Thailand Naturetrek - part 4

DAYS 9 and 10
Petchburi and Laem Phakbia on the first day; with Khok Kham, Samutsakhon, the next day

Extensions
Our dossier gave the following information: “Thailand has so much to offer the visiting birdwatcher that you should consider extending your holiday by a few days to investigate some other areas, or perhaps to just look around Bangkok. As so much of the tour takes place in forest areas it may be worth considering visits to some of the wetland sites easily accessible from the capital.

Perhaps the most famous of these is Khok Kham in Sammut Sakhon district where salt pans, tidal mudflats and mangroves attract a tempting selection of migrant waders. A day spent here could produce a wide variety of birds including Pond and Little Green Herons, Brown-headed Gull, Whiskered Tern, Pacific Golden, Greater Sand and Lesser Sand Plovers, Wood Sandpiper, Temminck's, Red-necked and Long-toed Stints, White-breasted, White- collared and Black-capped Kingfishers, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Flyeater, Pied Fantail Flycatcher, Black-browed Reed
and Great Reed Warblers, Crested and Pied Mynas, Chinese Starling, Brown-throated and Yellow-bellied Sunbirds. As the tide recedes dozens of fascinating Mudskipper fish temporarily become terrestrial creatures, grazing on the exposed vegetation as brightly coloured crabs scuttle over the mud.

Many rare visitors have been recorded, including Asiatic Dowitcher and Spoon-billed Sandpiper, the latter being a regular wintering species in recent years.

Khok Kham can be visited on day excursions from Bangkok, although it should be mentioned that traffic congestion in the city can cause frustrating delays during busy periods.”

DAY 9 Sunday

Levelling saltpans. Our first Spoon-billed Sandpiper Calidris pygmeus was amongst the small waders, mostly Red-necked Stints C. ruficollis, in the background

Watching the first of our Spoon-billed Sandpiper

Searching for more Spoon-billed Sandpipers [EJP]


Spoon-billed Sandpiper habitat (EJP)

Fishing boats on the river down which we set off to see Malaysian Plovers

Sandy island where we saw a pair of Malasian Plovers Charadrius peronii beyond the foreground ridge

Embarking for return to river (EJP)


Returning up the mangrove lined river

More views of the colouful fishing boats moored in the river

Eric disembarking from the fishing boat

Lunch with the boatman's wife; our guide on the right

Lunch (EJP)

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Great Egret Egretta (Casmerodius) alba


Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago


Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus

Asian Pied Starling Sturnus contra


Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

Black-winged Stilt and Javan Pond-Heron Ardeola speciosa



Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

Javan Pond-Heron and Wood Sandpiper


Javan Pond-Herons


Enormous Varanid lizard!

Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger


Edibe-nest Swiflet Collocalia fuciphaga 'Hiltons'

White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis

Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach

Plain-backed Sparrow Passer flaveolus


Domestic Ducks

Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis

Our bird list for today was: Little Grebe, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Common Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Black-capped Kingfisher,Collared Kingfisher, Green Bee-eater, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Greater Coucal, Asian Koel, Indian Roller, Edible-nest Swiftlet, Asian Palm Swift, Rock Pigeon, Spotted Dove, Red Collared Dove, Peaceful Dove, Common Moorhen, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Spotted Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Terek Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Great Knot, Ruff, Sanderling, Spoonbill Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Long-toed Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt, Little Ringed Plover, Oriental Pratincole, Kentish Plover, Malaysian Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Pacific Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Red-wattled Lapwing, Heuglin's Gull, Brown-headed Gull, Caspian Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, Great Crested Tern, Common Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Little Tern, Whiskered Tern, Black Kite, Brahminy Kite, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Black-shouldered Kite, Common Kestrel, Little Cormorant, Indian Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Little Egret, Pacific Reef Egret, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Cattle Egret, Grey Heron, Javan Pond Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Brown Shrike, Long-tailed Shrike, Black Drongo, Large-billed Crow, Pied Fantail, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Common Stonechat, Ashy Woodswallow, Asian Pied Starling, Common Myna, White-vented Myna, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Streak-eared Bulbul, Golden-bellied Gerygone, Black-browed Reed Warbler, Oriental Reed Warbler, Oriental White-eye, Paddyfield Pipit, Indochinese Bushlark, Plain-backed Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Baya Weaver, White-rumped Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia.

