is a good road network and some great food along the way. The tourist infrastructure is very good and we had no problems getting around. You’ll get a visa when you arrive at no cost and though the line at immigration was a bit long as several flights arrived at the same time we did, we got through without problem and booked a taxi to take us to our hotel. I’ve stayed at the Manhattan Hotel on two other occasions and like its central location and service.
Day 1. We arrived late into Bangkok after some long flights and once through customs got our ride into town and once checked in, we all sacked out.
Day 2. Having set my clock one hour later than what was the correct time I got an extra hour’s sleep, which was nice, except that I was running behind when we needed to be ready to go. I rushed down stairs and grabbed a quick breakfast and met Par in the lobby. We were soon downstairs with all our gear and loading up into this really nice van driven by our able driver, Chet, whose smooth driving style and knowledge of some of the best places to eat in Kanchanaburi earned him the title of Jedi driver by the end of the trip.
House Swift and some Streak-eared Bulbuls greeted us as we loaded up and soon, we were off through Bangkok traffic heading south. The vibrant city came to life and as we meandered through traffic and cruised down the main highway, we all joked and chatted with anticipation. A few birds were seen along the way like White-vented Myna and Oriental Magpie-Robin. We stopped after an hour for a break at a gas station and a lady there was selling this amazing treat called Khanom Krok. Par bought a box for us which we all consumed in record time. Gluttonous pig that I am I went and bought another box they were so good.
Behind the station I could hear an Asian Koel calling and a Red Collared Dove sat in a tree opposite us. Once sated with snacks and a bathroom break, we continued on south to Pak Thale.
Salt pans began to appear next to the road and a brief glimpse of ocean at one point told us we were close. The pale blue and green sign with a Spoon-billed Sandpiper on it told us we were at the right spot.
Once parked we got out and got our scopes ready. A large group of shorebirds sat in one of the salt pans across from us and we began to scan the large group. Greater and Lesser Sand Plovers, Curlew Sandpiper, Kentish Plover, Black-winged Stilt and some Red-necked Stints were all there but no Spoon-billed Sandpiper. We took in these first waders before moving along the dirt road to the far side of the pans. Several Black-naped Terns drifted around the pans and at the end of the dirt road, beyond a small hut, sat a huge group of Eurasian Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit and some Whimbrels. Little Egrets were spread through here in a few places too.
We scanned another group of distant waders finding the same things as before and behind us a Little Cormorant sat wings spread drying off.
We took one of the dykes towards the back of the pans spooking a pair of noisy stilts before getting close enough to put down our scopes and check another distant group of shorebirds. Par began looking through his scope while I got set up and the rest of the group made their way single file down the dyke. Par paused and asked me to check the scope. I had a look through. A small shorebird mixed in with several stints had its back to me then it turned to the side, very white flanks, then it turned head on and there was no doubt at that point as the tiny spatulate bill stood black against its white chest. As I agreed it was a Spoon-billed Sandpiper Par pumped his fists in joy at finding our target. I quickly got my scope set up and we all filed in to take a look at the magnificent bird.
Once everyone had gotten a good look, we moved along one of the dykes to try and get a bit closer for a better look. We again set up scopes and had a look, this time with the bird showing well. We’d been watching for a short while when the group spooked and took off en masse. They circled round and landed again but then shot up into the air again and moved farther away settling in a distant salt pan. We slowly made our way back to the van stopping to enjoy some Common Redshanks and Red-necked Stints along with Greater and Lesser Sandplovers and abundant Kentish Plovers.
We then spent some time checking another area for Nordmann’s Greenshank but had no luck. There were still plenty of other shorebirds to keep us occupied but eventually hunger took over so we headed for lunch. Par took us to a lovely place called House by Sea where we had a wonderful lunch of fresh fish, tom yum soup, stir fried veg and some deep-fried chicken. The scenery of the beach and the Gulf of Thailand before us made a nice setting.
After lunch we headed back to Mueang Phetchaburi to see a few sites as the heat was up and bird activity was slow. Par took us up to see the temple at Khao Luang, which is an amazing cave with several Buddha statues. Two large holes in the limestone let light in from above and one of the large statues was a glow, bathed in light from above. The gold color of the Buddha reflecting back into the cave illuminated the walls.
Several bats were hanging about, pun intended, possibly one of several species of Tomb Bat, considering that the area was well lit and they usually rest up in areas that are not as dark as other bats tend to like, ie the mouth of caves or under the eaves of houses.
From here we drove down the hill back to town and went to visit the Wat Mahathat Worawihan. This beautiful temple complex has some amazingly ornate work on the pagodas and the inside of the temple was painted with some stunning colors. The gold Buddha statues were surrounded by flowers and incense while people came in to pray quietly. Several orange clad monks sat respectfully offering prayers to the patrons.
Outside again we continued to marvel at the amazing designs of the temple when a rather loud procession thundered past in several trucks beating drums and making all kinds of racket. Par told us it was all part of the Chinese New Year, hence the large dancing dragon in the back of one of the flatbed trucks.
Across the road was our next target, ice cream! Par knew the vendor and had been stopping here for years. I had one with some kind of fruit paste and nuts. Quite good on a hot afternoon around Phetchaburi.
Now past the hottest part of the day we drove to Laem Phak Bia to a small fishing community to catch a boat out to the sand spit. From the jetty we loaded up the boat and began to putter down the river towards the ocean. The mangroves held Great and Little Egret and we saw Marsh and Common Sandpiper along the shore. A Eurasian Whimbrel was seen at one point skulking back into cover from the muddy edge of the water. Little Cormorants hung out their wings to dry from the greenery at the side of the river and we could see the boardwalk at one point. As the river emptied into the ocean, we began to see several terns, mostly Black-naped but a few Common were seen too.
As we cruised up to the sand spit, we noticed a Chinese Egret feeding in the shallows across from us near the mangroves. Once at the sand spit we disembarked and set up the scope to have a good look at this rare egret. Its head plumes caught in the breeze as it stared down into the water.
We began to head to the far point where several large groups of birds were roosting. A few scattered Kentish Plovers were seen and before we were very close the huge flocks of shorebirds rose skyward. As they wheeled and turned, we tried to pick out species but to no avail, they were moving too fast.
