Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park and Botanical Garden is one of the most popular spots in Bang Kachao and Bangkok for birding, and for good reason. Boasting a broad variety of terrain including mangroves, lakes, forests and swamps, many species of bird either make their home there, or use it as as a stopping point during seasonal migration. Click here to see the diverse species that have been reported there in the past.
Entrance to the park is free, and you are able to bring your bike inside if you want (but walking is encouraged if birding). Sri Nakhon Khuean Khan Park covers a large area, and there are a few spots worth paying particular attention to:
Trees by the entrance
To the left of the driveway approaching the main entrance to the park is a large area of irrigated land with some tree coverage. As there are not too many trees, visibility across the whole area is good. Here there is a good chance of spotting stork-billed and collared kingfishers, brahminy kites, indochinese rollers, plaintive cuckoos, little cormorants, vinous mynas, and pond and night herons among other birds.
Bird-watching tower
Within the mangrove/swamp section of the park is the dedicated bird-watching tower. Note the golden tree snake skins dotted around the roof (they appear to live up there) and the stingless bees living inside the structure. Sightings are best early in the morning - from here you will commonly see numerous pink-necked green pigeons, scarlet-backed flowerpeckers, ornate and brown-throated sunbirds, greater racket-tailed, black, and ashy drongos. I have also seen northern boobooks from the tower.
Kingfisher pond
On the left before you reach the bird-watching tower is a kingfisher pond, behind the trees in the picture above. I have seen white-throated and collared kingfishers at this pond - but unfortunately it's not the best spot for a picture as it is somewhat overgrown.
Swamp track
The swamp track that runs parallel to the outskirts of the swamp section of the park takes perhaps 30 minutes to walk - note that it can be muddy for about half of it, as that section is unpaved. Along this track you can commonly see collared kingfishers, indochinese rollers, greater racket-tailed, black, and ashy drongos.
Beyond these highlights areas, there are plenty of good spots across the park for birdwatching. Let us know how you get on!
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