Dates:
Weather:
Localities:

19 - 25 Mar 2024.
Mostly dry by day, with some afternoon rain. Temperatures ranged from 20°C to 37°C.
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park and Kaeng Krachan National Park.

18 Mar. Took the late afternoon direct flight from Chiang Mai to Hua Hin. Met up with Richard and Kaori, followed by dinner and a night on the town.

19 Mar. Following recent reports of Blunt-winged Warbler, the morning was spent in field edges and wet areas in and around Khao Sam Roi Yot. Unfortunately we failed to connect with any Blunt-winged Warblers, though a reasonable collection of birds included Cotton Pygmy Goose, Ruddy-breasted Crake, Oriental Pratincole, Painted Stork, Cinnamon Bittern, Freckle-breasted Woodpecker, Bluethroat, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Chestnut Munia and Plain-backed Sparrow. Late afternoon we drove to Kaeng Krachan, and met up with Ian for a six day stay based around Baan Maka.

20 Mar. An early start to drive to higher elevations of Kaeng Krachan, working areas between Km 28 and Phanoen Thung. The whole day was cool and cloudy, and just as we encountered one of our target mammals - Banded Langur - we were caught in a heavy shower, necessitating a rapid retreat to the vehicle. We also managed to dip on a Zappey's Flycatcher, by five minutes, at the top. Despite the cool and damp weather a fair selection of species encountered with Tickell's Brown Hornbill, Cook's Swift, Greater Green Leafbird and Yellow-vented Flowerpecker. Dinner at a new, local, pizza and burger restaurant was pretty good, with a later return to base. Late evening an Indian Stone-curlew was calling. Due to the dry conditions the past few months, moth activity was low throughout our time here.

21 Mar. A brighter morning, spent birding the stream section at lower elevations of the park. The staked-out White-fronted Scops Owl had done a runner, but we found vocal Dusky Broadbill, Blue Pitta and Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl. We returned to the park restaurant for lunch, missing the Sun Bear by 20 minutes; this was turning into a trip of many dips! In the heat of the afternoon we again tried higher elevations, with similar results to yesterday. On our descent we encountered two Grey Peacock -Pheasant in the road.

22 Mar. A day spent at lower areas of the park concentrating on butterflies, and this time the White-fronted Scops Owl was on its roost. Best butterflies found were Large Yeoman, Chestnut Angle and Lesser Helen.

23 Mar. A lazy day around the accommodation catching up on notes and photo processing. Very heavy rain late afternoon lasted for a couple of hours.

24 Mar. Morning preparation for an afternoon drive to the top, with overnight at the campsite at Phanoen Thung. Further heavy rain late afternoon, but thankfully a dry night. A short night wander produced Phetchaburi Bent-toed Gecko, Garnot's House Gecko, a couple of Brown Wood Owl and vocal Mountain Scops Owl.

25 Mar. An excellent morning's breakfast view from the upper viewpoint. At 09:00 with the road open to downhill traffic we exited the park, noting around the headquarters that the Dusky Langurs have taken a liking to eating the park signs. A drive to Hua Hin and late afternoon flight back to Chiang Mai.

Common Green Magpie

Tasta micaceata

Large Yeoman

Least Horseshoe Bat

Dusky Langur