Beyond the swirling mass of shorebirds, we could see several of the Greater Crested Terns with their large yellow bills moving over the ocean beyond the spit. Eventually the huge flocks of birds settled down and we were able to start scoping them. Mostly Great Knots formed the ranks with a few Red-necked Stints and Kentish Plovers. Once we’d scanned these birds we went back to the boat. Once loaded up we drove right up to the main spit and jumped into calf deep water and made our way up the shore. Several Kentish Plovers scattered but our target, a Malaysian Plover, scurried off and hunkered down. I’d seen where it stopped so got the scope on it for all to see. It’s lovely chestnut colored cap stood out but the rest of it blended into its surroundings. We were about to move on when it rose up and ran for about 20 feet over the berm then flew off. We didn’t see where it went but moved over onto the seaward side to scan the shoreline there.
Several Kentish Plovers moved around the tide line closer to us and a large group of shorebirds rested about 300 yards away. We started to sift through all the plovers for our next target but at first didn’t find one so concentrated on the large group of shorebirds. Several Terns were loafing on the beach including Common, Black-naped and a lone Gull-billed. Once the shorebirds were picked over and we hadn’t missed anything we turned back to the plovers and Par picked out one for us to look at which had the large white forehead, white eyebrow and solid white collar, pale legs, pale sandy coloration, after a while we agreed this must be a White-faced Plover. Once all had gotten a good look, I crept closer to get some photos, the one thing that stood out to me was the seemingly huge black eye in that powder white face. It continued to move down the beach and I eventually caught up with a pair of Malaysian Plovers and could see both male and female plumage which was nice. They ran down the tide line and I joined up with the rest of the group and as the tide was going out, we had to make our way back.
As the tide receded it revealed some weed covered stones. On these rocks a small group of ‘peeps’ gathered and I took two perfunctory photos of them as they took to flight and one when they settled, but we didn’t really go through the bunch as we had to ford the gap between us and the small island off the spit to get to our boat as he couldn’t come into the cove as the tide had receded. We waded across and managed to get into our boat and puttered our way back to the river and the dock. Several Terns flew around us, mostly Black-naped and Common but I picked out a Whiskered Tern as it came close. At the river we added a pair of Collared Kingfishers and a Common Kingfisher eating a fish. Back at the jetty we enjoyed some Blue-tailed Bee-eaters and a lone Green Bee-eater as they hawked for insects over the small pond next to the parking lot.
It wasn’t till after dinner when I was back in the hotel room going over the day’s pictures that I noticed an odd bird at the sand spit in with that small group on the rocks in the receding water line. A Spoon-billed Sandpiper stood out from the crowd with its spatulate bill. Behind it another, on closer inspection, stood with its head turned to the side. We were so close to this group of birds but we didn’t get a chance to go through them as we were hurrying to get back to the boat. At least we had seen one earlier. We’d have more chances tomorrow.
Day 3. Jerry and I rose early while it was still dark outside and got cleaned up and ready for the day. We were packed and ready by five so we decided to do some pre-dawn birding. The traffic sounds outside the hotel were not too bad at this time of the morning and the first Asian Koels were beginning to sound off. The sound of a Pied Fantail got our attention and we watched as it sallied out from the bush next to the hotel to catch bugs coming to the lights. Once it started to get light we meandered outside the hotel where the morning chorus was really beginning to start up.
Several Asian Koels began chiming in with their raucous calls and chasing each other about the trees. Pied Fantails called and chattered from the trees in the hotel grounds and an Olive-backed Sunbird sang from the top of one of the trees. The deep, crying song of Zebra Doves emanated from somewhere deep in one of the trees. This was joined by the musical notes of a pair of Oriental Magpie-Robins on the wires behind us.
Overhead swifts started to circle above us, both House and Asian Palm Swifts were shooting about the sky joined by two Ashy Woodswallows.
After breakfast I took some time on the second-floor balcony to be face to face with some of the birds and these included Olive-backed Sunbird, Malaysian Pied Fantail, Streak-eared Bulbul, Zebra Dove and from the antenna above me a lovely burst of song from an Oriental Magpie-Robin. This was short lived as we need to get going so, we all loaded up and headed out for the day.
Our first stop was back at the salt pans at Pak Thale to check for Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Once parked up we checked the far salt pans before noticing some birders farther down the dirt road with scopes out. We made our way down and past them a bit before we set up and soon had our first Spoon-billed of the day resting along the edge of the salt pan close to the road. We moved down to the end where the dykes began and walked toward the three pans where all the birds were. When we reached the intersection of the first and second row of salt pans we stopped and set up scopes. To our joy we found two more Spoon-billed Sandpipers in with some Red-necked Stints. With three scopes between the six of us we all had some nice looks at these close birds. These two were foraging with several stints and were quite active as they scurried around the salt pans looking for food. After about a half hour we were well satisfied with our looks so headed off back to the van to check the mangroves at the King Project.
Our first stop was just before the project on the right-hand side of the road where a Black-headed Ibis had been seen earlier but we had no luck. We scanned a huge array of Egrets comprised mostly of Great and Little but we did find an Intermediate, much to Jerry’s relief. He’d dipped this one a few times and was happy to see it. Especially as it was one of the closest of the birds to us. At the back of the pond, we also found a large collection of Painted Storks, Little and Indian Cormorant and several Brown-headed Gulls in winter plumage. A Purple Heron stood out on one of the large posts behind the pond and a Brown Shrike was found in a tree next to the water. The heat haze was beginning to build up so we decided to leave. We did check a large collection of plovers which turned out to be all Kentish. A yellow legged stint I believe was a Long-toed, was found next to one of the shallow pans but soon as I got my scope on it, it took to flight and was gone.
We arrived in the mid-morning heat at the King Project but there were still birds around. Several Asian Pied Starlings were in a dry water catchment along with a Richard’s Pipit. A Greater Coucal flew from the pan over into the mangroves and out of sight, its rufous wings flashing with each beat. We turned towards the parking lot flushing a few Red-wattled Lapwings off the road and pulled up next to the reed beds and open ditches and began to scan.
Great Egret, Javan and Chinese Pond Herons, more Lapwings and a large monitor hung out next to the open ditches while at the end a Common Snipe tried to hide in the tall grass, only its striped head giving its presence away. Two rails shot out of the reed bed and started to chase each other around before darting back into cover. The white flecks in their wings led us to believe they were Slaty-breasted Rail. A short time later and closer a Ruddy–breasted Crake emerged from the reeds and scanned the water’s edge for food before slowly skulking back into the vegetation. It emerged some time later and we all got good looks at the bird before it disappeared again.
