THAILAND TOUR REPORT 2023

12 - 28 January / 2 February 2023

by Dave Farrow

This years’ Birdquest to Thailand was a welcome return to one of the best birding destinations on the continent of Asia, featuring a spicy blend of forests, mountains and wetlands filled with great birds.
We began on the coast where we saw Spoon-billed Sandpipers, White-faced and Malaysian Plovers, Asian Dowitchers, Nordmann’s Greenshanks, and Great Knot by the thousand. Heading inland to a fully reopened Kaeng Krachan National Park we saw Kalij Pheasants, Ferruginous, Bar-backed and Green-legged Partridges, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Ratchet-tailed Treepie and Collared Babbler, and a stunning Blue Pitta.At Khao Yai we saw Buffy Fish Owls at a nest, Silver Pheasant, Black-and-buff Woodpecker, Wreathed Hornbills, and colour was added by Red-headed and Orange-breasted Trogons and Long-tailed Broadbills. At nearby sites we saw the endemic Rufous Limestone Babbler and stunning Siamese Firebacks. In the border hills of the far north we found Mrs. Hume’s Pheasants, Giant Nuthatch, Pallas’s and Chinese Leaf Warblers, Black-breasted and Scaly Thrushes, White-browed and Silver-eared Laughingthrushes, Rufous-backed Sibia, Scarlet-faced Liocichla, Spectacled Barwings, Crested Finchbills and Spot-winged Grosbeaks. At other nearby localities we saw Green Peafowl, Grey-headed Lapwings, Small Pratincoles, Black-collared Starlings, Siberian Rubythroat and Lanceolated Warbler. In the forests of Doi Inthanon and Mae Ping we saw Rufous-throated Partridges, Grey-headed and Blossom-headed Parakeets, Collared Falconet, Rufous-winged Buzzards, White-bellied and Black-headed Woodpeckers, Green Cochoa, Burmese Nuthatch, Himalayan Shortwings, Dark-sided Thrushes, Eyebrowed Wren Babblers, Grey-headed Parrotbills, Clicking Shrike Babblers, and Slaty-bellied Tesia. On our South Thailand extension, in coastal areas we saw Chinese Egrets, Brown-winged Kingfishers, Mangrove Pittas and Black-and-Red Broadbills, while at forest sites we saw Grey-and-buff Woodpecker, Lesser Fish Eagle, Great Hornbills, the incandescent Malayan Banded Pitta, Green and Black-and-yellow Broadbills, Gould’s and Blyth’s Frogmouth both at day roost, Large Blue Flycatcher and Chestnut-naped Forktail, Brown Wood Owl, plus a bonus pair of Spotted Wood Owl.
Mammals also featured, with six species of Primate seen including Pileated Gibbon and Robinson’s Banded Langur, plus a lively Asian Elephant.

Our tour began at Bangkok Airport, and we headed to a coastal area not far from the city. Our target of Spoon-billed Sandpiper was somewhere out there in the glare of the salt pans, and after some careful scanning we found it feeding busily in the shallows. We enjoyed some close looks, along with its companions of Broad-billed and Curlew Sandpipers, Red-necked Stints and Marsh Sandpipers. We sped southwards down the coast to our next appointment, where a small boat ride to the sandspit at Laem Phak Bia provided good views of a White-faced Plover female, three Malaysian Plovers on the beach, plus a couple of Black-capped Kingfishers in the mangroves. Returning to the saltpans along this coast (just minutes from our hotel) we found flocks of Nordmann’s Greenshanks, Asiatic Dowitchers, legions of Great Knot and Lesser Sand Plovers, plus Greater Sand Plovers, Terek Sandpipers, and another Spoon-billed Sandpiper was located and showed well, plus Caspian and Gull-billed Terns, Long-toed and Temminck’s Stints, Plain-backed Sparrow and an Indochinese Bushlark. We sped inland for a session at one of the Kaeng Krachan waterhole hides and spent an exciting afternoon watching the antics of a Ferruginous Partridge, plus Bar-backed and Green-legged Partridges, a flock of Kalij Pheasants, Indochinese and Hainan Blue Flycatchers, Abbott’s and Puff-throated Babblers, Greater and Lesser Necklaced, and White-crested Laughingthrushes, and sneaky Siberian Blue Robins.

In the lowland forest at Kaeng Krachan National Park we found Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Thick-billed and Wedge-tailed Green Pigeons, Asian Fairy Bluebirds, Green-eared and Blue-eared Barbets, and Greater Flameback. Mammals are always a feature here and we saw Dusky Langurs, Lar Gibbon and a Black Giant Squirrel. A cute White-browed Piculet popped up in the bamboo, along with Yellow-bellied Warblers and a Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher, but Tickell’s Brown Hornbills was only glimpsed as they vacated a fruiting tree.
In the afternoon we headed for another hide, where Kalij Pheasants and Bar-backed Partridges entertained us. After a while a handsome male Blue Pitta came in, at first hesitantly, before coming down to sit on a log, just in front of us. Wow! An Eared Pitta that called a couple of times from the hillside thickets unfortunately didn’t follow the pattern! We finished up at our lodge with a Bronze-winged Jacana, Brown Boobooks emerged at dusk and a Slaty-legged Crake called from a dense thicket.

Taking pickup trucks up onto the higher ridge, we began birding at 1000m in bamboo rich montane forest. A male Red-headed Trogon appeared, then we found Collared Babblers chuckling away. Another group of Collared Babblers revealed an exciting couple of traveling companions – a pair of Ratchet-tailed Treepies that posed nicely for us, a lucky find given that they never called. We found a singing White-tailed Flycatcher (my first here in 25 years!) which showed itself nicely if somewhat buried within a bamboo thicket, where there was also a Spot-necked Babbler lurking. We happened upon a flock of lovely Silver-breasted Broadbills that were well appreciated, and other new birds included Blue-throated Barbets, Brown-backed Needletails, Pacific Swift, Rufous-bellied Eagle, various Bulbuls including Olive, Ashy and Flavescent, Striated Yuhina, Sulphur-breasted and Two-barred Warblers, and a furtive Rufous-browed Flycatcher, however a Grey Peacock Pheasant running off the road was barely glimpsed. We also saw a nice group of the rarely-seen Robinson’s Banded Langur, plus several groups of the more typical Dusky Langur.
An early session around our lodgings provided a Ruddy-breasted Crake, that popped out of the grass as soon as we tapped a yoghurt pot on a rock! We also saw a fine Baikal Bush Warbler, some Black-hooded Orioles, Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters and a swarm of Chestnut-tailed Starlings. We spent a while in the rice fields near Phetchaburi where we found Asian Golden Weaver, both Yellow and Cinnamon Bitterns in the same ditch, pleasing numbers of Yellow-breasted Buntings, plus three Greater Spotted Eagles and a Steppe Eagle, (surprisingly a write-in) Eastern Marsh Harriers and Black-eared Kites. We then drove straight through Bangkok (or rather over, on elevated expressways!) to a temple by a rocky outcrop where we found the endemic Rufous Limestone Babbler hopping around on the rocks, before heading on to our lodgings near Khao Yai National Park.

