Mangroves
at Satun, are extensive along much of the province's
coastline, a fact which protected it from the worst of the
effects of the tsunami in 2005, indeed, there are many signs
around the region discouraging people from clearing mangroves
in recognition of this. However, unfortunately, shrimp farming
is making some inroads into the back mangroves despite these
warnings.
Large areas of mangrove forest can be easily reached within
minutes of the town centre and birders are able to enjoy birding
from short boardwalks and roads or, if they prefer, hire a
boat to take them along the many creeks within the mangrove
forest. This is a relatively unexplored area of Thailand and
an area of mangroves with a fairly rich avifauna characteristic
of the habitat.
Although Satun is situated on the Malaysian border, it is
not one of the troubled provinces and visitors can travel
around in complete safety with the mangroves making for a
pleasant morning's birding for those travelling to nearby
islands or visiting nearby Thalebun national park.
For bird watchers based in Thailand, the mangroves at Satun
are home to one species which is currently known from nowhere
else in the country: Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker. However, there
is more to interest bird watchers than just this one species
as the mangroves here are rather richer in birdlife than many
others in Thailand.
Both Mangrove Whistler and Golden-bellied Gerygone are species
which are rather common at this location making themselves
obvious by their calls; Cinereous Tit, which is scarce and
localized in Thailand, is fairly abundant, and vocal, too.
Copper-throated Sunbird is a very colourful species which
is difficult to find in most of Thailand but is relatively
common at this site, with dazzling colours as the light hits
the male.
Other sought-after mangrove species which are also know to
occur here include Brown-winged Kingfisher, Mangrove Pitta
and Mangrove Blue Flycatcher. Pied Triller has also been seen
here by some in coastal scrub and casuarina pines, although
it is certainly not easily found.
Mudflats, exposed at low tide, also hold shorebirds at the
right time of year and Javan Pond Heron has made its way this
far south, look out for them in breeding plumage from March
onwards.
A checklist of the birds for this location can be found here
-Satun
Mangroves
Bird
Watching Trips:
If you need help organizing a bird watching trip to Thailand,
take a look at the suggested itineraries for ideas on
creating a tailor-made trip and contact me for advice:
Thailand
bird tours.
Travel Information
Use the interactive map below to plan your route
to Satun Mangroves. The blue line shows the route from Satun
(A) to Tammalang pier (B).
Getting to the mangroves from Satun town centre is extremely
easy, simply follow the signposts to Tam Malang pier on the
main road heading south out of the town; it is just 10 kilometres.
If you are using public transport there are a few songtaews
that head to the pier, alternatively hire a motorcycle taxi
to take you there and collect you later on.
Finding Birds
Although there are extensive mangrove tracts near Satun
town there are limited opportunities to get into them. A couple
of places allow birders to get into the forest and find birds
as well as the possibility of hiring a boat to penetrate the
mangroves.
Mangrove
Boardwalk : A mangrove boardwalk is the
best way of getting into the large amount of habitat here.
The trail starts at a shelter which is accessed from the car
park of the ferry terminal, at the southern end of the terminal,
close to the sea.
The boardwallk
starts within the mangrove trees and the call of Golden-bellied
Gerygone is obvious - this species is very common here. This
is also a good place to get good views of Mangrove Whistler
which is also abnormally abundant in this region. Collared
Kingfisher is also common and easily seen, but Brown-winged
and Ruddy Kingfishers are not, although they are present here.
The boardwalk emerges into an area of former coastal scrub,
which has now been turned into a concrete picnic area with
some surrounding buildings which means it gets quite busy
at weekends and holidays. There are still some patches of
casuarina trees here which may play host to Pied Triller,
although it certainly is not common. However, tall trees and
bare branches in this area are an excellent place to look
for Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker. Black-naped Oriole is a resident
breeder in this part of the country and a few pairs can be
found here as can Cinereous Tit and Pied Fantail. During migration
this would be a good place to look for passage migrants; I
found a Dusky Warbler here which is scarce this far south.
Other species that are worth looking for along the mangrove
boardwalk include Mangrove Pitta and Mangrove Blue Flycatcher.
The nearby pier at the ferry terminal is a good place to look
out over the estuary and mudflats. Various shorebirds will
occur here and Javan Pond Heron occurs alongside Chinese Pond
Heron, wait for the breeding season to tell them apart; Brahminy
Kites will easily be seen from this vantage point and it is
worth looking out for White-bellied Sea Eagle.
Mangrove
Research Station: This small compound
has a variety of trees within it and a small mangrove boardwalk
at the back where several species of interest can be found.
A couple of pairs of Cinereous Tits occupy the area and use
small puddles of freshwater for bathing in and in both April
2014 & 2016 a pair of Sunda Pygmy Woodpeckers were nesting
in a dead snag inside the compound. Collared Kingfisher and
Mangrove Whistler are easily found along the trail and Common
Flameback can be seen on some of the larger trees. Copper-throated
Sunbird appears to be unusually common in this area - early
mornings seem to be the best time to see them as they busily
feed.
Bridge
Across Mangrove Channel: Here the road
crosses a mangrove channel which is lined by mature trees.
This may be a good place to stop and search for some of the
habitat specialists that require larger trees, such as Brown-winged
Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher and Mangrove Pitta. However,
it may be better to search for these birds from a boat which
can be negotiated from several small piers along the road
towards the town of Satun.
Fishing
Village: The short stretch of road towards
this village passes through some good mangroves which are
quite open and easy to see into and as very little traffic
passes along here it is a good birding spot. Here plenty of
the mangrove species can be seen with Ashy Tailorbird, Collared
Kingfisher and Golden-bellied Gerygone being fairly common
plus there are several territories of Mangrove Pitta and Cinereous
Tit frequents the area. I have also seen Mangrove Blue Flycatcher
along here although it is scarce and by no means is it easy
to find.
Facilities
Facilities within the mangroves themselves are non-existent
although at Tam Malang pier there is car parking, toilets
and a couple of small restaurants and coffee shops. vendors
selling fruit, sausages and ice cream visit the pier too,
particularly around the times for boat departures and arrivals.
The mangroves are so close to the provincial capital of Satun
that there is no reason to stay anywhere other than in one
of the number of good hotels and guesthouses in and around
town; I usually stay in Sinkiat
Buri Hotel which is very nice with breakfast
included. On Saturdays there is a night market in Satun town,
close to the large mosque, but there are lots of noodle shops
and restaurants around. There are also Big C and Tesco Lotus
supermarkets out of town.
For birders requiring very early breakfasts, 7/11 stores are
the answer with toasted sandwiches and coffee available among
the normal array of snacks. There are a couple of these stores
in town.
The mangroves at Satun are not part of a national park and
there is currently no entrance fee to go birding there.
Shorebirds:
An Identification Guide to the Waders of the World This is still the most complete guide to shorebirds
with a wide variety of plumages of all species illustrated
both standing and in flight. Packed full of information
this is the book if you want to learn more about this
group of birds..
Waders
of Europe, Asia & North America With beautiful and bright illustrations this is
a true field guide to this group of species that easily
is easily carried while traveling. Not as much information
on the ecology of the birds covered in this book but
much more portable than any other while covering all
aspects of identification.
Bird
Watching Trips:
Satun Mangroves is a good site to explore
in conjunction with other seldom-visited sites in southern
Thailand; some scarce species can be found and with some
effort a few surprises are a very real prospect.
Shorebirds:
An Identification Guide to the Waders of the World
Download
a full 
