Susan Myers from her recently completed Cambodia tour

Our tour was a success again this year with marvelous encounters with all the star birds plus many others. We started with a day at Prek Toal, an amazing RAMSAR wetland site on the shores of the remarkable Tonle Sap Lake that teems with breeding waterbirds. The experience of being surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of birds is becoming increasingly rare in southeast Asia so it was a special day.

Waterbirds at Prek Toal with a Spot-billed Pelican center stage

We found our Greater Adjutants amongst the very many Lesser Adjutants, Painted Storks, Asian Openbills and many more but the hoped for Milky Stork eluded us...but not for long. The next day at Ang Trapeang Thmor, just west of Siem Reap, we found a single bird amongst a tree full of other storks and were able to admire this highly threatened species at length. The highlight of any trip to Cambodia has to be the search in the north for the Giant Ibis, a species thought to be extinct when it was rediscovered in the aftermath of Cambodia’s devastating civil war. This year we were incredibly lucky to find a pair perched quite close to the road before we even arrived at our lodge - the species is now doing quite well with the help of conservationists and birders alike - and that freed us up to spend time on searching for other special birds here such as White-shouldered Ibis, White-rumped Falcon, Collared Falconet, Black-headed Woodpecker (arguably the most beautiful of the family!), Neglected Nuthatch and too many more to mention.

White-rumped Falcon

Returning to Siem Reap we spent a full day at Angkor, one of Asia’s cultural wonders and not to be missed even on a birding tour!

A scene at Angkor

Then it was eastward in search of the highly threatened and handsome Bengal Florican and the mysterious Manchurian Reed Warbler. This year we enjoyed sighting of up to a dozen floricans flying, dancing and hiding from us in the long grass. The reed warblers similarly turned on a great show, as did Red Avadavat, Bluethroat, and Yellow-breasted Bunting. At Kratie we found our Mekong Wagtails, after they initially put up a bit of resistance, and had some of our best ever views of the magical Irriwaddy Dolphins. Our last destination was in the far north east in the forests of Seima and Dak Dam. Pale-headed Pigeons showed very well for all and in the lowlands, we found a gorgeous Bar-bellied Pitta,

Bar-bellied Pitta

a last minute male Green Peafowl, as well as wonderful Great Hornbills, Gold-crowned Mynas, Orange-breasted Trogon and….the list goes on! 

Birding the Cambodian countryside