Blossom-headed Parakeet

Blossom-headed Parakeet 

Psittacula Roseata

นกแก้วหัวแพร

A small flock of ten Blossom-headed Parakeets made my trip to Huay Mai Teng Reservoir very memorable indeed. More to the point they allowed a couple of shots in the fading light and fortunately they were facing setting sun. This is my first lifer in a while so I am especially pleased. There were also two Black-collared Starlings in the area and my mystery birds came out at dusk but I could not take their identification any further forward. It even crossed my mind they might be bats. However for me a perfect hour after a long tiring day at work and these parakeets are beauties.

Another Quiet Weekend

Huay Mai Teng Reservoir at Dusk

It was a strange sort of weekend on the birding front. The weather was terrible with lots of heavy rain. I went up to Huay Mai Teng Reservoir mid-afternoon Saturday and saw 3 River Lapwing in the main launch area. Photography was out of the question on account of the rain and the light wasn't good either.

I drove around the site on the look-out for early migrants like Yellow-rumped Flycatchers which I have seen here before at this time of the year and which have been sighted  in the last few days in Bangkok by Dave Gandy. I didn't see any but I did see  lots of nice birds.

Plenty of tantalising glimpses of quails but I couldn't make a positive identification of any of them, possibly two Yellow-legged Buttonquail. I had a good look at a female Red Junglefowl and good views of a Lesser Whistling Duck and a White-breasted Waterhen with their respective broods in train. In the last light of the day a small flock of what I believe were Asian House Martins appeared and livened up the sky with their high energy aeronautics. The white, on the upper tail coverts (their rumps to be precise) and undersides, was I sawas they darted about in a frenzy and had me reaching for my binoculars. Impossible to get a good view of them. I've subsequently checked the field-guide and they look good for Asian House Martins. However I want another look at them before making a call and I'll need to get an idea of their timings in terms of when they normally arrive in Thailand; the distribution maps in the field guide show they are winter visitors and shows that Ratchaburi is in their normal range.

Blue-tailed Bee-eater

Merops philippinus

นกจาบคาหัวเขียว

I drove back to the launch area after sunset with a view to taking a shot of the sunset over the reservoir. It was a fairly limp sunset so I didn't bother but a nightjar flew up into the glare of my headlamps and settled down on the ground again. There would have been a time when I would have said Indian Nightjar but  I can't be sure as I really didn't get a good enough look at it before it took off again.

On Sunday the weather was wet again so I snatched a quick hour in the local rice paddy. The highlight was a brief view of a very elegant and light-coloured juvenile Watercock. I had a glimpse of a Common Kingfisher which I believe is another winter visitor. I haven't seen one for a few months. I even managed to photograph a Blue-tailed Bee-eater and a Purple Heron. I think the Blue-tailed Bee-eateers in this area are residents.

Purple Heron

Ardea purpurea

นกกระสาแดง

On the subject of migration the Chumphon Raptor Watch has begun this year with reports of small numbers of Japanese Sparrowhawks already on their annual migration south.

I think this blog entry confirms I need to do some serious work with the field-guides, epecially on quails and nightjars!

Ashy Wood-swallows in the local rice paddy

Ashy Woodswallow

Artamus fuscus

นกแอ่นพง

There was a time in the not too distant past when I would have been unable to get a decent shot of these Ashy Wood-swallows. My recent discovery of the histogram was a major help to me here. These birds are abundant and often huddle together in significant numbers on wires which can make a pretty picture. Tonight they were facing the setting sun so I really had conditions in my favour. Not much else to report but great weather and light.

Sunday at Pak Thale & Laem Pak Bia

Black-winged Stilt - juvenile

Himanotopus himanotopus

นกดีนเทียน

I was very concerned by the downpour as I drove south from home on Sunday afternoon to Laem Pak Bia, Phetchburi province in search of waders. It was quite a deluge though typical of rainy season weather. As if by magic my arrival coincided with the end of the rain and so my efforts were not in vain. We are at the beginning of the migratory period so I had very low expectations but nevertheless I’ve seen Tattlers and a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper on previous visits to the Inner Gulf at this time of the year.

