28 FEBRUARY – 13 MARCH 2023
By Andy Walker
This spectacular Mangrove Pitta gave amazing views sat out in full view at eye-level not 12 feet (4 meters) away, for ten minutes. A bird of the trip contender very early in the tour!
Overview
This exciting Thailand birding tour covered a circuit of the south of this bird-rich country, starting in Phuket on the 28th of February 2023 and ending back there on the 13th of March 2023. We visited numerous top Thai birding sites during the tour, see the detailed itinerary and map here. We recorded 273 species (seven heard only) as well as numerous interesting reptiles, mammals, and amphibians during the tour, trip lists for all species identified follow the report.
Some of the non-passerine highlights included top-quality birds like Helmeted Hornbill, Bushy-crested Hornbill, Great Hornbill, White-crowned Hornbill, Brown-winged Kingfisher, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Banded Kingfisher, Red-bearded Bee-eater, Orange-breasted Trogon, Scarlet-rumped Trogon, Little Bronze Cuckoo, Red-billed Malkoha, Back-bellied Malkoha, Raffles’s Malkoha, Knob-billed Duck, Oriental Plover, Oriental Pratincole, River Lapwing, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Lesser Fish Eagle, Black Baza, Bat Hawk, Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle, Blyth’s Hawk-Eagle, Pied Harrier, Oriental Bay Owl, Buffy Fish Owl, Brown Wood Owl, Red-breasted Parakeet, Black-thighed Falconet, Oriental Hobby, Red-throated Barbet, Golden-whiskered Barbet, Sooty Barbet, White-browed Piculet, Rufous Piculet, Streak-breasted Woodpecker, Banded Woodpecker, and Buff-necked Woodpecker.
We were treated to multiple sightings of the Critically Endangered (BirdLife International) Helmeted Hornbill during the tour, with five magnificent birds seen from three locations.
Some of the many passerine highlights included Green Broadbill, Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Banded Broadbill, Mangrove Pitta, Malayan Banded Pitta, Scaly-breasted Bulbul, Grey-bellied Bulbul, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher, Orange-headed Thrush, Amur Stonechat, Malayan Black-capped Babbler, Ferruginous Babbler, Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, Sakhalin Leaf Warbler, Rufous-chested Flycatcher, Green-backed Flycatcher, Large Blue Flycatcher, Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Pale Blue Flycatcher, Yellow-eared Spiderhunter, Greater Green Leafbird, Asian Golden Weaver, Red-throated Pipit, and Forest Wagtail.
We enjoyed close views of the rare Large Blue Flycatcher during the early part of the tour.
One of the best-looking bulbuls on the planet, Scaly-breasted Bulbul, gave great looks.
Detailed Report
Day 1, 28th February 2023. Arrival in Phuket
The group assembled at Nai Yang Beach in Phuket. We met for a welcome dinner in the evening and discussed the plans for our upcoming birding in southern Thailand.
Day 2, 1st March 2023. Birding Khao Phra Thaeo and Phang Nga
We met up with our excellent local guide (David) and driver (Don), and left Nai Yang Beach after breakfast and drove the short distance to Khao Phra Thaeo. Some relaxed birding here gave us good views of our main target, two Forest Wagtails. We came across a fruiting fig tree near some pretty waterfalls and while we watched the tree, we noted Black-headed Bulbul, Asian Red-eyed Bulbul, Spectacled Bulbul, Olive (Baker’s) Bulbul, Thick-billed Green Pigeon, and (female) Asian Fairy-bluebird all coming in for a snack. A few raptors were present too, and we saw Black Baza, Grey-faced Buzzard, Rufous-bellied Eagle, and Crested Serpent Eagle overhead.
Our next stop was the Phang Nga area, where we enjoyed some great birds throughout the afternoon. Top birds seen (and seen exceptionally well) included Mangrove Pitta (see trip report cover image), Brown-winged Kingfisher, and Streak-breasted Woodpecker. A large supporting cast included Oriental Pied Hornbill, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, Arctic Warbler, Eastern Crowned Warbler, Dark-backed Tailorbird, and Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker. It was a great introductory day of relaxed birding and set the tone for the tour well!
We enjoyed excellent and prolonged views of a close Brown-winged Kingfisher out in the open while we were birding in the mangroves.
Day 3, 2nd March 2023. Phang Nga birding
We spent the first part of the morning birding in some open city parkland, where we notched up around 50 species in no time at all. It was a great location to get to grips with lots of common birds, and several special species provided fantastic highlights, with the excellent views we had of them. Probably the most interesting sighting involved two pairs of Banded Woodpeckers in a territorial dispute and, oblivious to our presence, showed down to a mere few feet at times! Other rather colorful birds enjoyed included Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Pink-necked Green Pigeon, Blue-eared Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, Lineated Barbet, Vernal Hanging Parrot, and Rufous-bellied Swallow. Further highlights here included Black-thighed Falconet, Yellow Bittern, Blue Rock Thrush, and Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker.
We watched in amazement as two pairs of Banded Woodpeckers had a territorial dispute right in front of us for a good five minutes!
Moving into an area of mangroves for the remainder of the morning we found Mangrove Whistler, Collared Kingfisher, Sakhalin Leaf Warbler, Eastern Crowned Warbler, Arctic Warbler, Brown-throated Sunbird, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, and White-chested Babbler. One of the highlights involved a huge Buffy Fish Owl, seen perched briefly. In nearby farmland we got our first Oriental Dollarbird, Indochinese Roller, Jungle Myna, Great Myna, and Greater Coucal of the trip.
The afternoon was spent driving along the west coast to our next destination, but a couple of stops along the way gave us Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Black-naped Oriole, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Pacific Reef Heron, Terek Sandpiper, Grey-tailed Tattler, Greater Sand Plover, Lesser (Tibetan) Sand Plover, Red-necked Stint, Bar-tailed Godwit, and several other shorebird species.
Day 4, 3rd March 2023. Si Phang Nga National Park and Khao Sok National Park
We spent a wonderful morning birding in Si Phang Nga National Park where we saw a scout jamboree and a whole host of great birds on a gentle walk through the forest. Wallace’s Hawk Eagle was one of the first top birds seen, and was soon followed by some stunning hornbills, including a pair of Bushy-crested Hornbills. Working the forest, we found one of our main targets, the rare Large Blue Flycatcher, and after a bit of effort eventually got to grips with seeing Malayan Banded Pitta, the view of the male was fleeting but a female gave much appreciated prolonged views. Other species recorded during the morning included Orange-headed Thrush, White-rumped Shama, Chinese Blue Flycatcher, Raffles’s Malkoha, Chestnut-breasted Malkoha, Red-billed Malkoha, Silver-rumped Spinetail, Buff-rumped Woodpecker, Grey-bellied Bulbul, Streaked Bulbul, Black-headed Bulbul, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Crow-billed Drongo, Lesser Green Leafbird, Blue-winged Leafbird, and many more!
In the afternoon we took a drive through some meadowland, and in addition to finding our target River Lapwings, we also found a real nice surprise in the form of three Oriental Plovers, two were in near full summer plumage and looked spectacular. More highlights here included Oriental Pratincole, Pacific Golden Plover, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Black Drongo, Amur Stonechat, Richard’s Pipit, and Red-throated Pipit.
Excitement levels were high when we discovered a small flock of Oriental Plovers. Two of the birds were in stunning breeding plumage. This species is a rare passage migrant to Thailand.
Day 5, 4th March 2023. Khao Sok National Park (including Lake Ratchaprapha)
During the morning we took a walk along the river trail at Khao Sok National Park, where we found some great birds. One of the first species seen was a pair of gorgeous Banded Kingfishers that gave prolonged views. Some of the other highlights from the morning walk included Bamboo Woodpecker, White-browed Piculet, Black-crested Bulbul, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher, Black-naped Monarch, Raffles’s Malkoha, Siberian Blue Robin, and Crimson Sunbird. The final stunning species of the morning was a Red-bearded Bee-eater, that eventually showed brilliantly. Several interesting animals were seen during the morning, including a couple of attractive Wagler’s Keeled Green Pit Vipers.
Red-bearded Bee-eater was another gorgeous bird we enjoyed seeing during the tour.
After lunch we caught our longboat and made our way across Lake Ratchaprapha to our excellent floating resort. After quickly checking in we jumped back in the boat for what turned out to be an incredible boat-based birding trip. A pair of Lesser Fish Eagles gave some close perched views and then the fun really got going, when we had a flock of 24 Great Hornbills fly over us and drop into some fruiting trees, what a magnificent sight! As the excitement of this hornbill encounter subsided, we heard a White-crowned Hornbill calling from the next bay. A quick repositioning of our boat got us into position. We waited patiently and were rewarded when a bird hopped out on the top of a tree, allowing prolonged perched views. Next up, we found ourselves watching a pair of Bat Hawks foraging as the near-full moon rose, and then it got even crazier with the hawks attacking some very special hornbills! It was all rather chaotic in the airspace above us, but it was amazing to witness. Just as we were about to leave to get back to the resort for dinner, we picked up a pair of huge Stork-billed Kingfishers and a single Black-capped Kingfisher. The latter showed briefly, but the former put on a brilliant close showing. As we made our way back to the resort with the sun setting, we had a few final surprises with White-bellied Sea Eagle, Osprey, Crested Honey Buzzard, and best of all, a perched up Oriental Hobby! As far as boat trips go on Lake Ratchaprapha, this was seriously spectacular and the whole experience was one of the best on the entire tour.
We enjoyed the magical sight of 24 magnificent Great Hornbills flying over us to a fruiting tree.
The huge Stork-billed Kingfisher put on a great show for us just as the sun was setting.
Day 6, 5th March 2023. Khao Sok National Park (including Lake Ratchaprapha) to Tha Sala
We took another enjoyable boat ride on Lake Ratchaprapha before breakfast and had further views (our best yet) of some seriously stunning and rare hornbills. A Great Hornbill gave a fly-over view before perching out in the open, as did the much smaller Oriental Pied Hornbill. We had prolonged views of a stunning Blue-eared Kingfisher that allowed a close approach and similar views of the equally attractive Black-capped Kingfisher as well.
Point blank views of Blue-eared Kingfisher provided an early morning highlight.
This male Oriental Hobby was displaying to a nearby female, and the pair gave excellent views.
A couple of Ospreys looking for their breakfast were noted, with Crested Honey Buzzard also seen again. After breakfast it was time to leave our resort. The boat ride back to meet our vehicle yielded a pair of Oriental Hobbies, these birds showed well as they sat on a bare tree snag in the impressive tall cliffs.
During the afternoon we drove to Tha Sala, our base for the next three nights. We spent the late afternoon birding near the local university, where we enjoyed watching a colony of breeding Red-breasted Parakeets and also picked up Common Flameback, Red Collared Dove, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Brown Shrike, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Black-naped Oriole, and numerous common open-country birds.
Day 7, 6th March 2023. Khao Luang (Krung Ching) National Park
Another enjoyable day birding in southern Thailand. We spent the day birding at the Krung Ching section of Khao Luang National Park. Most of the morning was spent mesmerized by a fruiting fig tree right in the car park. Somewhere in the region of 40 species visited the tree while we watched it, including a range of bulbuls, barbets, and pigeons, such as Red-throated Barbet, Golden-whiskered Barbet, Blue-eared Barbet, Sooty Barbet, Scaly-breasted Bulbul, Black-crested Bulbul, and Thick-billed Green Pigeon. Other stunning species noted here included Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Sultan Tit, Asian Fairy-bluebird (male!), Dark-throated Oriole, Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker, Lesser Green Leafbird, Greater Green Leafbird, Green Iora, Grey-breasted Spiderhunter, and Yellow-eared Spiderhunter.
As we walked into the forest, we picked up Blyth’s Hawk-Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Orange-breasted Trogon (a very showy male), Crimson Sunbird, Yellow-bellied Bulbul, Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, White-bellied Erpornis, and Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike.
The attractive Orange-breasted Trogon showed well for us at close range.
In the afternoon we had an enjoyable session in a bird blind (bird hide) at a nearby waterhole. Birds came through frequently and we got great close views of many species, including Rufous-chested Flycatcher, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher, Black-naped Monarch, Common Emerald Dove, Olive (Baker’s) Bulbul, Spectacled Bulbul, Stripe-throated Bulbul, Ochraceous Bulbul, Asian Red-eyed Bulbul, White-rumped Shama, Chestnut-winged Babbler, and Malayan Black-capped Babbler. Some of the group also saw Rufous Piculet and Rufous-tailed Tailorbird. Our time in the blind/hide rounded off a long but fun day of Thai birding.
The bird blind (bird hide) we visited for an afternoon was a great spot for watching secretive species of bulbuls and babblers, including this Malayan Black-capped Babbler.
Day 8, 7th March 2023. Khao Luang (Krung Ching) National Park
We spent the morning back at the Krung Ching section of Khao Luang National Park. Here we enjoyed more views of some of the birds we’d seen the previous morning that were attracted to a few fruiting trees, such as Golden-whiskered Barbet, Red-throated Barbet, Blue-eared Barbet, Sooty Barbet, Scaly-breasted Bulbul, Black-crested Bulbul, Greater Green Leafbird, Lesser Green Leafbird, Thick-billed Green Pigeon, Vernal Hanging Parrot, and Asian Fairy-bluebird (including more close views of a stunning male bird). We also picked up quite a few new birds and improved our looks at several other species, such as White-crowned Hornbill, Scarlet-rumped Trogon, Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, Plaintive Cuckoo, Red-billed Malkoha, Swinhoe’s Minivet, Dark-throated Oriole, Moustached Babbler, Taiga Flycatcher, Pale Blue Flycatcher, and Orange-bellied Flowerpecker.
In the afternoon we visited a wetland site near our accommodation in Tha Sala and found plenty of species, some of the highlights included Little Bronze Cuckoo, Siamese Pied Myna, Daurian Starling, Golden-bellied Gerygone, Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, Oriental Reed Warbler, Black-browed Reed Warbler, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Brown Shrike, Yellow Bittern, Purple Heron, Intermediate Egret, Asian Openbill, Oriental Pratincole, and Whiskered Tern.
The spectacular Scarlet-rumped Trogon gave some incredible low-level views.
A group of four White-crowned Hornbills were feeding in a fruiting tree and we were lucky to get some good views of this Endangered (BirdLife International) species (photo Tim Marshall).
Day 9, 8th March 2023. Khao Luang (Krung Ching) National Park and Thale Noi
We had our final morning birding in the Krung Ching area and scored several new birds for our trip, such as Banded Broadbill, Violet Cuckoo, Black-bellied Malkoha, Buff-necked Woodpecker, Rufous Woodpecker, Large Woodshrike, Spectacled Spiderhunter, Bronzed Drongo, and White-rumped Munia. We also had further looks at Red-billed Malkoha (a prolonged sighting of a sunbathing bird), Chestnut-breasted Malkoha, Raffles’s Malkoha, Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Buff-rumped Woodpecker, Streak-breasted Woodpecker, nesting Red-throated Barbet, Dark-throated Oriole, Black-crested Bulbul, Purple-naped Spiderhunter, Crimson Sunbird, and Blue-winged Leafbird. A great selection of birds.
In the afternoon we drove south to Thale Noi, our base for the next two nights. The afternoon was spent at leisure and relaxing around our pretty lakeside resort.
Day 10, 9th March 2023. Thale Noi area
We had a pre-breakfast birding session at a site near our accommodation and it was great to see a huge expanse of excellent wetland habitat. Grey-headed Swamphens, Lesser Whistling Ducks, Whiskered Terns, and Asian Openbills were the most abundant species, and by scanning through them we also picked up Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Bronze-winged Jacana, Purple Heron, Yellow Bittern, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Eastern Cattle Egret, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Common Moorhen, and Little Grebe. The above species were occasionally spooked by raptors flying overhead, and these included Pied Harrier, Eastern Marsh Harrier, and Brahminy Kite.
We saw a few Pheasant-tailed Jacanas in various plumage stages during our wetland birding sessions. This individual gave a close flyby after spending some time feeding near our viewpoint.
Several small birds were noted in the emergent vegetation around the wetland, such as Yellow-bellied Prinia, Black-browed Reed Warbler, Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, Oriental Reed Warbler, Jungle Myna, Crested Myna, Common Myna, Paddyfield Pipit, Brown Shrike, Chestnut Munia, and Amur Stonechat.
After breakfast we called in at a forested area near the lake and found a nesting pair of Buffy Fish Owls, a spectacular sight! We also got some good views of Ashy Minivet, Golden-bellied Gerygone, and Brown-throated Sunbird here, though the two Black Bitterns we saw were flighty and only gave brief views. After that we birded at some rice paddies, finding our first Zitting Cisticolas, Scaly-breasted Munias, and Plain-backed Sparrows of the trip.
Late in the afternoon we visited an interesting rice field nature reserve where we found our main target with ease and in good numbers, Knob-billed Duck. Here we also improved our views of many of the birds seen in the morning (such as close Cotton Pygmy Geese and Indochinese Roller) and added a few new ones for everyone, such as Oriental Darter, Black-winged Stilt, Baya Weaver, and the very localized (in southern Thailand) Asian Golden Weaver. We also had a soaring pair of locally uncommon Painted Storks and several Grey Herons during our journey.
An extremely confiding Indochinese Roller provided one of the highlights of the afternoon.
Day 11, 10th March 2023. Trang Peninsular Botanic Garden and Khao Nor Chu Chi
After a relaxed breakfast, featuring Indochinese Roller, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, and Blue-eared Kingfisher, we left our resort and made our way to Trang Peninsular Botanic Garden. Unfortunately, the wind was strong which made for very tough birding conditions and as a result we didn’t see too much, though we did have our best views of the tour of Red-billed Malkoha, along with Banded Woodpecker, Spectacled Spiderhunter, Great Iora, Black-headed Bulbul, Blue-eared Barbet, Sakhalin Leaf Warbler (a calling bird), Eastern Crowned Warbler, and several other species.
After lunch we visited a different section of the botanic garden and found a sheltered spot out of the wind that was quite productive. Here we enjoyed seeing a few new species and also improved views of some others we’d seen earlier in the day/tour, such as Green-backed Flycatcher, Indian Cuckoo, Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, Rufous Piculet, Van Hasselt’s Sunbird, Great Iora, Green Iora, and Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike.
In the middle of the afternoon, we continued our journey to the Khao Nor Chu Chi area, ready for tomorrow morning’s birding.
Day 12, 11th March 2023. Birding Khao Nor Chu Chi
We had an early start to our birding today and were richly rewarded, with a prolonged sighting of a pair of stunning Green Broadbills. We spent a while watching them foraging and soaked in the fantastic views that they were giving us, definitely a trip highlight bird.
As we walked a forest road we found Ferruginous Babbler, Moustached Babbler, Cream-vented Bulbul, Puff-backed Bulbul, Olive-winged Bulbul, Ochraceous Bulbul, Spectacled Bulbul, Crow-billed Drongo, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Crested Goshawk, Crested Honey Buzzard, Common Hill Myna, Sooty Barbet, Blue-eared Barbet, and Black-and-yellow Broadbill. Some alarm calling attracted a range of species, including Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker, Yellow-vented Flowerpecker, Van Hasselt’s Sunbird, Red-throated Sunbird, Grey-breasted Spiderhunter, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher, Black-naped Monarch, and Chinese Blue Flycatcher.
This male Green Broadbill put on quite the show for us during our early morning birding.
We spent some time relaxing around our accommodation during the heat of the day and then in the late afternoon visited a couple of different spots, where we found more good birds. Some of the top birds included Brown-backed Needletail, Grey-rumped Treeswift, Raffles’s Malkoha, Red-billed Malkoha, Banded Bay Cuckoo, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher, Cream-vented Bulbul, Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker, Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker, Yellow-vented Flowerpecker, Plain Sunbird, and Van Hasselt’s Sunbird.
In the evening some of the group went owling and were handsomely rewarded with incredible, close views of an Oriental Bay Owl. The owl showed extremely well and proved yet another tour highlight, what a bird!
The exquisite Oriental Bay Owl is an attractive yet strange looking owl. It is an uncommon and rarely seen species in Thailand and so it was a real treat to see one during our tour.
Day 13, 12th March 2023. Khao Nor Chu Chi to Phuket
Our last full day in southern Thailand started with some final birding at Khao Nor Chu Chi. We covered a similar area to the previous morning, finding Abbott’s Babbler, Cream-vented Bulbul, Hairy-backed Bulbul, Spectacled Bulbul, Grey-cheeked Bulbul, Streaked Bulbul, Puff-backed Bulbul, Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher, Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker, and Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker. Two Oriental Pratincoles flying over the forest was a bit of a surprise, however the displaying Crested Goshawk was a little more expected!
After a late breakfast we drove back to Phuket, where we arrived in the middle of the afternoon, here we said goodbye and a massive thank you to David and Don. We had our final evening dinner of the tour, which was great fun as usual, and discussed our “birds of the trip”. Top votes went to Great Hornbill, Helmeted Hornbill, Oriental Bay Owl, Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Mangrove Pitta, and Van Hasselt’s Sunbird.
Day 14, 13th March 2023. Tour concludes with departure from Phuket
We had a brief pre-breakfast birding session near our accommodation at Nai Yang Beach, where we found Peregrine Falcon, Eurasian Hoopoe, and Indochinese Roller to provide a final splash of color and excitement for the trip.
After breakfast everyone said their goodbyes and departed Phuket for their international flights home or to join our Vietnam birding tour. Huge thanks to everyone for making this such a fun trip, full of amazing birds and great memories. I look forward to traveling with you all again soon.
Bird List – Following IOC (13.1)
Birds ‘heard only’ are marked with (H) after the common name, all other species were seen. The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following BirdLife International: CR = Critically Endangered, EN = Endangered, and VU = Vulnerable.
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae) | |
| Lesser Whistling Duck | Dendrocygna javanica |
| Knob-billed Duck | Sarkidiornis melanotos |
| Cotton Pygmy Goose | Nettapus coromandelianus |
| Pheasants & Allies (Phasianidae) | |
| Great Argus – VU (H) | Argusianus argus |
| Red Junglefowl (H) | Gallus gallus |
| Nightjars (Caprimulgidae) | |
| Large-tailed Nightjar (H) | Caprimulgus macrurus |
| Treeswifts (Hemiprocnidae) | |
| Grey-rumped Treeswift | Hemiprocne longipennis |
| Swifts (Apodidae) | |
| Plume-toed Swiftlet | Collocalia affinis |
| Germain’s Swiftlet | Aerodramus germani |
| Silver-rumped Spinetail | Rhaphidura leucopygialis |
| Brown-backed Needletail | Hirundapus giganteus |
| Asian Palm Swift | Cypsiurus balasiensis |
| Pacific Swift | Apus pacificus |
| Cuckoos (Cuculidae) | |
| Greater Coucal | Centropus sinensis |
| Raffles’s Malkoha | Rhinortha chlorophaea |
| Red-billed Malkoha | Zanclostomus javanicus |
| Chestnut-breasted Malkoha | Phaenicophaeus curvirostris |
| Black-bellied Malkoha | Phaenicophaeus diardi |
| Green-billed Malkoha | Phaenicophaeus tristis |
| Asian Koel | Eudynamys scolopaceus |
| Violet Cuckoo | Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus |
| Little Bronze Cuckoo | Chrysococcyx minutillus |
| Banded Bay Cuckoo | Cacomantis sonneratii |
| Plaintive Cuckoo | Cacomantis merulinus |
| Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo | Surniculus lugubris |
| Indian Cuckoo | Cuculus micropterus |
| Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae) | |
| Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon) | Columba livia dom. |
| Red Collared Dove | Streptopelia tranquebarica |
| Spotted Dove | Spilopelia chinensis |
| Common Emerald Dove | Chalcophaps indica |
| Zebra Dove | Geopelia striata |
| Pink-necked Green Pigeon | Treron vernans |
| Thick-billed Green Pigeon | Treron curvirostra |
| Rails, Crakes & Coots (Rallidae) | |
| Common Moorhen | Gallinula chloropus |
| Grey-headed Swamphen | Porphyrio poliocephalus |
| White-breasted Waterhen | Amaurornis phoenicurus |
| Grebes (Podicipedidae) | |
| Little Grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis |
| Stilts, Avocets (Recurvirostridae) | |
| Black-winged Stilt | Himantopus himantopus |
| Plovers (Charadriidae) | |
| River Lapwing | Vanellus duvaucelii |
| Red-wattled Lapwing | Vanellus indicus |
| Pacific Golden Plover | Pluvialis fulva |
| Grey Plover | Pluvialis squatarola |
| Lesser (Tibetan) Sand Plover | Charadrius mongolus |
| Greater Sand Plover | Charadrius leschenaultii |
| Oriental Plover | Charadrius veredus |
| Jacanas (Jacanidae) | |
| Pheasant-tailed Jacana | Hydrophasianus chirurgus |
| Bronze-winged Jacana | Metopidius indicus |
| Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae) | |
| Eurasian Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus |
| Bar-tailed Godwit | Limosa lapponica |
| Ruddy Turnstone | Arenaria interpres |
| Red-necked Stint | Calidris ruficollis |
| Sanderling | Calidris alba |
| Terek Sandpiper | Xenus cinereus |
| Common Sandpiper | Actitis hypoleucos |
| Grey-tailed Tattler | Tringa brevipes |
| Marsh Sandpiper | Tringa stagnatilis |
| Wood Sandpiper | Tringa glareola |
| Coursers, Pratincoles (Glareolidae) | |
| Oriental Pratincole | Glareola maldivarum |
| Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae) | |
| Whiskered Tern | Chlidonias hybrida |
| Storks (Ciconiidae) | |
| Painted Stork | Mycteria leucocephala |
| Asian Openbill | Anastomus oscitans |
| Anhingas, Darters (Anhingidae) | |
| Oriental Darter | Anhinga melanogaster |
| Cormorants, Shags (Phalacrocoracidae) | |
| Little Cormorant | Microcarbo niger |
| Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae) | |
| Yellow Bittern | Ixobrychus sinensis |
| Cinnamon Bittern | Ixobrychus cinnamomeus |
| Black Bittern | Ixobrychus flavicollis |
| Striated Heron | Butorides striata |
| Chinese Pond Heron | Ardeola bacchus |
| Eastern Cattle Egret | Bubulcus coromandus |
| Grey Heron | Ardea cinerea |
| Purple Heron | Ardea purpurea |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba |
| Intermediate Egret | Ardea intermedia |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta |
| Pacific Reef Heron | Egretta sacra |
| Ospreys (Pandionidae) | |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus |
| Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae) | |
| Black-winged Kite | Elanus caeruleus |
| Crested Honey Buzzard | Pernis ptilorhynchus |
| Jerdon’s Baza | Aviceda jerdoni |
| Black Baza | Aviceda leuphotes |
| Crested Serpent Eagle | Spilornis cheela |
| Bat Hawk | Macheiramphus alcinus |
| Blyth’s Hawk-Eagle | Nisaetus alboniger |
| Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle – VU | Nisaetus nanus |
