Snipe's Return

The Snipes are back in town!!

Snipe...

Pintail or Common????

Well, I can safely report from yesterday afternoon's drive around my local area that the Snipes are back... At least a dozen were spotted (thaibirdspotted) around the perimeter of four rice fields. (Does anyone know why they prefer the edges as I never see them deeper in the fields)





So it's coming up to that time of year again for my local patch. Blue-tailed and Green Bee-Eaters a plenty, Common, White-throated, Stork-billed, Pied and Black-capped can usually all be seen along a 2 km  lane running parallel to a little canal, Brown, Burmese and Tiger Shrikes line the farm fences in the sunny morns with the sounds of Zitting Cistoculas and Prinias somehow bringing back memories of balmy sunny days back home. Baya, Streaked and Asian-golden Weavers go about their weaving.

Plaintive Cuckoo

 A great place for Plaintive Cuckoos is a little pond full of Lotus flowers next to a small local restaurant where the cuckoos feast on caterpillars in the evening as I finish my day with a cold beer....

Chaloem Phrakiat NP

Continuing my quest to explore this park and to take a break from http://www.thaibirdspot.com/ ,
I was back there again this week for another forage around.
Today was the best birding I've had there so far with some new ticks for this little known park.
The highlights for me had to be White-browed Piculets in two different locations and a Rufous-bellied Niltava (a lifer for me). Blue-winged Pittas were out in abundance with one pair feeding chicks. I got a good idea of the nest location, but didn't venture any further so not to disturb them too much.

Drongo ???

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker

Green-eared Barbet

Other sightings included Spangled and Greater Racket-tailed Drongoes, Green-eared Barbets, Yellow-vented and Scarlet-backed Flowerpeckers, Abbot's and Puff-throated Babblers, Lesser-necklaced Laughingthrushes, a Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Mugimaki Flycatchers, Hill and Golden-crested Mynas and a single Hooded Pitta was heard.

White-browed Piculet

White-browed Piculet

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker

Puff-throated Babbler

Rufous-bellied Niltava

Yellow-vented Flowerpecker

 To my mind this place just keeps getting better with every visit. Although I have seen most of these species many times before, it's been a real buzz finding them again without KNOWING exactly which spot to head for as with KK. I will return there again next Saturday and hopefully the young Pittas will be out and about.

Chaloem Phrakiat NP

  We went to check out Chaloem Phrakiat NP again today.. My claims that this park has real potential came to more fruition today. Arriving at the park HQ at around 9am (A fair bit later than I would have liked) we were greeted by the sounds of Puff Throated and Abbot's Babblers. The lower gardens seemed to have quite a lot of bird activity, but we headed straight for the first stream. At the first stream, Blue Winged Pittas were calling all around  from the undergrowth. A quick search of the area told us that there were at least 3-4 birds there, but none were seen. A solitary White Rumped Shama was giving full verse amongst many Bulbuls and Drongoes as we crossed the stream. The track was littered with fallen bamboo, and on the first stop to clear the road a Blue Pitta was heard from deep inside the jungle. At the next crossing (the weir) we stopped to see if we could make further progress on the other side. Sadly, the track was far too rutted and degraded to get the truck up the first incline even with 4WD. (I would have attempted it if there had been other vehicles about.) We stayed around the weir area for about an hour or so notching up Golden Fronted Leafbirds, Scarlet Backed Flowerpeckers, Greater Necklaced Laughingthrushes, Blue Eared Barbets, Grey Headed Woodpeckers and plenty of LBJs. Up in the canopy, Pied Hornbills were making their usual racket. A pair of Piculets made a brief visit, but they were too silhouetted to get a clear ID ( I guess they were Rufous, as I have seen them here before) Back down to the first crossing again and the Pittas were still active, but still eluded any good views. After a spot of lunch ( If you can call Mama noodles lunch!!) we headed back down the first track along the lake. Plenty of Egrets and Red Wattled Lapwings about and a single Oriental Darter sitting in a tree over the water. A Banded Broadbill was also possibly heard around this area. At the end of the track at the corner we decided to check out an old track that I've never investigated before. It was full of activity with more Laughing Thrushes, a Fairy Bluebird, a pair of feeding Mugimaki Flycatchers and more Blue Winged Pittas. This time we got good views of the Pittas, which looked to have a nest in the area. This day was more dedicated to the exploration of the park than photography, so we didn't really get any pictures of worth. I really believe this park has great potential for birding, although saying that, the birds really have to be looked for as there are no feeding stations or known areas for particular birds as with Kaeng Krachan. I will return by myself next week to make the hike to the upper levels where I am positive many surprises lay in wait of discovery....

 


 

Mae Wong

Well, with 9 days holiday I just had to get away somewhere for a few days. I immediately chose Mae Wong with my main targets being the Rusty-naped Pitta and Crested kingfisher. We arrived on Monday afternoon and checked into Thiumkae Resort. What a great place .... air-con, TV, fridge, WI-FI,  hot water and even a kettle with coffee all for 500bt!!!!!!  So into the park Tuesday morning, there were hoards and hoards of people!! mainly trippers and not so many birders. The road up to Chong Yen was closed until 9am, so a walk around the headquarters turned up a few flycatchers and Blue Magpies

Blue Magpie

9am up to Chong Yen , it was like the start to Wacky Races, everyone on the start line raring to go. First stop had to be the hide for the pitta. there were already a couple of birders there so we had a little walk about for a bit. On returning to the hide we were informed it had just shown....Damn!!.
We settled in for the wait but it didn't show for a long time, plenty of other action though, Buff Breasted Babblers, a Blue Whistling Thrush, a Rufous Browed Flycatcher, a pair of Silver Eared Laughingthrushes, Spot-Necked Babblers and White Tailed Blue Robins being the highlights.

Buff Breasted Babbler

Blue Whistling Thrush

Rufous Browed Flycatcher

Silver Eared Laughingthrush

Spot-Necked Babbler

White Tailed Blue Robin

Then out he hopped... This was my first sighting and I was surprised at its size. In the hide there the light is not so good, but luckily the nature of this bird seems it likes to freeze motionless for long periods of time allowing good pictures at really slow shutter speeds. I have always tried to avoid high ISO for fear of noise ( I really don't like noisy pictures ) but as the bird was so still I thought I would experiment and play around with different settings. Surprisingly some of the best shots were taken at ISO 2000!!!

Rusty Naped Pitta (Shutter 1/15 s f/7.1
                                    420 mm ISO 2000 !!)

Rusty Naped Pitta

We ventured up to the top at Chong Yen, but there were far to many people about for my liking so we had a slow drive back down to the next point for a bite to eat and to see if the Woodsnipe was still about. Sadly, the rangers said it was about that morning but there were so many people trying to get a look, he decided to fly off!!
 Back down at the headquarters we checked out the location for the Crested Kingfisher for the next morning.



Wednesday morning 5am back to the sight where we were informed from two other birders it hadn't shown yet. We waited 2 or 3 hours with no show but time passed with some nice sightings of a Slaty Backed Forktail and a Grey Wagtail.

Slaty Backed Forktail

Grey Wagtail

We really had to get back home before the evening, so we had to call it a day and pass on this one.
I got the gear out of the hide and just as I was packing it away it happened...... It flew in and sat on the rock no more than 10 ft from me  !!!!!!  I could have kicked myself.... If only.... If we had waited just 1 more minute I would have been merrily snapping away, as it was I was staring straight at this  majestic bird with my camera 5ft behind me!!! I guess that's just the nature of the game....

The "Rock"

Next time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sniper...

