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Thailand, Khao Yai 19-21/09/02,

Martin Daniel, a British birder presently living in  Singapore and myself just visited Khao Yai National park for a couple of days.  This may be the most 'risky' time, weather wise, but though we saw little of the sun, we were spared any heavy downpours.

We stayed at the Juladit resort some 3 minutes drive outside the park. Good air-conditioned rooms with hot water, big beds and a hearty breakfast buffet included. I tried booking the room through the Internet but failed. Walk in price was cheaper then online at 980 Baht/room. Same room in another building on the hotel grounds was 750/night.  (Didn't have any time to bird around the  hotel  except for half an hour at noon on our 3^rd day. Saw Red-breasted Parakeets and Yellow-rumped Flycatcher as well as Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrikes).

On our first day in the park we had 57 species. Second day added another 20 while the 3^rd day's morning only yielded another 4. All in all, we say 105 species during our 3 days whereof 81 were within the park boundaries.

We walked trail 6 at two different times. Very muddy, undulating and rather demanding energy wise.

Best birds in here were a White-crowned Forktail in the stream. Male Hill Blue Flycatcher perched in full view. Red-headed Trogon as well as Orange-breasted Trogons within a minute of each other. I have seldom seen the two species so close together but actually had the same phenomenon happen twice  at different locations this time. Abbott's Babbler is easy in here.

Flocks of White-crested Laughingthrushes mixed with Black-throated and on one occasion a Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush were encountered on frequent occasions all over the park. Their sudden outbursts of cackling and chatters is a sure attention grabber.

White-browed Scimitar-Babbler were seen a number of times and always along with other species.

Driving down Khao Kaew viewpoint towards dusk yielded a party of 5 Silver Pheasants crossing the road. While trying to stake out  Siamese Fireback (failed attempt) a Scaly-breasted Partridge crossed the road. (This bird was also seen on the nature trail behind visitor center).

Greater Flameback, Greater Yellownape and Laced Woodpecker were all seen within 10 minutes at Pah Kloay Mai campground.  Black and Buff Woodpeckers, more uncommon, were seen feeding in a  smaller tree by Lumtaklong stream next to the visitor centre.

Pied Hornbills were seen many times while Wreathed was seen only once. Three individuals slowly flying overhead. Great Hornbills were seen perched as well as flying low between tree tops.

Best raptor was a perched Crested Goshawk while a Besra trying to snatch a Grew Wagtail from the ground gave a rapid appearance.

A Dark-sided Flycatcher was feeding next to a restaurant at the campground. An Asian Brown Flycatcher were present as well and so gave a good opportunity to compare the two species. A pair of Blue-eared Kingfishers were feeding at the Lamtaklong stream.

Khao Yai now prides itself in a newly opened campground by the old golfcourse. Very large with several buildings included. More like a landscaped park with modern facilities. Sadly, many large trees had died along a watershed at this area. Don't know if it was caused by redirected water causing flooding or simply a way of 'nature showing its displeasure', but it was a sore sight.

One extra ordinary appearance came from a 'road running' Porcupine. This nocturnal animal somehow had found its way out on the road in the morning. It kept running for a couple of hundred meters before entering the forest again. Other mammals were, singing Gibbons, Sambar and Barking Deer, plus several species of Squirrels.

We met someone who said he had seen about 20 Wild dogs at the gold course. And met another man who has been camera trapping wildlife who said that an estimated 12 tigers still thrive in the park.

The following is an account of the birds we saw in the park.

The following is what we saw outside the park and on our way back to Bangkok.

  All in all,  a rewarding few days and while Martin ended up with 20 new birds to his list, I had to settle for many 'repeats'. We had many good looks at the birds and enjoyed every moment of our time together.

A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia Craig Robson: Buy from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk A new flexi-cover edition of this superb and influential book is now available (UK) making it far more useful in the field. The birds of South-East Asia details the identification, voice, breeding, status, habitat and distribution of the 1250 species and distinctive sub-species of the region covering Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, West Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. The illustrations are excellent and Craig Robson's text reflects his position as one of the foremost ornithological authorities of S.E.Asia. Indispensable for anyone visiting the area.

The Birds of Thailand Craig Robson: Buy from Amazon.com orAmazon.co.uk At last, the quality of field guides for the Far East has caught up with those of Europe and America. Craig Robson's "Birds of Thailand" is a tour de force...950 mouth watering species all beautifully illustrated and expertly described, each with its own distribution map. The natural riches of Thailand make it an ever more popular birding destination and this indispensible guide will set the standard there for years to come.

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