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Home , Asian golden weaver, Barred buttonquail, Buffy fish owl, Cambodian tailorbird, Daurian starling, Eastern jungle crow

Cambodian (Craig Robson)

CAMBODIA &

18 FEBRUARY – 4 MARCH 2016

LEADER: CRAIG ROBSON

As smooth running as ever, the latest Birdquest tour to this popular birding region of South-East came up with the goods once more. Our total remained high for the second year running, with 349 recorded. In Laos our main highlights were the expected Bare-faced Bulbul, Sooty Babbler, and Jerdon’s Bushchat, backed-up with some unexpected bonuses in the form of Baikal Bush Warbler, Black-browed Fulvetta and Indochinese Yuhina. The bulk of the specialities were in of course, with Chestnut- headed , the near endemic lewisi form of Silver , Greater Adjutant, White-shouldered and Giant , White-rumped Falcon, Florican, Sarus Crane, Pale-capped Pigeon, Buffy and Brown , Spotted and Brown Wood Owls, Oriental and Collared Scops Owls, four species of nightjar, Rufous-bellied, Yellow-crowned and Black-headed Woodpeckers, Wagtail, Manchurian Reed Warbler, the newly described , and Asian Golden Weaver to name but a few. Irrawaddy Dolphin and Eld’s Deer headed-up the mammal list.

The tour began in Vientiane, with an afternoon of birding along the city waterfront and the banks of the Mekong River. The varied habitats held a surprisingly good range of winter migrants, with Temminck's Stint, Thick-billed and Lanceolated Warblers, Siberian Rubythroat, and Daurian (or Purple-backed) . Although only heard, Baikal Bush Warbler was an unexpected write-in, and it was to be seen well later on. Residents were represented by Asian Barred Owlet, Great (or White-vented) Myna, Striated Grassbird, Golden-headed and Yellow-bellied .

1 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com

Baikal Bush Warbler near Vientiane (Craig Robson)

Predawn on our first full day, we drove to the Ban Nasang area along the Mekong River where the very localised Jerdon’s Bushchat can easily be found. No sooner had we reached the riverbank, than we were picking out singing males atop the numerous bushes and other vegetation in the braided river channel. From the same position, we were also able to see Indian Spot-billed Duck, River Lapwing, Small , Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, the lovely Wire-tailed (though rather fleetingly), Grey-throated Martin, and Yellow-vented Bulbul. With a walk up and down the road nearby, we added Asian Barred Owlet, Ashy , Puff-throated Babbler, and Ruby-cheeked Sunbird.

The remarkable Bare-faced Bulbul (Craig Robson)

From Ban Nasang, we headed straight for the limestone country of Ban Nahin, in north-central Laos. We had the best part of two days to the forested limestone, pinnacles and broadleaved evergreen of this interesting region. Unfortunately we had gale-force winds to deal with in exposed areas, which seriously limited our scanning ability! This did not deter us from easily connecting with our two main limestone-loving targets however, the recently described Bare-faced Bulbul, and furtive Sooty Babbler. Other good sightings during our explorations near Ban Nahin included Yellow-vented Pigeon, Himalayan Swiftlet (resident rogersi), Moustached Barbet, Puff-throated and Grey-eyed Bulbuls, flocks of locally resident House Martins, Yellow-bellied Warbler, Hill Blue Flycatcher, Siberian Blue Robin, Indochinese (or Chestnut-collared) Yuhina, Black-browed Fulvetta, and Purple-naped and Crimson Sunbirds.

2 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com

Limestone pinnacles in the Ban Nahin region, Laos (Craig Robson)

The next morning we flew to Siem Reap in Cambodia, but not before revisiting some tall grass habitat near Vientiane, where we had great views of Baikal Bush Warbler. After meeting our local guide, Mardy at lunch time, we spent the rest of the day exploring the cultural splendors of Angkor. Mardy’s extensive

Ta Prohm, Angkor (Craig Robson) knowledge and affable style contributed to a very interesting and memorable experience, as we first explored the incredible Bayon Temple with its amazingly well-preserved galleries and then lovely Ta Prohm with its intertwined old . The most noteworthy on display were the Alexandrine and Red-breasted Parakeets that favor the tall Lagerstroemia trees for their natural nesting cavities.

3 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com Spot-billed Pelican (Craig Robson)

Our first full day in Cambodia was spent out on the Great Lake (Tonle Sap). We boarded a motorboat before sunrise in order to reach the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary, eating our breakfast on board. On arrival, after negotiating some unexpectedly shallow water, we transferred to smaller boats in order to negotiate the

Painted Stork (Craig Robson) shallower channels. As we navigated the various creeks, we passed concentrations of Oriental Darters and Spot-billed Pelicans, mixed flocks of cormorants and egrets, and very confiding Grey-headed Fish Eagles. There were good numbers of both Greater and Lesser Adjutants and, during this particular trip, we were fortunate enough to find a roosting Buffy Fish - a seldom seen species in this part of its range.

