Krung Ching Birds & Wildlife

          Krung Ching (KC) is a rich rainforest with an elevation of about 200 meters above sea level, embedding in the mountain range of Khao Luang National Park south of Thailand, Surat Thani province and Nakorn Sri Thammarat province far from about Bangkok 800 km. It represents an important site for rainforest species in Malay Peninsula. The highest peak in the park is over 1800 meters and holds some good mountain birdlife.
          Krung Ching bird spot is a sub station placed at the very northern tip of Khao Luang national park and home to more than 250 out of 978 bird species found in Thailand.  
          Butterfly-lovers should not miss Banded Peacock a national protected wildlife species. Cream-colored Giant Squirrel is one of the most sought-after squirrels among mammal-lovers. For those who are fond of plants; Stag-horn ferns, orchids, colorful fungi are worth looking through binoculars. Non venomous reptiles and amphibians are also worth photographing at night.

Where to bird watch & photography

- The visitor centre
Krung Ching waterfall office is surrounded by greenery and has a few ponds stuffed full of fish and a female adult Buffy Fish Owl and her offspring made the most of this bounty, showing really well and allowing close approach. Javan Frogmouth is apparently fairly common here, easy to see on Apr. – May. In breeding season, Another  bird  Once outside of the forest I had views of Silver-rumped Needletails, Glossy Swiftlets and even a few Germain’s Swiftlets filling the air, Brown Wood-Owl, Green Broadbill, Black-and-yellow Broadbill  In morning may you can see White-crowned Hornbills in a fruiting tree with the songs of Dark-throated Oriole, Red-throated Barbet and Gold-whiskered Barbets

- On the trail
The trail start visitor center to the waterfall is 3,700 meter  long, structure building by concrete easy to walk  and starts out quite steeply after a couple of hundred meters.   Once this initial climb every one call “ Ban Dai Sam Kan or three steps”  around here home of Banded Pitta to present 1 pair and habitat of Hairy Leg Mountain Crab (Cardiosoma carnifex), after done it is easy walking and the trail goes through some very attractive forest.

From here the trail along the stream around 700 m. habitat of  Blue-banded Kingfisher, Blue-eared Kingfisher, White-crowned Forktail, Chestnust-naped Forktail.And along the trail another specie bird such as Scarlet-rumped Trogons sang in the early morning and Diard's Trogon one  and several types of BabblersGrey-headed, Chestnut-winged, Scaly-crowned was common, Flycatchers, Rufous-winged Philentomas, Malaysia Wren-Babbler, Great Argus Pheasant usually heared, Crested Wood-Partridge also to see
, The usually walk to hut stop on half way and then walk back birds quite to active more than continuous walk.

- The waterfall 


The waterfall located at the end of the trai, here surrounded by forest here at about 3-400 meters level was quite healthy with many large trees and the canopy is actually very high and hard to see through.   The waterfall is a beautiful and important waterfall of Khao Luang National Park, the waterfall derived its name from Ton Ching which is a kind of palm prevalent in the area. The waterfall has many levels and the most breathtaking level is Nan Fon Saen Ha where water drops off a sheer cliff 100 meters high, splashing down creating a mist covering the area like rain unlike other falls. This waterfall level is depicted on the back of Thailand’s 1,000 baht currency note.

Weather Condition
The temperature in this area is approximately 20 degrees Celsius in morning and afternoon more up temperature also high humidity,  the highest temperature is 30 degree Celsius in a day time on April and some rain in afternoon  and every day rain on October to November.  

The best time
April – May : Peak season, breeding season of resident bird such as Frogmouth, Broabill, Trogon  easy to see and shoot.
June – October  : second period of a year, some raining on afternoon.

How long to stay
3 days 2 night at least to stay here

Accomodation 
Krung Ching National park bungalow, nice house clean, safty, hot shower, eletrice.

      

How to get here

By air plan
1. Flight from Bangkok to Nakorn Srithammarat airport , and then drive to Krung Ching 1 hr.

2. Flight from Bangkok to Surat Thani airport and then drive to Krung Ching 1.40 hr.

3. Direct flight Bangkok Airways from Singapore to Koh Samui island and then drive to Krung Ching 2.30 hr. include timeing transfer by ferry
www.thaiairway.com, www.nokair.com

By car
1 hr. from Nakorsrithamarat airport
2.30 hr. from Krabi airport
8 hr. from Bangkok