MB

 

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: Thailand Diary


Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:
RE: Thailand Diary


22/12/2024 - 6.30 am Still Phu Luang Wildlife area Loei Province.

The team made an early start on this their last morning in Loei with a lengthy 4 hour stint ahead of the long drive home to Yasothon later. The pick of 29 species were:-

1 Striated Heron

1 Red-headed Trogon

1 Common Kingfisher

1 Great Barbet

1 Bronzed Drongo

8 Sulphur-breasted Warbler

1 Yellow-bellied Warbler

4 Indian White-eyes

3 Rufous-fronted Babblers

4 Blue Whistling Thrushes

2 White-crowned Forktails

1 Large Woodshrike (seen by Shaun only)

Talking briefly to Paul later on his drive home he reported a successful trip with 15 additions to his Loei list and rather more for Shaun with both adding a few Thailand ticks as well.

This will be a likely final report for 2024 so we wish for all in the Manchester birding community a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Birdy 2025.

Best Wishes from Mike P and family.

 



__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

21/12/2024 - 13.45 pm - After a break for lunch (with the girls?) Paul and Shaun put in another 3 hour session working the general area noting 19 species which included a few more additions to their province listings, - best of which were:-

1 Chinese Francolin (heard calling at a site barely 8 Kms. from their lodgings)

10 Cooks Swifts ( flying over the forest at mid elevation - this of course is the resident smaller congener of White-throated Needletail).

1 Speckled Piculet

1 Black-winged Cuckooshrike

2 White-browed Shrike-Babblers - (taxonomists seem to be reverting back to the traditional name for this species in this part of Thailand after a spell of calling it Blyths Shrike Babbler - all rather tiresome!)

1 White-bellied Erpornis

1 Grey-backed Shrike (photo courtesy of Shaun)

1 Claudias Leaf Warbler

1 Golden Babbler

3 Yunnan Fulvettas

1 Eye-browed Thrush (same location as previously)

4 Black-throated Sunbirds

Regards,

Mike P.

 

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

21/12/2024 - 6.30 am - still at Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary - Loei Province.

Birding the general area for 5 hours Paul and Shaun logged 29 species (excluding the sizeable mix of phylloscopus warblers seen already); - 

1 Asian Emerald Dove

1 Himalayan Swiftlet 

1 Great Barbet

1 Lineated Barbet

1 Blue-throated Barbet (photo courtesy of Shaun)

1 Speckled Piculet

2 White-throated Fantails

2 Ashy Drongos

15 Hair-crested Drongos

1 Black-naped Monarch

2 Grey-backed Shrikes

4 Grey-headed Canary-Flycatchers

4 Yellow-cheeked Tits

6 Asian House Martins

10 Nepal House Martins

15 Eastern Red-rumped Swallows

20 Mountain Bulbuls

6 Flavescent Bulbuls

6 Pin-striped Tit-Babblers

2 Golden Babblers

7 Yunnan Fulvettas

7 Blue-winged Minlas

1 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

3 Large Niltavas (photo courtesy of Shaun Green)

3 Taiga Flycatchers 

1 Fire-breasted Flowerpecker

1 Black-throated Sunbird (a male)

1 Mrs. Goulds Sunbird (male - always a stunner and one I still need for Thailand)

2 Leafbird sp.

5 Olive-backed Pipits

3 Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrikes (seen by Shaun alone)

Cheers,

Mike P

 

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

20/12/2024 - 11.23 am - Tanon Tee Maimi Shue - Tambon San Tom - Loei Province.

Paul and Pen made a very early start for the six hour drive up into Loei - the north westernmost province of Isaan which I have only ever visited once before (with Paul Farrell and PP a few years ago). Its one of those places which always holds promise with some special birds in the mix at certain times of the year at several known sites.

They met up as planned with Shaun and his wife with the first (incidental) record being a gathering of 10 Asian House Martins noted at the above mentioned site. These are regular winter visitors which are seasonally fairly common in Loei Chaiyaphum and Khon Kaen identified readily by their black lesser underwing coverts.

At 12.30 they reached their destination- Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary birding here for four and a half hours noting 32 species:-

1 Mountain Imperial Pigeon

8 Himalayan Swiftlets

1 Crested Serpent Eagle

3 Long-tailed Minivets

1 Ashy Drongo

12 Hair-crested Drongos

2 Black-naped Monarchs

3 Grey-headed Canary-Flycatchers

1 Yellow-cheeked Tit

1 Grey-eyed Bulbul

12 Mountain Bulbuls

2 Black-crested Bulbuls

6 Flavescent Bulbuls

4 Yellow-browed Warblers

1 Humes Warbler

2 Chinese Leaf Warblers

1 Bianchis/Martens/Alstroms Warbler (part of a nightmare split of four species - seemingly none of these three have the split at the rear of the eye ring, and all four can occur here - so perhaps best to look the other way!).

1 Greenish Warbler

1 Suphur-breasted Warbler

1 Claudias Leaf Warbler

8 Davisons Leaf Warbler

6 Black-throated Parrotbills (these at a known site for the species - photo courtesy of Shaun - for me a world tick and a target possibly for the future?)

2 Indian White-eyes

4 Pin-striped Tit-Babblers

2 Streaked Wren-Babblers

3 Yunnan Fulvettas

1 Black-backed Sibia 

1 Eye-browed Thrush (photo courtesy of Shaun) 

1 White-crowned Forktail

2 Taiga Flycatchers 

1 Streaked Spiderhunter

1 Orange-bellied Leafbird

10 Olive-backed Pipits.

 

 

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

14/12/2024 - 6.10 am - Bueng Lahan Non hunting area - Chaiyaphum Province.

News broke late on 13th of a Black-faced Spoonbill in this westernmost province of Isaan which immediately put Paul into twitching mode. He headed off west arranged some convenient village accommodation and was on site early only to initially find nothing around though a trickle of birders started to arrive (15 no less- a big turnout in Thailand!).

It was pointed out that there was a nearby egret roost and sure enough birds started to glide into the site - to everyones relief the Black-faced Spoonbill was with them. This smaller congener of our more familiar Eurasian Spoonbill is a rare winter visitor to Thailand and sits high on my own wanted list. 
Pauls early start paid off as the bird didnt stick around for long so he spent the rest of the morning boosting his own province list with a mooch round the general area where another few hours yielded 52 species - the pick of the bunch being:-

1 Lesser Coucal

150 Black-winged Stilts

2 Red-wattled Lapwings

30 Bronze-winged Jacanas

1 Marsh Sandpiper

1 Wood Sandpiper

3 Spotted Redshanks

1 Greenshank

400 Asian Openbills

400 Glossy Ibises (an amazing number - photo)

5 Purple Herons

2 Black Kites (these seem to be rather more numerous generally this year).

1 Freckle-breasted Woodpecker

7 Long-tailed Shrikes (a good count of this spectacular and variable species these of the handsome black- hooded

longicaudatus form - photos)

8 Sand Martins

1 White-shouldered Starling (photo)

At 11.17 am a twenty minute stop at Ta Dam Lake produced 17 species including 2 Ashy Minivets, 2 Racket-tailed Treepies and a Thick-billed Warbler to round off his Chaiyaphum outing adding a nice 23 species to his province list.

En route driving back home a Black Kite was a fortuitous chance addition to his list for Roi Et.

Cheers,

Mike P.



-- Edited by Mike Passant on Sunday 15th of December 2024 05:22:08 PM

Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

12/12/2024 -6.30 am Huai Hin Taek -Roi Et province.

Paul met up again With Shaun in the lathers home province logging 33 fairly common species species in a ninety minute session before both heading into Yasothon and spending another ninety minutes working the Loob Nong Nor reservoir area and the Phon Ngam and Dong Por Community Forests finding 38 species - all the usual suspects the best being a heard only Lanceolated Warbler and with Shauns photos of a pair of Ruby-cheeked Sunbirds (attached).

Regards,

Mike P.



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

14/12/2024 - All about Thrushes.

Today I want to backtrack to that magic week (the first week of January 2023) - almost two years ago when prolonged north easterly winds brought some notable thrush species to Phu Mu Forest Park on the Yasothon/ Mukdahan boundary.

The four of us - Pen and Paul Barb and I were seeing if anything had arrived at this hilltop location on these winds when Pen noted an Orange-headed Thrush which turned out to be of the form maculata - later confirmed as a new sub species for Thailand no less.
As we were watching this thrush Pen was trying to draw our attention to another bird rather closer to hand and largely obscured in the grass. When we eventually looked at her bird it became the main focus of our attention - another new species for the province which we tentatively identified as a female/immature Black-breasted thrush.

Barb then pointed out a Whites Thrush foraging further away in the leaf litter and much closer to hand we noted a confiding male White-throated Rock Thrush. After enjoying the spectacle for an hour or so we headed off and after informing Paul Farrell that evening we all joined up for a return visit on 10/01 2023 when the attached photos by both PF and PP were taken.

Later in the year Paul was asked by Phillip Round if we had eliminated the possibility of our Black-breasted Thrush being a female Grey-backed Thrush - a potential new species for Thailand! 
Of course we had not; Grey-backed Thrush wasnt even on our radar and is not even shown in the latest Thai fieldguide. My only experience of the species is of a single male in China 2002 which was in loose association foraging with a Whites Thrush which appeared to dwarf it.

Last week Thailands first Grey-backed Thrush (a female) was found in Nakhon Ratchasima at a restricted site and has been well photographed so far by a handful of observers fortunate enough to see it. Accordingly I have been scrutinising all of these photos and comparing these with those of our 2023 bird.

Paul has been requested by Phillip Round to forward as many photos as possible of our female Black-breasted Thrush for critical assessment by leading authorities to eliminate it as far as possible from being the first record of Grey-backed Thrush.
Although the similarity between females of these two species is striking I am hoping that our original identification might stand based on what appear as consistent differences in mantle tones and bill colour; - however because of our inexperience and not having any clear idea of the variation parameters within each species as regards ageing sexing or moult strategy for us it remains a case of wait and see. We hope for the finders of last weeks definate Grey-backed Thrush that their bird will stand as the first record.

Regards,

Mike P



-- Edited by Mike Passant on Sunday 15th of December 2024 10:05:33 AM

Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

07/12/2024 - 9.50 - Lam Phok, Surin

Paul enjoyed a very productive session of three hours twenty minutes and logged 67 species - far too many for me to type in individually.

The birds were logged in the Chi River area on and around the river sandbars. (I think the river here forms the boundary with Si Sa Ket).

Highlights and notable counts were :-

500 Lesser Whistling Ducks

60 Grey-headed Swamphens

1 White-breasted Waterhen

300 Black-winged Stilts

50 Bronze-winged Jacanas (many juvs- one photo)

1 Little Ringed Plover

1 Black-tailed Godwit

4 Common Sandpipers 

2 Marsh Sandpipers

12 Wood Sandpipers

30 Spotted Redshanks

3 Greenshanks

12 Small Pratincoles

1 Oriental Darter

20 Little Cormorants

93 heron/egrets of five species

Raptors:-

1 Shikra

1 Black Kite

15 Brahminy Kites

3 Rufous-winged Buzzards (all together)

Among the other 40+ species 8 Eastern Yellow Wagtails were evenly split between adults and juvs. (photo attached is of sub sp. macronix).

Paul added about seven new species for his own province list to reach 152 - still some 25 short of the leading eBird list of 177 by a birder who last surveyed here some 13 years ago.

Also - same day 2.00 pm - Kud Noi - Wat Pa Na Bun - Si Sa Ket Province.

Paul returned here in the early afternoon spending a productive hour logging 42 species which included a party of 16 Grey-headed Lapwings as the highlight especially as Andy Pierce had found the first two for this province only days earlier. This particular location is set alongside the Chi River (Thailands longest river wholly within the country and which further downstream joins the Mun River which further east flows into the mighty Mekong).

The waders were photographed on one of the river sandbars.

Other wader species were:-

3 Little Ringed Plovers

1 Common Sandpiper

18 Spotted Redshanks

8 Greenshanks

Pick of the rest were:-

1 Shikra

8 Brahminy Kites

Along with the expected set of egrets bee-eaters etc. was the usual mix of commoner passerines.

En route home a female Pied Harrier was noted and photographed - an incidental record to increase his province list here to 157.

Cheers,

Mike P.

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

06/12/2024 - A late morning call from Andy Pierce saw Paul headed south on a twitch into Si Sa Ket; - Andy had found two Grey-headed Lapwings, - a new species for the province.

Paul arrived on site at Klong Siao Horshoe Bends - a location which rings no bells with me (but which sounds like a riverine area of perhaps oxbow lakes?).

A ninety minute session yielded 38 species including the target birds- best of which were:-

2 Grey-headed Lapwings (record photo)

4 Asian Openbills

1 Yellow Bittern

3 Purple Herons

1 Black-winged Kite (photo)

2 Racket-tailed Treepies (photo of one)

1 Oriental Reed Warbler

3 Dusky Warblers

1 Two-barred Warbler

1 Yellow-browed Warbler

1 Brown Shrike

Later en route home (still in Si Sa Ket) a half hour stop at Tanon Tee Maimi Shue produced 11 species including a vocal but unseen Lanceolated Warbler and four Hoopoes - one of which flaunted itself for a decent photo opportunity.

Cheers,

Mike P.

 

 

 

 



-- Edited by Mike Passant on Saturday 7th of December 2024 10:35:05 AM

Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

01/12/2024 - 6.45 am - Khlong Kam Nakhon Phanom Province.

With an early start Paul undertook a solo outing up into this north easterly province (albeit just into the southern portion which is not too far from Yasothon). 
In two and a half hours he logged a good mix of 45 regular species with just one of these (Chestnut Munias) edging his own leading list for Nakhon Phanom onto 150.