A vast tract of forest remains here at Khao Yai, best accessed along one of the quieter roads in an attempt to avoid the crowds that throng here from the cities. Walking through the forest we saw Mountain Imperial Pigeons, Barred Cuckoo-Dove, Orange-breasted Trogons and Banded Kingfisher, Black-throated Laughingthrushes, a Moustached Barbet excavating a nest hole, Grey-backed Shrike, Sulphur-breasted and Radde’s Warbler along the roadsides. On a forest boardwalk we found a lively mixed flock with vocal Long-tailed Broadbills, Common Green Magpie and Black-winged Cuckooshrike. Wreathed Hornbills cruised over the forest, and a Silver Pheasant actually passed between our two cars as we drove down the road. By the visitors centre we saw a superb Buffy Fish Owl at roost, close to its partner sat on its nest among a clump of ferns. Also around here were Claudia’s Leaf Warblers, Swinhoe’s and Rosy Minivets, Red-breasted Parakeet, and we enjoyed more views of Orange-breasted Trogon. In the late afternoon we watched 25 Brown-backed Needletail swooping down to drink from a small reservoir.

Another morning at Khao Yai added more birds such as Collared Owlet, Thick-billed Green Pigeon, Puff-throated Bulbuls, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Large Hawk Cuckoo, Bright-capped Cisticola and Common Hill Myna. A trio of Black-and-Buff Woodpeckers were a nice surprise, as was a troop of four Pileated Gibbon – the first time I have seen this shy species. A sneak around forest trails produced some nice Red-headed Trogons, Lesser Yellownape and White-crested Laughingthrushes, but Siamese Firebacks seem no longer easy to find at Khao Yai. We made a special trip to Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve where we enjoyed great views of at least 15 of them, all very obliging and very handsome indeed. Also, here we had Heart-spotted Woodpecker, plus Red-breasted Parakeets making their toy trumpet call.
Time to head to the airport for the next leg of our journey, with a productive stop en route at some marshy areas where we found Black-browed Reed Warbler, Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Eastern Yellow Wagtails, Red Avadavat and White-rumped Munia. We flew to the northern city of Chiang Mai, and drove northwards, stopping at some paddyfield and open country sites where we found Small Pratincoles, Pintail Snipe, Plaintive Cuckoo, Wire-tailed Swallow, a large gathering of Grey-headed Lapwings, plus Amur Wagtails and Black-collared Starlings. We stayed near the small town of Chiang Dao, dominated by the isolated massif of Doi Chiang Dao, and in the morning began our birding at a small temple nestled among tall trees at the foot of the mountain. Here we found Buff-breasted Babbler, Great Iora, Grey-eyed Bulbuls, Little and Streaked Spiderhunters, and Plain Flowerpecker, before continuing our way northwards. We drove along a spectacular road that follows a ridge parallel with the border with Myanmar, to Doi Ang Khang, a collection of villages sitting among a mosaic of forest and cultivation. Along scrubby edges we found Brown-breasted Bulbuls, a single Burmese Shrike, Yunnan Fulvettas, Blue-winged Minla, while around the back of a restaurant we found several Black-breasted Thrushes and a Scaly Thrush lurking. The roadsides and orchards were dotted with pink flowering cherry trees that were busy with Gould’s Sunbird, Chestnut-flanked and Indian White-eye, Davison’s Leaf Warblers, Dark-backed Sibia, and even attracted a White-headed Bulbul. We saw the massive badger-like Giant Nuthatch in the pines around a busy campsite, plus several Chestnut-vented Nuthatches in the same habitat. At a small feeding station, a White-tailed Robin aggressively defended against Hill Blue Flycatchers, but a stocky little Streaked Wren Babbler held its ground. In the bamboo we found Chinese Leaf Warbler and Yellow-bellied Warblers.

The next day we headed a little further up the pine-clad border ridges to Doi Lang. The hoped for Mrs Hume’s Pheasant never materialised; however, we found a very smart Ultramarine Flycatcher, plus Slaty-backed and Rufous-gorgeted Flycatchers. We also found Stripe-breasted Woodpecker, Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Aberrant Bush Warbler and Buff-throated Warbler, a trio of Spectacled Barwings, Large and Rufous-bellied Niltava, Slaty-blue Flycatcher, Yunnan Fulvetta, Golden and Rufous-capped Babblers. In the afternoon, we headed for the lowlands to scan paddyfields where we found Siberian Rubythroat and Chestnut-capped Babblers, Richards Pipits, Striated Swallows, more Grey-headed Lapwings, Pacific Golden Plovers, Grey-headed Swamphen and Long-tailed Shrikes.
An extra effort was made to reach Doi Ang Khang pre-dawn, and we found a vocal Hodgson’s Frogmouth, however, it could not be enticed into view, retreating to dense cover up a steep slope as the dawn came up. We had an al fresco breakfast before finding Mountain Bamboo Partridge, White-browed Laughingthrushes, Striated Bulbul, Golden-throated Barbet, Maroon Oriole, and Mountain Tailorbird. We had a superb close encounter with a flock of Spot-winged Grosbeaks feeding on buds in a cherry orchard, sometimes coming within 3m of us! A vocal Scarlet-faced Liocichla could not be lured in, but late in the afternoon we had another chance and enjoyed a great look at a pair of these stunning birds calling in the open, high in a tree. Another Hodgson’s Frogmouth was heard during the day, but it called just once and we couldn’t locate it. We finished off with a Crested Finchbill and a pair of Rufous-backed Sibia lurking around the orchards.
We returned to Doi Lang for a second visit, flushing Large-tailed Nightjar from the road as we went. Finding ourselves on the high pine ridge at dawn, we attempted a different strategy, and cruising slowly along the road we stumbled upon a magnificent male Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant standing on the verge! As we screeched to a halt, he looked both ways and slowly crossed the road, followed by three females! Hurrah! At the far end of the road, where an army post marked the end of Thailand and the start of Myanmar, we paused for our breakfast and saw a Maroon Oriole, Stripe-breasted Woodpecker, Large Cuckooshrike, and two Scarlet Finch called from nearby trees before flying overhead – our third write-in of the trip so far. Also, we found Rufous-backed Sibia, Golden-throated Barbet, heard the musical song of a well-hidden Spot-throated Babbler, saw another Crested Finchbill, then up on the ridge we found a pair of Giant Nuthatch that allowed us to follow them at leisure as they quietly fed among the pines. Silver-eared Laughingthrushes ferreted around the worm holes, Pallas’s Leaf Warblers called from high in the trees, a flock of Long-tailed Broadbills and low-flying Cook’s Swift were all rather pleasing, and we finished with a group of Mountain Bamboo Partridges feeding on the roadside alongside two Grey Treepies.
A change of scene next, starting with a spell on the local paddyfields where we saw Siberian Rubythroats and Lanceolated Warbler, a Wryneck, Grey-breasted Prinias, Richard’s and Red-throated Pipits and Citrine Wagtails. We visited a Wildlife Sanctuary south of Chiang Mai where many Green Peafowl roamed in the open, traditionally unmolested and totally habituated to human visitors – which made a change from birds flying away from us! After an overnight stay in a small town, we headed into Mae Ping National Park, an excellent tract of dry dipterocarp forest. We found White-bellied and Black-headed Woodpeckers, Burmese Nuthatch was no longer neglected, and Grey-headed Parakeets flew about noisily. We had a close look at Banded Bay Cuckoo, plus Golden-fronted Leafbird, Common Woodshrike, Rosy and Small Minivets. We drove from here to Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest mountain at 2565m. In the forests at 1700m we found Yellow-cheeked Tit, Little Pied Flycatcher, and Hume’s Treecreeper before the close of play.

