Birdwatching in Laguna
Phuket's abundant mangrove forests, lagoons, marshes
and other wetlands mean the habitat here can support
an astonishing cast of characters. A favorite is
the cormorant - shown twice here drying their wings.
A
favorite bird watching area is the golf course at
Laguna Resorts. Get there before sunrise or right
before sunset and you'll be surprised at the wide
range of birdlife you'll see. These shots are
almost all from that area.
[above and left: Small Cormorant]
Most common at the golf course are Chinese Pond
Herons, which tend to stand about on the course and
you'll get quite close to them before they take off.
When flying overhead they'll look
totally white from beneath.
[right:
Chinese Pond Heron]
Early in the morning you'll hear the Kingfishers
with their trilling call staking out their territory
and the whooping call of the frog-hunting Coucals.
Around the edges
of the lagoons you'll often hear burbling type
sounds coming from the Purple Swamp Hens, or the
grinding calls of the White Breasted Water Hens (see
them below).
[left :
Kingfisher]
[l eft:
Coucal]
[r ight:
Brahminy Kite]
The Brahminy Kite looks a bit like a Fish Eagle -
but has a differently shaped head. The kites are
often seen cruising the coastline - but are also
seen around lagoons. Groups of as many as ten have
been seen hunting in lagoons on the northeastern
part of the island.
Purple
Swamp Hen
White
Breasted Water Hen
Don't forget your binoculars - and if you do - quite
good quality field glasses can be found here - for
reasonable prices (as can digital cameras). A good
camera with a good optical zoom is helpful as many
of the birds are a bit shy.
Enjoy! |