From here we moved out from behind the cover of the van where we had been watching the reeds and scattered half the inhabitants before we had moved across into the mangroves on one of the boardwalks. Inside we moved down the slowly rotting wood walkway to the tune of several Golden-bellied Gerygones. As we moved down the walkway a rail scattered from below me and I caught a glimpse of a male Watercock flying deeper into the mangroves but it was gone before I could say anything. We all stood on the boardwalk for some time before we gave up on the Gerygone. On the way back we spotted a Phylloscoups warbler that I think was a Two-barred, looked right at the time.
Back out on the dirt roadway we moved down the grassy dykes and spooked up a few more birds including a Common Greenshank and a Marsh Sandpiper. Several of the egrets flushed into the mangroves and an Oriental Magpie-Robin sang from somewhere deep inside. The heat was getting up a bit so we decided to walk along another boardwalk in the shade. Again, there were more Gerygone but only a few of us saw one. As we entered a few of us got to look at a skulking White-breasted Waterhen before it crept off into the twisting roots and was gone.
We went back to the House by Sea restaurant for lunch and again chowed down on some fine Thai cuisine watching the ocean churn over while terns and a few gulls flew past.
Once sated with food we headed back to some more settling ponds to check for some shorebirds. Our first stop yielded Black-capped Kingfisher on the wire and at the end of the road we scoped a large group of Black-tailed Godwits picking out an albino or very leucistic bird. I didn’t find any color on it but couldn’t see if the eyes were pink. It really stood out against the other Godwits but there was little else here so we moved down the road and parked up next to one of the salt sheds next to some pans and Par scanned for a while before being satisfied he’d found what he wanted. We all unloaded at this point and began to walk along the dykes.
At the end of the first dyke where it met one coming across, we stopped and set up scopes. As we scanned the left edge of a group of Pacific Golden Plovers our target emerged. One lone Nordmann’s Greenshank stood out from the group of Plovers. It was mixed in with several Great Knots and the slight upturned bills of several Bar-tailed Godwits was noted as an excellent addition to the day’s birds. Behind this group a large group of Caspian Terns lounged in the mid-day heat mixed in with a few Brown-headed Gulls. Of course, the only shots I got were through my scope and with the searing heat waves coming off the water this far away made for an identifiable but rubbish picture.
Our last target for Pak Thale bagged we had to head east to make our appointment near Kaeng Krachan. A slow leisurely drive through the Thai country side allowed some rest time and some welcome AC. Several hours later we began to drive up through some forested hills and pulled off at the side of the road. We all piled out of the car and stretched for a bit, gathered water and gear and readied ourselves for a very short hike to the bird hides (Bo Nok as Par called them). We wound quietly, well I say quietly but five westerners burdened with masses of optical gear isn’t exactly silent, towards the blinds. Honestly, we weren’t sneaking up on anything, let’s face it. When we got close, Par slowed us down and crept up to see if all was clear. Either there was nothing there or we’d spooked it off. Either way we quickly scurried into the three hides and I set up my camera facing out one of the two holes provided. Susan sat next to me, Gary and Alice teamed up in the blind next to ours and Jerry and Par hunkered down in the one across the trail.
Once in place and quiet again the birds began to come in. First an angry, two note call of a Black-naped Monarch came from somewhere to our right. We couldn’t see the bird but she flew in and snatched some water and was gone back into the undergrowth before we could really see her. She soon returned this time alighting on the vine over the water hole for a nice but brief look. She dropped down and grabbed another gulp of water and was gone again. Next came a group of Brown-cheeked Fulvettas of the davidsoni race, which show little of the black eyebrow of the northern races. They would jump from branch to branch at the back of the clearing but never really close. The calls of Bulbuls spooked them off a bit as the bright mustard yellow of two Black-crested Bulbuls and the shocking citron yellow of the Streak-throated Bulbul whipped through the brush and onto the vine sitting above the water hole. They soon all landed next to the water and began to drink, much to the chagrin of our cameras that were furiously trying to keep up with our index fingers. My flash was going at such a rate I’m surprised no one went into a seizure. Bird paparazzi! Ah how quickly fame fades though, by the end of the trip we were so tired of seeing Black-crested Bulbuls that just days before were camera fodder.
Once the brightly colored stars had made off with a drink the Fulvettas came back and soon settled in to get their fill. Some even bathed, scattering water everywhere. A Northern Treeshrew joined the party beginning the mammal list, skulking in and furiously lapping up water. Soon a larger surprise in the form of a Lesser Mousedeer emerged from cover and crept in for a drink. A notoriously shy species, I was amazed to see it in such close proximity, I’d seen them by torch light in Borneo on a night drive but even then, they would scurry back into the bush. A very cool sight indeed. The next mammal to join the parade was a lovely grey and brown mottled Grey-bellied Squirrel. It slunk down the vines to the water’s edge to get a drink before scurrying back up into the boughs. The Fulvettas and Bulbuls returned along with the mousedeer and then from my left side I could hear the rustle of something large. Par’s pointer flashed across the front of our hide into the bushes. I could hear a very faint whisper from his hide so knew something was there we needed to keep an eye out for.
I caught a glimpse of movement and then a red wattled head with a black crest poked out of the brush, quickly followed the black and white body of a Silver Pheasant, it called in a low muffled tone and moved across the branches over the water hole and eventually dropped down on the far side. It never came in to get water but slowly slinked off into the bush and out of sight. What an amazing bird.
The mammal parade continued with some diminutive little Western Striped Squirrels coming in for water. This was short lived by the racket coming from the brush in front of us. Several animals and birds scattered with the alarm call then the collective outburst of several White-headed Laughingthrushs filled the air. They continued to call as they came closer and eventually these impressive birds moved out of the brush and into the open to get water. They checked the leaf litter and drank before moving behind us. They still made their presence felt with another long outburst of song before they were gone.
More mammals arrived this time with an Indochinese Ground Squirrel, which quickly jumped for cover when a huge whir of wings scattered everyone including several leaves. I peered through the hole in the hide but could see nothing. I scanned and scanned eventually looking just above us on a close vine. There an Emerald Dove sat. A regal male with a grey strip across his black back and his emerald, iridescent wings sat shining in the afternoon light. He kindly turned to show us his greyish pink chest and white cap before dropping down to get a drink. He was shortly joined there after by a female before he took off with a staccato whir of wings back into the forest. We could hear him call his deep bass song from inside the cover of the forest.
More chatter informed us some new birds were coming and this time several active little Puff-throated Babblers joined the group at the water hole to drink and check out the party before they were off. It was getting darker out now and the evening chorus was heating up. Birds came in thick and fast now to get a last drink before nightfall but we had to leave so we could walk out in the remnants of daylight. The last bird we caught a glimpse of was an Abbot’s Babbler coming in for a quick drink. Once it noticed us all standing outside the blind ready to go it quickly shot back into the cover of the forest. We beat a hasty retreat back to the van before we headed off towards the park passing the huge lake near the headquarters.
We drove up through the forested hills and just as darkness was almost upon us the headlights of the van spotted a mottled figure in the road. Chet stopped short of the bird and it took off showing the white wing and tail patches of a Large-tailed Nightjar. It sallied up the road a bit then settled down near another bird which flew up the road a bit and settled. We all got out and Par with his torch and Chet with the van lights moved slowly up the road so we could get some nice looks at the birds. They flew up and down the road whipping over our heads and back up to settle in a curve where they could move up and down this forest corridor. We left them and continued on till Par spotted an Indain Nightjar next to the road on a snag. Fully illuminated in Par’s torch is sat motionless and wide-eyed for a few seconds before it realized we were looking at it and it beat a retreat into the night.
We arrived at Samarn Bird Camp and were warmly met. We were given keys and we unloaded the van and got ourselves squared away. Dinner there was fantastic and we enjoyed talking about the day’s birds over a few cold Singha’s, Chang’s and Leo’s. We were split on the Singha’s and Chang’s; Leo got a fair mention but I think the nod went to the Chang but if it was cold, we drank it. After dinner Jerry and I went back out to the main road to look for Nightjars and with a little playback I got one doing a long frog like call from cover but it never showed. After a long day’s birding we headed for the comfort of our beds and a good night’s sleep.
Day 3. Close to 4am a Plaintive Cuckoo woke me with its song, I was pretty much awake by then and so was Jerry so I went outside to listen for a bit. It sang once again a little while later but there was nothing else. We decided to clean up and go do some owling so by five we were back out in the darkness at the end of the lodge grounds near the woods and I tried playback for several common species but got nothing. I did notice low on the horizon the constellation of the Southern Cross and as Gary and Alice were up, I notified them as this was a wanted constellation for them. As it was nearing 6 now, we could make out a faint glow on the horizon and Asian Koels began to sing, this is when the chorus of Large-tailed Nightjar began in earnest. Fully twenty birds sang in the vicinity, some close others distant, soon enough other birds chimed in and White-rumped Shama sang from the bush line behind the lodge but it was time for breakfast so we made our way to the dining hall. After loading up on more great food we piled into the van and made the short trip to the park entrance of Kaeng Krachan NP.
Once there we paid to get in and made the drive up the entrance road till we came over a rise and began the steep accent into the park. Samarn was driving and he pulled up and told everyone to get out and a quick discussion with Par and he was setting up the scope. Across the valley two huge Great Hornbills sat in one of the tall trees that loomed out of the thick jungle. What a pair to start the day. Behind us some Streak-throated Bulbuls sang as we watched the two hornbills take flight and drift over to another tree.
We moved down the road till it flattened out a bit and as we could hear a large group of birds we stopped and spent some time picking through the collection that included Black-crested Bulbul, a nice group of Sultan Tits and a skulking but vocal White-browed Scimitar-Babbler.
A little farther down the road we picked up a Bronzed Drongo singing and we pulled up into a more open area where we found both Greater and Common Flameback, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker and a Thick-billed Warbler calling from some tall grasses. We walked from here for a while and spotted a pair of Common Dollarbirds showing well in the bright morning light. They flew down the road a bit to where a bridge was and we caught up with them again while a noisy Common Tailorbird moved about in the underbrush.
We continued on to a fruiting tree Samarn knew about and we stopped here for a while. Over the next hour or so we sifted through the coming and going birds picking up some great stuff. Barbets were common with Blue-eared and Green-eared seen several times. Their metronomic songs continued the whole time we were there. Several Black-crested Bulbuls were in evidence while a couple of Golden-crowned Mynas showed up followed later by quite a few Common Hill Mynas, whose orange nape wattles showed really well. A Red Junglefowl called from somewhere inside the forest but never showed apart from the quick flash of a female flying across the road. The bright yellow plumage of Black-naped Oriole showed well against the green foliage too.
From here we drove up to Bang Kran campsite for lunch and did some birding before we ate. Our target here was Blue-bearded Bee-eater which we found soon after we got there. A pair of Small Minivets moved through the trees in the open area of the campground plus Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Taiga Flycatcher and several Sultan Tits. We spent a while with the Bee-eater before moving down to the creek and across into the forest. Here we heard an Orange-breasted Trogon and after a while managed to tempt it in for a few brief looks before it disappeared back into the forest.
We stopped at one of the picnic tables back at the campground for some lunch and while eating we were treated to a very close Radde’s Warbler feeding in the low brush next to the table. Also, a Two-barred Warbler moved furtively through a leafless tree calling once before flying off into another set of trees. Several White-rumped Munias flew into one of the trees below us where we could see them before they too disappeared back into the forest.
After lunch we went back down to the creek and the forest to try for the Trogon again but this time it just called from back in the forest. I moved up the road a bit where there was an opening into the forest where I could see better and record the bird. I played back the recording but it did not respond. Behind me a Green-eared Barbet burst into song while some Pin-striped Tit-babblers called too. I turned to record them and when I turned back to the forest opening the Orange-breasted Trogon was sitting twenty feet from me in a tangle of vines. I called Jerry and Susan up and we all got a good look at the bird before it moved off deeper into the forest.
Back at the campground we all collected round the truck when a pair of Vernal Hanging Parrots came in. The pair preened each other on a branch above us for some nice looks. Several birds moved around the trees below us and I managed to find a Taiga Flycatcher, Verditer Flycatcher and a Yellow-browed Warbler. A Large Woodshrike sunned itself leaning over at an odd angle to get some under wing and belly vitamin D. It moved off into the shade a short while later.
We climbed into the back of the truck and headed into the forest. Once under the canopy of trees we found a female White-rumped Shama in the road and soon after Samarn stopped for a nesting pair of Tickell’s Brown Hornbills. The male showed up with some food and hung out on a branch for some time and we got some partially blocked looks but still good.
We moved along again to a section of bamboo where we had a very productive hour with a large flock moving through the brush in front of us. Over the course of the next hour, we spotted several warblers including, Sulphur-breasted, Two-barred, Dusky, Eastern Crowned and Pale-legged. Several Ashy and Bronzed Drongos called and flew about the upper canopy. Several Common Green Magpies called from deep in the forest but a fleeting glimpse between a gap in the foliage was all I saw. Great Iora were in good supply with at least six moving with the group. Ochraceous Bulbul was seen deeper in along with several Grey-headed Canary-Flycatchers. A brief shot at Asian Paradise Flycatcher was had but I’m not sure if all saw it. The real treat here came in the form of a Raffle’s Malkoha that overflew us landing in some tangled vegetation. It sang several times and showed itself on a few occasions when it would move through the vine tangles on either side of the road.