Doi Inthanon hosts several species that are best found around a small bog at the summit. Sporting a new elevated boardwalk, it makes for intimate birding with some normally shy birds. And after enjoying a roadside flock of Speckled Woodpigeon, we enjoyed good views of Rufous-throated Partridges, a cryptic Dark-sided Thrush that blended with the mud, a fine male Himalayan Shortwing, Yellow-browed Tits, Ashy-throated and Blyth’s Leaf Warblers, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Bar-throated Minla, Silver-eared Laughingthrushes and Green-tailed Sunbird of the race angkanensis that is endemic to the mountain. Lower down the mountain we entered the tall forests, where a Green Cochoa appeared briefly, then taunted us with its call for a while as he sat somewhere in the canopy. We had a splendid encounter with a cute Eyebrowed Wren Babbler, and in mixed flocks we found smart Grey-headed Parrotbills, Grey-chinned Minivets, a lively Speckled Piculet, Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, and finished with a distant Collared Falconet.

Another day at Doi Inthanon, we started at a waterfall with a pair of Slaty-backed Forktail, then in the forest we found Clicking Shrike Babblers in good voice, plus Silver-eared Mesias, Asian Emerald Cuckoo, and wading through the undergrowth we found lively Slaty-bellied Tesias. We added Short-billed Minivets, Buff-barred Leaf Warbler, Plumbeous Water Redstart and White-capped Redstart bobbing about in a rushing mountain stream, and lower down in the dry forests we found Rufous-winged Buzzard, Purple Sunbird and Eurasian Hoopoe, and Blossom-headed Parakeets screeching about in a pre-roost gathering. A spot of
owling at dusk produced Spotted Owlets and a pair of Brown Boobook near our hotel.

The main tour ended here, however due to an altered departure time for our flight to Krabi, the extension began with a couple more hours of birding in the dry zone of Doi Inthanon. We eventually found Collared Falconets (they are not early risers!) plus more Rufous-winged Buzzards, Black-headed Woodpeckers and White-crested Laughingthrushes, and a Yellow-streaked Warbler showed briefly. A very quick stop in open country en route to Chiang Mai produced Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Oriental Reed Warbler and more Grey-headed Lapwings. We flew to a distinctly cloudy and humid Krabi, and a short walk in the afternoon was successful in finding Rufous-bellied Swallows, and a Mangrove Pitta that sat in full view for many minutes.

We went on the traditional Krabi mangrove boat tour, with smart Brown-winged and Black-capped Kingfishers lining the way, Streak-breasted Woodpecker and Common Flamebacks in the mangrove trees, cheeky Long-tailed Macaques falling in the water, Lesser Crested Tern, and a White-bellied Sea Eagle being attacked by a pair of Peregrine over ownership of a riverside crag. The tide was low and shorebirds covered the mud flats in the mouth of the river with Greater and Lesser Sand Plovers, Pacific Golden Plovers, Terek Sandpipers and Eurasian Whimbrels all busy feeding. Numerous Egrets were dotted around, with Little, Great and Intermediate, and at least four lively Chinese Egrets feeding in the shallows.

We then drove a short way to Khao Phra Bang Khram, famous for being the last place Gurney’s Pitta was seen in Thailand, alas it has been gone for several years now. It still has a big variety of good birds plus some nice accommodation. In the afternoon we hunted around the forest, tested by a wall of loud cicada noise, and found a wide-awake Brown Wood Owl, Moustached Babbler, Whiskered Treeswift, chubby little Silver-rumped Spinetails, a Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker munching on fruit, and Black-and-Yellow Broadbill perched high in tall trees in the fading evening light. Further explorations produced Malayan Black-capped Babbler, a flock of 19 Black Baza, another Buffy Fish Owl, Chestnut-winged Babblers, Red-throated Barbet, Raffle’s Malkoha, and Hairy-backed and Yellow-bellied Bulbuls. The afternoon lull was dominated by cicadas hitting 55db in their efforts to deafen us, but we did see a Black-thighed Falconet, a juvenile Changeable Hawk Eagle flew by, and a vocal Blyth’s Hawk Eagle remained hidden from sight. On our final morning we found a fine pair of Green Broadbills, and en route to our next destination we paused at a mangrove boardwalk. Mangrove Pittas showed at absurdly close range, plus White-chested Babbler, and a second mangrove site produced Mangrove Whistler and a gorgeous pair of Black-and-red Broadbills. We then headed for our night stop, although the driver required some navigational help and we arrived rather later than anticipated!

Si Phang Nga National Park is a compact site affording access to the edge of the forested hills. We began around the campsite where we enjoyed Banded Woodpeckers, Asian Emerald Cuckoos, Ashy Minivets, Large Woodshrikes, Blue-tailed and Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters. Entering the forest itself we found Red-billed Malkoha, White-browed Piculet and Grey-and-buff Woodpecker, then one of the rangers popped up to inform us he had found a Gould’s Frogmouth at roost! He duly led us two by two into the thicket, to where it sat wide-eyed in the bamboo. Hurrah! A lifer for the leader! We then sat in a hide where a Malayan Banded Pitta sometimes appears, though not today, just a handsome Large Blue Flycatcher and an Orange-headed Thrush, and a pair of Chestnut-naped Forktails on the nearby stream. The ‘Frogmouth-whisperer’ reappeared, this time to show us a roosting Blyth’s Frogmouth! What excellent skills! In addition, we saw Streaked and Spectacled Bulbuls, Eastern Crowned Warblers, Wreathed Hornbills flying over, also in the air was an Ornate Flying Snake that settled in a tree but was first picked up in flight! Away from the forest we saw some Grey-headed Lapwings along a river, and thousands of Large Flying Foxes flew high overhead en route to feeding areas.

