River Lapwing

River Lapwing

Vanellus Duvaucelii

นกกระแตหาด

There were three River Lapwing at the reservoir early this morning and as you can see from the photograph they are very elegant birds, beautifully coloured with a short crest. I don't know if their presence at the more public end of the reservoir is significant. Even at 06:00h there was very considerable disruption from dogs and humans. These birds appear to be looking for short grass close to the water. But here they are continuously disturbed. I should imagine it will be very difficult to nest in this area. I hope the reservoir level drops to enable these lapwing to get nesting on the far side, away from disturbance, at their normal base.

Elsewhere lots of Small Pratincoles and Oriental Pratincoles. A Rain Quail showed briefly on top of a rock mound and it flew off just as I was ready to shoot! Ditto with a Common Hoopoe showing a very prominent crest. A fair number of yellow-eyed babblers fluttering through the scrub.

The story today was getting my truck stuck in mud and having to call out a friend to give me a tow. It was touch and go but finally we managed it without the tow rope snapping. Wasted a lot of time which I would have preferred to use for birding! With work and some ill health this week this is the first and only time I have been able to get out into the field for a week. Notwithstanding personal disasters, the reservoir never disappoints.  Getting my car stuck made me start thinking I need to  get away from my truck and get positioned and set up somewhere...... I can't really expect to drive up to the birds, get out the truck, get set up and shoot!! The birds will be in Myanmar by the time I am ready!

Pheasant-tailed Jacana

It's been on my mind a lot recently that I need to try to get a flight shot of a Pheasant-tailed Jacana. With the breeding season in full swing this jacana becomes a feast of colour, note the yellow nape, and the male sports a fantastic tail. It's best seen in flight but I didn't get that shot today. I got these and I think I will come back for more in the near future. The pond is in the Khao Yoi area, Phetchburi province and I went specifically today to try see this bird and get the shot. When I first started birding this was one of my regular stops. Not so surprising with birds like this showing so easily.

Persecution

Normally my relationship with and reaction to the kingdom of birds is a happy one, in fact most of the time it is idyllic. Not this afternoon. I witnessed this in Khao Yoi, Phetchaburi at a place called ซอยแก่นสุข - I am horrified that this might mean something like Foundation of Happiness Lane. I'll let the pictures tell their grim story.

Basically it is an illegal mist net. When scientists use these nets to trap birds they operate to strict rules about the length of time a bird is allowed to be left to minimise stress, discomfort and prevent predation.In real terms the birds are in these nets for minutes. This is what happens when I go ringing at Laem Pak Bia. Even with such controls and supervision birds like Koels are known to attack the entrapped birds. The above birds have been left to the elements and as you can see some, if not all, are dead. They have died slow, painful deaths. The lucky ones might have been killed by a predator. Maybe tonight the owls will have a feast.

I contacted Phil Round and he put me in touch with Wildlife and I reported it officially. I don't know what interest they will take because they are trying to protect tigers, elephants and leopards, the jewels in Thailand's biodoversity. I hope however they take an interest in the little guys. If nothing else I hope someone goes along and confiscates the net and reads the riot act. If the net is on ground near a temple, given the monstrously inappropriate name of the soi, which might suggest it  leads to a temple, then I hope the monks will be advised and bring pressure to bear.

In short this is cruelty and it has to be stopped. 

I reckon the farmers believe this action will deter birds that are seem as predators to their rice crop. This is patently absurd: as they harvest the crop there are 300 - 400 egrets on the ground uninterested in the fate of their fellow birds trapped in the mist net. I am not aware that birds in general present a significant threat to  rice ; in fact I suspect in my uneducated way that birds and rice fields need each other more than this savagery would suggest. For instance the Openbill is tolerated here because it preys on an introduced mollusc that is a real threat to the rice crop yield. 

I feel really angry about this grim spectacle. I decided not to get involved with the farmers because I really don't know what my intervention might trigger in terms of my own personal safety. Plus I had Ben with me, aged 22 months.  I was actually a little scared about taking photographs because I thought my presence might attract interest. So I took the  photographs quickly and legged it and reported it to the proper authorities this evening. I am not sure what the outcome will be but they know what is happening and where. I would like to add for the record that I will be happy to support any enforcement action which the authorities take.

As an update I believe the matter has now been reported to the police at Khao Yai and I hope they have done something to stop this cruelty.

River Lapwing back at Huay Mai Teng Reservoir

Oriental Darter

Anhinga Melanogaster

นกอัายงั่ว

Just after noon today the steering wheel in my car was too hot to handle! But at 05:30h this morning it was  comfortable as I left the house en route for Huay Mai Teng reservoir in the dark. I had barely traveled 100 m when I saw the unmistakeable silhouette of a barn owl perched on a neighbouring roof against the slowly lightening sky. It was 90% black but there was a trace of its white, heart-shaped face. This was the footballing equivalent of a first minute goal.

Oriental Darter

Anhinga Melanogaster

นกอัายงั่ว

So I had a spring in my step so to speak, pleased that I had made the effort to get out of bed, and off I went wondering what other excitement might be waiting for me. As I drove I wondered when River Lapwing might return to the reservoir; probably some time in July. Would the Small Pratincoles still be present and what else might there be today? I was on a tightish schedule today because I teach from 10:30 to 12:30h and the deal with my wife is I have to bring breakfast back before I go to work. So it was in my mind to target Chinese Francolin.

Oriental Darter

Anhinga Melanogaster

นกอัายงั่ว

I don't know how these things happen but I drove into the main reservoir staging area. There's nothing much there, some dirt roads and lots of gravel in front of a vast stretch of water. There are often some good birds around this area early in the morning before human disturbance drives them off..... notably the Black Kites in the above banner were photographed here. It was 05:55h and right next to the water I see a solitary, unmistakeable River Lapwing! I didn't manage a photograph and even if I had been set up I doubt I would have been able to get close enough to get a decent shot; the light was poor as the sun was still covered by clouds. Vanellus duvaucelii , for me a sort of benchmark bird, probably the first species I think I ever reported seeing just over two years ago and a reminder of what extraordinary fun I get out of birding.

Little Ringed Plover

ACharadrius dubius

นกหัวโตเล็กขาเหลือง

I wasn't in any way bothered about not getting a shot. I have no doubt a small number of River Lapwing will gather again: last year I think there was one occasion when I counted eleven. What is interesting is even though the reservoir level has lowered it is still high by comparison with each of the last two years. The road which crosses the reservoir is still submerged by water at the moment and it is in this area that I have most consistently seen the lapwings over the last two years. So I wonder what the lapwings will do and if they will find alternative quarters nearby or seek out new pastures. In the same wondering mode I wonder where this fellow has come from.

Little grebe

Tachybaptus ruficollis

นกเป้ดพีเล็ก

I proceeded to the scrub area where pratincoles and rain quail can be seen. Some interesting pipits and larks, but no evidence of rain quail or nightjars. Abundant Small and Oriental Pratincoles and a very delicate looking Little Ringed Plover chick. I bumped into a couple of photographers, a very unusual experience here and they were very excited about having just seen the River Lapwing. They said that there had been a report posted on a Thai web site during the week to the effect that River Lapwing had been seen here. I felt most miffed that someone else had beaten me to it on my own patch! Just joking. I am delighted other people are covering this site because it is big and it is important.

Lesser Whistling-duck

Dendrocygna javanica

เป็ดแดง

I knew I was running low on fuel so I decided to head to the nearby garage which was en route to the small pond whose trees of late have been providing a perch for some good birds. They did not disappoint today. A Darter was waiting with wings outstretched, a truly splendid sight.....hung out to dry so to speak. I decided to attempt to get in close and drove my vehicle off the track, a risky business so close to water. I stopped at a point  where I couldn't see the Darter. What I could see was what I thought was a small raptor in the trees which was being harried by a very determined Pied Fantail. As I looked more closely I saw it was in actual fact a female Asian Koel,  a really elegant bird, revealed by its red eye and bill, but this one behaving in true psychotic fashion, intent on getting in amongst the Fantail nests in the lower part of the trees. The Darter then flew into range and I started cursing under my breath because I thought it was on its way. But to my pleasure it perched on a nearby tree and as you can see it was very obliging. What a beauty, what incredible lines and curves.

Pied Kingfisher

Ceryle rudis

นกกะเด็นป้กหลัก

Satisfied with my work I was able to turn the rig on a pair of Lesser-whistling Ducks that slid past and I managed a shot of one of a pair of Pied Kingfishers perched near the Darter. More than satisfied I headed off to my next location to try to coax out Chinese Francolin.

Paddyfield Pipit

Anthus rufulus

นกเดัาดินทุงเล็ก

Alas no sight of the Chinese Francolin despite playback but one was audible. Two Yellow-eyed Babblers briefly showed. I decided to head back to the staging area to see if the River Lapwing had returned. Alas no, but I took the opportunity of photographing a few of the more common birds which were present. The Little Grebe is a very hard bird to photograph. The above shot is by no means perfect. Work to be done. 

So that was the first four hours of my Saturday and by 0900h it was scorchio as we say. So I headed home with breakfast, chao mun gai, a very happy camper indeed! Not a bad start to a Saturday. As ever the reservoir never disappoints.

As a postscript we headed out to our favourite restaurant tonight for dinner at about 1900h and the Barn Owl was perched on an abutting pipe next to where it was this morning. 

All images digiscoped 21.05.11 at Huay Mai Teng Reservoir, Ratchaburi Province, Thailand.

A Quick Half Hour at the Rice Paddy

Streaked Weaver

Ploceus manyar

นกกระจาบอกลาย

Wednesday's beginning of the  new school year means busy, busy, busy. Birding is going to have to play second fiddle! But I got out and I managed to shoot a couple of Streaked Weavers and a Plain Prinia, reasonable shots. The above Weaver is probably a female, (though it could be a non-breeding male) and below, obscured by a branch, is the male in breeding plumage. Alas I don't have the technical knowledge to remove the offending branch and I don't have the time or patience right now to learn! I was just happy to be able to snatch 30 minutes or so and capture a couple of images.

 Streaked Weaver

Ploceus manyar

นกกระจาบอกลาย

The Weavers are usually in flocks and create very distinctive nests, like lanterns, in reeds. They are very active and quite noisy but as you can see they are really striking looking.

Streaked Weaver Nest

Plain Prinia

Prinia Inornata

นกกระจิบหญ้าสีเรียน

This Plain Prinia was looking on at the antics and squabbles of the Weavers and its distinctive chirp invited me to photograph it. Around me I saw a Watercock, Lesser-whistling Duck, Yellow Bitterns, a White-throated Kingfisher, Egrets, Openbills, not bad really for a gentle half hour after work.

Watermarks, Playback.......

Well I have designed a watermark for my photographs and this picture of a Grey-Breasted Prinia, shot this morning at Huay Mai Teng Reservoir, is the first of my photographs to carry it. I am amazed at how difficult this was to do! I think I am definitely getting old as Photoshop is well beyond me!

I also did something I have never done before today. I used an MP3 recording of a Chinese Francolin calling in the hope of drawing this species to my telescope. Well I succeeded in raising two birds but sadly they didn't break cover although one was very close. I am not sure about this.

Plenty of nesting Small Pratincoles remain in the area and I even saw one little chick getting what might best be described as some parenting. Large numbers of Oriental Pratincoles too as well as noisy Black-winged Stilts and Red-wattled Lapwing. I also saw a couple of Yellow-eyed Babblers as I endeavoured to draw out the Chinese Francolins.

It's extremely hot in Thailand at present and so early morning starts are obligatory. It's boiling hot by 08:00h. Moreover in the later part of the day there is often heavy rain.

The Reservoir Strikes Back.....

Osprey

Pandion Haliaetus

เหยี่ยวออสเปร

Quite simply a fantastic afternoon at the reservoir today with His Lordship, the Osprey, obliging for me. I can't get over the size of his talons. You would have laughed watching me crawl on hands and knees to get into position for this shot without scaring the bird off. As my friend Tom says of birding at Huay Mai Teng, it's a good place because you can get to see and photograph the birds.

Cattle egret

Bubulcus ibis

นกยางควาย

The real story today was not the Osprey but the presence of at least 3 Chinese Francolins who were calling to each other. I managed to see one, a  black and white dog-tooth breast against the gloom before  it popped back into the scrub. A lifer no less. The incredibly loud calls were really distinctive and from listening to recordings on Xeno Canto I am completely sure I have the right ID. Alas a really heavy rainfall closed in at this point and brought the day's proceedings to an abrupt end:  as I was parked on a dirt track and there would have been a possibility of getting stranded, ie stuck, such was the deluge, I legged it. I rather fancy I will be back at the same place tomorrow morning.......

Red-wattled Lapwing

Vanellus indicus

บกกระแตแต้แว้ด

Lots of good birds today: an Oriental Darter, Barred Buttonquail, Indochinese Bushlark, Small Pratincole, Oriental Pratincole plus all the regulars including Cattle Egret and Red-wattled Lapwing. I just love Huay Mai Teng reservoir, it never disappoints.

Osprey

Pandion Haliaetus

เหยี่ยวออสเปร

Dragonfly: trithemis aurora

The Power of Photoshop

Black-backed Kingfisher

Ceyx erithacus

นกกะเต็นน้อยสามนิ้วหลังดำ

I have to acknowledge a considerable debt of gratitude to Ryan Eustace, a zoology student in Aberdeen, Scotland, who self-evidently is a wizard with Photoshop. I posted my shot of the Black-backed Kingfisher on Birdforum asking for a steer and little did I know Ryan would in fact do the job for me. Many thanks Ryan, what more can I say?! I am so pleased with this! I think this one might be getting printed and framed.

A Day in Kaeng Krachan in May

Black-backed Kingfisher

Ceyx erithacus

นกกะเต็นน้อยสามนิ้วหลังดำ

A Friday public holiday saw me up at 03:00h in order to be at the gates of Kaeng Krachan National Park for opening time at 05:30h. What a lucky man! I made it on time and met Tom Backlund just before 05:30h as arranged and off we went into the gloom of the forest.

Black-backed Kingfisher

Ceyx erithacus

นกกะเต็นน้อยสามนิ้วหลังดำ

Thank goodness Thailand had the foresight to declare this area a national park in 1981 and give it protection: otherwise it would have been destroyed by now, plain and simple, its great biodiversity gone. I am also grateful that I had the good fortune to get interested in birds. I would have hated to miss out on  days like today on both counts.

Blue--bearded Bee-eater

Nyctyornis athertoni

นกจาบดาเครานำ้เงิน

There were plenty of birds around as day broke and I soon managed a lifer in the very distinctive looking Blue-bearded Bee-eater... dare I say it, a pretty ugly and unattractive bird! Even though the bee-eater was posing for me I didn't manage a shot of it until late in the day. As far as photography was concerned for much of the day I had the goal keeper's equivalent of being unable to catch a cold. It seemed as though the simplest shots were just too much. I was taking too much time and then the cable release I use on the rig broke! This meant I had to switch to using a remote shutter release which involved a little bit of a learning curve. It is not as fast as the cable so I missed a few shots. A further factor is a digiscope rig is far from ideal in a forest setting. Forest means low light and digiscoping requires the opposite.

Asian Blue Fairybird

Irena puella

นกเขียวคราม

Some of the more common babbler species, identified by Tom as Striped Tit and Rufous-Fronted, passed through in small flocks but I am not going to claim them as I really didn't get a good enough look and wouldn't be able to recognise them as I would the Blue-bearded Bee-eater. However there were plenty of good birds - including a lot of Green-billed Malkohas, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Red-wattled Lapwing, Streak-earred Bulbul, Ochraceous Bulbul, Stripe-throated Bulbul, an unidientified raptor, possibly an (Oriental Honey Buzzard).

Dusky Langur

We took our time and worked our way to Ban Krang which was very quiet - only one tent pitched. I took a walk in the direction of the Youth Camp and as I approached the river crossing I flushed a Cinnamon Bittern which was very unexpected. Almost immediately Tom identified a Green Magpie in the understory and then out came a Blue-winged Pitta which really was a visual feast of colour....... ochre-breasted, red lower belly and undertail coverts, green uppers with a blue lateral wing stripe. The pitta genus is truly spectacular even if this particular species is one of the more common. Unfortunately I didn't manage a shot but I did manage a good look and this enable me to record a good mental description. Both the magpie and the pitta are lifers. There were also a number of very exuberant and melodious White-rumped Shamas and a couple of hairy Spangled Drongos.

Unknown butterfly species

After this we spent the rest of the day in and around the streams just above Ban Krang camp. Last year I saw Hooded Pitta and a Grey-headed Woodpecker here. Tom reckons we heard Giant and Blue Pitta calling but we did not manage to see anything. The park authorities have taped off some sections in this area to minimise disruption to nests. We had good views of a Dusky Broadbill servicing a nest overhanging the path and we saw more Babblers, Black-naped Monarchs, a Sultan Tit, an Emerald Dove, Ochraceous Bulbuls and another Blue-bearded Bee-eater. We also had views of two soaring Crested Serpent Eagles.

Damselfly - aristocypha fenestrella

We bumped into Mr Peeyat, a Thai bird guide, with a couple of clients visiting from Taiwan. We managed to spot a Common Flameback and Asian Blue Fairybird in this area. Our friends had just scored with Trogons and were in pursuit of Black-backed Kingfishers which were reported to be showing well near a nest. We tagged along. The theory was that the Kingfishers were perching on a branch of bamboo straddling the stream, next to the road, before progressing to the nest. We went to the location and waited for 30 minutes or so but drew a blank. There was an Asian Barred Owlet high up in the trees but not much else. So we decided to head back to Ban Krang for some lunch. On our way back Tom spotted a Silver-breasted Broadbill, which he went to great lengths to locate for me, but it literally went when I finally located it with my bins. I can't claim this one either! What I do know is that it is a much smaller bird than I was expecting.

