Overview
Dates: |
19 -27 Apr 2018 |
With Jeff Verrill and Mirinda Khiewngam. With Jeff on his umpteenth trip to Thailand, this visit was timed to coincide with maximising migrant opportunities at Ko Man Nai. For the remainder we targeted some difficult birds in the southeast and west. 18 Apr. A near 900 kilometre drive from Chiang Mai to Laem Mae Phim, the small beach resort that, given the lack of accommodation on Ko Man Nai, offers the best base from which to access the island. Although post-Songkran, Laem Mae Phim still appeared busy with tail end of festivities. 19 Apr. An early start to meet our pre-booked boatman at the pier by 06:45, from where we headed straight to Ko Man Nai, about a 30 minute ride. Good weather all day and far less brutally hot than usual for this time of year, though still rather humid. A good number of Black-naped Tern and Bridled Tern during the crossing. Spent all day exploring this small island with its excellent collection of migrants - probably the best variety of species previously encountered here, although the numbers of individuals felt fewer than normal. Highlights of the day included Fairy Pitta, Black Paradise Flycatcher, Narcissus Flycatcher and Green-backed Flycatcher, with a large supporting cast of the usual suspects - Arctic Warbler, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Siberian Blue Robin and Yellow-rumped Flycatcher. Returned to Ko Man Nai late afternoon. 20 Apr. Pretty much a repeat of yesterday, with most of the same species present. A few additional oddities included Red-breasted Parakeet of unknown origin though appearing wild, Tiger Shrike, Brown-backed Needletail, Pacific Swift, Eyebrowed Thrush and Forest Wagtail. Amazingly in two days here, no rain - very atypical. 21 Apr. Left at 06:30 to Pong Nam Ron, arriving by 09:00. Found a small resort, dropped bags, then headed into Khao Soi Dao where we birded the remainder of the day. |
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This has to be one of the hardest birding areas in Thailand and, typically, our time here was mostly hot and birdless. However, an excellent find in the form of a pair of Black-browed Fulvetta. Also Great Iora, White-bellied Erpornis, Blue-winged Leafbird and Crimson Sunbird. We returned from our hike along the Waterfall Trail later than the advertised 15:30 to find ourselves the only remaining vehicle in the car park and a ranger waiting to turf us out. Supposedly, with elephants in the area, all visitors have to leave the waterfall area by 15:30. And since it only opens at 08:00, is quite inconvenient for birders. Evening dinner and beers with a view above the guesthouse. |
22 Apr. A longish, four hour plus drive to Khonburi, where by 10:00 already roasting hot, so whilst waiting for temperatures to drop we caught up with notes, photos and other mundane tasks. Out again by 15:00 heading to Thap Lan, where we spent a fruitless two hours searching for White-browed Fantail, until rain stopped play at 17:30. Although the fantail not found, some other good species were Common Woodshrike, Common Flameback, Black-headed Woodpecker, Indian Cuckoo, Purple Sunbird and Red-breasted Parakeet.
23 Apr. An early return to Thap Lan, for a repeat session targeting the fantail, but again without success. Having not found this bird here in the past two to three years it would appear currently to be a long shot. Left 09:30 and drove to Khao Yai. As our usual accommodation had inexplicably upped the price, we spent time finding other accommodation, then drove straight to the park. Given the timing, at 13:00, and the heat, it made little sense to walk any trails, so we headed to the Gluai Mai camp site to check out the previous photographers' feeding area behind the toilet block.