Little Ringed Plover - juvenile

Charadrius dubius

นกหัวโตเล็กขาเหลือง

I knew I was taking a risk as I would be arriving approaching low tide and this would likely mean the waders would be far away. However the world of birds is full of unexpected happenings and I thought I’d take my luck. For example a Frigatebird was recently reported at Khok Kham, a short distance west of Bangkok. As it happened I went to the Abandonned Building  in Laem Pak Bia while it was still raining and there was next to nothing visible. I could sense the end of the rain and thought I might as well drive north to Pak Thale and ride out the remainder of the rain.

Black-winged Stilt 

Himanotopus himanotopus

นกดีนเทียน

There were no surprises and the birds were, as anticipated, far away but I managed a couple of decent shots of the more common species. There were plenty of Curlews in the distance and closer by the most common bird appeared to be the Common Redshank. The latter were quite camera shy. I took advantage of the excellent light and took some shots of the more common species. Even with these species it is actually difficult to get in close.

I felt privileged as the sun shone and the weather was really pleasant plus I had the place entirely to myself, save for the local fisher people. I decided to cash in on the good light and head back to check what was in the  Kings Project at Laem Pak Bia. En route I stopped to check out a small flock of Great Knot many of which were sporting the remnants of their breeding plumage: over the next few months this flock will increase to the 500 + mark along with huge flocks of Lesser Sandplover and Black-tailed Godwit.

Collared Kingfisher

Todiramphus chloris

นกกินเป่ยว

The Kings Project is a great place for birding and it didn't disappoint on this occasion: 12 Spot-billed Pelicans languorously paddling about the ponds. These guys are really sensitive to disturbance so I kept away. It was just a joy to sit back and watch them amble about. It was surprisingly difficult to get a shot of them mainly because of distance but the light also was a factor: it was so strong and even as sunset approached it was casting powerful beams straight onto the birds: even with -2 ev compensation and  ISO 64 I was still getting blown highlights at 6:00 pm.

Little Heron

Butorides striatus

นกยางเขียว

It was a golden hour!  I felt so happy to be alive and to be in this place alone with these beautiful, big birds nearby. There were a couple of Painted Stork too and they triggered a strong desire in me to eat mature Cheddar cheese! With that came the taste of oatcakes and pickle! Ah the privations of expatriate life in Thailand!

The pictures above were all shot at Pak Thale and those below at Laem Pak Bia.

This picture (above) shows the sala or pavilion which Phil Round uses as the base station for his banding operation. There are actually two pelicans to its left, just about visible. The Painted Stork was just to the right a little bit further along the path, basking in the final light of the day. A Brahminy Kite flew over soon after I took this shot. Finally this sunset shot, taken just outside the Kings Project, transforms an otherwise drab and miserable sort of landscape, especially in daylight. 

Wednesday in Ratchaburi

This shot of a Watercock and a chick typifies the problems of late afternoon digiscoping. It is an elusive species, though relatively common locally and really doesn't like human beings getting near it; more often heard than seen but when it does reveal itself it is a beautiful bird. Quite simply too dark and too far away. 

We are very excited at home. Two Barn Owls tonight, and one last night, have perched opposite our house on the pylons that support the nets of the adjacent driving range. Less than 30 metres away. Sadly it is pitch dark with dark low cloud cover and little natural or artificial light so no shots. However it is great to have such beautiful birds at our finger tips.

The Rest of the Weekend

On our way to Suan Phueng this afternoon I guiltily asked my wife if she could allow me a few minutes to do a bit of birdwatching as we passed Huay Mai Teng. I wanted to see if the Oriental Darter was still about and I am happy to say I found it immediately in the same place it was the day before. I even managed some shots of it but they are not very good. Harsh sunlight and distance are my excuses. My next project will be to return with the hide and try and get close to this magnificent bird. I attach a couple of the better shots.  I have also added  some of yesterday’s better shots. I even managed to get shots of three species of dragonflies!

Up Close and Personal!

You could say I have been hoping for an opportunity to get close to River Lapwing! This morning I went out early to Huay Mai Teng Reservoir where I met Tom Backlund just after 6:00 am. It turned into a hot morning. We set up our hides for the lapwing but missed them. Otherwise an unremarkable morning’s birder: a oriental darter probably being the highlight and a small number of small pratincoles. I thought the latter species had gone several weeks ago.Tom headed home at midday and the lapwing were back on their favoured spot. I decided to have another try and set up again and duly scared the two birds away. It was extremely hot and sweaty in the hide but some scaly-breasted munias and dragon flies kept me busy and then the lapwing popped back and for once I was in the right place at the right time. 

