It took almost a year to get back to this wonderful place. A few months back a Thai photographer had located a very rare Malaysian Rail Babbler and photographed it. I followed the developments on Thai websites and simply felt that I ‘had to go’. For years I have wanted to see this bird but the unrest in the deep South has made it impossible to visit Hala Bala, the preferred site for the bird.

A friend of mine, Alex Vargas, joined me for this stint and we set out in pursue of the Babbler.

Other target birds for me was Diard’s and Cinnamon-rumped Trogon, Wallace’s Hawk Eagle, Maroon-breasted Flycatcher and Javan Frogmouth.

We managed to squeeze in our trip right in between Thai holidays. Upon arrival we were informed that no one had tried for the Babbler that day as they felt the bird needed a rest.

The next day we set up our blind and waited. A couple of rangers and Mr Narong who found the bird set out along the trail to lure the bird towards our spot. They used playback of its long drawn out call. After hours of searching and moving the birds towards the blind it finally came. However it refused to show. Instead we had to wait till the next day when the same procedure had to take place again. This time they found the bird a lot closer and it didn’t take that long for it to come around. It was decided not to use flash as the bird is very skittish. It was dark and difficult to get a good shot but at least I did get a few. We watched it come and go for a couple of hours and gave space to others on the narrow trail.

-A pair of Wallace’s Hawk Eagles were nesting high on a branch and gave distant views.

Diard’s Trogons kept calling and showed on all 3 days. -Wonderful to catch up with this bird.

Javan Frogmouth had abandoned its nest after 10 days of incubating the eggs. (it was photographed extensively)

A surprise Green-backed Flycatcher (split from Narcissus) gave me my 4th lifer of the trip and 745 for my Thai list.

Some other noteworthy birds encountered:

Banded Pitta
Orange-headed Trogon
Scarlet-rumped Trogon
White-crowned Forktail
Banded Kingfisher
Blue-eared Kingfisher
Rufous-winged Flycatcher
Buffy Fish Owl
Brown Wood Owl
Short-tailed Babbler
Ferruginous Babbler
Brown Barbet
Green Broadbill