It's about fun....Eastern Imperial Eagle

I had no idea when I started writing this blog that raptors, eagles in particular, were going to descend from the skies, so to speak, and feature so prominently here. I was expecting to be spending a lot of time on shorebirds in the Laem Pak Bia area. Well about 30 minutes south of my home herre, just off the main highway, is eagle heaven and there hasn't been an occasion in the last few weeks when I have been there that I haven't seen at least two species of aquila eagles: greater spotted, steppe and eastern imperial eagles make the Wat Norng Blah Lai area their winter quarters. Unfortunately I am a bit out of my depth and I am learning that correct identification of these species is by no means straightforward.

Thanks to Phil Round I can confirm the photograph below is of a juvenile eastern imperial eagle. I made it a steppe eagle, juvenile, and possibly a greater spotted eagle, pale morph. I sent the picture to Phil and he kindly put me right: "classic juvenile imperial". I took it on 6th February 2010 in the Wat Norng Lai Blah area.

Eastern imperial eagle, juvenile, aquila heliaca, Wat Norng Blah Lai 06.02.2010

This spurred me on to do a little research and  it is officially listed as Vulnerable by BirdLife International. The population is estimated to be between 5,200 and 16,800 birds and the trend suggests these numbers are declining.  The link takes you to a very thorough profile of the species and it makes reference in a number of places to the ease with which it can be confused with other species. Phil Round also acknowledged this too. Phew!

Now I feel humbled as opposed to that initial feeling of frustration at not being able to make a correct identification. I really want to learn more about these birds. I want them to survive and flourish. What a privilege to be able to view such a majestic bird and indeed to be able to capture it on camera. Phil Round advised though that changes in rice cultivation cycles could have a profound effect on these eagles; specifically, in Thailand,  the move from single to double cropping driven by economic necessity.  It is amazing what you learn as you go along.

I am hooked.

Amateur Photographer! Greater Spotted Eagle!

I had a fantastic afternoon Sunday with a greater spotted eagle, a juvenile I believe. I wasn't expecting so much fun. In fact when I set off from home after 2:00 pm I thought I would end up at Laem Pak Bia viewing shorebirds. Instead this greater spotted eagle obliged for me ...... but I managed to completely mess up the exposure of most of the photos. Anyhow it was a thrill to get so close. In fact I could be seen crawling on all fours to get close but,alas, not close enough. The green hue of the third photo is due to me switching from automatic exposure to "P" and the camera in this mode being  set to an unintended high exposure compensation level. ( I was originally shooting in very bright light but forgot to adjust down!) Instead I adjusted the ISO speed to 800 ASA to allow for the poor light but I forgot to alter the exposure compensation! Well I guess you could say I am learning about my camera!

Greater spotted eagle, aquila clanga, Wat Norng Blah Lai, 21.02.10

What is amazing is the bird was less than 300 meters from the main Bangkok - southern Thailand Highway, one of the busiest roads in Thailand. Perhaps even more amazing I had the bird to myself. I should also add that it was late in the day..... the last picture was taken just after 18:00h. I know where I am going next weekend and I know what time too! 

The Local Scene in Ratchaburi

Due to time constraints this weekend, (work, a birthday party and a wedding) my birding has been restricted to a couple of hours in the local rice paddy at the rear of The Rose Garden Estate. This is a huge area and covers much of the area to the east of the town of Ratchaburi.

On Friday 19th February in the late afternoon the highlight was a male pied harrier, immediately recognisable by its monotone black head and silvery body with black upperwing coverts. In fact this bird's presence is usually announced by the panic that sets in as other birds start to scurry away and screech. Alas this harrier did not perform for the camera but now that I know he is in the area I will be back and ready to fire! The  paddy has recently been harvested so it is currently lying fallow except for thousands of ducks which are being fattened for slaughter on the remnants of the harvest. As usual there was an abundance of egrets, little and some greats, pond herons, barn swallows, plain prinias, white-throated kingfishers and I counted 4 wood sandpipers in a wet marsh.

I went back Saturday 20th February for the pied harrier but alas he was not to be sighted. There was a black shouldered kite...... but this kite does not really pack the same sort of punch as the harrier. A common kingfisher was on the premises for a while but wouldn't oblige for the camera.  I managed to get some pictures of plain backed sparrows. The yellowish markings on the higher picture indicate a female and the the male in the lower picture has rufous brown markings.

