The hotter, the better...

 

During our journey to Kaeng Krachang National Park (KKCNP), we stopped by what appeared to be a boutique café just off the main road. Arjin proceeded to lead us to the back of the establishment and entered what must be the fanciest hide I have ever seen.

It came complete with electrical sockets and even Wi-Fi. It appears the owner has found another means to support his business and I think having a permanent hide in this bird-rich area is a splendid idea.

There was a watering hole in front of the hide and almost immediately, we got acquainted with one of its regular patrons – the striking Black-crested Bulbul. The lighting was challenging and the pockets of sunlight compounded the situation. But there was no denying the beauty of this relatively common species.

The bulbuls came to drink and even bathe at the watering hole. In my earlier post, I mentioned that heat will be in our favour during our tour and now, I understood why. All the hides near the KKCNP function the in same manner with water as the enticement. And when the weather is hot like this, you got it made.

The next species to appear was a Malaysian Pied-Fantail. My attention towards this all-too-familiar species did not take long to be distracted. I did not travel more than one thousand kilometers to photograph a bird I can regularly see in my own neighbourhood and that is the bitter truth.

The common Abbott’s Babbler would also have to do something extraordinary to take up more space than this in my post.

Announcing their arrival with harsh and loud notes were the Streak-eared Bulbuls. They are probably the commonest bulbul species here in central Thailand and we recorded them quite frequently throughout the tour.

In Peninsular Malaysia, the Streak-eared Bulbul is restricted to the northern end and I have my fair share of encounters. Regardless, it was nice to observe this plain-looking species up close and personal. There is always beauty in simplicity.

A lifer is a lifer even if it lacks aesthetic appeal. That is so true in the case of the Brown-cheeked Fulvetta. Being a typical babbler, I do not think that it will be easy obtain a shot like this without the aid of a hide and a watering hole. As I was busy documenting this new bird, something else arrived and immediately captured my undivided attention.

I have seen images of Racket-tailed Treepies taken from a hide like this on social media and they looked amazing. And now, here I am experiencing it for myself and I was definitely not disappointed. From the time the first bird popped into view, my finger hardly lifted from the shutter button. For years, I have tried in vain to capture the Racket-tailed Treepie back home in Malaysia. The pale blue eyes, unique tail and greenish-sheened plumage held me in a trance and I was lost in the moment. The treepies were truly captivating despite their common status here. People say the grass is always greener on the other side. Well, if that green is in the form of a bird that is one of my targets of the trip, then that saying is so very true.

Being cooped up in a hide like this, the heat would have been unbearable if not for the electrical fans available. I did mention that it was a fancy hide, right? The watering hole must be a true relief for the birds here. And the Racket-tailed Treepies certainly indulged themselves with this manmade blessing.

Another thing that I adore about these birds is their behaviour. They seemed to have a rascality side to their character that would occasionally reveal itself.

A stunning male Black-naped Monarch also made an appearance. I seldom have opportunities like these to capture this forest denizen. And this particular vine overhanging the watering hole has complimented quite a number of images captured during our time in this hide. His vivid colouration added splendour to the gloomy surroundings of the forest.

Not every species that visited the hide was obliging. This male Indochinese Blue Flycatcher came for a quick dip and disappeared back into his lush domain.

And this sceptical Greater Racket-tailed Drongo was adamant that all this was too good to be true and kept its distance.

Once available light started to fade, we concluded our visit to the hide at Cafe De Camp and made our way to our accommodations for the next few days – the renowned Samarn Bird Camp.

The main building was fully booked by big group of European birders (Thailand is truly a hotspot for visiting birders) and we had to settle for the adjacent chalets which are commendable as well. And I rather enjoyed the seclusion because we were the only guests here.

In case you are wondering, this is what we rolled in throughout our Thai adventure. It was certainly a practical mode of transport especially on some of rugged terrains of this country.

There are a lot of ways one can celebrate after successful birding excursions. Since I am a reformed smoker, a victory cigar is out of the question. But in this sweltering weather, a local beer will do just fine.

As our group waited for dinner time, I decided to explore the vicinity to kill time. The first bird to greet me was an Ashy Woodswallow on the hunt from the overhead electrical cables. Judging from its success rate, I would say it is enjoying the good life here.

A Streak-eared Bulbul feeding on striking orange fruits of a roadside tree immediately caught my eye. The vibrant surroundings contrasting with the dull colours of the bird was added value to the photograph obtained.

Hornbills, even the small ones, are loud and obtrusive. And an Oriental Pied Hornbill moving about the edge of the forest was impossible to go unnoticed. Obtaining unobstructed images was another matter unfortunately.

On the other end of the audio spectrum, my ears picked out the beautiful repertoire of musical notes belonging to the White-rumped Shama. And soon, my eyes caught sight of the alluring songster as well.

Dusk soon crept in and a pair of Red Junglefowls retreated back into the forest to roost. As I prepared myself for dinner, anticipation of what is to come tomorrow in KKCNP naturally filled my thoughts. You can find out the outcome of our visit to one of the best birding locations in the region in my next post.

The checklist of birds recorded at the Cafe  De Camp hide: https://ebird.org/checklist/S307845177