4 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com Greater Adjutant at Prek Toal (Craig Robson)

As the temperature rose, flocks of Painted Storks and Asian Openbills took to the air, and we headed to a floating village for lunch.

Grey-headed Fish Eagles are common and quite tame at Prek Toal (Craig Robson)

In the afternoon, back on the other side of the lake, we visited Phnom Krom, a very birdy area of wet ricefields and lotus ponds, where we enjoyed Garganey, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, good numbers of both Pin- tailed and Common Snipe, Marsh and Wood Sandpipers, Long-toed Stint, Oriental Pratincole, a migrating Himalayan Cuckoo, Pied Kingfisher, Oriental Reed Warbler, and White-shouldered Starling.

5 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com Our second day's birding in Cambodia took us to the fascinating Ang Trapeang Thmor Wildlife Sanctuary, a man-made water body surrounded by rich , woodland and arable country. Arriving at dawn we paused for breakfast amidst the dry rice paddies, where a gathering of around 70 'eastern' Sarus Cranes delighted us. We found our only Common (or Small) of the tour as well as Horsfield's Bushlarks and, after briefly calling-in at the sanctuary HQ, we headed off to an area of woodland edge and ricefields, where we were fortunate to see two superb Spotted Wood Owls, and a total of nine rather shy Eld’s Deer, an endangered ungulate with a very patchy range. The rest of the day was spent at various vantage

Spotted Wood Owl at ATT (Craig Robson) points, where our growing tally included 100s of Lesser Whistling and Knob-billed (or Comb) Ducks, Cotton Pygmy Geese, and even a vagrant Eurasian Teal in with a flock of Garganey. There were more Greater Adjutants, quite a few migrant Black-eared as well as a couple of resident Black Kites, Greater Spotted Eagle, Eastern Marsh Harrier, 100s of Black-backed Swamphens, Freckle- (or Spot-) breasted Woodpecker, and numerous Red-throated Pipits.

Sunrise at Angkor Wat beckoned us on the following morning as we made our way through the streets of Siem Reap in the predawn darkness. I had tried this experience on previous tours but had always been disappointed, mainly due to the poor air quality and throngs of tourists. This year was really different however and, after we had eaten our breakfast, we were treated to a spectacularly colourful and photogenic daybreak. Mardy led us around inside the wat and we finished-off with Wagtail and White-throated Rock Thrush in the wooded surroundings.

From Angkor, we drove north-eastwards towards the haven of Tmatboey in remote Preah Vihear province. We stopped to eat breakfast and do some birding in the dry forests along the roadside. The much

6 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com

A spectacular sunrise at Angkor Wat (Craig Robson) wanted White-rumped Falcon appeared on cue (a male close to a known nest-hole that Craig had found earlier), and we also enjoyed great views of two tiny Collared Falconets. This really was a brilliant

Forest Wagtail (Craig Robson) area in which to introduce ourselves to the dry deciduous forest avifauna, with Crested Treeswift, a pair of scarce Rosy along with the much commoner Small's, Indochinese , and White-browed Fantail. We reached our lodgings set amid the open woodlands of Tmatboey in time for lunch, and began our exploration of the area in the afternoon. The next two-and-a-half days were spent thoroughly exploring the

7 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com

The Giant Ibis (Craig Robson)

Tmatboey area. Obviously, our initial efforts focused on getting good views of the two endangered ibis species, the amazing prehistoric-looking Giant and striking White-shouldered, and we ended up with multiple

A cracking male Rufous-bellied Woodpecker (Craig Robson) perched and flight views of both (three of the former and probably at least 18 of the latter). Much of our birding was done in the fairly open dry woodlands, which have a grassy understorey and are interspersed with small areas of rice-paddy. Woolly-necked and Lesser Adjutant Storks showed well, there were several Chinese , numerous Rufous-winged Buzzards, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Brown at a nest-cavity, a roosting Brown Wood Owl in a secluded gully, Burmese Shrike, Indochinese Bushlark, and

8 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com

A nice male Bengal Florican at Pralay Grasslands (Terry Laws)

Brown, Rufescent and Grey-breasted . Woodpeckers are a feature of this habitat, and this time included Rufous-bellied, Yellow-crowned, Black-headed, White-bellied and Great Slaty. Time spent by a

