Pak Chong Park, Thailand

City Birds

First, Pak Chong is not a large town but the city park is very lively with the chirping and twittering of many kinds of birds. The town is just over 40km from the Khao Yai National Park.

However, the early sightings of the baby and adult Asian Barred Owlet (Glaucidium cuculoides) - a lifer for me - made me ignore the rest of the park's residents. And you can see why - they are sooooo cute and good looking. Small, compact and with gorgeous feather patterns.

Baby eyes the surroundings

Parent keeps watch from a neighbouring tree

On the way out, some birds were seen foraging on the ground. Pinkish-brown buff with long bills, broad black and white bands on the wings and with black-marked crests on their heads, this was another lifer for me for sure. They turned out to be the Common Hoopoe (Upupa epops). They eat non-stop and move from spot to spot very quickly. A photo and a short video of the bird are attached.