Plainbacked sparrow, passer flaveolus, Ratchaburi, 20.02.10

I counted another six green sandpipers and a 4 little ringed plovers, a couple of little cormorants and the usal egrets and openbills. Like the day before the ducks were out in their thousands. Finally I managed to stay still enough to photograph this plain prinia. 

Plain prinia, prinia inornata, Ratchaburi, 20.02.10

Laem Pak Bia & Wat Norng Blah Lai

Tuesday 2nd February 2010


An early finish saw me jumping in the car at 15:20h and heading to Laem Pak Bia, shorebird heartland, right on the gulf of Thailand, due east of Phetchaburi town. The area is world famous  as a favoured wintering site for the critically endangered spoon-billed sandpiper. Alas this bird did not get into my sights today! 


I generally head straight for the sea front, to the mudflats at the end of the village of Pak Thale unless, of course, there are thousands of birds in the salt pans and aquaculture ponds on either side of the road leading to the sea. I do this because it is always worth checking the state of the tide. More seasoned campaigners have advised me that the spoon-billed sandpiper will only be in the ponds and pans if the tide is in. So today the tide was out. However I counted approximately 380 curlews on the mudflats. There is normally a significant flock of these guys here. I counted an additional two whimbrel nearby. There were no terns or plovers or any other shorebirds except for egrets and pond herons. Sometimes a chinese egret can be seen here but alas, like spoonbill sandpiper, not today. The curlew took off so I managed to get a few good shots.

Eurasian curlew, numenius arquata, Laem Pak Bia, 02.02.10

Inland this little cormorant obliged with a pleasant silhouette against the distant setting sun. This is a very common bird in the area and there are usually indian cormorants in the area too. I am indebted to Phil Round for explaining to me how to separate the two species: basically the size of the bill. The little cormorant has a smaller bill which lacks the slight downward tip of the Indian. Talking of which, Phil Round called me last night to invite me to go bird ringing at The King's Project. Alas I am busy. 

little cormorant, numenius arquata, Laem Pak Bia, 02.02.10

If there are thanks for the next bird's identification then they are due to Smith Sutibut of the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand. He did a great job on distinguishing the brown and  black-headed gull at the recent Asian Waterbird Census training. The black-tipped outer wing primaries are the key diagnostic here containing what Craig Robson, The Birds of Thailand, refers to as "up to three white mirrors". Of course these birds are fairly common during the winter. 

Brown-headed gull, larus brunnicephalus, Laem Pak Bia, 02.02.10

Unfortunately I disturbed them as I encroached on their space in a fruitless effort to get a shot of what looked like more exotic fry. There were about 70 gulls in the flock and they soon settled back down.

Nearby there were plenty of spotted redshank, greenshank, curlew sandpiper, kentish plover, lesser sand plover etc. Alas none of the rareties were visible. I ventured on my curlews once more, relocated from the shore in a pond, just before the light went completely.

Wednesday 3rd February 2010

Unexpectedly I had a few free hours this morning and hit the Petchkasem Highway and 40 minutes later I was in the Wat Norng Blah Lai area looking at eagles and other raptors. I am one of the luckiest people on the planet to have such an abundance of bird life on my doorstep.

Greater spotted eagle, aquila clanga, Wat Norng Blah Lai, 03.02.10

I am completely open to being told this is a steppe eagle but I think the smallish tail, smaller wings and the absence of what Craig Robson calls "full trousers", mean it is a greater spotted eagle. If you look closely at the wings you can see the trouser effect and the split at the knee, especially the upper wing; remember each wing is a separate trouser so to speak! I would say the "trouser" effect in this picture is more akin to what is commonly referred to as "cargo trousers", those ghastly three-quarter length strides! 

Black-shouldered kite,  elanus caeruleus, Wat Norng Blah Lai, 03.02.10

This black-shouldered kite was hanging around and there were many black kites and a few harriers in attendance. The black-shouldered kite is really quite scary looking especially if you see its ruby irises! However they are fairly common in this area. 

Finally an eastern stonechat. There are plenty of these little birds in the area at present. I checked this with Phil Round because I wasn't sure and was curious as it appears to be in breeding plumage and it is only early February. 

Eastern stonechat, saxicola maurus, Wat Norng Blah Lai 03.02.10