Thailand Birding 2023: Day 19 - Friday 10 March 2023

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.