25 January 2016

Thailand rfi juni-july 2016

Hi all,

I planning a trip to Thailand for three weeks in late june – early july 2016. So far I haven’t made up an itinerary yet but did read everything that was written here about the country. Fantastic information, thanks you for that, this rfi is therefore mainly to  hear any recent information or second thoughts about the species and parks.

Our to see list  is unsurprisingly long (main ‘reasonably realistic’ targets underlined):
White-handed Gibbon, Pileated Gibbon, Stump-tailed Macaque, Banded Langur, Phayre’s Langur, Slow Loris
Binturong, Large – and Small Indian Civet
Smooth-coated Otter, Yellow-throated Marten 
Gaur, Goral,
And superb outsiders like Serows, Hog Badger, Dhole, Asiatic Black Bear and cats (duh)

Khao Yai and Kaeng Krachan will most likely be visited. Together with the whale watching for Bryde’s Whale and the odd Irrawaddy Dolphin.

Klong Saeng wildlife sanctuary in Khao Sok sounds great but I am still unsure whether this only holds for Klong Yar Wildlife Research Substation or other accomodations are also good mammalwise.

Not even mentioning the different wildlife sanctuaries there are plenty of sites to check out: Pang Sida (Gaur, quite diverse according to Jon’s notes), Doi Lang (badger and serow by birders) Doi Ithanon (goral, phayre’s langur,), Mae Wong (Binturong, Slow Loris etc), Kui Buri (gaur), Krung Ching (some birders saw Binturong) and Sri Phang Nga (sounds quite diverse but not crowded, maybe nice for spotlighting walks).

  1. Please contact us when you are visiting at the same time and are interested in sharing a guide at some sites.
  2. Any hopefull news about spotlighting regulations in parks is highly appreciated

Thank you for any replies.

Maurice Tijm (maurice_tijmAThotmail.com)

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11 Comments

  • 26 January 2016
    Jon Hall

    Hi Maurice, most of what I know is on my site but Khao Yai (with a little time and a good guide) should get you both Gibbons, with a very good chance for Binturong (if you focus on fruiting figs) and Dhole are not uncommon there either.

  • 26 January 2016
    Israel

    I was at Doi Inthanon in 2014 and specifically asked about Phayre’s langurs at Mr. Daeng’s (the homestay where all the birders stay) because all the general websites say they are found in the park. However Mr. Daeng said he’s never seen them there or heard of them being there, so not sure what the story is with that. Goral were pretty easy to see though (although may need some luck as well, I guess).

  • 26 January 2016
    mauricetijm

    Thanks for your comments. Happy that Khao Yai gives a good opportunity for the Gibbons and a chance on Binturong and Dhole etc. Yes now I see that sightings of Phayre’s Langurs are indeed either absent or of only one rather tame individual, bad news for the species survival. Still figuring out whether visiting the high north is a wise idea anyway in june-july, quite some landslides occur in July already apparently.

  • 27 January 2016
    SLahaye

    We were in Thailand in September 2014. Unfortunately, I have not yet finished the trip report, but I sent you an unfinished version by mail. I hope it helps.
    We visited;
    A. Khao Sam Roi Yot NP
    B. Kui Buri NP
    C. Mae Wong NP
    D. Khlong Lan NP
    E. Thung Salaeng Luang NP
    F. Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary
    G. Ayuttaya
    H. Khao Yai NP
    I. Khao Sok NP
    J. Bangkok

    and we saw a.o.
    White-handed Gibbon, Pileated Gibbon, Phayre’s Langur, asian and sunda Slow Loris, Large Indian Civet, Dhole, and leopard cat (it’s a cat… but well… it was nice though…)

    • 27 January 2016
      SLahaye

      If you go to Khao Yai, don’t forget to hang around by the restaurants. There are usually photographers and they can give good up to date information on wildlife. That’s how we got “our” Dholes

    • 27 January 2016
      Israel

      whereabouts did you see the Phayre’s langurs? I haven’t seen those yet, and I’ll be back in Thailand some time soonish.

  • 27 January 2016
    geomalia

    One of my friends has spent months birding Doi Lang, and has only seen Serow once. I wouldn’t bet on finding it there. Yellow-throated Marten is fairly common (I saw a pair there), but it is very widespread.

    Kaeng Krachan is wonderful. The highlight of my time there was seeing two young Leopards resting together in the middle of the road: http://www.tremarctos.com/2015/10/08/indochinese-leopard/. Night drives could be amazing. I didn’t have much luck, because we were unable to go in the evening (a tourist had recently been killed by elephants), and activity was very low in the morning (the coldest winter in Thailand in 30 years). Also, scraps are left behind the Ban Krang campsite after dinner, where I saw three species of Civet and two species of Porcupine. Read here for more information: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=192754

    Also, you can see Lyle’s Flying Fox flying overhead at dusk at Laem Pak Bia. Someone probably knows where the roost site is.

  • 29 January 2016
    marcand76

    Maurice,

    I’ll be heading to Thailand for just over two weeks in April – if I come across any new/pertinent information on your target species I’ll let you know.

    Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary is on my itinerary this time as it gets good reviews from many. It seems to be a reliable spot for Phayre’s Langur. There’s some good info on this reserve and many others on the Wildlife Thailand forum http://www.wildlifethailand.com/forums/25-wildlife-sanctuaries-in-thailand/1199-phu-khieo-wildlife-sanctuary-august-2014

    Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary is a place I keep going back to. Even though access to core area of park is limited, there are a couple of good accessible trails and towers near HQ. Banteng and Green Peafowl usually seen easily from the first tower. Spotlighting is good around the campground (Jackal, Burmese Hare, Large Indian & Asian Palm Civet common) and I photographed a Hog Badger not far from my tent last time – https://www.wildlifethailand.com/media/kunena/attachments/1192/_MG_9415_2015-01-08.jpg. Leopard and tiger pugmarks can often be found on the trails near HQ, and I’ve seen photos and heard numerous reports of leopard sightings along the entrance road.

    Marc

    • 29 January 2016
      Maurice Tijm

      Dear Mark, Marc and Stephanie. Fantastic, you all have had some great sightings there, love the Leopard and Hog Badger pics. All of these sites are very good. Thanks Stefanie for your excellent report! We will include Kaeng Krachan although we would need a 4×4 and luck with the road condition to reach the better camp sites, same for Mae Wong. Phu Khieo is a little of route and will depend on the rest of the itinairy, but I can fully understand that you are eager to go there. Stefanie saw the Phayre’s Langur there! Huai Kha Khaeng must be one of the better parks out there. Banteng always was very high on our list until we saw it well in Alas Purwo (East Java).

      Keep you updated,

      Maurice

  • 3 February 2016
    Jon Hall

    Maurice you might want to contact Mark Andrews when he gets home.. this from Facebook today

    Well Khao Yai, Pak Thale and Kaeng Krachan certainly produced the goods. Had a really great time with the mammals too getting another good one this morning with a Dhole. So for mammal folk : Leopard, Small Indian Civet, Masked Palm Civet, Common Palm Civet, Small-toothed Palm Civet, Asian Dhole, Yellow-throated Marten, White-handed Gibbon and Pileated Gibbon heard, Dusky and Banded Langurs, Northern Pig-tailed Macaque, Slow Loris , Lyle’s Flying Fox, Malaysian Porcupine, Northern Tree Shrew, Grey-bellied, Variable, Burmese Striped and Black Giant Squirrels, Red and Fea’s Muntjac, Sambar, oh and a couple of Elephant on Sunday. Not bad, now up North. .. plus an “accessible Sun Bear that he was prevented from seeing”

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