Once most of the birds had been identified or had moved off, we loaded up into the truck and moved farther down the road and crossed a stream where we managed to cool off with a bit of cold water on our faces and necks. It was getting hot now so there was less bird activity. An Asian Emerald Dove moved down the track from us and we tried for a few Pittas with little response. Another Orange-bellied Trogon called behind us and was responded to by one deeper in the forest. We looked for it for a while but it was way back and out of sight.
We drove up to the dam and turned round at this point to head back. We did stop where Samarn had seen some people checking out a Tickell’s Brown Hornbill and we got out and had some nice scope views of the bird. Several more were calling farther down the track enabling me to make some recordings. Four in all were here in a small group and eventually the one perched up dropped down and flew off deeper into the forest to be with his mates.
Several clouds were gathering and the first drops of rain began to fall so we loaded up and headed back to the campground to see if it would pass but then it began to come down quite heavily. We got all our cameras and recording equipment inside and prepared to get wet. The drive back to Samarn Bird Camp was very wet with some serious rain. The four of us bedraggled in the back finally climbed out at the camp and gathered our gear to head to our rooms to dry off.
The rains continued for quite a while all during dinner so there was no more birding done this day.
Day 4. Jerry and I were both up early again charging batteries and listening to the Plaintive Cuckoo sound off in the pitch black a couple of times before dawn. We tried some owling again to no avail and the 5:30am chorus of Large-tailed Nightjar rang through the area. At one point a Collared Scops Owl called from behind the lodge up the hill a way but recording and play back had no effect. Asian Koels began to sing and several Red-wattled Lapwings from the open farmland across the road began to call.
We all had breakfast and loaded up for the day. While we were waiting, we scoped the wires finding Asian Pied Starling, Common Myna, White-breasted Kingfisher and to Jerry’s relief an Indochinese Roller, another bird he’d dipped in Asia. It sat up kindly for some time in the scope and once we tired of it, we moved to some other birds before we were all gathered and ready to go. We had a long drive this morning as we were heading for higher ground and after an hour, we were up around 2000ft and the sun was beaming down into the valley below. We stopped where a pair of Great Hornbills were nesting but they were not seen. White-handed Gibbons boomed their wailing calls through the valley and the first Barbets began to call. Several Black-crested Bulbuls moved about us and the ‘chit’ notes of the call of a Hill Blue Flycatcher sounded behind us. It never showed but just down the road several Cinerous Bulbuls called and moved around in the mixed bamboo and forest. In the valley below a Grey Peacock Pheasant called out and an Olive-backed Sunbird alighted the tree next to us.
We moved on from here to find another spot to bird and as we were rounding a corner a really close Great Hornbill sat bathed in morning light above us. It was great to see such a stunning bird so close in such great light. We snapped away for a few moments before it took flight and was gone.
Farther on we drove under a roosting Mountain Imperial Pigeon so pulled up to get out and get a good look at it. The sun was in front of us so all we could see was a silhouette so we moved down to get a better look. It kindly stayed put and allowed us to get past it to see in it in the morning light. Just as we were getting some nice shots of the bird both Par and Samarn called frantically to us to come back up the hill. We shot up the hill to see what they had and in a tree above us a Long-tailed Broadbill sat in its clown like array of colors. We all marveled at this stunning bird snapping away and it just bounced around a bit showing us all angles, allowing us all to get some great looks before it flew down the road.
We moved on farther up the road to a large cleared slope that was covered in ferns. Here we got out to try and lure in the Grey Treepies that were calling above us in the trees at the top of the slope. They didn’t show but Ashy Drongos sallied forth to catch bugs and would call out regularly. Our first Great Barbets sang in the distance and a pair of Vernal Hanging Parrots flew by. Three Flavescent Bulbuls emerged out of the ferns and landed on the only bare branch sticking out of the foliage allowing us some nice looks.
We moved down the road to a fruiting tree but only found Ashy and Bronzed Drongos as well as a few Hair-crested Drongos flying past with their curled tails. With nothing much here we moved back up to the fern covered slope and again heard the Treepies but this time they did show and we all got a look. Satisfied we headed up to the top at Phanthung Campground to do some birding there.
We pulled up next to the main building and were greeted with the calls of several Streaked Spiderhunters eventually drawing one in to the banana plants growing right next to the road. There were several here and we enjoyed long looks at them resting in the heat of the day at the back of the building during lunch. For now though we did a little bit of birding here and began to walk back down the road to bird along the road. We decided to go back down to see if we could find Ratchet-tailed Treepie but didn’t have any luck with that bird but we managed to catch up with some other great species to make up for it.
First, we encountered another birder and guide with a nice Bay Woodpecker banging away at a branch in some thick vine tangles. Once we’d seen the bird we moved past and began to explore the flat patch of road we were on. No sooner had we started that the woodpecker flew over the road calling loudly.
We found a nice Hill Blue Flycatcher in the understory and while checking out that bird a pair of Great Barbets moved up the slope next to us and through the tree above us and across the road. They began to duet from high up in the canopy and we all enjoyed some nice looks. Right above us some Streaked Yuhinas chattered away and we spent some time with them before the huge rush of wings above us had us all staring skyward. A few seconds later a call from Samarn back at the truck had us scurrying down the road to get to a clearing where we could see a fruiting tree across from our position. Several large orange-colored fruits hung from a nice broad tree across from us draped with the huge form of a Wreathed Hornbill. We all watched for some time as the beautiful bird plucked fruits and devoured them and moved about the tree. Eventually it dropped out of the tree and swept across the valley whooshing with each wing beat.
We were racking up some great birds now so we continued on down the road and at a bend we stopped and birded a slightly more open area where we managed to see a Speckled Piculet and in the tree with it a Mountain Bulbul landed and called before flying off. A pair of Dark-necked Tailorbirds chattered around us nosily before moving off and the calls of Collared Babbler and Golden Babbler echoed form below us through the foliage but were never seen. Dusky Languars moved as a troop through the mid canopy and we managed a few looks at these primates before movement caught our eye. We scanned a huge tree next to the road that towered up the slope but as we were above it on the rise, we could look almost straight into it. Several Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters were sallying forth out of the tree their rufous/chestnut crowns and backs glowing in the late morning light. Three Asian Fairy Bluebirds flew past a gap in the trees and the song of a Cyornis flycatcher emanating from the mid-story of the forest drew our attention. The bird only showed up once in a gap before flying off and it was only really seen well by Susan.
