I have just returned (with 5 friends) from a birding trip to Thailand. After much research (thanks to Birding-aus members for info on places to go) we booked a trip with Pipith Kaewata. The trip was well organised, with good hotels, food and transport and a reasonable schedule. We had great weather (quite cold in the north), very few annoying insects and no health problems. Pipith was friendly and helpful (especially when one of the group had problems with an ATM!) with reasonable English and he took us to lots of good birding spots. But as a bird guide he left a lot to be desired. He had left his laser pointer and sound equipment at a hotel on a previous trip and halfway through this trip left his scope at Bangkok Airport! His normal mode of operation seemed to be to take us to a specific spot for a specific bird (and to be fair he had a good success rate at this). He would then spend lots of time taking photographs of the target bird, oblivious to all the other birds in the area. He seemed to find it hard to spot other birds, and needed to consult the field guide far more often than any other guide I have used, and was often wrong in his identification! We will never know how many birds we missed because of his lack of equipment and skill. We saw around 379 species on an itinerary that usually seems to get 400-450 birds for most groups. The following is a summary of our itinerary – if you want more details or bird lists please contact me. Spelling of Thai names is as good as I can get it! Jan 4th. We flew to Bangkok and were transferred to our Bangkok hotel. Jan 5th. Pipith and his driver Ning picked us up early for the drive to Pak Thale – an amazing area of salt processing ponds. Our first target of course was the Spoonbill Sandpiper, and we found one by midday. Apart from one bird seen the next day by two of the group this was to be our only sighting of this key species, although other birders reported 2 in the area. In total we found 18 wader species, including such Aussie rarities as Broad-billed Sandpiper and Long-toed Stint. In the afternoon we had a boat trip to Leamphak Bia, adding Chinese Egret, Malaysian Plover and the “White-faced” form of Kentish Plover to our list, as well as a gull identified as Heuglin’s which IOC does not list for this area. We finished the day at the King’s Project, adding Slaty-breasted Rail and Ruddy-breasted Crake to our list. Jan 6th. We spent the day in the same area, seeing 30+ Nordmann’s Greenshank (my second major target) as well as both Spotted and Common Redshanks and Asian Dowitcher to give a list of around 33 waders. Jan 7th. We spent the morning in the same area picking up various ducks including Lesser Whistling and Ferruginous. In the afternoon we went to Nong Pla Lai looking for raptors, finding 5 species. Jan 8th. We drove to Kaeng Krachan, where we would bird for the next couple of days. Since the road to the summit was 4WD only we spent some of the time in the back of a ute. On the 8th we saw a good range of birds including Sultan Tit and 4 species of Hornbill. Jan 9th. Kaeng Krachan. The highlight of the day was great views of a perched Black Baza. Jan 10th. Kaeng Krachan. On our final day on the mountain we had frustratingly brief views of Grey Peacock-pheasant. Jan 11th. Travelled to Wat Chalerm Prakiet where we saw Red-breasted Parakeet and Spotted Owlet, and to Wat Pra Butthabat Noi to see Limestone Wren-babbler. We were to visit several Wats on the tour – a sort of combined Buddhist temple and monastery that often occupied a large area where we were free to roam. Jan 12th was spent at Khaoyai NP, the highlights of the day being both Silver Pheasant and Siamese Fireback. Jan 13th was also at Khaoyai NP. At dusk we found both Great-eared and Jungle (Grey) Nightjars, but failed to see and Needletails which normally come in at this time to a dam. Jan 14th. We birded around the Rangsit wetland (Yellow and Black Bitterns, Purple and Great-billed Herons) before flying to Chiang Mai (where we met our new driver Toi) and driving north for an overnight stop at Rim Doi (hardest beds on the trip!). Jan 15th. We headed off Doi Angkhang for the day. Highlights included Blue-winged and Silver-eared Mesias and Rufous-backed and Dark-backed Sibias. Jan 16th. Also spent at Doi Angkhang. Our day total included 9 species of Bulbul. Jan 17th. A very early start for the drive to Doi Lang, where we birded for most of the day before heading back to Rim Doi. Doi Lang has been taken over by photographers who clear areas of forest, put mealworms on a log and then settle down to photograph the resulting birds. Pipith seemed to also disagree with this approach, but explained that birds now only came out to be fed – rather depressing really. We did see Silver-eared Laughingthrush, Red-faced Liocichla and Golden Bush Robin amongst other birds using this technique. Jan 18th. 2 more Wats, and we added Streaked Wren-babbler at one of them. Then on to Doi Inthanon. Jan 19th. A cold visit to the summit first thing, where most of us saw my 3 rd main target – Pygmy Wren-babbler (a new family!) as well as a White-browed Shortwing. Lunch was at Checkpoint 2 where we were entertained by 4 species of Niltavas – again feeding on mealworms. A forest walk after lunch gave us brief views of Slaty-bellied Tesia, and then we walked down beside the Watchirathan waterfall looking in vain for a Slaty-backed Forktail – although we did get Plumbeous and White-capped Redstarts. A final look at the bridge at Km 13 and we caught up with a Black-backed Forktail. Jan 20th. Another day on Inthanon. A long and steep walk at Km 13 added Collared Falconet (5 of them) and Black-headed Woodpecker to our list. We revisited the waterfall and the summit but alas did not find the Forktail or the Pygmy Wren-babbler. Jan 21st. We birded the Rai Dong area near our hotel for a couple of hours, seeing Blossom-headed Parakeet and our first “real” cuckoo (Banded Bay Cuckoo), before heading off to Chiang Mai and our flights home. _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
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2 responses to “Thailand trip report”
Hi Klaus, _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
379 species? I think Dave shouldn’t complain. How many would he had without a guide? I remember former guests being in Costa Rica and in 2 weeks saw 120 species! With a guide they would have seen more. Cheers, Klaus Kirrama Wildlife Tours Klaus Uhlenhut PO Box 1400 INNISFAIL QLD 4860 AUSTRALIA 07 4065 5181 International: + 61 7 4065 5181 Kirrama Wildlife Tours http://www.kirrama.com.au Web Directory of Australian Birdwatching http://www.ausbird.com Sent: Tuesday, 28 January 2014 4:44 PM Interesting view on a guide! Sent from my iPad Begin forwarded message: I have just returned (with 5 friends) from a birding trip to Thailand. After much research (thanks to Birding-aus members for info on places to go) we booked a trip with Pipith Kaewata. The trip was well organised, with good hotels, food and transport and a reasonable schedule. We had great weather (quite cold in the north), very few annoying insects and no health problems. Pipith was friendly and helpful (especially when one of the group had problems with an ATM!) with reasonable English and he took us to lots of good birding spots. But as a bird guide he left a lot to be desired. He had left his laser pointer and sound equipment at a hotel on a previous trip and halfway through this trip left his scope at Bangkok Airport! His normal mode of operation seemed to be to take us to a specific spot for a specific bird (and to be fair he had a good success rate at this). He would then spend lots of time taking photographs of the target bird, oblivious to all the other birds in the area. He seemed to find it hard to spot other birds, and needed to consult the field guide far more often than any other guide I have used, and was often wrong in his identification! We will never know how many birds we missed because of his lack of equipment and skill. We saw around 379 species on an itinerary that usually seems to get 400-450 birds for most groups. The following is a summary of our itinerary – if you want more details or bird lists please contact me. Spelling of Thai names is as good as I can get it! Jan 4th. We flew to Bangkok and were transferred to our Bangkok hotel. Jan 5th. Pipith and his driver Ning picked us up early for the drive to Pak Thale – an amazing area of salt processing ponds. Our first target of course was the Spoonbill Sandpiper, and we found one by midday. Apart from one bird seen the next day by two of the group this was to be our only sighting of this key species, although other birders reported 2 in the area. In total we found 18 wader species, including such Aussie rarities as Broad-billed Sandpiper and Long-toed Stint. In the afternoon we had a boat trip to Leamphak Bia, adding Chinese Egret, Malaysian Plover and the “White-faced” form of Kentish Plover to our list, as well as a gull identified as Heuglin’s which IOC does not list for this area. We finished the day at the King’s Project, adding Slaty-breasted Rail and Ruddy-breasted Crake to our list. Jan 6th. We spent the day in the same area, seeing 30+ Nordmann’s Greenshank (my second major target) as well as both Spotted and Common Redshanks and Asian Dowitcher to give a list of around 33 waders. Jan 7th. We spent the morning in the same area picking up various ducks including Lesser Whistling and Ferruginous. In the afternoon we went to Nong Pla Lai looking for raptors, finding 5 species. Jan 8th. We drove to Kaeng Krachan, where we would bird for the next couple of days. Since the road to the summit was 4WD only we spent some of the time in the back of a ute. On the 8th we saw a good range of birds including Sultan Tit and 4 species of Hornbill. Jan 9th. Kaeng Krachan. The highlight of the day was great views of a perched Black Baza. Jan 10th. Kaeng Krachan. On our final day on the mountain we had frustratingly brief views of Grey Peacock-pheasant. Jan 11th. Travelled to Wat Chalerm Prakiet where we saw Red-breasted Parakeet and Spotted Owlet, and to Wat Pra Butthabat Noi to see Limestone Wren-babbler. We were to visit several Wats on the tour – a sort of combined Buddhist temple and monastery that often occupied a large area where we were free to roam. Jan 12th was spent at Khaoyai NP, the highlights of the day being both Silver Pheasant and Siamese Fireback. Jan 13th was also at Khaoyai NP. At dusk we found both Great-eared and Jungle (Grey) Nightjars, but failed to see and Needletails which normally come in at this time to a dam. Jan 14th. We birded around the Rangsit wetland (Yellow and Black Bitterns, Purple and Great-billed Herons) before flying to Chiang Mai (where we met our new driver Toi) and driving north for an overnight stop at Rim Doi (hardest beds on the trip!). Jan 15th. We headed off Doi Angkhang for the day. Highlights included Blue-winged and Silver-eared Mesias and Rufous-backed and Dark-backed Sibias. Jan 16th. Also spent at Doi Angkhang. Our day total included 9 species of Bulbul. Jan 17th. A very early start for the drive to Doi Lang, where we birded for most of the day before heading back to Rim Doi. Doi Lang has been taken over by photographers who clear areas of forest, put mealworms on a log and then settle down to photograph the resulting birds. Pipith seemed to also disagree with this approach, but explained that birds now only came out to be fed – rather depressing really. We did see Silver-eared Laughingthrush, Red-faced Liocichla and Golden Bush Robin amongst other birds using this technique. Jan 18th. 2 more Wats, and we added Streaked Wren-babbler at one of them. Then on to Doi Inthanon. Jan 19th. A cold visit to the summit first thing, where most of us saw my 3 rd main target – Pygmy Wren-babbler (a new family!) as well as a White-browed Shortwing. Lunch was at Checkpoint 2 where we were entertained by 4 species of Niltavas – again feeding on mealworms. A forest walk after lunch gave us brief views of Slaty-bellied Tesia, and then we walked down beside the Watchirathan waterfall looking in vain for a Slaty-backed Forktail – although we did get Plumbeous and White-capped Redstarts. A final look at the bridge at Km 13 and we caught up with a Black-backed Forktail. Jan 20th. Another day on Inthanon. A long and steep walk at Km 13 added Collared Falconet (5 of them) and Black-headed Woodpecker to our list. We revisited the waterfall and the summit but alas did not find the Forktail or the Pygmy Wren-babbler. Jan 21st. We birded the Rai Dong area near our hotel for a couple of hours, seeing Blossom-headed Parakeet and our first “real” cuckoo (Banded Bay Cuckoo), before heading off to Chiang Mai and our flights home. _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org _______________________________________________ Birding-Aus mailing list Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org To change settings or unsubscribe visit: http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org