On our final morning at Si Phang Nga, at the hide we heard Malayan Banded Pitta calling, and sure enough a male came bouncing in to check the feeding area. Finding no meal worms he left again, but made several return trips to see what might be offered, even circling us, dazzling us with his gorgeous colours in the gloom of the forest. Wow! A hard act to follow, though we still continued to add birds such as Green Iora, Chestnut-breasted Malkoha, Greater Green Leafbird, the sky filled with migrant Pacific Swifts and over lunch a smart Lesser Fish Eagle circled high overhead. Time still for one more bird, on our way to Phuket airport we stopped on the coast in some big trees and found a splendid pair of Spotted Wood Owls. What a way to finish our tour, with great birds still coming right to the end. It underlined what an enjoyable and successful tour it had been, a welcome return to this endearing country. A big thank you to our illustrious guide Mr. Pipith without whom this whole tour would be so much more difficult and much less entertaining!

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED

BIRDS

Lesser Whistling Duck  Dendrocygna javanica

Northern Pintail  Anas acuta

Ferruginous Partridge  Caloperdix oculeus  We were spoiled by a splendidly showy example at Kaeng Krachan. Only the third time I have seen this species!

Rufous-throated Partridge ◊  Arborophila rufogularis

Bar-backed Partridge ◊  Arborophila brunneopectus  Stunning birds when seen up close!

Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant ◊  Syrmaticus humiae  A wonderful male that strolled across the road at Doi Lang, followed by three females.

Kalij Pheasant ◊  Lophura leucomelanos

Silver Pheasant ◊  Lophura nycthemera

Siamese Fireback ◊  Lophura diardi  A great encounter with the confiding birds at Sakaerat.

Green Peafowl ◊  Pavo muticus

Green-legged Partridge ◊  Tropicoperdix chloropus

Grey Peacock-Pheasant ◊  Polyplectron bicalcaratum  A glimpse of one at Kaeng Krachan.

Mountain Bamboo Partridge ◊  Bambusicola fytchii

Red Junglefowl  Gallus gallus

Large-tailed Nightjar  Caprimulgus macrurus

Indian Nightjar  Caprimulgus asiaticus  A sad moment, one hit by one of our minibuses!

Gould’s Frogmouth ◊   Batrachostomus stellatus  A happy moment to be shown one at roost in a bamboo thicket at Si Phang Nga, a welcome lifer for the leader!

Hodgson’s Frogmouth ◊  Batrachostomus hodgsoni  heard-only. So close, but it eluded us.

Blyth’s Frogmouth ◊   Batrachostomus affinis  Another big score from Si Phang Nga, also seen at roost.

Crested Treeswift  Hemiprocne coronata

Grey-rumped Treeswift   Hemiprocne longipennis

Whiskered Treeswift   Hemiprocne comata

Himalayan Swiftlet  Aerodramus brevirostris

Germain’s Swiftlet  Aerodramus germani

Silver-rumped Spinetail   Rhaphidura leucopygialis

Brown-backed Needletail  Hirundapus giganteus  A nice show by 25 at Khao Yai coming to drink.

Asian Palm Swift  Cypsiurus balasiensis

Pacific Swift   Apus pacificus  Migrants from the north at Kaeng Krachan and Si Phang Nga.

Cook’s Swift  Apus cooki

House Swift  Apus nipalensis

Greater Coucal  Centropus sinensis

Lesser Coucal  Centropus bengalensis

Raffles’s Malkoha  Rhinortha chlorophaea

Red-billed Malkoha ◊   Zanclostomus javanicus

Chestnut-breasted Malkoha  Phaenicophaeus curvirostris

Green-billed Malkoha  Phaenicophaeus tristis

Chestnut-winged Cuckoo  Clamator coromandus  A glimpse of a vocal bird at Khao Phra Bang Khram.

Asian Koel  Eudynamys scolopaceus

Asian Emerald Cuckoo ◊  Chrysococcyx maculatus  Seen at Doi Inthanon and Si Phang Nga.

Violet Cuckoo  Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus

Banded Bay Cuckoo  Cacomantis sonneratii  Often heard (the ‘Apocalypse Now’ bird), great views at Mae Ping.

Plaintive Cuckoo  Cacomantis merulinus

Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo  Surniculus lugubris

Large Hawk-Cuckoo  Hierococcyx sparverioides

Indian Cuckoo  Cuculus micropterus  One at Si Phang Nga on our last morning.

Rock Dove  Columba livia

Speckled Wood Pigeon  Columba hodgsonii  A splendid gathering, lit by the rising sun at Doi Inthanon.

Ashy Wood Pigeon  Columba pulchricollis  A single with the above species.

Oriental Turtle Dove  Streptopelia orientalis

Red Collared Dove  Streptopelia tranquebarica

Spotted Dove  Spilopelia chinensis

Barred Cuckoo-Dove  Macropygia unchall

Common Emerald Dove  Chalcophaps indica

Zebra Dove  Geopelia striata

Thick-billed Green Pigeon  Treron curvirostra

Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon  Treron sphenurus

Mountain Imperial Pigeon  Ducula badia

Common Moorhen  Gallinula chloropus

Grey-headed Swamphen  Porphyrio [poliocephalus] viridis

Ruddy-breasted Crake  Zapornia fusca

Slaty-legged Crake  Rallina eurizonoides  heard-only. At Baan Maka. write-in.

White-breasted Waterhen  Amaurornis phoenicurus

Little Grebe  Tachybaptus ruficollis

Indian Stone-curlew  Burhinus indicus  heard-only.

Black-winged Stilt  Himantopus himantopus

Grey-headed Lapwing ◊  Vanellus cinereus  Good numbers this year.

Red-wattled Lapwing  Vanellus indicus

Pacific Golden Plover  Pluvialis fulva

Grey Plover  Pluvialis squatarola

Little Ringed Plover  Charadrius dubius

Kentish Plover ◊  Charadrius alexandrinus

White-faced Plover ◊  Charadrius dealbatus  A distinctive fellow, seen only at Laem Phak Bia.  

Malaysian Plover ◊  Charadrius peronii

Lesser Sand Plover  Charadrius mongolus

Greater Sand Plover  Charadrius leschenaultii

Pheasant-tailed Jacana  Hydrophasianus chirurgus  A single near Chiang Mai.

Bronze-winged Jacana  Metopidius indicus

Eurasian Whimbrel  Numenius phaeopus

Eurasian Curlew  Numenius arquata

Bar-tailed Godwit  Limosa lapponica  non-leader.

Black-tailed Godwit  Limosa limosa

Ruddy Turnstone  Arenaria interpres

Great Knot ◊  Calidris tenuirostris

Ruff  Calidris pugnax

Broad-billed Sandpiper  Calidris falcinellus

Curlew Sandpiper  Calidris ferruginea

Temminck’s Stint  Calidris temminckii

Long-toed Stint  Calidris subminuta

Spoon-billed Sandpiper ◊  Calidris pygmaea  Excellent to find this rare bird both at Khok Kham and at Pak Thale.

Red-necked Stint  Calidris ruficollis

Sanderling  Calidris alba

Asian Dowitcher ◊  Limnodromus semipalmatus  Nice to see 25+ at Pak Thale.

