The Natural Stone: A Week in Ayutthaya

Sunday, January 20, 2019

A Week in Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya is an ancient capital of Thailand and UNESCO World Heritage site with many old temples some in various stages of ruin and/or restoration. As a town it leaves much to be desired. The roads are very busy and the place is not well looked after in comparison to other Thai towns. There's a general air that people can't be bothered.

After the first night in the town fairly near the railway station we moved on to a quieter place on the Chao Phraya river in the SW corner of the 'island'. The Athithara Homestay suited us very nicely and was next to an excellent quiet park with many old ruins, very few people and some relatively undisturbed wilder habitat. As a result the wildlife was pretty good and we stayed all week.

Kingfishers were particularly well represented. Up to 4 Pied Kingfishers plied the river in front of the guesthouse and Common, White-throated, Black-capped and Stork-billed Kingfishers all showed well in the park. Owls were also pretty good with Asian Barred and Spotted Owlets both showing well. Small Minivets were quite common with 2 even turning up at the railway station when we left.

Yellow Bittern was quite numerous and a wintering Thick-billed Warbler was another highlight. Lineated Barbets were particularly plentiful, Plaintive cuckoos could be quite showy and Red-wattled Lapwings were everywhere. Singing Dark-necked Tailorbird seen on first day appears to be quite unusual here perhaps.

Other wildlife included several Water Monitors, a few Common Treeshrews and at one of the outer temples (Wat Chai Watthanaram) a colony of Black-bearded Tomb Bats.