Manchurian Reed Warbler at Pralay (Terry Laws) secluded river brought us a copulating pair of Black Bazas, the much wanted Pale-capped Pigeon, Orange- breasted and Thick-billed Green Pigeons, Violet and Banded Bay Cuckoos, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Swinhoe’s Minivet, Two-barred Warbler, Scaly-crowned Babbler, and superb little Van Hasselt’s Sunbirds. Dusk and post-dusk night-birding brought Oriental Scops Owl (which famously attacked Craig at one stage) and good views of both Savanna and Indian Nightjars. From Tmatboey we made a predawn drive in order to reach Pralay Grasslands, home of the Bengal Florican, for dawn – and in no time at all we were enjoying great views of this magnificent bird. The expected wintering Manchurian Reed Warbler (surely a candidate for one of the threatened species categories) was also seen well after some careful work by a team of local guides. They also helped us flush an unexpected male King (or Blue-breasted) . A stupendous male Pied Harrier finished things off nicely here, and we headed into Kampong Thom for lunch. Afternoon birding

9 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com

Mekong Wagtail (Craig Robson) near town was a struggle in the unusually dry conditions, but we added White-browed Crake and Black- browed Reed Warbler amongst others.

One of our boats at Kampi Pool (Craig Robson)

From Kampong Thom we embarked on the rather long drive to Kratie. In the afternoon Mardy guided us to a good spot for the localised Asian Golden Weaver, and we found one or two males almost in full , as well as a single . There was an impressive pre-roost gathering of 1000s of Little Cormorants, and Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler showed quite well.

10 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com

Great Hornbill (Craig Robson)

After breakfast the next morning we drove to Kampi, north of Kratie, where we boarded boats in order to explore the Mekong River channel and islands. Our target bird here was the regionally endemic Mekong Wagtail, and it wasn’t too long before we spotted our first.

A very obliging Collared Scops Owl at Bokor (Craig Robson)

Maneuvering the boats carefully – difficult with the firm current – we were able to get satisfactory views. Moving back towards shore then enabled us to experience the other main attraction in this area, an inland population of rare Irrawaddy Dolphins, one of the last along the Mekong.

From Kampi we drove back to our hotel in Kratie and then headed off on the long drive to Kampot. Our only birding stop was a typically scrubby site for the recently discovered Cambodian Tailorbird, and it proved to be a real performer as usual! really can be very territorial.

11 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com

Kampot was our base for visiting the unique Bokor Plateau. The amazing habitats around Bokor include a distinctive dwarf forest that is only 5-10m in height, growing on the acid and skeletal soils of the sandstone plateau. This community is often distinguished by the conifer-like trees Dacrydium elatum and Dacrycarpus (Podocarpus) imbricatus. On ridgelines or other areas exposed to strong winds, the trees reach no more than 5m in height and Sphagnum bogs are also present along with other seasonally wet heath-like habitats. Unfortunately the area is not without its problems and there are some large–scale developments going on. Hopefully this extensive montane region will be big enough to cope, and retain large enough untouched areas. Our birding was pretty much focused along two trail systems on the plateau and along the forested access roadsides at lower levels. Along the forest trails we succeeded in getting multiple views, with a bit of work by Craig, of Chestnut-headed Partridge and the seldom-seen near-endemic lewisi race of , while Blue Pitta and Indochinese Green proved a bit more elusive than normal.

Lush habitat on the Bokor Plateau (Craig Robson)

There was a good back-up list, including Barred Cuckoo-Dove, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Kloss’s Leaf and Alström’s (or Plain-tailed) Warblers, the normally elusive Large as well as easier White-browed Scimitar Babbler, Streaked -babbler, Mugimaki Flycatcher, and Orange-headed Thrush. Roadside birding was pretty good too, with Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Himalayan Buzzard, Great and Wreathed Hornbills, Moustached and Green-eared Barbets, Black-winged Cuckooshrike, and Swinhoe’s Minivet. Green and Spot- bellied Eagle Owl were both heard calling distantly from inaccessible areas in the evening. Dusk brought superb Great Eared and Large-tailed Nightjars and a Collared Scops Owl obliged after dark.

On one afternoon we explored the saltpans and other coastal habitats near Kampot, where, amongst other things, we found Yellow Bittern, Peregrine Falcon, Pacific Golden, Grey and Lesser Sand Plovers, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, good numbers of Red-necked and Long-toed Stints, Curlew Sandpiper, large numbers of Broad-billed Sandpipers, a single Sanderling (rare here), several Caspian Terns, numerous Germain’s Swiftlets, and singing Golden-bellied Gerygonies.

12 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com

Before we knew it our time was up, and we had to head off to Phnom Penh Airport. It had been another wonderful adventure, with some great birding memories.

There are probably less than 300 Giant Ibises in existence (Craig Robson)

13 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED DURING THE TOUR

Species which were heard but not seen are indicated by the symbol (H). Species which were not personally recorded by the leader are indicated by the symbol (NL).

Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica Knob-billed Duck (Comb D) Sarkidiornis melanotos 1500 at ATT. Cambodia is it’s South-East Asia stronghold. Cotton Pygmy Goose Nettapus coromandelianus Just 25 at Ang Trapeang Thmor. Indian Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha Garganey Anas querquedula 500 at ATT. Eurasian Teal Anas crecca Ken picked out a male at ATT. There are very few confirmed Cambodian records.

Eurasian Teal at ATT (Craig Robson)

Chinese Francolinus pintadeanus Very common at Tmatboey, with many sightings. King Quail (Blue-breasted Q) Excalfactoria chinensis A male flushed at close range at Pralay Grasslands. Chestnut-headed Partridge Arborophila cambodiana A pair and a group of six at Bokor. Good views. Red Gallus gallus Silver Pheasant Lophura nycthemera Two different males at Bokor. Distinctive and near-endemic lewisi. Green Peafowl Pavo muticus (H) Two males heard calling distantly; on the way up to Bokor. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis

Black-headed Ibis at Prek Toal (Craig Robson)

Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala 360+ seen in Cambodia.

14 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans 800+ in Cambodia. Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus At least eight at Tmatboey. Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus Scattered sightings totalling 24 birds. Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius At least six at Prek Toal, and 12 at ATT. Black-headed Ibis melanocephalus c.20 at Prek Toal. White-shouldered Ibis davisoni At least 18 of these Critically Endangered ibises at Tmatboey.

Alighting White-shouldered Ibis (Craig Robson)

Giant Ibis Pseudibis gigantea Just three seen well at Tmatboey; where they were somewhat less shy this year. Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

Black-crowned Night Heron (Craig Robson)

Striated Heron (Little H) Butorides striata

15 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Great Egret (Eastern G E) Ardea [alba] modesta Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia Little Egret Egretta garzetta Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis A total of at least 200 in Cambodia. Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger At least 3000 came in to roost near Kratie. Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis Just a handful at Prek Toal. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Around 80 at Prek Toal; four at ATT. Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster At least 160 were seen in Cambodia. Western Osprey (Osprey) Pandion haliaetus One at Kampi. Black-winged Kite (B-shouldered K) Elanus caeruleus Crested Honey Buzzard (Oriental H-b) Pernis ptilorhynchus Black Baza Aviceda leuphotes A mating pair at Tmatboey. Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela

Crested Serpent Eagle (Craig Robson)

Mountain Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus nipalensis One at Bokor. Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga Two at Ang Trapeang Thmor. Crested Goshawk Accipiter trivirgatus Shikra Accipiter badius Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus Pied Harrier Circus melanoleucos Singles at Pralay Grasslands and Krous Krom, the former a male. Black Kite Milvus migrans Two at Ang Trapeang Thmor. Resident govinda. Black Kite (Black-eared K) Milvus [migrans ]lineatus About ten at ATT. This is a good split. Haliastur indus Two at Prek Toal. White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster One at Bokor.

16 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com Grey-headed Fish Eagle Haliaeetus ichthyaetus Five at Prek Toal, where rather confiding, and heard at Tmatboey. Rufous-winged Buzzard Butastur liventer Common in the dry forests and woodlands of Cambodia. Himalayan Buzzard Buteo burmanicus One or two at Bokor. Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis At least two males and a female at Pralay Grasslands. White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus Ruddy-breasted Crake Porzana fusca (H) White-browed Crake Porzana cinerea Black-backed Swamphen Porphyrio indicus Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Sarus Crane Grus antigone 79 at Ang Trapeang Thmor, and a pair at Pralay Grasslands. Common Buttonquail (Small B) Turnix sylvaticus One at ATT. Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator Three flushed at Phnom Krom and a female on the track at Kruos Krom. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii Two at Ban Nasang, and three 116.5 km ENE of Vientiane. All on the Mekong R. Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva Grey Plover (Black-bellied P) Pluvialis squatarola One at Kampot Saltpans. Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus 30 at Kampot Saltpans. Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus 150 at Kampot Saltpans. Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis Crumby views of one at Kruos Krom. Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus Pin-tailed Snipe Gallinago stenura Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago

Broad-billed Sandpipers (Craig Robson)

Whimbrel (Eurasian W) Numenius phaeopus Two at Kampot saltpans. Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata One at Kampot saltpans. Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis

17 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia Wood Sandpiper Tringa Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Sanderling Calidris alba One at Kampot Saltpans. Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis 120 at Kampot Saltpans. Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii Six at Vientiane. Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Just six at Kampot Saltpans. Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus 70 estimated at Kampot Saltpans. Great scope views. Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum Small Pratincole Glareola lactea Two at Ban Nasang, Laos; one at Kampi, Cambodia. Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus (NL) Two whilst crossing Tonle Sap. Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia Four at Kampot Saltpans. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus At least one whilst crossing Tonle Sap. Rock Dove (introduced) (R Pigeon) Columba livia Pale-capped Pigeon Columba punicea One performing apparent territorial flights at Tmatboey. Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis Red Turtle Dove (R Collared-dove) Streptopelia tranquebarica Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis Barred Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia unchall Common at Bokor. Common Emerald Dove (Emerald D) Chalcophaps indica Zebra Dove (Peaceful D) Geopelia striata Orange-breasted Green Pigeon Treron bicincta 12 at Tmatboey. Thick-billed Green Pigeon Treron curvirostra Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Treron phoenicopterus 11 annamensis at Tmatboey. Yellow-vented Green Pigeon Treron seimundi Two near Ban Nahin, Laos. Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea Mountain Imperial Pigeon Ducula badia Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis Lesser Coucal Centropus bengalensis Green-billed Malkoha Rhopodytes tristis Chestnut-winged Cuckoo Clamator coromandus One by the roadside on the way to Kratie. Asian Koel (Common K) Eudynamys scolopaceus Violet Cuckoo Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus One seen and one heard at Tmatboey. Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii Cacomantis merulinus Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris Large Hawk-Cuckoo Hierococcyx sparverioides Two at Prek Toal. Himalayan Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus Singles at Phnom Krom and Bokor. Western Barn Owl Tyto alba One at dusk near Kratie. Collared Scops Owl Otus lettia Great views after dark near Bokor. Oriental Scops Owl Otus sunia In your face at Tmatboey!!! Spot-bellied Eagle-Owl Bubo nipalensis (H) So close and yet so far near Bokor. Ketupa zeylonensis A pair at Tmatboey, with one in its nest-cavity. Ketupa ketupu One at Prek Toal was an unexpected write-in. Spotted Wood Owl Strix seloputo Two superb roosting individuals at Ang Trapeang Thmor. Heard at Tmatboey. Brown Wood Owl Strix leptogrammica One in the daytime at Tmatboey, thanks to our excellent guides. Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei (H) Asian Barred Owlet Glaucidium cuculoides 2 bruegeli at Ban Nasang, Laos; 4 rusty-streaked deignani in Cambodia. Brown Boobook (B Hawk-Owl) Ninox scutulata (H) Great Eared Nightjar Lyncornis macrotis A handful showed really well on the way up to Bokor. Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus Three seen nicely at Bokor. Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus A calling male showed very well at Tmatboey. Savanna Nightjar Caprimulgus affinis A calling male seen well at Tmatboey; heard at Ban Nasang.

18 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com Crested Treeswift Hemiprocne coronata Very common at Tmatboey. A pair were at their nest. Himalayan Swiftlet Aerodramus brevirostris 180 rogersi Ban Nahin & five at Angkor Wat (race unknown). Germain’s Swiftlet Aerodramus germani Around Kampot (hundreds massing at dusk), and Kampong Thom. Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus Five at Tmatboey. Asian Palm Cypsiurus balasiensis Red-headed Trogon Harpactes erythrocephalus Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis Oriental Dollarbird (Dollarbird) Eurystomus orientalis Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris One near Kratie was unexpected. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis athertoni Green Bee-eater (Little G B-e) Merops orientalis Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti Eurasian Hoopoe (Common H) Upupa epops Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis Just five logged at Bokor. Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris Wreathed Hornbill Aceros undulatus Just two logged at Bokor. Lineated Barbet Megalaima lineata Green-eared Barbet Megalaima faiostricta At Ban Nahin and Bokor. Regional endemic. Moustached Barbet Megalaima incognita Similarly distributed to the last species but commoner. euroa. Blue-eared Barbet Megalaima australis (H) Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala

A fantastic White-bellied Woodpecker at Tmatboey (Craig Robson)

Rufous-bellied Woodpecker Dendrocopos hyperythrus Two males at Tmatboey (annamensis). Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos canicapillus Freckle-breasted Woodpecker (Spot-b W) Dendrocopos analis A pair at ATT, and a male at Tmatboey.

19 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis A pair at Tmatboey; quite a scarce woodpecker. White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis A male showed beautifully at Tmatboey. Greater Yellownape Chrysophlegma flavinucha (H) Lesser Yellownape Picus chloropus Just one at Tmatboey. Laced Woodpecker Picus vittatus Black-headed Woodpecker Picus erythropygius This distinctive regional endemic was fairly common at Tmatboey. Grey-headed Woodpecker (Black-naped W) Picus [canus] guerini (H) Ban Nasang & Tmatboey. Birdlife/HBW split. Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidus Rufous Woodpecker Micropternus brachyurus (H) Great Slaty Woodpecker Mulleripicus pulverulentus One at Tmatboey. White-rumped Falcon (W-r Pygmy-falcon) Polihierax insignis A male at Tmatboey, and another on the way there. Collared Falconet Microhierax coerulescens Two en route to Tmatboey.

Collared Falconet having a stretch (Craig Robson)

Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus (NL) Blossom-headed Parakeet Psittacula roseate Common at Tmatboey, with 63 logged. Male feeding recent fledgling. Red-breasted Parakeet Psittacula alexandri. Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria Ten at Ta Prohm, and four at Tmatboey. Vernal Hanging Parrot Loriculus vernalis Long-tailed Broadbill Psarisomus dalhousiae (H) Silver-breasted Broadbill Serilophus lunatus (H) Blue Pitta Hydrornis cyanea Very difficult to get a response this year at Bokor. Many heard. Golden-bellied Gerygone (Flyeater) Gerygone sulphurea (H) Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus Large Woodshrike Tephrodornis virgatus Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus Common Iora Aegithina tiphia Great Iora Aegithina lafresnayei Scattered throughout. Races innotata in Laos, and xanthotis in Cambodia. Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei Indochinese Cuckooshrike Coracina polioptera Five at Tmatboey. Black-winged Cuckooshrike Coracina melaschistos Singles at Ban Nahin and at Bokor. Pericrocotus roseus A pair on the way to Tmatboey.

20 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com Swinhoe’s Minivet (Brown-rumped M) Pericrocotus cantonensis Small numbers at Tmatboey and Bokor. Pericrocotus divaricatus Small numbers in Laos and Cambodia Pericrocotus cinnamomeus Pericrocotus speciosus Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus Burmese Shrike Lanius collurioides White-bellied Erpornis (W-b Yuhina) Erpornis zantholeuca Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus Common. A wintering Chinese salangensis noted at Angkor Wat. Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus Just two at Tmatboey. Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus remifer Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus White-browed Fantail Rhipidura aureola Malaysian Pied Fantail (Pied F) Rhipidura javanica Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea Oriental Paradise Flycatcher (Blyth's P F, Asian PF) Terpsiphone affinis Recently split. Three identified at Bokor. Red-billed Blue Magpie erythrorhyncha Just one seen and two heard at Tmatboey. Indochinese Green Magpie hypoleuca Two hypoleuca at Bokor. A tough bird to see well. Racket-tailed temia Large-billed Crow (Southern Jungle C) [macrorhynchos] macrorhynchos See notes. Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis

Indochinese Bush Lark (Craig Robson)

Horsfield’s Bush Lark (Australasian Bushlark) Mirafra javanica Several at ATT and Pralay Grasslands. Indochinese Bush Lark (I Bushlark) Mirafra erythrocephala Just on of these regional endemics at Tmatboey. Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula Black-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus atriceps (H) Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus flaviventris Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus (NL) Sooty-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus aurigaster

21 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com Stripe-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus finlaysoni Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier Streak-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus blanfordi A common regional endemic. Bare-faced Bulbul Pycnonotus hualon 14 logged at Ban Nahin. Endemic to limestone of C Laos; described in 2009. Puff-throated Bulbul Alophoixus pallidus Small numbers in the Lao forests. Ochraceous Bulbul Alophoixus ochraceus Small numbers at Bokor. Grey-eyed Bulbul Iole propinqua Scattered in forests throughout (nominate in Laos and simulator in Cambodia). Black Bulbul (Himalayan B B) Hypsipetes leucocephalus Ten flew over near Ban Nahin. Grey-throated Martin (G-t Sand-martin) chinensis (Common S-m, Bank Swallow) Riparia riparia rustica Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii Two at Ban Nasang. nipalense At least 100 at Ban Nahin. Red-rumped Swallow daurica A common wintering species in Cambodia. Striated Swallow Cecropis striolata Four by the Mekong R., 116.5 km ENE of Vientiane.

Baikal Bush Warbler near Vientiane (Craig Robson)

Yellow-bellied Warbler superciliaris Two near Ban Nahin. Phylloscopus fuscatus Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi Yellow-browed Warbler (Inornate W) Phylloscopus inornatus Two-barred Warbler Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus Pale-legged Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus tenellipes Blyth's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus reguloides One near Ban Nahin. See notes. Kloss’s Leaf Warbler (White-tailed L-w) Phylloscopus ogilviegranti Small numbers on the Bokor Plateau. Sulphur-breasted Warbler Phylloscopus ricketti Two migrants at Bokor were unexpected. A write-in. Alström’s Warbler (Plain-tailed W) soror A not uncommon winterer at Bokor, but surprisingly elusive. Oriental Reed Warbler orientalis Occasional in lowland Cambodian wetlands. Black-browed Reed Warbler Acrocephalus bistrigiceps As the last species, plus one near Vientiane. Manchurian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus tangorum One at Pralay Grasslands. Vulnerable. Thick-billed Warbler Iduna aedon Baikal Bush Warbler Locustella davidi Fantastic views of this tour write-in near Vientiane. Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata More often heard than seen!!! Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler (Rusty-rumped W) Locustella certhiola One or two showed quite well near Kratie.

22 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com Striated Grassbird Megalurus palustris One near Vientiane was unexpected. Commoner in Cambodia. Zitting Cisticola (Fan-tailed Warbler) Cisticola juncidis Golden-headed Cisticola (Bright-h C) Cisticola exilis Brown Prinia Prinia polychroa Frequent sightings at Tmatboey. Rufescent Prinia Prinia rufescens Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris Plain Prinia Prinia inornata Orthotomus sutorius Dark-necked Tailorbird Orthotomus atrogularis Cambodian Tailorbird Orthotomus chaktomuk A pair in scrub between Kampong Cham & Phnom Penh. See notes.

Cambodian Tailorbird (Craig Robson)

Large Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus hypoleucos A pair showed well for a change at Bokor. White-browed Scimitar Babbler Pomatorhinus schisticeps Common at Bokor (klossi). Sooty Babbler Stachyris herberti Easily seen this year, with six in all near Ban Nahin. Grey-throated Babbler Stachyris nigriceps (H) Golden Babbler Stachyridopsis chrysaea Two near Ban Nahin. Pin-striped Tit-Babbler (Striped T-b) Macronus gularis Chestnut-capped Babbler Timalia pileata Black-browed Fulvetta Alcippe grotei Four near Ban Nahin; a regional endemic. Streaked Wren-babbler Napothera brevicaudata A couple at Bokor (griseigularis). Abbott’s Babbler Malacocincla abbotti (H) Scaly-crowned Babbler Malacopteron cinereum Small numbers at Tmatboey and Bokor (indochinense). Puff-throated Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps Buff-breasted Babbler Pellorneum tickelli (H) White-crested Laughingthrush Garrulax leucolophus Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush Garrulax monileger (NL) Alec saw a handful near Ban Nahin. Indochinese Yuhina (Chestnut-collared Y) Yuhina torqueola 20 near Ban Nahin; another regional speciality. Japanese White-eye Zosterops japonicus A small number in Vientiane. Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus Four were identified at Bokor. Asian Fairy-bluebird Irena puella Burmese Nuthatch (Neglected N) Sitta neglecta One seen very well at Tmatboey. Split from Chestnut-bellied.

23 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis Common Hill Myna Gracula religiosa Great Myna (White-vented M) Acridotheres grandis Common Myna Acridotheres tristis Black-collared Starling Gracupica nigricollis Pied Myna (Asian P Starling) Gracupica contra One at Pralay Grasslands. Daurian Starling (Purple-backed S) sturninus At least two in Vientiane. White-shouldered Starling sinensis Widespread sightings in Cambodia this year. Chestnut-tailed Starling Sturnia malabarica Orange-headed Thrush Geokichla citrina Three or four at Bokor. Eyebrowed Thrush Turdus obscurus (H) Several at Bokor. Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica Including one or two resident siamensis at Tmatboey. Hainan Blue Flycatcher Cyornis hainanus Sightings throughout. Hill Blue Flycatcher Cyornis banyumas Two at Ban Nahin. Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassinus Siberian Blue Robin Luscinia cyane Bluethroat Luscinia svecica Siberian Rubythroat Luscinia calliope Blue Whistling Thrush Myophonus caeruleus (H) Mugimaki Flycatcher Ficedula Mugimaki One at Bokor. Taiga Flycatcher (Red-throated F) Ficedula albicilla

White-throated Rock Thrush at Angkor (Craig Robson)

Blue Rock Thrush (Asian R T) Monticola [solitarius] philippensis Many seen (pandoo and philippensis). White-throated Rock Thrush Monticola gularis Male at Angkor Wat and Bokor. Stejneger’s Stonechat Saxicola stejnegeri Common. Split from Eastern Stonechat S. maurus. Pied Bush Chat (P Bushchat) Saxicola caprata Jerdon’s Bush Chat (J Bushchat) Saxicola jerdoni At least four at Ban Nasang, Laos; where it breeds Blue-winged Leafbird Chloropsis cochinchinensis Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectus A few endemic cambodianum at Bokor. No red breast-patch. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker Dicaeum cruentatum