Pin-tailed Snipe  Gallinago stenura

Common Snipe  Gallinago gallinago

Terek Sandpiper  Xenus cinereus

Common Sandpiper  Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper  Tringa ochropus

Common Redshank  Tringa totanus

Marsh Sandpiper  Tringa stagnatilis

Wood Sandpiper  Tringa glareola

Spotted Redshank  Tringa erythropus

Common Greenshank  Tringa nebularia

Nordmann’s Greenshank ◊  Tringa guttifer  A welcome sight, at least 30 seen at Laem Phak Bia.

Small Pratincole  Glareola lactea

Brown-headed Gull  Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus

Gull-billed Tern  Gelochelidon nilotica

Caspian Tern  Hydroprogne caspia

Lesser Crested Tern  Thalasseus bengalensis  Three seen at Krabi.

Little Tern  Sternula albifrons

Common Tern  Sterna hirundo

Whiskered Tern  Chlidonias hybrida

Painted Stork  Mycteria leucocephala

Asian Openbill  Anastomus oscitans

Little Cormorant  Microcarbo niger

Indian Cormorant  Phalacrocorax fuscicollis

Black-headed Ibis  Threskiornis melanocephalus

Yellow Bittern  Ixobrychus sinensis

Cinnamon Bittern  Ixobrychus cinnamomeus

Black-crowned Night Heron  Nycticorax nycticorax

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

Chinese Egret ◊  Egretta eulophotes  At least four on the mud flats at Krabi.

Osprey  Pandion haliaetus

Crested Honey Buzzard  Pernis ptilorhynchus

Black Baza  Aviceda leuphotes  A flock of 19 in the south was nice.

Crested Serpent Eagle  Spilornis cheela

Changeable Hawk-Eagle  Nisaetus cirrhatus  A juvenile at Si Phang Nga.

Mountain Hawk-Eagle  Nisaetus nipalensis  A single flew past at Si Phang Nga.

Blyth’s Hawk-Eagle ◊   Nisaetus alboniger  heard-only.

Rufous-bellied Eagle  Lophotriorchis kienerii

Greater Spotted Eagle  Clanga clanga  Three at Nong Pla Lai.

Booted Eagle  Hieraaetus pennatus  A single at Pabon Hong.

Steppe Eagle  Aquila nipalensis  A juvenile at Nong Pla Lai was a surprise write-in.

Crested Goshawk  Accipiter trivirgatus  A displaying bird at Doi Ang Khang.

Eastern Marsh Harrier  Circus spilonotus

Black Kite (Black-eared K)  Milvus [migrans] lineatus

Brahminy Kite  Haliastur indus

White-bellied Sea Eagle   Haliaeetus leucogaster

Lesser Fish Eagle   Haliaeetus humilis  Almost the last bird, a smart example soaring over Si Phang Nga.

Rufous-winged Buzzard ◊  Butastur liventer

Brown Boobook  Ninox scutulata

Collared Owlet  Taenioptynx brodiei

Spotted Owlet  Athene brama

Asian Barred Owlet  Glaucidium cuculoides

Mountain Scops Owl  Otus spilocephalus  heard-only.

Collared Scops Owl  Otus lettia

Buffy Fish Owl ◊   Ketupa ketupu  A popular pair at Khao Yai with a nest in a fern epiphyte, also one flushed at Khao Phra Bang Khram.

Spotted Wood Owl ◊   Strix seloputo  Last bird of the tour, two at Thai Muang.

Brown Wood Owl  Strix leptogrammica  A nice look at a daytime bird at Khao Phra Bang Khram.

Orange-breasted Trogon  Harpactes oreskios

Red-headed Trogon  Harpactes erythrocephalus

Eurasian Hoopoe  Upupa epops

Great Hornbill  Buceros bicornis  Seen at Khao Yai and at Si Phang Nga.

Helmeted Hornbill   Rhinoplax vigil  heard-only.

Oriental Pied Hornbill  Anthracoceros albirostris

Tickell’s Brown Hornbill ◊  Anorrhinus tickelli  Just glimpsed, at Kaeng Krachan.

Wreathed Hornbill  Rhyticeros undulatus

Indochinese Roller  Coracias affinis

Rufous-collared Kingfisher ◊   Actenoides concretus  heard-only. At Si Phang Nga.

Banded Kingfisher  Lacedo pulchella  One at Khao Yai, our only one of the tour.

Brown-winged Kingfisher ◊   Pelargopsis amauroptera

Ruddy Kingfisher ◊   Halcyon coromanda  heard-only.

White-throated Kingfisher  Halcyon smyrnensis

Black-capped Kingfisher  Halcyon pileata

Collared Kingfisher  Todiramphus chloris

Common Kingfisher  Alcedo atthis

Red-bearded Bee-eater   Nyctyornis amictus  heard-only.

Blue-bearded Bee-eater  Nyctyornis athertoni

Asian Green Bee-eater  Merops orientalis

Blue-tailed Bee-eater  Merops philippinus

Chestnut-headed Bee-eater  Merops leschenaulti

Great Barbet  Psilopogon virens

Lineated Barbet  Psilopogon lineatus

Green-eared Barbet ◊  Psilopogon faiostrictus

Golden-whiskered Barbet   Psilopogon chrysopogon  heard-only.

Red-throated Barbet  Psilopogon mystacophanos  We often heard his curious rhythm in the south, a couple seen.

Golden-throated Barbet  Psilopogon franklinii

Blue-throated Barbet  Psilopogon asiaticus

Moustached Barbet ◊  Psilopogon incognitus  Excavating a nest hole at Khao Yai.

Blue-eared Barbet  Psilopogon duvaucelii

Coppersmith Barbet  Psilopogon haemacephalus

Eurasian Wryneck  Jynx torquilla  A brief one at Thaton for the leader.

Speckled Piculet  Picumnus innominatus

White-browed Piculet ◊  Sasia ochracea

Grey-and-buff Woodpecker  Hemicircus concretus  A write-in at Si Phang Nga.

Heart-spotted Woodpecker ◊  Hemicircus canente  A brief contact at Sakaerat.

Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker  Yungipicus canicapillus

Stripe-breasted Woodpecker ◊  Dendrocopos atratus

White-bellied Woodpecker  Dryocopus javensis  Good flight views of a pair at Mae Ping, flying over our heads.

Banded Woodpecker   Chrysophlegma miniaceum

Greater Yellownape  Chrysophlegma flavinucha

Lesser Yellownape  Picus chlorolophus

Streak-breasted Woodpecker ◊  Picus viridanus

Black-headed Woodpecker ◊  Picus erythropygius

Common Flameback  Dinopium javanense

Greater Flameback  Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus

Bay Woodpecker  Blythipicus pyrrhotis  heard-only.

Black-and-buff Woodpecker ◊  Meiglyptes jugularis  A nice trio at Khao Yai.

Great Slaty Woodpecker  Mulleripicus pulverulentus  heard-only.