96 species seen with 56 of them new for the trip.

DAY 10 Monday


Sea defences near Nordman's Greenshank site (EJP)

Buddhist Temple where Edible-nest Swiftlets breed (EJP)

Boardwalk looking for Golden-bellied Gerygone and Oriental White-eye
but not finding Mangrove Whistler (EJP)

Our bird list for today was: Cotton Pygmy-Goose, Little Grebe, Common Kingfisher, Black-capped Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Greater Coucal, Asian Koel, Edible-nest Swiftlet, Asian Palm Swift, Rock Pigeon, Spotted Dove, Red Collared Dove, Peaceful Dove, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Bronze-winged Jacana, Common Redshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Nordmann's Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Great Knot, Red-necked Stint, Black-winged Stilt, Pacific Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Red-wattled Lapwing, Brown-headed Gull, Caspian Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Whiskered Tern, Black Kite, Brahminy Kite, Black-shouldered Kite, Peregrine Falcon, Little Cormorant, Little Egret, Pacific Reef Egret, Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Grey Heron, Javan Pond Heron, Little (Striated) Heron, Black Drongo, Large-billed Crow, Ratchet-tailed Treepie, Pied Fantail, Common Iora, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Common Stonechat, Asian Pied Starling, Common Myna, White-vented Myna, Barn Swallow, Streak-eared Bulbul, Golden-bellied Gerygone, Plain Prinia, Common Tailorbird, Dusky Warbler, Yellow-browed (Inornate) Warbler, Plain-backed Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, White-rumped Munia.

62 species seen with 8 of them new. Grand total 324.

