In February 2002 we visited Thailand by joining a Naturetrek tour for 10 days and then extending the visit for a further four days. For the 10 day tour we were with 14 other birders but on the extension there was just Pat and I and our two friends Keith Corbett and John Wightman. Throughout we were led by Kamol Komolphalin who was a superb bird guide and a pleasure to be with. On the main tour he had the excellent logistical support of his wife Patcheree(Boo) and her assistant together with an assistant bird guide. We had three modern mini-buses with good drivers and the accommodation at all sites was excellent. In all the ground agents ( Kamol's company Nature Trails ) provided a first class and friendly service. We recorded a personal total of 305 species of birds and 16 species of mammals.

Our itinerary was:

Sites visited:

Bangkok

We stayed at the Narai Hotel which was a good hotel and provided easy access to the expressway. Our last day was devoted to sightseeing round the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, The Temple of the Reclining Buddha, a dragonboat trip on the river and klongs(canals) and some last minute shopping at the craft centre. All birding in Bangkok was in tansit to other sites.

Rangsit Marsh

We stopped on the roadside en route to Khao Yai to overlook from a bridge part of the marsh grassland north of the highway.

Khao Yai NP

Over 2000 sq kms of hill evergreen forest which we birded from the road up to about 900m. Sadly we dipped out on Siamese Fireback and Silver Pheasant. The park has a visitor centre and camp sites. We stayed outside the park at the very pleasant Judis Khao Yai Resort. The park rangers provide night drives which are disappointing 'convoys'. Some open grazing is maintained for deer and part of this together with a lake are overlooked by an observation tower.

Chiang Mai

We birded a canalside and adjoining pastures, scrub and small marshy area at Huay Teung Tao.

Doi Pui-Suthep NP

A hill forest area close to Chiang Mai which we birded up the road and tracks as far as the army camps up to about 900m. The lower areas as far as the temple were avoided being very busy.

Doi Inthanon NP

Thailand's highest mountain with a summit over 2500m. We spent the best part of three days birding the various levels. Near the summit is a boggy area with boardwalks which is excellent for thrushes, chats, warblers and babblers. It gets busy so we got there for dawn. Lower down is excellent montane forest easily birded from the road. The bridge to the Napamaytanidol Chedi produced some good sightings and so did the trail to the Varchirathan Falls. We stayed at the very good Inthanon Paradise Resort which has bungalows in extensive grounds.

Samutsakhon and Khok Kham

A very extensive area of salt pans with good viewing of waders, gulls and terns. Spoon-billed Sandpiper is regular but the use of information from local birders is necessary to find the most likely sites in the maze of pans. Also check out the roadside dykes where we had good views of rails and crakes.

Kaeng Krachan NP

A large park of nearly 3000 sq kms of evergreen forest on the Myanmar border SW from Bangkok. The Park has a visitor centre and campsites and chalets but we stayed outside the park at the Chat Phet Resort. Consequently we had to leave two hours before dawn to get to the summit for then. It was necessary to change vehicle (from minibus to 4x4 truck) at the campsite at the first station in order to negotiate the rough terrain and cross the streams. The park has a combination of northern and peninsular birds and has a wide variety of mammals including big cats.