Quick stop off for some R&R and lots of rain…
Rain, Rain and more Rain
After the disappointment of our Jordan trip being cancelled we decided to have a few more days in Thailand, go birding and visit a couple of friends (something about plans of mice and men?).
First stop Baan Maka Nature reserve, we have stayed here before but this time they had been in drought for 2 years. Last time it was flooded and very wet underfoot (Exactly the same time of year). We managed to get 1 full day of birding in with a guide, which increased our species count for the year, but did not net us any of the birds we were looking for. It has put me up to number 16 in the world on ebird, pretty impressive we think.
Although the birds were thin on the ground we did see quite a bit of wildlife, some odd bugs and plenty of butterflies.
Then it started to rain (heavily) so only very short birding trips for next few days.
One trip to a local hide was great with some lovely birds, small deer and a treeshrew.
More rain then a newsflash areas to north and south of us were flooded, great. That’s 1 visit off the list. Spent 2 more nights at lodge (also not in plan). Off to Pattaya for few days as we have never been there and at least it is close to Bangkok if rain continues.
Interesting to see Pattaya is not as it had been in the past, it used to be very sleazy but according to blurb the Government have cleaned it up. Just hidden me thinks. Tried a couple of birding spots to no avail. More torrential rain and thunder storms (not much fun). Steve catches the lurgi (Carol says cold, Steve says manflu). Not in plan as not up to driving much, moved to another hotel which looked good but was a bit far from centre so quite isolating, but a great view. More rain and Thunderstorms meant a total waste of the lovely looking pool and not the best sunsets.
Steve was sleeping most of day as not feeling to good so visit number 2 scratched as he couldn’t have driven far. We used grab taxi to town as there were not many restaurants or shops where we were.
The only real highlight apart from the thunder and lightning was a visit to The Temple of Truth which was brilliant. It is all carved from wood, incredible just finished tour and more rain and thunderstorms.
The temple building was started in 1981 and is not finished yet – they hope by the end of this decade. Very slow laborious work, while we were there most of the carving was being done by young women.
Dread to think how many forests have gone into this temple though and how many huge old trees.
Thought we should have hired a boat instead of car. Last day we actually had some sunshine (and showers).
Another short outing to Khao Chi Chan Buddha – a huge gold carving into the rock face. Alright but I think I prefer rocks looking like rocks.
Next stop Melbourne (yuk) then back home to what – fixing pool solar and gardening maybe?. The best thing and what I am really looking forward to is catching up with family and friends.
BIRD & WILDLIFE IDENTIFIED:
Birds:
Abbott’s Babbler
Amur Paradise-Flycatcher
Ashy Bulbul
Ashy Drongo
Ashy Woodswallow
Asian Barred Owlet
Asian Brown Flycatcher
Asian Emerald Dove
Asian Fairy-bluebird
Asian Golden Weaver
Asian Green Bee-eater
Asian Koel
Asian Openbill
Bamboo Woodpecker
Banded Kingfisher
Barn Swallow
Bar-tailed Godwit
Baya Weaver
Besra
Black Drongo
Black Kite
Black-and-red Broadbill
Black-capped Kingfisher
Black-crested Bulbul
Black-headed Bulbul
Black-hooded Oriole
Black-naped Monarch
Black-naped Oriole
Black-tailed Godwit
Black-thighed Falconet
Black-winged Cuckooshrike
Blue Pitta
Blue-bearded Bee-eater
Blue-eared Barbet
Blue-winged Leafbird
Bronzed Drongo
Brown Boobook
Brown Shrike
Brown-cheeked Fulvetta
Brown-headed Gull
Brown-rumped Minivet
Brown-throated Sunbird
Chestnut Munia
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo
Chinese Pond-Heron
Chinese Sparrowhawk
Claudia’s Leaf Warbler
Collared Kingfisher
Collared Scops-Owl
Common Flameback
Common Greenshank
Common Hill Myna
Common Iora
Common Kingfisher
Common Myna
Common Redshank
Common Sandpiper
Common Tailorbird
Common Tern
Coppersmith Barbet
Crested Serpent-Eagle
Dark-necked Tailorbird
Eastern Crowned Warbler
Eastern Marsh Harrier
Eurasian Black-winged Stilt
Eurasian Curlew
Eurasian Kestrel
