Kaeng Krachan National Park - Part 2

Our second day at Kaeng Krachan saw us transferring to 4 x 4's for the journey to the top of the mountain. Because of the narrow roads access times is strictly limited and there are specific times allocated to ascending and descending the trails. Our plan was to ascend to the highest levels, before the crowds, and then work our way down.

Meeting at the ranger station we met up with our drivers and realised there were two options. The 4 x 4's were crew cabs meaning there was the option to either sit in an air conditioned cab or in the back to get bounced around over the rough ground. Naturally Alan, Jay, Marc & me opted for the latter! 

One of the highlights was the huge number of butterflies seen by the several stream crossings - complete with signs warning you of the dangers of butterflies.....

Other signs warned of the presence of bird watchers! 

One of the birding highlights at the top was our 1st Velvet-fronted Nuthatch of the trip and the beautiful Verditer & Hainan Flycatchers.

Dusky langurs and White-handed (Lar) Gibbons could be found in the roadside trees.

Once we'd satisfied ourselves at the top level we moved back down to have lunch in one of the cafe's where we hoped to catch up with the female Sunbear and her cub who'd been visiting regularly for food scraps. Unfortunately we'd arrived at the weekend and there were lots of people around so the bears didn't show up. We did have good views of a few other species including Grey-sided Thrush and Eye-browed Thrush. Leaving our 4x4's behind we met up with our regular drivers and de-camped back into the comfortable mini-vans.

Grey-sided Thrush

Eyebrowed Thrush

Flavescent Bulbul

After lunch we started birding the lower levels slowly walking along the roads and listening for any birds that might indicate a roving flock moving through. We'd split up with some of the group opting to walk back to the mini-vans whilst Jay & I hung back. Unfortunately we  saw the only Barred Broadbill we saw of the trip much to Marc's anguish.

Catching up with Marc we found him peering into the vegetation watching an Orange-breasted Trogon devouring a stick insect. 

Meeting up with our van drivers who'd laid on tea and biscuits for us we reflected on what had been another brilliant day in Kaeng Krachen. Tomorrow we were heading to Khao Yai with the promise of more spectacular birding on the way.

Tokay Gecko

Asian Pied Hornbills

Kaeng Krachan National Park - Part 1

Staying at the Nana Resort hotel Marc and I got into the habit of getting up before it was light and going out with Jay, the thermal imager and a torch, looking for owls and any other nocturnal creatures we could find before breakfast. We'd heard a Collared Scops Owl in the hotel grounds but hadn't seen it until we picked it up in the thermal. Again it stayed long enough for me to run back and get my camera from the room! 

This was to be the 1st species of Scops Owl we'd see on our trip with the 2nd being a partially visible roosting White-fronted Scops Owl.

Birding in the hotel grounds before breakfast also paid dividends with good views of Coppersmith Barbet, Hoopoe, White-breasted Kingfisher and Green-billed Malkhoa. Birds we'd see often on our travels but these were more approachable and photographable.

Coppersmith Barbet

Kaeng Krachan gave us our 1st introduction to the hazard of 'birders neck' as we craned our heads upwards looking for birds in the canopies of tall trees alongside the tracks. We spent two days here exploring different areas of the park.

One of the highlights was visiting a private hide owned by an enterprising local who put food and water out to attract a variety of stunning birds - including Kalij pheasant and both Bar-backed and Green-legged Partridge.

Bar-backed Partridge

Bar-backed Partridge

Green-legged partridge

Female Kalij Pheasant

Male Kalij Pheasant

The hide was amazing. We spent 3 hours there and the birds were coming thick and fast. At times it was hard to know where to look as Jay was whispering the names of new species as they came in to either feed or drink. I gave up after a while and photographed everything I could to try and identify it, with Jays help, after we'd left the hide. At times I just sat and took in the dazzling spectacle trying to take it all in and imprint it on my memory.

Black-naped Monarch

Green-winged Leafbird

Brown-cheeked Fulvetta

Chinese Blueflycatcher

White-crested Laughing Thrush

White-rumped Sharma

Racket-tailed Treepie

Puff-throated Babbler

Pin-striped Tit Babbler

Lesser-necklaced Laughing Thrush

Greater-necklaced Laughing Thrush

Emerald Dove

Common Flameback

Another species I'd hoped to see in Thailand was another one I hope to catch up with in the UK at some point. Siberian Blue Robin. The hide came up trumps with a female but I'd have to wait until later in the trip for an adult male.

It was in Kang Krachan that we caught up with another of the Worlds rarest birds. Silver Oriole! This species breeds in southern China and has an estimated population of between 1-10,000 (Birdlife DataZone) and the last recorded individual in Kaeng Krachan was in 2015 until this winter! We knew one had been sighted but it was still a thrill when Jay softly announced its presence. He managed to get a sound recording of it but we failed to get any photos.

One of the locals told us about a fruiting tree that was attracting large numbers of Hornbills near the 19km marker so we checked it out and were amazed to find Great, Rusty-cheeked, Oriental Pied and Wreathed Hornbills all utilising the same food source.

What a day and what a fantastic place.