24 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Chalcoparia singalensis Brown-throated Sunbird (Plain-t S) Anthreptes malacensis A female at Angkor Wat. Purple-naped Sunbird Hypogramma hypogrammicum At Ban Nahin. Its DNA suggests it may be a spiderhunter. Van Hasselt's Sunbird Leptocoma brasiliana A few of these little beauties by the river at Tmatboey. Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis Black-throated Sunbird Aethopyga saturata Three at Ban Nahin (petersi); one at Bokor (cambodiana). Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna House Sparrow Passer domesticus Plain-backed Sparrow Passer flaveolus Eurasian Sparrow Passer montanus Asian Golden Weaver hypoxanthus Just a few at Kratie, with the breeding season delayed this year. Streaked Weaver Ploceus manyar One near Kratie. White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata Forest Wagtail Denronanthus indicus One showed very nicely at Angkor Wat. Eastern Yellow Wagtail (E Grey-headed W) Motacilla [tschutschensis] macronyx Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea White Wagtail (Amur W, Chinese W) Motacilla [alba] leucopsis Mekong Wagtail Motacilla samveasnae A pair plus a male at Kampi, near Kratie. Regional endemic. Richard’s Pipit Anthus richardi Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus

Egrets following the plough near Kratie (Craig Robson)

MAMMALS Finlayson’s Squirrel (Variable S) Callosciurus finlaysonii 1 reddish menamicus in Laos; 8 anellatus in Cambodia. Cambodian Striped Squirrel Tamiops rodolphei Indochinese Ground Squirrel (Berdmore’s S) Menetes berdmorei Two at Tmatboey. Rice-field Rat Rattus norvegicus (NL) One possible at Kruos Krom.

25 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com Brown Rat (Norway R) Rattus norvegicus Javan Mongoose* (Small Asian M) Herpestes javanicus (NL) Lyle’s Flying Fox Pteropus lylei 400+

There is a huge roost of Lyle's Flying Foxes in Siem Reap (Craig Robson)

Long-tailed Macaque (-eating M) Macaca fascicularis Northern -tailed Macaque Macaca leonina One at Ban Nahin. Pileated Gibbon Nomascus pileatus (H) Quite a few heard, tantalizingly close, at Bokor. Northern Tree-Shrew Tupaia belangeri Irrawaddy Dolphin Orcaella brevirostris About five at Kampi, near Kratie - one of the last Mekong R populations. Eld’s Deer Rucervus eldii Nine this year at ATT. Endangered and already extinct in and .

Irrawaddy Dolphin (Craig Robson)

26 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com NOTES TO THE SYSTEMATIC LIST

Southern Jungle Crow Corvus macrorhynchos Although the references say that this is the form throughout Indochina, Eastern Jungle Crow C. levaillantii would be much more likely, especially in Laos, as this is the crow in neighbouring Thailand.

Blyth's Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus reguloides Although mentioned under this species, the individual at Ban Nahin could also have been either Claudia's P. claudiae or Hartert's Warbler P. goodsoni.

Cambodian Tailorbird Orthotomus chaktomuk This endemic species was only described in 2013.

APPENDIX 1 – Top 5 birds of the tour 1st Giant Ibis 2nd Greater Adjutant 3rd Black-headed Woodpecker 4th Spotted Wood Owl 5th Chestnut-headed Partridge

Common Cyclops (Craig Robson)

APPENDIX 2 - Other fauna & flora recorded

BUTTERFLIES Common Birdwing Troides helena Ban Nahin, Tmatboey etc. Common Rose Pachliopta aristolochiae Tmatboey. Psyche Leptosia nina Ban Nahin, Tmatboey etc. Yellow Orange Tip Ixias pyrene Ban Nahin.

27 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com Common Wanderer Pareronia anais Ban Nahin etc. Striped Blue Crow Euploea mulciber Ban Nahin, Bokor etc. Magpie Crow Euploea radamanthus Common Cyclops Erites falcipennis Bokor . Large Faun Faunis eumeus Ban Nahin. Jungle Glory Thaumantis diores Beautiful blue forest ‘leaf’ butterfly at Bokor. Grey Pansy Junonia atlites Ang Trapeang Thmor etc. Common Sailer Neptis hylas Ban Nahin etc. Common Earl Tanaecia julii Ban Nahin.

REPTILES Tockay Gecko Gekko gecko Widespread locations, but particularly Tmatboey. Spiny-tailed Gecko Hemidactylus frenatus The only ‘house’ gecko identified. Garden Fence Lizard Calotes versicolor

AMPHIBIANS Common Asian Toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus House Tree- Rhacophorus leucomystax Ken picked one up at Tmatboey.

PLANTS ‘Burman’s’ Sundew (Burmese S) Drosera burmannii As for the last species. Malabar Melastome Melasotoma malabathricum Bokor Plateau. ‘Bokor’ Pitcher-plant Nepenthes bokorensis Frequent in open acidic, sandy, marshy habitats on Bokor Plateau. Rose Myrtle Rhodmyrtus tomentosa Bokor Plateau. Needlewood Schima crenata Beautiful flowering tree/shrub at Bokor.

Bokor Pitcher Plant (Craig Robson)

28 BirdQuest Tour Report Cambodia & Laos www.birdquest-tours.com