Trogons, Pachyderms and Dholes....

Drove through Khao Yai and on reaching the far side of the park were greeted by a group of confiding Black-throated Laughingthrushes feeding close to our minibus. It was a little cool and windy but despite this we still managed to find a perched Mountain Imperial-Pigeon, several Barred Cuckoo-Doves and a Common Green Magpie. Birding lower down the road proved to be tricky as the forest was quiet, although several Orange-breasted Trogons showed extremely well, as did Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Dark-necked Tailorbird, Puff-throated Babbler, Blue-winged Leafbird, and a few Sulphur-breasted Warblers.

Orange-breasted Trogon showed really well today...

A little too close for comfort....

So we drove to a different section of forest and after getting a close encounter with an Asian Elephant, walked along a trail which was very good and birdy despite several groups of annoying tourists passing by. Best of all was a pair of Red-headed Trogons, followed by a flock of White-crested Laughingthrushes that also held White-browed Scimitar-Babbler and Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush. 

Red-headed Trogon (male)

Also here were Black-naped Monarch, more Sulphur-breasted Warblers, Claudia’s Warbler, and we had the first of two flyby glimpses of Wreathed Hornbill for the day. I love birding these forest trails!

After lunch we drove along the road looking for pheasants without any luck, although did get Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Philippensis Blue Rock Thrush (a future split…) and a Richard’s Pipit. 

Blue Rock Thrush of the race philippensis

So following this we birded around one of the campsites seeing Blue-eared Barbet, a pair of Orange-headed Thrushes, Abbott’s Babbler, Yellow-vented Flowerpecker, and both Yellow-browed and Two-barred Warblers.

We ended the day watching a flock of Common Hill-Mynas in a flowering tree, and eventually picked up a couple of distant Golden-crested Mynas, plus several Oriental Pied Hornbills as well. Leaving the park at dusk I was amazed to see a Dhole (Asiatic Wild Dog) crossing the road in front of us, and we finished with a superb Great Hornbill perched prominently in a bare tree to round off a good day.