Cambodia 7th - 14th March 2016

Leader: Mike Nelson

Participants: Martin Barry, John Eyre, Michael Fleming, Roger Holmberg,

Marcus Lawson, Richard Patient, Shaun Robson and Mike Shaw

Giant Ibis, Tmatboey © Mike Nelson / Birdtour Asia

Cambodia is the ancient heartland of the Khmer Empire and set amongst its famous ruins are some fantastic birding spots. Hiding within the ruins of Angkor Wat and other renown temples and tucked away in forests are some of Cambodia’s birding highlights like Giant and White-shouldered Ibis, White-rumped Falcon and an array of colorful woodpeckers. Its waterways are home to huge Greater and Lesser Adjutant and its wide grasslands provide a hiding place for Bengal Florican. This short custom tour gave us the opportunity to seek out these iconic birds and we managed all of the above including newly described species like Cambodian Tailorbird and Mekong Wagtail amidst a supporting cast of resident and migrant species.

Before the main tour began, some of us had already ventured into the northern plains, successfully twitching White-winged Duck, a pair of which showed beautifully on their roosting perch. We then gathered as a group in Siem Reap and our first morning was spent on the waterways of Tonle Sap. Once across this vast lake we boarded two smaller boats and headed up some winding waterways picking up loads of Little and Great Cormorant interspersed with a few Indian Cormorant. Egrets and herons were common along with many Spot-billed Pelicans and several Lesser Adjutant. We pulled the small boats across a small dam and continued up

until the water levels became too low and clogged with water hyacinth so we began to head back. As we turned a corner in the river we came across two massive Greater Adjutant feeding at the side of the vegetation. Once seen though they took to the air with one landing atop some vegetation where we all got some nice looks. A bit further down we came across another feeding in the shallows and we were able to drift down close to it and watch as it hunted for fish amongst the invasive water hyacinth. Both Black-capped and Common Kingfisher were noted with Yellow Bittern and several Oriental Darters before we headed back across the lake picking up Brown-headed Gull, Common and Whiskered Tern. As we entered the canal on the home stretch the water was very shallow making our progress slow which enabled some of us to get onto a fluttering Ruddy Kingfisher at the side of the narrow channel.

Greater Adjutant and Spot-billed Pelican

After a short break we headed to a couple of the temples starting with the strangler fig laden walls of Ta Prohm made famous in the Tomb Raider movie and here we birded within the forested walls enjoying the amazing architecture as well as Red-breasted Parakeet, Coppersmith Barbet, Ashy Minivet and Alexandrine Parakeet. We then visited the huge complex of Angkor Wat taking in the massive temple and its surrounding forest where we enjoyed Hainan Blue Flycatcher, striking Forest Wagtail, White-throated Rock Thrush being very obliging and hanging on till all those visiting the temple had shown up to see it and then we spooked a Brown Wood Owl and with some creeping around and listening to the Greater Racket-tailed Drongos harassing it we managed to relocate it and get some great views. Once dark we hung on for Asian Barred Owlet, a rather dark Lineated Barbet in the gloom and a pair of noisy Brown Boobook.

The next day we headed out into the Prolay Grasslands and here searched for our main target, Bengal Florican. We managed to see several breeding males as well as Eastern Marsh Harrier, Blue-tailed Bee-eater and Oriental Skylarks and Australasian Bushlarks. We flushed up several Blue-breasted Quail and Small Buttonquail and while searching through some taller grasses found our other main target in Manchurian Reed Warbler. Our drive out was interrupted by a tiny Blue-breasted Quail chick running across the road then freezing right in the middle. Once we’d all had a look, Mike gathered up the tiny bird and ushered it into the surrounding bushes where it ran off for cover. As we continued on the black head of a Bengal Florican protruding from the grass next to a small pond had us all stopped and out of our vehicles. We slowly crept forward until the bird sprang from the grass just meters from us giving us some amazing flight views.

As the heat rose we began our journey to Tmatboey, in the heart of Preah Vihear province and the dry forests of the north. Along the way we did a quick stop which netted us Chestnut-tailed Starling, Collared Falconet and our first of many Crested Treeswifts. Black Baza and Rufous-winged Buzzards were also seen along the way before we arrived for some afternoon birding.

Searching the dry forests gave us Large Hawk-Cuckoo, Common Woodshrike, Olive-backed Pipit and Black-collared Starlings and when a White-shouldered Ibis began to call we tracked it down to a patch of forest where it abandoned its perch for a slightly farther but more open one where we enjoyed some great scope views. Since it was getting dark and we were in perfect position we also took the chance for Oriental Scops Owl and soon had this tiny owl perched above us singing in the night.

