Thailand Birding 2023: February 2023

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Day 9: Tuesday 28 February 2023 - Bueng Borapet Lake > Mae Wong

A slight change to our itinerary. This morning birding on Bueng Boraphet Waterbird park and lake. The four hour boat trip boat to go birding deep within the lake saw us net 58 species - but it is the number of birds that excited us. A flock of at least 1000 garganey, 2000 Openbills ... check out that list. What an experience. The smoke haze from the burning season lent itself to some eerie views.

Oriental Pratincole

Little Egret, Pond Heron

Little and Indian Cormorant

Asian Openbill

Black Drongo

Temmink's Stint, Little Ringed Plover, Wood Sandpiper

Garganey

Grey-headed Swamphen

Bueng Boraphet, or Boraphet Marsh, is the largest freshwater lake in Thailand, boasting over 200 square kilometres of land and earning it the moniker of "Northern Sea" or "Great Lake". Almost 200 species of animals and plants have been found in the area. In March, fluttering grebes migrate to the lake, also home to Asian Open Bills and Pheasant-Winged Jacanas.The nearby Bueng Boraphet Waterfowl Park, where hunting is prohibited, contains a nature study center for birdwatchers or the curious amateur.

Following the mornings session we headed west on a big 5 hour drive to place us outside another park ready for tomorrow. The afternoon session spent birding the roadside near Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Park.

Bird of the day: Garganey and Pied Harrier tied

Statistics: 78 Species; 15 trip species; 265 total trip species Lifers: 2

https://ebird.org/checklist/S129825285

https://ebird.org/checklist/S129839146

https://ebird.org/checklist/S129832192

Monday, February 27, 2023

Day 8: Monday 27 February 2023 - Khao Yai > Wat Phra Phutthabat Noi > Bueng Borapet lake

This morning we left Khao Yai National Park and headed back towards Bangkok in order to locate a monotypic endemic species of bird that lives only on limestone hills, that is Rufous Limestone Wren-Babbler at Wat Phra Phutthabat Noi Temple, Saraburi Province. We stopped on the way to find Red-breasted Parakeets in the car park of the Moo Si Subdistrict Municipality Office (try wrapping your tongue around that one.

The lime stone formations and open forest provided quite a spectacular location to bird in and we eventually spotted the Rufous Limestone Babbler skulking amongst the crevices of the limestone cliffs.

Trying to spot the Rufous Limestone Babbler

As you can see it was well camouflaged

Finally found it

Another drive heading north this time. Stopping for lunch then onwards to our accommodation for the night. We spent an enjoyable late afternoon wandering along a road with rice fields and ponds on either side. Flushing some spectacular species and enjoying the profusion of waterbirds.

Landing gear down - Lesser Whistling Ducks

Lesser Whistling Duck

Sunset over the rice fields

Bird of the Day: Rufous Limestone Babbler

Total number of Species Seen: 58 today
Lifers: 3

https://ebird.org/checklist/S129742362

https://ebird.org/checklist/S129742815

https://ebird.org/checklist/S129761058

Sunday, February 26, 2023

Day 6-7: Saturday and Sunday 25-26 February 2023 - Khao Yai National Park

25 February: 17-28 degrees. Fine. Day one of two full days of birding in one of the greatest National Parks in south-east Asia - Khao Yai National Park. Cool and windy conditions during the morning session made it difficult to hear and see birds. The wind dropped eventually giving us much improved conditions for the afternoon session.

Brown Shrike

Blue Rock-thrush

Asian Fairy Bluebird

Our accommodation is the Recall Isaan Isan a concept hotel which is also worth a mention. One of my favourite hotels so far. I loved the styling and the grounds.

Recall Isaan Isan

Seasonal evergreen forest is the dominant habitat here but there are also areas of evergreen forest and expanses of grassland. With this extensive area of habitat it was hopeful that many species of birds would be found too. An intricate system of trails means that there is plenty of opportunity to explore the forest and look for wildlife. The trails were originally elephant tracks, and Khao Yai is one of the best places in South-East Asia to see these fantastic animals.

Samba Deer

Pig-tailed Macaque

Chestnut-flanked White-eye

Pig-tailed Macaque

There are so many great birds to see in Khao Yai it is difficult to predict and choose the highlights. Great, Oriental Pied and Wreathed Hornbills are reportedly abundant. I wouldn't go quite that far in describing numbers however, we did manage to see some of each. Our mammal list grew with Sambar deer, Muntjac and Pig-tailed Macaques seen by most of us. We heard the White-handed Gibbons which were noisily singing as predicted.

A family group of four Asian Elephants were located late in the afternoon on Saturday. They were on the road for quite some time holding up the traffic and giving us such a great chance to see them and their behaviour as they protected a calf.

Bird of the Day 25th: Asian Elephant
Stats: 52 species; 12 trip species; 228 total trip species

Lifers: 7

https://ebird.org/checklist/S129553559

https://ebird.org/checklist/S129553571

https://ebird.org/checklist/S129553580

https://ebird.org/checklist/S129562615

26 February: 13-28 Degrees. Overcast in the morning and breezy. Clearing in the afternoon.

Day spent birding the lowland areas of the Khao Yai National Park. An hour long Night Tour of the park afforded us two Nightjar species along with more mammals. Deer, Civet and Jackals seen today.