Sukhothai

We finished our week with Gift Of Happiness in Nakhon Sawan. A train from here north to Phitsanulok then a local bus to the ancient capital city of Sukhothai. We stayed just inside the old walls at a beautiful welcoming teak house. Walking to the ancient sites and around the perimeter moat was easy from here and we ended up staying five nights. The wildlife was abundant, especially around the many wetland areas in and around the historic site.

On with the wildlife in a minute but should really include a few photos of the historical site first as it is stunning.

So onto the wildlife, of which there was plenty. Mostly common birds but Chestnut-tailed Starling, Thick-billed Warbler, Grey-breasted Prinia, Blyth's Paradise Flycatcher, Rosy Minivet and Black-capped Kingfisher all good to see. The kingfisher was unfortunately very wary and impossible to photograph.

Bikes enabled us to explore a little further afield. Saritphong dam and lake lies about 2km SW of the historical park and has forested and reeded edges. The insect life, particularly butterflies, was excellent here. There are also several fascinating ancient sites to the west in the hillier, wooded areas of the northern end of Ramkhamhaeng National Park with the potential for more lowland forest species.

Thick-billed Warbler Iduna aedon

Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus

Plain Prinia Prinia inornata 

Chestnut-tailed Starling Sturnia malabarica

Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis

Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata

Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus

Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus

Red Collared Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica

Rosy Minivet Pericrocotus roseus

(Russet-crowned) Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis

White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis

Common Commander Moduza procris

Common Picture Wing Rhyothemis variegata

Common Tiger Rhyothemis variegata

Giant Honey Bees Apis dorsata

Green Marsh Hawk Orthetrum sabina

Mango Baron Euthalia aconthea garuda

Pied Paddy Skimmer Neurothemis tullia

71 species of bird here in the 5 days.

Lesser Whistling-Duck
Little Grebe
Rock Dove
Rufous Turtle Dove
Spotted Dove
Zebra Dove
Greater Coucal
Green-billed Malkoha
Asian Koel
Plaintive Cuckoo
Asian Palm-Swift
White-breasted Waterhen
Red-wattled Lapwing
Asian Openbill
Little Cormorant
Purple Heron
Little Egret
Cattle Egret
Crested Honey-buzzard
Barn Owl
Asian Barred Owlet
Eurasian Hoopoe
Common Kingfisher
White-throated Kingfisher
Black-capped Kingfisher
Green Bee-eater
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater
Indochinese Roller
oppersmith Barbet
Rosy Minivet
Ashy Woodswallow
Common Iora
Malaysian Pied-Fantail
Black Drongo
Ashy Drongo
Hair-crested Drongo
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
Black-naped Monarch
Blyth's Paradise-Flycatcher
Brown Shrike
Large-billed Crow
Common Tailorbird
Plain Prinia
Grey-breasted Prinia
Thick-billed Warbler
Barn Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Black-headed Bulbul
Sooty-headed Bulbul
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Streak-eared Bulbul
Yellow-browed Warbler
Dusky Warbler
Black-collared Starling
Chestnut-tailed Starling
Common Myna
Great Myna
Asian Brown Flycatcher
Oriental Magpie-Robin
Taiga Flycatcher
Siberian Stonechat
Pied Bushchat
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
Olive-backed Sunbird
White-rumped Munia
Scaly-breasted Munia
Plain-backed Sparrow
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Pied Wagtail/White Wagtail
Paddyfield Pipit
Olive-backed Pipit