The group in Khao Yai
What a day of pure birding magic on our Birdwatching Trips ‘Spoonful of Thailand’ tour! 🌿🐦 It was truly a day of two halves in the incredible landscapes of Thailand.
We enjoyed a well-earned lie-in this morning, meeting for breakfast at 6:45am. Right above the restaurant, a Shikra and a Hoopoe were perched in a tree, kicking off our day list in style!
The morning took us along various trails in Khao Yai National Park, where new species just kept appearing. A super showy Grey-backed Shrike was followed by a flock of flyover Golden-crested Mynas. Already buzzing with excitement, we then had breathtaking views of a pair of stunning Blue-bearded Bee-eaters, the world’s largest bee-eater, sat perched in a forest clearing, uttering their calls. Pure magic! A pair of Forest Wagtails foraged on the leaf litter, a welcome tick for those who’d missed them the day before.
Grey-backed Shrike, photo by Phil Woollen
A quick stop at the park centre for souvenirs was interrupted by a soaring Mountain Hawk-Eagle overhead while the Giant Terrapins and Leaf Turtles obligingly stayed even for those who missed the Eagle while stuck in the queue!
After a delicious lunch, we headed east for some dry broadleaved forest birding. En route, we paused for a gorgeous Pied Bushchat on overhead wires and enjoyed good views of a smart Rufous-winged Buzzard by the roadside.
Blue-bearded Bee-eater, photo by Phil Woollen
The walk in the dry forest was hot and challenging, but rewarding. A lively flock of Rufescent Prinias, several Oriental Cuckooshrikes (formerly known as Large Cuckooshrike), and a superb Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker right above our heads made it worthwhile.
Then came the highlight at the Sakaerat Biosphere Centre. Our hearts sank on arrival, hundreds of schoolchildren on a field trip! We worried we might miss our target, the iconic Siamese Fireback, Thailand’s national bird and the stunning cover star of Jay’s excellent Birds of Thailand guidebook.
The kids headed off first in packed jeeps, leaving our chances looking slim. But when we arrived, we were gobsmacked, the children were sitting quietly in a semi-circle, being taught by their teacher, while 20 incredible Siamese Firebacks emerged from the undergrowth right in front of them, close, calm, and utterly spectacular!
The polite, happy group soon moved on, leaving us in peaceful solitude for jaw-dropping, frame-filling views. Every camera card was bursting by the time the birds slipped back into the forest. What an incredible, unexpected moment! This bird will surely be up there as one of the birds of the trip!
Siamese Fireback, photo by Phil Woollen
It’s behind you!
The drive back was capped by fantastic views of a Black-winged Kite soaring straight over the minibuses.
A wonderful dinner followed, full of laughter, bird stories, and plans for tomorrow’s travel day. Our day tally? An amazing 104 species, and we only visited five sites, with four hours in the minibus. Not bad at all! That takes our trip total to an impressive 327.
Next stop: back to Bangkok, then north to Chiang Mai for the final, exciting chapter of our adventure.