Thailand Birding 2023: March 2023

Monday, March 13, 2023

Day 22: Monday 13 March 2023 - Khao Sok NP > Phang Nga Mangrove Forest > Phuket

We spent the early morning birding within the hotel grounds before transferring to Phuket. The trip has all but come to an end for Thailand. On the way we stopped at the Phang Nga Mangrove Forest and were lucky enough to see Mangrove Pitta, Ruddy Kingfisher, and Streak-breasted Woodpecker.

Streak-breasted Woodpecker

Ruddy Kingfisher

Brown-throated Sunbird

Stripe-throated Bulbul

Spotted Wood Owl

Our last stop before arriving Phuket and the end of the trip was for the Spotted Wood Owl. What a way to finish 22 days of solid birding in Thailand. We have collectively seen at least 405 species - (count yet to be finalised). I have personally chalked up 388 individual species and 170 lifers. I have yet to decide which are my favourites but the Spoon-billed Sandpiper seen way back on day one remains a standout. Below is a link to the eBird trip report that links the entire trip together, all the checklists, photos, and a map to show where we have been.

https://ebird.org/tripreport/109027

Bird of the day: Ruddy Kingfisher
Statistics: 44 species; 5 trip species; 421 total trip species.

Lifers: 3

https://ebird.org/checklist/S130810660

https://ebird.org/checklist/S130810650

https://ebird.org/checklist/S130814244

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Day 21: Sunday 12 March 2023 - Khao Sok National Park

Khao Sok National Park in Southern Thailand is an amazing place. The park website describes i as being covered by the oldest evergreen rainforest in the world (I thought the Wet Tropics held that record), huge limestone mountains shooting straight up in the air, deep valleys, breathtaking lakes, exciting caves, wild animals and much more. With 48 mammal species, 311 different species of birds, more than 30 species of bats and countless reptiles and insects the animal kingdom in Khao Sok is varied and plentiful.

View from our Accommodation

Map of the trails - Khao Sok NP Headquarters

Family shrines

Closer detail of family shrines

Our itinerary today involved a full day birding inside Khao Sok National Park. Once more in bamboo and evergreen rainforest punctuated by huge limestone mountains shooting straight up in the air. We are seeing mammals again now which is a welcome experience. Many reptiles were seen and photographed here too. After two weeks of having birded so many of the locations with so few other people around it came as a bit of a shock to see so many tourists here enjoying what this national park has to offer. Bird watching on busy trails however was always going to be a challenge. Then some of the local children enjoying the school holidays, offered to show us a snake that they had found, a Golden-banded Cat Snake. Mr Par our guide gave them a tip for the information and it was refreshing to see that they then bought a picnic lunch with the money and shared it together.

Rufous-bellied Swallow

Black-and-yellow Broadbill

Crested Serpent-Eagle

Gray Nightjar

Long-tailed Macaque

Oriental Garden Lizard

Spotted Forest Skink

Black-and-red Broadbill

Lemon Pansy

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker

Golden-banded Cat Snake (Mangrove Snake)

Oriental Garden Lizard

Blue Admiral

Dusky Langur

Lili and Alan were farewelled tonight as they are off to Nepal.
Statistics: 56 species; 6 trip species; 416 total trip species

Lifers: 3
Bird of the day: Black and Yellow Broadbill

https://ebird.org/checklist/S130709323

https://ebird.org/checklist/S130718481

https://ebird.org/checklist/S130797356

Day 20: Saturday 11 March 2023 - Sri Phang Nga > Khao Sok

Another morning in Sri Phang Nga National Park increasing the rainforest species found. Before transferring to Khao Sok National park we stopped in to the Ban Thung Yai meadowlands for some open country birding and were treated to River Lapwings, Cinnamon and Yellow bittern, and Red-breasted Pipit. Many other species seen as well but conditions were very warm and smokey with a local sugar cane crop being burnt off. It is strongly suggested that this location is visited early morning or late afternoon and I am inclined to agree. Most worth a visit however.

Vernal Hanging-Parrot

Chestnut-winged Babbler

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird

Van Hasselt's Sunbird

Clouded Monitor

Small Spiderhunter

Native bee nest in an earthen bank

Oriental Garden Lizard

Grey-breasted Spiderhunter

River Lapwing

Water buffalo

Red-throated Pipit

Bird of the day: River Lapwing
Statistics: 82 species; 12 trip species; 410 total trip species

Lifers: 7

https://ebird.org/checklist/S130619818
https://ebird.org/checklist/S130625367
https://ebird.org/checklist/S130632892
https://ebird.org/checklist/S130635135

Saturday, March 11, 2023

Day 19 - Friday 10 March 2023 - Sri Phang Nga

Birding in and around Khura Buri today. Once again the itinerary has changed (not that it really matters to me) The original itinerary reads as ....

"Wake up early to go bird hide to view Great Argus Pheasant located ten kilometres from the resort. Only five people will be able to get into the hide so one group will go today and the second tomorrow. While one group is in the hide the other will bird locally with another guide. The following day the experiences will swap. At about 11am we will return to our resort for lunch. After lunch we will transfer to Sri Phang Nga National Park. The habitat is a rainforest that hosts some 250 bird species. Some birds we may encounter include Green Broadbill, Javan Frogmouth, Banded Pitta, Banded Kingfisher, Blue-banded Kingfisher, Chestnut-napped Forktail, Buff-Vented Bulbul, Yellow-bellied Bulbul, Purple-naped Sunbird, Red-throated Barbet, Grey-capped Woodpecker, Lesser Cuckoo-shrike, Bar-bellied Cuckoo-shrike and more. At dusk we may see Bat Hawk and Large-tailed Nightjar around the car park."

Back birding in bamboo forest again

Waiting for tree to be cleared that had fallen over the trail

Guides taking us through the forest to the
Hodgson's Frogmouth roost

Gould's Frogmouth through the scope

The team remains busy birding

What we really did was spend the day back and forth along the road hunting for rainforest birds within Si Phang Nga National Park. In particular, the Malayan Banded Pitta, it proved troublesome for some of us but well worth the effort. The park is another rainforest and bamboo habitat that hosts some 250 species. The value of the local guides can not be underestimated with them assisting in locating the Gould's Frogmouth at its day time roost, and the Piculet in the video above. We also came across what I think is a whip snake on the trail. A truely beautiful creature it appeared so elegant.