wcaptain

復活節期間去咗泰國崗卡章國家公園 (位於曼谷西南面150km左右)。四月五日在保護區逗留一整天，之後一天早上到了一個人工水池拍照區，兩天合共紀錄到70種雀。全個泰國之旅則是102種。本次國家公園旅程看到精彩鳥種為綠胸八色鶇，暗闊嘴鳥，鏽頰犀鳥，白額角鴞，褐胸山鹧鸪及黑腿小隼。這次也是我第一次請guide (Mr Paik) 帶睇雀，無他，因為太太也想看看犀鳥之類的大雀，所以兩人就比較化算，如只得我一人就太貴了。Mr Paik 非常專業，很受這裹拍友尊敬。事先聲明，隻綠胸八色鶇是由bird guide 放蟲及在掩體內拍攝。請guide的好處是易找到大鳥，及容易分辨叫聲，但就要放棄沿小徑碰運氣式睇雀法，miss咗頗多細雀。如想有完美旅程，請逗留多一兩日。

崗卡章國家公園之前有n咁多位香港鳥友去過，但網上有關旅程安排的中文介紹欠奉。以下為本次旅程安排:

點去: 自駕。曼谷下午1點開車連午餐及休息時間，共用了4.5小時才到達。原來不少曼谷人喜歡在週末開車出城玩，我們開車時撞正週末狂熱，過橋塞車，可幸只是車多而已。

國家公園正門離辦事處約20-30分鐘車程，最好用GPS，或在google map 做點功課先。

保護區入場費: 外國人300銖，每輛車30銖。

瞓覺: Baan Maka Chalet 旅館。簡樸舒適乾淨。每房每晚1400銖。非鳥友家人盛讚環境優美。要注意旅館範圍已是一個細小的鳥類天堂，我在這兒看到銅翅水雉、兩種鳽及黑頭黃鸝，與及聽到領角鴞。旅館可代為聯絡bird guide及去人工水池事宜，電郵是baanmaka@yahoo.com

食: 查實係泰國好難揾到D好難食嘅野。Anyway, 國家公園內有兩所餐廳，即每露營地點各一。我們在低地營區的餐廳午膳，推介“tuna in spice and basil leaves” ，香葉辣吞那魚，擺明用罐頭吞那魚，但炒到上菜一樣正。餐廳內食物平靚正，每人每餐應100銖左右。

路况: 泰國鄉郊道路狀況ok。普通私家車可由國家公園入口駛至低地營區。低地營區至高地營區因路況甚差及要過河，所以要用農夫車或四驅車。

觀鳥位: 坦白講，今次跟bird guide睇及只得一日，沒有心得。簡單講，低地營區之後的過河位有暗闊嘴鳥及白額角鴞。綠胸八色鶇過第二條河後在左手邊小徑行一公里左右，仲要放蟲先出嚟。山上地方多hornbill。另低地營區周邊樹林可看到金冠樹八哥及冕雀。星期六日國家公園內頗多拍友，大部分熟知目標鳥位置，行過問下必有好嘢。

人工水池: 全名係Loong Sin Hide (定Lung Sin?) 。距Baan Maka Chalet約4km。其實是一個人工水池，場主亦會放些生果吸引雀鳥。因為這些水池及食物，雀鳥會久不久在這裏飲水，開餐及洗澡。鳥友放下200銖後可在掩體內任影。據聞這是一個保育項目，從前場主因生活而捕鳥，但”優化” 成影雀位後即可增加收入，也不用捕鳥。我在這裏影到褐胸山鹧鸪，原雞，黑枕王鶲，小黑領噪鶥、兩種鵯及綠背金鳩。

[ Last edited by wcaptain at 17/04/2015 12:36 ]

wcaptain

I spent 1.5 days at this very famous National Park in Thailand on 5 and 6 April. Strickly speaking, it was just one full day in the park (with a bird guide) and a morning at a water hole for photo-taking. About 70 bird species were seen or heard in this part of the trip-. A total of 102 species in the whole trip (birdwatching on train to Ayuthaya, and the resort at Hua Hin). At KK, highlights are Hooded Pitta, Bar-backed Partridge, Brown Hornbill, Dusky Broadbill, White-fronted Scops Owl and Black-thighed Falconet. This is the first time I birded with a bird guide, and for sure, birds were easier to be identified. The guide (Mr Paik, can be arranged by Baan Maka Chalet) is well respected by local naturalists, and very professional. Some technics he used (worm feeding and playback) may be controversial to some Hong Kong birders. The drawback of using a guide is the whole trip became target specific (i.e. finding large birds). So, if you like birding with no intention, it is better to spend an extra day in the park (esp for small birds). Anyway, I will certainly recommend him to other birders.

The following is the logistic part:
Time to go: the easter holiday is a good time to visit this park as it is the breeding season of some birds there (esp Broadbill). Thaibirding.com said these birds are extremely difficult to find in non-breeding seasons. Anyway, Apr is a good time.

