Thailand Photography Trip

This article is a second in a series I will be doing on my recent photography trip to Thailand in December.  I want to start with some observations made on something other than birds.  On any trip in the outdoors you are bound to encounter critters other than birds and this trip was no exception.  In the Kaeng Krachan National Park we encounter three types of monkeys besides those traveling with me.  Attached is a photo of a Stub-tailed Macaque which we observed as a part of a large group that were crossing the road.  This macaque is sometimes called bear or red-faced monkey and is endemic to South East Asia. 

It can live as long as 30 years and is found in gregarious groups of 20 to 50.  Within the group there is a strict hierarchy which is inherited from the mother, but males must fight to retain their position.  Their diet is primarily fruits, seeds and young vegetation but they also consume insects, birds and
eggs.
 

A second none avian species that got my attention was the Yellow Leopard Moth pictured here.  I have tried to find more information on this species but all I could come up with was information on the Giant Leopard Moth. 

However, I decided to include it in this article because it is such a pretty moth.

So now let’s move on to some of the birds of Thailand.   I must say we encountered about 360 species and for the most part they were extremely colorful as you will see from the included pictures.  We first consider the Sultan Tit, an extremely beautiful bird and one sought out by birders. 

This species is one of the larger of the tit family and is found primarily in the evergreen forest of central Thailand.  It’s diet includes berries, seed, catepillers and insects.  This was the bird which my friend Kim Risen most wanted to see during our visit.

In this same national park, Kaeng Krachan, we also found two species of hornbills, Great and Oriental Pied.  The picture included with this article is of the Oriental Pied.  Both are very large birds with found in the canopy of tropical forest.   The Oriental Pied is the smallest of the hornbills and can be found on the Indian Subcontinent and throughout Southeast Asia. 

They feed primarily on fruits but will also eat insects, small birds and reptiles.  They are monogamous and cavity nesters, but usually rely on cavities created by other species.  One of the many birds I hoped to see on this trip.

One afternoon we had the opportunity to visit a photo blind where pictures of these last three species were taken.  It was located in a creek bottom surrounded by dense forest and with a small water source provided by the owner of the property.  The water feature was the focus of bird activity and taking a bath was their prime objective.  One of the larger and more exotic species that visited the area was the stunning Siamese Fireback Pheasant pictured here. 

This species is endemic to Indo China, Vietnam, and eastern Thailand.  It is found in very dense forest and is usually very difficult to see.  We were lucky to get a look at what is becoming a threatened species due to hunting pressure.  Note the beautiful red facial skin, bright crimson legs and the long flowing tail.  I was excited to find this bird on the trip.

Another favorite was the Greater Ratchet-tailed Drongo.  This is only one of the seven species of drongos found in Thailand.  Greater Ratchet-tails are the largest of the Asian drongo family. 

They are found in forest settings and feed on insects primarily but will also eat fruit, berries, and seeds.  They are known to mimic calls of other species.

And our final bird is the Black-headed Bulbul.  I must say that bulbuls are the largest single category of birds we encountered on our trip, second only to leaf warblers.

This bright yellow bird can be distinguished from the similar colored species, Black-crested Bulbul, by their blue eye as well as the lack of a crest.  Like most bulbuls they feed on small fruits, berries, and insects.  They usually travel in small flocks and are passerines, meaning they are migrants.

I want to note that we are not far from the passerine migration we experience here in Texas every spring.  Many of our warbler passerines are as brightly colored as those in Thailand, so be on the lookout for them starting at the end of March.