Bang Pra Non-hunting Area, in Chonburi
province, consists of a semi-natural lake surrounded by a
bank of semi-natural woodland with some areas of exposed grasses
and Typha beds. The reservoir is one used to hold
water for irrigation and drinking and as a fishery rather
than for hydro-electric purposes, meaning that the water is
shallow and can support birdlife. Local people are permitted
to fish, gather plants and graze cattle but hunting birds
and mammals is forbidden. The water levels fluctuate through
the year here with the level kept high after the rainy season
into the early dry season so that there is sufficient water
for irrigation of surrounding farmland and the ever-growing,
nearby cities of Chonburi and Pattaya; into the months of
March-June the water levels drop, exposing a larger area of
grassland habitat.
This is a good location for birders to see a wide range of
birds in a short space of time, including a number of species
that are not often recorded on birding tours to Thailand,
and an ideal location for a day trip from Bangkok or, indeed,
Pattaya where many people stay on package holidays. The grassland
is probably the most interesting habitat here, but unfortunately
in recent years the water has been maintained at a very high
level meaning that this habitat has been severely reduced
in size and rather degraded in places by people in four-wheel
drive vehicles. However, on a good day, I still think it would
be possible to find over 100 species in a day at Bang Pra
with a mixture of woodland, open-country and wetland birds.
The close proximity of open water, scrub grassland and dry
forest mean that a wide variety of birds can be found in this
single location, and virtually anything can turn up during
migratory periods.
When water levels are low, usually March-June, areas of grassland
form and some interesting species can be found including breeding
Oriental Pratincole, Indochinese Bushlark, Zitting Cisticola,
Paddyfield Pipit and Chestnut-capped Babbler. Quail used to
be a very prominent part of the avifauna here but with water
levels often high little habitat is usually present for them.
However, with some effort, particularly when water levels
are low, Barred Buttonquail, Rain Quail and Yellow-legged
Buttonquail can be found. Blue-breasted Quail are also present,
but rare, and theoretically Small Buttonquail is possible
too. Chinese Francolin is a bigger bird and can frequently
heard calling from the undergrowth or from a perch up in a
tree - it is usually very hard to spot though.
Spot-billed Pelcians and Painted Storks used to be commonly
seen at Bang Pra, but less frequently now, although Lesser
Adjutant storks can also be found in the reedy areas or seen
circling in the thermals and Asian Openbills are common. Unfortunately
the provenance of the Painted Storks, Adjutants and Pelicans
doesn't hold up to the strictest scrutiny as they are the
result of feral or introduced, but self-sustaining, populations
from the nearby Khao Khieo open zoo; the birds remain none
the less spectacular because of this. Oriental Darters have
also colonized this area now and a few always seem to be present
and Black-headed Ibis are ocassionally seen too.
The fringing woodland has something to offer birders too,
and this is one of the easiest places to see Rufous Treepie
and White-crested Laughingthrush that I know of. Add to this
Laced Woodpecker, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Lineated Barbet,
Asian Barred Owlet and, in winter, some commoner forest birds
that are altitudinal migrants, and there is quite a variety
of species for birders to see. In the early wet season Blue-winged
Pitta is one of the highlights to be found in this woodland.
A checklist of the birds for this location can be found here
- Bang Pra
Bird
Watching Trips:
If you need help organizing a bird watching trip to Thailand,
take a look at the suggested itineraries for ideas on
creating a tailor-made trip and contact me for advice:
Thailand
bird tours.
Travel Information
Use the interactive map below to plan your route to
Bang Pra. The blue line shows the route from Suvarnabhumi
Airport (Blue Pin) to Bang Pra (Red Pin).
By Car/Motorcycle
Getting to Bang Pra is not too difficult if traveling by car.
One needs to get onto the motorway that runs from Bangkok
to Chonburi. This can be done by either getting on the expressway
and heading towards Suvarnabhumi airport and then beyond,
or by taking the elevated tollway along BangNa - Trad road
and then getting off at the Bang Wua exit and onto the Bangkok
- Chonburi motorway. As one gets close to the destination
ignore the signs for Chonburi and continue along the motorway
towards Pattaya. After a while signs for Bang Pra reservoir
and Khao Khieo zoo will be seen; follow these signs to ensure
you get off of the motorway at the right place. From the centre
of Bangkok to this turn-off will take about 1.5 hours in the
early morning before the traffic builds up; leaving at 5am
should get you to Bang Pra at a good time.
This will get you to the right place, but there are many alternative
routes from Bangkok to this region. The good news is that
the zoo is signposted frequently.
Having taken the turning for Bang Phra and Khao Khieo zoo,
immediately do a U-turn and cross the bridge over the motorway.