Getting there: driving by car. Using a GPS is essential. If you depart from Bangkok, expect some traffic jams due to using the bridge. I was told weekend is the worst as people will rush out Bangkok and enjoy their holidays. We left Bangkok at about 1:00 pm on Sat and it took us about 4.5 hrs getting there (including lunch and some tea breaks). The park headquarters is not the park entrance. You need to drive a further 20-30 mins to the park entrance.

Park entrance fee: 300Baht per person. The car is about 30B.

Sleeping: I tried Baan Maka Chalet, of which the hotel can help book the bird guide. The room is basic and well maintained (1400Baht per night – air con). My non-birding family also loved the environment very much during their stay. There were enough road signs showing the location of this place from the main road (should be a further 15 to 20 mins drive from the park headquarters). The restaurant was fine. Pls note that the hotel area is already a small bird paradise. I saw Bronze-winged Jacana, two species of bittern and heard Collared Scops Owl during our stay. One more pt, there was no English sign in the hotel main entrance (just Baan Maka in thai). I missed the entrance.   

Food: There are two restaurants in the park, just next to the two campsites. The quality is excellent. My recommendation is “tuna fish in spice and basil leaves”. Very nice.

Road condition in the park: The lower part (from the main entrance to the first campsite) was ok for small cars. But after the first campsite, the road was bad and a pickup or SUV is necessary.

Loong Sin Hide (or Lung Sin?): it is a water hole for photo-taking. Birds come here to drink water and bath. The owner also put some fruits. The entrance fee is 200Baht per person. I saw two Bar-backed Partridges there (by 8am). The bird activities were not high but waiting there and expecting something unexpected is extraordinary. Baan Maka Chalet can help reservation. This hide appears to be a conservation project and the local can get benefit from birders. So, they stopped netting birds, etc.

