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The pitta may have
been a no-show this trip, but our other titular species, the
Nicobar Pigeon, came through in spades, and we had
incredible views of half a dozen of these strange birds!
(Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)
"And now for something completely different." Our short extension to Thailand's south sure was something different, compared to our excellent main tour in the north. We ventured into the land of new lifers, all representative of the Sundaic avifauna of the Malay Peninsula and the Greater Sundas region. While we had gotten a taste of this avifauna at Kaeng Krachan NP far to the north at the base of the peninsula, we really immersed ourselves in it here, recording (including those just heard) more than sixty new species for the group.
There was some major disappointment on this year's extension, and that was the absence of the rare Gurney's Pitta on the tour. Our local guide Yotin had the bird pinned down eleven days before we arrived, but it diasappeared into the greenery of the reserve before we gave it our first attempt. As far as I know, it hasn't been relocated yet, but I'm sure that it will resurface sometime soon; Yotin's a pretty driven guy.
There were some great finds during our time at Khao Nor Chuchi and nearby Krabi, though. At the forefront of all of the new birds seen by our group, I'd have to say that the Oriental Bay-Owl, our close Javan Frogmouth, that fantastic male Banded Pitta, multiple Brown-winged Kingfishers, stunning Red-crowned & Red-throated barbets, a scarce Fulvous-chested Jungle-Flycatcher, and a lovely Black-throated Babbler were right up there among the highlights. And the Nicobar Pigeon, of course, came through for us like a champ on the Similan Islands at the end of our foray to the south.
Again, thanks to Wat and crew for making this such an easy trip for me and Uthai to guide for all of you. From a guide's perspective, it's unbelievably important to have a solid crew that you can depend on to help make any tour a success, like this one was. Thanks again to all of you for your good companionship on this short extension and we hope to see all of you again soon!
--Dave
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for
individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I =
introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b =
boreal migrant
BIRDS
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
LITTLE CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax niger) Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
A paranoid glance
over his shoulder confirms this Brown Wood-Owl's
suspicions... there is someone watching him! (Photo by
guide Dave Stejskal)
PACIFIC REEF-HERON
(Egretta sacra) – Great views of a dark adult on the mud
where we caught our boat to the Similans.
CHINESE POND-HERON
(Ardeola bacchus)
STRIATED HERON
(Butorides striata)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
BRAHMINY KITE (Haliastur indus) WHITE-BELLIED
SEA-EAGLE (Haliaeetus
leucogaster) – That pair on
the island is delightfully reliable there.
CRESTED
SERPENT-EAGLE (Spilornis
cheela)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus) – Dave M. spotted this one from the other
beach on the island. Undoubtedly a migrant there. Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN (Amaurornis phoenicurus) – Including a couple of birds on the
island. Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola) LESSER SAND-PLOVER
(Charadrius mongolus) – We had a nice mix of this and the next
species on the coral beach after we returned to the mainland
on the final day.
GREATER
SAND-PLOVER (Charadrius
leschenaultii)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
TEREK SANDPIPER (Xenus cinereus) – We had quite a few of these odd
sandpipers on the rocks just offshore from the above coral
beach. COMMON SANDPIPER
(Actitis hypoleucos)
GRAY-TAILED
TATTLER (Tringa brevipes)
– Two or three of these were nice to
see with the above Tereks.
WHIMBREL
(SIBERIAN) (Numenius phaeopus
variegatus)
BAR-TAILED GODWIT
(Limosa lapponica)
RUDDY TURNSTONE
(Arenaria interpres) – The most common shorebird on the rocks
just offshore on the final day.
RED-NECKED STINT
(Calidris ruficollis)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo) – The few distant terns that we saw from
the boat as we came and went from the Similans were probably
this species. Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I] 
This Javan
Frogmouth looks like it's had a pretty rough night, though
it is likely thinking the same about us! (Photo by guide
Dave Stejskal)
EMERALD DOVE
(Chalcophaps indica) [*]
ZEBRA DOVE
(Geopelia striata) – The birds on the peninsula here are
naturally occurring and weren't introduced here.
NICOBAR PIGEON
(Caloenas nicobarica) – WOWWW!!!! It's great to end this short
extension with fabulous views of this very strange pigeon on
the Similans. I figure there were probably 5-6 birds roaming
the compound there on the morning that we left for the
mainland.
