Dates:
Weather:
Localities:

22 - 28 Dec 2014.
Mixed, with rain and cloud. Temperatures from pleasant to very hot, especially offshore.
Ko Phi Phi, Laem Pakarang, Sri Phang-nga National Park, Ko Ra - Ko Phra Thong National Park, Mu Ko Surin National Park and Thai Mueang.

Great Frigatebird (Ian Dugdale)

Crab Plover

The continually overcast skies and showers evidently didn't do much for interest either. Having secured a boatman for 2,000 Baht, it was a 30 minute ride in choppy waters to arrive at the rocks, where we needed to shelter in the leeward side to avoid the heavy chop and wind. Frigatebird numbers began to built, and over the next hour or so an impressive count of around one thousand was in evidence. The poor light and constant showers did not help identification nor photography. As expected almost all were Lesser Frigatebird with a smattering of Christmas Frigatebird, and by some great fortune a single male Great Frigatebird was identified.

23 Dec. We took the 09:00 ferry back to Phuket. Cloudy, but at least no rain. Sea conditions were much rougher than yesterday, and despite this being a large ferry a number of passengers were ill. Having docked at 11:15 it took us another 45 minutes to drive off the island, from where we headed north toward Khuraburi, stopping at Laem Pakarang en route. Here our luck continued as we unexpectedly relocated the Crab-plover that had been seen three weeks earlier but apparently not stayed, as subsequent visits had failed to locate it. Overnight at the local Khun Tha resort north of Sri Phang-nga National Park. An after-dinner drive toward the coast found zero owls but we did find a single Dog-faced Water Snake in mangrove edge. The rain just about held off.

This savanna and woodland looks similar to the habitat on Ko Phra Thong, and although probably never birded, it looked interesting on Google Earth. We took a longish walk, finishing off at a short stretch of mangrove on the eastern side, where we had splendid views of the highly elusive Chestnut-bellied Malkoha. The rest was not as good as hoped, but did include Pink-necked Green Pigeon and Orange-breasted Green Pigeon.

25 Dec. Was Santa going to bring us any presents today? Set out from Khuraburi pier to Mu Ko Surin at 09:05 - what is it with everything leaving five minutes behind schedule? A fast but very choppy trip, with birding just about impossible, although we did manage to identify two Bridled Tern close to the boat. On arrival at 10:30 we immediately secured one of the incredibly noisy, longtail boats. How such a peaceful island park allow such noise is quite amazing. We spent the next two hours pottering along the coast of the main and adjacent island in search of Beach Stone-curlew, our main target. However, this was not to be found. However, almost at the end we came across a single Great-billed Heron well camouflaged against rocks. Few Thai records of this species in recent years. Due to the heat of the day not too many other birds, but we also saw Pied Imperial Pigeon and Green Imperial Pigeon. Mid afternoon speedboat back to Khuraburi.

26 Dec. Overnight rain continuing into the morning, that found us at first light at Sri Phang-nga park. In addition to the miserable weather at least 200 scouts and guides were camped in the main camp site complete with blaring music and bongos. All in all not very conducive to hornbills and raptors, and having seen nothing in the first hour we walked to the waterfall and checked the trials and Malayan Banded Pitta feeding area. Little seen other than a passing Malaysian Blue-banded Kingfsher, and as rain started at 11:00 we returned to the park restaurant for lunch. Shortly after the rain ceased which allowed us to go with one of the rangers to look for Gould's Frogmouth. Good he had some idea of where to look as we'd never have found it in several hours of looking. Mid afternoon we decided to check the forest around the Khu Rot ranger station, but rain curtailed our time there, with us calling it a day around 16:00.

Chestnut-bellied Malkoha

Great-billed Heron

Gould's Frogmouth

Lesser Adjutant

Red-necked Keelback

27 Dec. With the owner of Khun Tha Resort mentioning to us that Lesser Adjutant was photographable on Ko Phra Thong, we decided to investigate with him. A short boat ride across to the southern end of the island from the local pier at Ban La Ong, at which a prearranged mini tractor cum cart cum shopping trolley was waiting to pick us up. With a top speed of maybe 10 km/h it took a fair while to get to the adjutant area, but indeed once there two pairs of Lesser Adjutant were feeding at a small pond in savanna forest. One pair were also nest building nearby. Quite an experience and a wonderful photo opportunity. For the next couple of hours we simply drove various tracks of the southern half of the island, finding at least eight more adjutant and a Booted Eagle. By mid day it was brutally hot so we rested, using the tsunami shelter both for shade and as a scanning platform. Around 15:00, although still hot we tried a short walk in the woodland and savanna finding few birds, but stumbled upon a Red-necked Keelback taking a frog. Late afternoon boat return.

28 Dec. A return to Sri Phang-nga at day break. A much better day weather-wise, and over breakfast at the campsite we had Great Hornbill and Blyth's Hawk-Eagle flying over the clearing. The rest of the morning was spent on a slow walk to the waterfall, with the weather slowly becoming hot. A nice selection of species including Rufous Piculet, Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Swinhoe's Minivet, Crow-billed Drongo, Yellow-vented Flowerpecker and Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo.