Keang Karchan - Woodpeckers, Broadbills and Dollarbirds

Dollarbird
by Fred Rowe

After less than a month, between Feb 2nd-5th I was back at Keang Karchan National Park with friends, it was surprising how the birds had changed in less than a month between the two visits. The most notable among these was the number of Dollarbird we saw, on the first trip we had managed to see just one, during the second visit we saw at least 20 including at several pairs and small groups chasing each other and displaying. Broadbills were much more vocal and we enjoyed good views of both Silver-breasted and Banded, also hearing Black and Yellow. A great selection of woodpeckers was also seen including two or three Heart-spotted Woodpecker, at least eight Great Slaty, with 3 at kilometer 9 and 5 by the first stream and a Crimson-winged Woodpecker between streams one and two. 

The area between streams one and three and by the Bang Krang Campsite were the most productive area, with additional species recorded here including Tickell's Brown and Great Hornbill, Orange-breasted Trogon, Banded Kingfisher (heard only), 4 Black-thighed Falconet, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Violet and Drongo Cuckoo, Chesnut-breasted Malkoha, Large Woodshrike, Sultan Tit, Ruby-cheeked Sunbird and Yellow-vented Flowerpecker.

Kalij Pheasant
by Fred Rowe

Bar-backed Partrdige
by Fred Rowe

Green-legged Partrdige
by Fred Rowe

During our visit to Keang Krachan we stayed at Baan Song Nok, where the bird blind there provided excellent views of a small selection of species, which included pairs of Kalij Pheasant, Bar-backed Patridge, Green-legged Partidge, good numbers of Greater and Lesser Neckalced Laughingthrush, Siberian Blue Robin, several Pale-lgged Leaf Warbler and Tickell's Blue Flycatcher.