Thailand Trip

Just back from an incredible 3 week self-organised/self-guided birding trip to Thailand.

I've got to check on some recent taxonomic changes but I think the trip total was 449 species, over 190 of these being new birds. The total includes some of the most impressive birds I've ever seen, e.g. Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Great Hornbill with a whole host of great birds such as Blue Pitta (seen), Eared Pitta (seen), Silver-breasted Broadbill, Giant Nuthatch, Chinese Egret, Ratchet-tailed Treepie and possibly one of the best birding spectacles I've seen  - c.500 harriers (mainly male Pied Harrier and Eastern Marsh Harrier) coming in to a roost site. Throw in a national rarity (Thailand's second ever Long-tailed Duck) and the tonnes of different waders, bee-eaters, warblers, flycatchers, chats, thrushes, woodpeckers, babblers and bulbuls and it was a good trip.

As an example, theses were (a few) of the highlights from a mornings birding on Doi Lang... male Ultramarine Flycatcher, Sapphire Flycatcher, male Himalayan Bluetail (and a few females/1st winters), male Red-flanked Bluetail (ditto), Golden Bush Robin, Blue-fronted Redstart, White-tailed Robin, Red-faced Liocichla, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Chestnut Thrush, White-gorgeted Flycatcher and 2 Sibe Rubythroat.... (note this is very much a shortened list of highlights, I could go on, it was a special day!!!)

The main sites visited included Laem Pak Bia/Pak Thale, Petchaburi Rice Fields, Kaeng Krachan, Doi Inthanon, Doi Chiang Dao, Doi Lang and Chiang Saen with a few stop-offs on route to and from the main sites.

I've got a load of photos to sort through and will put together a trip report similar to my Malaysia trip report in March but will also post a few of the better/more interesting photos too.

male Himalayan Bluetail off back of my camera...