Collared Falconet  Microhierax caerulescens

Black-thighed Falconet  Microhierax fringillarius  A single flyover in the south.

Common Kestrel  Falco tinnunculus

Peregrine Falcon  Falco peregrinus

Grey-headed Parakeet ◊  Psittacula finschii  Plenty at Mae Ping, a good site for them.

Blossom-headed Parakeet ◊  Psittacula roseata

Red-breasted Parakeet  Psittacula alexandri

Vernal Hanging Parrot  Loriculus vernalis

Long-tailed Broadbill  Psarisomus dalhousiae

Dusky Broadbill  Corydon sumatranus  heard-only.

Silver-breasted Broadbill ◊  Serilophus lunatus

Black-and-red Broadbill ◊   Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos  A stunning pair at Bang Phat.

Banded Broadbill  Eurylaimus javanicus  heard-only.

Black-and-yellow Broadbill   Eurylaimus ochromalus

Green Broadbill ◊   Calyptomena viridis

Eared Pitta ◊  Hydrornis phayrei  heard-only.

Malayan Banded Pitta ◊   Hydrornis irena  Probably bird of the trip..!

Blue Pitta ◊  Hydrornis cyaneus  What a stunner, well worth the wait in the hide at Kaeng Krachan.

Mangrove Pitta ◊   Pitta megarhyncha  I believe the term is ‘walk-away’ views…

Golden-bellied Gerygone  Gerygone sulphurea

Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike  Hemipus picatus

Large Woodshrike  Tephrodornis virgatus  A pair at Si Phang Nga.

Common Woodshrike  Tephrodornis pondicerianus  In the dry forest at Mae Ping.

Rufous-winged Philentoma ◊   Philentoma pyrhoptera  heard-only.

Ashy Woodswallow  Artamus fuscus

Common Iora  Aegithina tiphia

Green Iora   Aegithina viridissima  A vigorous response by one at Si Phang Nga.

Great Iora  Aegithina lafresnayei

Small Minivet  Pericrocotus cinnamomeus

Grey-chinned Minivet  Pericrocotus solaris

Short-billed Minivet  Pericrocotus brevirostris

Long-tailed Minivet  Pericrocotus ethologus

Scarlet Minivet  Pericrocotus speciosus

Ashy Minivet   Pericrocotus divaricatus

Swinhoe’s Minivet ◊  Pericrocotus cantonensis

Rosy Minivet  Pericrocotus roseus  Seen at Khao Yai and Mae Ping NP.

Large Cuckooshrike  Coracina macei

Black-winged Cuckooshrike  Lalage melaschistos

Mangrove Whistler   Pachycephala cinerea  A very vocal one at Bang Phat.

Brown Shrike  Lanius cristatus

Burmese Shrike ◊  Lanius collurioides

Long-tailed Shrike  Lanius schach

Grey-backed Shrike  Lanius tephronotus

Blyth’s Shrike-babbler  Pteruthius aeralatus  One coming to a nest at Kaeng Krachan.

Clicking Shrike-babbler ◊  Pteruthius intermedius

White-bellied Erpornis  Erpornis zantholeuca

Maroon Oriole  Oriolus traillii

Black-hooded Oriole  Oriolus xanthornus

Black-naped Oriole  Oriolus chinensis

Bronzed Drongo  Dicrurus aeneus

Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo  Dicrurus remifer 

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo  Dicrurus paradiseus

Hair-crested Drongo  Dicrurus hottentottus

Ashy Drongo  Dicrurus leucophaeus

Ashy Drongo (White-faced D)  Dicrurus [leucophaeus] leucogenis

Black Drongo  Dicrurus macrocercus

White-throated Fantail  Rhipidura albicollis

Malaysian Pied Fantail  Rhipidura javanica

Black-naped Monarch  Hypothymis azurea

Blyth’s Paradise Flycatcher  Terpsiphone affinis

Eurasian Jay  Garrulus glandarius

Red-billed Blue Magpie  Urocissa erythroryncha

Common Green Magpie  Cissa chinensis

Rufous Treepie  Dendrocitta vagabunda

Grey Treepie  Dendrocitta formosae

Racket-tailed Treepie  Crypsirina temia

Ratchet-tailed Treepie ◊  Temnurus temnurus  Hard to find in January it would seem, I think we were lucky to find two birds that were not calling. 

Eastern Jungle Crow  Corvus levaillantii

Yellow-bellied Fantail  Chelidorhynx hypoxanthus

Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher  Culicicapa ceylonensis

Yellow-browed Tit  Sylviparus modestus

Sultan Tit  Melanochlora sultanea

Japanese Tit  Parus minor

Yellow-cheeked Tit  Machlolophus spilonotus

Indochinese Bush Lark ◊  Mirafra erythrocephala

Hairy-backed Bulbul   Tricholestes criniger

Yellow-bellied Bulbul   Alophoixus phaeocephalus

Grey-cheeked Bulbul   Alophoixus tephrogenys  heard-only.

Ochraceous Bulbul  Alophoixus ochraceus

Puff-throated Bulbul ◊  Alophoixus pallidus

Striated Bulbul  Alcurus striatus  Quite nice for a Bulbul, I believe someone said!

Olive Bulbul ◊ Iole viridescens  Allegedly the birds at Kaeng Krachan are assigned to this species.

Buff-vented Bulbul Iole crypta  One seen at Si Phang Nga; however, the taxonomy is a little opaque…

Grey-eyed Bulbul ◊  Iole propinqua

Ashy Bulbul  Hemixos flavala

Streaked Bulbul   Ixos malaccensis

Mountain Bulbul  Ixos mcclellandii

White-headed Bulbul ◊  Hypsipetes thompsoni  A single of this localised bird, at Doi Ang Khang.

Black Bulbul  Hypsipetes leucocephalus

Puff-backed Bulbul ◊   Euptilotus eutilotus  heard-only.

Black-headed Bulbul  Brachypodius melanocephalos

Spectacled Bulbul   Ixodia erythropthalmos

Black-crested Bulbul  Rubigula flaviventris

Crested Finchbill ◊  Spizixos canifrons

Cream-vented Bulbul   Pycnonotus simplex  heard-only.

Olive-winged Bulbul   Pycnonotus plumosus

Asian Red-eyed Bulbul   Pycnonotus brunneus

Streak-eared Bulbul  Pycnonotus conradi

Stripe-throated Bulbul  Pycnonotus finlaysoni

Flavescent Bulbul  Pycnonotus flavescens

Brown-breasted Bulbul ◊  Pycnonotus xanthorrhous

Red-whiskered Bulbul  Pycnonotus jocosus

Yellow-vented Bulbul  Pycnonotus goiavier

Sooty-headed Bulbul  Pycnonotus aurigaster

Sand Martin  Riparia riparia

Pacific Swallow   Hirundo tahitica

Wire-tailed Swallow  Hirundo smithii

Barn Swallow  Hirundo rustica

Asian House Martin  Delichon dasypus

Red-rumped Swallow  Cecropis daurica

Striated Swallow  Cecropis striolata

Rufous-bellied Swallow ◊   Cecropis badia

Pygmy Cupwing  Pnoepyga pusilla

Yellow-bellied Warbler  Abroscopus superciliaris

Mountain Tailorbird  Phyllergates cucullatus

Aberrant Bush Warbler  Horornis flavolivaceus

Slaty-bellied Tesia ◊  Tesia olivea

Buff-barred Warbler  Phylloscopus pulcher

Ashy-throated Warbler  Phylloscopus maculipennis

Hume’s Leaf Warbler  Phylloscopus humei

Yellow-browed Warbler  Phylloscopus inornatus

Chinese Leaf Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus yunnanensis  A couple showed well at Doi Ang Khang.

