| Bueng
Boraphet Non-hunting Area |
| Introduction |
| Bueng
Boraphet is a semi-natural lake which fluctuates in its water
level throughout the seasons. Unfortunately the status of
non-hunting area affords it little protection and the reedbeds
are greatly reduced due to human disturbance.
This is
one of the largest single wetland sites in Thailand and perhaps
one of the most famous due to the few sightings of the almost
mythical White-eyed River Martin all occurring here. Although
it is unlikely that this bird will be seen again, a combination
of reedbeds, lotus swamps, open water, grassland and fringing
woodland makes for a great birding spectacle at any time of
the year although winter will provide the most species. |
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Bueng Boraphet
(Photo by John van
der Woude) |
|
| Boat
trips for birdwatching or sightseeing here are a pleasant option for
birders and non-birders alike and the crocodile breeding centre offers
a chance to see these creatures at close quarters. |
|
About
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| Birding
Highlights |
Pied Kingfisher
(Photo by Suppalak
Klabdee)m |
|
Waterbirds
are obviously the main reason for a visit to Bueng Boraphet,
but many other open-country species can easily be seen here.
For me one of the most memorable species is the Pied Kingfisher
which can be viewed whilst hovering before it dives to catch
its prey. However,
for many people the large and colourful waterbirds such as
Purple Swamphen, Asian Openbill Stork, Glossy Ibis, Spot-billed
Pelican, Oriental Darter, Indian
Cormorant, Pheasant-tailed Jacana
and Bronze-winged Jacana are the main attraction and Bueng
Boraphet has been the site where the populations of many of
these scarce species are beginning to make a comeback in Thailand.
Despite
declines in recent years, large numbers of waterfowl still
use Bueng Boraphet in the winter. The resident Cotton Pygmy
Goose and Lesser Whistling Ducks are very common but Garganey
are also very numerous in the dry season. Other species regularly
found include Ferruginous Duck and Tufted Duck although a
pair of Baer's Pochard in 2009 were the first record for more
than 10 years. |
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Apart
from large waterbirds, Bueng Boraphet is an excellent site
for passerines too. Asian Golden Weaver, Streaked Weaver and
Baya Weaver can all be found and this is perhaps one of the
easiest places to see Siberian Rubythroat. Oriental and Black-browed
Reed Warblers are common in the dry season and in 2008 Thailand's
first Blyth's Reed Warbler was trapped and ringed here.
Sightings
of Quail are always exciting and many species occur here including
Rain Quail, Blue-breasted Quail and Small Buttonquail, although
none are easy to see; the grassy areas grazed by cattle would
be the best places to look for these species.
This
is, of course, the only place that White-eyed River-Martin
has ever been found, with the last confirmed sighting in 1978.
Read Doug Judell's article about investigating a possible
sighting in Cambodia here: White-eyed
River Martin |
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Siberian Rubythroat
(Photo by Peter
Ericsson)
|
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| Click
here for a checklist of the birds of Bueng
Boraphet |
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|
Birdwatching
Trips : Check the suggested itineraries for
ideas on creating a tailor-made birdwatching trip to Thailand:
Thailand
bird tours. |
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| Travel
Information |
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Getting
to Bueng Boraphet is a relatively simple affair. First,
one must get to the town of nakorn Sawan which is on the
main route from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (Highway 1). Nakorn
Sawan is about 2.5 - 3 hours from Bangkok and roughly 6
hours from Chiang Mai and any bus doing the journey between
the two cities will stop at Nakorn Sawan. For those making
the journey by bus Mor Chit Bus Station in Bangkok is the
one to use and the main bus station in Chiang Mai has buses
heading south.
Getting
from Nakorn Sawan to Bueng Boraphet by public transport
would be tricky even though it is only a few kilometres
away. For those without their own vehicle, hiring one in
Nakorn Sawan would be useful; there are tuktuks and songthaews
that could be chartered.
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For
those driving their own vehicle, the only difficulty is finding
the correct turn off for the lake. If heading from Bangkok one will
come to a right-hand turning about 1 kilometre before Nakorn Sawan
with the small town of Tha Tako signposted in English. Take this
road and coninue for about 17 kilometres until seeing the sign for
Bueng Boraphet Bird park and a statue of White-eyed River Martin
on the left.
For those wishing
to head to the Fisheries Research Station there is another right-hand
turning (if one is heading north) shortly before the bridge over
the river; this road heads to the town of Chum Saeng, which is signposted.
Continue for about 6 kilometres before seeing a right hand turning
for Bueng Boraphet lake. |
|
About
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| Finding
Birds |
|
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Waterbirds
can be found throughout the lake and open-country species
are fairly even distributed around the site. However, successful
birding at Bueng Boraphet is mostly a question of finding
where the best access is. There are two main places where
the lake and fringing habitats can easily be accessed; the
Fisheries Research Station and the "Birdwatching Park".
