Central and Northern Thailand Bird Watching 15 days Trip

the Phetchabun mountain range which is separated the central plain from the northeastern plateau. On the southwestern rim of the central, there is the Tenasserim mountain range in Phetchaburi Province which form the boarder line between Thailand and Myanmar. Below Bangkok, it encompasses with a shallow bay called “the Inner Gulf of Thailand”, where the intertidal mudflat occurs extensively from the east to the west of the inner gulf and it is the country single most critical habitat for migratory shorebirds and waterbirds.

Two major national parks that we will focus in the central include Khao Yai and Kaeng Krachan National Park. Other birding sites that we will also explore comprise of Limestone mountain in Saraburi Province, Pak Thale salt-pans, Laem Phak Bia sand spit, rice fields and wetlands in Phetchaburi Province. Khao Yai National Park is the first established national park in Thailand. Khao Yai together with other adjacent national parks and forest reserves were declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, which called Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex. Khao Yai NP is the most visited park in Thailand as its location is not far from Bangkok and the park contains very good facilities for tourists. It is also well-known for the great place for birds and wildlife watching. Kaeng Krachan National Park is the largest park in the country and declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021. It renowned for its high diversity of birds and wildlife, many birders named it “the capital of Thailand birdwatching”. Its location is a conjunction point between the upper and the lower part of the country. The high season for birding in this park extends longer than other parks in Thailand. However, tourist facility in this park is completely different from Khao Yai NP, it is very limited as the whole area is a very steep mountain and caught much less attention from tourists. There is only one road go through the park from the entrance to the top peak, a first half of the road is a good paved road but a second half is a rough and steep dirt road. Pak Thale salt-pans is situated along the shoreline of the Inner Gulf of Thailand, it is one of the country largest traditional salt production area. These salt-pans are well-known as the international important site for migratory shorebirds in Southeast Asia, where it is a suitable wintering site for some of critically endangered species such as Spoon-billed Sandpiper and Nordmann’s Greenshank (over 10% of global population of Nordmann’s Greenshank wintering in the inner gulf of Thailand), as well as considerable numbers of many other shorebirds. Laem Phak Bia sand spit located nearby Pak Thale salt-pans, it holds other few species of rare shorebirds that restricted to a sand bar habitat. We must take a boat through mangroves to get to this sand spit, on the boat we can also connect with more species inhibit the mangroves too. Rice fields in Phetchaburi Province are also very interesting to explore, some of birds that spend their winter in rice paddies is a critically endangered species such as Yellow-breasted Bunting. Rice paddies are apparently a fabulous habitat that holds a high diversity of birds, hang around for few hours in this habitat can be very productive afternoon.

Northern Thailand is a mountainous region with many picturesque national parks. It is a cooler climate area of the country where pristine pine forests and montane forests occur at higher elevation. Some mountains with over 2,000 meters peaks created unique habitats for many high altitude species that could not find in other places in Thailand. Dry-dipterocarp and mixed deciduous forest dominated lower elevation area and foothills below 800 meters. Rice fields and lakes at low land areas are also good habitats for many appealing migrant and resident species. Thereby, northern Thailand offering a great selection of spectacular and sough-after Southeast Asian species, along with a huge array of migrants from the northern hemisphere.

When we are in the north we will focus only birding destinations in Chiang Mai Province, where many country top birding sites are located not too far apart from each other. The main destinations as following; Doi Inthanon National Park, the highest peak of the country at 2,565 meters above sea level where a unique habitat occurs and home to some of locally endemic birds that restrict to this habitat. The park has an altitudinal gradient of forest types that created diverse habitats for many spectacular species. Doi Ang Khang situated on the border between Thailand and Myanmar. It is a steep mountain with a breathtaking panoramic view. Even though majority of forest areas on Doi Ang Khang have been encroached and converted to agriculture areas, but some are remain in healthy condition, as well as acceptable amount of regenerating forests. Thus, it is surely still excellent for birding. Doi San Ju and Doi Lang, they are located on the same mountain ridge right on the border of Thailand and Myanmar. Doi San Ju is on the west side of the mountain ridge and Doi lang is on the east side, but the road that connects these 2 places was blocked by the Thai army for a safety reason. So, getting to birding spots on these places we have to take the road from different side of the ridge in different district. Then, we will explore Doi San Ju for one day and strike out for Doi Lang on another day. Tham Pha Plong Temple, a peaceful and beautiful Buddhist temple situated at the outer perimeter of Doi Chiang Dao, a huge limestone mountain complex and declared as UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Rice fields in Fang district will be a place for relax and easy birding before sunset on the day that we are exhausted from long travel or a big day birding on the mountain. Many common species yet appealing to see can be found in this habitat.

Please look at the itinerary for expected species that we stand a high chance to see at each destination. Birds name mentioned in the itinerary are not 100% guarantee.