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4 - 10 March 2019.
Mostly dry. Temperatures ranged from 15°C to 40°C.
Nong Pla Lai, Kaeng Krachan National Park, Khao Yai National Park, Pak Chong, Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve and Wat Phra Phutthabat Noi.

4 Mar. An early meet up at 05:30, loaded up the vehicle and left town before traffic started to build. Our first stop, other than much needed coffee, was Nong Pla Lai which we checked, unsuccessfully, for Yellow-breasted Bunting. The other target here was Streaked Weaver, which took a while, but eventually we found several, together with Asian Golden Weaver and Baya Weaver. Nice to see many of the weavers already in breeding plumage. With the first target under the belt we headed to Baan Maka at Kaeng Krachan. A quick lunch and a short siesta, then straight out to Lung Sin hide where we remained till dusk. In contrast to earlier visits this year the hide held good activity with us obtaining great views of Green-legged Partridge, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Large Scimitar Babbler, Common Green Magpie and Bar-backed Partridge - the latter being the main target.

5 Mar. An early start into Kaeng Krachan park, commencing our birding at Km 9. This was chosen primarily due to the current Black-thighed Falconet roost, which duly obliged. The morning spent along the road as far as Bang Krang, with Great Slaty Woodpecker, Radde's Warbler, Lesser Flameback, Greater Flameback and Common Hill Myna. A walk on the loop Nature Trail was poor, though somewhat expected, given the late timing and heat of the day.

Bar-backed Partridge

Common Green Magpie

Grey Peacock-Pheasant

Returned to the accommodation, a quick lunch and look at the roosting Brown Boobook, then out to Neung hide, where an unexpected highlight was Grey Peacock-Pheasant coming to drink, plus Green-legged Partridge, Bar-backed Partridge, Chinese Blue Flycatcher and Large Scimitar Babbler.

Large Scimitar Babbler

Blue Pitta

Silver Pheasant

Silver-backed Needletail

A nice haul. On the return at dusk a Large-tailed Nightjar found along the road edge.

6 Mar. A dawn start at the new Nui hide. Our main hope was for Blue Pitta, which had been seen regularly. To say we were not disappointed would be an understatement. Stunning bird with excellent prolonged views. A great experience. Other species included Green-legged Partridge, Bar-backed Partridge, Abbott's Babbler, Grey-headed Woodpecker and Large Scimitar Babbler. A near seven hour drive to Khao Yai with an overnight nearby.

7 Mar. We were waiting at the Khao Yai entrance at the 06:00 opening hours, from where we headed straight toward the upper levels, chancing upon a group of Silver Pheasant giving extended views a couple of kilometres before the top. After a half-hour or so, a small group of Black-faced Laughingthrush passed through the area. The remainder of the day we tried several areas, unsuccessfully, for Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo. With the park management now banning bird feeding and hide photography, this bird has become almost unobtainable as now must be searched for from trails. Unsurprisingly we were not in luck, though we did hear one or two along the Khao Khaeo road. Late afternoon we visited the pond where needletails drink, finding a single Silver-backed Needletail in the group. Other birds of interest during the day included Laced Woodpecker, Black-and-buff Woodpecker, Banded Kingfisher, Orange-breasted Trogon, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Red-breasted Parakeet, Blue Pitta heard, Great Iora, Black-winged Cuckooshrike, Rosy Minivet, Swinhoe's Minivet, Common Green Magpie, Radde's Warbler, Sulphur-breasted Warbler, and Golden-headed Cisticola.

8 Mar. The morning spent in the park searching various area for Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo, Eared Pitta and Siamese Fireback. We had expected that we might find the fireback, but alas nothing. Another Coral-billed Ground Cuckoo heard as well as Blue Pitta. We took a short afternoon siesta back at the hotel, then headed to the fields around Pak Chong. A very successful hour or two here gave us Common Buttonquail, Barred Buttonquail and Rain Quail.

Brown Prinia

Having asked permission to visit, we birded the entrance road, finding a dozen Siamese Fireback plus Black-headed Woodpecker and Brown Prinia. The later restricted to the only minute patch of unburned grassland remaining.

Siamese Fireback