Pick of the bunch would be :-

1 Lesser Coucal

1 Purple Heron

3 Pied Harriers

1 Brown Shrike (photo;- we still await one of these in Durham as no doubt you do yourselves in Manchester).

10 Chestnut Munias (in with a mix of 25 White-rumped Munias - all feeding on rice)

Regards,

Mike P.



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

27/11/2024 -7.27 am - Phu Si Than ranger station 9 - Mukdahan Province.

Paul met up with Paul Farrell and Shaun Green on site up in the north of Mukdahan where the two Pauls have previously done pretty well (with woodpeckers especially).This was a first visit for Shaun who was accordingly looking forward to the trip. However to the surprise of all they were denied access by the rangers in spite of Paul Farrells fluency in Thai explaining that they had visited previously without any problems at all. Perhaps there was some project underway and in place a temporary bar on entry for safety reasons - who know?

I hope the situation here is only temporary as Barb and I have yet to visit this site which among other attractions holds Great Slaty Woodpecker - a species I still need for Thailand.

However the team managed to salvage some birding in a three hour session which yielded 32 species - generally the usual predictable mix with the only woodpecker being a single Common Flameback with 2 raptors - an Oriental Honey Buzzard (photos) and a Crested Serpent Eagle.

Cheers,

Mike P.



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

20th to 22nd November - various sites in Surin Province.

Paul returned last week from a journey of further exploration and several nights camping in Surin province which lies a little to the south east of Yasothon.

We have birded in the province before (as recently as earlier this year); - however even though it borders Cambodia and must have undiscovered avian treasures it is rather off the beaten track and like virtually all of Isaan visited by no bird tour groups - but just by a few diehard individual birders.

Paul recorded 109 species across nine locations which I am not listing here chapter and verse otherwise I should be typing all day - these included 27 new species for his own province list to take him onto 145 and into second spot in the rankings. Several species (Im not sure which) were first records for Surin.

Highlight birds were : -

1 Pied Harrier

2 Black Kites (photos)

1 Peregrine (photo)

2 Pied Kingfishers

8 Red-breasted Parakeets

6 Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters

1 Bluethroat

6 Brown-rumped Minivets

2 White-bellied Erpornis

4 Ashy Drongos (white-faced form)

3 Black-naped Orioles

1 Lanceolated Warbler

Sulphur-breasted Warbler

2 Pale-legged Leaf Warbler

4 Bar-winged Flycatcher-Shrikes

White-crested Laughingthrushes - many small groups across 3/4 of the sites visited.

1 Siberian Blue Robin.

Several sites involved negotiating with army personnel deployed here in view of the proximity of the border and all but one group denied him access to frustratingly attractive forest locations in the views ahead - one such episode cost him several hours of wasted driving. However his explorations paid off on 21st at Khao Sala with the discovery of the best bit of forest in the whole province which we shall no doubt visit quite soon.

Regards,

Mike P.



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

14/11/2024 - 17.00 pm - Phue Hi Yasothon.

Paul drove the few kilometres to check the local harrier roost site where the ideal viewing spot was again blocked by the tethered buffalo which impeded us when we last visited. He logged 26 species in a 20 minute session the most noteworthy being:-

50 Lesser Whistling Ducks

1 Plaintive Cuckoo

5 Little Egrets

10 Chinese Pond-Herons

20 Eastern Cattle Egrets

5 Grey Herons

3 Purple Herons

3 Eastern Marsh Harriers

4 Pied Harriers

6 Harrier sp.

2 Brahminy Kites

25 Asian Green Bee-eaters

Plus a support cast of common passerines.

Photos attached: - record shot of a male Pied Harrier and of the Brahminy Kites - taken against the sun - thanks to the buffalo!

Regards,

Mike P.

 

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

With reference to Pauls outing in Roi Et on 13th Nov. he has added a Pale-legged Leaf Warbler to his day list and added a photo of the single Raddes Warbler for the day.

Cheers,

Mike P.



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

13/11/2024 -11.30 am. Tham Pha Nam Thip non hunting area n/e Thai Literary Botanical Gardens -Roi Et Province.

4 hours spent trudging through leaf litter seeking winter thrushes here produced 29 species but only a single thrush sp. flushed for Pauls efforts. As some consolation he did enjoy some Olive-backed Pipits - best were:-

1 Shikra

2 White-bellied Erpornis

1 Asian Brown Flycatcher

6 Taiga Flycatchers

3 Hainan Blue Flycatchers 

4 Yellow-browed Warblers

1 Raddes Warbler

8 Olive-backed Pipits

Cheers,

Mike P.

 

 

 



-- Edited by Mike Passant on Thursday 14th of November 2024 11:06:16 AM

__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

11/11/2024 -10.15 am Ban Nom Klao/ Boong Khla Community Forest - Yasothon.

Paul drove over to his best local forest patch spending a couple of hours and recorded 27 regular species with nothing much out of the ordinary. Best species were:-

6 White-nest swiftlets (formerly Germains Swiftlets)

Drongos : 1 Black 2 Ashy 3 Hair-crested 4 Greater Racket-tailed.

3 Black-naped Monarchs

1 Brown Shrike

12 Grey-headed Canary-Flycatchers ( - The commonest flycatcher in the forest at this time of the year).

Bulbuls:- 5 Black-crested 3 Streak-eared 3 Puff-throated and 1 Stripe-throated.

3 White-rumped Shamas

2 Hainan Blue Flycatchers

1 Taiga Flycatcher

3 Amur Stonechats

Cheers,

Mike P.

 

 

 


05/11/2024 9 am - Phon Ngam & Dong Por Community Forests - Phu Mak Prik Temple - Yasothon Province.

With the focus still very much on raptor watching Paul spent 90 minutes here logging just 14 species and largely ignoring forest birds. A few raptors were noted and photographed:-

6 Oriental Honey Buzzards (one in primary moult)

1 Black Kite (seems to be black-eared form - any Yasothon records of these are notable).

Regards,

Mike P.

 



-- Edited by Mike Passant on Tuesday 12th of November 2024 01:41:15 PM



-- Edited by Mike Passant on Wednesday 13th of November 2024 01:34:29 PM

__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

06/11/2024 8.45 am A return visit to the same site as yesterday yielded no raptors - just 12 common species among which-

8 Asian Green Bee-eaters

4 Little Grebes on adjacent lake (photo)

Regards,

Mike P.



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

05/11/2024 9 am - Phon Ngam & Dong Por Community Forests - Phu Mak Prik Temple - Yasothon Province.

With the focus still very much on raptor watching Paul spent 90 minutes here logging just 14 species and largely ignoring forest birds. A few raptors were noted and photographed:-

6 Oriental Honey Buzzards (one in primary moult)

1 Black Kite (seems to be white-eared form - any Yasothon records of these are notable).

Regards,

Mike P.

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

02/11/2024 6.15 am - Dong Hua Kong & Dong Bang Ee Community Forest  - Phu Sing Amnat Charoen Province.

This early morning start saw Paul scanning over the forest canopy from the cliff tops. We have visited this spectacular overlook before and Paul has never found any access from the cliff top to the extensive forest below so we always can imagine that exciting discoveries here await us - if only

A three hour session yielded up 29 species; best being:-

2 Red Junglefowl (here certainly wild birds)

2 Green-billed Malkohas 

1 White- nest Swiftlet 

4 House Swifts

1 Jerdons Baza (record shot. Another good record and obviously end of October/early November seems to be a good time this year at least for migrants of this scarce raptor).

1 Blue-winged Pitta (calling from the forest below the cliffs - begging the question is this a late migrant here or possibly even a wintering bird ?).

8 Ashy Minivets (All heading south - one photo)

Cheers,

Mike P.

 

 

 

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

01/11/2024 9.50 am Kutchum garden -Yasothon.

November got off to a cracking start this morning when sharp eyed Pen drew Pauls attention to a raptor soaring ever higher over the garden. Paul scrambled for the camera in the car and shot off some photos of a first for Yasothon - unmistakably a Jerdons Baza. At the Chumphon raptor watchpoint down south last week Paul saw but one of these so this is an excellent find by Pen on their home patch

Photos attached:-

Cheers,

Mike P.



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

25/10/2024 - 11.58 am. Arun Prasert road Tambon Pa Lan - Maha Sarakham Province.

While driving east with Pen within a couple of hours of home Paul noted a passerine harrying a buzzard sized raptor but with his birding brain starting to kick in he was already slowing down to stop as it dawned that the passerine was a big one - a Large-billed Crow and that the buzzard was an eagle species.

He quickly rattled off shots to confirm his identification - a Greater Spotted Eagle and a new addition to the province list; - photos below.

In later contact with the raptor watchers down in Chumphon it transpired that after their departure Common Buzzard Short-toed Eagles and Booted Eagles had been recorded so a repeat visit next year may well be set for a week later in the calendar?

Paul and Pen had chalked up 2000 kms on this latest outing - Thailand has good roads but is not a small country.

Regards,

Mike P.

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

25/10/2024 - 6.00 am - Animal Nutrition Research and Development Centre - Nakhon Ratchasima Province.

This is always a good site for birding comprising arable fields and grasslands hedgerows and a scatter of large trees relatively undisturbed due in part to the R&D factor. We normally drive straight in at the checkpoint gates looking authoritative and official and have never been challenged as we behave respectfully and with smiles if we encounter anyone on site (which is almost never).

Shaun Paul and the girls spent an hour and three quarters here on the homeward leg of their travels, recording 42 species - best of which were:-

13 Chinese Francolins (a prime site - though mainly heard rather than seen)

2 Greater Coucals

1 Lesser Coucal (photo courtesy of Shaun Green)

15 Red-wattled Lapwings

1 Spotted Owlet ( - very site faithful here and seen on just about every visit)

1 White-throated Kingfisher

1 Black-naped Oriole

45 Ashy Woodswallows ( - common enough but this is a large number)

3 Brown Shrikes

7 Indochinese Bushlarks

1 Lanceolated Warbler

200 Barn Swallows

4 Chestnut-capped Babblers

1 Siberian Rubythroat

1 Taiga Flycatcher

5 Amur Stonechats

60 Baya Weavers

16 Red Avadavats

Cheers,

Mike P.

 

 

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

24/10/2024 - Pak Thale nature reserve - Phetchaburi Province.

Its difficult to pass north through this province without calling in to this location for the almost overwhelming winter waderfest to be enjoyed so Shaun and Paul succumbed to temptation with a four hour session here which yielded up 55 species - highlights being:-

1 Slaty-breasted Rail

100 Black-winged Stilts

15 Black-bellied Plovers

1 Pacific Golden Plover

8 Little Ringed Plovers

200 Tibetan Sand-Plovers (photo courtesy of Shaun Green)

20 Greater Sand-Plovers

2000 Bar-tailed Godwits

35 Black-tailed Godwits

100 Marsh Sandpipers (photo courtesy of Shaun Green)

15 Common Redshanks

1 Nordmanns/Common Greenshank

6 Great Knots (photo courtesy of Shaun Green)

20 Red Knots

2 Ruffs

12 Broad-billed Sandpipers

5 Curlew Sandpipers

200 Red-necked Stints

3 Sanderlings

15 Brown-headed Gulls

30 Little Terns

10 Gull-billed Terns (photo courtesy of Shaun Green)

1 Caspian Tern

1 Whiskered Tern

2 Black-naped Terns

40 Painted Storks

50 Little Cormorants

2 Pacific Reef Herons

5 other common heron/ egret sp.

50 Spot-billed Pelicans

Cheers,

Mike P.

 

 

 

 

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

23/10/2024 - 13.40 - Thong Chai Mangroves - Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.

With the Greens and Passants heading back north the opportunity was taken to call in again at this special site for the main attraction - Pale-capped Pigeons where a 20 minute stop rewarded with two of the species seen in flight between the mangroves amid 13 commoner species the best of which being:-

1 Striated Heron

5 Blue-tailed Bee-eaters

1 White-throated Kingfisher

1 Indochinese Roller

6 Golden-bellied Gerygones (aka Flyeaters)

Cheers,

Mike P.

 

 



__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

22/10/2024 16.50 - Saphli Chumphon Province.

Later on the same afternoon Paul and Pen met up with friends Shaun Green and his wife enjoying a short session to round off their day and perhaps boost their province listing a little :-

1 Tibetan Sand-Plover

1 Common Sandpiper

50 Little Egrets (these comprised small parties all heading south some 50 metres out over the bay)

6 Purple Herons

2 Asian Barred Owlets

3 Indochinese Rollers

1 Lineated Barbet

5 Barn Swallows

1 Streak-eared Bulbul

5 Common Mynas

3 Vinous-breasted Mynas (photo)

3 Great Mynas

2 Ornate Sunbirds

Regards,

Mike P.

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

22/10/2024 - 9.00 am - Kromluang Chumphon Wildlife Sanctuary. HQ vicinity - Chumphon Province.

Paul and Pens first visit here since August of 2022 - arriving rather late so they moved on to the main watchpoint after 25 mins and with only 7 species logged: -

3 Spotted Doves

1 Oriental Honey Buzzard

1 Crested Goshawk (photo)

1 Grey-faced Buzzard (photo)

1 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker

1 Ruby-cheeked Sunbird

2 Ornate Sunbirds

Later at 11.50 Paul and Pen arrived at Khao Dinso raptor centre where they spent 90 mins enjoying a somewhat bewildering first experience (Pauls own words) of raptor migration logging 14 species:-

1 House Swift

1 Jerdons Baza

800 Black Bazas (photos)

15 Oriental Honey Buzzards

4 Crested Serpent Eagles

2 Besras (photos)

20 Japanese Sparrowhawks

4 Shikras

3 Chinese Sparrowhawks

100 accipiter sp.

