Birding southern Thailand, Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary

Where can you find ten species of hornbill in one place? Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary in southern Thailand, and the adjacent Royal Belum-Temongor in Perak Malaysia, are the only two places. We spent six nights in Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary to recce for a new birding site.

The misty morning with the towering trees amongst the thick virgin forest was like giants guarding the landscape. We walked along the tranquil hilly path shaded by tall trees to scout for birds on an average of 10,000 steps daily. The weather in the rainforest was pleasant at 100 to 600 m above sea level from the park entrance to the viewpoint at the Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary.

The map below shows where Hale Bala Wildlife Sanctuary is near the border between Thailand and Malaysia.

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Birding southern Thailand, Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary

The hilly terrain in Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary in southern Thailand was perfect for observing birds at eye level at the viewpoint and enjoying the spectacular sunrise overlooking Malaysia.

Birding in Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary southern Thailand

Birds were high up in the canopy and not easy to locate. In other more popular national parks in Thailand where you can find hides, there were none. Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary in southern Thailand is an unchartered terrain where one has to open his eyes and ears to search for feathered friends.

Birds We photographed Near The Fruiting Trees at the Research Center.

Thankfully, the weather in early March was dry and coincided with the fruiting trees between February and July. We captured barbets, flowerpeckers, leaf birds, and bulbuls near the Research Center.

Green Broadbill. Birding southern Thailand, Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary — A female Green Broadbill appearing near the fruiting tree at the Research Center. It was one of the first birds in the morning and one of the target birds we sought in southern Thailand.

Red-throated Barbet . Birding southern Thailand, Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary — A beautiful Red-throated Barbet feasting on the fruiting tree at the Research Center.

Birding southern Thailand, Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary | Phototravelasia — A radiant Blue-eared Barbet was very common in southern Thailand.

Brown Barbet. Birding southern Thailand, Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary | Phototravelasia — The not very colourful Brown Barbet was the least common of all barbets that we saw in Hala Bala.

Yellow-vented Flowerpecker. Birding southern Thailand, Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary | Phototravelasia — A Yellow-vented Flowerpecker.

Orange-bellied Flowerpecker. Birding southern Thailand, Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary | Phototravelasia — A handsome Orange-bellied Flowerpecker

Bird Waves In The Hala Bala Rainforest

Besides the fruiting trees, there were bird waves where we saw a few different flycatchers by the roadside just before the Viewpoint. We found this stretch of road very productive.

A view of the valley by the road side while we were having our packed lunch.

Grey-headed Flycatcher.Birding southern Thailand, Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary | Phototravelasia — A pair of Grey-headed Flycatcher hanged around the Viewpoint feeding on insects.

Birding southern Thailand, Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary | Phototravelasia

We spent six nights birding in Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary, two nights in Bang Lang National Park, and two nights in Hat Yai before returning to Singapore and making a quick stop at Toh Deng Peat-swamp forest looking for Black Hornbill and Red-crowned Barbet. A few of us from different locations in Thailand gathered in Hat Yai before we took a 4-hour van ride to Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary. About 50 species of birds were photographed during the birding trip to southern Thailand Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary.

Also read about birding in Bang Lang National Park