Thailand List for February 2006

Rufous-throated Partridge, Arborophila rufogularis
Scaly-breasted Partridge, Arborophila chloropus
Mountain Bamboo Partridge, Bambusicola fytchii
Red Junglefowl, Gallus gallus
Cotton Pygmy-Goose, Nettapus coromandelianus
Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Dendrocopos canicapillus
Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos macei
Greater Yellownape, Picus flavinucha
Greater Flameback, Chrysocolaptes lucidus
Great Barbet, Megalaima virens
Lineated Barbet, Megalaima lineata
Green-eared Barbet, Megalaima faiostricta
Golden-throated Barbet, Megalaima franklinii
Blue-throated Barbet, Megalaima asiatica
Moustached Barbet, Megalaima incognita
Blue-eared Barbet, Megalaima australis
Coppersmith Barbet, Megalaima haemacephala
Oriental Pied Hornbill, Anthracoceros albirostris
Great Hornbill, Buceros bicornis
Wreathed Hornbill, Aceros undulatus
Red-headed Trogon, Harpactes erythrocephalus
Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
Banded Kingfisher, Lacedo pulchella
White-throated Kingfisher, Halcyon smyrnensis
Black-capped Kingfisher, Halcyon pileata
Collared Kingfisher, Todirhamphus chloris
Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Nyctyornis athertoni
Green Bee-eater, Merops orientalis
Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Merops philippinus
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Merops leschenaulti
Large Hawk Cuckoo, Cuculus sparverioides
Greater Coucal, Centropus sinensis
Lesser Coucal, Centropus bengalensis
Banded Bay Cuckoo, Cacomantis sonneratii
Asian Emerald Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx maculatus
Asian Koel, Eudynamys scolopacea
Green-billed Malkoha, Phaenicophaeus tristis
Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo, Carpococcyx renauldi
Indian Roller, Coracias benghalensis
Dollarbird, Eurystomus orientalis
Vernal Hanging Parrot, Loriculus vernalis
Grey-headed Parakeet, Psittacula finschii
Red-breasted Parakeet, Psittacula alexandri
Common (Eurasian) Hoopoe, Upupa epops
Himalayan Swiftlet, Collocalia brevirostris
Edible-nest Swiftlet, Collocalia fuciphaga
Asian Palm Swift, Cypsiurus balasiensis
Fork-tailed Swift, Apus pacificus
House Swift, Apus nipalensis
Brown-backed Needletail, Hirundapus giganteus
Crested Treeswift, Hemiprocne coronata
Collared Owlet, Glaucidium brodiei
Brown Hawk Owl, Ninox scutulata
Great Eared Nightjar, Eurostopodus macrotis
Rock Pigeon, Columba livia
Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Ducula badia
Spotted Dove, Streptopelia chinensis
Red Collared Dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica
Barred Cuckoo Dove, Macropygia unchall
Peaceful Dove, Geopelia striata
Thick-billed Green Pigeon, Treron curvirostra
Emerald Dove, Chalcophaps indica
White-breasted Waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus
Common Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
Eurasian Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola
Common Snipe, Gallinago gallinago
Black-tailed Godwit, Limosa limosa
Bar-tailed Godwit, Limosa lapponica
Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
Eurasian Curlew, Numenius arquata
Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus
Bronze-winged Jacana, Metopidius indicus
Spotted Redshank, Tringa erythropus
Common Redshank, Tringa totanus
Marsh Sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis
Common Greenshank, Tringa nebularia
Nordmann's Greenshank, Tringa guttifer
Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola
Terek Sandpiper, Tringa cinerea
Common Sandpiper, Tringa hypoleucos
Great Knot, Calidris tenuirostris
Ruff, Philomachus pugnax
Sanderling, Calidris alba
Spoonbill Sandpiper, Eurynorhynchus pygmeus
Red-necked Stint, Calidris ruficollis
Long-toed Stint, Calidris subminuta
Curlew Sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea
Broad-billed Sandpiper, Limicola falcinellus
Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus
Little Ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius
Oriental Pratincole, Glareola maldivarum
Kentish Plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
Malaysian Plover, Charadrius peronii
Greater Sand Plover, Charadrius leschenaultii
Pacific Golden Plover, Pluvialis fulva
Grey Plover, Pluvialis squatarola
Red-wattled Lapwing, Vanellus indicus
Heuglin's Gull, Larus heuglini
Brown-headed Gull, Larus brunnicephalus
Caspian Tern, Sterna caspia
Lesser Crested Tern, Sterna bengalensis
Great Crested Tern, Sterna bergii
Common Tern, Sterna hirundo
Gull-billed Tern, Sterna nilotica
Little Tern, Sterna albifrons
Whiskered Tern, Chlidonias hybridus
