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.  A favorite is the Small Cormorant - shown twice here drying their wings.

One of the best bird watching areaa 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.  Most shots here are from that area. 

Left and above right: Small Cormorant

Most common at the golf course are Chinese 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.

Right: Chinese 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 [below left].

Left: Kingfisher

Left: Coucal 

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 Red-Wattled Lapwing (see them below). 

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 coastlines - but are also seen around lagoons.  Groups of as many as ten can be seen hunting in lagoons on the northeastern part of the island - it makes the
Best Island Drives section worth checking out!

 Purple Swamp Hen Red-wattled Lapwing

Don't forget your binoculars, but if you do forget them - 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 their webpage - they are much more knowledgeable than I am - and much better photographers.
Thailand Birding