We had a further two days here and several forays into the dry forest and surrounding rice fields gave us some of the many targets we were looking for including Large Woodshrike, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Black-headed,

Rufous-bellied, Grey-capped Pygmy, Yellow-crowned, Great Slaty and Freckle-breasted Woodpeckers, Small and Scarlet Minivet, both Burmese and Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, White-browed Fantail, Burmese Shrike, Indochinese Bushlark, Chestnut-capped Babblers and much more. We also visited some riparian habitat where a new suite of birds waited with Scaly-crowned Babbler, Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, Orange-breasted Trogon, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, Abbott’s Wren-Babbler, Puff-throated and Streak-throated Bulbul and a fantastic pair of Dusky Broadbill perched above us, though the highlight was an eye-level pair of Pale-capped Pigeons flying across, right in front of us.

Oriental Pratincole and Bengal Florican

Back to the dry forest, the highlights were several views of our most desired target, the Giant Ibis. We heard and saw three perched the first morning and managed to track them to where they were feeding in a trapeang (a shallow, forested pool) with some White-shouldered Ibis. The same afternoon we found three again in another trapeang and the second day in the morning and got some lovely close looks as they fed in a drying trapeang in the forest.

Night birding here was excellent with Collared Scops Owl, Indian and Savannah Nightjar showing well and three Brown Fish Owl feeding along roadside canals just after dark. We also found Spotted Wood Owl on day roost.

Having done well here we headed south east towards another area of grasslands this time picking up Pacific Golden Plover, Pied Harrier, Red-throated Pipit, Dusky and Thick-billed Warbler plus Oriental Reed Warbler. Striated Grassbird was very vocal as a surprise Ruddy-breasted Crake walking the track in front of us was a welcome addition.

From here we continued east to the river side town of Kratie and explored the rice fields and small ponds in the afternoon getting great looks at Asian Golden Weavers building nests and enticing females to have a look at the intricate work. On the small ponds and reed beds we got looks at Black-browed Reed Warbler, Cinnamon Bittern, Watercock, White-browed Crake and several Lesser Whistling Ducks feeding in the water hyacinth.

The next morning, we were out on the Mekong River to find the Mekong Wagtail and before we’d even walked halfway down the stairs to get our boats, some Irrawaddy Dolphins broke the surface of the swirling waters. Once in the boats we scoured around till we found a nice pair of wagtails that showed well singing and hopping about. We also picked up several Small Pratincole before landing on one of the islands to get a better look at the Grey-throated Martin colony, interspersed here with Blue-tailed Bee-eaters and Little Ringed Plovers. As we were leaving the colony Marcus noted two birds flying low towards us which turned out to be a lovely pair of Great Thick-Knee. They landed on one of the sand bars and showed really well for several minutes before taking to the air and flying off down river – the first time we have ever seen them on this stretch of the Mekong, this bird is now on the verge of disappearing from this great river. On the way back we enjoyed some more time with the dolphins before heading back to shore. This was followed by a short stop in some rice fields and checking the ponds again we got great looks at several Black-backed Swamphen, a lovely fly-by of Black Bittern and eventual close looks at Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler.

During the heat of the day we continued south toward Phnom Penh stopping in some brushy vegetation for Cambodia newest species the endemic Cambodian Tailorbird. Several were heard calling but a particularly

showy pair came close in an exposed bush where we got great looks at them before heading to the bustle of the city and our farewell dinner.

White-shouldered Ibis and White-rumped Falcon

Bird-of-the-tour

1. Giant Ibis 2. Bengal Florican 3. Dusky Broadbill 4. Greater Adjutant 5. White-shouldered Ibis

For information regarding our tours to Cambodia please click here. Alternatively please contact us via e-mail or phone +44 1332 516254 regarding organising a custom tour to Cambodia.

More photos from the tour:

Oriental Scops Owl and Brown Fish Owl

Cambodian Tailorbird and Chestnut-capped Babbler

Dusky Broadbill and Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler

Great Thick-Knee and Mekong Wagtail

Systematic List GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae

Chinese Francolin Francolinus pintadeanus Blue-breasted Quail Synoicus chinensis

Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae

Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica Indian Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha White-winged Duck Asarcornis scutulata Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos PODICIPEDIFORMES: Podicipedidae

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis PELECANIFORMES: Pelecanidae

Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis PELECANIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae

Indian Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscicollis Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger PELECANIFORMES: Anhingidae

Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster CICONIIFORMES: Ardeidae