Oriental Honey-buzzard, Pernis ptilorhyncus
Black Eagle, Ictinaetus malayensis
Black Kite, Milvus migrans
Brahminy Kite, Haliastur indus
Eastern Marsh Harrier, Circus spilonotus
Shikra, Accipiter badius
Chinese Sparrowhawk, Accipiter soloensis
Japanese Sparrowhawk, Accipiter gularis
Crested Goshawk, Accipiter trivirgatus
Crested Serpent Eagle, Spilornis cheela
Common Buzzard, Buteo buteo
Rufous-bellied Eagle, Hieraaetus kienerii
Mountain Hawk Eagle, Spizaetus nipalensis
Black-shouldered Kite, Elanus caeruleus
Collared Falconet, Microhierax caerulescens
Common Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus
Little Cormorant, Phalacrocorax niger
Indian Cormorant, Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
Little Egret, Egretta garzetta
Pacific Reef Egret, Egretta sacra
Great Egret, Egretta (Casmerodius) albus
Intermediate Egret, Mesophoyx intermedia
Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea
Chinese Pond Heron, Ardeola bacchus
Javan Pond Heron, Ardeola speciosa
Black-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
Little (Striated) Heron, Butorides striatus
Yellow Bittern, Ixobrychus sinensis
Black Stork, Ciconia nigra
Asian Openbill, Anastomus oscitans
Eared Pitta, Pitta phayrei
Blue Pitta, Pitta cyanea
Banded Broadbill, Eurylaimus javanicus
Long-tailed Broadbill, Psarisomus dalhousiae
Blue-winged Leafbird, Chloropsis cochinchinensis
Golden-fronted Leafbird, Chloropsis aurifrons
Asian Fairy-bluebird, Irena puella
Brown Shrike, Lanius cristatus
Burmese Shrike, Lanius collurioides
Long-tailed Shrike, Lanius schach
Grey-backed Shrike, Lanius tephronotus
Black Drongo, Dicrurus macrocercus
Ashy Drongo, Dicrurus leucophaeus
Bronzed Drongo, Dicrurus aeneus
Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Dicrurus remifer
Spangled (Hair-crested) Drongo, Dicrurus hottentottus
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Dicrurus paradiseus
Large-billed Crow, Corvus macrorhynchos
Eurasian Jay, Garrulus glandarius
[Common] Green Magpie, Cissa chinensis
Rufous Treepie, Dendrocitta vagabunda
Ratchet-tailed Treepie, Temnurus temnurus
Black-naped Oriole, Oriolus chinensis
Slender-billed Oriole, Oriolus tenuirostris
Maroon Oriole, Oriolus traillii
Black-winged Cuckooshrike, Coracina melaschistos
Swinhoe's (Brown-rumped) Minivet, Pericrocotus cantonensis
Ashy Minivet, Pericrocotus divaricatus
Grey-chinned Minivet, Pericrocotus solaris
Long-tailed Minivet, Pericrocotus ethologus
Short-billed Minivet, Pericrocotus brevirostris
Scarlet Minivet, Pericrocotus flammeus
Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Hemipus picatus
Yellow-bellied Fantail, Rhipidura hypoxantha
White-throated Fantail, Rhipidura albicollis
Pied Fantail, Rhipidura javanica
Common Iora, Aegithina tiphia
Great Iora, Aegithina lafresnayei
Black-naped Monarch, Hypothymis azurea
Asian Paradise-Flycatcher, Terpsiphone paradisi
Blue Rock Thrush, Monticola solitarius
Blue Whistling Thrush, Myophonus caeruleus
Orange-headed Thrush, Zoothera citrina
Chestnut Thrush, Turdus rubrocanus
Grey-sided Thrush, Turdus feae
Eyebrowed Thrush, Turdus obscurus
Dark-sided Thrush, Zoothera marginata
Asian Brown Flycatcher, Muscicapa dauurica
Red-throated Flycatcher, Ficedula parva
Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Ficedula hodgsonii
White-gorgeted Flycatcher, Ficedula monileger
Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Ficedula hyperythra
Little Pied Flycatcher, Ficedula westermanni
Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Cyornis hainanus
Hill Blue Flycatcher, Cyornis banyumas
Verditer Flycatcher, Eumyias thalassina
Large Niltava, Niltava grandis
Small Niltava, Niltava macgrigoriae
Rufous-bellied Niltava, Niltava sundara
Vivid Niltava, Niltava vivida
Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher, Culicicapa ceylonensis
Siberian Rubythroat, Luscinia calliope
White-tailed Rubythroat, Luscinia pectoralis
Siberian Blue Robin, Luscinia cyane
Oriental Magpie-Robin, Copsychus saularis
Orange-flanked Bush Robin, Tarsiger cyanurus
White-rumped Shama, Copsychus malabaricus
Daurian Redstart, Phoenicurus auroreus
Blue-fronted Redstart, Philentoma frontalis
White-capped Water Redstart, Chaimarrornis leucocephalus
Plumbeous Water Redstart, Rhyacornis fuliginosus
White-browed Shortwing, Brachypteryx montana
Slaty-backed Forktail, Enicurus schistaceus
White-crowned Forktail, Enicurus leschenaulti
White-tailed Robin, Myiomela leucura
Common Stonechat, Saxicola torquata
Pied Bushchat, Saxicola caprata
Ashy Woodswallow, Artamus fuscus
Asian Pied Starling, Sturnus contra
Black-collared Starling, Sturnus nigricollis
Common Myna, Acridotheres tristis
