by Dave Williams

Birdwatching from a kayak in Khao Sok National Park on Cheow Lan reservoir is a very productive way to see birds. It’s comfortable and easy. It’s actually easier than walking. The shoreline of Cheow Lan Reservoir is lined with a nice variety of trees including small bushy types and towering Dipterocarps. Banana trees grow in certain areas as well. Birders can sneak right up to the trees and see the birds. Many species don’t seem to mind you when you approach them from the water.

Each day provided us with distinctive sightings as well as many of the usual birds that reside in the national park. Our kayaks allowed us to see birds that would normally be extremely difficult to see otherwise.

Bird list for Khao Sok in December 2004

December 22nd

White-crowned Forktail (new bird for me!)
Black-naped Monarch (male and female together)

December 23rd

Wreathed Hornbill
Great Hornbill
Bushy-crested Hornbill
Helmeted Hornbill
Oriental Pied Hornbill
Whiskered Tree-swift
Common Tailorbird
Dark-necked Tailorbird
Black-thighed Falconet
Greater Flameback Woodpecker
Blue-eared Kingfisher
Black-capped Kingfisher
Stork-billed Kingfisher
Black-naped Oriole
White-bellied Sea Eagle
Grey-headed Fish-Eagle
Asian Brown Flycatcher
Greater Coucal
Chinese Pond Herons
Black-crested Bulbul
Black-headed Bulbul
Eastern Crowned Warbler (new bird for me)
Brown Shrike
White-bellied Munia
Little Heron
Ashy Drongo
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird

December 24th

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch
Stork-billed Kingfisher
Common Kingfisher
Vernal Hanging Parrot
White-bellied Sea Eagle
Grey-headed Fish-Eagle
Black-crested Bulbul
Red-throated Flycatcher
Asian Brown Flycatcher
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird
Dark-necked Tailorbird
Red Junglefowl (rooster and hens)
Ashy Drongo
Chinese Pond Herons
Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike
Buffy Fish-Owl
Black-naped Monarch (female)
Inornate Warbler (new bird for me)
Asian fairy-Bluebird
Blue-throated Bee-eater
Ashy Minivet
Copper-throated Sunbird (female)
Wreathed or Plain-pouched Hornbills (high in the sky)
Great Hornbill
Black Bittern
Oriental Magpie-Robin

December 25th

Greater Coucal
Black-crested Bulbul
Black-headed Bulbul
Oriental Pied Hornbill
Bushy-crested Hornbill
Grey-headed Fish-Eagle
Oriental Hobby
White-bellied Sea Eagle
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
Blue-winged Leafbird
Asian Palm Swift
Barn Swallow
Chinese Pond Heron

December 26th

Helmeted Hornbill
Oriental Pied Hornbill
Bushy-crested Hornbill
Black-crested Bulbul
Black-capped Kingfisher
Stork-billed Kingfisher
Common Kingfisher
Greater Coucal
Lesser Coucal
Buffy Fish-Owl
Dark-necked Tailorbird
Common Tailorbird
Oriental Magpie-Robin
White-bellied Sea Eagle
Black Baza (small flock)
Crested Serpent-Eagle
Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Black-headed Bulbul
Olive-backed Sunbird (female)
Vernal Hanging Parrot
Black-naped Oriole (male and female)

December 27th

Great Slaty Woodpecker
Great Hornbill
Oriental Pied Hornbill
Vernal Hanging Parrot
Blythe's Hawk-Eagle
Changeable Hawk-Eagle (dark morph)
White-bellied Sea Eagle
Yellow Wagtail

December 28th

Great Hornbill
Helmeted Hornbill
Asian Fairy-Bluebird (male and female)
Crested Serpent-Eagle
Osprey
White-bellied Sea Eagle
Black-naped Oriole (male and female)
olive-backed Sunbird
Black-crested Bulbul
Greater Coucal
Pale-capped Pigeon (new bird for me!)

December 29th - Klong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary bordering Khao Sok

Asian Fairy-bluebird
Red-eyed Bulbul
Red-bearded Bee-eater
Lesser Coucal
Asian Paradise-flycatcher (rufous morph male and female)
Black-thighed Falconet
Blue-winged Leafbird
Puff-throated Babbler
Pacific Swallow
Oriental Pied Hornbill (near bungalows)

All photos © Dave Williams