THICK-BILLED
PIGEON (Treron curvirostra)
– A few at KNC (Khao Nor Chuchi
reserve).
GREEN
IMPERIAL-PIGEON (Ducula aenea)
– Far outnumbered by the next species
on the island.
PIED
IMPERIAL-PIGEON (Ducula
bicolor) – Just about all of
the birds at this season have that beautiful pale yellow
blush on the plumage.
Psittacidae (Parrots)
VERNAL HANGING-PARROT (Loriculus vernalis) [*] Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
MOUSTACHED HAWK-CUCKOO (Hierococcyx vagans) [*] BANDED BAY CUCKOO
(Cacomantis sonneratii) [*]
PLAINTIVE CUCKOO
(Cacomantis merulinus) [*]
ASIAN KOEL
(Eudynamys scolopaceus) – One of the few resident birds on the
island. They make a living parasitizing the small population
of Common Hill Mynas there.
CHESTNUT-BELLIED
MALKOHA (Phaenicophaeus
sumatranus) – Some folks may
have glimpsed these flying over the channel near our hotel,
but they were mostly just heard.
RAFFLES'S MALKOHA
(Phaenicophaeus chlorophaeus) – A couple of unresponsive birds late one
afternoon at KNC may have been seen by a couple of folks.
GREATER COUCAL
(Centropus sinensis) [*]
Tytonidae (Barn-Owls)
ORIENTAL BAY-OWL (Phodilus badius) – YESSSS!!!!! I really started having my
doubts about this one showing up, but patience was the key.
We all enjoyed great views of this beautiful owl near KNC.
Strigidae (Owls)
BROWN WOOD-OWL (Strix leptogrammica) – It took a little work, but we finally got
a great view of this impressive owl at KNC late one
afternoon. BROWN HAWK-OWL
(Ninox scutulata) [*]
Podargidae (Frogmouths)
JAVAN FROGMOUTH (BLYTH'S) (Batrachostomus javensis continentalis)
– Another bird that tested our patience
on our first attempt at nightbirding. Lucky for us that he
was so responsive. Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
GREAT EARED-NIGHTJAR (Eurostopodus macrotis) – Mostly just heard, but a few folks got a
look. LARGE-TAILED
NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus
macrurus) [*]
Apodidae (Swifts)
SILVER-RUMPED NEEDLETAIL (Rhaphidura leucopygialis) – About a dozen of these spent much of the
late afternoon feeding over a particular stretch of road at
KNC. Great looks! GERMAN'S SWIFTLET
(Aerodramus germani) – A common bird on the peninsula.
HOUSE SWIFT
(Apus nipalensis) – We had a couple of flocks at KNC.
ASIAN PALM-SWIFT
(Cypsiurus balasiensis)
Hemiprocnidae (Treeswifts)
The spectacular
Brown-winged Kingfisher is restricted to mangroves in the
coastal regions around the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.
We were fortunate to see several of these beauties. (Photo
by guide Dave Stejskal)
WHISKERED
TREESWIFT (Hemiprocne comata)
– Gaylan, at least, was able to see
this one in the scope high in the canopy at KNC.
Trogonidae (Trogons)
ORANGE-BREASTED TROGON (Harpactes oreskios) [*] Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
COMMON KINGFISHER (Alcedo atthis) BLACK-BACKED
KINGFISHER (Ceyx erithaca)
– Just about everyone in line got a
quick look at this small kingfisher as it perched above the
stream at KNC.
BANDED KINGFISHER
(Lacedo pulchella) – We were able to get another fancy female
in the scopes on our way to the bird bath area at KNC. Great
looks again!
BROWN-WINGED
KINGFISHER (Pelargopsis
amauroptera) – Multiple great
views of this regional endemic.
RUDDY KINGFISHER
(Halcyon coromanda) – A few folks in Uthai's boat may have seen
this one fly across the channel, but that was about it.