White-vented Myna, Acridotheres grandis
Hill Myna, Gracula religiosa
Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Sitta nagaensis
Brown-throated Tree-Creeper, Certhia discolor
Yellow-cheeked Tit, Parus spilonotus
Yellow-browed Tit, Sylviparus modestus
Asian House Martin, Delichon dasypus
Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica
Wire-tailed Swallow, Hirundo smithii
Red-rumped Swallow, Hirundo daurica
Striated Bulbul, Pycnonotus striatus
Black-headed Bulbul, Pycnonotus atriceps
Black-crested Bulbul, Pycnonotus melanicterus
Red-whiskered Bulbul, Pycnonotus jocosus
Sooty-headed Bulbul, Pycnonotus aurigaster
Stripe-throated Bulbul, Pycnonotus finlaysoni
Flavescent Bulbul, Pycnonotus flavescens
Streak-eared Bulbul, Pycnonotus blanfordi
Grey-eyed Bulbul, Iole propinqua
Puff-throated Bulbul, Alophoixus pallidus
Ashy Bulbul, Hemixos flavala
Mountain Bulbul, Hypsipetes mcclellandii
Black Bulbul, Hypsipetes leucocephalus
White-headed Bulbul, Hypsipetes thompsoni
Golden-bellied Gerygone, Gerygone sulphurea
Bright-headed Cisticola, Cisticola exilis
Hill Prinia, Prinia atrogularis
Grey-breasted Prinia, Prinia hodgsonii
Yellow-bellied Prinia, Prinia flaviventris
Plain Prinia, Prinia inornata
Slaty-bellied Tesia, Tesia olivea
Mountain Tailorbird, Orthotomus cuculatus
Common Tailorbird, Orthotomus sutorius
Dark-necked Tailorbird, Orthotomus atrogularis
Black-browed Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus bistrigiceps
Oriental Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus orientalis
Thick-billed Warbler, Acrocephalus aedon
Dusky Warbler, Phylloscopus fuscatus
Radde's Warbler, Phylloscopus schwarzi
Arctic Warbler, Phylloscopus borealis
Greenish Warbler, Phylloscopus trochiloides
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, Phylloscopus tenellipes
Buff-barred Warbler, Phylloscopus pulcher
Ashy-throated Warbler, Phylloscopus maculipennis
Yellow-browed (Inornate) Warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus
Blyth's Leaf Warbler, Phylloscopus reguloides
White-tailed Leaf Warbler, Phylloscopus davisoni
Oriental White-eye, Zosterops palpebrosus
Japanese White-eye, Zosterops japonicus
Grey-crowned Warbler, Seicercus tephrocephalus
Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Seicercus castaniceps
White-crested Laughingthrush, Garrulax leucolophus
White-necked Laughingthrush, Garrulax strepitans
Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Garrulax erythrocephalus
Abbott's Babbler, Malacocincla abbotti
Large Scimitar Babbler, Pomatorhinus hypoleucos
White-browed Scimitar Babbler, Pomatorhinus schisticeps
Pygmy Wren Babbler, Pnoepyga pusilla
Striped Tit-Babbler, Macronous gularis
Golden Babbler, Stachyris chrysaea
Grey-throated Babbler, Stachyris nigriceps
Silver-eared Mesia, Leiothrix argentauris
White-browed Shrike Babbler, Pteruthius flaviscapis
Chestnut-fronted Shrike Babbler, Pteruthius aenobarbus
Blue-winged Minla, Minla cyanouroptera
Chestnut-tailed Minla, Minla strigula
Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Alcippe castaneceps
Brown-cheeked Fulvetta, Alcippe poioicephala
Grey-cheeked Fulvetta, Alcippe morrisonia
White-bellied Yuhina, Yuhina zantholeuca
Spectacled Barwing, Actinodura ramsayi
Rufous-backed Sibia, Heterophasia annectens
Dark-backed Sibia, Heterophasia melanoleuca
Black-throated Parrotbill, Paradoxornis nipalensis
Thick-billed Flowerpecker, Dicaeum agile
Plain Flowerpecker, Dicaeum concolor
Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Dicaeum ignipectus
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Dicaeum cruentatum
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Anthreptes singalensis
Purple-throated Sunbird, Nectarinia sperata
Olive-backed Sunbird, Nectarinia jugularis
Purple Sunbird, Nectarinia asiatica
Crimson Sunbird, Aethopyga siparaja
Mrs Gould's Sunbird, Aethopyga gouldiae
Green-tailed Sunbird, Aethopyga nipalensis
Black-throated Sunbird, Aethopyga saturata
Little Spiderhunter, Arachnothera longirostra
Streaked Spiderhunter, Arachnothera magna
Forest Wagtail, Dendronanthus indicus
Richard's Pipit, Anthus richardi
Paddyfield Pipit, Anthus rufulus
Olive-backed Pipit, Anthus hodgsoni
Indochinese Bushlark, Mirafra marionae
White Wagtail, Motacilla alba
Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
House Sparrow, Passer domesticus
Plain-backed Sparrow, Passer flaveolus
Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus
Baya Weaver, Ploceus philippinus
Red Avadavat, Amandava amandava
White-rumped Munia, Lonchura striata
Scaly-breasted Munia, Lonchura punctulata
Common Rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus