So comes round our final day in Kraeng Katchan, and our last full day in Thailand. To try and see the White-fronted Scops Owl in the park we awoke at 04:30 so that we could be in the park as early as possible and maybe spend an hour of darkness searching for the bird. We entered the park at exactly 05:00, the first people through the gate, and we could tell immediately with two PALM CIVETS seen, as well as the foot of an Elephant which had been feeding by the side of the road. We saw the damage on the vegetation, heard the crashing and saw the movement in addition to the foot, but we had clearly spooked the animal as we approached and it did not reappear, the sounds of the vegetation crashing slowly receding into the bamboo.
Our search for the owl was unsuccessful, although we heard
two individuals we could not locate them and the day-roosting bird was once
again not present. We spent a little time birding along the road around the
three stream crossings where we had searched for the owl, for the first hour of
light, but the birds were generally slow. A WHITE HANDED GIBBON was sat right
above the road, showing very nice and even urinated on PC. The only new bird in
this hour was the long overdue Ochraceous Bulbul, not a spectacular species.
We headed back to the BAN KANG campsite for a short
breakfast and to bird around this area. The previous day SH and KF had found a
Forest Wagtail on the river behind the campsite, but by the time the rest of us
had twitched it, the bird had already moved off and we did not relocate it
before we had to leave. This morning we made it our second priority after the
owl, and were relieved to refind it quickly, feeding away on the river directly
behind the camp. Although distant upstream, it was nice to see such an
attractive bird after searching optimistically all trip.
For the rest of the morning we spent exploring around the
campsite and nearby trails. In the end we did pick up a number of new bird
species, including the inspiring Olive Bulbul and smart Streak-throated
Woodpecker. A Large Woodshrike was nesting in the grounds of the campsite, and
this species was a feature throughout the morning despite having missed it on
previous days. Finally we rounded it off with a smart male Hainan Blue
Flycatcher feeding over the stream. The birding was very enjoyable, with a
large mixed species flock keeping us entertained throughout the morning.
After yesterdays Broadbill success, we only had one species
left to try and find in the park and it was the most difficult, the stunning
Black-and-red Broadbill. Whilst exploring the area around the Youth Hostal, I received
a WhatsApp from RH saying he had found the bird back at the main campsite.
Although it had moved on by the time I reached him, I followed the flock up the
river and was rewarded with phenomenal views of Silver-breasted Broadbill, as
well as better views of Banded Broadbill before finally seeing two off the
stunning Black-and-red Broadbill, right at eye level as they followed the river,
whilst I was birding on the road. It was a brilliant species to round off our time
in Kaeng Kratchan.
After a final lunch at Baan Maka we set off on our two hour
drive to Bangkok, where we would prepare for our flight the following day.
Species List:
Kaeng Krachan National Park: Spotted Dove, Square-tailed
Drongo-Cuckoo, Germain's Swiftlet, Crested Goshawk, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Greater
Flameback, Streak-breasted Woodpecker, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Black-and-red
Broadbill, Banded Broadbill, Scarlet Minivet, Swinhoe's Minivet, Black-winged
Cuckooshrike, White-bellied Erpornis, Black-naped Oriole, Large Woodshrike, Bar-winged
Flycatcher-shrike, Great Iora, Ashy Drongo, Hair-crested Drongo, Black-naped
Monarch, Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher, Sultan Tit, Dark-necked Tailorbird, Ochraceous
Bulbul, Olive Bulbul, Black-crested Bulbul, Stripe-throated Bulbul, Yellow-browed
Warbler, Pin-striped Tit-Babbler, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Common Hill Myna, Asian
Brown Flycatcher, White-rumped Shama, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Taiga Flycatcher,
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Asian Fairy-bluebird, Blue-winged Leafbird, Forest
Wagtail, Grey Wagtail,
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