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8-19 May 2014.
Hot and humid. Variable cloud cover with some rain.
Yaring Mangrove Research Station, Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary, Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Kaeng Krachan National Park, Wat Khao Look Chang, Laem Phak Bia and Pak Thale.

8 May. An early drive down the coast toward Patani, with a brief stop en route at Khlong Sakom beach - an area with Casuarina trees selected randomly that might be worth checking for Pied Triller, a distinctly difficult species to locate in Thailand. As expected we failed to find it, finding only Golden-bellied Gerygone and Swinhoe's White-eye of any note. Onward to Yaring Mangrove Research Station, where we spent an hour on the boardwalk finding a selection of the usual suspects including Laced Woodpecker and Mangrove Blue Flycatcher. The highlight however, was a very unexpected Little Bronze Cuckoo which performed quite well in mangrove edge - another rarely found bird.

Mangrove Blue Flycatcher

9 May. Following a hot and humid night, up pre-dawn with calling White-fronted Scops Owl and Brown Boobook. After breakfast, we forded the river and spent the morning on the leech trail. Short-toed Coucal gave us a fair runaround, but was eventually, with patience, seen very well. We failed to find any other targets such as Rufous-tailed Shama, White-necked Babbler or Red-naped Trogon. Returned to camp for lunch, then out again to the opposite end of the leech trail in the heat of the day where very quiet, so instead tried the Nature Trail which was equally dead. Another late afternoon session along the road, with Diard's Trogon and Rufous-bellied Eagle the pick of the bunch. Another owling session was very productive for calling birds, including White-fronted Scops Owl, and a single Oriental Bay Owl flew close overhead.

Short-toed Coucal

11 May. An hour along the road toward the western side of the sanctuary with Checker-throated Woodpecker and Sultan Tit. Then down to Dto Mo forest where three hours produced three Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker, Horsfield's Babbler heard, Sunda Brush Cuckoo, Orange-breasted Trogon, Banded Kingfisher, Rufous-backed Dwarf Kingfisher, Sooty Barbet, Banded Woodpecker, and a good fruiting tree with all the commoner flowerpeckers. Late afternoon along the road with Sooty-capped Babbler, another Horsfield's Babbler, Rufous-chested Flycatcher and Pale Blue Flycatcher. Thankfully dry today.

Scarlet-breasted Flowerpecker

Blue-eared Kingfisher

Oriental Hobby

Von Schrenck's Bittern

A late boat ride and a night session found White-bellied Sea Eagle, two Buffy Fish Owl, Oriental Bay Owl, Oriental Dollarbird, Blue-eared Kingfisher, White-crowned Hornbill, Great Hornbill, Bushy-crested Hornbill, Green Broadbill and Rufous-bellied Swallow.

14 May. All day birding inside the sanctuary with one of the rangers, firstly by boat and then a wet trek upstream inside the forest. Great Argus heard, Jerdon's Baza, Black-thighed Falconet, Gould's Frogmouth heard, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Malaysian Blue-banded Kingfsher, Red-bearded Bee-eater, Bushy-crested Hornbill, Bamboo Woodpecker, Buff-rumped Woodpecker, Malayan Banded Pitta heard, Western Hooded Pitta, Rufous-winged Philentoma, Yellow-bellied Bulbul, Malayan Swamp Babbler and Chestnut-naped Forktail. On the return ride across the lake we were caught out in heavy rain, that unfortunately made photography impossible as we had several sightings of Gaur and Asian Elephant.

15 May. Back to shore at Ratchaprapha pier with four Stork-billed Kingfisher, Bushy-crested Hornbill and four Oriental Hobby along the way. A longish drive to Kaeng Krachan arriving at Wat Khao Look Chang just in time to abandon birding there due to rain, so the last hour of light spent around Ban Maka with Blunt-winged Warbler - a major surprise - in addition to Ruddy-breasted Crake and Oriental Scops Owl.

16 May. A fairly quiet morning at Lung Sin's hide with Bar-backed Partridge and Green-legged Partridge seen and Blue-winged Pitta and Large Scimitar Babbler heard. Thanks to having bumped into Peter Ericsson yesterday evening we then drove into the park and up to Km 27 where a female Von Schrenck's Bittern was still hanging out at the roadside pond. A stunning bird, so elusive and a long time target finally laid to rest. Other birding produced Long-tailed Broadbill, Banded Broadbill, Common Green Magpie, Spot-necked Babbler and Golden-crested Myna. Late afternoon rained off.

Northern Treeshrew

Tailed Jay

17 May. All day in park. The unpaved section to Ban Krang camp is finally in the process of being paved, with the concreting works providing a massive attraction to butterflies - drying concrete apparently very rich in minerals and salts. Also however, many forest bees with several of us stung during the day. We worked the lower, rivers section and trails all day, recording White-tailed Flycatcher, Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher, Spot-necked Babbler, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Greater Yellownape, Tickell's Brown Hornbill, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Rufous-bellied Eagle and Dusky Broadbill. Black Bittern outside the park was notable.

Orange-breasted Trogon

Tokay Gecko