We (Jan and Tu) decided to go bird watching at Sakaerat Environmental Research Station (dry evergreen and dipterocarp forests) with Dr.Chatree (our friend from Bangkok). There are around 230 birds and nearly 80 species of mammals recorded by the station. Our target bird was the Siamese Fireback , Thailand 's national bird). This was the best time of the year to see it because it is the species' breeding season. The male needs to put up a courtship display to attract the female so it's very easy to see these firebacks on forest trails. We arrived in the afternoon and after the rain we drove our car into the forest near the station. We found 13 males and 3 females of Siamese Firebacks!

This morning we went back to look for more Siamese Firebacks. They were feeding and ‘displaying' in the early morning but after 8 o'clock they walked into the forest. We continued birding around that area until 10 o'clock . We found the Banded Kingfisher , Puff-throated Bulbul , Puff-throated Babbler and many others.

After lunch we drove to Klong Pla Kaung Sub Station of Khao Yai National Park. It's not far from Sakaerat about 40 minutes. This area is an excellent place to see Gaurs. They always come out from the forest to feed in the evening. We must drive into the forest for about 3 km and walked from the car park about 300 meters. We went up to the watching tower and waited and waited and waited. At about 5pm the first one walked from the forest to the field to feed. We saw eight adults and four calves , the youngest still spotting red fur.