Special birding tour in the North Cambodia

Cambodia is covered more deciduous dipterocarp forests that once spread across much of Indochina and Thailand were formerly home to the greatest aggregation of large mammals and water birds that have existed beyond the savannas of Africa. These forests have largely disappeared from Thailand and Vietnam; currently, the Northern and Eastern Plains of Cambodia form the largest remaining contiguous block of this unique and critically important habitat. Visiting several sites in Cambodia, we have a lot of chances to see both rarest ibises (White-shouldered and Giant), as well as many endangered waterbird species such as Bengal Florican and Greater Adjutant, Milky Stork, Black-necked and Sarus Crane
The itinerary
Day 1 (B, L, D)
Full day for Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom. This day we will spend our time for a must visit the historical sites, the largest first Hindu, and the Buddhist temple complex and the largest religious monument in the world.
Overnight at Apsara holiday hotel
Day 2 (B, L, D)
We will start our birding in the country by early morning visiting the grasslands that run alongside the perimeter of the huge Tonle Sap in search of Bengal Florican. Large numbers of wintering migrants make these grasslands their home, especially large numbers of Eastern Marsh and Pied Harriers, we could even come across some water-birds including Sarus Crane, Lesser Adjutant, and Painted Stork. Mid-morning will see us heading north into the remote Preah Vihear province. This province is home to some of the rarest species in south-east Asia. The landscape is dominated by open, dry savannah interspersed with extensive tracts of deciduous forest along the waterways. We shall arrive into our comfortable guesthouse in the mid-afternoon in time for some late afternoon birding.
Night at Tmatboey Ecolodge (2 nights)
Days 3 (B, L, D)
During our two full days exploring the area surrounding Tmatboey, we can hope to see most of our target species. We will walk through the open forest in search of small waterholes, or ‘trapeangs’, which offer us the best chance of locating the near-mythical Giant and White-shouldered Ibises, which use these Trapeangs to feed. In between visiting these waterholes, good numbers of other species will be encountered, including an array of wintering passerines found in large feeding flocks. Up to sixteen species of woodpecker make this forest their home, including the spectacular Black-headed, gigantic Great Slaty and striking White-bellied. Other localized species here include Burmese Shrike, Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Rufous-winged Buzzard, 4 species of Prinia including the localized Brown Prinia, Blossom-headed, Red-breasted and Alexandrine Parakeets, Indochinese Cuckooshrike, Indochinese Bushlark, Golden-fronted Leafbird, Black-hooded Oriole and White-rumped Falcon. Night-birding is often productive; Spotted and Brown Wood Owls, Collared and Oriental Scops Owl, Brown Fish Owl and Spotted Owlet all being possible along with Savannah and Large-tailed Nightjars.
Day 4 (B, L, D)
After a final morning’s birding in the area searching for any missing species, we will head back to Siem Reap
Overnight at Apsara holiday hotel
Day 5 (B, L, D)
This day we leave early in the morning for a full day birding at Tonle Sap by visiting Peak Toal sanctuary where we look for Greater Adjutant, Milky Stork and lot of other waterbirds
Return Siem Reap in the afternoon for another night at Apsara holiday hotel
Day 6 (B, L)
Leave Siem Reap after breakfast for a full day trip to Ang Trapeang Thmor, a nature reserve based around a reservoir dating from the Khmer Rouges era. The reserve now harbors a unique wetland set amongst grasslands, dipterocarp forest, and rice fields. Ang Trapeang Thmor is an important wintering site for the endangered Eastern Sarus Crane between February and March. Other highlights of Ang Trapeang Thmor are the breeding colonies of Spot-billed Pelican and Painted Stork and often large numbers of waterfowl including Spot-billed Duck, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Garganey, Black-backed Swamphen, Pheasant-tailed, and Bronze-winged Jacanas.

Return to Siem Reap for tour conclusion