Black Panther

January 11th-16th was spent birding at Keang Karchan National Park and surrounds, we spent two three full days in the park, a day at Lung Sin Hide outside the park as well as time birding around the grounds of Baan Makka Resort our base for the duration of stay. 

Black-headed Bulbul
by Fred Rowe

Several visits were made to forest 9-10 kilometer along the entrance road, where best birds were 2 Great-slaty Woodpecker, 2 Heart-spotted Woodpecker and 2 Golden-crested Myna. Fruiting trees here attracted huge numbers of bulbuls, especially Black-headed and other birds in the area included several Thick-billed Green Pigeon, Dollarbird, Common and Greater Flameback, Greater Yellownape and a single Emerald Ground Dove which showed exceptionally well.   

Oriental Pied Hornbill
by Fred Rowe

Extended periods were spent birding around the Bang Krang Campsite, were a decent selection of common species were recorded, including excellent views of a Jerdon's Baza, but the star birds here for the group were Blue-eared and Green-eared Barbets which showed exceptionally well whilst excavating nesting holes and a party of four Sultan Tit which fed on the ground in the campsite just a few feet in front of us, allowing Fred to take some excellent photos. Frustratingly a calling Banded Broadbill and several very vocal Drongo Cuckoo failed to show. Commoner species noted at the campsite included Violet Cuckoo and Banded Bay Cuckoo, numerous Oriental Pied Hornbill including a very tame hand reared bird, 2 Orange-breasted Trogon, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Greater Yellownape, Stripe-breasted Woodpecker, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Common Woodshrike, Rosy Minivet, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Buff-vented and Ochraceous Bulbul, Eastern Crowned Warbler, Great Iora, Rufous-fronted Babbler, Blue-winged Leafbird, Ruby-cheeked and Crimson Sunbird.    

A visit to Paneom Tung was less successful with relatively few birds seen, due to partly to only being able to bird the flat sections of the road and around the campsite, most noteworthy sightings here included two Grey-rumped Treeswift, Bamboo Woodpecker, a Blue-throated Barbet making a nest hole, Wreathed Hornbill, Ashy and Mountain Bulbul, Long-tailed Broadbill and a selection of common species.

Racket-tailed Treepie
by Fred Rowe

We spent a day in Lung Sin Hide outside the park, though activity here was much less than on previous visits, we still managed some good birds and as always some excellent views of commoner ones. Highlights included two Kalij Pheaseant, 3 Bar-backed Partridge, Asian Green Magpie, Racket-tailed Treepie, three Large Scimiter Babbler, 2 White-browed Scimiter Babbler and the usual Lesser and Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush.

Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush
by Fred Rowe

Both Cinnamon and Yellow Bittern  were seen daily on the lake at Baan Makka, along with several Bronze-winged Jacana.