Kaeng Krachan 9th & 10th March

 This weekend we made yet another trip to Kaeng Krachan and as always it never disappoints!  Almost our first bird was a pair of Chestnut-breasted Malkoha.  There seemed a bit of a movement of raptors on Saturday as 4 Black Baza, a Grey-faced Buzzard and at least 10 Oriental Honey Buzzards flew over.  Pacific Swift and Asian House Martin were also around in good numbers.

 We found this pair of Buff-breasted Babblers at km 29.  Shortly afterwards we enjoyed this beautiful pair of Long-tailed Broadbills, which were with 3 Rachet-tailed Treepies.

The morning had started well with a male Banded Kingfisher at km 23 although we didn't see the breeding pair at km 28.  At km 30 Eunice found the bird of the weekend, which was a Silver Oriole.  It returned to the fruiting tree twice in the course of a couple of hours, but sadly easy enough to photograph.

  Doves and pigeons were well represented with Little Cuckoo Dove on the road and a couple of Yellow-vented Green Pigeons at km 22.  There were also the usual Thick-billed Green Pigeons.

 At Banmaka a Black-hooded Oriole was very showy. 

 The star mammal was this Golden Jackal which ran along the road in front of us for a kilometre and even posed for photographs, as you can see above.  This was at about km12 (near the elephant salt licks).

Just before stream 1 we saw and photographed this male Violet Cuckoo.

 Hornbills were in evidence with both Brown (Tickell's) and Oriental Pied Hornbills both attending nests and good numbers of Wreathed Hornbills flying over.

At Bang Krang campsite Common Flameback and 3 Green Magpie were easily seen.  Other birds of interest over the weekend were: plenty of Banded Broadbill singing, Intermediate Egret and a pair of Little-ringed Plover at the entrance and good numbers of Vernal Hanging Parrot.  We also had Speckled Piculet, Swinhoe's, Rosy and Scarlet Minivets and Sultan Tit.  In total 116 species within the national park.  A great weekend!