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 'Eastern' Great Egret Ardea [albus] modestus Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia Little Egret Egretta garzetta Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus Eastern Cattle Egret Ardea [ibis] coromandus Striated Heron Butorides striata Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis CICONIIFORMES: Ciconiidae

Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus Greater Adjutant Leptoptilos dubius CICONIIFORMES: Threskiornithidae

Black-headed Ibis Threskiornis melanocephalus White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davisoni Giant Ibis Pseudibis gigantea Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus ACCIPITRIFORMES: Accipitridae

Black Baza Aviceda leuphotes Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus

Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus Grey-headed Fish Eagle Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela Eastern Marsh Harrier Circus spilonotus Pied Harrier Circus melanoleucos Shikra Tachyspiza badius Rufous-winged Buzzard Butastur liventer Greater Spotted Eagle Clanga clanga Changeable Hawk Eagle Nisaetus limnaetus GRUIFORMES: Gruidae

Sarus Crane Grus antigone sharpii GRUIFORMES: Rallidae

Ruddy-breasted Crake Porzana fusca White-browed Crake Porzana cinerea Watercock Gallicrex cinerea Black-backed Swamphen Porphyrio indicus Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus GRUIFORMES: Otididae

Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis CHARADRIIFORMES: Jacanidae

Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus Bronze-winged Jacana Metopidius indicus CHARADRIIFORMES: Turnicidae

Small Buttonquail Turnix sylvatica Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator CHARADRIIFORMES: Burhinidae

Great Thick-Knee Esacus recurvirostris CHARADRIIFORMES: Recurvirostridae

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus CHARADRIIFORMES: Glareolidae

Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum Small Pratincole Glareola lactea CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae

Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius jerdoni CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae

Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura Swinhoe's Snipe Gallinago megala Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae

Brown-headed Gull Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus Common Tern Sterna hirundo Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae

Pale-capped Pigeon Columba punicea Red Collared Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis Zebra Dove Geopelia striata Orange-breasted Green Pigeon Treron bicincta Yellow-footed Green Pigeon Treron phoenicoptera Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae

Large Hawk Cuckoo Hierococcyx sparverioides Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus Violet Cuckoo Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus Asian Drongo Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis Lesser Coucal Centropus bengalensis STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae

Collared Scops Owl Otus lettia Oriental Scops Owl Otus sunia distans Brown Fish Owl Bubo zeylonensis Spotted Wood Owl Strix seloputo Brown Wood Owl Strix leptogrammica Asian Barred Owlet Glaucidium cuculoides deinani Brown Boobook Ninox scutulata CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae

Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus Savanna Nightjar Caprimulgus affinis APODIFORMES: Hemiprocnidae

Crested Treeswift Hemiprocne coronata APODIFORMES: Apodidae

Himalayan Swiftlet Aerodramus brevirostris Edible-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus fuciphagus germani Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis TROGONIFORMES: Trogonidae

Orange-breasted Trogon Harpactes oreskios CORACIIFORMES: Coraciidae

Indochinese Roller Coracias [benghalensis] affinis CORACIIFORMES: Halcyonidae

Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis

Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Ruddy Kingfisher Halcyon coromanda CORACIIFORMES: Meropidae

Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis athertoni Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti CORACIIFORMES: Upupidae

Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops CORACIIFORMES: Bucerotidae

Oriental Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris PICIFORMES: Capitonidae

Lineated Barbet Psilopogon lineata hodgsoni Blue-eared Barbet Psilopogon australis cyanotis Coppersmith Barbet Psilopogon haemacephala indica PICIFORMES: Picidae

Grey-capped Woodpecker Dendrocopos canicapillus delacouri Freckle-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopos [macei] analis Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis Rufous-bellied Woodpecker Dendrocopos hyperythrus Rufous Woodpecker Celeus brachyurus Laced Woodpecker Picus vittatus Black-headed Woodpecker Picus erythropygius Common Flameback Dinopium javanense intermedium Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidus guttacristatus Great Slaty Woodpecker Mulleripicus pulverulentus FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae

White-rumped Falcon Polihierax insignis Collared Falconet Microhierax caerulescens PSITTACIFORMES: Psittacidae

Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria Blossom-headed Parakeet Psittacula roseata Red-breasted Parakeet Psittacula alexandri PASSERIFORMES: Eurylaimidae

Dusky Broadbill Corydon sumatranus PASSERIFORMES: Tephrodornithidae

Large Woodshrike Tephrodornis gularis Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus PASSERIFORMES: Aegithinidae

