Bird Watching on Phuket

Phuket's abundant mangrove forests, lagoons, marshes and other wetlands mean the habitat here can support an astonishing cast of characters.  My favorite is the cormorant - shown twice here drying their wings.

My favorite bird watching area is the golf course at Laguna Resorts.  Get there before sunrise or right before sunset and you'll be surprised at the wide range of birdlife you'll see.  My shots are almost all from that area.  

Above and right: Small Cormorant

Most common at the golf course are Java Pond Herons, which tend  to stand about on the course and you'll get quite close to them before they take off.   When flying overhead they'll look totally white from beneath.

Left: Java Pond Heron

Early in the morning you'll hear the Kingfishers with their trilling call staking out their territory and the whooping call of the frog-hunting Coucals. 

Around the edges of the lagoons you'll often hear burbling type sounds coming from the Purple Swamp Hens, or the tooting calls of the White Breasted Water Hens (see them below).  

Right: Kingfisher

Left: Coucal

Right: Brahminy Kite

The Brahminy Kite looks a bit like a Fish Eagle - but has a differently shaped head.  The kites are often seen cruising the coastline - but are also seen around lagoons.  I have seen a group of as many as ten hunting in lagoons on the northeastern part of the island - it makes checking out the
Best Island Drives  page worth checking out!

  Purple Swamp Hen White Breasted Water Hen

Don't forget your binoculars - and if you do - quite good quality field glasses can be found here - for reasonable prices (as can digital cameras).  A good camera with a good optical zoom is helpful as many of the birds are a bit shy.

If you love bird watching, you might want to consider a professional tour in the area - or at least check out this webpage - they are much more knowledgeable than I am - and much better photographers!
Thailand Birding

At the Thai Birding site is a great page of links to other birding sites.  Very worth checking out!

Enjoy!