Tmatboey (TB) is a flagship birding site, situated in the Northern Plains, within the Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary. It is approximately 200km northwest of Siem Reap. This area is one of the key sites for the critically endangered Giant Ibis and the White-shouldered Ibis. The conservation project at Tmatboey was set up by the Cambodian government’s ministry of environment, conservation NGOs, and the Tmatboey village community.
Tmatboey BirdsThe target birds at Tmatboey are: Giant Ibis, White-shouldered Ibis, White-rumped Pygmy-falcon, Pale-capped Pigeon, Woolly-necked Stork, Black-headed Woodpecker, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Chinese Francolin, White-browed Fantail, Indochinese Bushlark, Rufous-bellied Eagle, Violet Cuckoo, Indian Spotted Eagle, Savanna Nightjar, Large-tailed Nightjar, Oriental Scops Owl, Barn Owl, Brown Fish Owl, Spotted Wood Owl, Brown Wood Owl… View Tmatboey bird checklist here
Tmatboey TourA 2 night 3 day trip from Siem Reap to Tmatboey will include a stay at the Tmatboey community managed ecolodge. This will ensure you will have enough time to see a large number of bird species. We will spend the whole day birdwatching in the Deciduous Dipterocarp forest, then stay on late in search of Franklin’s Nightjar, the Large-tailed Nightjar, the Oriental Scops Owl and the Barn Owl. Bring a powerful torch with you, so you miss nothing from our night-time trek through the forest.
A visit to Tmatboey from Siem Reap usually works well as part of an itinerary that includes the Florican Grassland
Our CBGA specialist bird guide will pick you up from Siem Reap at 5.30am. First driving to Florican Grassland located at the provincial border between Siem Reap and Kampong Thom. We will spend about 3 hours at this Tonle Sap flooded grassland to find the Critically Endangered Bengal Florican, the winter visitor Manchurian Reed-warbler, and many other birds about 40 species. Around 10.30am we will move and drive up north to have lunch at Beng Mealea temple. We then continue to Tmatboey – the flagship site situated in the Northern Plains, within the Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary. Along the way near Koh Ker, we will try to the White-rumped Pygmy Falcon.
By 3 pm we will arrive at Tmatboey. After check-in the room we will start birding near the lodge for the White-shouldered Ibis. The day tour finish after dusk, the group come back to the lodge for dinner and rest for the following day early rise.
We start to leave at 4.30am with packed breakfast, go for the Giant Ibis roost. We will spend the whole morning also for other key species and come back for lunch and rest before the afternoon birding that start at 3 pm.
A full day at Tmatboey to allow more time to find the two critically endangered ibis species. Tmatbeoy also supports other target species such as Woolly-necked Stork, Black-headed woodpecker, White-rumped pygmy Falcon. The Pale-capped Pigeon is another highlight along with Night-birding is often productive; Spotted and Brown Wood Owls, Collared and Oriental Scops Owl, Brown Fish Owl and Spotted Owlet all being possible viewing at daytime.
We will start a bit later like 5.30am and focus more on other birds we missed or not yet find the previous days. After lunch, we will leave Tmatboey and back to Siem Reap. The group can still be able to do birding along the road again and/or visit Beng Mealea on the way if wishes. Arrive in Siem Reap around 5 pm.
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