Note: Due to the possible conflicts of interest between various birding agencies and the webmaster, it was decided to be prudent and not display a complete list of all the “secret” stakeouts for birds within the region. We recognize the work of these guides and agencies and we do not wish to disrupt their business or means of income by providing information on their specialty zones. Therefore, only birds which can be found in locations which are accessible to the general public will be posted on this page.

For those who are searching for a particular species that is known from Phuket or the immediate region surrounding Phuket, please contact me at my e-mail and I will direct you to a guide who can take you there.

Name: House Crow
Location: Sapan Hin, Phuket town, Phuket
Information: House Crow are well-known in many parts of the world, but in Thailand they are rarely encountered. It was therefore no small surprise when a large colony was discovered in the land fills near the Phuket Recycle Center. How they got here is still a mystery and there are still many questions waiting to be answered such as their breeding status and range on the island.
Stakeout: Make your way through Phuket town to Sapan Hin. If you are coming from Patong, the easiest route would be to drive down Chao Fah Nok road (heading towards Rawai, Highway 4022) and take a left on Wirat Hongyok road. Drive straight through the next two intersections (with lights) until you come to a Y-junction. Here take a right (Muang Phuket School will be on your left, a PTT gas station to your right) and follow the road to the next intersection where you should take a right. You are now on Rattanakosin 200 Pee Road with Klong bang Yai on your left. Follow the road down to the very end and you will come to the Phuket Municipal Garbage Incinerator. Explore the area and bring a mask if you can’t take the smell.

Name: Chinese Egret
Location: Phuket Future Plan Estate, near Phuket International Airport, Phuket
Information: Chinese Egret is easily overlooked and it takes a bit of time and knowledge in order to differentiate the Chinese Egret from the white-morph Pacific Reef Egret during the non-breeding months. A number of Chinese Egrets have been known to winter here in Phuket and this is perhaps the best place on the island to find them. Try to coincide your trip with the rising of the tide, when the water levels push the birds closer to the mainland and offer better views.
Special thanks to Stjin De Win for recommending this site in the thaibirding.com forums.
Stakeout: Drive towards Phang Nga on Thepkasatri road past the Blue Canyon Golf course. Keep to the right and make a turn at the next U-turn. Shortly after making the turn, take the first left after the Shell gas station. Follow the road into the site until you reach a locked gate, after which you’ll have to walk the remaining two kilometers or so until you reach the coast. Don’t worry; birding along the road is rewarding and well worth the walk.

Name: River Lapwing
Location: Phang Nga River, near Takuapah town
Information: River Lapwings are usually encountered, like their name mentions, near large rivers. The Phang Nga river is a wide and winding river which extends from the north down through Phang Nga town before draining into Ao Phang Nga National Park. In the hot months when the water levels are down, large sandbars form along the river, providing the perfect nesting habitats and feeding grounds for the lapwings. They are best encountered in the mornings on the bridge or along the road heading towards Phang Nga town.
Stakeout: After passing Takuapah, continue driving north until you hit a T-junction with signs posted to Ranong (on your left). Ignor the left turn and continue driving straight until you see the next T-junction, this time taking a right following the signs to Phang Nga town. Less than 100 meters down the road you will pass a long bridge. Park the car after the bridge and retrace your steps. The birds are usually spotted on the sandbars from the bridge. It’s wise to take a scope with you as the birds can be a fair distance away.

Name: Cotton Pigmy-Goose
Location: Laguna, Laypang Beach, Phuket
Information: Cotton Pigmy Goose is not as common as one may assume it to be. Unless you plan to visit Talae Noi in Pattalung, you can pretty much be sure that the bird will be hard to come by.
Stakeout: Getting to Laguna is a pretty simple affair. Drive north on Thepkasatree road until you get to the Heroines Monument. Take a left towards Bang Tao beach. Follow the road for another 12 kilometers or so until you reach Bang Tao municipality. Signs for Laguna and Laypang beach will be posted. Take a left at the T-junction (with lights and drive straight through into Laguna. The pond will be on your right on the road to Laguna Hotel. The swampy area of the pond around here is where Cotton Pigmy Geese and Common Moorhen are usually found. Just park the car and go collect your tick!

Name: Orange breasted Pigeon
Location: Hilton Arcadia Resort and Spa, Karon
Information: Orange bellied Pigeon are not as easy to find as most people tend to believe. This is perhaps one of the best places to look for the pigeon, outclassing the former roost in Laem Panwa which was destroyed by Burmese workers a year ago.
Stakeout: The birds are usually seen in the afternoons or evenings among Pink Necked Pigeons which roost in the trees around the pools of Saitong wing. Just look up in the trees and usually there will be a few sitting quietly among the boughs waiting for the sun to set.
How to get there: The Hilton is one of the biggest hotels on the Karon beachfront and can be accessed from the front (West Pitak road) or the back road (East Pitak road).

Name: Black nest Swiftlet
Location: Talang Road, Phuket Town
Information: These birds are practically everywhere but are not easy to distinguish from Edible nest Swiftlet in flight. The best way to make sure you got the right tick is to see the bird in its nest. The older buildings along Talang road were built hundreds of years ago and many of them have swiftlets nesting in the porches of the front doorway. Just walk along the road looking up under the porches of the front doors and you can be guaranteed to find some. The residents protect these birds and consider it a sign of good luck if a bird chooses to nest under the protection of their house. Just be polite and tell the owner you want to see the birds and they will be happy to let you stand there and watch them fly in and out of their nests.
Stakeout: From Patong, come into Phuket town and take a left up Mae Luan road. Drive until you reach Thepkasatree intersection (An Esso gas pump will be across from you on your right.) and take a right up the road. Drive past the first intersection and turn left on the second (there will be a motorbike retail shop on your right before you reach the intersection.) which is Talang road.