Eunice and Neil's Thai blog

Sunday, 10 March 2013

Kaeng Krachan 9th & 10th March

This weekend we made yet another trip to Kaeng Krachan and as always it never disappoints! Almost our first bird was a pair of Chestnut-breasted Malkoha. There seemed a bit of a movement of raptors on Saturday as 4 Black Baza, a Grey-faced Buzzard and at least 10 Oriental Honey Buzzards flew over. Pacific Swift and Asian House Martin were also around in good numbers.

We found this pair of Buff-breasted Babblers at km 29. Shortly afterwards we enjoyed this beautiful pair of Long-tailed Broadbills, which were with 3 Rachet-tailed Treepies.

The morning had started well with a male Banded Kingfisher at km 23 although we didn't see the breeding pair at km 28. At km 30 Eunice found the bird of the weekend, which was a Silver Oriole. It returned to the fruiting tree twice in the course of a couple of hours, but sadly easy enough to photograph.

Doves and pigeons were well represented with Little Cuckoo Dove on the road and a couple of Yellow-vented Green Pigeons at km 22. There were also the usual Thick-billed Green Pigeons.

At Banmaka a Black-hooded Oriole was very showy.

The star mammal was this Golden Jackal which ran along the road in front of us for a kilometre and even posed for photographs, as you can see above. This was at about km12 (near the elephant salt licks).

Just before stream 1 we saw and photographed this male Violet Cuckoo.

Hornbills were in evidence with both Brown (Tickell's) and Oriental Pied Hornbills both attending nests and good numbers of Wreathed Hornbills flying over.

At Bang Krang campsite Common Flameback and 3 Green Magpie were easily seen. Other birds of interest over the weekend were: plenty of Banded Broadbill singing, Intermediate Egret and a pair of Little-ringed Plover at the entrance and good numbers of Vernal Hanging Parrot. We also had Speckled Piculet, Swinhoe's, Rosy and Scarlet Minivets and Sultan Tit. In total 116 species within the national park. A great weekend!

Wednesday, 27 February 2013

Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary

Saturday 23rd to Monday 25th February 2013

This was our second visit to this fascinating reserve, which is located 2 1/2 hours due east of Bangkok. Last time (September 2012) it was large numbers of Blue-throated Bee-eaters that created interest, but floods causing an impassable stream, resulted in us turning round before travelling more than 5 km. This time there was no such problem and we were able to press on a further 15 km into the forest. Highlights included:

Oriental Cuckoo

Silver-backed Needletail

Green Imperial Pigeon

White-throated Rock Thrush

Mountain Hawk Eagle

Banded Broadbill

at least 15 Siamese Flamebacks

Mammals included:

Pileated Gibbon

Red Muntjac

Tuesday, 6 November 2012

Back to Keang Krachan

Been away so long I hardly knew the place, boy it's good to be back home! At last the wait for the park is over and it is open once more. It is such a special place and, even though we have been there a dozen times or more, it never loses its interest. It was good to catch up with Rachet-tailed Treepie, a range of flycatchers and usual cast of suspects! The bird of the weekend was White-throated Rock Thrush which was a surprise and good views of Wreathed Hornbill, which wasn't.

White-throated Rock Thrush at Km 20.

Four Wreathed Hornbill over. This was one of two flocks of four and a great view of a single at Km 28
The Sunday saw a bit of a migrant fall with Olive-backed Pipit, Hoopoe and two Vinous-throated Starling all putting in an appearance. Ian and Games had a Blue and White Flycatcher on the previous day.

The previous week had been our half term and we wnet south, firstly to Chumpon and Khao Dinsor to watch fanastic raptors and meet up with the equally fantastic Bob and Debra. As always it did not disappoint with Short-toed, Booted and Greater Spotted Eagle over plus thousands of Black Baza with the odd Jerdon's Baza amongst them and some Pied and Eastern Marsh Harrier to test our identification skills.
A trip to the park at Chumphon turned up some White-shouldered Starling as well as this Daurian Starling. I pretty sure it isn't Chestnut Cheeeked although seperation doesn't seem easy in some birds.

We then continued further south on the main road 4 to Laem Son where we had a large flock of Jungle Mynas and some Asian Glossy Starling.

There were also good numbers of Red-breasted Parakeets as well as Forest Wagtails.
We continued south until we reached Sri Phang Nga which is another part of the Khoa Sok complex. The reserve is very well cared for and the accomodation is fine. Highlight birds for us included a couple of Siberian Blue Robin, Yellow Breasted Flowerpecker and Lots of Moustached Babblers. We missed the main highlights of Javan Frogmouth, Helmeted Hornbill and Buffy Fish Owl and only saw Common Kingfisher. We should have talked to the rangers more so that is our tip for next time. I think we will return again at some point.

Not a great photo of Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker but a record shot.

Sunday, 14 October 2012

Leam Pak Bia 13 th and 14th October 2012

This weekend Eunice and I went down to Leam Pak Bia again. The weather seemed really hot and the mosquitoes were awful, taking great lumps out of Neil. Despite this we managed some decent birding. On Saturday morning the Abandoned Buildings Neil managed to turn up 2 Ruff and a
Sanderling but despite a sustained sea watch of a couple of hours, the sea remained very quiet. In the afternoon we went to Pak Thule and there were huge numbers of Curlew, Whimbrel and Great Knot. Neil also photographed this Little Stint.

In the evening we went to watch the roost at The King's Project. Black Drongo numbers had started to build but the Mynas were taking a different route in the mangroves. We did have a brief view of a male Painted Snipe shoot from the reed bads to the scrape.

On today (Sunday) I had my first Dusky Warbler of the winter before we looked at the Abandoned Buildings once more and came across this immature Rosy Starling beside the rubbish tip.

Later in the day and back up the coast, at Pak Thule, we came across a single Heuglin's Gull, about 15 Crested Terns, a couple of Caspian Terns and a smattering of Gull-billed Terns as well as a Terek Sandpiper.

Wednesday, 3 October 2012

Thailand September 2012. Khlong See Yat and Leam Pak Bia

It was great to get back to Thailand birding although I enjoyed both UK and USA. A trip to the east of Bangkok took us to a very promising area around Khoa Ang Ruenai next to which is reservoir called Khlong See Yat. At this location there were numerous Oriental Skylark, Oriental Pratincole, Lesser Whistling Duck and huge numbers of Egrets. We arrived at the wrong time of the day but it was still full of birds and more time would produce great results I am sure. Unfortunately we could find a hotel of any kind so will have to have another exploratory day. If anyone knows of anywere please let me know. The forests around Khoa Ang Ruenai looked promising too with lots of Blue-throated Bee Eater and a reasonable smattering of the expected birds.

A view of the Khlong See Yat

We counted at least 25 Blue-throated Bee Eater.

There was also a flock of Grey-rumped Treeswift that flew over in the evening.

Two weeks ago we went over to Leam Pak Bia and had a very successful few days. The star bird was Great Thicknee but there was a good supporting cast with 2+ Asian Dowitcher, lots of Terek Sandpiper, Temminck's Stint, Purple-backed Starling and a flock of eight Spot-billed Pelicans.

Great Thicknee

Malaysian Plover

Asian Dowitcher with one of twenty Bar-tailed Godwit

Purple-backed Starling

Spot-billed Pelican

Adult and immature Brown shrikes battling it out on the rubbish tip. the fight was surprisingly long-lasting and violent but both birds seemed unharmed

America 2012

At last a post. Here are a few pictures from our American holiday. We stayed in San Francisco for most of the time but had a few great days by Lake Tahoe.

American Robin