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A Report from birdtours.co.uk

Thailand and Cambodia, February 17th- March 8th 2008,

Peter Collaerts

Participants

Erwin Collaerts,
Iwan Lewylle,
Peter Collaerts, (Peter.Collaerts[replace by at]scarlet.be)
Tom Theuwis
Erwin Hoebrechts (only in Laempakbia - Pak Thale area)

Thanks to…

…. James Eaton and Filip Verbelen for the information they supplied on both countries. Also thanks to a lot of people who responded to my mail on the Oriental Bird Club mail list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/orientalbirding/

Flights

First, we booked cheap tickets (480 euro) by Mahan Airlines. This is Iran’s national airway company. They flew from Germany and the UK. However, the EU has withdrawn their license for all the EU countries since October 2007. Luckily, we could get new tickets by Fly Emirates (790 euro). We booked the tickets of both companies by Just Travel www.justtravel.de in Germany.

In May 2008, we finally got our money back from Mahan Airlines.

Local flights were booked on the internet. Flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap was by Bangkok Airways www.bangkokair.com and flight from Phnom Penh to Bangkok by low cost company Air Asia www.airasia.com.

Car hire

We only hired a car in Thailand. Also with hiring a car, we had problems. The first company we hired our car got bankrupt. Finally, we hired a car with Firstcarhire on the internet. It was a car from Budget for the price of GBP 201 for 7 days.

Logistics

In Thailand, we camped in both Kaeng Krachan and Khao Yai. Near Laempakbia, we slept 2 nights in a resort. Erwin Hoebrechts arranged this for us. On our way to and from Khao Yai, we slept in Saraburi. The first time we stayed in a cheap, low budget hotel, the second time in a higher-class hotel. Both were located along the main road through the city. There are many hotels to find in Saraburi.

In Cambodia, Sam Veasna Centre for Wildlife Conservation (SVC) www.samveasna.org arranged nearly all the logistics for the trip. Our guide was Mony. Nick Butler, the new CEO of the organisation, also accompanied us for a few days. Nick is not a birdwatcher and it was the first time he visited all the places. Organisation was good in general but there were a few minus points.

On our second day in Cambodia, we planned to go to Prek Toal. We arranged a boot-trip with OSMOSE http://jinja.apsara.org/osmose/oSmoSe_online.swf weeks before our trip.

However, on the morning we planned to go, no one turned up. It was already 8 a.m. before we could reach someone by telephone at the OSMOSE office. They simply forgot us. Moreover, they told us that by that time of the day, it was already too late to go to Prek Toal. They suggested going to Prek Toal one day later, but this was not possible due to our itinerary.

Finally, end good, all good. We went to Prek Toal the day we planned thanks to the help of the hotel owner. He arranged a boat for us and he accompanied us the whole day to Prek Toal. Arranging a boat at the hotel is even cheaper than OSMOSE. Finally, we ended this day very successfully (see itinerary part of this report and observations).

We stayed at the Bou Savy Guesthouse www.bousavyguesthouse.com. This is a great place to stay in a quiet part of Siem Reap, but close to the airport and Angkor Wat. Highly recommendable, also because of the help of the owner during our trouble with OSMOSE.

Book

Internet sources and trip reports

Of course, known by every birdwatcher is www.travellingbirder.com. Great site to find trip reports on the internet. Trip reports most valuable to prepare our trip were:

Other trip reports that were interesting to read are on the website of

Following websites are very useful:

Photos

You can find photos of our trip at http://www.flickr.com/photos/collaertsbrothers/sets/72157604404997362

Visited sites 

For nearly all the places we visited, a lot of information is already on the internet. I just give additional information where it is relevant.

Thailand

Laempakbia and Pak Thale

http://www.thaibirding.com/locations/central/lpb.htm

Kaeng Krachan

http://www.thaibirding.com/locations/west/kk.htm.

The info about White-fronted Scops-Owl on the site is still up-to-date. We saw the bird at the left hand side, coming from the camping area. Another bird was calling at the right side of the road. Go into the forest where you see the blue pipeline. This is just over the river. On the map on the website, the spot is just before the stream. Follow this pipeline again into the direction of the river. The bird was calling 2 nights at the same place. On both nights, we also saw it. I think staying at the road will not give you the opportunity to see the owl. The bird stays deeper into the forest.

