During one of my casual work trips to Khao Lak in Southern Thailand, I did some birdwatching at Pakarang Cape, one of the hotspots for shorebirds around this part of the country. This place is also called Coral Cape and is one of Thailand’s best coastal birding sites.
Without any hesitation, I was there on my second day of work as my hours were flexible; therefore, I spent two hours in the morning exploring this part of Khao Lak, about an hour’s drive from Phuket.
Birdwatching at Pakarang Cape
Before I visited Khao Lak, I had done a bit of research. I read that Pakarang Cape is indeed one of the recommended locations in Thailand during the shorebird migratory season. From my reading, it was mentioned that there are quite a lot of shorebirds that can be spotted here.
The cape is beautifully structured and natural, and the main beach is composed entirely of dead coral and remains of other marine life. Apparently, in the past ten years, some really interesting bird sightings have been done here, but most of the rare shorebirds have not returned for a while. Maybe one day, these birds may return here; who knows?
Overall, birding here is relatively fun and easy; all you need to do is come prepared with the right equipment and accessories. It can get really hot in the late mornings and afternoons, so I recommend a big hat or umbrella.
Due to the intense heat, I recommend sunblock and lots of water. There are no food or drink stalls around here., so you need to bring your own or take a break and have lunch. There is a shaded area before you enter the cape, so that can be your place of rest.
Occasionally, you may see a casual foreign birder walking around or couples coming here to check out the place. Overall, Pakarang Cape is relatively safe, and the locals who go crab hunting are also generally friendly. When I was here, I noticed several stray dogs in the area, but I didn’t pay much attention to them, so they left me alone.
If you plan to visit alone, please inform someone or your hotel/resort where you will be. When birding alone, letting someone know where you are is always good practice. While there, I also met a lone birdwatcher from The Netherlands who was busy with his scope.
What Shorebirds Can Be Seen at Pakarang Cape?
During the migratory season from October to March, you can expect to see several shorebirds, and on the mainland or beach area, you will also get to see the tropical birds of Thailand. Below is a list of birds I spotted here, and more birds can be seen around here.
Shorebirds of Pakarang Cape;
- Greater Sand-plover
- Tibetan Sand-plover
- Kentish Plover
- Ruddy Turnstone
- Terek Sandpiper
- Wood Sandpiper
- Common Sandpiper
- Eurasian Curlew
- Nordmann’s Greenshank
- Bar-tailed Godwit
- Little Ringed Plover
- Whimbrel
- Pacific Reef Heron
- All three common Egrets
Common Birds of Pakarang Cape;
- Indochinese roller
- Streaked-eared Bulbul
- Dark-necked Tailorbird
- Common Myna
- Common Iora
- Brahminy Kite
- Large-billed Crow
- Common Kingfisher
- Spotted Dove
- Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Where is Pakarang Cape?
Pakarang Cape sits north of Khao Lak, about a 60-minute north of Phuket. It is a laid-back tourist place that sees more mature tourists from Europe. If you think this place is another Phuket, I am sorry to say it’s not. This place is truly a beautiful place to relax and do birdwatching.
I recommend you stay in the main Khao Lak area, find transport to come here, and then return to civilization. There is little to do around this part of Khao Lak unless you prefer to do birding 24-7 here, then some resorts nearby.
How to Go to Pakarang Cape?
From the main town of Khao Lak, it takes about 15-20 minutes to get to Pakarang Cape. You cannot walk here from the main town area. You can rent a car or scooter to get here as it is relatively easy with apps like Google Maps or Waze.
It will take almost two hours to drive from Phuket to here. So, if you are staying in Phuket and want to visit Pakarang Cape, you need to make arrangements for transport and plan your trip. This place can be visited for half-day birding.
Conclusion
You can also read about my birdwatching in Lumpini Park, as I was working there before coming here. For anyone heading to this part of Thailand, birdwatching at Pakarang Cape must be planned well because of the tides. Some claim the place is so huge that you need two to three days to see most shorebirds here.
It was my first time working in Khao Lak; therefore, I only spent one morning here, while the other free day was spent birdwatching at Khao Lak-Lam Tu National Park. This means I will return, perhaps in 2024, to discover more birds at Pakarang Cape.