A few hundred metres you arrive at a T-junction and here the
woodland at Bang Pra is right in front of you. Turning left
here will take you towards the smaller "egret lake"
while turning right will take you towards the wildlife breeding
centre and dam. These days, for the "egret lake"
area one must park on the roadside and walk a short distance.
Another option would be to stay in Pattaya and hire a motorcycle
to drive to Bang Pra. This would be an easy option, although
I have never personally tried it.
By Bus
It is possible to get to Bang Pra by public transport, but
it is not easy. Go to the Eastern bus terminal at Ekamai,
on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok and take any bus to Pattaya,
but get off before that. It is best to tell the bus conductor
that you want to go to Khao Khieo zoo (Suan Sat Khao Khieo,
click here for Thai
script) and the bus will stop at the right place.
Here is the difficult part; at this dropping off point one
must find the songtaew to the zoo which is hidden up a small
road on the opposite side of the road. Ask around for the
songtaew to the zoo and hope it can be found. The journey
passes along the lakeside of Bang Pra, but do not get off
when you see it, wait until the junction where the songtaew
turns left and get off just before it crosses the motorway,
then walk. Most of you will have probably stopped reading
by now and with good reason, this method will get you to Bang
Pra in the midday sun - useless for birdwatching!
By Taxi
Although it is a long way from Bangkok, taking a taxi is a
possibility and as many taxi drivers are used to doing the
journey to Pattaya it should not be too hard to find one who
is prepared to take you to Bang Pra and wait for you to make
the return journey. From Pattaya this is a short journey and
it should not be hard to arrange a taxi for the morning.
By
Tuk Tuk or Motorcycle Taxi
It is far too far from Bangkok to consider these inefficient
and dangerous options although from nearby Pattaya it may
be worth considering if you are on a very tight budget but
a motorcycle taxi driver is unlikely to want to wait for you
and getting back will be very hard to say the least.
By Train
It is possible to get to the area where one catches the songthaew
to Khao Khieo zoo by train but this method of transport is
extremely slow and it is unlikely to get you there in time
for early morning birding.
By Plane
The closest airports are Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao.
It is possible to hire a car or taxi from either of these
or other forms of public transport to nearby towns.
Finding Birds
Anywhere
around Bang Pra will serve up a good helping of birds
and most of the same species can be found all around.
However, I regularly see certain species in particular
spots.
Rufous Treepie can nearly always be found in the open
woodland immediately to the right as one drives along
the entrance dirt track, along with Laced Woodpecker and
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo.
Osprey and Whiskered Tern can often be seen fishing over
the open water of the lake and sometimes White-bellied
Sea Eagle puts in an appearance.
The grassland holds Prinias, Bushlarks, Quail and Cisticolas.
Road:
In the early morning it is worth a stop on the road just before
turning into the site. Groups of birds often sit on the roadside
wires here and are active in roadside trees and the few trees
in the fields opposite. This spot is where I most often see
Vinous-breasted Starling and Lineated Barbet, Eurasian Hoopoe,
Rufous Treepie, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Indian Roller,
Ashy Woodswallow as well as White-crested Laughingthrush can
often be seen sitting on a wire in the first light of day.
Egret
Lake :
This small lake has fairly deep water which attracts White-throated,
Common and Black-capped Kingfishers, Little Cormorants and,
sometimes, Oriental Darter. The island in the middle is also
a favourite roosting spot for Cattle Egrets and Black-crowned
Night Heron; Malayan Night Heron has been seen here occasionally.
The
water here is inundated with vegetation and frequented by
many Yellow Bitterns and a few Cinnamon Bitterns. Some bare
trees on the island are an excellent place for watching Drongos,
Black-naped Oriole, Lineated Barbet, Racket-tailed Treepie
and others in the early morning when the birds seem to enjoy
sitting on exposed perches and enjoying the morning sun.
Car
Park : In
the early morning the car park can turn up some nice
species. Rufous and Racket-tailed Treepies often pass
through and a flock of White-crested Laughingthrushes
are never far away. Greater Racket-tailed Drongos are
always obvious and at the right time of year Hoopoe
and Black-naped Oriole will easily be seen. In the treetops,
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Brown-throated Sunbird
and Common Iora are all common.
For
those with mobility problems a shelter overlooking egret
lake provides the possiblity of viewing quite a variety
of nice birds.
Woodland
Birds :
A small selection of woodland birds are relatively easily
found here; White-crested Laughingthrush, Lineated Barbet,
Asian Barred Owlet, Rufous Treepie, Black-naped Oriole
and Laced Woodpecker are all regulars here and I have
seen a pair of Black-throated Laughingthrushes on a
few occasions - perhaps they are feral but they may
have found their way here from nearby Khao Khieo. Outside
of the breeding season a number of other woodland species
occur as migrants including Ashy Minivet, Asian Paradise
Flycatcher and Black-winged Cuckooshrike.
