A Walk In The Park

Sunday morning and a stroll around Phutthamonton Park for a few hours turned up a few regulars, but nothing really new. Plenty of Indian Rollers, Coppersmith and Lineated Barbets, Black Naped Orioles and a single  Collared Kingfisher. A few Little Herons, but difficult to get any good shots due to their shyness.

Indian Roller

Coppersmith Barbet

Lineated Barbet

Black Naped Oriole

Collared Kingfisher

Little Heron

On the non-birding side of things, there seemed to be a lot of Blue Headed Iguanas and as always the ever present Monitor Lizards. A single Cobra was spotted having a swim across the lake and a beautiful Golden Tree Snake took a leisurely slither up a tree......

Blue Headed Iguana

Monitor Lizard

Cobra

Golden Tree Snake

Khao Sok

Another trip out last week found us at Khao Sok National Park. After reading about the park on Nick Upton's  Thaibirding site we just had to check it out in the hope of getting some pictures of the  Blue Banded Kingfisher and The Banded Pitta to name a few... Well after arriving in Surathani, downing a few well deserved beers and staying overnight at the sister in law's, we set our at first light. The drive was spectacular, nice roads and fantastic scenery. After arriving at the park I was a bit disappointed to see how many resorts, bars and guest houses there were just outside the park. Camping looked out of the question as we could only pitch the tent next to the restaurant. Definitely not a tent friendly park... First we checked out Trail 1. All I can say is  after a 4 or 5 km hike we all felt a bit disappointed as not only did we not see anything, the trail was silent apart from that strange species of (very noisy)foreign backpackers. On the walk back we did manage to see a pair of Fairy Bluebirds.... Back at the park there was a little shop selling beer!! (thought that was against the rules). Sitting having a quick bevvie a pair of Orange Bellied Flowerpeckers flew down to join us.. At least we got a few nice pictures.

Orange Bellied Flowerpecker

Orange Bellied Flowerpecker

We only checked out a little of Trail 2 and decided to make the trip back to Surat that evening. No camping, no birds, but still a nice place to visit and I'm sure on another day we would have done better on the birding side.. Shall chalk this one up as one of those days!!!!

Nam Nao

Sometimes it's great being a teacher. It's nice to be able to travel without the usual weekend/holiday masses..
Well after a trip up to Udon to see the in-laws I couldn't resist a few days camping at Nam Nao on the way back. Well, the two days turned out just great with at least 6 or 7 first time sightings for me. Amongst those were Chestnut Bellied Nuthatch, Grey Treepie, Velvet Fronted Nuthatch, White Crowned Forktail and Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush.

Chestnut Bellied Nuthatch

Grey Treepie

Velvet Fronted Nuthatch

White Crowned Forktail

Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush

On the second day a Red Headed Trogon and a Greater Yellownape posed obligingly for some great shots.

Red Headed Trogon

Greater Yellownape

Amongst the best of the rest were Eurasian Jay, Green Magpie, Orange Bellied Leafbird, White Crested Laughingthrush and Blue Throated Barbet

Eurasian Jay

Green Magpie

Orange Bellied Leafbird

White Crested Laughingthrush

Blue Throated Barbet

Kaeng Krachan

  After a stressful last term at school, it's so nice the holidays are finally here. First trip out was to Kaeng  
  Krachan for a few days camping and to give test to the new (old) 300mm F4. Great to get out, but the
  weather was pretty unbearable. The heat was absolutely stifling !!!
  Day 1 was spent mainly around Bang Kran  and the streams. Amongst the finds were Green Billed
  Malkohas, Dollarbirds, White Rumped Shamas, Green Magpies, Leafbirds, Red Throated 
  Flycatchers,Grey Wagtails  and many various Bulbuls. I can also confirm the Scops Owls at stream 2
  have moved onto somewhere unknown.

Dollarbird

Green Billed Malkoha.

 





Day 2 began with a drive up to Panoen Tuang (spelling??) At the top we turned up Blue Eared, Blue Throated and Great Barbets, Blue Rockthrush and Orange Bellied Leafbird amongst others.

Blue Eared Barbet.

Orange Bellied Leafbird.

Blue Throated Barbet.....

Blue Rockthrush

The road back down tuned up the usual Long Tailed  Broadbills around km 27, plus a nesting pair of Banded Kingfishers. Down between stream 3 - 2 we saw the Brown Hornbills feeding their young.

Banded Kingfisher

Banded Kingfisher

Brown Hornbill

Day 3  around 1am we were awoken by a herd of wild elephants making their way through the jungle
 and up into the camping area. Also that night we saw civets and porcupines. At lunch time we had a drive
 out of the park to have lunch at Samarn's. A beer or two were definitely in order too!! After lunch, an hour

 at his blind turned up Abbot's Babblers, Striped Tit Babblers and a Racket Tailed Treepie amongst others.

Abbot's Babbler

Striped Tit Babbler.

Racket Tailed Treepie

 The last day was spent around Bang Kran and the streams again, Black and Red Broadbills, Common 
 Goldenbacks, Silver Breasted Broadbills and a Great Hornbill were all recorded.

Black and Red Broadbill

Common Goldenback.

Silver Breasted Broadbill

Great Hornbill

The drive out of the park produced sightings of a Yellow Wagtail and a Crested Serpant Eagle.

Yellow Wagtail

 



 

Crested Serpent Eagle.

Overall a good few days. I'm happy with the new lens, but some images still a little soft with the D7000. I would welcome any suggestions on settings to sharpen the images....

Farm Bangbuathong

So,, The garden is turning into a little farm now. The quails are laying everyday and the latest addition, the mushrooms are producing a couple of kilos everyday........Really sick of mushroom omelettes 5555555555555

Anyone for mushrooms????????

OFFICIAL.. Father Christmas goes camping!!!

So..Who says Father Christmas doesn't go camping?? Well a few days at Kaeng Krachan over Christmas  turned up more than just wildlife.. The big man and his reindeer headed west, had his milk and biscuits and dropped off the pressies right on schedule..

With good weather and the fun of Christmas it was good to meet up with Mike Bruce and his father and as always Khun Samarn. The trip itself turned up many birds including the Ratchet Tailed Treepie although I only got a picture of the tail!! Amongst the other highlights were Black Winged Cuckoo Shrike, Flavescent Bulbul, Grey Peacock-Pheasant, Red Headed and Orange Breasted Trogon, Yellow Vented Flowerpecker, Streaked Spiderhunter, White Fronted Scops Owl and my favourite...Hoopoe!! Oh and an all too common sighting of a pair of leopards!!

Black Winged Cuckoo Shrike

Flavescent Bulbul

Grey Peacock-Pheasant

Hoopoe

Orange Breasted Trogon

Red Headed Trogon

Streaked Spiderhunter.

White Fronted Scops Owl

Yellow Vented Flowerpecker

Leopard (spot the rivet!!!!)