Pallas’s Leaf Warbler  Phylloscopus proregulus  Not uncommon in the north but often high up and hard to spot.

Yellow-streaked Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus armandii

Radde’s Warbler  Phylloscopus schwarzi  A good show by one at Khao Yai.

Dusky Warbler  Phylloscopus fuscatus

Buff-throated Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus subaffinis

Eastern Crowned Warbler  Phylloscopus coronatus  Nice to see a few of these at Si Phang Nga.

Grey-crowned Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus tephrocephalus  heard-only.

Alström’s Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus soror

Martens’s Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus omeiensis

Two-barred Warbler  Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus

Pale-legged Leaf Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus tenellipes  heard-only.

Arctic Warbler   Phylloscopus borealis

Sulphur-breasted Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus ricketti

Blyth’s Leaf Warbler  Phylloscopus reguloides

Claudia’s Leaf Warbler  Phylloscopus claudiae

Davison’s Leaf Warbler ◊  Phylloscopus intensior

Oriental Reed Warbler  Acrocephalus orientalis

Black-browed Reed Warbler  Acrocephalus bistrigiceps

Thick-billed Warbler  Arundinax aedon  heard-only.

Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler  Helopsaltes certhiola

Lanceolated Warbler  Locustella lanceolata

Baikal Bush Warbler  Locustella davidi  A good view at Baan Maka.

Striated Grassbird  Megalurus palustris

Zitting Cisticola  Cisticola juncidis

Golden-headed Cisticola  Cisticola exilis

Hill Prinia  Prinia superciliaris  Eventually showed well at Doi Lang.

Rufescent Prinia  Prinia rufescens  heard-only.

Grey-breasted Prinia  Prinia hodgsonii

Yellow-bellied Prinia  Prinia flaviventris

Plain Prinia  Prinia inornata

Common Tailorbird  Orthotomus sutorius  heard-only.

Dark-necked Tailorbird  Orthotomus atrogularis

Ashy Tailorbird   Orthotomus ruficeps

Grey-headed Parrotbill ◊  Psittiparus gularis  A nice flock seen well at Doi Inthanon.

Striated Yuhina ◊  Staphida castaniceps

Chestnut-flanked White-eye  Zosterops erythropleurus

Swinhoe’s White-eye  Zosterops simplex  Seen at Doi Inthanon, used to be lumped in Japanese White-eye.

Indian White-eye  Zosterops palpebrosus

Hume’s White-eye  Zosterops auriventer  One at Kaeng Krachan, formerly placed in Everett’s White-eye.

Chestnut-capped Babbler  Timalia pileata

Pin-striped Tit-Babbler  Mixornis gularis

Golden Babbler  Cyanoderma chrysaeum

Chestnut-winged Babbler   Cyanoderma erythropterum

Rufous-fronted Babbler  Cyanoderma rufifrons

White-browed Scimitar Babbler  Pomatorhinus schisticeps

Large Scimitar Babbler ◊  Erythrogenys hypoleucos  heard-only.

Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler  Erythrogenys erythrogenys

Grey-throated Babbler  Stachyris nigriceps

Spot-necked Babbler ◊  Stachyris strialata

Moustached Babbler   Malacopteron magnirostre

Collared Babbler ◊  Gampsorhynchus torquatus

Rufous-winged Fulvetta  Schoeniparus castaneceps

Puff-throated Babbler  Pellorneum ruficeps

Malayan Black-capped Babbler ◊   Pellorneum nigrocapitatum

Short-tailed Babbler   Pellorneum malaccense  heard-only.

Spot-throated Babbler ◊  Pellorneum albiventre  heard-only.

Buff-breasted Babbler  Pellorneum tickelli

White-chested Babbler   Pellorneum rostratum

Abbott’s Babbler  Malacocincla abbotti

Streaked Wren-Babbler ◊  Gypsophila brevicaudata  A feisty example at Doi Ang Khang.

Rufous Limestone Babbler ◊  Gypsophila calcicola  Endemic.

Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler  Napothera epilepidota  A nice encounter with this tiny fellow at Doi Inthanon.

Brown-cheeked Fulvetta  Alcippe poioicephala

Yunnan Fulvetta ◊  Alcippe fratercula

Silver-eared Laughingthrush ◊  Trochalopteron melanostigma

Dark-backed Sibia ◊  Heterophasia melanoleuca

Blue-winged Minla  Actinodura cyanouroptera

Bar-throated Minla  Actinodura strigula

Spectacled Barwing ◊  Actinodura ramsayi  Three at Doi Lang were the only ones.

Silver-eared Mesia  Leiothrix argentauris

Rufous-backed Sibia ◊  Leioptila annectens

Scarlet-faced Liocichla ◊  Liocichla ripponi  A gorgeous pair that posed for us up in a tree at Doi Ang Khang.

Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush  Garrulax monileger

White-crested Laughingthrush  Garrulax leucolophus

Black-throated Laughingthrush  Pterorhinus chinensis

White-browed Laughingthrush ◊  Pterorhinus sannio  Furtive but vocal in the grass at Doi Ang Khang.

Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush  Pterorhinus pectoralis

Asian Fairy-bluebird  Irena puella

Giant Nuthatch ◊  Sitta magna  A wonderful beast, with a taste for mature pines and a restricted range.

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch  Sitta frontalis

Chestnut-vented Nuthatch ◊  Sitta nagaensis

Burmese Nuthatch ◊  Sitta neglecta  Seen well in the dry forest at Mae Ping, I prefer the name Neglected though!

Hume’s Treecreeper ◊  Certhia manipurensis

Asian Glossy Starling   Aplonis panayensis

Common Hill Myna  Gracula religiosa

Great Myna  Acridotheres grandis

Common Myna  Acridotheres tristis

Black-collared Starling ◊  Gracupica nigricollis

Siamese Pied Myna  Gracupica floweri  A recent split, separated from Indian G. contra and Javan G. jalla Pied Mynas.

Chestnut-tailed Starling  Sturnia malabarica

Green Cochoa ◊  Cochoa viridis  A tantalising glimpse then two heard singing, at Doi Inthanon. Unusual to be active so early in the year.

Dark-sided Thrush ◊  Zoothera marginata  A speciality of the Doi Inthanon summit marsh, it was particularly obliging this year.