Khao Yai

http://www.thaibirding.com/locations/north_east/ky.htm

The Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo moved from its traditional place behind the restaurant at the Pa Gluay Mai camping. When we visited the park, the favourite area for the Ground-Cuckoo was in a gully behind the toilets, at the other side of the road at the same camping. Waiting for hours resulted in seeing the Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo for a few seconds. Thai photographers nearly immediately disturbed it once the bird appeared. When we arrived at the spot, they even put their hides up on the favourite spot of the cuckoo. Later they moved their hides more into the vegetation but one of the photographers jumped out of the bushes once the cuckoo appeared. All afternoon waiting for not more then a glimpse of this beautiful bird.

Wat Phra Phutthabat Noi

This is an excellent site for Limestone Wren-Babbler. Site description is at

http://thaibirding.com/newforums/index.php?PHPSESSID=1c410f6bb49467a0b536eca9ebf1cc01&topic=6.0. We found this babbler very easy on the rocks just behind the monastery.

Cambodia

I did not make detailed notes for these places. The guides from SVC know the places-to-go for the specialities very well. In other reports on the internet, you will find information too.

Itinerary

Day 1 – February 17th:     Bangkok to Laempakbia in the evening
Day 2 – February 18th:     all day Laempakbia and Pak Thale
Day 3 – February 19th:     all day Kaeng Krachan, night in the park
Day 4 – February 20th:     all day Kaeng Krachan, night in the park
Day 5 – February 21st:     a.m. Kaeng Krachan, p.m. drive to Saraburi and hotel in Saraburi
Day 6 – February 22nd:     a.m. Wat Phra Phutthabat Noi, p.m. Khao Yai, night in the park
Day 7 – February 23rd:     all day in Khao Yai, night in Saraburi
Day 8 – February 24th:     early morning flight Bangkok to Siem Reap, p.m. Angkor Wat, night in Siem Reap
Day 9 – February 25th:     all day Prek Toal – Tonle Sap, night in Siem Reap
Day 10 – February 26th:   all day Ang Tropeang Thmor, night in Siem Reap
Day 11 – February 27th:   a.m. Kompong Thom area, p.m. transfer to overnight stay in Tbeng Meanchey
Day 12 – February 28th:   all day drive to O’Koki
Day 13 – February 29th:   all day O’Koki
Day 14 – March 1st:          morning in O’Koki, before noon drive to Chepp (2 hours). Rest of day near Chepp
Day 15 – March 2nd:         morning in Chepp, rest of the day drive to Tmatboey
Day 16 – March 3rd:         all day Tmatboey
Day 17 – March 4th:         all day Tmatboey
Day 18 – March 5th:         morning in Tmatboey, rest of day drive to Kompong Thom. Late afternoon and evening fields west of Kompong Thom.
Day 19 – March 6th:         morning fields east of Kompong Thom, rest of the day drive to Kratie.
Day 20 – March 7th:         all day near Kratie
Day 21 – March 8th:         early morning departure to Phnom Penh, p.m. flight to Bangkok

Daily log

Ø      February 16th

We left home at 16h00. We took a taxi to the airport of Dusseldorf. Flight with Fly Emirates at 20h45.

Ø      February 17th

We made a stopover in Dubai and at 17h 30 we arrived in Bangkok. The drive to Laempakbia took more time then we expected. We had problems to find the right highways in Bangkok city. It was already dark when we were in Petchaburi and finding our way on the small, dark roads near Pak Thale and Laempakbia was really hell. Also trying to contact Erwin Hoebrechts by telephone failed. It was already after 23h when we met him at the resort near Had Chao Samran.

Ø      February 18th

Erwin Hoebrechts was already in the area for a few days. He knew the spots for all the birds on our wanted-to-see list. Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Nordmann’s Greenshank, Black-faced Spoonbill and the mystery “White-faced” Plover were easily observed. For the “White-faced” Plover, we took a boat to the sandpit in Laempakbia. Other good birds we saw were Slaty-breasted Rail, Pied Avocet, Great Knot and Red-necked Phalarope. We stayed in the area the whole day.

Ø      February 19th

We said goodbye to Erwin H. and left for Kaeng Krachan early in the morning. At 10h00 we were at the camping site at km 15 in the park. First hours in the park were spend birdwatching near the camping and at the trail just nearby. Here we saw Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Black-and-red and Dusky Broadbills. It was only possible to drive to the higher parts of Kaeng Krachan from 1 o’clock in the afternoon. We made a first stop near the 3 streams that cross the track near km 16. Here we heard Grey Peacock-Pheasant. Late afternoon, we stayed near km 27. There was a large fruiting tree over here. Two Yellow-vented Pigeons were a good find. We also observed White-hooded Babbler and Blue-beared Bee-eater. In the evening, we went to the stakeout for one of our main targets, White-fronted Scops-Owl. Two birds were calling soon near the first stream, at km15. It took just a few minutes before we found the owl. We had great views and could make some photographs.

