A two day trip to Kaeng Krachan with Steve from the US began
on Saturday morning bright and early. We arrived at the park at around 6:30 am
and headed straight up to Ban Krang. Unfortunately it was the weekend of
Chinese New Year so the place was packed out with campers. Undeterred, we
birded around the campsite for a couple of hours. The campsite turned up
Green-eared and Blue-cheeked Barbets, Grey eyed, Black headed and Black crested
Bulbuls, Thick billed Green Pigeons, Verditer Flycatchers, Blue winged
Leafbirds, Golden crested Mynas, Crested Goshawk and excellent views of a male
and female Greater Flameback Woodpecker busy boring out their nesting hole.
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Greater Flameback Woodpecker |
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Stripe-throated Bulbul |
Along the road between the streams was unusually quiet,
probably due to the sheer amount of passing traffic. We did manage to get some
great views of Asian Pied and Tickell’s Brown Hornbills, Oriental Honey Buzzard
and a variety of Drongos and Bulbuls among others. A brief hide stint at Km 18 turned up White
Rumped Shamas, Sultan Tits and an Orange breasted Trogon.
After a spot of lunch we headed up to the Km 27 mark in hope
of the Black and Buff Woodpeckers, which sadly didn’t show for us. The
disappointment was soon washed away with some great views of 3 Long Tailed
Broadbills. On the way back down the track, we briefly saw Kalij Pheasants and
a Grey Peacock Pheasant.
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Long Tailed Broadbill |
On the drive out we made a few stops which turned up more
Thick billed Green Pigeons, Black thighed Falconets Little Grebes Vinous
breasted Starlings and Ashy Woodswallows. Back at Samarn Birdcamp we were
treated to some nice views of Large-tailed Nightjars in the evening.
Sunday morning was spent at Lunng Sin’s waterhole stakeout.
It wasn’t long before plenty of Red jungle Fowl turned up, followed by
Scaly-breasted Partridges. Siberian Blue Robins, Black-naped Monarchs,
Tickell’s Blue Flycatchers, Stripe-throated Bulbuls all showed well for the
camera. Then an Orange Headed Thrush joined the party for some amazing views
and shots. The morning was topped off when out strolled a male and female Kalij
Pheasant.
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Tickell's Blue Flycatcher |
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Black-naped Monarch |
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Red Jungle Fowl |
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Kalij Pheasant (M) |
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Kalij Pheasant (F)
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Orange Headed Thrush |
The drive back to Bangkok was taken around the rice fields
and salt pans in the hope to add a few more specimens to the list. Most of the
salt pans were dry so we didn’t get to find too much, but Black-tailed Godwits,
Great Egrets, Purple and Grey Herons, Black-winged Stilts and Common Ioras, Black
and Brahminy Kites, Brown Shrikes and Indian Rollers all showed well.
Overall a quite
productive weekend enjoyed by all. It was great to meet up with Steve and
hopefully we can make another trip together soon.
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