Scaly Thrush  Zoothera dauma  Unusual to get a prolonged look at one, at Doi Ang Khang.

Orange-headed Thrush  Geokichla citrina

Black-breasted Thrush ◊  Turdus dissimilis

Eyebrowed Thrush  Turdus obscurus  Just glimpses and flyovers of these winter visitors.

Oriental Magpie-Robin  Copsychus saularis

White-rumped Shama  Copsychus malabaricus

Dark-sided Flycatcher  Muscicapa sibirica

Asian Brown Flycatcher  Muscicapa dauurica

White-tailed Flycatcher  Leucoptilon concretum  My first since I sound-recorded one in almost the same place 25 years previously! Two males singing, one seen along with a female, on the ridge at Kaeng Krachan.

White-gorgeted Flycatcher ◊  Anthipes monileger  heard-only.

Rufous-browed Flycatcher ◊  Anthipes solitaris  With a high-pitched song and love of dense thickets, at Kaeng Krachan

Hainan Blue Flycatcher ◊  Cyornis hainanus

Hill Blue Flycatcher  Cyornis whitei

Large Blue Flycatcher ◊  Cyornis magnirostris  A poorly known bird breeding in the eastern Himalayas, a really nice male with a strikingly large bill allowed long looks at Si Phang Nga.

Indochinese Blue Flycatcher ◊  Cyornis sumatrensis

Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher  Cyornis rubeculoides

Rufous-bellied Niltava  Niltava sundara

Large Niltava  Niltava grandis

Small Niltava  Niltava macgrigoriae  heard-only.

Verditer Flycatcher  Eumyias thalassinus

Himalayan Shortwing  Brachypteryx cruralis  A lovely confiding male at Doi Inthanon summit.

Siberian Blue Robin  Larvivora cyane

White-bellied Redstart  Luscinia phaenicuroides  heard-only.

Siberian Rubythroat  Calliope calliope

White-tailed Robin  Myiomela leucura

Chestnut-naped Forktail ◊   Enicurus ruficapillus

Slaty-backed Forktail  Enicurus schistaceus  A pair at Si Phang Nga.

Blue Whistling Thrush  Myophonus caeruleus

Slaty-backed Flycatcher  Ficedula erithacus

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher  Ficedula strophiata

Ultramarine Flycatcher ◊  Ficedula superciliaris  A couple of lovely males at Doi Lang.

Little Pied Flycatcher  Ficedula westermanni

Slaty-blue Flycatcher  Ficedula tricolor

Snowy-browed Flycatcher  Ficedula hyperythra

Taiga Flycatcher  Ficedula albicilla

Plumbeous Water Redstart  Phoenicurus fuliginosus

White-capped Redstart  Phoenicurus leucocephalus

Blue Rock Thrush  Monticola solitarius

Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush  Monticola rufiventris  A pair at Doi Ang Khang.

Amur Stonechat  Saxicola stejnegeri

Pied Bush Chat  Saxicola caprata

Grey Bush Chat  Saxicola ferreus

Greater Green Leafbird  Chloropsis sonnerati

Blue-winged Leafbird  Chloropsis moluccensis

Golden-fronted Leafbird  Chloropsis aurifrons  A pair at Mae Ping.

Orange-bellied Leafbird  Chloropsis hardwickii  A single songster at Doi Lang.

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

Plain Flowerpecker  Dicaeum minullum

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker  Dicaeum ignipectus

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker  Dicaeum cruentatum

Ruby-cheeked Sunbird  Chalcoparia singalensis

Brown-throated Sunbird  Anthreptes malacensis

Purple Sunbird  Cinnyris asiaticus

Olive-backed Sunbird  Cinnyris jugularis

Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird  Aethopyga gouldiae

Green-tailed Sunbird  Aethopyga nipalensis

Black-throated Sunbird  Aethopyga saturata

Purple-naped Sunbird  Kurochkinegramma hypogrammicum

Little Spiderhunter  Arachnothera longirostra

Grey-breasted Spiderhunter   Arachnothera modesta

Streaked Spiderhunter  Arachnothera magna

Eurasian Tree Sparrow  Passer montanus

Plain-backed Sparrow ◊  Passer flaveolus  A single male seen at Pak Thale.

House Sparrow  Passer domesticus

Asian Golden Weaver ◊  Ploceus hypoxanthus  Found in numbers at Nong Pla Lai.

Streaked Weaver  Ploceus manyar  A couple among the flocks of the above.

Baya Weaver  Ploceus philippinus

Scaly-breasted Munia  Lonchura punctulata

White-rumped Munia  Lonchura striata

Red Avadavat  Amandava amandava

Eastern Yellow Wagtail  Motacilla tschutschensis

Citrine Wagtail  Motacilla citreola

Grey Wagtail  Motacilla cinerea

White Wagtail (Amur W)  Motacilla [alba] leucopsis

Richard’s Pipit  Anthus richardi

Paddyfield Pipit  Anthus rufulus

Olive-backed Pipit  Anthus hodgsoni

Red-throated Pipit  Anthus cervinus

Spot-winged Grosbeak ◊  Mycerobas melanozanthos  Superb in the cherry orchard.

Common Rosefinch  Carpodacus erythrinus

Scarlet Finch  Carpodacus sipahi  Two at Doi Lang, another write-in.

Yellow-breasted Bunting ◊  Emberiza aureola  Great to see 100+ of these endangered birds at Nong Pla Lai.

MAMMALS

Asian Elephant  Elephas maximus

Stripe-backed or Yellow-bellied Weasel  Mustela sp.  Brief views at Doi Inthanon

Sambar Deer  Rusa unicolor

Lyle’s Flying Fox  Pteropus lylei  In the mangrove at Laem Pak Bia.

Large Flying Fox  Pteropus vampyra  Thousands heading south at Takua Pa, though I can find no reference to what is probably a daily occurrence.

Northern Treeshrew  Tupaia belangeri

Common Tree Shrew   Tupaia glis

Long-tailed Macaque  Macaca fascicularis

Southern Pig-tailed Macaque  Macaca nemestrina

Robinson’s Banded Langur  Presbytis robinsoni

Dusky Langur  Trachypithecus obscurus

Lar Gibbon  Hylobates lar

Pileated Gibbon  Hylobates pileatus  A lifer for the leader, previously hear-only on this tour.

Grey-bellied Squirrel  Callosciurus caniceps

Pallas’s Squirrel  Callosciurus erythraeus

Variable Squirrel  Callosciurus finlaysonii

Plantain Squirrel  Callosciurus notatus  Identified from photos at Khao Phra Bang Khram.

Asian Red-cheeked Squirrel  Dremomys rufigenis

Indochinese Ground Squirrel  Menetes berdmorei

Black Giant Squirrel  Ratufa bicolor

Slender Squirrel   Sundasciurus tenuis

Himalayan Striped Squirrel  Tamiops macclellandii