Ø      February 20th

In the morning, we stayed near the camping. Nothing special was seen. Next stop was at km 16 again. Grey Peacock-Pheasants and Blue Pittas were calling again. Next stop was the fruiting tree just further than km 27. Very unexpected was a female Silver Oriole. The bird was feeding in the fruiting tree. It stayed in the telescope just long enough to give all the four of us good views. Next day, a couple of Danish birders and an Englishman saw the oriole again. The Englishman could even film the oriole. In the afternoon, we drove to km 36. Here at the parking at the end of the road, we saw a few Pin-tailed Parrotfinches fouraging in blooming bamboo. We had lunch at the small restaurant near Panoen Tong campsite. At 6h, we had permission to drive down again. We stopped again along the track near the 3 streams. We found 3 Rusty-cheeked Hornbills between the second and third stream. We observed a couple of Spot-necked Babblers just before dark. At dark, we were at the White-fronted Scops-Owl stakeout again. We did observe the bird again. We even had six species of owls near the first stream within half an hour. The second owl we saw was a Mountain Scops-Owl. Others were Collared Scops-Owl, Asian Barred Owl and Brown Hawk-Owl. The sixth owl species we observed at this place was Collared Owlet. This one, we only heard.

Ø      February 21st

At sunrise, we were at the third stream near km 17. Grey Peacock-Pheasants were calling and we observed 3 Rusty-cheeked Hornbills again. At the same place as yesterday evening, the 2 Spot-necked Babblers were present again. 

Just before the third stream near km 17, we found a small trail at the right side of the road. Here we spend the rest of the morning, trying to see a Peacock-Pheasant. Several of them were calling here too. We approached two calling males very close but unluckily, they stayed hidden in the dense vegetation. Good birds near the trail were Black-backed Kingfisher, White-browed Piculet, Buff-rumped Woodpecker, Eastern Crowned Leaf-Warbler, White-tailed Flycatcher and Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush.

At noon, we left Kaeng Krachan and had a long drive up north, to Saraburi. In this city, we stayed for one night.

Ø      February 22nd

Early morning, we drove north of Saraburi. Wat Phra Phutthabat Noi monastery was our destination. We found the place soon and we birded near the monastery. Especially the limestone rocks behind the temple were the place where we searched for the named-after Wren-Babbler. We soon found two of them.

At 8 o’clock, we were already on the road to Khao Yai. After a short stop at the first viewpoint in the park, we drove straight to the Pa Gluay Mai camping. Target here was Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo, a species we dipped on our 2 previous visits at the park. We met a few English birdwatchers at the camping. They told us that the Ground-Cuckoo changed his favourite spot behind the restaurant for a gully behind the toilets. Also they saw a White-throated Rock-Thrush at the camping ground.

Therefore, behind the toilets, we spend most of the day. Finally, late afternoon, we saw the Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo walking into the open. Sadly, the bird did not have the chance to stay there for a long time. Photographers disturbed it within a few seconds. Therefore, we had good but short views.

In the evening, we tried for owls along the road to the radar station. Mountain and Collared Scops-Owls were heard.

Ø      February 23rd

Early morning, we tried for the White-throated Rock-Thrush. We visited the place where the English birdwatchers saw a male, but without any success. Until noon, we stayed at trail 6, near the HQ. It was very calm here and we noticed nothing special. In the afternoon, we walked the trail that starts at Pa Gluay Mai camping. Also here, there was not much bird activity. In the evening, we stopped at the viewpoint near the entrance. Thousands of bats were leaving their caves. We had spectacular views of large flocks that were flying over.

We searched for a hotel in Saraburi again. This time we took a more comfortable one then the one we took two days ago.

Ø      February 24th

At 5h 00, we left for Bangkok. We had our flight to Cambodia at 8 o’clock.

It was a short flight. After an hour, we put foot on Cambodian ground already. We took a taxi to the Bou Savy Guesthouse. We asked the same taxi-driver, to be our driver for the rest of the day. He guided and drove us around in the 300 km² area of Angkor Wat. We visited a few of the most important temples. In the evening, it was time for a few hours relaxing in the hotel. In the restaurant we choose for dinner, we met a Belgian woman who was living in Cambodia for several years. She started her own NGO to build schools in the country.