 I had seen a solitary Snipe on my way to work last week so a bit more investigating was due...With only limited time at the weekends at the moment I managed to get a couple of mornings around the rice fields. There seemed to be a sizable amount Snipes around this weekend, but trying to identify them is proving difficult... Pintail or Swinhoe is the begging question. ( I like Ayuwat's version "Swintail"). Big tail, small tail, bigger tail feathers or smaller tail feathers !!!  I am still at a loss..

Snipe 1 (small pin type tail feathers)

Snipe 2  (2 small pin type tail feathers)

Snipe 3 (A much fuller tail)

 There were also plenty of other waders / shore birds about too, These also give me a headache with identification.... I hope I got them correct !!

Chinese Pond Heron

Little Ringed Plover

Wood Sandpiper

Long Toed Stint

The first bird of the morning.. A superb Black Shouldered Kite.. Just a shame it was obscured by the tree..

Black Shouldered Kite

Hopefully I got the IDs correct and as for the Snipes..... any help as to whether Swinhoe or Pintail wold be greatly appreciated

Kaeng Krachan (The Final Week)

 Well the school holidays have finally come to a sad end!! So, there just had to be one final trip to KK before getting back to work.. After 7 weeks of KK, Chiang Dao, Doi Inthanon, Mae Wong, Chaloem Phrakiat, Sri Phang Nga plus quite few local trips (over 6000km!!) KK seemed the only place......... I really think this is my favourite place in Thailand.. No sooner had we got to Ban Krang many birds were showing. Top of my list for this this trip were Black Backed Kingfisher and Hooded Pitta, so I was happy to be informed the BB was showing well at stream 1. Stream 1 was buzzing with activity and I soon got some of my best ever pics of the BB. Also two more lifers for the morning a Crimson Winged Woodpecker and Dusky Broadbill showed well.....

Black Backed Kingfisher

Black Backed Kingfisher

Dusky Broadbill

Crimson Winged Woodpecker

 






















The following morning we returned for some more shots and to try to get the Hooded Pitta. Unfortunately it didn't show, but  I did manage a single Blue Pitta and a Blue Winged Pitta.

Blue Pitta

Blue Winged Pitta

There were still plenty of Broadbills about,but we didn't manage to get up to PT for the Long Tailed this time.A nice Silver Breasted was doing some construction work near the damn and the Black and Red was in and out by the crossing at Ban Krang

Black and Red Broadbill

Silver Breasted Broadbill

The final morning turned up Green Eared Barbets, a Crested Serpent Eagle and a Laced Woodpecker.
On the way back down we sat for an hour in the hide waiting for the Blue Bearded Bee-Eater that was feeding young.. Although they were heard they didn't want to show... next time!.
Overall, a rewarding 3 days. KK never disappoints.....................

Mae Wong

Koons!! Dammit!!

A trip to Mae Wong had been on the cards for a long time now and since we had a few days spare we finally got there a few weeks back.. I had researched about the resident Koon flies there, so extra protection was in order. A beautiful place to visit with some stunning scenery, but those flies!!! really a damn nuisance... So the birding... Not too much about, no signs of any Pittas or the Hornbills was a bit of a disappointment. Birds seen included; Black Throated and White Necked Laughingthrush, Buff Breasted, Streaked Wren and White Browed Shrike Babbler, Eastern Crowned Warbler, Grey Backed Shrike, Grey Cheeked Fulvetta, Grey Headed Flycatcher, Grey Peacock Pheasant, Maroon Oriole, Speckled Piculet, Velvet Fronted Nuthatch, White Throated Fantail and Yellow Cheeked Tit.

Black Throated Laughingthrush

Speckled Piculet

Velvet Fronted Nuthatch

Yellow Cheeked Tit.

 

 

White Necked Laughingthrush

The drive back down from Chong Yen was pleasant but we only managed a couple of Blue Bearded Bee-Eaters. Sadly another dip for the Crested Kingfisher !!!

Blue Bearded Bee-Eater

I'm sure we will be back there soon, maybe October this time.. Just hope not so many flies around then......scratch scratch scratch scratch scratch !!!!!!!!!!!!