May 2000 Bird Notes from Thailand

by Mike Hunter

Coral-billed Ground-cuckoo - Regularly seen along the road at Khao Yai this Spring (between kms 31 and 33), and we had one at km 33 which nearly got itself run over by a jeep!

Plain-pouched Hornbill - One over the road at Kaeng Krachan (km 19) which is perhaps surprisingly low.

Hume's Pheasant - Easy at Doi Ang Khang during April into early May just after dawn in recently burnt area near the sub-station. We had a male 1.5 kms along the Summit Trail on 14 May having dipped at the above 'stakeout'. We also had a male on the road for two minutes (awaiting the photos...!) at Doi Chaing Dao (km 21) and a female 200m along the nearby trail.

Slender-billed Oriole - One found on a nest at Doi Ang Khang which must represent one of the few Thai breeding records.

Rusty-naped Pitta - Easy in the Temple Gulley, near Malley's Nature Lovers.

Green Cochoa - Regularly seen around Km 37.5 - km 38, Doi Inthanon this Spring according to Mr. Deang's log. We had four sightings in two days including a male hopping on the road in fog!

Purple Cochoa - Like GC, appears to have been more regularly recorded this Spring, We had two sightings, a male 70m along Jeep Trail km 37.5 and another male 150m along Jeep Trail km 34.5.

White-rumped Falcon - A sometimes tricky species at Doi Inthanon though being seen regularly this year. We had a male 2 kms along km 13 trail and another male (km 7) on the drive out of the park.

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