Sunday Peregrinations around Ratchaburi....

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

เหยี่ยวเพเรกริน

Another gentle weekend's birding but the above Peregrine Falcon dropped by the local rice paddy late Sunday afternoon and very helpfully perched on an electricity pylon for long enough to allow me to get a couple of shots. I have to say the fact that this shot is usable, to my mind it is almost decent, is because I  checked my first shot's histogram and adjusted accordingly; in this case I've upped the exposure compensation to + 0.7 ev. This is why, despite low light and distance, I have managed to get a reasonably good capture.

Little Ringed Plover

Charadrius dubius

นกหัวโตเล็กขาเหลือง

But I then struggled with a correct identification. I had doubts immediately because I was expecting a much greyer bird. I checked the literature at home and learned there were three subspecies but I didn't feel confident about making an ID.  A subsequent post on Birdforum and a discussion with Phil Round has been very enlightening. It is a Peregrine but is probably a "local breeder" according to Phil and in his opinion probably warrants describing as its own distinct subspecies. He reckons it is not as orange as the peregrinator subspecies and less vinous below than ernesti. As a relative novice I had no idea about the divisions of this species so it's been very educational.

Asian Golden Weaver

Ploceus hypoxanthus

นกกระจาบทอง

Earlier on Sunday I made it up to Huay Mai Teng Reservoir just after 06:00h where two River Lapwing were feeding near the main launch area. There were also a number of anglers fishing from the reservoir’s banks and they were on the move so the lapwing were also on the move.

Asian Golden Weaver

Ploceus hypoxanthus

นกกระจาบทอง

I set up my hide near a place where the lapwing usually stop for a while. I was sharpening my pencil in anticipation of their arrival, by photographing a Little Ringed Plover, when a motorbike arrived nearby and an angler stepped off it. He then  walked into my spot and scared off the plover and ensured the River Lapwing wouldn’t be stopping!

Little Ringed Plover

Charadrius dubius

นกหัวโตเล็กขาเหลือง

I decided to have a drive around the site. I discovered that a road has been repaired which gives vehicular access to a new part of the site and I hope to explore this area in the forthcoming weeks. I got sight of a couple of nightjars in the understory of some trees but they were too fast for me to identify. I thought they were too big to be Indian but I can’t be sure. I also saw a Common Tailor Bird in the same area which is the first of this species in a while. And the distinctive call of the Chinese Francolin was very audible.

Asian Golden Weaver

Ploceus hypoxanthus

นกกระจาบทอง

I took advantage of the opportunity for photography offered by the bright light. Our weather here recently has been grey, wet and cool due to the typhoon in The Philippines and as such has not been very good for photography. I was pleased to get a couple of decent shots of this very mischievous Asian Golden Weaver – a real character.

Saturday morning I had a long lie and watched an amazing documentary: Le Marche de l'Empereur or The March of  The Penguins, a French-produced documentary, directed by Luc Jacquet, which not surprisingly won the 2005 Oscar for Best Documentary. I can't recommend it highly enough and it has amazing photography, a real work of art and a great homage to these magnificent birds.

Local Frustration

Last night on my short trip to the rice paddy the key word was frustration. A daft boy, music blaring from his mobile phone, asked me if I was taking photographs! I mean I am set up with a tripod and camera attached to a telescope so a bit of a no brainer really! He hung a round for a while and the music did for most of the birds.

This was worse than frustrating because there were some very  photogenic Yellow-bellied Prinias darting around. The photograph above is fitting testimony to my frustrations. I just couldn’t get a better focus as the bird was gone. This is part of the wider frustrations every digiscoper feels – it’s not simply point and shoot with the luxury of autofocus! The prinia was in fact too close to be able to get it quickly into the viewfinder. So I was cursing as I fluffed another opportunity for a great shot.

The White-vented Myna hung around and was much more obliging albeit it at a distance but these fellows are truly ten-a-penny.

My consolation was the return of the Barn Owl to the soi, alternatively a first sighting of it for a few months. There he was perched on an overflow pipe abutting from high up on a house, 100 metres from home. It was pitch dark but the owl gave me time to go home and get my bins and have a good look at it with assistance from my car headlamps. Quite a magnificent sight.