Phuket
offers many birdwatching opportunities.
The
terrain varies from mangrove forests, to marshland,
to secondary jungle to old-growth jungle. The
best time of the year to visit Phuket for bird
watching is from about the middle of October
through April as the many species of migratory
birds will be present.
We
start off at Khao Phra Thaeo National Park as
this is a very good place to see a variety of
bulbuls, flowerpeckers, sunbirds, barbets and
sometimes we see very special birds. This is
a park featuring old-growth jungle.
Next, we head to a small buffalo field where
we can see birds that aren’t going to
be in the previous type of terrain. It is only
about 10 minutes drive to this field.
After that, we head to a powerline/plantation
area. Treeswifts, Vernal Hanging Parrots, sunbirds,
Ioras, two species of kingfisher and sometimes
woodpeckers are seen here.
We
head back through Thalang and stop for brunch
(included in the tour price) at a small family-owned
restaurant that serves Kanom Jeep - an interesting
variety of small steamed treats that vary from
pork balls, fish, shrimp, crab and plenty more.
They also serve some really tasty coffee and
teas.
Next,
we head to the old Thalang Battlefield area.
This area produces birds that aren’t usually
seen at the previous destinations. There are
a couple of small freshwater lakes that offer
more kingfishers, different bulbuls, Asian Koels,
a variety of raptors and we usually see a resident
Yellow Bittern in one area.
The
last destination is a freshwater lake in a fancy
hotel area. This lake is the only place where
you’ll easily see Lesser Whistling Ducks.
Cotton Pygmy Geese are often here too. Purple
Swamphens, Common Moorhens, Little Cormorants,
White-breasted Waterhens and other water birds.
It’s a very easy place to see a lot of
Pintailed Snipes too.
