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Field Guides Tour Report
Thailand II 2014: Peninsular Thailand & Nicobar Pigeon Extension
Mar 15, 2014 to Mar 21, 2014
Dave Stejskal


Previous tours have never had a Mangrove Pitta quite so confiding as the one we saw at Phang Nga! (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)

We left the cooler, drier climes of the mountains of northwestern Thailand after the main tour and transported ourselves to the warm and steamy peninsula for this post-tour extension, landing at Nakhon Si Thammarat on the east coast of the Malay Peninsula before driving to our first nearby venue -- the Krung Ching sector of expansive Khao Luang NP. We actually ran into a bit of rain on that first day, but it didn't stick around for long. We were greeted by a new avifauna here, and we jumped into it enthusiastically!

There was certainly no shortage of new birds, and we soon tallied the likes of Wallace's Hawk-Eagle, Black-bellied and Raffle's malkohas, Silver-rumped Needletail, Scarlet-rumped Trogon, Banded and Rufous-collared kingfishers, Brown, Gold-whiskered, and Red-throated barbets, Banded Woodpecker, Black-thighed Falconet, Green Broadbill, Green Iora, Lesser Cuckooshrike, Dark-throated Oriole, Scaly-breasted Bulbul, Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler, Gray-headed Babbler, Greater Green and Lesser Green leafbirds, Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker, and Spectacled and Gray-breasted spiderhunters. We even found, with a bit of help from the park guard, a nesting Javan Frogmouth near the park entrance! This was, by far, the best forest habitat that we birded on this short extension, and I was a little sad that we had to leave this beautiful site after a couple of days of birding.

But more awaited us at our next venues. The Krabi mangroves produced, as usual, great views of Brown-winged Kingfisher and the Malay Peninsula endemic Rufous-bellied Swallow, but our best birds awaited us at Khao Nor Chuchi. How could we go wrong by starting out our stay here with a close female Malayan Banded-Pitta? Our day with local expert guide Yotin was only getting started, and we added many more great birds to our list as we went along the many side roads and trails: Blyth's Hawk-Eagle, Red-crowned Barbet, Rufous-winged Philentoma, Puff-backed, Cream-vented, Red-eyed, Spectacled, and Hairy-backed bulbuls, Eastern Crowned Leaf-Warbler, Chestnut-winged, Black-throated, Chestnut-rumped, Moustached, and Rufous-crowned babblers, and Plain and Van Hasselt's sunbirds were among those recorded on our full day at this site. But it was the nightbirds that stole the show during our short stay! Daytime views of spectaculars like Barred Eagle-Owl, both Spotted and Brown wood-owls, and even a day-roosting Gould's Frogmouth were absolutely thrilling. And after the sun fell, we added to our tally with Oriental Bay-Owl and a close Large-tailed Nightjar.

While our boat trip to the Similans didn't produce the Nicobar Pigeon as we had hoped (they were apparently off on another island nesting in late March), we did find some very exciting birds there at the start of the spring migration. A few Korean (Yellow-rumped) Flycatchers, including at least two stunning males, were a surprise, but not as surprising as the adult male Siberian Thrush we saw! I've only seen a few of these ever in Asia, and this one was my first for Thailand. Other migrants included both Arctic Warbler and Pale-legged Leaf-Warbler, and several dapper Blue-and-white Flycatchers. Add those to the "regulars" like Green and Pied imperial-pigeons and White-bellied Sea-Eagle, and our visit was certainly worth the effort. And let's not forget that incredible Mangrove Pitta that we enjoyed on our way to the boat dock from Krabi -- UNBELIEVABLE!

Thanks to Wat and crew, our short trip to the south was quite comfortable and ran like clockwork. I can't imaging trying to pull off a Thailand trip without them! And thanks to you for joining me on this short sojourn to the Peninsula. I hope we can do it again somewhere else some time soon!

--Dave


KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant


BIRDS
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)


Owls played a very prominent role on this extension this year. This adult Barred Eagle-Owl stood guard while a recently fledged juvenile roosted nearby. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)

LITTLE CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax niger)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
INTERMEDIATE EGRET (Mesophoyx intermedia)
LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)
PACIFIC REEF-HERON (Egretta sacra) – We found one dark-morph bird along the coast on our final morning.
CATTLE EGRET (ASIAN) (Bubulcus ibis coromandus)
CHINESE POND-HERON (Ardeola bacchus) – After seeing so many basic-plumaged birds all trip, it was a big relief to finally find a couple of alternate-plumaged birds, with a lovely alternate Javan Pond-Heron nearby for comparison, on the final day of the extension.
JAVAN POND-HERON (Ardeola speciosa) – A 'no doubter' standing with the above Chinese Pond-Heron.
STRIATED HERON (Butorides striata)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
ORIENTAL HONEY-BUZZARD (Pernis ptilorhynchus) – The birds flying around the main compound at Krung Ching really had us fooled at first, looking very much like Blyth's Hawk-Eagle.
CRESTED SERPENT-EAGLE (Spilornis cheela)
BLYTH'S HAWK-EAGLE (Nisaetus alboniger) – We eventually did find a calling adult soaring over the road at Khao Nor Chuchi.
WALLACE'S HAWK-EAGLE (Nisaetus nanus) – An adult flew in to perch in a nearby tree at Krung Ching, giving us some excellent looks in the scope.
CRESTED GOSHAWK (Accipiter trivirgatus)
BRAHMINY KITE (Haliastur indus)
WHITE-BELLIED SEA-EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucogaster) – A pair of these was quite conspicuous on the island.
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
WHITE-BREASTED WATERHEN (Amaurornis phoenicurus) [*]
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola)
PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER (Pluvialis fulva)
RIVER LAPWING (Vanellus duvaucelii) – This was a nice surprise for the group on our final morning of the extension.
LESSER SAND-PLOVER (Charadrius mongolus)
GREATER SAND-PLOVER (Charadrius leschenaultii) – Several fine alternate-plumaged adults were spotted on the beach on our final morning.
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
TEREK SANDPIPER (Xenus cinereus) – This distinctive shorebird was a new one for us on our final morning. They really seem to favor rocky coastline on the wintering grounds.
COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos)
GREEN SANDPIPER (Tringa ochropus) – At the River Lapwing bridge on the final morning.


One of the big draws at Krabi on the peninsula is this huge Brown-winged Kingfisher, who makes his home among the mangroves right in town. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)

GRAY-TAILED TATTLER (Tringa brevipes) – Another new shorebird for the tour, we had a couple of these on the same rocky shoreline as the above Tereks.
COMMON GREENSHANK (Tringa nebularia)
WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)
WHIMBREL (SIBERIAN) (Numenius phaeopus variegatus) – We had nice looks at the rump and back pattern on these wintering birds on the last morning.
BAR-TAILED GODWIT (Limosa lapponica) – Another new shorebird for the trip, we had a few individuals mixed in among the Whimbrels along the coast on the last morning.
RUDDY TURNSTONE (Arenaria interpres)
RED-NECKED STINT (Calidris ruficollis)
SANDERLING (Calidris alba)
Glareolidae (Pratincoles and Coursers)
ORIENTAL PRATINCOLE (Glareola maldivarum) – At least one of these was hanging out with the River Lapwings on the final morning. March is certainly the month to see these birds migrating northward!
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
LITTLE TERN (Sternula albifrons)
COMMON TERN (Sterna hirundo) – All of the terns on the crossing to the Similans appeared to be this species.
LESSER CRESTED TERN (Thalasseus bengalensis)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
SPOTTED DOVE (Streptopelia chinensis)
EMERALD DOVE (Chalcophaps indica)
ZEBRA DOVE (Geopelia striata) – In theory, the birds we saw on the extension are native and not the result of introductions many years ago.
THICK-BILLED PIGEON (Treron curvirostra) – Great views of that male on the main compound at Krung Ching.
GREEN IMPERIAL-PIGEON (Ducula aenea) – Far outnumbered by the next species on the island.
PIED IMPERIAL-PIGEON (Ducula bicolor) – Lots of great views at this beautiful pigeon that sports a distinctive yellowish blush to the plumage at this season.
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
INDIAN CUCKOO (Cuculus micropterus) [*]
BANDED BAY CUCKOO (Cacomantis sonneratii) [*]
PLAINTIVE CUCKOO (Cacomantis merulinus) [*]
VIOLET CUCKOO (Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus) – Mostly heard as it flew overhead.
SQUARE-TAILED DRONGO-CUCKOO (Surniculus lugubris) – All of the drongo-cuckoos that we scrutinized appeared to be this species and not the recently split out Fork-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo.
ASIAN KOEL (Eudynamys scolopaceus)
BLACK-BELLIED MALKOHA (Phaenicophaeus diardi) – Nicely at Krung Ching.
RAFFLES'S MALKOHA (Phaenicophaeus chlorophaeus) – Often the most commonly encountered malkoha on this short extension, especially now that we visit Krung Ching.
CHESTNUT-BREASTED MALKOHA (Phaenicophaeus curvirostris) – Unmistakable with that red face and those chestnut tail tips.


Red-crowned Barbet is quickly losing ground to the rapid clearing of lowland forest in S.E. Asia, but a few, like this one, are hanging for now on at Khao Nor Chuchi. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)

GREATER COUCAL (Centropus sinensis)
Tytonidae (Barn-Owls)
ORIENTAL BAY-OWL (Phodilus badius) – A quick, but decent, view of the adult perched near the nest tree. The habit of this one to perch low and on the side of a trunk sure proves helpful when trying to spot it. Our fourth species of owl for the day!
Strigidae (Owls)
BARRED EAGLE-OWL (Bubo sumatranus) – Utterly fantastic views of this big Bubo during the day roosting in a remnant forest patch. The adult kept an eye on us and its young chick, while providing stunning views as we watched in silence.
SPOTTED WOOD-OWL (Strix seloputo) – We never got a good look of the adult, but that youngster put on a super show for us late one afternoon near Krabi.
BROWN WOOD-OWL (Strix leptogrammica) – This curious adult put on a great show for us along a forest trail. This is very often the only big owl that we see on this short extension, so it was great that this was just one of four that day!
BROWN BOOBOOK (Ninox scutulata) [*]
Podargidae (Frogmouths)
GOULD'S FROGMOUTH (Batrachostomus stellatus) – A roosting adult showed very well for us late one afternoon. This same bird was found roosting in the same area on my previous tour here a few weeks earlier.
JAVAN FROGMOUTH (BLYTH'S) (Batrachostomus javensis continentalis) – Last year, this pair was nesting only about ten feet off the ground, but this year they decided to elevate the nest some thirty-five to forty feet up in a nearby tree. Super views of the male incubating! [N]
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
LARGE-TAILED NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus macrurus) – Great looks while we were trying to track down the Oriental Bay-Owl.
Apodidae (Swifts)
SILVER-RUMPED NEEDLETAIL (Rhaphidura leucopygialis) – Easily seen in the main clearing at Krung Ching each afternoon there.
GERMAIN'S SWIFTLET (Aerodramus germani)
HOUSE SWIFT (Apus nipalensis)
ASIAN PALM-SWIFT (Cypsiurus balasiensis)
Hemiprocnidae (Treeswifts)
GRAY-RUMPED TREESWIFT (Hemiprocne longipennis) – Much closer than the birds we saw at Kaeng Krachan NP on the main tour.
Trogonidae (Trogons)
SCARLET-RUMPED TROGON (Harpactes duvaucelii) – After this bright male calmed down a bit, we ended up with fabulous looks along the waterfall trail at Krung Ching.
ORANGE-BREASTED TROGON (Harpactes oreskios)
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
COMMON KINGFISHER (Alcedo atthis)
BANDED KINGFISHER (Lacedo pulchella) – Deb spotted this gorgeous forest kingfisher perched just in from the trail at Krung Ching. A bird that we had only heard on the main tour, it was great to finally catch up with it!
BROWN-WINGED KINGFISHER (Pelargopsis amauroptera) – We came away with some predictably fabulous looks at this local specialty in the Krabi mangroves.
RUDDY KINGFISHER (Halcyon coromanda) [*]


This juvenile Spotted Wood-Owl sports the distinctive buffy facial disk characteristic of this species. Few birds indeed occupy the extensive oil palm plantations in the Khao Nor Chuchi area, but the big owls are finding plenty of rodent food to make a living. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)

WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER (Halcyon smyrnensis)
BLACK-CAPPED KINGFISHER (Halcyon pileata)
COLLARED KINGFISHER (Todiramphus chloris)
RUFOUS-COLLARED KINGFISHER (Actenoides concretus) – We stood inside the forest and watched in amazement as this bird flew down from a perch and hovered a couple of feet from us in an attempt to catch some unseen prey from the forest floor! Krung Ching is a very reliable spot for this bird, it seems.
Meropidae (Bee-eaters)
RED-BEARDED BEE-EATER (Nyctyornis amictus) – I don't get tired of looking at this beauty!
Coraciidae (Rollers)
DOLLARBIRD (Eurystomus orientalis)
Bucerotidae (Hornbills)
BLACK HORNBILL (Anthracoceros malayanus) [*]
WHITE-CROWNED HORNBILL (Aceros comatus) [*]
WREATHED HORNBILL (Aceros undulatus) – Alas, this was the only hornbill that we managed to see at Krung Ching, despite hearing the above two species at a distance.
Megalaimidae (Asian Barbets)
BROWN BARBET (Calorhamphus fuliginosus) – Very atypical for an Asian barbet, this one is identifiable at any distance by those bright orange legs (only Coppersmith shares those orange legs)!
GOLD-WHISKERED BARBET (Megalaima chrysopogon) – Great views of this one feeding in the fruiting fig at the edge of the entrance road at Krung Ching.
RED-CROWNED BARBET (Megalaima rafflesii) – We found a very cooperative male next to the road at Khao Nor Chuchi. There aren't many spots left in Peninsular Thailand where the lowland forest is extensive enough to support this species.
RED-THROATED BARBET (Megalaima mystacophanos) – We had great views of a bird pecking away at a potential nest hole in a dead tree trunk next to the trail at Krung Ching.
BLUE-EARED BARBET (Megalaima australis)
COPPERSMITH BARBET (Megalaima haemacephala) [*]
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
BANDED WOODPECKER (Picus miniaceus) – We found at least a couple of these uncommon woodpeckers along the entrance road to Krung Ching.
BUFF-RUMPED WOODPECKER (Meiglyptes tristis) – This one is usually the most common small woodpecker in the remaining forest reserves here on the peninsula.
GRAY-AND-BUFF WOODPECKER (Hemicircus concretus) – We had fleeting looks at a bird along the entrance road at Krung Ching.
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
BLACK-THIGHED FALCONET (Microhierax fringillarius) – Scanning the dead tree tops wherever one sees them at Krung Ching usually produces this tiny falcon.
Psittacidae (Parrots)
VERNAL HANGING-PARROT (Loriculus vernalis)
Calyptomenidae (African and Green Broadbills)
GREEN BROADBILL (Calyptomena viridis) – This bird got a little too excited to allow good looks at him. Mostly just a green blur flying across the road.
Eurylaimidae (Asian and Grauer's Broadbills)
BANDED BROADBILL (Eurylaimus javanicus) [*]


This was a terrific trip for frogmouths, with Hodgson's on the main tour and both Gould's and this Javan (Blyth's) Frogmouth -- on a nest no less -- on the extension. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)

BLACK-AND-YELLOW BROADBILL (Eurylaimus ochromalus) – Another fantastic species that I never tire of seeing.
Pittidae (Pittas)
MALAYAN BANDED-PITTA (Pitta irena) – That female just never moved from her hiding spot outside the blind, but she was visible enough for all to come away with satisfying looks at this recently split species.
MANGROVE PITTA (Pitta megarhyncha) – WOWWW!!!! I was hoping for a look at this one in that patch of mangroves, but what a look we had! Despite all of the disturbance here at this site, this bird seems to be as reliable as ever.
Vangidae (Vangas, Helmetshrikes, and Allies)
BAR-WINGED FLYCATCHER-SHRIKE (Hemipus picatus)
RUFOUS-WINGED PHILENTOMA (Philentoma pyrhoptera) – Most of the understory flocks at Krung Ching have a pair of these, but it's getting pretty scarce at Khao Nor Chuchi.
Aegithinidae (Ioras)
COMMON IORA (Aegithina tiphia)
GREEN IORA (Aegithina viridissima) – A common voice at Krung Ching and at Khao Nor Chuchi - and we actually saw a few, too!
GREAT IORA (Aegithina lafresnayei)
Campephagidae (Cuckooshrikes)
SCARLET MINIVET (Pericrocotus speciosus)
LESSER CUCKOOSHRIKE (Lalage fimbriata) – We had gotten used to seeing the much larger Black-winged Cuckooshrike on the main tour - I'm always a little struck at how small this one is compared to that one.
Laniidae (Shrikes)
BROWN SHRIKE (Lanius cristatus)
Oriolidae (Old World Orioles)
DARK-THROATED ORIOLE (Oriolus xanthonotus) – This little streaky oriole at Krung Ching didn't look much like the big fancy orioles that we saw on the main tour.
Dicruridae (Drongos)
ASHY DRONGO (Dicrurus leucophaeus)
CROW-BILLED DRONGO (Dicrurus annectans) [*]
BRONZED DRONGO (Dicrurus aeneus)
GREATER RACKET-TAILED DRONGO (Dicrurus paradiseus) – The race here (D.p. hypoballus) has almost no crest compared to the birds we saw on the main tour farther north.
Monarchidae (Monarch Flycatchers)
BLACK-NAPED MONARCH (Hypothymis azurea)
ASIAN PARADISE-FLYCATCHER (Terpsiphone paradisi) – Much more common on the peninsula at this season than on the main itinerary farther north.
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
CRESTED JAY (Platylophus galericulatus) – Grrrrrrrr. This fancy jay was much more shy than normal and just wouldn't show along the roadside at Krung Ching.
LARGE-BILLED CROW (LARGE-BILLED) (Corvus macrorhynchos macrorhynchos)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
PACIFIC SWALLOW (Hirundo tahitica javanica)
RED-RUMPED SWALLOW (Cecropis daurica)


We had quite the close encounter with this Rufous-collared Kingfisher at Krung Ching! This site seems to be quite reliable for this shy and retiring forest species. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)

RUFOUS-BELLIED SWALLOW (Cecropis badia) – A fairly recent split from Striated swallow, this bird is endemic to the Malay Peninsula and is easily seen in the Krabi area.
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
VELVET-FRONTED NUTHATCH (Sitta frontalis) – A couple of birds at Tonchongfa Waterfall.
Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls)
PUFF-BACKED BULBUL (Pycnonotus eutilotus) – We finally got a look at this flighty bird at Khao Nor Chuchi.
BLACK-HEADED BULBUL (Pycnonotus atriceps)
BLACK-CRESTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus flaviventris)
SCALY-BREASTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus squamatus) – Krung Ching is proving to be a very reliable spot for this fancy bulbul.
STRIPE-THROATED BULBUL (Pycnonotus finlaysoni)
OLIVE-WINGED BULBUL (Pycnonotus plumosus) – A close relative of the Streak-eared B. and pretty much replaces it farther south.
CREAM-VENTED BULBUL (Pycnonotus simplex) – The birds here on the Peninsula are easy to i.d. since they all have those gleaming white eyes (orange-red eyes in Borneo, though).
RED-EYED BULBUL (Pycnonotus brunneus) – Maybe the most common of the 'new' southern bulbuls that we picked up on this extension.
SPECTACLED BULBUL (Pycnonotus erythropthalmos) – A bit smaller than the above, with an entirely different voice.
HAIRY-BACKED BULBUL (Tricholestes criniger) – I'm nt sure what the closest relative is to this unique bulbul, and neither are taxonomists since they've put it in its own genus.
OCHRACEOUS BULBUL (Alophoixus ochraceus)
GRAY-CHEEKED BULBUL (Alophoixus bres) – Pretty common in the forest understory, but it's heard far more often than it is seen.
BUFF-VENTED BULBUL (Iole olivacea)
STREAKED BULBUL (Ixos malaccensis) – We managed a look at this one on the final morning of the extension at Tonchongfa Waterfall.
Cettiidae (Bush-Warblers and Allies)
YELLOW-BELLIED WARBLER (Abroscopus superciliaris)
Phylloscopidae (Leaf-Warblers)
YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER (Phylloscopus inornatus) [*]
ARCTIC WARBLER (Phylloscopus borealis) – Migrants on the Similans.
PALE-LEGGED LEAF-WARBLER (Phylloscopus tenellipes) – Another Similans migrant. It was good to finally see this one after hearing so many on the main tour!
EASTERN CROWNED LEAF-WARBLER (Phylloscopus coronatus) – Probably the most common wintering Phylloscopus at Khao Nor Chuchi.
Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and Allies)
COMMON TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus sutorius) [*]
DARK-NECKED TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus atrogularis)
RUFOUS-TAILED TAILORBIRD (Orthotomus sericeus) – Nicely at Krung Ching - not the easiest bird to see here.
Timaliidae (Tree-Babblers, Scimitar-Babblers, and Allies)


Babblers area one of my favorite families (well, multiple families now), and there are none fancier on this extension than this lovely Black-throated Babbler at Khao Nor Chuchi. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)

PIN-STRIPED TIT-BABBLER (Mixornis gularis)
FLUFFY-BACKED TIT-BABBLER (Macronus ptilosus) – These really gave us some trouble at Krung Ching, but we did get a brief look at a pair there.
CHESTNUT-WINGED BABBLER (Cyanoderma erythropterum) – This one is usually the most common forest babbler on the Peninsula.
BLACK-THROATED BABBLER (Stachyris nigricollis) – As usual, a responsive pair came in for a closer look at us at Khao Nor Chuchi. One of the prettiest of the babblers on this extension.
CHESTNUT-RUMPED BABBLER (Stachyris maculata) – This pair sat still long enough and sang for us, allowing everyone a decent look through the understory. Like all of the forest birds at Khao Nor Chuchi, the numbers of this one have really been on the decline.
GRAY-THROATED BABBLER (Stachyris nigriceps) – Nice views on our last morning at Tonchongfa.
GRAY-HEADED BABBLER (Stachyris poliocephala) – This one can be particularly difficult to see since it gets so excited when it's responding. We were lucky to get the looks we did at Krung Ching.
Pellorneidae (Ground Babblers and Allies)
MOUSTACHED BABBLER (Malacopteron magnirostre) – We had a nice morning with babblers on our full day at Khao Nor Chuchi, including a little party of these near our lunch spot.
RUFOUS-CROWNED BABBLER (Malacopteron magnum) – All of these Malacopteron babblers look pretty similar, but this one is the largest and the only one with faint streaking on the underparts.
PUFF-THROATED BABBLER (Pellorneum ruficeps)
BLACK-CAPPED BABBLER (Pellorneum capistratum) [*]
WHITE-CHESTED BABBLER (Pellorneum rostratum) [*]
ABBOTT'S BABBLER (Turdinus abbotti) [*]
Irenidae (Fairy-bluebirds)
ASIAN FAIRY-BLUEBIRD (Irena puella)
Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers)
ASIAN BROWN FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa latirostris)
ORIENTAL MAGPIE-ROBIN (Copsychus saularis)
WHITE-RUMPED SHAMA (Copsychus malabaricus)
BLUE-THROATED FLYCATCHER (CHINESE) (Cyornis rubeculoides glaucicomans) – A female at the pitta blind was our only one of the tour. This distinctive race is likely to be split from Blue-throated in the future.
TICKELL'S BLUE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis tickelliae) [*]
FULVOUS-CHESTED JUNGLE-FLYCATCHER (Cyornis olivaceus) [*]
BLUE-AND-WHITE FLYCATCHER (Cyanoptila cyanomelana) – Several snappy migrants on the Similans were a nice surprise.
SIBERIAN BLUE ROBIN (Larvivora cyane)
KOREAN FLYCATCHER (Ficedula zanthopygia) – I was calling this one by its old name on the tour - Yellow-rumped Flycatcher. It was great to be able to see a couple of males in full breeding plumage on the Similans.
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
SIBERIAN THRUSH (Geokichla sibirica) – One of the kids working for the park service spotted this rare migrant feeding in a fruiting tree as we searched for the pigeon on the island.
SCALY THRUSH (SCALY) (Zoothera dauma hancii) – This one was a very pleasant surprise at the main compound at Krung Ching. Scaly Thrush will likely be split soon, and this one was a resident bird, not the larger migrant 'White's' Thrush that we sometimes see in the north.
Sturnidae (Starlings)