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Although evidently little used recently, we set up a hide and waited for anything still in the area. Initially only Abbott's Babbler White-rumped Shama and Puff-throated Bulbul present, but incredibly after 20 minutes at least three Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo started calling in the vicinity. Even more amazingly two of them ran past the old feeding area within the next hour. A major, difficult target successfully found. Plus a pair of Siamese Fireback for good measure. The last hour or so spent along the Khao Khaeo road with Long-tailed Broadbill, Banded Broadbill and Common Green Magpie. However, these paled into insignificance when three Asian Black Bear crossed the road - a mother and two cubs. On the return drive an adult Asian Elephant was happily destroying a palm tree around the headquarter buildings, that we gave a wide berth. |
24 Apr. Started early at the Km 33 Nature Trail to ensure we were the first visitors on the trail. Our main aim was the slim hope of running into Eared Pitta, although to our knowledge this bird was without recent sightings. As expected, after three hours, covering the first 1.2 kilometres slowly and thoroughly, we arrived back at the trail head without a sighting, though Black-and-buff Woodpecker was a consolation and target. With other visitors commencing to walk the trail and increasing disturbance we switched to the other end of the park along the Gluai Mai Waterfall Trail, where we finally ran into the resident Siamese Crocodile along this trail, the exact origins of which are unknown, but believed to have been released there in 2009. To complete our look at the major trails we next tried the old gully trail running from the headquarters to Sai Sorn Reservoir. This trail was no where near as easy to walk as previously, and evidently far less used now. After a few hundred metres of obstacles and increasing signs of elephant activity we decided to give this trail a miss. Up to the top where we tried the viewpoint trail, with excellent views and photo opportunities of Hill Blue Flycatcher and Moustached Barbet. On driving down, at the very first hairpin bend we ran smack into a huge adult Asian Elephant. As directly behind the apex of the bend it was literally ten metres away before we saw it, and hard to say whether we, or the elephant, were more surprised. As it would have been nigh-on impossible to stop and reverse up a hairpin bend with a charging elephant we just had to drive slowly past it. Amazingly it didn't charge the vehicle, or we'd have been mincemeat. Certainly a brown trousers day, and not an experience we'd care to repeat.
25 Apr. A seven hour drive drive to Baan Maka at Kaeng Krachan, with an hour's stop en route for Alexandrine Parakeet. At 16:00 out again to check local fields for Indian Stone-curlew, with five birds successfully located. Also Indochinese Bush Lark, Thick-billed Warbler and Barred Buttonquail in the same area.
26 Apr. With two full days available, we thought to try lower elevations earlier, then move to higher elevations after the 13:00 time slot for ascending the mountain. Started along the entrance road, that appeared rather quiet, then walked the loop Nature Trail, with both Silver-breasted Broadbill and Black-and-red Broadbill found. We worked the streams area from 11:00 - 13:00, with large numbers of butterflies though typically mostly comprising a few species. Most of the afternoon spent around Km 27 and Km 28, with an excellent find of Amur Paradise Flycatcher.