1 Black Kite

1 Eurasian Kestrel

120 Blue-tailed Bee-eaters

15 Ashy Minivets

12 Barn Swallows

Cheers,

Mike P. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



-- Edited by Mike Passant on Sunday 27th of October 2024 01:24:30 PM



-- Edited by Mike Passant on Sunday 27th of October 2024 01:55:09 PM

Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

21/10/2024 15.25 - Thong Chai Mangroves - Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.

Paul and Pen shared the long drive south into this province spending a brief 45 minutes birding this site (which I have never visited) lying towards the top of the peninsula just south of Phetchaburi Province.

Prachuap Khiri Khan is a very narrow long expanse of land on a north/south axis and for this reason is one of the prime sites for monitoring raptor migration through Thailand.

During their stop here Paul and Pen logged 19 species including a new addition to their Thai lists: -

25 Pale-capped Pigeons (described as an uncommon to rare passage migrant and winter visitor favouring mangrove habitats) this particular site is a known haunt for the species - photographed)

6 Red-wattled Lapwings

5 Whimbrels (overhead flying south).

1 Common Sandpiper

4 Wood Sandpipers

1 Oriental Darter

1 Little Cormorant

1 Striated Heron

2 Little Egrets

1 Japanese Sparrowhawk/Besra

50 Blue-tailed Bee-eaters (in small groups all southbound)

1 White-throated Kingfisher

2 Indochinese Rollers

1 Lineated Barbet

5 Ashy Drongo

3 Greater Racket-tailed Drongos

Cheers,

Mike P.

 

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

Going back a day to 18/10/2024 Paul drove into Roi Et to take son Art to the airport for the latters flight to Bangkok and took the opportunity for some birding at the Pha Nam Yoi Forest Park which straggles the border with Yasothon where a two hour session yielded 28 of the regular expected species but noteworthy among 3 Hainan Blue Flycatchers he noted one male sporting a pale orange throat - his first record of the sub species klossi - photo attached.

Cheers,

Mike P.



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

19/10/2024 - 9.30 am - Loeng Nok Tha disused airport, -Yasothon Province.

Paul checks out this fairly local site from time to time as it is excellent for both lark and pipit species and when visiting Barb and I have enjoyed arguably our best ever views of several species using the vehicle as a hide with birds being quite unphased.

On Pauls latest visit he logged 21 species in a 70 minute session the most notable being:-

1 Barred Buttonquail (flushed from underfoot from a rice field next to the old runway)

1 Pied Harrier (a male which headed directly away before the camera could be brought to bear).

5 Hoopoes

20 Asian Green Bee-eaters

3 Black Drongos

3 Brown Shrikes

2 Indochinese Bushlarks

12 Oriental Skylarks

6 Amur Stonechats

5 Pied Bushchats

3 Plain-backed Sparrows (the males are anything but plain)

4 Paddyfield Pipits

12 Red-throated Pipits (arguably the special species for this site - photo of one bird - seemingly one with attitude).

Regards,

Mike P.

 

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

Kutchum - Yasothon province - 16/10/2024.

Paul has announced the availability of a new website which he has recently built - songnok.org which is about when and where to find the most new birds for birders in Thailand.
The system complements and expands upon data from submissions to eBird to identify and track target species for Country Region and Province for both individuals and teams.

The system is free to use with no login required and has no advertisements. The current release is best viewed from a device with a large display. Though it does work on a mobile phone it provides a better user experience on a tablet laptop or PC.

If you are a birder in (or visiting) Thailand or an existing eBird user take a look at songnok.org.

(Incidentally in Thai Songnok means looking for birds - hence the choice of name).

 

Regards,

Paul Passant, Mike Passant



__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

12/10/2024 - 6.30 am. Dong Hua Kong & Dong Bang Ee Community Forest - Phu Sing. Amnat Charoen province.

This morning saw Paul making a very early start for a session of just over two hours in Amnat (the adjacent province just east of Yasothon). He logged 30 species as follows:-

6 Spotted Doves

2 Zebra Doves

1 Green-billed Malkoha

1 Greater Coucal

5 House Swifts

1 Harrier sp.

1 Shikra

1 Brahminy Kite

12 Asian Green Bee-eaters

4 Coppersmith Barbets

3 Lineated Barbets

2 Ashy Woodswallows

4 Ashy Drongos

2 Hair-crested Drongos

4 Greater Racket-tailed Drongos

1 Brown Shrike

2 Large-billed Crows

2 Common Tailorbirds

5 Black-crested Bulbuls

3 Streak-eared Bulbuls

1 Pale-legged Leaf Warbler/Sakhalin Leaf Warbler.

(Both forms migrate through Isaan. The general view is that Sakhalin winters down the peninsula, whereas Pale-legged stays to winter in Isaan; - obviously with birds appearing/passing now ahead of winter both are possible so a definitive i/d needs birds to call or at best recordings obtained for spectrographic analysis.

2 Pin-striped Tit-Babblers

3 White-rumped Shamas

1 Hainan Blue Flycatcher

1 Indochinese Blue Flycatcher

1 Taiga Flycatcher 

2 Blue Rock-Thrushes

2 Plain Flowerpeckers

1 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker

4 Ornate Sunbirds

1 Paddyfield Pipit

At this juncture Im not sure without checking if any of the above increase Pauls province list.

Regards,

Mike P.

 

 

 

 

 



__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

10/10/2024 - 8.00 am - Phu Pha Thoep Nat. Pk. Mukdahan- HQ vicinity.

Up to date on farm chores, Paul enjoyed an excursion into Mukdahan province spending a leisurely 3 hours strolling around this distinctive site with its sandstone pinnacles and odd formations of big scattered boulders interspersed with dry scrub and rank grass.
The highlight birds among 33 species were again Indian Thick-knees (4) putting in a repeat showing in the same location and showing the same consistency as regards timing; - last years birds were here on 23/10/23 and on 03/11/23. Barb and I arrived in Thailand last time and missed a potential Thailand tick by a matter of days; - we suspect that they just pass through here rather than winter here.

The best of the other species were:-

1 Oriental Honey-Buzzard

2 Crested Serpent-Eagles

2 Red-wattled Lapwings

1 Rufous-winged Buzzard

8 Asian Green Bee-eaters

1 Indochinese Roller

2 Lineated Barbets

1Wire-tailed Swallow

2 Yellow-browed Warblers

1 Asian Brown Flycatcher

1 Hainan Blue Flycatcher

1 Indochinese Blue Flycatcher

3 Taiga Flycatchers

1 Blue Rock-Thrush

Cheers,

Mike P.

 

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

17/09/2024 - 7.24 am - Khueang Kham - Nong Hoi paddies, Yasothon.

