Thai Muang National Park was gazetted in 1986 to protect the dwindling sea turtle population and the few nesting sites visited by the giant Leatherback. The beach is wide, beautiful, clean and well protected, but the same cannot be said for the inland territory, which is often encroached by locals who take wood, fruits, earth, and other materials from the area and are never prosecuted.
Protection does come at a price: rangers on ATVs tear up and down the beach at least once a day, wreaking havoc for birders who are looking for a quiet spot to do some birding.
The north end of the park was once a tin mine, and some aging equipment is still on display in the area.
The farthest point of the park, a three-kilometer hike from the end of the road, is a gorgeous little cove which is rarely visited by anyone and boasts a real private blue lagoon, with stunning white sand and picturesque rock formations. An elevated walkway is also available for visitors and some good birding can be done from this area. It will require the birder to get there by foot as no vehicles are allowed to enter, so for those who don’t like to walk 3.2 kilometers, please don’t head in that direction.
Weekdays are the best time to visit the area, as weekends can get a little crowded and there are some adventurous Thais who will go out of their way to find a quiet spot so they can make as much noise as they possibly can.
Birding
Birds are by no means in short supply at this site. Starting from the park gate, the first four kilometers of road follows the beach front, with tall casuarinas lining the beach on one side and mixed beach forest on the other. Occasionally one will pass a hut or two with squatters residing there, and for the most part the people tend to keep to themselves. Collared Kingfisher, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Green Imperial Pigeon, Greater Racket tailed Drongo, Hill Myna, Common Iora and Brahminy Kite are just some of many species which can be seen in the trees.
On occasion one can find waders on the beach with Sanderling, Whimbrel, Lesser Sandplover and Common Sandpiper being the most commonly encountered species. Pacific Reef Egret, Little Heron, Little Egret and Great Egret are also found walking the lonely sands in the late afternoons and evenings.
Due to the protection granted, I would not be surprised if one could encounter Beach Thick-Knee or Crab Plover here from time to time. No reports of either species has even been recorded, possibly because few birders venture into the area after dark. The increased and ill-advised ATV patrols however, might mean that any birds visiting or residing in the area will soon be extirpated.
Down by the tin mine is a lake which is home to a Buffy Fish Owl, although I cannot guarantee it would still be there. The area receives few visitors however and the area is relatively peaceful so I assume it is still present.
Past the tin mine the blacktop becomes a dirt trail, lined with shrubs and small trees. This area is where much of the exciting birding can be found. Hoopoes are often found parked in the middle of the path, as if protesting ones intrusion into their land. Pink necked, Thick billed and Orange breasted Pigeons can be easily found flying into the trees where they roost in groups of five or more birds. Raptors tend to enjoy the area as well, with sightings of Booted Eagle, Oriental Honey Buzzard and Crested Serpent-Eagle reported from this site.
Accommodations
Thai Muang National Park offers bungalows with fan or air-conditioning as well as tents for those wishing to stay the night. A park-operated restaurant has tasty food at reasonable prices and newly renovated buildings only mean the park staff are serious about drawing in the customers. I recommend you give it a go; while it’s not as classy as a hotel or resort, it’s hard to beat the price and location.
The park may charge a 200 baht entry fee for foreigners on weekends and holidays. Most days the visitor count is low and they will be happy to just wave you through.
How to get there
From Phuket, drive north towards Kok Kloi and head towards Takuapah on Highway 4. Follow the signs to Khao Lak and Thai Muang. The park is only 12 kilometers from Sarasin bridge and should only take an hour to get to from Phuekt town.
Once in Thai Muang municipality, ignore the signs which point to Takuapah and Khao Lak (on your right) and drive straight through what looks like a temple archway. Follow the road all the way to the end (a fairly long drive) past the polytechnic college and you will reach the park headquarters.
Personal rating
The park is a great place to visit with the family and as far as beaches go, it ranks high as one of my personal favorites. The sea is clean and the sand is smooth and free from broken bottles, plastic trash and other unwanted pollution. The birding is good as well, with the option of visiting the Thai Muang Golf Course nearby if things get a little too slow for ones taste. The food in the restaurant is clean and tasty.
It isn’t exactly a dedicated birding site and it definitely does not have the same charm as a forest or waterfall, but if one is out to enjoy the sea and wants to bird at the same time, it can’t get better than this. –Recommended.
This page was last updated in December 2009.
Links:
-Haat Thai Muang – Khao Lampee National Park on Thailand’s National Park Website