Common Iora Aegithina tiphia Great Iora Aegithina lafresnayei

PASSERIFORMES: Campephagidae

Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei Indochinese Cuckooshrike Lalage polioptera Ashy Minivet Pericrocotus divaricatus Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus speciosus Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike Hemipus picatus PASSERIFORMES: Laniidae

Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus Burmese Shrike Lanius collurioides nigricapillus PASSERIFORMES: Oriolidae

Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis diffusus Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus PASSERIFORMES: Dicruridae

Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus thai Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus bondi Dicrurus leucophaeus leucogenis Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus hottentottus Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus PASSERIFORMES: Rhipiduridae

White-browed Fantail Rhipidura aureola Pied Fantail Rhipidura javanica PASSERIFORMES: Monarchidae

Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae

Red-billed Blue Magpie Urocissa erythrorhyncha magnirostris Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda sakeratensis Racket-tailed Treepie Crypsirina temia Eastern Jungle Crow Corvus levaillantii macrorhynchos PASSERIFORMES: Alaudidae

Australasian Bushlark Mirafra javanica Indochinese Bushlark Mirafra erythrocephala Oriental Skylark Phoenicurus fuliginosus PASSERIFORMES: Pycnonotidae

Black-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus atriceps Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus melanicterus johnsoni Sooty-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus aurigaster Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier jambu Streak-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus blanfordi conradi Stripe-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus finlaysoni Puff-throated Bulbul Alophoixus pallidus khmerensis PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae

Sand Martin Riparia riparia ijimae Grey-throated Martin Riparia [paludicola] chinensis Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica gutturalis Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica japonica

PASSERIFORMES: Phylloscopidae

Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus Radde's Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus Two-barred Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus plumbeitarus Pale-legged Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus tenellipes PASSERIFORMES: Acrocephalidae

Black-browed Reed Warbler Acrocephalus bistrigiceps Manchurian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus tangorum Oriental Reed Warbler Acrocephalus orientalis Thick-billed Warbler Iduna aedon PASSERIFORMES: Locustellidae

Lanceolated Warbler Locustella lanceolata Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola Striated Grassbird Megalurus palustris PASSERIFORMES: Cisticolidae

Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius Dark-necked Tailorbird Orthotomus atrogularis Cambodian Tailorbird Orthotomus chaktomuk Brown Prinia Prinia polychroa cooki Rufescent Prinia Prinia rufescens beavani Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii erro Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris delacouri Plain Prinia Prinia inornata herberti PASSERIFORMES: Timaliidae

Chestnut-capped Babbler Timalia pileata Pin-striped Tit Babbler Mixornis gularis lutescens Scaly-crowned Babbler Malacopteron cinereum indochinense Abbott's Wren Babbler Turdinus abbotti White-crested Laughingthrush Garrulax leucolophus PASSERIFORMES: Sittidae

Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch Sitta castanea tonkinensis Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae

Common Hill Myna Gracula religiosa White-vented Myna Acridotheres grandis Common Myna Acridotheres tristis Vinous-breasted Myna Acridotheres [burmannicus] leucocephalus Black-collared Starling Gracupica nigricollis Asian Pied Starling Gracupica contra White-shouldered Starling Sturnia sinensis Chestnut-tailed Starling Sturnia malabarica nemoricola PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae

Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica Taiga Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassina Hainan Blue Flycatcher Cyornis hainanus Tickell's Blue Flycatcher Cyornis [tickelliae] indochina Siberian Rubythroat Calliope calliope

Bluethroat Luscinia svecica Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maura stejnegeri Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata White-throated Rock Thrush Monticola gularis PASSERIFORMES: Chloropseidae

Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons inornata PASSERIFORMES: Dicaeidae

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker Dicaeum cruentatum PASSERIFORMES: Nectariniidae

Brown-throated Sunbird Anthreptes malacensis Van Hasselt's Sunbird Leptocoma brasiliana Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Aethopyga singalensis koratensis PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae

House Sparrow Passer domesticus Plain-backed Sparrow Passer flaveolus Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus PASSERIFORMES: Ploceidae

Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus philippinus Asian Golden Weaver Ploceus hypoxanthus PASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae

White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae

Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus White Wagtail Motacilla alba leucopsis Mekong Wagtail Motacilla samveasnae Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschutschensis macronyx Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus MAMMALS Long-tailed Macaque Macaca fascicularis Irrawaddy Dolphin Orcaella brevirostris Variable Squirrel Callosciurus finlaysonii Cambodian Striped Squirrel Tamiops rodolphei

For information regarding our tours to Cambodia please click here. Alternatively please contact us via e-mail or phone +44 1332 516254 regarding organising a custom tour to Cambodia.