As it was getting lunch time, we decided to head back up to the campground so we could have some tables and chairs to eat at plus the view at the top was quite spectacular. We sat at the picnic tables outside and enjoyed the breeze up here and the chorus of Blue-throated and Blue-eared Barbets. After we’d eaten, we pulled up some chairs and scanned the valley behind the shop for Himalayan Swiftlets that were buzzing about. We also had a dead snag across from us that attracted Blue-throated Barbet, a pair of Vernal Hanging Parrots and a Yellow-vented Flowerpecker. In the tree to our right a pair of Orange-bellied Leafbirds would land from time to time and a Streaked Spiderhunter sat and preened for a while. The Blue-throated Barbet sat in here for a bit too. When the sunlight got quite intense, we pulled our chairs to the side and watched from the shade. Several Flavescent Bulbuls came very close and at one time sat on a snag preening each other at close range.
From the shop several of us decided to walk to the observation area down the road a bit and we ran into a pair of Mountain Imperial Pigeons and at the top we could see a huge stretch of mountains covered in forest heading into the distance. A Green-billed Malkoha called from deep in the bushes but only a bit of tail was seen at one point.
We went back to the campground from here and walked about finding more of the same but a distant group of birds in one of the trees turned out to be about thirty Swinhoe’s Minivets. We did get a Blue Rock Thrush poking its head out above the edge of one of the buildings. It flew across the campground and stopped on another building. From the benches overlooking the other side of the valley we saw another Great Hornbill fly past.
We then loaded up and headed for another part of the park where the king has a lodge and there are some covered observation points. We birded along the road below here for a while finding another Bay Woodpecker and a pair of White-browed Piculets in the undergrowth. Several Grey Treepies were seen here but with the rain coming we headed back up to the cover of the observation point.
We birded round here for a bit walking from here up to the king’s lodge finding, Black-naped Oriole, Hair-crested, Ashy and Bronzed Drongo, Green-billed Malkoha, Greater Green Leafbird and Great Barbet. The rain began to come in earnest now so we had to head back again getting soaked in the back. The rain wasn’t as bad this time but it was still a disappointment to the days end.
Day 5. This morning we went over to the park HQ and birded around the parking lot at the lake. It was quite birdy when we got here and plenty was singing. Oriental Magpie-Robin, Black-crested Bulbul, Asian Koel, Common Myna and Red-wattled Lapwings were all part of the chorus.
We set up overlooking the lake where we could see White-breasted Kingfisher, Common Myna, White-vented Myna, Black-naped Oriole and Par found a particularly special bird for us, an Asian Barred Owlet. From here we moved down next to the lake overlooking some tall reed like brush at the water’s edge where we found Plain and Grey-breasted Prinia, Streak-eared Bulbul, Thick-billed Warbler, Common Tailorbird and behind at the lake’s edge Great and Little Egret and Little Heron. Spotted Dove and Paddyfield Pipits were seen on the other side of the hill and a walk back to the parking lot gained us nice looks at Ashy Woodswallow and Golden-fronted Leafbird. A high-pitched note led us to a Ruby-cheeked Sunbird collecting nesting material.
Across the road we found another White-breasted Kingfisher and walking the trails behind the buildings we found Common Iora, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike, Ashy Drongo, Indochinese Roller, Taiga Flycatcher and a singing White-rumped Shama.
Back at the parking lot we loaded up on ice creams and souvenirs at the park shop before we made the long trek north. Par had this broken up in the middle though with a nice stop at some freshwater ponds. We circled round some of the roads looking for good spots to stop and after a while we pulled up next to a good-looking spot where we found a nice pair of Bronze-winged Jacanas. Once we’d all gotten looks, we went to a parking lot where we could get our scopes out. When we got there the heat of the day was up but there were plenty of birds out among the lily pads. Both Little and Indian Cormorant, a Western Osprey, our only Little Grebe, two lovely Grey-headed Lapwings, plenty of egrets and some Lesser Whistling Ducks were all seen in short order. A pair of Pheasant-tailed Jacanas were found among the reeds and a Cinnamon Bittern was seen moving down into the reeds but the best scope views I could get were of a fairly blocked bird. As it wouldn’t move too often it was quite hard to make it out amongst the reeds.
We drove around for a while longer checking other ponds but found mostly the same birds. A Brown Shrike, nice and close was another good find. The two other ponds Par wanted to check were both dried out so we went on to our lunch spot and had another great meal.
By late afternoon we arrived in Kanchanaburi at the allied POW cemetery. It was very peaceful here and the grounds are kept immaculate. We walked quietly through the rows of war dead while Asain Koels sang from the trees. A pair of Paddyfield Pipits and a Javan Pond Heron were seen in the watery areas of the grounds. We went over to the Death Railway Museum for a brief tour then over to the Bridge on the River Kwai. There were plenty of vendors and markets going and we shot some pictures of the bridge before deciding to walk across. As it was around 5:00pm one of the trains was coming. There is little step off balconies where you can stand as the train goes past. Once the train had gone, we crossed to the other side seeing some Common Mynas at eye level in the trees. We returned to the van and made our way to our hotel the Sabai @ Kahn, which was very nice. Chet knew a great restaurant for us and we had a very enjoyable dinner with the whole group right next to the river. Fresh seafood was brought to the table in droves and we ate like kings while slaking our thirst with plenty of cold Chang Export.
Day 6. Today we left the hotel and drove north to Hellfire Pass. Once there we birded around the parking lot finding several Oriental Magpie-Robins singing. Streak-eared Bulbul was present and a Common Hill Myna sang from well above us. A Blue Whistling Thrush called from the bamboo but never showed itself very well.
We walked down to an observation platform and sifted through a nice suite of birds including Little Spiderhunter, Radde’s Warbler and Black-naped Oriole. The walk through the limestone karst and bamboo forest was quite fruitful with White-rumped Shama, Pin-striped Tit-babbler, Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher, a Rufous-fronted Babbler sang ahead of us and disappeared into the bamboo at one point, then a procession of soldiers came by. We stopped to let them past but they seemed to come for ever. While letting them all past we heard then saw a Crested Serpent Eagle soaring overhead.
Once the soldiers were past, we began the walk down to the Konyu Cutting known to the POWs as Hellfire Pass. There is a platform to overlook the pass and we stopped there to look down into it. While there a Common Buzzard drifted over head.
