Fisherman’s Resort
Day 2 of the Spoonful of Thailand Birdwatching Trips tour dawned with the inevitable challenge of following up on the electrifying success of Day 1. After the thrill of connecting with a Spoon-billed Sandpiper, one of the world’s rarest waders, expectations were sky-high, but the team rose early, fueled by excitement and strong coffee.
A bleary-eyed but enthusiastic group gathered for breakfast at 6am. By 7am, the minibuses were rolling toward the legendary Pak Thale Saltpans near Petchaburi, one of Thailand’s premier wader hotspots.
The saltpans delivered in spectacular fashion. Scanning through thousands of waders, the group tallied an impressive 19 species before departing. Standouts included a flock of 20 Nordmann’s Greenshanks, a globally threatened species, over 80 Asiatic Dowitchers, and a stunning Chinese Egret. These are all internationally rare birds, making the morning feel like a true conservation highlight.
A bonus came during a walk through the adjacent mangroves: a Golden-bellied Gerygone popped out right in front of the group, adding a splash of color and song to the coastal scene.
On the drive back to the hotel for lunch, the team made a quick detour to search for a reported Black-faced Spoonbill. Despite thorough scanning, it remained elusive, but perseverance was rewarded with a breathtaking flock of 80 Garganey wheeling overhead, their distinctive wing patterns catching the light.
Lunch at the hotel took an unexpected turn when two rare plovers appeared right on the beach:m; a pair of Malaysian Plovers and a single White-faced Plover, a recently described and extremely scarce species. The afternoon plan to target these birds was instantly obsolete, but no one was complaining!
Malaysian Plover photo by Phil Woollen
Undeterred, the group stuck to the itinerary and met the legendary Mr. Daeng at his boatyard. Boarding two boats, we enjoyed a relaxing cruise down the canal toward Sandy Island. The non-avian stars stole the show for a while: numerous Fruit Bats roosting (and even flying) in the mangroves, Mangrove Mudskippers hopping along the muddy edges, Mangrove Crabs scuttling about, and our first primates of the trip, two Long-tailed Macaques being chased by a pack of dogs!
Bird-wise, several Collared Kingfishers perched boldly along the banks, while a flock of gulls and terns included two Slender-billed Gulls mingling with superb numbers of Greater and Lesser Crested Terns.
The late afternoon brought a change of pace: birding the rice paddies at Nong Pla Lao from the vehicles, using them as mobile hides. Crakes and rails dominated, with a Slaty-breasted Rail, Ruddy-breasted Crake, several Watercock, and a particularly showy Baillon’s Crake, an excellent bird for Thailand.
The tour tally now stands at an impressive 142 species, with 36 species of waders logged so far, an incredible haul for coastal Thailand.
Tomorrow, the group heads to the forests and mountains for a complete change of scenery and a fresh wave of new birds. Stay tuned!
Black-necked Stork and Painted Storks, photo by Phil Woollen