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Germain’s Swiftlet
Golden-bellied Gerygone
Golden-fronted Leafbird
Great Egret
Great Hornbill
Great Knot
Great Myna
Greater Coucal
Greater Flameback
Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
Greater Sand-Plover
Greater Yellownape
Green-billed Malkoha
Green-eared Barbet
Grey Heron
Grey Plover
Grey Wagtail
Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher
Grey-headed Woodpecker
Grey-rumped Treeswift
Gull-billed Tern
Hainan Blue Flycatcher
Hair-crested Drongo
Heart-spotted Woodpecker
House Sparrow
Indian Cormorant
Indochinese Blue Flycatcher
Indochinese Roller
Japanese Sparrowhawk
Javan Pond-Heron
Kalij Pheasant
Kentish Plover
Laced Woodpecker
Large-billed Crow
Large-tailed Nightjar
Lesser Coucal
Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush
Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo
Lineated Barbet
Little Cormorant
Little Egret
Little Ringed Plover
Little Spiderhunter
Little Tern
Malayan Night Heron
Malaysian Pied-Fantail
Marsh Sandpiper
Medium Egret
Milky Stork
Olive Bulbul
Orange-bellied Flowerpecker
Oriental Darter
Oriental Honey-buzzard
Oriental Magpie-Robin
Oriental Pied-Hornbill
Oriental Reed Warbler
Ornate Sunbird
Pacific Golden-Plover
Paddyfield Pipit
Painted Stork
Pied Harrier
Pink-necked Green-Pigeon
Pin-striped Tit-Babbler
Plain Prinia
Plain Sunbird
Plain-backed Sparrow
Plaintive Cuckoo
Puff-throated Babbler
Racket-tailed Treepie
Red Collared-Dove
Red Junglefowl
Red-billed Malkoha
Red-breasted Parakeet
Red-necked Stint
Red-wattled Lapwing
Richard’s Pipit
Rock Dove
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird
Ruddy Turnstone
Rufous Treepie
Rufous-fronted Babbler
Rusty-cheeked Hornbill
Sakhalin Leaf Warbler
Sanderling
Scaly-breasted Munia
Scaly-breasted Partridge
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
Shikra
Siamese Pied Starling
Sooty-headed Bulbul
Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl
Spot-billed Pelican
Spot-necked Babbler
Spotted Dove
Spotted Redshank
Stork-billed Kingfisher
Streak-eared Bulbul
Striated Heron
Stripe-throated Bulbul
Sultan Tit
Taiga Flycatcher
Terek Sandpiper
Thick-billed Flowerpecker
Thick-billed Green-Pigeon
Tibetan Sand-Plover
Vernal Hanging-Parrot
Vinous-breasted Myna
Whimbrel
Whiskered Tern
White-bellied Erpornis
White-browed Piculet
White-crested Laughingthrush
White-rumped Shama
White-throated Kingfisher
Wood Sandpiper
Yellow-bellied Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
Yellow-eared Spiderhunter
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Yellow-vented Flowerpecker
Zebra Dove
Butterflies & Moths:
Banded Blue Pierrot
Black Veined
Common Birdwing
Common Bluebottle
Common Cerulean
Common Crow
Common Hedge Blue
Common Jay
Common Lascar
Common Line Blue
Common Rose
Cream Spotted
Cruiser Vindula
Glassy Tiger
Great Orange Tip
Great Mormon
Green Dragontail
Lesser Gull
Malayan Zebra
One Spot Grass Yellow
Orange Gull
Paris Peacock
Red Helen Swallowtail
Red Spot Jezebel
Redspot Swordtooth
Rustic
Reptiles
Asian Forest Tortoise
Asian Spotted Tortoise Beetle
Asiatic Honey Bee
Common Water Monitor
Fungus Weevil
Jumping Spider
Millipede
Mud Skipper
Oriental Whip Snake
Praying Mantis
Sugarcane Spittle Bug
Wildlife
Black Giant Squirrel
Common Tree Shrew
Dusky Leaf Monkey
Grey Bellied Squirrel
Himalayan Striped Squirrel
Lar Gibbon
Lesser Mouse Deer
Temminck’s Flying Squirrel
THINGS TO DO
Thailand Parks
Kaeng Krachan – Birds / Scenery / Wildlife (not all of the park open all year)
Thailand Temples – our top picks as there are many
Sanctuary of Truth – still under construction but amazing to visit
WHERE TO STAY
Our favourite places
Baan Maka Nature Lodge, Kaeng Krachan
WHERE TO EAT
Baan Maka does great food at a great price.
Pattaya – stalls and the tiny local places are just as good and far cheaper than the larger tourist restaurants. Prices from 60 Baht for rice and chicken in a small restaurant
COSTS
NATIONAL PARKS:-
Kaeng Krachan 300 Baht each, excluding any guide if you want one.
FUEL:-
30 Baht per litre for diesel on average.
ALCOHOL:-
120 Baht upwards for a large can of beer in a supermarket
320 Baht for a bottle of spirits in a supermarket
Thanks for Blog Carol and Steve and wow 16th on EBird that’s fantastic Carol ! Hopefully catch up soon, now you are back. Shona