Ø      February 25th

At 6 o’clock, we were ready for a day at Tonle Sap. As many birdwatchers do, we contacted OSMOSE to arrange all the logistics for the day. Six o’clock was passing by, as well did 6h30. We start to suspect that something was wrong. We tried to telephone to the office of OSMOSE. However, nobody was answering the phone. It was already after 8 o’clock before we got somebody on the line. His answer to explain why nobody was there to pick us up was simple. They forgot us. We sended many mails weeks before our arrival to be sure that everything was going to be arrange very well and this was the result. According to the person on the phone, it was to late now to go to Prek Toal. He suggested doing the trip the next day. However, this was not possible, due to the planning we made. While we were discussing on the telephone, the owner of the guesthouse heard what our problem was. Maybe he had a solution. He never went to Prek Toal but he knew a boatman at the lake. He contacted this men and it was ok for him to stay with us on the lake for the rest of the day. The owner of the guesthouse decided to take a day off and he accompanied us. He was never in Prek Toal before and he found this a good opportunity.

It was already after nine when we arrived at the border of the lake. To cross Tonle Sap to Prek Toal, a small village at the other side of the lake, took a few hours. We arrived in the flooting village at noon. According to the park rangers, it was already too late to go to the best platform, nr. 2, near the bird colonies. To go to this platform, you have to leave in the morning because it is far away from the village. They suggested that we would sail to platform 5. From this platform, they said that the chance of seeing Greater Adjutant and Milky Stork was very small. Now that we finally reached the village, this was rather disappointing news again. Moreover, these birds were just the reason we planned this visit. We left for platform 5, planning to make the best of the rest of the day. We did the first part from the village to the platform by the large boat that brought us to the village. Once we entered the mangroves, the water was soon too shallow. We had to change for 2 smaller paddle boats. We dragged these smaller boats from the village. The last part of the boat ride took more then two hours while paddling through magnificent mangroves. We saw hundreds of cormorants, Painted Storks and Spot-billed Pelicans. From the platform, we started scanning the colonies. They were far away from us and the sun haze made it more difficult to identify the birdsBut after a while, we found a Greater Adjutant and soon we found two more birds. Finding these birds gave us more courage to search for Milky Stork to. And indeed, after scanning for 15 minutes, we found a Milky Stork. So mission accomplished.

It was already late when we were back at the large boat. We had to do the crossing to Siem Reap in the dark. This was not planned as the boatman was never at the lake during night. The lake is full of fishing constructions and it really hell to find your way in this labyrinth of nets. The fact that we only had a small torch to flash did not make the crossing easier. It was a very difficult crossing but we got safe to the other side. Luckily, there were a few anglers on the lake, so we could ask for the right direction a few times.

Ø      February 26th

From this day on, Sam Veasna Centre for Wildlife Conservation (SVC) arranged everything for the rest of the trip. At 5h30, we met the driver and Mony, our guide. Today, we went to Ang Tropeang Thmor. This place is not that far from Siem Reap. The place is famous for the “sharpii” Sarus Crane. A few hours after we arrived in the area, it started raining very hard. This made it impossible to leave the main road by jeep to drive on the small tracks. We found a group of Sarus Cranes, but they were very far away. But it was not possible to go closer due to the muddy tracks.

Here at ATT, there is also a small colony of Painted Storks. Here we found two storks that looked like Milky Storks. But they had a lot of pink colour on there flight feathers. With one of the birds, the bald skin on the head did not look right for a pure Milky Stork either. Were these hybrids?

Late afternoon, we left for Siem Reap again. We passed at the office of SVC to arrange the last things. Here we met Raksa and Nick, the new manager.

Ø      February 27th

What we feared yesterday became reality today. The jeep was really too small to hold the four of us, our guide, the driver and all the luggage, camping equipment and litres of drinking water. In the trunk, there was a large loudspeaker. The first thing we did was removing this. The driver was not so happy with this. The next days would be without his favourite music. After we piled all the stuff again, there was just place enough for one us in the back of the jeep. This proved be a very uncomfortable place to sit during the long drives.

This morning, we drove to the grasslands near Kompong Thom. This is one of the best areas to see Bengal Florican. Soon we found a fouraging male. The bird was not that close but we had satisfying views. After 8 o’clock, it was nearly 30°C and already to hot for birdwatching in the open fields. Despite the heat, we stayed here for a couple more hours. Pied Harrier and Small Buttonquail were good finds.

