After a day of rest we decided to return to the National Park. Here´s a view across the forested landscape, it covers a large area and we only "skimmed the surface" so to speak.
Ashy Woodswallows - artamus fuscus On this our second foray into the Reserve Elena and I were on our own. Having had a lift to the Visitor Centre we set out on foot to see what we could find.
Little huddled groups of Ashy Woodswallows provided the first photo opportunities. They are very gregarious birds that like to cuddle up, spending a lot of time preening their silky smooth plumage. A beautifully named species with ashy grey plumage & swallow-like appearance, they are a delight to watch wheeling around & returning to the huddle.
Little huddled groups of Ashy Woodswallows provided the first photo opportunities. They are very gregarious birds that like to cuddle up, spending a lot of time preening their silky smooth plumage. A beautifully named species with ashy grey plumage & swallow-like appearance, they are a delight to watch wheeling around & returning to the huddle.
Ashy Woodswallows - artamus fuscus 
Great Hornbill nest hole We were in for an exceptional treat as we skirted the edge of the forest. Two days earlier we had waited at a discreet distance watching a Great Hornbill nest, knowing the female was inside incubating eggs. However after nearly two hours of patient waiting our only reward was an occasional glimpse of her large bill in the hole, no male showed up until we were leaving after dark. Today however we were lucky enough to have a male fly into nearby tree very, not near the nest at all.
Great Hornbill - buceros bicornis
Great Hornbill - buceros bicornis As I moved around to get a better view I found myself staring through a gap in the foilage straight into the eyes of the "King of Birds". He looked at me quite calmly as if to invite a photo, so I duly obliged. Then he flew out into the open onto a broken tree stump. posing nicely! Thankyou Mr Hornbill, you were amazing.
Great Hornbill - buceros bicornis One thing about this magnificent bird that struck both Elena and I was its grace. No noisy flapping of wings, no rustling of undergrowth, every movement was quiet and graceful. Almost as if it was a slow-motion playback. It was one of those birding moments we will never forget.
There were many other birds this day. We observed Crested Serpent Eagles out hunting, Bronzed, Greater and Lesser Racket Tailed Drongos, Racket Tailed Treepie, White Rumped Sharma, Common Iora and much more in the forest. Red-Wattled Lapwings, Chestnut Headed bee-eaters, Bulbuls, Orioles etc etc. in the grasslands but they were all a bit flat after the Hornbill.
There were many other birds this day. We observed Crested Serpent Eagles out hunting, Bronzed, Greater and Lesser Racket Tailed Drongos, Racket Tailed Treepie, White Rumped Sharma, Common Iora and much more in the forest. Red-Wattled Lapwings, Chestnut Headed bee-eaters, Bulbuls, Orioles etc etc. in the grasslands but they were all a bit flat after the Hornbill.
Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly - calopteryx virgo So, for a change I clambered down to a stream below the road and shot this Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly. It is one I have wanted to see for some time but as they do not occur in the south of Spain I took my opportunity here. I should say that if I had the time and inclination I could have photographed probably hundreds of new dragonflies and butterfly species, but we were here for the birds and simply did not have time.
Having mentioned the grasslands I should post a photo showing what it´s like. Khao Yai is not all forest, there is open country like this wher one can often encounter elephant, even Gaur and other animals.
Having mentioned the grasslands I should post a photo showing what it´s like. Khao Yai is not all forest, there is open country like this wher one can often encounter elephant, even Gaur and other animals.
Khao Yai Grassland landscape
We were not looking for mammals or any other animals except birds. However one cannot help but notice some of the more interesting creatures encountered along the way. This Black Giant Squirrel for example is quite striking. These animals do not stray into plantations or cultivated areas, preferring wild forest. Their numbers therefore have seriously declined in recent years due to the rampant deforestation that is taking place right across the Orient.
 Black Giant Squirrel - ratufa bicolor |  Black Giant Squirrel - ratufa bicolor |