Down in the pass we looked around a bit finding another Shama before we walked through the pass. On the other side we could see down into the river valley. From up the slope behind us we heard some birds and Par suddenly called frantically. “Here, I’ve got one”. Our target had been found. Having dipped on the other side where they are normally found, this greener slope revealed a pair of Limestone Wren-Babblers. They moved about furtively and would pop up from time to time for us to have a look at. All the while a White-rumped Shama sang from a bamboo cluster next to us. Once all had seen the bird, I scampered up the slope to get a better look and make a recording. They never really moved far away but always just out of good visual range. A tail here, a neck here, at one point I got a whole bird in the bins as it sat up on a rocky point. Now soaked with sweat from my climb I headed back down to join the rest and we continued back to the parking lot.
Chet found us another good restaurant and a solid meal later thankfully washed down by some cooling ice cream we headed of for another stop that none of us had planned for. Eurasian Hoopoe had been asked for by Alice who’d not gotten the best looks on our France trip and Par knew a place.
A little bit off the main highway we pulled into Muan Sing Historical Park. This 800-year-old temple complex was built during the Khamer empire and the open grounds have a nice park like feel to them. We walked around for a few minutes before we found our targets. Two Eurasian Hoopoes were feeding in the grass with some Common Mynas. We managed to approach quite close as they moved away from us through the grass. We also found some Paddyfield Pipits, Common Iora, Indochinese Roller and plenty of Common Mynas.
We went over to the main part of the ruins to walk through them which was quite interesting. A Jack Fruit tree was growing in one part and the calls of Spotted Owlet from a cavity in one of the trees got our attention but it never poked its head out. Several Sooty-capped Babblers moved around in the tops of some of the trees near us and the sharp blues of an Indochinese Roller flying through the trees was a nice sight. On the way back to the van we got sight of a nice Accipiter that turned out to be a Japanese Sparrowhawk. This it turned out would be our last new bird of the trip as we loaded up the van shortly after and made our way back to Bangkok. We got tangled up in afternoon traffic but got to the hotel with no problems. A fond farewell to Par and Chet saw them off and a final dinner in the Korean restaurant in the hotel had us all to bed early for a 3:30am departure to the airport.
This was a really good trip and all the arrangements went off without a hitch thanks in no small part to Par’s expert planning. Chet, our Jedi driver, was great throughout and his knowledge of local eateries is second to none. They were both always punctual and ready to go when we were. Samarn and his lovely wife Oy (sp) were excellent hosts at Samarn Bird Camp and I can highly recommend staying here if you want to get to Kaeng Krachan, lovely rooms, great surroundings, lovely food and five minutes from the park. Our thanks go out to all of them in making this a great little excursion. My thanks also go to the company we had. Gary with his cynical, razor-sharp whit was always quick with a joke even when suffering through the heat, Alice and her bum knee soldiered on, Jerry always ready to bird at the drop of a hat and Susan always desperate to get that one more look from a different angle to make sure she was satisfied with a bird all made for great company in the field and round the dinner table at night. We had good success in finding our targets apart from Ratchet-tailed Treepie that didn’t want to show up despite being in the right spot with enough playback to sink a battle ship. Par is a great guide and very relaxed about his birding. Nothing is done at speed and we managed to enjoy all our sightings to our satisfaction. His dry sense of humor would creep out of nowhere and catch you off guard with a good laugh when you weren’t expecting it. But don’t trust him when he says the food’s not hot. The man has an asbestos tongue. Both him and Chet would laugh at us as we sweltered through the searing heat of a “mild” curry, lips tingling mouth numb crying out for ice cream, that said we brought that on ourselves when he would order “western mild” food for us and we’d try a little bit of his to see what the locals really eat. Jerry, in some sadistic fashion, was loving the burning pain of a spicy curry on many occasions, sick man! Thailand is easy to get round and has some fantastic birding, wonderful sights and great food. The people are lovely and friendly and we had no problems with anything while we were there, though Gary will argue that the rain on both nights in Kaeng Krachan equaled the monthly average in January, the dry season, I tend to agree with him though this was unexpected.
You can see photos from this tour in my Central Thailand 2012 Flickr Album
You can listen to recordings from this set on xeno-canto.
1 Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus KK
2 Silver Pheasant Lophura nycthemera BN
3 Grey Peacock-Pheasant Polyplectron bicalcaratum KK H
4 Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica F
5 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis F
6 Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala LPB
7 Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus F
8 Striated Heron Butorides striata F
9 Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus KKHQ
10 Javan Pond Heron Ardeola speciosa LPB
11 Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus LPB
12 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea LPB
13 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea LPB
14 Great Egret Ardea alba LPB
15 Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia LPB
16 Little Egret Egretta garzetta LPB
17 Pacific Reef Heron Egretta sacra SS
18 Chinese Egret Egretta eulophotes SS
19 Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger LPB
20 Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis LPB
21 Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus F
22 Black Kite Milvus migrans B
23 Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus LPB
24 Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela HP
25 Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus LPB
26 Japanese Sparrowhawk Accipiter gularis MS
27 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus LPB
28 Slaty-breasted Rail Gallirallus striatus KP
29 White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus KP
30 Ruddy-breasted Crake Porzana fusca KP
31 Watercock Gallicrex cinerea KP
32 Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus F
33 Eurasian Coot Fulica atra F
34 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus LPB
35 Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus F
36 Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus KP
37 Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva LPB
38 Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus LPB
39 White-faced Plover Charadrius dealbatus SS
40 Malaysian Plover Charadrius peronii SS
41 Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus LPB
42 Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii LPB
43 Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus F
44 Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus F
45 Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago KP
46 Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa LPB
47 Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica LPB
48 Eurasian Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus LPB
49 Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata LPB
50 Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus LPB
51 Common Redshank Tringa totanus LPB
52 Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis LPB
53 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia LPB
54 Nordmann's Greenshank Tringa guttifer LPB
55 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos LPB
56 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres LPB
57 Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris SS
58 Sanderling Calidris alba SS
59 Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis LPB
60 Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta LPB
61 Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea LPB
62 Spoon-billed Sandpiper Eurynorhynchus pygmeus LPB
63 Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus LPB
64 Brown-headed Gull Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus LPB
65 Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica SS
66 Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia LPB
67 Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii SS