Shaun Green (the leading resident birder based in Roi Et province) drove into Yasothon to meet up with Paul for a mornings birding around some of the better wetland sites, starting at Nong Hoi rice paddies where a two hour session yielded 44 species- the best of which as follows: - 

5 Black-winged Stilts

1 Grey-headed Lapwing

3 Bronze-winged Jacanas (1 adult two chicks)

1 Pin-tailed Snipe

1 Common Snipe

8 Pin-tailed/Common Snipes

2 Common Sandpipers

12 Wood Sandpipers

2 Long-toed Stints

200 Openbill Storks

1 Black Bittern

2 Cinnamon Bitterns

10 Little Egrets

10 Eastern Cattle Egrets

1 Medium Egret

8 Brahminy Kites

1 Eurasian Hoopoe

20 Asian Green Bee-eaters

4 Indochinese Rollers

4 Brown Shrikes

4 Eastern Yellow Wagtails

- Plus a hatful of the usual common passerines.

By 10.05 they arrived at my old stamping ground which back in 2017 I named as Yasothon Pools but now referred to as - Phaya Naga Museums vicinity, where the best of 21 species were:-

1 Yellow Bittern

1 Pied Kingfisher (an excellent record for this site and a species I still need for the province).

At 11.00 am they made a final 20 minute stop at a small forest fragment at Phu Hi which gave 7 species including a Black-naped Monarch, an Arctic Warbler and a Hainan Blue Flycatcher.
Shaun added over 20 more species to his Yasothon province list.

Cheers,

Mike P.

 

 

 

 

 



-- Edited by Mike Passant on Thursday 19th of September 2024 07:13:57 AM

__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

22/08/2024 - 6 am - Nong Hoi Paddies, Yasothon.

This morning saw an early dawn start on site by Paul hoping for a further breakthrough in his quest to further boost the province wader list. 
Frustratingly on the previous day here he had obtained a poor view of a distant stint with black legs - (indicative of either Red-necked or possibly even a Little Stint) - whichever would constitute a new province species. A long distance record shot from the car window (attached) was insufficient as the field (albeit in prime condition for waders) was several fields distant from the road and any approach on foot would likely flush the target birds.

This repeat visit this morning yielded no reward other than the usual culprits:-

30 Lesser Whistling Ducks

8 Indian Spot-billed Ducks (these flew off as he approached on foot)

30 Black-winged Stilts

3 Little Ringed Plovers

2 Pin-tailed Snipe

3 Common Sandpipers

12 Wood Sandpipers

3 Long-toed Stints

25 Oriental Pratincoles

The previous day had included a Pacific Golden Plover and a Grey-headed Lapwing.

Regards,

Mike P.

 

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

16/08/2024 - 07.10 am Nong Hoi Paddies - Yasothon.

A short 30 minute visit saw Paul again at this likely site checking for any passage waders. Though he reported only a few birds he did record the first passage individuals through Isaan of the autumn as regards Marsh Sandpiper and Long-toed Stint. 
Fuller details as follows:-

8 Black-winged Stilts

1 Little Ringed Plover

1 Marsh Sandpiper (a presumed adult moulting into winter plumage; - during our 6 week Spring visit - from memory I recall not a single Marsh Sandpiper on our travels).

1 Long-toed Stint

Cheers,

Mike P.

 

 

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

10/08/2024 - 07.55 am Huai Aeng - Roi Et side.

Paul and Shaun continued their wader monitoring of this promising site recording a total of 32 species in a 75 minute session.

Best of the waders were 5 River Lapwings and 9 Wood Sandpipers. Of the passerines by far the best find was an obliging Burmese Shrike.

Regards,

Mike P.



__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

08/08/2024 06.55 am. Nong Hoi Paddies - Yasothon.

With the focus very much now on searching for passage waders Paul spent a couple of hours checking this extensive area of rice fields for optimum conditions. In one particular field of newly planted rice he was rewarded with a new wader species for the province and in fact the first passage autumn record so far this year in the Isaan region - none other than a Common Redshank! - Yes of course this is nothing special here in the UK but is a good record in eastern Thailand.

He logged an impressive 45 species in total - most notable being:-

15 Black-winged Stilts

1 Pacific Golden Plover

1 Common Sandpiper

1 Green Sandpiper

9 Wood Sandpipers

1 Common Redshank

30 Asian Openbills

1 Black Bittern

2 Cinnamon Bitterns

5 Yellow Bitterns

6 Little Egrets

1 Black-winged Kites

8 Brahminy Kites

1 Hoopoe

2 White-throated Kingfishers

20 Asian Green Bee-eaters

3 Indochinese Rollers

15 Red Avadavats

In addition about 19 assorted common passerines species.

No doubt Paul will be out regularly over the coming weeks with one of the target species uppermost in his mind being Sharp-tailed Sandpiper which has been reported in the past passing through Isaan (Khon Kaen - some 3 hours further west).

More significantly he later called in to check on one of his banker breeding sites in Yasothon for Blue-winged Pittas and was pleased to be able to confirm successful breeding here for the third successive year.

Regards,

Mike P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

02/08/2024 - 7.40 am - Huai Aeng (Roi Et side) Roi Et Province.

With the seasonal lull in birding activity potentially coming to an end, Paul arranged to meet up again with Shaun Green to check out the current wader situation on this good site which straddles the border with Maha Sarakham on its western side.
Readers will recall that in April with water levels much reduced we had been able to drive right out onto the exposed firm grassy lake margins where we were fortunate in finding the first ever vagrant Pectoral Sandpiper for the whole of the Isaan region. Despite promptly putting out the news this one day well photographed bird was seen by only four people.

A session of 2 hours 35 minutes produced 36 species - most notably the following: -

50 Lesser Whistling Ducks

5 Little Grebes

45 Red Collared Doves (a rather notably high count?)

6 Black-winged Stilts

4 Little Ringed Plovers

19 River Lapwings (13 together in an unplanted farm field with a scatter of 6 along the shorelines)

2 Red-wattled Lapwings (these with the main group of the previous species).

2 Bronze-winged Jacanas

1 Common Sandpiper

11 Wood Sandpipers (always a good indicator species and worth checking for rarer company).

1 Greenshank

60 Oriental Pratincoles

18 Asian Openbills.

In addition the predictable support cast of egrets and assorted commoner passerines, with Shaun alone noting 3 Greater Racket-tailed Drongos.

The Red-wattled Lapwings to my surprise were a province tick for Paul to bring him level with Shaun as joint top Roi Et listers - both now on 199.

Regards,

Mike P.

 

 

 

 

 

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

10/07/2024 Kit Chum - Yasothon Province.

Its the rainy season in Thailand presently, hence not much to report in terms of birding activity. The rice crop has been planted and (touch wood) is doing fine for now.

Monday provided a little excitement when Pen noticed the rear end of a Banded Krait disappearing into the bungalow where Barb and I stay during our visits. The sliding glass door had been left slightly ajar and at this time of year there are generally more snakes around and this individual had accordingly taken advantage. This species is readily identified with a black body and bold yellow hoops and though generally not aggressive is highly venomous.

The village has a resident snake catcher but there was no response when Pen rang him; - in the meantime the Krait had hidden under the sofa in our bedroom and Paul armed with a sweeping brush carefully pulled out the sofa but was at a loss at to how to proceed further. He called out to Rambo (one of the Thai Ridgeback guard dogs) who bounded in and immediately went to work.

