THROUGH THE PORTHOLE Learn more about Tall Ship cruising... Watching Wildlife from the Star Flyer in Asia
STAR CLIPPERS
Watching Wildlife from the Star Flyer in Asia
By Andy Lovering | Director of Sales & Marketing | Star Clippers It’s 6AM on a balmy November morning and I am stood
Archipelago and many passengers are enjoying the
on the teak sun deck of the Star Flyer, watching a deep
watersports facilities set up on the white coral sand
red sunrise over the Andaman Sea. The ship left Phuket
beach. Whilst holidaymakers sunbathe, many birds
harbour last night and, this morning, the air is warm
of prey are slowly migrating southwards, using these
with enough breeze to eliminate humidity, yet fill the
islands as landmarks. Grey-faced Buzzards mix with the
sails.
larger, Crested Honey Buzzards as they use thermals from the islands to rise high and glide over the next
Early mornings are always the best time of day for
section of open sea.
birdwatching and today is no exception. Looking from port to starboard, hundreds of Bridled Terns are
There is a small lagoon behind the beach and here I find
perched on the many floating branches, occasionally
a pair of Indian Rollers, flashing their iridescent blue
taking to the air on short fishing forays.
flight feathers, and also a small flock of Blue-tailed Bee Eaters, each hawking for dragonflies over the brackish
Overhead, the pirates are waiting; Frigate birds hang
water.
bat-like aloft, waiting for their chance to harry a passing Tern and steal this morning’s catch. Lesser Frigate birds
Sailing to Penang brings Brahminy Kites, their rufous
are the most numerous in these waters, but careful
wings contrasting with their white head and breast.
observation picks out a few, much rarer, Christmas
Once common on the mainland, the coastline and
Frigate birds; the white belly of the males being
islands of the Thai-Malay Peninsula is now the best area
diagnostic.
in which to find them. As Star Flyer glides gracefully through the glass-like water, I see a huge White-bellied
An afternoon beach stop at Ko Adang in the Butang
Sea Eagle swoop down and grasp a Sea Snake from the
water and head for the nearest island.
Our last call is in the Similan Islands, where azure waters give way to the whitest of beaches, fringed
There is still an area of rainforest remaining on Penang
by Evergreen forest. Along an inland nature trail,
and butterflies abound here. If lucky, you can sport
spectacular butterflies float by and, birdwatching, I spot
a White-handed (or Lar’s) Gibbon swinging through
Common Koel, Cinnamon Bittern and my ‘bird of the
the trees, it’s whooping calls resounding eerily across
week’, the metallic blue, and very rare, Nicobar Pigeon.
the forest canopy. Gibbons are elusive, but can also be
Found only on the Nicobar Islands and a few of the
found on Langkawi, plus, they have been reintroduced,
more remote Thai islands, this colourful bird is truly
on a handful of small islets in Phang Nga Bay.
endangered. A holiday in Asia aboard Star Flyer brings some stunning scenery, yet, unnoticed by many, there is
We set sail, via Ko Lipe, to the myriad limestone outcrops of Phang Nga Bay, spotting Dollarbirds, Pacific Reef Egrets, more Brahminy Kites and Sea Eagles. Dolphins ride Star Flyer’s bow waves and, when we stop for snorkelling at the idyllic beach on Ko Hong, they join us; their curiosity and playfulness as great as ours.
a host of wonderful wildlife all around.
STAR CLIPPERS