68 Little Tern Sternula albifrons SS
69 Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana LPB
70 Common Tern Sterna hirundo SS
71 Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida LPB
72 Rock Dove (i) Columba livia feral B
73 Red Collared Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica B
74 Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis KKHQ
75 Common Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica BN
76 Zebra Dove Geopelia striata LPB
77 Thick-billed Green Pigeon Treron curvirostra KK
78 Mountain Imperial Pigeon Ducula badia KK
79 Vernal Hanging Parrot Loriculus vernalis KK
80 Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis LPB
81 Raffles's Malkoha Rhinortha chlorophaea KK
82 Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis KK
83 Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus B
84 Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus SBC H
85 Collared Scops Owl Otus lettia SBC H
86 Great Eared Nightjar Lyncornis macrotis KK
87 Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus SBC
88 Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus SBC
89 Crested Treeswift Hemiprocne coronata KK
90 Himalayan Swiftlet Aerodramus brevirostris KK
91 Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis LPB
92 House Swift Apus nipalensis B
93 Orange-breasted Trogon Harpactes oreskios KK
94 Indochinese Roller Coracias affinis SBC
95 Oriental Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis KK
96 White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis LPB
97 Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata LPB
98 Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris LPB
99 Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis LPB
100 Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis athertoni KK
101 Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis LPB
102 Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus LPB
103 Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti KK
104 Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops MS
105 Tickell's Brown Hornbill Anorrhinus tickelli KK
106 Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris KK
107 Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis KK
108 Wreathed Hornbill Rhyticeros undulatus KK
109 Great Barbet Megalaima virens KK
110 Green-eared Barbet Megalaima faiostricta KK
111 Blue-throated Barbet Megalaima asiatica KK
112 Blue-eared Barbet Megalaima australis KK
113 Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala KK
114 Speckled Piculet Picumnus innominatus KK
115 White-browed Piculet Sasia ochracea KK
116 Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopos macei KK
117 Common Flameback Dinopium javanense KK
118 Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus KK
119 Bay Woodpecker Blythipicus pyrrhotis KK
120 Great Slaty Woodpecker Mulleripicus pulverulentus KK H
121 Black-and-red Broadbill Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos KK
122 Long-tailed Broadbill Psarisomus dalhousiae KK
123 Blue Pitta Hydrornis cyaneus KK H
124 Golden-bellied Gerygone Gerygone sulphurea KP
125 Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus KK
126 Large Woodshrike Tephrodornis virgatus KK
127 Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus LPB
128 Common Iora Aegithina tiphia KK
129 Great Iora Aegithina lafresnayei KK
130 Black-winged Cuckooshrike Coracina melaschistos KK
131 Swinhoe's Minivet Pericrocotus cantonensis KK
132 Ashy Minivet Pericrocotus divaricatus KK
133 Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus KK
134 Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus speciosus KK
135 Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus LPB
136 Blythe's Shrike-babbler Pteruthius aeralatus KK H
137 Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis KK
138 Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus B
139 Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus KK
140 Crow-billed Drongo Dicrurus annectans KK H
141 Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus KK
142 Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus KK
143 Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus KKHQ
144 Malaysian Pied Fantail Rhipidura javanicus LPB
145 Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea BN
146 Asian Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi KK
147 Common Green Magpie Cissa chinensis KK H
148 Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae KK
149 Racket-tailed Treepie Crypsirina temia KK
150 House Crow Corvus splendens B
151 Eastern Jungle Crow Corvus levaillantii KK
152 Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis KK
153 Sultan Tit Melanochlora sultanea KK
154 Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus flaviventris BN
155 Sooty-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus aurigaster MS
156 Stripe-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus finlaysoni BN
157 Flavescent Bulbul Pycnonotus flavescens KK
158 Streak-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus blanfordi B
159 Ochraceous Bulbul Alophoixus ochraceus KK
160 Hairy-backed Bulbul Tricholestes criniger KK
161 Mountain Bulbul Ixos mcclellandii KK
162 Cinereous Bulbul Hemixos cinerea KK
163 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica LPB
164 Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus KK
165 Two-barred Warbler Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus KK
166 Radde's Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi KK
167 Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus KK
168 Pale-legged Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus tenellipes KK
169 Eastern Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus coronatus KK
170 Sulphur-breasted Warbler Phylloscopus ricketti KK
171 Oriental Reed Warbler Acrocephalus orientalis KK
172 Thick-billed Warbler Iduna aedon KKHQ
173 Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii KKHQ
174 Plain Prinia Prinia inornata KKHQ
175 Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius KK
176 Dark-necked Tailorbird Orthotomus atrogularis KK
177 White-browed Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus schisticeps KK
178 Rufous-fronted Babbler Stachyridopsis rufifrons HP
179 Golden Babbler Stachyridopsis chrysaea KK H
180 Pin-striped Tit-Babbler Macronus gularis HP
181 Brown-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe poioicephala BN
182 Limestone Wren-Babbler Napothera crispifrons HP
183 Collared Babbler Gampsorhynchus torquatus KK
184 Abbott's Babbler Malacocincla abbotti BN
185 Puff-throated Babbler Pellornium ruficeps BN
186 Striated Yuhina Yuhina castaniceps KK
187 Asian Fairy Bluebird Irena puella KK
188 Golden-crested Myna Ampeliceps coronatus KK
189 Common Hill Myna Gracula religiosa KK
190 White-vented Myna Acridotheres grandis B
191 Common Myna Acridotheres tristis LPB
192 Asian Pied Starling Gracupica contra KP
193 Blue Whistling Thrush Myophonus caeruleus HP
194 Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis B
195 White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus KK
196 Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius KK
197 Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica KK
198 Taiga Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla KK
199 Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassinus KK
200 Pale Blue Flycatcher Cyornis unicolor KK
201 Hill Jungle Flycatcher Cyornis banyumas KK
202 Blue-throated Jungle Flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides KK
203 Greater Green Leafbird Chloropsis sonnerati KK
204 Blue-winged Leafbird Chloropsis cochinchinensis KK
205 Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons KKHQ
206 Orange-bellied Leafbird Chloropsis hardwickii KK
207 Yellow-vented Flowerpecker Dicaeum chrysorrheum KK
208 Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectus KK
209 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker Dicaeum cruentatum KK
210 Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Chalcoparia singalensis KKHQ
211 Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis LPB
212 Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra HP
213 Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna KK
214 House Sparrow Passer domesticus B
215 White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata KK
216 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea KK
217 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba *
218 Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi KP
219 Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus LPB
B Bangkok
BN Bo Nok
F Freshwater paddifields
H Heard
HP Hellfire Pass
KK Kaeng Krachan
KKHQ Kaeng Krachan HQ
KP King Project at Laem Phak Bia
LPB Laem Phak Bia
MS Muan Sing
SBC Samarn Bird Camp
SS Sand Spit at Laem Phak Bia
* Seen at the Tokyo Airport