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A fruiting tree was surprisingly disappointing with only Asian Fairy-bluebird, Great Barbet and Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon heard. Many photographers visit at this time of year as broadbill nests are active, with Long-tailed Broadbill especially showy today. Rain starting by 16:00, heavy at lower elevations. 27 Apr. A reversal of yesterday's approach, starting at the top, though rather cool and quiet following yesterday's rain. Tickell's Brown Hornbill and Grey Peacock-Pheasant heard, plus Rufous-browed Flycatcher. |
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We worked lower elevations in the afternoon, but again similar to yesterday. Strangely, Brown Boobook calling at midday. Rain starting again by 16:30.
28 Apr. Overnight rain continuing into the early morning. Although we had planned to pass Laem Phak Bia and Pak Thale en route north, torrential rain put paid to that. A long and tedious drive to Chiang Mai through heavy rain most of the way, making the journey slow and forcing an overnight stop at Tak. A very successful trip with more migrants than expected at Ko Man Nai and the bonus of the mythical Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo to boot.
Species List
| Laem Mae Phim | Count | Ko Man Nai | Count | ||
| Bridled Tern | 20 | Chinese Pond Heron | 13 | ||
| Black-naped Tern | 10 | Little Egret | 1 | ||
| Rock Dove | 10 | Pacific Reef Heron | 5 | ||
| Red Collared Dove | 1 | White-breasted Waterhen | 1 | ||
| Asian Koel | 1 | Greater Sand Plover | 2 | ||
| Asian Barred Owlet | 1 | Eurasian Whimbrel | 2 | ||
| House Swift | 4 | Common Sandpiper | 5 | ||
| White-throated Kingfisher | 1 | Bridled Tern | 30 | ||
| Malaysian Pied Fantail | 2 | Black-naped Tern | 15 | ||
| Eastern Jungle Crow | 2 | Common Tern | 2 | ||
| Barn Swallow | 2 | Zebra Dove | 5 | ||
| Pacific Swallow | 4 | Greater Coucal | 2 | ||
| Common Myna | 4 | Asian Koel | 3 | ||
| Oriental Magpie-Robin | 2 | Indian Cuckoo | 1 | ||
| Eurasian Tree Sparrow | 4 | Himalayan Cuckoo | 5 | ||
| Germain's Swiftlet | 4 | ||||
| Khao Soi Dao | Count | Brown-backed Needletail | 12 | ||
| Red-wattled Lapwing | 1 | Asian Palm Swift | 4 | ||
| Red Collared Dove | 2 | Pacific Swift | 20 | ||
| Zebra Dove | 14 | House Swift | 6 | ||
| Greater Coucal | 2 | Oriental Dollarbird | 12 | ||
| Banded Bay Cuckoo | 1 | Ruddy Kingfisher | 4 | ||
| Plaintive Cuckoo | 1 | Collared Kingfisher | 1 | ||
| Asian Barred Owlet | 1 | Common Kingfisher | 1 | ||
| Asian Palm Swift | 4 | Blue-tailed Bee-eater | 2 | ||
| Blue-throated Barbet | 4 | Red-breasted Parakeet | 1 | ||
| Coppersmith Barbet | 1 | Fairy Pitta | 1 | ||
| Common Iora | 1 | Blue-winged Pitta | 10 | ||
| Great Iora | 1 | Tiger Shrike | 2 | ||
| White-bellied Erpornis | 2 | Crow-billed Drongo | 8 | ||
| Greater Racket-tailed Drongo | 3 | Malaysian Pied Fantail | 4 | ||
| Black-crested Bulbul | 4 | Black Paradise Flycatcher | 10 | ||
| Ochraceous Bulbul | 5 | Eastern Jungle Crow | 2 | ||
| Grey-eyed Bulbul | 6 | Streak-eared Bulbul | 6 | ||
| Barn Swallow | 200 | Barn Swallow | 4 | ||
| Common Tailorbird | 1 | Asian House Martin | 1 | ||
| Dark-necked Tailorbird | 4 | Dusky Warbler | 1 | ||
| Pin-striped Tit-Babbler | 8 | Arctic Warbler | 30 | ||
| Black-browed Fulvetta | 2 | Common Myna | 8 | ||
| Asian Fairy-bluebird | 3 | Eyebrowed Thrush | 1 | ||
| Great Myna | 4 | Oriental Magpie-Robin | 4 | ||
| Common Myna | 3 | Dark-sided Flycatcher | 3 | ||
| White-rumped Shama | 2 | Asian Brown Flycatcher | 80 | ||
| Blue-winged Leafbird | 1 | Siberian Blue Robin | 30 | ||
| Ruby-cheeked Sunbird | 2 | Yellow-rumped Flycatcher | 9 | ||
| Crimson Sunbird | 1 | Narcissus Flycatcher | 1 | ||
