How to get Nicobar Pigeon on your List ?

Nicobar Pigeon ~ Thailand

To see this species actually turned out to be a lot easier than thought, get a boat out to the Similan Islands ...

In a nutshell that's basically it get yourself on the island ..

Go on-line with the many ticket selling companies like Viator or Tripadvisor or book direct ..

I travelled up the day before from Phangnag which was an hours drive to Khao Lak Pier or direct from Phuket Airport its only 2hrs 10 so its not that bad travel wise to get to Khao Lak Pier ..

My ticket was with Sawanu Travel located on the main road roughly 100 meters from  Khao Lak Pier, cost was Tbt 2800 ~ £65 ..

Now as a birder you have to put up with the tourists and go along with the boat tour you have no choice, the tour is 4 islands, two of which are for snorkelling, the other two islands are 30 minutes and 90 minutes on each, Thankfully you get the 90 minutes on island No:4 which is Nicobar Central ..

So 07:30 on the morning of the 29th December, I did the check-in and got my wrist band to get me on the boat, Two boats, Two colours of wristbands and about 60 people on each boat, both were fully booked. My boat was due to leave at 08:30 but was good 30 minutes late, and its at least a 90 minute speedboat ride to the first island, I thought that maybe I might get Frigatebird or any bird would of been a bonus but absolutely nothing and the same went for the first snorkelling stop ..

Island No:8 ~ Ko Similan ~ My Ebird started at 10:27am was on the island for 56 minutes and noted 10 species, in the fenced off pond area were 2 Nicobar Pigeons and in the canopy were Green & Pied Imperial Pigeon, Oriental Cuckoo, Yellow-browed Warbler and Pacific Reef-Heron on the rocks ..

Island No:9 ~ Ko Ba Ngu ~ Ebird Started at 11:37am and was stationary with dropped anchor whilst the others did snorkelling I went up to top deck seeing only 2 species in 32 minutes a White-bellied Sea-Eagle and Grey-faced Buzzard ..

Island No:4 ~ Ko Miang ~ Ebird started at 12:31pm and I had well over 2 hours after lunch going between both camp sites looking for photo opportunities with the Nicobar.

Tip ... Save some rice in a tissue, sprinkle on the ground near some birds, take some photos ..

In total 11 species seen but it really was all about that Pigeon which actually was brilliant 7 birds in total, I had them literally walking around me and the benches, giving great views with 5 Green & 4 Pied in the canopy ..

I had the Nicobar Pigeons all to myself as rest of the many, many  boats had people only interested in suntans & Selfies ...

On Island No:4 to find the Nicobar Pigeon just walk to the campsites at Had Yai and Had Lek once lunch is over and the people have moved away from the bench area at Had Yai its guaranteed  they will be picking up the leftovers around the benches ..

Get Nicobar on your Thai or World List its easy ..