Yet another daytime owl experience involved this curious adult Brown Wood-Owl in the shrinking forest habitat at Khao Nor Chuchi. (Photo by guide Dave Stejskal)

ASIAN GLOSSY STARLING (Aplonis panayensis) – Just a few on the immediate coast. This was once called the Philippine Glossy Starling.
COMMON HILL MYNA (Gracula religiosa) – We saw the nominate religiosa subspecies on the Similans. It's a wonder that these birds can survive there with so many Asian Koels on the island.
COMMON MYNA (Acridotheres tristis)
Chloropseidae (Leafbirds)
GREATER GREEN LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis sonnerati) – More common down here than it is at Kaeng Krachan NP.
LESSER GREEN LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis cyanopogon) – Very similar to the above, but only about 75% the size of Greater.
BLUE-WINGED LEAFBIRD (Chloropsis cochinchinensis)
Dicaeidae (Flowerpeckers)
YELLOW-BREASTED FLOWERPECKER (Prionochilus maculatus) [*]
CRIMSON-BREASTED FLOWERPECKER (Prionochilus percussus) – This was our only new flowerpecker of the extension.
THICK-BILLED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum agile)
YELLOW-VENTED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum chrysorrheum)
ORANGE-BELLIED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum trigonostigma) – Much more common here on the Peninsula than it is in Kaeng Krachan NP, the northern limit of its range in Thailand.
SCARLET-BACKED FLOWERPECKER (Dicaeum cruentatum)
Nectariniidae (Sunbirds and Spiderhunters)
PLAIN SUNBIRD (Anthreptes simplex) – Feeding young at Khao Nor Chuchi. [N]
PLAIN-THROATED SUNBIRD (Anthreptes malacensis)
VAN HASSELT'S SUNBIRD (Leptocoma brasiliana) – This one is called Purple-throated Sunbird in the field guide and it was a nice catch-up bird since we missed it on the main tour in Khao Yai. The real Purple-throated Sunbird is now a Philippine endemic.
CRIMSON SUNBIRD (Aethopyga siparaja)
LITTLE SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera longirostra)
PURPLE-NAPED SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera hypogrammicum) – Recently taken out of the monotypic sunbird genus Hypogramma and placed with the spiderhunters in the genus Arachnothera.
SPECTACLED SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera flavigaster) – A couple of these working the few remaining Bombax flowers at Krung Ching.
GRAY-BREASTED SPIDERHUNTER (Arachnothera modesta) – These were mostly with the above Spectacled Spiderhunters.
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
ORIENTAL PIPIT (Anthus rufulus)
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (Passer montanus)
Estrildidae (Waxbills and Allies)
NUTMEG MANNIKIN (Lonchura punctulata)

MAMMALS
VARIABLE FLYING FOX (Pteropus hypomelanus) – Lots of these hanging from the trees on the Similans during our visit there.
COMMON TREESHREW (Tupaia glis)
SLOW LORIS (Nycticebus cougang) – A nighttime visit to Krung Ching yielded looks at both this strange prosimian and the Masked Palm Civet in the same fruiting fig that held our Gold-whiskered Barbet.
CRAB-EATING MACAQUE (Macaca fascigularis)
WHITE-HANDED GIBBON (Hylobates lar) [*]
BLACK GIANT SQUIRREL (Ratufa bicolor)
GRAY-BELLIED SQUIRREL (Callosciurus caniceps) – Including a few of these out on the Similans.
PLANTAIN SQUIRREL (Callosciurus notatus) – The medium-sized squirrel at Tonchongfa that had the black stripe on the side.
LOWE'S SQUIRREL (Sundasciurus lowii) – The small, plain brown squirrel at Krung Ching.
HIMALAYAN STRIPED SQUIRREL (Tamiops macclellandi) [*]
INDOCHINESE GROUND SQUIRREL (Menetes berdmorei)
MASKED PALM CIVET (Paguma larvata) – Chowing down on figs at Krung Ching.


ADDITIONAL COMMENTS


Totals for the tour: 190 bird taxa and 12 mammal taxa