Before contacting me with your questions, please take a moment to see if the answer is here. This is a collection of the questions I am most frequently asked so
there is a good chance you will find the answer to your query here. If not, please contact me via email: nickupton@thaibirding.com
Are you able to arrange birding tours in
Thailand?
Yes, please contact me with your inquiries: nickupton@thaibirding.com
Do you arrange birding tours in other countries?
Yes, these are offered through my other company, Calidris
Birding Tours.
Where do you recommend going bird watching in Thailand?
Although wildlife is under pressure throughout Thailand, birds
are still quite abundant and widespread, meaning that you
can see plenty of the commoner species anywhere you go. Any
wetlands more or less anywhere in the country, rice fields
in particular, will contain a good number of interesting species.
However, there are a number of birding sites that are most
frequently visited and details of these are outlined in the
locations section
of thaibirding.com.
Which field guide do you recommend for bird watching in Thailand?
Quite simply "The
Birds of Thailand" published by Lynx Edicions. This
is by far the most complete and taxonomically up-to-date field
guide available. It is not widely available other than directly
from the publisher.
Although there is also A
Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand by Craig Robson this
book is really quite out of date with around 100 or more species
to be added since publication. A more up to date field guidethan
this is the more recent update of A
Guide to the Birds of Southeast Asia, by the same author,
although this does not have range maps but only a few species
are not covered. A Thai language guide is more up-to-date
guide which is well-presented and has the common and scientific
names in Latin script to make it useable for those who cannot
read Thai. This book can be obtained by emailing the BCST:
bcst@bcst.or.th. Using
one, or more, of these along with the latest Thailand checklist
is a good policy if you cannot get a copy of The Birds of
Thailand by Lynx Edicions.
Where can I find a complete checklist for the birds of
Thailand?
I have a checklist of the birds of Thailand available for
download for a small fee here - Birds
of Thailand Checklist. It lists all of the species
know to have occurred in Thailand as well as including all
recognisable subspecies that are potential splits.
Should I bring my telescope?
If you want to be able to appreciate the spectacle of shorebirds
at Pak Thale/Laem Pak Bia and elsewhere then absolutely yes.
In fact any bird watching in open country and wetland habitats
is highly enhanced by using a telescope and it could be said
that it is essential. Even in forests it is surprising how
much use you will get from a telescope as much of the birding
is done from roads and tracks that give a good view though
the forest and for viewing birds that are perched in treetops
in the early morning a telescope is desirable.
Is it worth bringing my camera?
Very much so. Birding in Thailand will present you with very
many excellent photographic opportunities. In some places
this is because of high abundance of birds and in others it
is because birds can be approached in a vehicle. However,
there are also a lot of photographic stakeouts where birds
come very close in order to feed and/or bathe. Bring your
camera and you will get some great photos.
What is the best time of year to go birding in Thailand?
There is no one best time of the year to visit Thailand for
all of the most desirable species. The most sought-after species
is usually the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper
which is best seen between November and mid-March as are most
shorebird species. If you are interesting in raptor migration
then October is the peak time to witness migration but the
spring migration in late March, through April, is good for
a variety of other migrant species. The cooler season is usually
December to mid February and this is the best time to visit
northern Thailand which will have a good number of winter
visitors through these months. However, if you are interested
in Thailand's breeding forest species such as broadbills,
pittas, forest kingfishers, trogons and suchlike then mid-February
to June is a good time with the later end of that period being
perhaps the best for the hardest to find species. Between
August and October things are usually very wet and birding
is very difficult, particularly in the forest.
Are there any times to avoid when bird watching in Thailand?
Yes, New Year and Thai New Year are both exceptionally busy
times on the road and in all of the most popular national
parks. For up to 5-6 days either side of New Year almost all
Thai people travel, many of them visiting national parks with
traffic jams through the entire extent of popular locations
such as Khao Yai and, Doi Inthanon being normal. This is the
same for Songkran, the Thai New Year, which is in mid-April.
Added to this is chaos on the roads with many hundreds of
people killed on the roads in just a few days every year;
a good time to stay at home! Weekends are also good to avoid
in Thailand's most popular locations, particularly in the
months of December, January and February. In addition the
months of August, September and October are very wet and although
there are some good birds which can be seen in some locations,
particularly in wetlands and open country, generally birding
is poor, particularly in forests.
