THAILAND
30 January -16 February 2007
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Day |
Agenda
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1
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30 JAN Depart the United States for your international flight
to Thailand. Overnight somewhere 6-7 miles high in the sky.
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2
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31 JAN Arrive in Bangkok in the evening for a good
night's sleep before beginning the tour the next day.
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3
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1 FEB Our first destination is Khok Kham, Samut Sakhon. Among
the hundreds of shorebirds on the mudflats at Samut Sakhon every
winter are a few individuals of the rare Spoon-billed Sandpiper
and this bird will be our priority. After lunch we'll continue to Laem
Phakbia to board a small boat and search for Malaysian Plover
as we fill in many of the gaps in the first few pages of our
checklists. We'll then move inland to the A&B Bungalow that will
be our base for three nights as we explore Kaeng Krachan National
Park.
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4-5
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2-3 FEB Both days will be spent in the mountains, birding at
Kaeng Krachen. This is the largest national park in Thailand and much
less visited than Khao Yai, making a trip here a unique wilderness
experience. Leopard and Gaur are both found in this
region, and the fresh piles of Elephant dung on the road every
morning are a constant reminder of the remoteness of this area. As we
drive up the park's only road we first meander through drier lowlands
with many dead snags good for woodpeckers, including the
diminutive Heart-spotted. A little farther along the road turns
to dirt and starts to climb. Any stop here can produce such
magnificent birds as Orange-breasted Trogon, Green
Magpie, and Asian Paradise-Flycatcher. Closer to the top
we will be searching for roving flocks of babblers. Among the
more common White-crested Laughingthrushes we may find
White-hooded Babblers, Black-throated Laughingthrushes, and
White-browed Scimitar-Babblers, but the most coveted bird here
is the Ratchet-tailed Treepie. There is a small population
here that is completely isolated from the rest of the species in
northern Viet Nam and surrounding areas. At the very top of the road
Wreathed Hornbill, Vernal Hanging-Parrot, and Gray
Treepie are among the likely finds. Other highlights may include
Bar-backed or Scaly-breasted Partridges, or the sight of
hundreds of Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters gathered on snags to
roost.
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6
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One of many beautiful temples that you will see.
--Mike Haldeman
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4 FEB As we ascend the road into Khao Yai National Park there
is an immediate sense of wildness. Besides the Pig-tailed
Macaques lining the roadsides, there are other signs of
wilderness, real signs – "elephant crossing," "gaur
crossing," "leopard crossing," "cobra
crossing," and of course, "tiger crossing." The
birdlife is just as mythical – Siamese Firebacks, Banded
Kingfishers, and Blue Pittas are often seen on trails into
the forest and last year, patient observers were regularly rewarded
with a pair of the incredibly elusive Coral-billed
Ground-Cuckoos near one of the campgrounds. Brown-backed
Needletails hawk insects over the lakes and watching the sunset as
hornbills drift by on their way to roost is a great way to end
the day. Seeing Great Eared-Nightjars come out of hiding to
start their nightly patrols is icing on the cake. The next three
nights will be at Juldis Khao Yai Resort.
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7-8
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5-6 FEB Two more days of birding at spectacular Khao Yai
National Park, with our nights at Juldis Khao Yai Resort.
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9
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7 FEB After some last minute birding in the Khao Yai area we'll
head to the airport for our flight north to Chiang Mai where we'll
stay at the Imperial Maeping Hotel. The remainder of our afternoon
will be spent birding local wetlands. After dinner there will be time
to explore Chiang Mai's fantastic night bazaar.
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10
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8 FEB Towering cliffs on our way to Doi Ang Khang will give us
an opportunity to search for Crested Treeswift and Crested
Bunting and various prinias on the grassy slopes. Nearer
to Doi Ang Khang, flowering trees provide food for numerous
bulbuls, and the show continues at the beautiful Angkhang
Nature Resort where we'll spend the next two nights. The impeccably
manicured landscapes here are alone worth the visit, but seeing ten or
more species of bulbuls in a day including the difficult
Crested Finchbill make it especially enticing for birders.
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11
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9 FEB In the surrounding highlands of Doi Angkhang several
trails provide access to dense scrubby hillsides where the babbler
flocks include Golden Babbler, Silver-eared Mesia,
Blue-winged Minla, and Black-backed and Rufous-backed
Sibias. This is also the best spot for one of the more
sought-after babblers – the Red-faced Liocichla – and we will
spend ample time trying to get good looks at this skulking rarity.
Other stakeout birds we will target in the area include
Spot-breasted Parrotbill and White-browed
Laughingthrush. A quick stop at the guard post at the Myanmar
border can produce some interesting open country wintering birds to
boost our trip list.
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12
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10 FEB Our last morning at Doi Angkhang will be used to look
for any of the difficult birds we may have missed and for a last
minute show of the shrikes and bulbuls on the grounds
near our hotel. After lunch we will drive to Thaton and check into
the Maekok River Village Resort for the next two nights. Some great
birds await us at the nearby Thaton Marsh.
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13
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11 FEB Doi Lang is part of Doi Pha Hom Pok, the second highest
mountain peak in Thailand, adjacent to the Burmese border. The habitat
is moist, montane evergreen forest. We will start very early to Doi
Lang with packed breakfast and spend only half the day as the birding
is best before it gets too hot in the afternoon. At Doi Lang we will
look for Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Jerdon's Bushchat,
Black-throated Parrotbill, Scarlet Finch, and many
additional exciting species. We will return to Thaton in the afternoon
for a break, then go birding at Thaton marsh in the late afternoon.
Possibilities at Thaton Marsh include Marsh Harrier,
Red-throated Pipit, Blue-breasted Quail,
Bluethroat, and Siberian Rubythroat.
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14
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12 FEB There will be one more morning at Doi Lang, then we pack
up and head toward Inthanon. Along the way we'll be looking for new
species, then there may be time to study Indian Roller,
White-throated Kingfisher, or perhaps White-rumped Shama
and Black-collared Starling on the grounds of the Inthanon
Highland Resort where we'll spend the next three nights.
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15-16
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13-14 FEB The tallest peak in Thailand, Doi Inthanon has a
number of species not easily found elsewhere in the country. The
boardwalk through the famous "summit marsh" (actually a
boggy forested area near the summit) is home to most of Inthanon's
unique species. Yellow-bellied Fantail, Ashy-throated
Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush,
Chestnut-tailed Minla, and Rufous-winged Fulvetta will
likely be seen here and nowhere else on our tour. An endemic
subspecies of Green-tailed Sunbird is found only in this area
and, by slowly and quietly walking the boardwalk several times we hope
to be rewarded with some of the more secretive residents such as
Eurasian Woodcock, Pygmy Wren-Babbler, and
White-browed Shortwing. Lower elevation flocks are good for
Yellow-cheeked Tit and Spectacled Barwing, the
iridescent Asian Emerald Cuckoo could be found anywhere, and
local waterfalls have both White-capped and Plumbeous
Redstarts. Collared Falconet, one of the smallest diurnal
raptors in the world, is not too difficult to find in the dry forests
at the base of the mountain. Both nights at Inthanon Highland Resort.
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Our 2006 tour group poses at the top of Thailand!
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17
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15 FEB We'll have one final morning to explore Doi Inthanon. We
may use this time to search for Black-throated Parrotbills in
patches of bamboo, Fire-capped Tits that sometimes winter in a
local orchard, or take a final spin on the summit marsh's boardwalk.
After lunch we'll drive to Chiang Mai for our flights to Bangkok. Then
after some free time the tour ends and you'll begin your return
flights to the US.
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18
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16 FEB Return to the United States with MANY stories
about your adventures in Thailand!
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Leader:
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BIRD TREKS Thailand
Tour will be led by Kamol and Patcharee Komolphalin
from Nature Trails Birdwatching, the local experts in Bangkok and all
of Thailand.
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Price:
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$3395 from Bangkok, based upon double occupancy and a minimum of six
participants. Single accommodations can be arranged for an extra fee
of $345.
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Includes:
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Expert guide service, all boat rides, all ground and air
transportation within Thailand, all entrance fees, ALL meals,
and lodging for the entire tour, beginning the night of 1 February.
ALL tips are also included in the tour fee, except for
anything that you may wish to give to your tour leader(s).
Does not include the cost of alcoholic beverages, items of a personal
nature, or international air transportation to Bangkok and airport
departure tax. Upon request
BIRD TREKS will help
you obtain the best possible airfare and coordinate arrivals into
Bangkok. Also not included is the price of your room on the first
night (31 January) in Bangkok.
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Deposit:
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An $800 deposit will assure your reservation on the tour. The balance
is due 15 November 2006. Send your deposit SOON so that we can
secure the least expensive airfare to Bangkok and reserve your spot on
this exciting tour.
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Extra
Services:
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We offer the services of our exclusive
BIRD TREKS travel agent,
Lori Heathcote, in arranging your air travel. Lori has 21 years
of experience in the travel industry and is a veteran birder. Contact
her through Bailey Travel at 1-800-224-5399, or you can e-mail
lori@baileytravel.com.
By dealing with Lori you have the security of a 24-hour toll-free
telephone number in case of any travel emergency. She can also assist
you with all pre- and post-tour travel plans.
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Refund &
Cancellation
Policy:
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With written notice more than 90 days prior to the first day of the
tour, 100% of your deposit will be refunded, minus a $100 service fee.
With 30-90 days notice, you will receive a 50% refund of the full cost
of the tour. No refund can be made with less than 30 days notice. You
will receive a full refund if you provide a replacement for your spot
on the tour.
No partial refund can be given once a tour begins.
We strongly recommend that you purchase trip
cancellation insurance to protect your investment in case of injury or
illness to you or your family prior to or during a tour. Click on the
following link to Access America or contact
BIRD TREKS for information
on obtaining this coverage.
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Robert M. Schutsky
216 Spring Lane
Peach Bottom, PA 17563
Phone: 717-548-3303
Fax: 717-548-3327
e-mail: info@birdtreks.com
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