From October to May, 2000-3000 Brown-headed Gulls are normally to be seen at Bang Poo with small numbers of Black-headed Gulls nearly always present. This large gull flock is easily observed, with many locals feeding the birds scraps of food, and it is worth checking for less common species; Slender-billed Gull is often found here as are Heuglin's Gull and very occasionally Pallas's Gull. Terns are also a feature here, Whiskered is the most numerous and most of the other Thai species often turn up here.

Bang Poo is also a good place to see waders on the mudflats at low tide and on the inland pools at high tide. Inspecting the wader flocks can reveal some interesting birds with Grey-tailed Tattler being the speciality here in April and May and Asian Dowitcher often amongst the large flock of Black-tailed Godwits.
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The alternative method is to drive yourself if you have already hired a vehicle for your holiday; follow Sukhumvit road from central Bangkok all the way to Samut Prakarn. At the town centre this road turns left with signposts for Muang Boran showing you the way. After a few kilometres there is a junction with some traffic lights; turn right here, this is still Sukhumvit road. Follow this road and you will see Muang Boran signposted on the left after about 4-5 kms, continue past this and the Bang Poo site is on your right, just past a pedestrian bridge, about 2 kilometres after Muang Boran. This route is very busy and frequently subject to traffic jams; my recommendation is to leave before sunrise for an easy drive or, if timing your visit for the tide, leave central Bangkok at least 1.5 hours before your desired arrival time.

Look out for the three-headed elephant museum on Sukhumvit road, a little before Samut Prakarn, its quite impressive!
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A large number of species can be found at Bang Poo at the right time of year, and due to the small size of the site most of these can be easily found. There is always potential to add to the site list, with unusual migrant species showing up every year with some surprising species having been seen over the years.

Most people come here to see shorebirds and indeed these are easily found on the mudflats at low tide and on the inland pools at high tide, however, it is also worth taking a walk around the site where a lot of common open-country species can be found as well as a number of interesting migrant species. The Spring migration tends to produce the richest pickings in terms of unusual migrants here, with Grey-tailed Tattler often seen in small numbers in April and early May.

Golden-bellied Gerygone (Flyeater) is very numerous here and its high-pitched whistle can often be heard coming from any of the mangrove fragments. It can be quite difficult to observe due to its tiny size and colouration, but be patient and you are sure to get good views of a few.
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Mudflats: The Pier and the viewing platform beyond the restaurant provide the best place to observe birds on these mudflats and as with any shorebird watching getting the tide at the right time is important or the birds can be distant specks; it is important to have a telescope here. Whiskered Tern, Marsh and Curlew Sandpipers, Greater and Lesser Sand Plovers and Kentish Plover, as well as Gulls, are all common birds here and in the Spring many of these birds can be seen in their summer plumage before they leave for their breeding grounds.

If you like a walk whilst birding then a trail to the east along the foreshore also offers the chance to look over the mudflats. If you can find a rock to hide behind it is a good idea to wait along here whilst the tide comes in to get some really close views of the birds.

Roosting Pools: It is here that many of the wading birds go to roost when the tide comes in. A large flock of Black-tailed Godwits often harbours an Asian Dowitcher or two with Wood Sandpipers and Long-toed Stints prefering this habitat over the medflats at all times. In recent years these pools have become rather overgrown with mangrove seedlings and it is becoming difficult to view the birds. However, if one walks to the far end of the track it is still possible to observe a large area of the pools; the best views will be obtained using a telescope.

Point 1 : In this area Plain-backed Sparrows can be found; listen out for their call which has a subtle difference from that of Tree Sparrow.
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In theory it would be possible to find a small hotel locally, there are certainly a few in the town of Samut Prakarn, but why you would want to stay in one of these grubby little places beats me; a much better idea would be to make this a day trip from your hotel in Bangkok.

In terms of refreshments there are plenty available to revive you if the heat becomes too much; a number of small kiosks around the gate to the pier have cold drinks and snacks for sale, sometimes food such as barbequed chicken is available here too. The real treat though is the restaurant at the end of the pier which specialises in seafood. Lunch or dinner here after watching the birds is a good way to relax but, unfortunately, the menu is in Thai only (at least it was last time I was there). I'm sure though that the friendly staff will do all they can to help you order something good.

For those who are interested, there are a number of vendors on the pier that sell food to feed to the gulls with and, rather obscurely, you can purchase crabs to be released in the mangroves in order to atone for your sins!
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