Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo… a dream come true

For years I hoped for an image of this large and enigmatic forest’s floors giant, and all came truth when visited Khao Yai National Park with my good friends Paul and Apiradee in December 2010, as 4 wonderful birds competed for our meal worms, filling our memory cards with grace, color and satisfaction!

The Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo is one of these birds everyone would like to see in Thailand… one of these that a lucky bunch of people has got a glimpse of in the understory of the primary forest and one of these that came to surprise everyone in Khao Yai National Park, when several individuals showed so well and close in 2010.

I was there with my Canadian friend, the avid bird-photographer Paul Kusimin and his wife, Apiradee to enjoy and immortalize the special, unique and unlikely to be repeated event… Here a few photos:

Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo - 2 by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2010

Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo - 3 by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2010

Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo - 4 by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2010

Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo - 5 by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2010

There were other smaller birds around

Hainan Blue-Flycatcher by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2010

Orange-headed Thrush - male by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2010

Siberian Blue-Robin - male - breed by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2010

The Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo didn’t returned to the spot in 2011 and we all hope it does in 2012.

Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoo - portrait by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2010

Happy Bird-Photo Adventures!