Bang Pra Non-hunting Area
(Updated 17/05/23)

Lesser Adjutant (Photo by Nick Upton)

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.

Oriental Pratincole (Photo by Nick Upton)

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

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.

Anywhere around Bang Pra will serve up a good helping of birds and most of the same species can be found all around; it is a question of finding the right habitat for the right species.

Dam : The dam area of the lake contains the deepest water and there is n marginal habitat at all. However, it can be a good place to observe Whiskered Terns fishing and it also often attracts Brahminy Kite and Western Osprey. There is an area of parkland habitat at the foot of the dam and it may be worth checking this spot for passage migrants in spring with species such as Mugimaki Flycatcher, Yellow-rumped Flycatcher and Indian Cuckoo likely to pass through. If you don't see a Coppersmith Barbet anywhere else around the lake then you surely can find a few here along with noisy Asian Koels.

Road : As it gets light it is often worth birding along the road in this area. Groups of birds often sit on the roadside wires here and are active in roadside trees and the few trees in the fields. In this way 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, all of which can frequently be seen sitting on a wire in the first light of day.

Egret Lake : This small lake is now connected to the main lake with a breach in the embankment around it making it impossible to walk all the way around. This area can be good in the early morning and it 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 Asian Openbills, Eastern Cattle Egrets and Black-crowned Night Heron; Malayan Night Heron has been seen here by a lucky few. The vegetation around the edge will usually produce a few Yellow Bitterns and I have often seen a few Brown-backed Needletails hawking overhead in the very early morning.

Some bare trees on the island are an excellent place for watching Drongos, Black-naped Oriole, Lineated Barbet, Racket-tailed Treepie, Green-billed Malkoha and other species in the early morning when the birds sit on exposed perches enjoying the morning sun.

Taking a short walk along the dirt track here along the side of the small lake is a good way to find the colourful Rufous Treepie and perhaps a flock of stunning White-crested Laughingthrushes. Racket-tailed Treepies also often pass through and Greater Racket-tailed Drongos are always obvious; in the treetops, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Brown-throated Sunbird and Common Iora are all common. Freckle-breasted Woodpecker has established itself at bang Pra and the dead trees in this area are a favourite spot for this species.

Woodland : Semi-natural woodland forms a buffer between the reservoir and the encircling road in many places, playing host to a small selection of woodland birds, most of which are fairly easy to see. White-crested Laughingthrush, Lineated Barbet, Asian Barred Owlet, Rufous Treepie, Black-naped Oriole and Laced Woodpecker are all regulars in this habitat 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. Raptors can include Shikra and Crested Serpent Eagle at all times of the year and passage migrants use the trees for resting nd hunting with the most frequent species passing through being Black Baza, Chinese Sparrowhawk and Japanese Sparrowhawk.

Outside of the breeding season a number of other woodland species occur as migrants including Ashy Minivet, Amur Paradise-flycatcher, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Arctic Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler and Black-winged Cuckooshrike. During passage migration a wide variety of species are possible with Eastern Crowned Warbler and Yellow-rumped Flycatcher being regular. In the wet season small numbers of Blue-winged Pitta and Chestnut-winged Cuckoo come here to breed.

Bird Watching Tours to Bang Pra Reservoir: If you have only a day or two for birding from Bangkok, Bang Pra is anexcellent location, coupled with a visit to Muang Boran Fishponds, Lat Krabang and/or Bang Poo. If you are staying in nearby Pattaya this is the natural choice for birding. 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 birding trip and/or to discuss the best bird watching options for you: nickupton@thaibirding.com

Grass & Wetlands : In many areas around the lake there are patches of grassland which become marginal wetland habitats at the water's edge. If the water levels are high then the area of this habitat is much reduced but it is usually possible to find areas of this habitat at the southern and northern ends of the lake. In the area about one kilometre north of "egret lake" the call of Chinese Francolin will often be heard 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.

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 exaggerated 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!

If the water levels are low enough areas of mud and short grass will form and 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 and less reliable habitat for them. Yellow-legged and Barred Buttonquails can sometimes be flushed from areas of grass with the possibility of Blue-breasted Quail too. Any open areas of habitat will be particularly good for finding Indochinese Bushlark, Zitting Cisticola and Paddyfield Pipit; Australasian Bushlark has also been seen but is very scarce.

At the water's edge Red-wattled Lapwing and Black-winged Stilt are sure to be seen and some migrant shorebirds are sometimes found with Little Ringed Plover, Common Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Common Greenshank all regularly occurring and in spring anything could turn up on migration. Asian Openbill is extremely numerous here these days in the wet areas along with a few Painted Storks and several Lesser Adjutants which were released in the area some years ago and may be breeding in some years.

By walking around to the southwestern side of the "egret lake" a patch of grassy/wetland can usually be found no matter how high the water levels are and 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 and Greater Painted Snipe here while small numbers of Asian Golden Weaver nest in the area along with the commoner Baya Weaver.

Bang Pra Bird Checklist

Birdwatching Day Tours

Other Southeastern Thailand Birding Locations

Leg-flagged Shorebirds in the Inner Gulf of Thailand

Click on the image or text to start watching the video.

Bang Pra, 13th March 2011 - by Nick Upton

Bang Pra, 11th January 2003 - by Nick Upton

• Yellow-vented Bulbul - posted 14/09/08
• Bang Pra in the Morning - posted 16/07/08
• Quick Visit to Bang Pra - posted 09/06/08
• One Day, Three Sites, Lots of Birds - posted 28/04/08
• Late Afternoon at Bang Pra - posted 11/04/08

• 16 April 2023, Bang Phra Non-hunting Area (general area) - by Daniel Winzeler
• 17 October 2022, Bang Phra Non-hunting Area (general area) - by Nick Upton
• 12 September 2022, Bang Phra Non-hunting Area (general area) - by Nick Upton
• 07 February 2021, Bang Phra Non-hunting Area (general area) - by Suebsawat Sawat-chuto
• 28 May 2020, Bang Phra Non-hunting Area (general area) - by Nick Upton
• 31 December 2019, Bang Phra Non-hunting Area (general area) - by Nick Upton
• 10 May 2019, Bang Phra Non-hunting Area (general) - by Nick Upton
• 22 April 2019, Bang Phra Non-hunting Area (general) - by Nick Upton
• 12 July 2018, Bang Phra Non-hunting Area (general) - by Catherine McFadden
• 11 February 2018, Bang Phra Non-hunting Area (general) - by David Lewis
• 09 November 2017, Bang Phra Non-hunting Area (general) - by Nick Upton
• 17 June 2017, Bang Phra Non-hunting Area (general) - by Ayuwat Jearwattanakanok
• 25 November 2016, Bang Phra Non-hunting Area (general) - by Nick Upton
• 13 March 2011, Bang Phra Non-hunting Area (general) - by Nick Upton
• 25 October 2009, Bang Phra Non-hunting Area (general) - by Nick Upton
• 11 December 2008, Bang Phra Non-hunting Area (general) - by Nick Upton
• 03 August 2003, Bang Phra Non-hunting Area (general) - by Nick Upton
• 11 January 2003, Bang Phra Non-hunting Area (general) - by Nick Upton
• 14 September 2002, Bang Phra Non-hunting Area (general) - by David Lewis

If you found this page useful and want to say thanks, you can buy me a beer.

Email me at nickupton@thaibirding.com

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