The dogs mode of attack with any snake is to avoid going near the head and to swiftly take the creature well behind the head and to vigorously shake it to break the spine. This effective method seems to be entirely instinctive.

While our own instincts would always be to avoid any contact with a snake and certainly not to harm it as far as possible from time to time drastic measures are called for as a last resort. It should be noted also in passing that the head of a recently dead snake (even a severed head) can still for a short time inflict a bite as a reflex action.

Regards,

Mike P.



__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

30/05/2024 - 8.00 am Huai Aeng - (Roi Et side).

Paul met up by arrangement with Shaun Green to check for any late passage migrants on the site which yielded up the Pectoral Sandpiper for us on 28/04. A two hour session provided 34 species, most notable being:-

300 Lesser Whistling ducks (with at least the same numbers on the Maha Sarakham side of the complex).

13 Black-winged Stilts

6 Little Ringed Plovers

7 River Lapwings (a good count for central Isaan. Unfortunately these flew off before any photos could be taken)

5 Pheasant-tailed Jacanas

1 Common Greenshank (A week or so earlier Paul had received news that a radio tagged Nordmans Greenshank had been traced to Roi Et province and despite Paul Farrell and Shaun Green joining him in a search for the bird they had no luck - accordingly any Greenshank found of late is being closely scrutinised).

40 Small Pratincoles

50 Oriental Pratincoles (These birds and probably Small Pratincoles have young on the site and opportunistic Brahminy Kites are patrolling with eyes for easy prey - attached is a photo of an Oriental Pratincole bombing such an interloper).

45 Asian Openbills

Also recorded was the usual mix of common egrets and open country passerines.

Cheers,

Mike P.



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

18/05/2024 - 7.30 am Khlong Pla Khun lake - Roi Et Province.

With an early start Paul again headed west into Roi Et - this province which has been so productive of late; - his prime target of course still being White-winged Tern. A two hour session yielded up 53 species conspicuous among which were: -

400 Lesser Whistling Ducks

40 Cotton Pygmy-Geese

1 White-breasted Waterhen

6 Black-winged Stilts

4 Bronze-winged Jacanas

12 Whiskered Terns

2 White-winged Terns (in with the Whiskered Terns in a flooded rice field as opposed to the main lake. - a big catch up species for Paul in Roi Et - giving him records for the species in just about all the central provinces of Isaan).

50 Asian Openbills

6 Little Cormorants

1 Cinnamon Bittern (Oddly between us we have not yet recorded a single Black Bittern so far this spring).

2 Yellow Bitterns

6 Malaysian Pied Fantails

1 Rufescent Prinia

2 Grey-breasted Prinia

2 Yellow-bellied Prinia

5 Plain Prinia

6 Zitting Cisticolas

4 Golden-headed Cisticola

1 Oriental Reed Warbler

2 Chestnut-capped Babblers

30 Baya Weavers 

8 Chestnut Munias

Obviously a productive session which puts Paul onto 198 species for Roi Et in a tie with resident top birder Shaun Green with 200 species now in both their sights.

Regards,

Mike P.

 

 

 

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

14/05/2024 - 3 pm Lam Sai Marshlands - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province.

En route to a family reunion dinner with Pen and Art in Bangkok we stopped for some last gasp list padding in this small province which we normally transit without stopping. Ayutthaya City is incidentally the ancient capital of Thailand and in future we ought to stop off to see some of the architecture here.

Scanning over this riverside scrubby habitat we noticed a couple of pond Herons foraging on the margins one of which was obviously a pale headed bird with a chestnut lower breast and belly - a summer plumaged Javan Pond-Heron.

The other bird had a similar pale head but also uniformly pale breast and belly. I suggested that Paul might get some shots as it seemed a good candidate for Indian Pond-Heron. - Indeed it was - another new species for our Thai lists and a nice way to end our six weeks of quite intense birding.

Best Wishes,

Mike P.

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

13/05/2024 - 7.25 am. - Thap Lan Nat.Pk. - Dry forest west of Sab Sadao Nt. Pk. Nakhon Ratchasima.

Having headed further west we drove into this habitat with several special target species in mind - but uppermost here was White-browed Fantail which the ever industrious Paul Farrell discovered here some time ago.

We failed to locate this species but did enjoy adequate compensation with 29 species among which were a few gems: - 

3 Black Bazas

1 Rufous-winged Buzzard

1 Shikra

1 Spotted Owlet (a showy fellow - photographed)

2 Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpeckers (photo)

3 Large Cuckoo-Shrikes (photo)

2 Common Woodshrikes

3 Brown Prinia (photo - hardly a stunner but a world lifer for all of us).

5 Rufescent Prinias (photo)

6 Velvet-fronted Nuthatches

1 Vinous-breasted Starling (another world lifer for us - photo).

Cheers,

Mike P.



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

12/05/2024 - 8.45 am - Rice research centre - Surin province.

With our time in Thailand coming to an end we planned our journey heading south-west towards Bangkok taking in some birding en route through this rather neglected province on a list padding endeavour. In 25 minutes we noted 30 common species many of which were new for us in Surin. We moved on arriving next at the Huai Saneng reservoir where in 90 minutes we logged 44 species, - the pick of the bunch being 50 Oriental Pratincoles with young and pleasingly 6 White-winged Terns.

The best however was yet to come at Huai Sawai in Buri Ram (the next province west) which we reached by 13.30 pm spending two and a half hours there watching and photographing a good selection of waders among 27 species in all.

500 Lesser Whistling Ducks

2 Indian Spot-billed Ducks

25 Black-winged Stilts

89 Pacific Golden Plovers (a remarkable count - our best ever).

20 Little Ringed Plovers

6 Red-wattled Lapwings

2 Tibetan Sand-Plovers (photos)

2 Greater Sand-Plovers (photos)

8 Greenshanks

7 Spotted Redshanks

2 Curlew Sandpipers (photo)

15 Red-necked Stints (photo)

20 Small Pratincoles

100 Oriental Pratincoles

5 Whiskered Terns

400 Openbill Storks

56 Painted Storks

In addition an assortment of the usual egrets and sundry passerines.

Cheers,

Mike P.

 



-- Edited by Mike Passant on Friday 17th of May 2024 06:07:22 PM

Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

10/05/2024 11 am Kaeng Song Yai - Amnat Charoen Province.

This morning three of us had a run out east to the Mekong riverside hoping to find passage waders only to find water levels had risen (probably due to the onset of rains far to the north-west). The only waders we found however were 3 Little Ringed Plovers and 2 Small Pratincoles - scant reward for our effort. In a 90 minute session we logged 34 species the best of which were: -

10 Asian Green Bee-eaters

4 Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters

10 Wire-tailed Swallows

2 Mekong Wagtails (The big speciality here of course. We find that when the midday sun is beating down these birds are often to be found close to the water on rock shelves with overhanging rocks or boulders giving direct shade above. Today scanning we found two birds this way barely 150 metres apart).