What should I wear when birding in Thailand?
Dull colours. In the forest light levels are low under the
canopy and pale colours will make it much harder to get good
observations of birds. Camouflage clothing is great but pale,
sandy coloured outdoor wear is something that will allow birds
to see you easily. It is best to wear closed shoes, not sandals,
as scratchy plants and biting insects will be a problem and
wearing shorts usually results in lots of scratches and irritations
from undergrowth and insect bites. For most of the year there
can be strong sunlight so a sunhat is always a sensible thing
to wear too.
What is the weather like in Thailand?
Temperatures are high all year round in all parts of the country.
However, November, December, January and part of February
can be rather cooler than the rest of the year in the more
northern parts of the country with temperatures on the mountains
being as low as 0C in the early morning. From mid-February
the temperature builds up while in April and early May temperatures
of 40C are possible with the humidity getting very high in
May. By May the rains usually start in most of the country,
being in the form of storms that usually only last an hour
or two until it gets to August, September and October when
there can be a lot of rain and flooding is usually at its
worst. In southern Thailand it is always hot and humid.
Can you recommend any hotels?
Thailand offers a very wide range of accommodation types and
prices; travellers are not usually very far away from somewhere
that is fairly cheap, clean and comfortable. Most places that
birders will visit have too many accommodation options for
me to comment on them all but I have prepared an article giving
brief reviews of hotels/guesthouses around Thailand that I
can personally recommend - Recommended
Hotels for Birders.
Do I need a visa to visit Thailand?
Maybe, it depends on where you are from and how long you want
to stay. This Wikipedia page will give you a good idea of
what is required - Visa
policy of Thailand - but it is best to check on the website
of the Thai embassy in your home country.
Do I need anti-malarials?
Many governments recommend their nationals to take anti-malarials
when in Thailand. Many travel clinics do not seem to be up
to date in their information regarding this and it is good
to get a second opinion on this before spending lots of money
on unnecessary medication that may actually make you sick.
Malaria in Thailand is very scarce and is restricted to poorer
villages on the borders with Cambodia and Laos with almost
all "outbreaks" occurring in the rainy season. It
would be very unlucky and unlikely to catch malaria on a birding
trip in Thailand and almost all anti-malarials are useless
in preventing the strain that occurs in Southeast Asia. With
this in mind it is essential to check that any medication
you decide to take is considered to be effective in Thailand,
most are not. Usually few mosquitos are encountered in birding
trips but there are some hotspots for them, usually around
areas of bamboo and human habitation. Dengue fever is a more
prevalent disease in Thailand, but is still uncommon and mostly
restricted to the rainy season. It is best to check expert
health advice on these issues but Thailand is basically a
low risk destination. Please keep in mind that the above is
my personal perspective on the issue, I am not a medical professional
so please do your own research but I will say that it is obvious
to me that many overseas doctors/travel clinics are not issuing
the correct advise and a second/third opion would be a sensible
thing to obtain.
Can I pay in US Dollars?
Generally speaking, no. It may be possible to pay for some
expensive international hotels in US dollars but that is about
it. The Thai economy is strong and the Thai baht is a strong
and stable currency so neither US dollars or any other currency
are accepted as payment around the country. Furthermore, Thailand
is generally a cash economy so that other than in the largest
hotels or high-end shopping malls and some touristic restaurants,
credit cards cannot be used to pay for things. However, ATMs
(cash machines) are extremely widely available to make cash
withdrawals and most credit and debit cards can be used in
them, although there is usually a feeof around 250 Baht for
using overseas bank cards.
Where can I change money?
It is almost always better to change money in Thailand rather
than before arriving, the rates given in Thailand are very
close to the quoted exchange rates you will find online: xe.com
currency converter. There are lots of money changing booths
in Suvarnabhumi airport, where you are likely to enter Thailand,
but these do not give the best rates. Better rates of exchange
can be found in any high street bank of which there are plenty
in all Thai towns. However, it is far more convenient and
less time-consuming to exchange money at the airport and the
best rates can be found in the Super Rich exchange booth which
is located on the underground floor (Floor B) along with the
rail link. Just follow the signs for the rail link and you
will find it. You can find the current rates they are offering
here - Superrich
Thailand.
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