Grassland
Birds 1:
This area always used to be good for grassland birds
- unfortunately it is often inundated with water these
days. If there is any habitat available Chinese Francolin
will often be heard calling and it may be possible to
track it down; if it is on the ground you might flush
it but if it is in a tree you will have a chance to
spot it. Rain Quail used to be quite numerous here,
but I haven't seen them for some time - there is much
more disturbance than in the past. Yellow-legged and
Barred Buttonquails can sometimes be found with the
possibility of Blue-breasted Quail. Chestnut-capped
Babbler is another bird which is sometimes found in
the long grass too and a few patches of Phragmites
hold some Asian Golden Weavers.
This
area, used to be particularly good for finding Indochinese
Bushlark. Australasian Bushlark can also be found but
is scarce.
One
can approach the water's edge here too and it is usually
quite easy, in winter months, to see Oriental Reed Warbler
and Black-browed Reed Warbler in what little emergent
vegetation remains.
Birdwatching
Trips To Bang Pra Reservoir: If you have only a day
or two for birding from Bangkok, Bang Pra
is an
excellent location, coupled with a visit
to Muang Boran Fishponds. At any time of
year a good selection of colourful birds
are present and in the dry season a whole
range of migrants visit this location.
Contact
me to arrange a trip and/or to discuss the
best birdwatching options for you: nickupton@thaibirding.com
Turnaround
Spot :
This where I always turn around; I am always hot and tired by
this point. This area is a great place for locating Bright-headed
Cisticola (Golden-capped, Bright-capped or whatever combination
of terms it is currently masquerading under); it will be easy
to find in the breeding season when it doesn't stop calling
(it sounds like an ecaggerated kiss, followed by a bell). Chinese
Francolin also seems abundant in this spot, but spotting one
is difficult, however, I frequently get lucky with this species
here. During passage migration, Blue-throated Bee-eater is regular
in the tall trees in this area, but Green Bee-eater will be
seen here at any time of the year and Lesser Coucal and Yellow-eyed
Babblers are always in the area - keep your eyes and ears peeled!
Grassland
Birds 2:
This area always seems to have some grassland habitat
no matter how high the water levels are and it can
be reached by walking off of the paved trail which
goes around the back of "egret lake".
Many
interesting birds can be found in the scruffy vegetation
here with both Yellow-eyed and Chestnut-capped Babblers
being fairly common - both very attractive birds.
Other grassland species include Bright-headed Cisticola,
Rufescent Prinia, Yellow-bellied Prinia and in the
winter Oriental Reed Warbler, Dusky Warbler and Black-browed
Reed Warbler. Those who have time to spend can track
down skulking birds such as Siberian Rubythroat here,
but the vegetation can be thick so a little call playback
may be needed!
The
emergent vegetation here holds Yellow Bittern, Cinnamon
Bittern, Painted Snipe and many others. At the right
time of year you may also be lucky enough to see Black
Bittern here.
Facilities
Quite
simply, there aren't any facilities here! If one has somehow
arrived by public transport (it is possible but not a
good idea) then it would be advisable to ensure that you
have enough food, water and sun lotion for the day; it
can get exceptionally hot and humid at this site so lots
of water is required. If arrival is by private vehicle
then within a short drive to various villages there are
a few small shops selling cold drinks and snacks. On one
visit I managed to get the people in a nearby shack to
cook us some food to take away, so if you get really desperate
I'm sure someone in one of the few houses nearby will
take pity upon you.
In a private car it is possible to drive towards Khao
Khieo open zoo where a number of small food selling places
will be seen as one travels.
The best option for car drivers is to take a packed lunch
for birding and then at the end of the day drive to Bang
Saen on the coast, where you can eat seafood on the beach,
enjoy a beer and have change from 1000 baht! There are
a number of places to stay at Bang Saen, but most people
will probably opt for a hotel in Bangkok: Bangkok
Hotel Reservations, or Pattaya: Pattaya
Hotel Reservations.
Bang Pra is not a National Park and there is no entry
fee to go birding here.
Bird
Watching Trips:
Bang Pra is a good place to visit if you have limited
time in Thailand, but it is also a great place to see
some species that are infrequently seen on longer birding
trips and as such is worth considering building into extended
itineraries.
Cambodia,
5th-18th March 2020- Some of SE Asia's rarest birds;
Giant Ibis, White-shouldered Ibis, Bengal Florican, Mekong
Wagtail, Cambodian Tailorbird - New
