Home of wildlife - Part 2

During our time in Khao Yai National Park, we ventured along a few forest trails hoping to catch some elusive denizens and it worked – to a certain extent. I may not be familiar with all the birdcalls in this region but Arjin is when it mattered the most. Birds calling coming from the undergrowth are not to be taken lightly especially when the first bird that comes to mind is a Pitta. Arjin confirmed my hunch and we tried every trick in the book to get a pair of foraging Eared Pittas to pose for a shot. Any kind of a shot. But it was not meant to be.

Anyway, the other trails that we took did reward us for our efforts. Broadbills also tend to reveal their presence due to their vocalizations. Unlike the ground dweller, this arboreal stunner eventually showed off its name’s sake for all to admire and the black band across the throat indicated that it was a male.

We were trekking along a trail leading to a waterfall at probably the hottest time one day. Perspiration, fatigue and hunger tempted us to take a much-needed break. Then we came across a section of the forest where a gap in the canopy allowed the sunlight to pierce through and illuminate it like it was centre stage. As fate would have it, a Blue-bearded Bee-eater was hunting in the limelight and the existence of a Greater Power could not be denied – for the time being.

The aerial predator chose this peculiar curvy vine because it was an ideal vantage point. But for us, this exposed perch was an exceptionally photogenic point.

Usually, one is more inclined to encountering strikingly coloured species for obvious reasons. However, there are always exceptions like the case of Minivets. I was just as exhilarated to come across a pale male because I knew he would soon be another addition to my list of lifers for this trip. The foliage prevented me for obtaining better images of the Rosy Minivet. But it did not hamper the thrill that comes with encountering a bird for the very first time.

We also took the time to appreciate the visitor centre and it was impressive. Our guide Arjin was particularly proud of his images being used for two of the backdrops here and he has every right to be. A group photo with his awesome work was a souvenior none of us would want to miss.

During this birding trip, I took things a little easier.  Even sat down for coffee at one time which is unheard of in the past. I guess the years are starting to take their toll on me.

And since we are talking about years, I celebrated my birthday this year in the wild interiors of Thailand. It may not be everyone ‘s cup of tea but I can think of no better way (apart from celebrating it with my better half) to start off another leg of my life journey than doing what I love best while I still can.

This idyllic lake near the entrance of the park was mesmerizing in evening light. A great place to reflect in every sense of the word and watch Brown-backed Needletails come for a drink.

Anywhere else this would appear unusual but it is the norm to come across a huge Sambar Deer trotting across the access road or just chilling in plain sight. This is a doe told by the absence of antlers.

The buck, on the hand, looks far more formidable with his majestic antlers. I did some research to satisfy my curiosity as to why they are so tame. I knew feeding is strictly prohibited within the national park and that is out of the question. The truth was a little surprising. Apparently, the deer found that being close to humans is safer than taking shelter in the forest where predators lurked especially the pack-living Dholes. So, now you know.

For that reason, you can admire up close and personal the true beauty of this elegant animal within the park compound. If I don’t know any better, they appeared to be enjoying human companionship as well.

The Indian Muntjac or Barking Deer is only half the size of the Sambar Deer and they too have found sanctuary among humans.

For some reason, we only saw a buck on one occasion only. He may be lacking in size but there is still lot of appeal to be appreciated especially when he provided a couple portrait.

There were signs of a true giant of the forest here and there during our explorations. However, I cannot be certain that I would want to actually come across Asian Elephants especially on foot and totally vulnerable. You will notice I did not embed a link to the Asian Elephant because everyone knows what an elephant looks like. If you don't, then I seriously think this blog is not for you (and by the way, this is the dung of the animal and not the animal itself).

The far-carrying territorial calls of the gibbon can be heard regularly in the park. However, they are a little underwhelming when compared to a few of the forest reserves back home. The immense size of the national could have an influence on this but it is not important to draw a conclusion here. The privilege of observing a family of White-handed Gibbons swinging across the forest with the grace of a ballerina is.

A little patience and luck later, one member of the family provided some of my best images of this agile primate. Khao Yai National Park has certainly lived up to its tagline and wildlife have found their little piece of heaven on Earth.

I am saving the best (mammal) for last. Porcupines are remarkably unique members of the animal kingdom. My only experience with them are the nocturnal encounters up in Bukit Larut where Brush-tailed Porcupines would scavenge for leftovers behind one of the rest houses. It seems that this is a common practice for these prickly creatures and The Malayan Porcupines (yes, plural) that we came across were foraging next to a ranger’s quarters or something like that.

