After promising myself a trip out alone on my Jack’s for the
last 3 weeks or so, I finally got around to getting out and about. First stop
was to my local patch to get some better shots of the breeding Pheasant-Tailed
Jacanas. Driving down the track there were many Pintail (Swintail??) Snipes
plugging away in the mud for breakfast. A male Pheasant-Tailed Jacana was
enjoying a morning stroll through the rice field when he suddenly saw me and
took flight.
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| Pheasant-Tailed Jacana |
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| Pheasant-Tailed Jacana |
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| Plain Prinia |
I headed to the pond to see what was about, 4 or 5 Bronze-Winged
Jacanas, Whistling Ducks and Little Grebes were all showing well and a
Watercock was calling from the other side. A pair of Plain Prinias decided to
join me, so I gladly gave them their 5 minutes of fame and rattled off a few
shots. Then the commotion started; A Monitor Lizard had decided he fancied eggs
for breakfast, but the jacanas had other ideas… Both male and female were
screaming and attacking the large lizard, flying up and systematically dive
bombing the intruder with feet and beaks.. The hungry monitor soon decided his
egg breakfast wasn’t worth losing an eye for and swum away, probably muttering
to himself, “I will be back, you know”….
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| Pheasant-Tailed Jacana |
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| Pheasant-Tailed Jacana |
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| Pheasant-Tailed Jacana |
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| Pheasant-Tailed Jacana |
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| Pheasant-Tailed Jacana |
At about 10:30 I headed off to Lat Krabang in hope of
shooting some Red Avadavats. After a typical Saturday morning drive across
Bangkok, I finally arrived. The sun was well overhead and by now the heat was
damn near on unbearable. The little Reds soon showed, but were always too far
off for a decent shot. A couple of Doves made for a few nice shots.
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| Red Avadavats |
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| Spotted Dove |
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| Zebra Dove |
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| Zebra Dove |
I moved the hide and waited again. Finally at about 3
o’clock they started to arrive again, only this time they were getting braver
and moving a little closer. Only one pair were obliging enough to perch on a
reed about 5 metres from me. They posed for their shots and then they were
gone.
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| Red Avadavat |
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| Red Avadavat |
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| Red Avadavat |
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| Red Avadavat |
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| Red Avadavat |
Trotting down the track was a grumpy, old looking dog that had decided
that the birds were not allowed on his road… He soon made that clear to them,
and then trotted off back down the track, feeling pleased with himself I’m
sure. With the shots in the bag, I decided to call it a day myself and headed
home for a cold one… Overall, a great day, with some great shots to boot…
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| Grumpy Dog !! |
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