WHITE-THROATED
KINGFISHER (Halcyon
smyrnensis)
BLACK-CAPPED
KINGFISHER (Halcyon pileata)
COLLARED
KINGFISHER (Todiramphus
chloris)
Meropidae (Bee-eaters)
RED-BEARDED BEE-EATER (Nyctyornis amictus) – We probably heard 3-4 pairs of this
spectacular species. [*] Coraciidae (Rollers)
INDIAN ROLLER (Coracias benghalensis) DOLLARBIRD
(Eurystomus orientalis)
Megalaimidae (Asian Barbets)
GOLD-WHISKERED BARBET (Megalaima chrysopogon) [*] RED-CROWNED BARBET
(Megalaima rafflesii) – We had to find just the right vantage
point to view this one in the scopes as it sang high in the
canopy at KNC.
RED-THROATED
BARBET (Megalaima
mystacophanos) – This was a
catch-up species for everyone at KNC since we only heard it
on the main tour.
BLUE-EARED BARBET
(Megalaima australis) [*]
COPPERSMITH BARBET
(Megalaima haemacephala) [*]
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
STREAK-BREASTED WOODPECKER (Picus viridanus) – Yotin had this one staked out for us in a
little rubber plantation at KNC. COMMON FLAMEBACK
(Dinopium javanense) [*]
Calyptomenidae (African and Green
Broadbills)
GREEN BROADBILL (Calyptomena viridis) – Maybe glimpsed by some, but pretty much
just heard this year. They're usually much more responsive.
[*] Eurylaimidae (Asian and Grauer's
Broadbills)
BANDED BROADBILL (Eurylaimus javanicus) [*] BLACK-AND-YELLOW
BROADBILL (Eurylaimus
ochromalus) [*]
Pittidae (Pittas)
BANDED PITTA (Pitta guajana) – An exquisite species seen from the blind
on the first morning at KNC. It's not a done deal yet, but
it looks like Clements will likely adopt the split of this
one into three species. Ours, the most beautiful of the
three races, is the Malayan form and the new scientific name
will be P. irena. BLUE-WINGED PITTA
(Pitta moluccensis) [*]
MANGROVE PITTA
(Pitta megarhyncha) – Vicki may have been the only one to see
this mangrove specialist at Krabi. The birds here this year
were surprisingly unresponsive.
Acanthizidae (Thornbills and Allies)
GOLDEN-BELLIED GERYGONE (Gerygone sulphurea) [*] Prionopidae (Helmetshrikes and Allies)
RUFOUS-WINGED PHILENTOMA (Philentoma pyrhoptera) [*] Aegithinidae (Ioras)
COMMON IORA (Aegithina tiphia) GREEN IORA
(Aegithina viridissima) – Nice looks on our second morning at KNC
of a singing male right above the road.
GREAT IORA
(Aegithina lafresnayei) – The males here have black wings, unlike
the birds we saw in the north. They often show variable
amounts of black on the back and crown as well.
Campephagidae (Cuckoo-shrikes)
BROWN-RUMPED MINIVET (Pericrocotus cantonensis) – A catch-up bird for some folks at KNC
after missing it on the main tour. ASHY MINIVET
(Pericrocotus divaricatus)
BAR-WINGED
FLYCATCHER-SHRIKE (Hemipus
picatus)
Laniidae (Shrikes)
BROWN SHRIKE (Lanius cristatus) Oriolidae (Old World Orioles)
DARK-THROATED ORIOLE (Oriolus xanthonotus) – I guess that female we saw was in the
middle of constructing that nest she was near. [N] Dicruridae (Drongos)
BLACK DRONGO (Dicrurus macrocercus) CROW-BILLED DRONGO
(Dicrurus annectans) – We heard quite a few of these in the
forest at KNC, but just saw one or two.
GREATER
RACKET-TAILED DRONGO (Dicrurus
paradiseus)
Rhipiduridae (Fantails)
PIED FANTAIL (Rhipidura javanica) Monarchidae (Monarch Flycatchers)
BLACK-NAPED MONARCH (Hypothymis azurea) ASIAN
PARADISE-FLYCATCHER (Terpsiphone
paradisi) – Probably a
catch-up bird for most, if not all, at KNC.
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
LARGE-BILLED CROW (LARGE-BILLED)
(Corvus macrorhynchos macrorhynchos)
– I know that this bird in the Malay
Peninsula is supposed to be a different race than what we
saw in the north on the main tour, but the distribution
description in Clements suggests that the only race here is
this same nominate race. Hirundinidae (Swallows)
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica) PACIFIC SWALLOW
(PACIFIC) (Hirundo tahitica
javanica) – Good views in the
mangroves on the first afternoon.