Like most of the other mammals found within the borders of the park, they show very little fear of humans and we were able to truly admire their impressive spikes from a safe distance. I doubt the porcupines pose any threat to others unless provoked. A Red Junglefowl definitely did not have any qualms foraging alongside them. But some things are best left unproven.

One of the porcupines even wandered towards us and that gesture wiped out any chances of any other mammal peeping the Malayan Porcupine for top spot in my mammal list. Such an amazing creature...

Everyone in the group knew that observing pheasants here will be nothing like The Bird Hide. It was going to be hard work. And it was! A glimpse of white in the undergrowth can hardly justify a tick for an incredible species such as the Silver Pheasant. We actually saw him strolling along the road as we were exploring the isolated stretches by truck.  He was even flapping his wings and all to make sure we did not overlook his phenomenal presence. Once we took the bait, he would casually strolled into the dense vegetation of the undergrowth - twice. You read it right. We came across the Silver Pheasant twice minutes apart but could not be sure if it was the same individual. We tried to obtain some images but you and I know how that worked out.

Khao Yai National Park is home to another enigmatic pheasant but by the second day, it felt like we were fighting a losing battle for the Siamese Fireback. When another local guide showed us images of this very species taken earlier that morning, we decided to wait it out at the spot in the evening hoping for a repeat performance. And the next morning. Apparently, the Siamese Fireback is not a creature of habit and we found out the hard way.  A pair of vocalizing Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoos could have been fair compensation had they revealed more than their haunting territorial calls during our stake out for the pheasants. As we were about to drive out of the park for the final time, I caught sight of none other than a flock of Siamese Firebacks foraging next to the road. We only had seconds to position our vehicle and at the same avoided any accidents with the abrupt stop; focus and shoot. In the end, I obtained images only an owner can love.

Imagine the odds. If we had gone past a minute later or the male decided to retreat into the forest a minute earlier, the national bird of this country will remain a painful dip-out. Well, it ain’t over till the fat lady sings. Only thing is that it was no a fat lady but a cocky pheasant with stunning aesthetics. We had a few outstanding lifers with reasonably good images through our birding excursions here. Yet, the Siamese Fireback and everything that took place leading up to that moment in time was one of the best experiences for me. A fairy tale ending for a visit to an enchanted domain where wildlife truly thrives.

We explored a few open country and agricultural habitats in Khao Yai and also on our final day in central Thailand as we made our way to the airport. That will be covered in the last post of this amazing chapter of my birding life. 

Checklist of the birds recorded in and around Khao Yai National Park:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S308164246

https://ebird.org/checklist/S308148085

https://ebird.org/checklist/S308147531

https://ebird.org/checklist/S307876905

https://ebird.org/checklist/S307874986

https://ebird.org/checklist/S307874563

https://ebird.org/checklist/S307872950

Home of wildlife - Part 1

 

Khao Yai National Park is a pristine landscape that provides sanctuary to countless species of flora and fauna. I knew about this park even before I started birding. Naturally, I was excited for my maiden visit and what it has in store for me. We were just minutes from the main entrance when our guide did a detour. We stopped just outside the borders of the park because that particular locality is a known birding hotspot. As always, have faith in your guide. True enough, the diagnostic wing beats of a hornbill echoed across the vicinity and very few things in life can rival the emotional whirlwind caused by coming face to face with a Great Hornbill first thing in the morning.

I have been birding a long time and through the decades, I have come across a number of truly remarkable species. And believe me when I tell you this behemoth of a bird deserves a place right up there among the best. And it has been too long since I last saw one in the wild.

The smaller Oriental Pied Hornbills were also recorded in vicinity. Naturally, they were overshadowed by their bigger relative. And I only began to take notice of this male once the Great Hornbill was gone.

Another species that I cannot help but to take notice are the Red-breasted Parakeets. Apart from increasing my global life list, they occur here in exceptionally high numbers.  However, they seem to always perch on the tallest trees and good photographic opportunities were hard to come by.

Parakeets are also known to mate for life and this pair certainly appeared to be in the loving mood judging from their public display of affection.

Eventually I did find a lone male perched lower than the rest. It may not be the perfect shot but it will do.

This locality is also the domain of an impressive nocturnal predator and we were fortunate enough to be shown a roosting individual. This trip has been great so far when it comes to owls. This was the fourth species and I can confidently say the best although there are two more days before this Thai adventure ends. The Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl bears some resemblance to the Barred Eagle-Owl back home. But it is bigger and a lot more imposing. When it looks our way, I am grateful I do not form part of its diet.

The Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl alone was a good enough reason to delay our entry into the home of wildlife which is the tagline of the national park. Every bit of birding inevitably effects the lives of the birds that we birders revere. The goal is to keep our intrusion to a minimum. Not only for the sake of the birds but also to give to others a chance to enjoy what you have just experienced.