| Little Spiderhunter | 2 | Green-backed Flycatcher | 2 | ||
| House Sparrow | 2 | Mugimaki Flycatcher | 5 | ||
| Scaly-breasted Munia | 3 | Taiga Flycatcher | 1 | ||
| Brown-throated Sunbird | 4 | ||||
| Thap Lan | Count | Ornate Sumbird | 12 | ||
| Chinese Francolin | 5 | Forest Wagtail | 3 | ||
| Asian Openbill | 2 | Eastern Yellow Wagtail | 2 | ||
| Chinese Pond Heron | 1 | ||||
| Oriental Darter | 1 | Khao Yai | Count | ||
| Oriental Honey Buzzard | 1 | Green-legged Partridge | 4 | ||
| Red-wattled Lapwing | 4 | Red Junglefowl | 5 | ||
| Rock Dove | 1 | Siamese Fireback | 2 | ||
| Red Collared Dove | 4 | Chinese Pond Heron | 1 | ||
| Spotted Dove | 3 | Little Cormorant | 1 | ||
| Greater Coucal | 3 | Black-winged Kite | 1 | ||
| Asian Koel | 2 | Crested Serpent Eagle | 1 | ||
| Plaintive Cuckoo | 1 | Red-wattled Lapwing | 4 | ||
| Indian Cuckoo | 1 | Red Collared Dove | 2 | ||
| Asian Palm Swift | 2 | Spotted Dove | 2 | ||
| Indochinese Roller | 2 | Thick-billed Green Pigeon | 50 | ||
| White-throated Kingfisher | 4 | Mountain Imperial Pigeon | 3 | ||
| Asian Green Bee-eater | 6 | Greater Coucal | 2 | ||
| Blue-tailed Bee-eater | 1 | Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo | 5 | ||
| Eurasian Hoopoe | 3 | Asian Koel | 1 | ||
| Lineated Barbet | 5 | Brown Boobook | 1 | ||
| Black-headed Woodpecker | 3 | Himalayan Swiftlet | 3 | ||
| Common Flameback | 1 | Silver-backed Needletail | 3 | ||
| Red-breasted Parakeet | 25 | Brown-backed Needletail | 35 | ||
| Common Woodshrike | 3 | Asian Palm Swift | 6 | ||
| Ashy Woodswallow | 4 | House Swift | 6 | ||
| Common Iora | 3 | Orange-breasted Trogon | 2 | ||
| Large Cuckooshrike | 4 | Red-headed Trogon | 3 | ||
| Ashy Minivet | 1 | Blue-eared Kingfisher | 1 | ||
| Scarlet Minivet | 2 | Blue-bearded Bee-eater | 1 | ||
| Black-hooded Oriole | 3 | Great Hornbill | 5 | ||
| Hair-crested Drongo | 2 | Oriental Pied Hornbill | 10 | ||
| Greater Racket-tailed Drongo | 2 | Moustached Barbet | 5 | ||
| Eurasian Jay | 1 | Laced Woodpecker | 4 | ||
| Rufous Treepie | 2 | Greater Flameback | 1 | ||
| Eastern Jungle Crow | 2 | Black-and-buff Woodpecker | 1 | ||
| Indochinese Bush Lark | 2 | Great Slaty Woodpecker | 1 | ||
| Sooty-headed Bulbul | 6 | Vernal Hanging Parrot | 4 | ||
| Barn Swallow | 200 | Long-tailed Broadbill | 4 | ||
| Brown Prinia | 5 | Banded Broadbill | 2 | ||
| Rufescent Prinia | 4 | Ashy Woodswallow | 5 | ||
| Common Tailorbird | 1 | Scarlet Minivet | 1 | ||
| White-crested Laughingthrush | 4 | Brown Shrike | 1 | ||
| Velvet-fronted Nuthatch | 3 | White-bellied Erpornis | 5 | ||
| Great Myna | 15 | Hair-crested Drongo | 4 | ||
| Common Myna | 6 | Greater Racket-tailed Drongo | 2 | ||
| Oriental Magpie-Robin | 1 | Common Green Magpie | 5 | ||
| Pied Bush Chat | 2 | Eastern Jungle Crow | 5 | ||
| Golden-fronted Leafbird | 4 | Sultan Tit | 2 | ||
| Thick-billed Flowerpecker | 1 | Black-crested Bulbul | 6 | ||
| Ruby-cheeked Sunbird | 2 | Red-whiskered Bulbul | 2 | ||
| Purple Sunbird | 1 | Puff-throated Bulbul | 8 | ||
| Ornate Sumbird | 3 | Grey-eyed Bulbul | 6 | ||
| Barn Swallow | 10 | ||||
| Kaeng Krachan | Count | Golden-headed Cisticola | 6 | ||
| Chinese Francolin | 2 | Common Tailorbird | 1 | ||
| Red Junglefowl | 6 | Dark-necked Tailorbird | 3 | ||
| Grey Peacock-Pheasant | 4 | Large Scimitar Babbler | 2 | ||
| Little Grebe | 2 | White-browed Scimitar Babbler | 2 | ||
| Chinese Pond Heron | 4 | Pin-striped Tit-Babbler | 7 | ||
| Eastern Cattle Egret | 6 | Abbott's Babbler | 3 | ||
| Little Egret | 1 | White-crested Laughingthrush | 8 | ||
| Crested Serpent Eagle | 1 | Black-throated Laughingthrush | 2 | ||
| Crested Goshawk | 1 | Asian Fairy-bluebird | 6 | ||
| White-breasted Waterhen | 3 | Common Hill Myna | 6 | ||
| Barred Buttonquail | 1 | Great Myna | 5 | ||
| Indian Stone-curlew | 5 | White-rumped Shama | 4 | ||
| Red-wattled Lapwing | 14 | Hill Blue Flycatcher | 2 | ||
| Rock Dove | 2 | Slaty-backed Forktail | 2 | ||
| Red Collared Dove | 10 | Blue-winged Leafbird | 2 | ||
| Common Emerald Dove | 5 | Cambodian Flowerpecker | 1 | ||
| Zebra Dove | 4 | Scaly-breasted Munia | 2 | ||
| Thick-billed Green Pigeon | 10 | ||||
| Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon | 2 | ||||
| Greater Coucal | 2 | ||||
| Green-billed Malkoha | 5 | ||||
| Asian Koel | 1 | ||||
| Banded Bay Cuckoo | 2 | ||||
| Plaintive Cuckoo | 2 | ||||
| Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo | 1 | ||||
| Collared Owlet | 1 | ||||
| Brown Boobook | 2 | ||||
| Large-tailed Nightjar | 1 | ||||
| Himalayan Swiftlet | 6 | ||||
| Germain's Swiftlet | 10 | ||||
| Asian Palm Swift | 10 | ||||
| Pacific Swift | 3 | ||||
| Orange-breasted Trogon | 5 | ||||
| Red-headed Trogon | 4 | ||||
| Indochinese Roller | 3 | ||||
| Oriental Dollarbird | 2 | ||||
| White-throated Kingfisher | 1 | ||||
| Blue-eared Kingfisher | 2 | ||||
| Asian Green Bee-eater | 12 | ||||
| Chestnut-headed Bee-eater | 2 | ||||
| Great Hornbill | 6 | ||||
| Oriental Pied Hornbill | 12 | ||||
| Tickell's Brown Hornbill | 2 | ||||
| Great Barbet | 3 | ||||
| Green-eared Barbet | 3 | ||||
| Blue-throated Barbet | 5 | ||||
| Coppersmith Barbet | 1 | ||||
| Speckled Piculet | 1 | ||||
| White-browed Piculet | 1 | ||||
| Greater Yellownape | 2 | ||||
| Streak-breasted Woodpecker | 2 | ||||
| Common Flameback | 1 | ||||
| Greater Flameback | 4 | ||||
| Bamboo Woodpecker | 3 | ||||
| Bay Woodpecker | 1 | ||||
| Buff-rumped Woodpecker | 1 | ||||
| Vernal Hanging Parrot | 4 | ||||
| Black-and-red Broadbill | 4 | ||||
| Long-tailed Broadbill | 6 | ||||
| Silver-breasted Broadbill | 6 | ||||
| Banded Broadbill | 2 | ||||
| Black-and-yellow Broadbill | 2 | ||||
| Dusky Broadbill | 3 | ||||
| Rusty-naped Pitta | 1 | ||||
| Blue Pitta | 4 | ||||
| Blue-winged Pitta | 3 | ||||
| Large Woodshrike | 2 | ||||
| Ashy Woodswallow | 4 | ||||
| White-bellied Erpornis | 2 | ||||
| Ashy Drongo | 1 | ||||
| Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo | 2 | ||||
| Hair-crested Drongo | 4 | ||||
| Greater Racket-tailed Drongo | 3 | ||||
| White-throated Fantail | 1 | ||||
| Black-naped Monarch | 2 | ||||
| Amur Paradise Flycatcher | 1 | ||||
| Ratchet-tailed Treepie | 2 | ||||
| Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher | 2 | ||||
| Sultan Tit | 4 | ||||
| Indochinese Bush Lark | 4 | ||||
| Black-crested Bulbul | 4 | ||||
| Stripe-throated Bulbul | 2 | ||||
| Streak-eared Bulbul | 10 | ||||
| Ochraceous Bulbul | 12 | ||||
| Baker's Bulbul | 4 | ||||
| Yellow-bellied Warbler | 1 | ||||
| Thick-billed Warbler | 1 | ||||
| Grey-breasted Prinia | 2 | ||||
| Dark-necked Tailorbird | 3 | ||||
| Rufous-fronted Babbler | 10 | ||||
| Pin-striped Tit-Babbler | 14 | ||||
| Collared Babbler | 6 | ||||
| Puff-throated Babbler | 4 | ||||
| Buff-breasted Babbler | 2 | ||||
| White-crested Laughingthrush | 4 | ||||
| Black-throated Laughingthrush | 4 | ||||
| Asian Fairy-bluebird | 6 | ||||
| Velvet-fronted Nuthatch | 4 | ||||
| Common Hill Myna | 2 | ||||
| Great Myna | 4 | ||||
| Siamese Pied Myna | 4 | ||||
| White-rumped Shama | 6 | ||||
| Rufous-browed Flycatcher | 2 | ||||
| Blue Whistling Thrush | 1 | ||||
| Taiga Flycatcher | 3 | ||||
| Ruby-cheeked Sunbird | 2 | ||||
| Black-throated Sunbird | 2 | ||||
| Little Spiderhunter | 2 | ||||
| Plain-backed Sparrow | 4 | ||||
| Forest Wagtail | 5 |