In order to watch most of the waterbird species it is necessary
to hire a boat and at both the above locations this is possible
although the staff at the "Birdwatching Park" are
knowledgeable about the species birders want to see.
Fulvous-breasted
Woodpeckers and Spotted Owlets can be found in open woodland
and land with scattered trees around the lake.
Asian
Golden Weavers can easily be watched at the crocodile pens
at the fisheries research station. |
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Birdwatching
"Park"
1.
Car Park :
Park here. Only the most common birds will be seen here;
Zebra Dove, Common Iora, Common Myna etc.
2.
Wet Scrubland/Lillies & Reeds :
This mixture of wet habitats harbours a number of interesting
birds including nesting Black-browed Reed Warbler, Baya
Weavers, Plaintive Cuckoo and White-breasted Waterhen. The
trees in this area attract some interesting species such
as Shikra, Green-billed Malkoha and Chestnut-tailed Starling.
During migratory times these areas would be good places
to look for passage migrants.
3.
Grassland :
Rough grassland in this area is home to some interesting
species including Blue-breasted Quail, Rain Quail, Zitting
Cisticola, Green Bee-eater and Indochinese Bushlark. Cattle
Egrets and Mynas can always be found alongside grazing cattle
in this area.
4.
Lillies/Reeds :
These areas are some of the richest wetland habitats and
are home to a multitude of excellent birds. Purple Swamphen,
Spot-billed Pelican, Purple Heron, Darters, Pheasant-tailed
Jacana, Bronze-winged Jacana, Cotton Pygmy Goose and other
wildfowl can be found either from the trail or boat.
With
the populations of large waterbirds increasing the chances
of finding storks and ibises in these areas is quite good.
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5.
Birdwatching Park HQ :
The trees in this area are a good place to look for a few species.
Both Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker and Spotted Owlet can be found
here and a number of other, more common, birds such as Coppersmith
Barbet, Taiga Flycatcher and Oriental Magpie Robin are plentiful.
6.
Birding Tower :
A tower hide offers birders a chance to sit in the shade and look
out over the wetlands. Large waterbirds such as Asian Openbill Stork,
Purple Heron, Oriental Darter and Sopt-billed Pelican can usually
be seen from this spot. |
Fulvous-breasted
Woodpecker
(Photo by Suppalak
Klabdee) |
|
Fisheries
Research Station :
A number of access tracks between research buildings provide
access to grassland, parkland and lake edge and a good number
of birds can usually be seen from here.
A colony
of Asian Golden Weavers exists in the crocodile compound and
in this protected area the birds can be quite confiding with
some nests close to the walkway.
The trees
in this area play host to Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Spotted
Owlet and Coppersmith Barbet with the more open patches hosting
Sooty-headed Bulbul, Plaintive Cuckoo and Plain-backed Sparrow.
From the
lakeside it is often possible to spot a hovering Pied Kingfisher
and other waterbirds. Many other common open-country species
such as Ashy Woodswallow, Black Drongo and Lesser Coucal can
also be found here. |
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Open
Water :
Bueng Boraphet is a large lake and hiring a boat is necessary if
wishing to find wildfowl. Numbers of ducks have decreased over the
last few decades and the chances of finding Baer's Pochard here
now are very slim. Garganey are abundant and Ferruginous Duck are
still regularly seen along with small numbers of other Eurasian
Ducks.
Cotton Pygmy
Goose and Little Grebe are common and in 2007 Great Crested Grebe
was seen as well as Thailand's first Black-necked Grebe. |
| Facilities |
|
About
Google adverts |
The
town of Nakorn Sawan is close enough to Bueng Boraphet for it to
be the natural choice to stay. There are plenty of hotels to choose
from with the Asia
Nakorn Sawan offering clean air-conditioned rooms from 550 baht
per night including a decent Thai-style buffet breakfast. In Nakorn
Sawan any service/convenience that could conceivably be required
is available.
Boat trips can
be arranged from both the "birdwatching park" and the
fisheries research station, although it is best to head to the birdwatching
park area and ask for Khun Phanom who knows the birds of the lake
very well. At both locations snacks, drinks and simple food are
available. Public toilets are present at both locations also. |
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| Related
Pages |
Other
Central Thailand Birding Locations
Baer's
Pochard |
| Photo
Galleries |
|
Some
Butterflies of Bueng Boraphet
|
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| Trip
Reports |
|
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| Related
Blog Entries |
| Bueng
Boraphet - posted 18/08/08 |
| Tags |
| birds,
birding,
thailand,
nature, national
parks |