RED-RUMPED SWALLOW
(Cecropis daurica)
RUFOUS-BELLIED
SWALLOW (Cecropis badia)
– A recent split from the Striated
Swallow, this one is now a Malay Peninsula endemic.
Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls)
PUFF-BACKED BULBUL (Pycnonotus eutilotus) – Great views in the scopes at KNC. A
bulbul with a nice voice. BLACK-HEADED
BULBUL (Pycnonotus atriceps)
BLACK-CRESTED
BULBUL (Pycnonotus
flaviventris) [*]
YELLOW-VENTED
BULBUL (Pycnonotus goiavier)
OLIVE-WINGED
BULBUL (Pycnonotus plumosus)
[*]
STREAK-EARED
BULBUL (Pycnonotus blanfordi)
CREAM-VENTED
BULBUL (Pycnonotus simplex)
– We had a couple of these new bulbuls
above the road at KNC.
RED-EYED BULBUL
(Pycnonotus brunneus) – Probably the bulbul that we saw best at
the bathing spot.
SPECTACLED BULBUL
(Pycnonotus erythropthalmos) – We found a responsive bird on our first
afternoon at KNC after seeing it rather poorly after that.
HAIRY-BACKED
BULBUL (Tricholestes criniger)
– We had a very close encounter with
this one at the Red-crowned Barbet spot at KNC. Quite unlike
most other bulbuls that we saw in Thailand.
OCHRACEOUS BULBUL
(Alophoixus ochraceus) [*]
GRAY-CHEEKED
BULBUL (Alophoixus bres)
– Rather common, at least by voice, at
KNC.
YELLOW-BELLIED
BULBUL (Alophoixus
phaeocephalus) – Man, these
were flighty! We did end up with some nice scope looks on
our first afternoon at KNC.
BUFF-VENTED BULBUL
(Iole olivacea)
STREAKED BULBUL
(Ixos malaccensis) – At least one bird came in for a bath on
the final afternoon at KNC.
Phylloscopidae (Leaf-Warblers)
YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER (Phylloscopus inornatus) ARCTIC WARBLER
(Phylloscopus borealis) – The calls of this bird here sound quite
different from what I know in w. Alaska, so I'll have to
figure out what's going on here on my future trips.
PALE-LEGGED
LEAF-WARBLER (Phylloscopus
tenellipes) – Some finally
got a look at this at the bathing spot after hearing
countless birds before that on the main tour.
EASTERN CROWNED
LEAF-WARBLER (Phylloscopus
coronatus) – If you can find
a mixed insectivore flock at KNC, you'll almost certainly
find this wintering species.
Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and Allies)
COMMON TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus sutorius) DARK-NECKED
TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus
atrogularis)
RUFOUS-TAILED
TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus
sericeus) [*]
ASHY TAILORBIRD
(Orthotomus ruficeps) – Nicely in the mangroves near Krabi.
Pellorneidae (Fulvettas and Ground
Babblers)
ABBOTT'S BABBLER (Malacocincla abbotti) [*] SHORT-TAILED
BABBLER (Malacocincla
malaccensis) [*]
PUFF-THROATED
BABBLER (Pellorneum ruficeps)
[*]
BLACK-CAPPED
BABBLER (Pellorneum
capistratum) – A few lucky
folks saw this one perched on the ground on the first
morning at KNC. Otherwise, well heard.
MOUSTACHED BABBLER
(Malacopteron magnirostre) – Good looks at a couple of birds along the
trails at KNC.
RUFOUS-CROWNED
BABBLER (Malacopteron magnum)
– This one is always a little bigger
than I remember it. It took a little work, but we all
eventually saw it along the trail at KNC.
Timaliidae (Babblers)
PIN-STRIPED TIT-BABBLER (Macronous gularis) [*] GRAY-HEADED
BABBLER (Stachyris
poliocephala) – This bird
came in noisily late in the afternoon just before we left
the bathing spot, but few in the group saw it well (or saw
it at all).
BLACK-THROATED
BABBLER (Stachyris
nigricollis) – This beautiful
babbler performed better for us on the first afternoon at
KNC.