Today, we wanted to be in Tbeng Meanchey. It was a long drive with only a one-hour stop around noon, near the Kohker Temple. At 16h30, we arrived in Tbeng Meanchey. After we left Kompong Thom, we did no birdwatching anymore this day.

In the hotel in Tbeng Meanchey, we met Nick again. He would go with us the next days. Nick is not a birdwatcher but he started working at SVC just a few days ago. He would like to visit the places birdwatchers are going too. During the days he was with us, he made notes all the time about what birdwatchers want during their stay, what could be organised better and what points deserved extra attention.

In the hotel, we also met Hugo. He is working for Wildlife Conservation Society www.wcs.org. This organisation and SVC are working close together.

Ø      February 28th

We left most of our luggage in the office of WCS in Tbeng Meanchey. However, there was still no more room in the trunk of the car. We had to take more camping equipment and water with us to O’Koki. This place, 20 km from the Laos border, is in the middle of the forest. There are no facilities around so we camped in the forest.

Nick with his motorbike and a local police officer with his small moto accompanied us. It was a drive of 8 hours before we reached the camp in O’Koki. During the drive, we had just a few short stops for birdwatching. The road to O’Koki, you can hardly name it a road lets say a track, is very rough. Our car was stuck a few times. Sometimes on a muddy road, other times in the deep holes on the track.

En route Rufous-winged Buzzard, Brown Prinia and Vinous-breasted Starling were the best species we saw. When we arrived in O’Koki, the camping site was already ready. In O’Koki, there is broadleaved and dipterocarp forest. We had time enough late afternoon and in the evening, to go birdwatching in both types of forest. We saw Blossom-headed and Red-breasted Parakeets, Black-headed Woodpeckers and White-crested and Lesser-necklaced Laughingthrushes. In the evening, we heard a few Javan Frogmouths calling.

Ø      February 29th

At dark, we went to a pool close near the camp. This pool is a good spot for White-winged Duck. But we were unlucky today, no White-winged Duck appeared at sunrise. After breakfast in the camp, we went for birding in the dipterocarp forest. Here we soon found a pair of White-rumped Falcons. We saw them mating. We found more of our target birds, Chestnut-capped Babblers and Chestnut-tailed Starlings. Black-headed Woodpeckers and Blossom-headed Parakeets were present again. At noon, it was really to hot to keep on birding in the open dry dipterocarp forest. Afternoon birding was done in the broadleaved forest. Here we found Banded Kingfisher and Scaly-crowned Babbler. In the evening, we went to the hide near the pool again. We saw two males Siamese Firebacks very well. In the distance, we heard a Green Peafowl calling. Nightbirds were very active again. This time, we managed to see one Javan Frogmouth. While we were eating, we heard an Oriental Bay-Owl calling. We finished dinner quickly but this was not a good decision. When we started searching, the Bay-Owl was no longer calling. The bird(s) did even not react to playing tape. After an hour, we gave up.

Ø      March 1st

At 4h30, Erwin and I started searching owls again. It was very quiet in the forest and there were no owls active. After owl-searching, we went to the open forest. The couple of White-rumped Falcons was still present. Tom and Iwan decided to go to the hide again. Now, they saw two White-winged Ducks flying over but this were not satisfying views at all.

At eight, we departed for a two hours drive to Chepp. Near this village, there is a hide near a small lake. At this place, they are feeding the vultures. Mony went to the village to buy a cow. Neverthless, no farmer was willing to sell one. Due to the high prices they got for their rice this year, there was no need for them to sell a cow. In the meantime, we saw already vultures flying over. Slender-billed, White-rumped and Red-headed Vulture were all seen.

It was not all bad news Mony had for us. A farmer knew a dead buffalo at the other side of the village. Vultures were feeding at this carcass for a few days already. The farmer guided us to the place. We saw a few Slender-billed Vultures sitting on the carcass. White-rumped was sitting here too and a Red-headed was flying over.

A large open shelter near the lake in the neighbourhood of the vulture restaurant was our accommodation. In the high grass at the border of the lake, a few Chinese Francolins were calling. In the evening, we heard Oriental Scops-Owl calling. In the weak light of our tourches, we saw one Scops-Owl, high in a tree. We had to stop searching for owls very soon as all our tourches got out of power soon after we started.

Ø      March 2nd

From 6 until 9 o’clock, we had our last hours for birdwatching near Chepp. A few of the birds we saw were Chinese Francolin, Brown Fish-Owl, Indian Cuckoo, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker and Chestnut-capped Babbler.

We drove back to Tbeng Meanchey and from there to Tmatboey. It was another day of long driving on terrible roads. We arrived in Tmatboey late afternoon. We stayed in the lodge, just outside the village, managed by the local people in corporation with WCS. When we entered the track to the lodge, a Chinese Francolin was crossing the road.

Ø      March 3rd

In Tmatboey, we got 2 extra local guides. At 5 o’clock, we left already for the stakeout for Giant Ibis. This place is at the same side of the village as the lodge. During sunrise, we saw two birds sitting in a tree. Soon they left their sleeping tree. A little bit later, a third bird flew over.  Here we also saw a Greater Spotted Eagle, White-rumped Falcon and Black-headed Woodpecker. Seeing a Brown Wood-Owl during daytime was great. Around noon, it was hot and we spend a few hours relaxing at the lodge. Late afternoon, we walked to the supposed sleeping-tree of the White-shouldered Ibisses. Unfortunately no ibis appeared. Owling this night did not result in hearing or seeing one.

Ø      March 4th

Today, we went birdwatching at the other side of the village. Our guides knew a nest of White-shouldered Ibis. We saw the bird sitting on the nest. Distance was rather far but we had reasonable views through the telescope. Not far from the nest, three other White-shouldered Ibisses were flying over. We also went to the day-roosting place of a Spotted Wood-Owl. We observed this bird very well. http://www.flickr.com/photos/collaertsbrothers/2407561502/in/set-72157604404997362/

In the same small patch of forest, we saw Pale-capped Pigeons. They preferred the bamboo bushes. To avoid midday heat, we stayed in the lodge again. Late afternoon, we explored the area behind the lodge again. This time we saw Brown Hawk-Owl and Brown Fish-Owl during daytime.

Ø      March 5th

In the morning, we tried for Giant Ibis again. We were just too late at their sleeping place, as we just saw two birds flying away. Yesterday, the Brown Fish-Owl did not cooperate very well, so we went to the same place. This time, we had excellent views.

At 10 o’clock, it was time to leave Tmatboey. We drove to Kompong Thom, where we arrived around noon. It was to hot to go birdwatching in the fields at this time of the day. First, we went to our hotel in the town. We took a short break before we departed to the fields west of Kompong Thom. We soon found a feeding flock of Oriental Plovers. We also flushed a male Bengal Florican while we were walking through the fields. We observed large numbers of Red-throated Pipits and huge numbers of swallows were flying over the plains. We stayed here until dark.

Ø      March 6th

After breakfast, we went to the east side of Kompong Thom. In these fields, nearly all the grass was burn. Our hope for finding Manchurian Reed-Warbler was immediately disappeared. There were obviously less birds in these fields than in the fields we visited yesterday afternoon. Yellow-breasted Buntings were new for the trip and a Greater Spotted Eagle was seen well. We left the fields earlier then we first planned. The rest of the day was again reserved for driving. Kratie was the place we wanted to be in the evening. No birdwatching anymore en route.

Ø      March 7th

At morning, we visited the small islets at the Mekong River. Mony arranged a boat for a few hours. From the riverbank, we observed already Mekong Wagtail and Small Pratincole. We also saw Irrawaddy Dolphins. However, the boattrip was still worth to do. Now, we got all the species at much closer range. After our boattrip, we drove to the lake just outside Kratie. In the vegetation at the border of the lake, we saw a few Greater Painted-Snipes. At the place they were fouraging, it was full of snares. We also saw a few Pallas’s Warblers. At noon, we went back to the hotel for lunch. Tom and Iwan stayed in their room for a break. Erwin and I went back to the lake. It was very, very hot. But after searching for a while, we found our last possible lifer for this trip, Asian Golden Weaver. A few males and females were seen. We went back to the hotel and returned with Tom, Iwan and Mony. They also saw the weavers. In the reed beds, Cinnamon, Yellow and Black Bitterns were present.

Ø      March 8th

At 6h30, we left Kratie for the long drive to Phnom Penh. We arrived at the capital at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. We said goodbye to Mony and our driver. Our flight to Bangkok was at 16h55.

Ø      March 9th

At 1h 30, we had our flight to Dubai. In Dubai, we had a delay of 2 hours due to dense fog. It was already 3 o’clock when we arrived in Dusseldorf.

Observations: Full bird List (Total number of birds: 373)

 

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