Useful website: again, thaibirding.com

CyrusKung

thanks for sharing

wcaptain

Black and red Broadbill 黑紅闊咀鳥


Hooded Pitta 綠胸八色鶇


Dusky Broadbill 暗闊嘴鳥


Green-eared Barbet 黃紋擬鴷


White-fronted Scops Owl 白額角鴞


Sultan Tit 冕雀


Black Eagle 林雕


Great Hornbill 雙角犀鳥


Greater Flameback 大金背啄木鳥




Black-thighed Falconet 黑腿小隼


Bar-backed Partridge 褐胸山鹧鸪


Black-naped Monarch 黑枕王鶲


Stripe-throated Bulbul 纹喉鹎


Puff-throated Babbler 棕頭幽鶥


Emerald Dove 綠背金鳩


Lesser Necklaced Laughing Thrush 小黑領噪鶥


Red Junglefowl 原雞

wcaptain

1        grey peacock pheasant        heard only. The bird was probably 20-30m away from us. But too overgrown to see it. Mr Piak said we have to set up hide to see the bird  
2        Bar-backed Partridge        Loong Sin Waterhole, two birds. A new tick
3        red junlefowl        Very common at Kaeng Krachan (KK). Also saw at the water hole (1 male + 5 female/immatures)
4        Asian Openbill        common at the paddyfield areas
5        Little Cormorant        near the entrance gate of KK, and on the train
6        Little Grebe        Baan Maka (hotel at KK)
7        Reef egret        The beach off Anantara Resort
8        Little Egret        Common
9        Great Egret        on the train (Bangkok - Ayuthaya)
10        Cattle Egret        Baan Maka
11        Chinese Pond Heron        common
12        Javan Pond Heron        At one of the Ayutthaya heritage sites
13        Purple Heron        saw a large, purple coloured heron on a flooded field when taking the train back to Bangkok
14        Chestnut Bittern        Baan Maka, 1 bird
15        Yellow Bittern        3 birds at Baan Maka
16        Asian Barred Owlet        A wet one was seen at dusk at the lower part of KK. MR Piak's eyesight is excellent
17        White-fronted Scops Owl        Two sleepy birds were seen. At the usual location. My wife loves them very much
18        Asian Palm Swift        KK
19        Ashy Woodswallow        near the entrance gate of KK at dusk
20        Rufous Woodpecker        seen at the higher part of KK
21        Bay Woodpecker        heard only
22        Greater Yellownape        seen at open woodland of lower part of KK
23        Greater Flameback        seen at open woodland of lower part of KK
24        Common Flameback        at the open woodland of lower part of KK
25        Chinese Sparrohawk        some open areas of the lower part of KK
26        Black Baza        three birds were seen at dusk at the lower part of KK
27        Crested Serpent Eagle        heard only
28        Marsh Harrier        Seen soaring on a flooded field when taking the train back to Bangkok
29        Black Eagle        on the upper part of KK, just after lunch time. the feather condition is not very good
30        Black-thighted Falconet        at one open site of lower part of KK at dusk
31        White-breasted Kingfisher        Baan Maka and the headquarters
32        Black-capped Kingfisher        seen at some ponds at the lower part of KK in late afternoon
33        Bronze-winged Jacana        Baan Maka, two birds
34        Black-winged Stilt        on the train
35        Moorhen        Baan Maka
36        Red-wattled Lapwing        open areas of KK
37        Greater Sandplover        The beach off Anantara Resort
38        Malaysian Plover        The beach off Anantara Resort
39        Black-hooded Oriole        Baan Maka
40        Black-naped Oriole        at open woodland in the early morning
41        Blue-tailed Bee-eater        around Panoen Tung Campsite, KK
42        Blue-throated Barbet        heard at KK, higher part
43        Great Barbet        heard only
44        Green-eared Barbet        two birds near a tree hole were seen
45        Coppersmith Barbet        heard only
46        Great Hornbill        one was seen briefly near the end of dirt road. Another flying bird was seen near the viewpt at the mid point between the end of road and campsite
47        Brown hornbill        higher part of KK. Briefy seen them, appro 3 birds. Not enough time to take photos because I had to tell my wife where they were
48        Oriental Pied hornbill        Common
49        Red-headed Trogan        seen at the higher part of KK
50        Collared Scops Owl        heard at Baan Maka during the dinner on 4 Apr
51        Dollarbird        quite common along the open area of lower part of KK
52        Indian Roller        At one of the Ayutthaya heritage sites
53        Drongo Cuckoo        heard only
54        Plantive Cuckoo        heard when waiting at Loong Sin waterhole
55        Dusky Broadbill        around Stream 2, nest building
56        Black-and-red Broadbill        at open woodland in the early morning
57        Greater Coucal        Baan Maka
58        Hooded Pitta        Seeing this bird is a total suprise. Had to walk 1 km into the forest after crossing Stream 2. Seeing a Pitta is not even on the dream list. Suddently, Mr Piak said we are going to see Pitta, pls follow me. At that time, because of the lanuage problem, I did not even know the name of the Pitta (actually, I know very little about Pitta). I found the name during the lunch time.  Pls note that worm feeding and setting up hide were used in order to view this bird. Good or not? Up to you  
59        Hoopoe        At one of the Ayutthaya heritage sites
60        Emerald Dove        quite common along the open area of lower part of KK
61        Peaceful Dove        Anantara Resort, very common
62        Rufous Dove        sunbathing at Anantara Resort
63        Spotted Dove        At KK
64        Black Drongo        on the train
65        Ashy Drongo        Lower part of KK
66        Hair-crested Drongo        Very common
67        Greater Racket-tailed Drongo        seen along the road after entry the NP
68        Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo        at the higher part of KK
69        Forest Wagtail        common at Baan Maka, also at the Stream 1-3
70        Red-billed Blue Magpie        heard only at KK
71        Green Treepie        a shadow and calls were seen and heard, respectively when walking to see the Pitta
72        Barn Swallow        common
73        Sand Martin        near the viewpt at the Panoen Tung Campsite
74        Scarlet Minivet        heard and seen very briefly
75        Buff-throated Bulbul        higher part of KK.
76        Black-crested Bulbul        KK
77        streak-eared bulbul        around ayutthaya heritage sites
78        Stripe-throated Bulbul        Loong Sin Waterhole
79        Ochraceous Bulbul        around the Stream 1 - 3 of KK
80        Sultan Tit        During the lunch break at Bang Krang Campsite, Mr Piak called me that one bird was foraging in a tree
81        Common Iora        Saw some when I took my car after taking photos at Loong Sin waterhole
82        Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker        around ayutthaya heritage sites
83        Crimson Sunbird        at the open woodland of lower part of KK
84        Olive-backed Sunbird        Baan Maka
85        Little Spiderhunter        heard only
86        Puff-throated Babbler        heard along the road at the lower part of KK
87        White-browed Scimitar Babbler        Higher part of KK. Its behaviour looks like a mice rather than a bird
88        Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush        heard only
89        Lesser necklaced Laughing thrush        At the Loong Sin Waterhole
90        White-rumped Shama        Baan Maka, KK
91        Magpie Robin        Baan Maka
92        Red-throated Flycatcher        Baan Maka
93        Asian Brown Flycatcher        at the Panoen Tung Campsite
94        Black-naped Monarch        heard at KK, and saw two birds at the waterhole
95        White-throated Fantail        Anantara Resort
96        Hill Myna        One bird at the lower part of KK
97        Common Myna        common
98        White-vented Myna        common
99        Golden Crested Myna        one was seen at Bang Krang Campsite during lunch break
100        Spotted Munia        Anantara Resort
101        House sparrow        near a roadside coffee shop when driving down to KK from Bangkok
102        Tree sparrow        common

kc3018

Thank you for sharing.

May I know if big lens (600mm or 800mm) is required to take those photos?

wilsondring

you must have hired a "photographers' guide" .. i think there are guys like Peter Ericsson which offers tour more for bird watchers .. in fact it is funny you brought this up, coz when I was in Cat Tien, Vietnam, I found that all the Vietnam guides were too geared towards birdwatchers and would have been far more happy to go for more selected list but of higher photographic quality rather than a buzzard 10 miles up flies by "tick" ..

we were also in KKC for 2 days over the Easter break before moving onto Khao Yai about 5 hours drive away .. I will post my shots on a different thread ..

thanks for sharing .. Cheers

wcaptain

400 - 600mm is ok