Later en route home we stopped for 15 minutes at Huai Kaeo Maeng Reservoir where on an extensive mat of floating vegetation we found two White-breasted Waterhens and a fine summer adult Watercock - both additions to my list for Amnat Charoen.

Cheers,

Mike P.

 

 


07/05/2024 - Bueng Doan Lake area - Roi Et.

This morning three of us met up with Shaun Green for a round of this and other Roí Et lakes hoping to find the first passage White-winged Terns. Shaun has regularly recorded them in Roi Et on/around this date but we found no sign of any just yet. 
Nevertheless in general birding terms in 45 minutes we had a good session logging 34 species the best of which were:  

11 Knob-billed Ducks (quite a good find - these passage birds were among several hundred Lesser Whistling Ducks with a scatter of Cotton Pygmy Geese, and more than made up for not finding any White-winged Terns).

1 Black-winged Kite

1 Freckle-breasted Woodpecker

4 Streaked Weavers (photo)

35 Asian Golden Weavers

7 Chestnut Munias

Next at 10.00 we made a short stop in a strip of riverine forest bordering the Chi river to check on one of Pauls sites for Blue-winged Pitta. An obliging bird called in response to our recording and briefly perched up high giving Shaun and me our first sightings of this superb species in Roi Et. A Rufous-winged Buzzard drifted over as a bonus here.

Moving on to our final stop - 20 minutes at Khlong Pla Khun (another extensive wetland area) we found another trio of Knob-billed Ducks among 14 species - the best of the rest being: -

6 Indian Spot-billed Ducks

2 Cinnamon Bitterns

1 Yellow Bittern

2 Purple Herons

7 Baya Weavers

Cheers,

Mike P.

 

 

 

 



__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

07/05/2024 - Bueng Doan Lake area - Roi Et.

This morning three of us met up with Shaun Green for a round of this and other Roí Et lakes hoping to find the first passage White-winged Terns. Shaun has regularly recorded them in Roi Et on/around this date but we found no sign of any just yet. 
Nevertheless in general birding terms in 45 minutes we had a good session logging 34 species the best of which were:  

11 Knob-billed Ducks (quite a good find - these passage birds were among several hundred Lesser Whistling Ducks with a scatter of Cotton Pygmy Geese, and more than made up for not finding any White-winged Terns).

1 Black-winged Kite

1 Freckle-breasted Woodpecker

4 Streaked Weavers (photo)

35 Asian Golden Weavers

7 Chestnut Munias

Next at 10.00 we made a short stop in a strip of riverine forest bordering the Chi river to check on one of Pauls sites for Blue-winged Pitta. An obliging bird called in response to our recording and briefly perched up high giving Shaun and me our first sightings of this superb species in Roi Et. A Rufous-winged Buzzard drifted over as a bonus here.

Moving on to our final stop - 20 minutes at Khlong Pla Khun (another extensive wetland area) we found another trio of Knob-billed Ducks among 14 species - the best of the rest being: -

6 Indian Spot-billed Ducks

2 Cinnamon Bitterns

1 Yellow Bittern

2 Purple Herons

7 Baya Weavers

Cheers,

Mike P.

 

 

 

 



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

06/05/2024 - Ban Fai festival Kutchum village - Yasothon.

One of the major celebrations centred upon Yasothon is the annual rocket competition, - again part of the tradition to bring on the rains. The largest rockets are fired from Yasothon City itself but Kutchum today hosted competitors from local villages and even other Isaan provinces such as Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani. This is both a serious and dangerous affair and misfires in the past have caused fatalities.

We mingled in the afternoon crowds enjoying a few beers and peering at an endless gallery of fast food stalls (one of which was selling roasted small passerines on tiny sticks), also noting the bets being laid as to which rockets would fly the highest - the scenario was a kind of cross between Cape Canaveral and the Aintree Grand National.

While passing the judges tent we were invited in and briefly interviewed then given good seats and a grandstand view.

Finally the first rocket was launched from its tall gantry with a flaming roar and the immediate launch area was hidden in smoke - quite a sight - it was so good we watched three more launches.

Today (purely coincidentally of course) it actually rained!

Cheers,

Mike P.



-- Edited by Mike Passant on Tuesday 7th of May 2024 11:17:46 AM

Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

05/05/2024 - 2.00 pm Kutchum Village - Yasothon.

Having eaten and showered after our birding morning we drove down and parked in the village to watch the celebration of the Ban Fai festival. This involves competing dance groups from local villages with drummers traditional  music and floats hauled along the main thoroughfare.
It is all to induce the short rains to commence - currently of great importance to the farmers in view of the drought conditions and temperatures which even the locals are finding uncomfortable.

I took some video and still shots, and at one point glanced round to ensure that I was not blocking anyones view only to see an elephant standing behind me barely eight feet away. The keeper seemed to be selling food to people who then fed his animal.

After some fifty minutes we headed for home observing en route the elephant down a quiet side street enjoying eating someones garden hedge.



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

05/05/2024 - 07.45 am. Khueang Kham - Nong Hoi paddies Yasothon Province.

Our original idea here was to search this extensive complex of newly planted rice fields scanning for any waders. In the past when these fields have an inch or so of water coinciding with movements of migrants we have enjoyed a degree of success. This morning however the only waders proved to be a scatter of Black-winged Stilts with both the usual Myna species, several Greater Coucals, Scaly- breasted Munias and Openbill Storks.

Paul suddenly exclaimed that in the far distance he thought he had noticed two large ducks most likely Knob-billed Ducks! The farm workers now often appear to be increasingly using drones for either sowing or fertilising fields and suddenly a sizeable flock of large ducks had likely been flushed by the drone.In the air these didnt fit either Whistling Ducks or Spot-billed - they were indeed Knob-billed and as Paul rattled off photos I kept track of the the flying birds and counted 19 birds.

Quite soon the birds settled and we carefully closed the distance but stayed in the car getting more photos and confirming the earlier count. These were my first of this species in Thailand and seem to be the biggest party ever recorded in the Isaan region.

In all of 18 species logged the best of the rest were 7 Indian Spot-billed Ducks sharing the same pool. Our first Whiskered Tern of the spring was noted and 4 Little Cormorants and 4 Pheasant-tailed Jacanas.

Cheers,

Mike P.

 

 



-- Edited by Mike Passant on Sunday 5th of May 2024 10:28:39 AM

Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.



Status: Offline
Posts: 1103
Date:

Recap - Our open country day in Chaiyaphum on 28/04/2024.

- A better portrait shot of the Long-tailed Shrike.

This is not of course the form which we twitched in the Outer Hebrides but the resident form over much of Thailand - always a stunning beast!

Cheers,

Mike P.



Attachments
__________________

Challenges are inevitable, but failure is optional.

1 2 310  >  Last»  | Page of 10  sorted by
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

RODIS

 

This forum is dedicated to the memory of Eva Janice McKerchar.