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Destinations |
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Ultimate
Southern Series |
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Krung
Ching Birding Tours |
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Krung Ching, part of Khao Luang National
Park in Nakhon Sri Thammarat, is fast becoming
Southern Thailand's premier birding destination.
It is home to a huge array of forest birds and has
three great areas for birding. Two of the most difficult
birds are readily available here: the Malaysian
Rail-babbler and the very shy Great
Argus!
The main trail to Krung Ching waterfall provides
great sightings at every turn. For the first kilometre
the trail gently leads you up the mountain from
the headquarters area. Here trogons are often heard
and seen, it's not unusual to see three or four
species in a day. In an open area near the top of
the climb look out for the Ferruginous Flycatcher
which winters here. A Wallace's Hawk-Eagle
nest overlooks the area. The next two or three kilometres
of the trail are level and pass along streams and
gullies. This stretch is great for Babblers, Woodpeckers,
forest Kingfishers, Forktails and Hornbills. Along
here we can usually call out a Malaysian
Rail-Babbler, one of the few birds in the
world that taxonomically merits it's own family.
If you fancy a break, why not head down to the impressive
waterfall for a rest or even a swim.
The other trail provides forest edge birding and
runs for a few kilometres under a ridge. All three
of Thailand's Ioras can be seen here along with
Dark-throated Orioles, Red-bearded
Bee-eaters and Yellow-rumped Flycatchers.
The headquarter area is also fantastic. Fruiting
trees are full of Bulbuls, Barbets and Green Pigeons.
At dusk, Wreathed Hornbills, White-Crowned
Hornbills, Great Hornbills
and sometimes Black Hornbills can
be seen flying to their roosts. It doesn't even
stop after dark. Buffy Fish-Owls,
Brown wood-Owls and Blyth's
Frogmouths are frequently seen around the
campsite in the evening.
To take full advantage of this park we recommend
at least three day's birding. Basic accommodation
can be found ten minutes from the park but if you
like a hot shower and an air-conditioned bedroom
we can stay in the sea-side town of Tha Sala, about
an hour's drive from the park.
Krung
Ching Birding Checklist:
Rufous
Piculet
Buff-rumped Woodpecker
Buff-necked Woodpecker
Grey-and-buff Woodpecker
Banded Woodpecker
Olive-backed Woodpecker
Greater Goldenback
Maroon Woodpecker
Golden-whiskered Barbet
Red-throated Barbet
Brown Barbet
Black Hornbill
Great Hornbill
White-crowned Hornbill
Wreathed Hornbill
Diard's Trogon
Scarlet-rumped Trogon
Blue-eared Kingfisher
Banded Kingfisher
Red-bearded Bee-eater
Banded Bay Cuckoo
Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo
Black-bellied Malkoha
Green-billed Malkoha
Raffles' Malkoha
Red-billed Malkoha
Chestnut-breasted Malkoha
Vernal Hanging Parrot
Germain's Swiftlet
Silver-rumped Spinetail
Grey-rumped Treeswift
Whiskered Treeswift
Brown Hawk-owl
Buffy Fish-owl
Brown Wood-Owl
Blyth's Frogmouth
Thick-billed Green Pigeon
Common Emerald Dove
Black Eagle
Lesser Fish Eagle
Crested Serpent-eagle
Rufous-bellied Eagle
Blyth's Hawk-Eagle
Wallace's Hawk-eagle
Black-thighed Falconet
Banded Pitta
Green Broadbill
Banded Broadbill
Black-and-yellow Broadbill
Golden-bellied Gerygone
Greater Green Leafbird
Lesser Green Leafbird
Blue-winged Leafbird
Asian Fairy-bluebird
Brown Shrike
Malaysian Rail-babbler
Dark-throated Oriole
Lesser Cuckooshrike
Brown-rumped Minivet
Ashy Minivet
Fiery Minivet
Scarlet Minivet |
Bar-winged
Flycatcher-shrike
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
Black-naped Monarch
Asian Paradise-flycatcher
Common Iora
Green Iora
Great Iora
Rufous-winged Philentoma
Orange-headed Thrush
Fulvous-chested Jungle-flycatcher
Dark-sided Flycatcher
Asian Brown Flycatcher
Ferruginous
Flycatcher
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher
Eastern Tickell's Blue Flycatcher
Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher
White-rumped Shama
Chestnut-naped Forktail
White-crowned Forktail
Sultan Tit
Black-headed Bulbul
Black-crested Bulbul
Scaly-breasted Bulbul
Stripe-throated Bulbul
Asian Red-eyed Bulbul
Spectacled Bulbul
Ochraceous Bulbul
Grey-cheeked Bulbul
Yellow-bellied Bulbul
Hairy-backed Bulbul
Streaked Bulbul
Rufescent Prinia
Common Tailorbird
Dark-necked Tailorbird
Eastern Crowned Warbler
Chestnut-crowned Warbler
Short-tailed Babbler
Moustached Babbler
Scaly-crowned Babbler
Puff-throated Babbler
Black-capped Babbler
Streaked Wren-babbler
Ferruginous Babbler
Pin-striped Tit-Babbler
Grey-throated Babbler
Grey-headed Babbler
Black-throated Babbler
Chestnut-winged Babbler
White-bellied Erpornis
Brown Fulvetta
Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker
Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker
Yellow-vented Flowerpecker
Purple-naped Sunbird
Brown-throated Sunbird
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird
Crimson Sunbird
Little Spiderhunter
Spectacled Spiderhunter
Grey-breasted Spiderhunter
Grey Wagtail
Great Argus
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