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Area 3: Central Thailand

Central Thailand was historically an extensive area of freshwater swamp with areas of raised wooded land. These days most of the area is either farmland or urbanized, but there are still many areas where water birds can be seen particularly as freshwater species are able to use rice fields and fish ponds for nesting and feeding. Much of the less-intensively farmed land contains marshland species and the mudflats of the Gulf of Thailand support internationally important numbers of wintering waders including Asian Dowitcher, Nordmann's Greenshank and the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Parks and orchards within urban areas provide a home to many common species and are a magnet to passage migrants in spring and autumn.

The birding sites are marked on the map below and listed by name below the map.

Central Thailand Map

1 Bang Poo

2 Muang Boran Fish Ponds

3 Sri Nakorn Kuen Khan Park

4 Suan Rot Fai

5 Suan Lumpini

6 King Rama IX Park (Suan Luang Rama IX)

7 Laem Pak Bia - Pak Thale

8 Khok Kham

9 Bueng Borapet

10 Phuttamanton Park (Suan Phuttamonton)

11 Mahachai Mangrove Research Station

12 Petchaburi Rice Fields

Wetlands are the speciality of this region although with patches of woodland and parks attracting migrants, over the course of a year a very large number of species can be seen. Migrant shorebirds are the real reason to visit central Thailand and with enormous numbers of waders, a great species diversity and a number of globally rare species the Gulf of Thailand may just be the best shorebird watching site in the world.

All of these location (with perhaps the exception of Bueng Boraphet) make a good day or half day's birding for those who are living or staying in Bangkok, making a high number of species accessible to birders from the unlikely location of this huge, sprawling capital city. The region is extremely well-serviced by roads meaning that everywhere is accessible although this also means that traffic jams are a constant problem and there is rapid habitat destruction as the city grows ever bigger.

Highlights: Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Asian Golden Weaver, Nordmann's Greenshank, Watercock, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Asian Dowitcher, Greater Spotted Eagle, Malaysian Plover, Painted Stork, Spot-billed Pelican, Greater Painted Snipe, Yellow-breasted Bunting, Great Knot, Milky Stork, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, Pied Harrier and a wide range of passage migrants.

Weather: It is hot throughout the year in this region. There can be a "cool" spell at some point between November and end of January but some years this sees temperatures down to the mid twenties while in others 30C is more normal. Midday temperatures of between 30-40C are normal with the hottest time usually being mid March to end of May. The rainy season is between mid May to October and while immediately after rain it can be refreshingly cool it does not usually take long for the temperature to rise again. The early rainy season (May/June) usually does not see wet weather on a daily basis but it gets wetter through the season until there is often severe flooding in late August to end of October or even beyond. Rains usually stop around end of October/beginning November and after this although temperatures are still high the humidity is far lower making things more comortable until heat and humidty builds up again towards end of February/beginning of March.

 
 
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.
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Malayan Banded PittaBird Watching Trips in Thailand - Tailor-made birding tours in Northern, Central & Southern Thailand for groups of all sizes.

Bar-bellied PittaThailand/Vietnam Pittas & Broadbills, 18th April-3rd May 2021 - Bar-bellied Pitta, Mangrove Pitta, Blue Pitta, Hooded Pitta, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Banded Broadbill, : $4390

Oriental PloverCentral Mongolia , 20th May-3rd June 2021 - Black-billed Capercaillie, Oriental Plover, Henderson's Ground Jay, Azure Tit, Pallas's Sandgrouse: Contact me for details

Black BazaThailand Raptor Migration, 26th Oct-5th Nov 2021 - Black Baza, Grey-faced Buzzard, Pied Harrier, Lesser Fish Eagle, Spoon-billed Sandpiper: Contact me for details

Oriental Bay OwlJava, South Sumatra & Bali, 14-30th Sept 2021 - Javan Banded Pitta, Bali Starling, White-faced Partridge, Christmas Island Frigatebird, Large Frogmouth, Oriental Bay Owl: $5590

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