We spent roughly two day exploring Khao Yai National Park and the one of the first birds to greet our photographic intentions was the diminutive Collared Owlet. Ironically, every owl encounter so far in our trip took place in the daytime. But I for one, am not complaining.

Any habitat that houses hornbills should and must be conserved. The park authorities here are doing a great job and these winged rhinos are still able to roam freely (and safely) within its borders. A male Great Hornbill gorging on a fruiting tree just next to the access road is proof of that.

Resting comfortably in the canopy level of the forest was this male Wreathed Hornbill. The lighting was getting harsh by then and the bird was not exactly close. Still, it was a picture of bliss as we observed him preening and watching the world go by.

Another male was recorded during our exploration of the park. Although this species not be able to conjure up as much emotions as the Great Hornbill, the photographic opportunity provided was so much better.

One glance at the Black-crested Bulbuls found here and any Malaysian birder will notice the red throat that this subspecies possesses that is absent from the ones back home.

Whenever the opportunities present themselves, I would try to improve my images of these ‘red-throated’ Bulbuls.

Quite a number of Bulbuls require scrutiny to determine their identifications. This is pretty much the case for the Puff-throated Bulbul until I found out from my guide that the similar-looking Ochraceous Bulbul, a species I am very familiar with, does not occur here.

I guess sooner or later I have to man-up and write about these particular two species of Bulbuls that I encountered in central Thailand. There are four almost-identical Bulbul species that occur in this country. Luckily, the Olive and Buff-vented Bulbuls (which I have encountered both before) are restricted to the southern region. In Kaeng Krachan National Park, I tried my best to obtain a record shot of the Baker’s Bulbul but it got the better of me on every one of those few occasions our paths crossed. I fared much better in this national park and obtained what should be (after I have given my all in confirming the identification) Grey-eyed Bulbuls.

Fruiting trees are always a good place to stop for a look. We were fortunate to come across a few next to each at one of the camp grounds. Naturally, we spent a considerable amount of time here. And lucky we did. I had a brief encounter with the Golden-crested at the last national park we visited. This time, we had a pair and they stayed considerably longer. By the way, a pair of Common Hill Mynas also alighted on the same tree but they were out of the picture - naturally.

Although not exactly ‘feather-counting’ quality, I obtained the improvement shots I so badly wanted. There is this occasional occurrence in birding when once you finally unblocked a species that you have been trying to do so for many years, it will no longer be as difficult anymore. My second Golden-crested Myna in four days - unbelievable.

Here is an image of the female which finally received my attention when the male moved further away.

The fruiting tree also attracted three species of barbets and all of them new to me. The Green-eared Barbet is probably the most confiding and when any member of this family of birds performs well, one must take full advantage of it. Lord knows barbets can be difficult to photograph due to their preference for the highest canopies.

The plumage coloration of the Green-eared Barbet may not be as striking as some of the others but being new to me is novelty that surpasses beauty.

Because of the recent split, the Blue-eared Barbet was replaced in my life list by the Black-eared Barbet. There was not much reason to celebrate when the Blue-eared Barbet was re-entered back into my life list here in Thailand. Perhaps it was the least interesting to me and I did not put much effort in obtaining a photograph. The Moustached Barbet, on the other hand, had my full attention. The availability of food also made it forgo its natural instincts and provided excellent views which was a true blessing. And emotions certainly ran high for us at the fruiting trees...

In Southeast Asia, there are very few species that can rival Hanging-Parrots in terms of cuteness. Past experiences with the Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot back home have taught me that they are not exactly easy to photograph. In this neck of the woods, the Vernal Hanging-Parrot replaces it and we were delighted to find a small flock patronizing one of the fruiting trees. I could not help but to feel a little disappointed because I think they were all females or immatures and none of them had a red bill.

It was the same outcome when we encountered these parrots again suggesting it was the same flock. One of the birds ventured exceptionally low, upside down and looking simply adorable. And the disappointment gradually faded away.

Then I caught sight of a single bird resting a little further from the flock. Unless my eyes (and camera) betrayed me, it had a significantly redder bill. But the blue tinge on throat does not give me enough confidence to call it a male.

I think it is safe to say that the Black Giant Squirrels in both the national parks we have been to are exceptionally confiding by nature. With fruiting trees as an enticement, one can almost reach out and touch them on the tail.

The Finlayson’s Squirrel is another stunning species drawn to the fruits and capturing a few images was and including it in my post was the least I could do. One thing that I noticed here is there are not as many birders present when compared to Kaeng Krachan National Park. Even at the fruiting tree we basically had the place to ourselves.

To be continued…