Kaeng Krachan with Glen from the UK.

Another 2 day trip to Kaeng Krachan NP got underway Saturday morning. After picking up Glen at 4am, we headed straight to the park. On arrival we birded the access road to Bang Kran campsite and bagged a fair few species, including Blue-Bearded Bee-Eaters, Crested Serpent Eagle, Grey-Rumped Treeswifts, Black-Capped Kingfisher, Black and Red Broadbills, Dollarbirds and a Banded Broadbill.

Blue-Bearded Bee-Eater

Grey-Rumped Treeswift

 After a spot of breakfast, we headed to the streams. Starting at stream 1 we saw Silver-Breasted Broadbills, Sultan Tits, Puff-Throated Babblers, Greater Flameback and Greater Yellownape Woodpeckers. Across to stream 2 and an Orange-Breasted Trogan sat in the open, just a few feet away giving some great photographic opportunities. Asian Fairy Bluebirds, a Buff-Rumped Woodpecker, Forest and Grey Wagtails and Ochraceous Bulbuls were also seen among others. We waited for a while for the Dusky Broadbills but it was a no show, so we decided to head to Km 18 to see if we could get the Blue Pitta. Sadly the Pitta didn’t show either, but there were some nice views of more babblers and White-Rumped Shamas to be had.

Orange-Breasted Trogan

Orange-Breasted Trogan

 After a spot of lunch, we headed back to the streams and began birding between the dam and stream 3. Black and Yellow Broadbills soon showed, followed up with a pair of Velvet-Fronted Nuthatches, a Bar-Winged Flycatcher-shrike and Sultan Tits added to an ever growing list. We were staying in the park for the night, so we headed back for another bite to eat and to set up camp. As Glen walked back from the shower block, he had the lucky experience to observe an Oriental Pied Hornbill raiding the nest of an unlucky Bulbul. One by one the hornbill plucked 4 chicks from the nest and duly swallowed them whole…. Chicken Tikka Masala and Chicken Madras were our specials of the evening… A welcome rain storm cleared the air and cooled things down a little which made for a more comfortable night. During the night we managed to get some great views of Malayan Porcupines and the Malayan Sun Bear.

Greater Flameback Woodpecker

Ochraceous Bulbul

Black and Yellow Broadbill

For the final morning, we decided to head back to the streams in hope of the Dusky Broadbill. The Duskys soon put in a show, ticking all the boxes to complete the set of all the lower level broadbills. The rest of the morning turned up plenty more nice birds including, Blue-Winged Leafbirds, Black-Naped Monarch, Kalij Pheasant, Chestnut-Breasted Malkoha, Grey-Headed Woodpecker, Oriental-Honey Buzzard and not forgetting Glen’s fantastic up close, eye level views of another Banded Broadbill.

Black-Naped Monarch

Grey-Headed Woodpecker

Silver-Breasted Broadbill

The Drive out of the park gave us some nice views of a Crested Goshawk and Black-Thighed Falconets.    A hugely successful couple of days had turned up over forty lifers for Glen. Quite rightly, a very happy chap he was…..

Black-Thighed Falconet

Malayan Sun Bear

If anyone else would like to experience the beauty of Kaeng Krachan National Park, drop me a line at thaibirdspot66@gmail.com