CHESTNUT-RUMPED
BABBLER (Stachyris maculata)
[*]
CHESTNUT-WINGED
BABBLER (Stachyris
erythroptera) – If you
watched this one carefully, you could see the inflated blue
air sack on the side of the neck while it sang.
Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers)
ASIAN BROWN FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa dauurica) BROWN-STREAKED
FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa
siamensis) – We had nice
looks of a singing bird near KNC, thanks to Yotin. It really
does look quite different than the closely related Asian
Brown Flycatcher.
ORIENTAL
MAGPIE-ROBIN (Copsychus
saularis)
BLUE-THROATED
FLYCATCHER (CHINESE) (Cyornis
rubeculoides glaucicomans) –
At least one male was seen pretty well along the trails at
KNC.
LARGE
BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis
magnirostris) – That injured
or sick individual that Uthai spotted appeared to be this
recently recognized species. Still a poorly-known taxon.
FULVOUS-CHESTED
JUNGLE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis
olivaceus) – This one was a
nice surprise on the hike into the bird bathing spot!
SIBERIAN BLUE
ROBIN (Larvivora cyane)
[*]
BLUE
WHISTLING-THRUSH (Myophonus
caeruleus) [*]
Sturnidae (Starlings)
ASIAN GLOSSY STARLING (Aplonis panayensis) – Some folks in the lead van got to see
these as we made our way to KNC that first morning. COMMON HILL MYNA
(Gracula religiosa) – The birds on the Similans were the
nominate subspecies G. r. religiosa.
COMMON MYNA
(Acridotheres tristis)
Dicaeidae (Flowerpeckers)
YELLOW-BREASTED FLOWERPECKER (Prionochilus maculatus) – This and the Orange-bellied Flowerpecker
seemed to be the most common flowerpeckers in the forest at
KNC. CRIMSON-BREASTED
FLOWERPECKER (Prionochilus
percussus) – A lovely male in
the scope on our first afternoon at KNC.
THICK-BILLED
FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum agile)
– Another catch-up for some folks who
missed this one on the main tour.
ORANGE-BELLIED
FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum
trigonostigma) – Especially
common at the edge of the forest and in the disturbed areas.
SCARLET-BACKED
FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum
cruentatum)
Nectariniidae (Sunbirds and Spiderhunters)
RUBY-CHEEKED SUNBIRD (Chalcoparia singalensis) [*] PLAIN-THROATED
SUNBIRD (Anthreptes
malacensis)
RED-THROATED
SUNBIRD (Anthreptes
rhodolaemus) – A male made a
very brief appearance on our second morning at KNC. Very
similar to the Plain-throated Sunbird.
PURPLE-NAPED
SUNBIRD (Hypogramma
hypogrammicum) – We had an
incredible close encounter with this unique sunbird along
the roadside on our first afternoon at KNC.
VAN HASSELT'S
SUNBIRD (Leptocoma brasiliana)
– This one is the mainland form that
was split from Purple-throated Sunbird.
OLIVE-BACKED
SUNBIRD (Cinnyris jugularis)
LITTLE
SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera
longirostra) – Another
catch-up species for some.
SPECTACLED
SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera
flavigaster) – We had a brief
encounter with this one on our way to catch the boat for the
Similans.
GRAY-BREASTED
SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera
modesta) – About as big as a
Streaked Spiderhunter but much more subdued in pattern.
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
ORIENTAL PIPIT (Anthus rufulus) Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus) MAMMALS
VARIABLE FLYING
FOX (Pteropus hypomelanus)
– I'm not sure I'd want to sleep in a
tent with all of these guys roosting above me in the trees.
The predominant mammal of the Similans.
COMMON TREESHREW
(Tupaia glis) – A surprise visitor to the bird bathing
area for some.
CRAB-EATING
MACAQUE (Macaca fascigularis)
– Loads of these in the mangroves at
Krabi.
GRAY-BELLIED
SQUIRREL (Callosciurus
caniceps)
SMOOTH-COATED
OTTER (Lutrogale
perspicillata) – A pair of
these was seen by about half of the group in the mangroves
near our hotel that first afternoon.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Totals for the tour: 157 bird taxa and 5 mammal taxa