| Rufous-bellied Eagle | Lophotriorchis kienerii |
| Crested Goshawk | Accipiter trivirgatus |
| Shikra | Accipiter badius |
| Chinese Sparrowhawk | Accipiter soloensis |
| Eastern Marsh Harrier | Circus spilonotus |
| Pied Harrier | Circus melanoleucos |
| Black Kite | Milvus migrans |
| Brahminy Kite | Haliastur indus |
| White-bellied Sea Eagle | Haliaeetus leucogaster |
| Lesser Fish Eagle | Haliaeetus humilis |
| Grey-faced Buzzard | Butastur indicus |
| Barn Owls (Tytonidae) | |
| Oriental Bay Owl | Phodilus badius |
| Owls (Strigidae) | |
| Buffy Fish Owl | Ketupa ketupu |
| Brown Wood Owl | Strix leptogrammica |
| Trogons (Trogonidae) | |
| Scarlet-rumped Trogon | Harpactes duvaucelii |
| Orange-breasted Trogon | Harpactes oreskios |
| Hoopoes (Upupidae) | |
| Eurasian Hoopoe | Upupa epops |
| Hornbills (Bucerotidae) | |
| White-crowned Hornbill – EN | Berenicornis comatus |
| Great Hornbill – VU | Buceros bicornis |
| Helmeted Hornbill – CR | Rhinoplax vigil |
| Oriental Pied Hornbill | Anthracoceros albirostris |
| Bushy-crested Hornbill | Anorrhinus galeritus |
| Rollers (Coraciidae) | |
| Indochinese Roller | Coracias affinis |
| Oriental Dollarbird | Eurystomus orientalis |
| Kingfishers (Alcedinidae) | |
| Banded Kingfisher | Lacedo pulchella |
| Stork-billed Kingfisher | Pelargopsis capensis |
| Brown-winged Kingfisher | Pelargopsis amauroptera |
| Ruddy Kingfisher (H) | Halcyon coromanda |
| White-throated Kingfisher | Halcyon smyrnensis |
| Black-capped Kingfisher – VU | Halcyon pileata |
| Collared Kingfisher | Todiramphus chloris |
| Blue-eared Kingfisher | Alcedo meninting |
| Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (H) | Ceyx erithaca |
| Bee-eaters (Meropidae) | |
| Red-bearded Bee-eater | Nyctyornis amictus |
| Blue-tailed Bee-eater | Merops philippinus |
| Chestnut-headed Bee-eater | Merops leschenaulti |
| Asian Barbets (Megalaimidae) | |
| Lineated Barbet | Psilopogon lineatus |
| Golden-whiskered Barbet | Psilopogon chrysopogon |
| Red-throated Barbet | Psilopogon mystacophanos |
| Blue-eared Barbet | Psilopogon duvaucelii |
| Coppersmith Barbet | Psilopogon haemacephalus |
| Sooty Barbet | Caloramphus hayii |
| Woodpeckers (Picidae) | |
| Rufous Piculet | Sasia abnormis |
| White-browed Piculet | Sasia ochracea |
| Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker | Yungipicus canicapillus |
| Banded Woodpecker | Chrysophlegma miniaceum |
| Streak-breasted Woodpecker | Picus viridanus |
| Common Flameback | Dinopium javanense |
| Bamboo Woodpecker | Gecinulus viridis |
| Rufous Woodpecker | Micropternus brachyurus |
| Buff-rumped Woodpecker | Meiglyptes tristis |
| Buff-necked Woodpecker | Meiglyptes tukki |
| Caracaras, Falcons (Falconidae) | |
| Black-thighed Falconet | Microhierax fringillarius |
| Oriental Hobby | Falco severus |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus |
| Old World Parrots (Psittaculidae) | |
| Red-breasted Parakeet | Psittacula alexandri |
| Vernal Hanging Parrot | Loriculus vernalis |
| Typical Broadbills (Eurylaimidae) | |
| Banded Broadbill | Eurylaimus javanicus |
| Black-and-yellow Broadbill | Eurylaimus ochromalus |
| African & Green Broadbills (Calyptomenidae) | |
| Green Broadbill | Calyptomena viridis |
| Pittas (Pittidae) | |
| Malayan Banded Pitta | Hydrornis irena |
| Mangrove Pitta | Pitta megarhyncha |
| Australasian Warblers (Acanthizidae) | |
| Golden-bellied Gerygone | Gerygone sulphurea |
| Vangas & Allies (Vangidae) | |
| Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike | Hemipus picatus |
| Large Woodshrike | Tephrodornis virgatus |
| Rufous-winged Philentoma (H) | Philentoma pyrhoptera |
| Ioras (Aegithinidae) | |
| Common Iora | Aegithina tiphia |
| Green Iora | Aegithina viridissima |
| Great Iora | Aegithina lafresnayei |
| Cuckooshrikes (Campephagidae) | |
| Ashy Minivet | Pericrocotus divaricatus |
| Swinhoe’s Minivet | Pericrocotus cantonensis |
| Lesser Cuckooshrike | Lalage fimbriata |
| Whistlers & Allies (Pachycephalidae) | |
| Mangrove Whistler | Pachycephala cinerea |
| Shrikes (Laniidae) | |
| Brown Shrike | Lanius cristatus |
| Vireos, Greenlets, Shrike-babblers (Vireonidae) | |
| White-bellied Erpornis | Erpornis zantholeuca |
| Figbirds, Old World Orioles, Piopios (Oriolidae) | |
| Dark-throated Oriole | Oriolus xanthonotus |
| Black-naped Oriole | Oriolus chinensis |
| Drongos (Dicruridae) | |
| Bronzed Drongo | Dicrurus aeneus |
| Crow-billed Drongo | Dicrurus annectens |
| Greater Racket-tailed Drongo | Dicrurus paradiseus |
| Ashy Drongo | Dicrurus leucophaeus |
| Black Drongo | Dicrurus macrocercus |
| Fantails (Rhipiduridae) | |
| Malaysian Pied Fantail | Rhipidura javanica |
| Monarchs (Monarchidae) | |
| Black-naped Monarch | Hypothymis azurea |
| Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher | Terpsiphone affinis |
| Crows, Jays (Corvidae) | |
| Large-billed Crow | Corvus macrorhynchos |
| Fairy Flycatchers (Stenostiridae) | |
| Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher | Culicicapa ceylonensis |
| Tits, Chickadees (Paridae) | |
| Sultan Tit | Melanochlora sultanea |
| Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae) | |
| Hairy-backed Bulbul | Tricholestes criniger |
| Yellow-bellied Bulbul | Alophoixus phaeocephalus |
| Grey-cheeked Bulbul | Alophoixus tephrogenys |
| Ochraceous Bulbul | Alophoixus ochraceus |
| Olive (Baker’s) Bulbul | Iole viridescens |
| Streaked Bulbul | Ixos malaccensis |
| Puff-backed Bulbul | Euptilotus eutilotus |
| Black-headed Bulbul | Brachypodius melanocephalos |
| Spectacled Bulbul | Ixodia erythropthalmos |
| Grey-bellied Bulbul | Ixodia cyaniventris |
| Scaly-breasted Bulbul | Ixodia squamata |
| Black-crested Bulbul | Rubigula flaviventris |
| Cream-vented Bulbul | Pycnonotus simplex |
| Olive-winged Bulbul | Pycnonotus plumosus |
| Asian Red-eyed Bulbul | Pycnonotus brunneus |
| Streak-eared Bulbul | Pycnonotus conradi |
| Stripe-throated Bulbul | Pycnonotus finlaysoni |
| Yellow-vented Bulbul | Pycnonotus goiavier |
| Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae) | |
| Pacific Swallow | Hirundo tahitica |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica |
| Rufous-bellied Swallow | Cecropis badia |
| Cettia Bush Warblers & Allies (Cettiidae) | |
| Yellow-bellied Warbler (H) | Abroscopus superciliaris |
| Leaf Warblers (Phylloscopidae) | |
| Yellow-browed Warbler | Phylloscopus inornatus |
| Eastern Crowned Warbler | Phylloscopus coronatus |
| Sakhalin Leaf Warbler | Phylloscopus borealoides |
| Arctic Warbler | Phylloscopus borealis |
| Reed Warblers & Allies (Acrocephalidae) | |
| Oriental Reed Warbler | Acrocephalus orientalis |
| Black-browed Reed Warbler | Acrocephalus bistrigiceps |
| Grassbirds & Allies (Locustellidae) | |
| Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler | Helopsaltes certhiola |
| Cisticolas & Allies (Cisticolidae) | |
| Zitting Cisticola | Cisticola juncidis |
| Yellow-bellied Prinia | Prinia flaviventris |
| Common Tailorbird | Orthotomus sutorius |
| Dark-necked Tailorbird | Orthotomus atrogularis |
| Rufous-tailed Tailorbird | Orthotomus sericeus |
| White-eyes (Zosteropidae) | |
| Swinhoe’s White-eye | Zosterops simplex |
| Babblers, Scimitar Babblers (Timaliidae) | |
| Pin-striped Tit-Babbler | Mixornis gularis |
| Chestnut-winged Babbler | Cyanoderma erythropterum |
| Ground Babblers (Pellorneidae) | |
| Moustached Babbler | Malacopteron magnirostre |
| Malayan Black-capped Babbler | Pellorneum nigrocapitatum |
| White-chested Babbler | Pellorneum rostratum |
| Ferruginous Babbler | Pellorneum bicolor |
| Abbott’s Babbler | Malacocincla abbotti |
| Fairy-bluebirds (Irenidae) | |
| Asian Fairy-bluebird | Irena puella |
| Nuthatches (Sittidae) | |
| Velvet-fronted Nuthatch | Sitta frontalis |
| Starlings, Rhabdornises (Sturnidae) | |
| Asian Glossy Starling | Aplonis panayensis |
| Common Hill Myna | Gracula religiosa |
| Great Myna | Acridotheres grandis |
| Jungle Myna | Acridotheres fuscus |
| Common Myna | Acridotheres tristis |
| Siamese Pied Myna | Gracupica floweri |
| Daurian Starling | Agropsar sturninus |
| Thrushes (Turdidae) | |
| Orange-headed Thrush | Geokichla citrina |
| Chats, Old World Flycatchers (Muscicapidae) | |
| Oriental Magpie-Robin | Copsychus saularis |
| White-rumped Shama | Copsychus malabaricus |
| Asian Brown Flycatcher | Muscicapa dauurica |
| Pale Blue Flycatcher | Cyornis unicolor |
| Large Blue Flycatcher | Cyornis magnirostris |
| Chinese Blue Flycatcher | Cyornis glaucicomans |
| Fulvous-chested Jungle Flycatcher | Cyornis olivaceus |
| Blue-and-white Flycatcher | Cyanoptila cyanomelana |
| Siberian Blue Robin | Larvivora cyane |
| Chestnut-naped Forktail | Enicurus ruficapillus |
| Green-backed Flycatcher | Ficedula elisae |
| Taiga Flycatcher | Ficedula albicilla |
| Rufous-chested Flycatcher | Ficedula dumetoria |
| Blue Rock Thrush | Monticola solitarius |
| Amur Stonechat | Saxicola stejnegeri |
| Leafbirds (Chloropseidae) | |
| Greater Green Leafbird – EN | Chloropsis sonnerati |
| Lesser Green Leafbird | Chloropsis cyanopogon |
| Blue-winged Leafbird | Chloropsis moluccensis |
| Flowerpeckers (Dicaeidae) | |
| Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker | Prionochilus maculatus |
| Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker | Prionochilus percussus |
| Thick-billed Flowerpecker | Dicaeum agile |
| Yellow-vented Flowerpecker | Dicaeum chrysorrheum |
| Orange-bellied Flowerpecker | Dicaeum trigonostigma |
| Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker | Dicaeum cruentatum |
| Sunbirds (Nectariniidae) | |
| Ruby-cheeked Sunbird | Chalcoparia singalensis |
| Plain Sunbird | Anthreptes simplex |
| Brown-throated Sunbird | Anthreptes malacensis |
| Red-throated Sunbird | Anthreptes rhodolaemus |
| Van Hasselt’s Sunbird | Leptocoma brasiliana |
| Olive-backed Sunbird | Cinnyris jugularis |
| Crimson Sunbird | Aethopyga siparaja |
| Purple-naped Sunbird | Kurochkinegramma hypogrammicum |
| Little Spiderhunter | Arachnothera longirostra |
| Spectacled Spiderhunter | Arachnothera flavigaster |
| Yellow-eared Spiderhunter | Arachnothera chrysogenys |
| Grey-breasted Spiderhunter | Arachnothera modesta |
| Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches (Passeridae) | |
| Eurasian Tree Sparrow | Passer montanus |
| Plain-backed Sparrow | Passer flaveolus |
| Weavers, Widowbirds (Ploceidae) | |
| Asian Golden Weaver | Ploceus hypoxanthus |
| Baya Weaver | Ploceus philippinus |
| Waxbills, Munias & Allies (Estrildidae) | |
| Scaly-breasted Munia | Lonchura punctulata |
| White-rumped Munia | Lonchura striata |
| Chestnut Munia | Lonchura atricapilla |
| Wagtails, Pipits (Motacillidae) | |
| Forest Wagtail | Dendronanthus indicus |
| Eastern Yellow Wagtail | Motacilla tschutschensis |
| Grey Wagtail | Motacilla cinerea |
| Richard’s Pipit | Anthus richardi |
| Paddyfield Pipit | Anthus rufulus |
| Red-throated Pipit | Anthus cervinus |
| Total seen | 266 |
| Total heard only | 7 |
| Total recorded | 273 |
Mammal List
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Old World Monkeys (Cercopithecidae) | |
| Southern Pig-tailed Macaque | Macaca nemestrina |
| Common Long-tailed Macaque | Macaca fascicularis |
| Gibbons (Hylobatidae) | |
| Lar Gibbon | Hylobates lar |
| Deer (Cervidae) | |
| Northern Red Muntjac | Muntiacus vaginalis |
| Old World Fruit Bats (Pteropodidae) | |
| Lesser Dog-faced Fruit Bat | Cynopterus brachyotis |
| Squirrels (Sciuridae) | |
| Slender Squirrel | Sundasciurus tenuis |
| Grey-bellied Squirrel | Callosciurus caniceps |
| Variable Squirrel | Callosciurus finlaysonii |
| Plantain Squirrel | Callosciurus notatus |
| Black Giant Squirrel | Ratufa bicolor |
| Himalayan Striped Squirrel | Tamiops mcclellandii |
| Treeshrews (Tupaiidae) | |
| Common Treeshrew | Tupaia glis |
| Mustelids (Mustelidae) | |
| Smooth-coated Otter | Lutrogale perspicillata |
| Bovids (Bovidae) | |
| Domestic Water Buffalo | Bubalus bubalis |
| Total | 14 |
Reptile List
Introduced reptiles are marked with (I) after the common name and deceased reptiles are marked with (D) after the common name.
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Agamids (Agamidae) | |
| Gunung (Mount) Raya Green-crested Lizard | Bronchocela rayaensis |
| Changeable (Common Garden) Lizard | Calotes versicolor |
| Forest Garden Lizard | Calotes emma |
| Southern Short-horned Pricklenape | Acanthosaura meridiona |
| Common Gliding Lizard | Draco sumatranus |
| Barred Gliding Lizard | Draco taeniopterus |
| Gekkonidae (Geckos) | |
| Asian House Gecko | Hemidactylus platyurus |
| Flat-tailed House Gecko | Hemidactylus platyurus |
| Tokay Gecko | Gekko gecko |
| Monitors (Varanidae) | |
| Common Water Monitor | Varanus salvator |
| Clouded Monitor | Varanus nebulosus |
| Skinks (Scincidae) | |
| Grass Sun Skink | Eutropis macularia |
| Common Mabuya | Eutropis multifasciata |
| Spotted Forest Skink | Sphenomorphus maculatus |
| Banded Lipinia | Lipinia vittigera |
| Iguanas and Chuckwallas (Iguanidae) | |
| Green Iguana (I) | Iguana iguana |
| Vipers (Viperidae) | |
| Wagler’s Keeled Green Pit Viper | Tropidolaemus wagleri |
| Mud Snakes (Homalopsidae) | |
| South Asian Bockadam (D) | Cerberus rynchops |
| Eurasian Pond, River, and Neotropical Wood Turtles (Geoemydidae) | |
| Southeast Asian (Oldham’s) Leaf Turtle | Cyclemys oldhamii |
| Pond and Box Turtles (Emydidae) | |
| Yellow-bellied (Red-eared) Slider | Trachemys scripta elegans |
| Total | 20 |
Amphibian List
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Fork-tongued Frogs (Dicroglossidae) | |
| Crab-eating Frog | Fejervarya cancrivora |
| Shrub Frogs (Rhacophoridae) | |
| Malayan Slender Tree Frog | Polypedates discantus |
| Common Southeast Asian Tree Frog | Polypedates leucomystax |
| Narrowmouth Toads (Microhylidae) | |
| Burmese Squat Frog | Glyphoglossus guttulatus |
| Mukhlesur’s Narrow-mouthed Frog | Microhyla mukhlesuri |
| True Toads (Bufonidae) | |
| River Toad | Phrynoidis asper |
| Lesser Toad | Ingerophrynus parvus |
| Total | 7 |
This is a sample trip report. Please email us ([email protected]) for more trip reports from this destination.