Black-backed Kingfisher - a blooper

Ceyx erithacus

นกกะเต็นน้อยสามนิ้วหลังดำ

After lunch we returned to the Kingfisher stake-out and our friends were still there and reported the Kingfishers had obliged on three occasions and that they were expecting them again imminently. Sure enough one came and perched on the bamboo branch but to my frustration it was partially hidden by leaves. But what a stunning ball of beautiful colour. I think the shots tell their own story.

We saw two birds on about four occasions over a period of about an hour, a male and a female, carrying prey. I managed a couple of shots as you can see but these were really hard work as light conditions meant longish exposures.  So I have a few blurred shots. The birds perched for only 3 or 4 seconds, made a quick check and then flew off in the direction of the nest.

So it was tight: getting the bird in the viewfinder, focussing and then pressing the remote shutter release; this latter manoeuvre was by no means as spontaneous as the cable release and I rather fancy I would have got better shots had I been able to use it.  Of course my best shot was spoiled by a branch as you can see! However I can live with these shots and may even be able to do a little bit of creative editing with Photoshop.  In the great scheme of things these shots are truly beyond my wildest dreams when compared to my best efforts this time last year.

We then headed back down the mountain to Ban Krang and Tom decided to head home. I decided to go back for a bit more and was rewarded with a perched Blue-bearded Bee-eater which I was able to photograph and a couple of female Red Junglefowl taking their latest offspring for a walk. But I was pretty exhausted too so headed home about 17:00h, my decision made easier by bad light and rain.

Tom described it as a good day characterised by quality birds. I would agree with this and also his comment that May, June and July can be the best months to visit Kaeng Krachan. I am glad to record four new lifers as well and I have to say I am very pleased with my shots of the Black-backed Kingfishers taken on a day when I was struggling with the camera.

All images in this blog entry were digiscoped at Kaeng Krachan National Park, Friday 13.05.11

Familiar Territory

Asian Pratincole

Glareola maldivarum

 Bright-capped Cisticola

Cisticola exilis

 Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Plain Prinia

Prinia inornata

It was good to be back on familiar territory this weekend with a trip to Huay Mai Teng Reservoir Saturday afternoon and a brief look at the local rice paddy in Ratchaburi today. The reservoir was abuzz with bird life and I managed a couple of decent shots of a few familiar friends. The high was a Cinnamon Bittern flying past, sadly not photographed, but very elegant with stunning colour. The low was habitat loss: two weeks ago there were shrubs, thick grasses and bushes at the edge of a field where the beautiful Yellow-eyed Babblers and Pipits were nesting. Not any more, all gone and now an extension of the field which is being planted with taro. No sign of Yellow-eyed Babbler either.

Asian Golden Weaver

Ploceus hypoxanthus

This afternoon I took a brief spin round to the rice paddy with my son. The highlight was a beautiful male Watercock occasionally popping his head out of the rice plants. Fantastic colours: yellow and red bill with red/pinkish facial wattling. He flew off so I couldn't get a shot. The Asian Golden Weaver above will have to do - another beauty, nesting in the rice paddy in large numbers. Also a Black-shouldered Kite hovering above the rice-paddy, always an impressive sight and a significant number of Yellow Bitterns.

Not Ko Tao!

Yesterday's day trip to Ko Tao was interesting in an unexpected sort of way! We didn't actually make it but only got as far as Ko Nang Yuan, a small island at the northern most point of Ko Tao, a rather highly developed and expensive diving resort. On the bird front great views of a high soaring White-bellied Sea-eagle, what I thought was an Oriental Honey Buzzard, some Black-naped Terns and a very obliging Pacific Reef Egret,(dark morph). My doubts about the buzzard were based on not knowing if this species would be found above a small island in the Gulf of Thailand. A brief scan online suggests the Oriental Honey Buzzard's presence here could not be discounted. No photographs as I was aboard a boat at the time; I tried but I just couldn't get the bird in the view finder!

The reef egret is very hard to photograph. First of all it is impossible to get close, it is a very sensitive bird and takes off at the slightest disturbance. I think its colour makes it difficult to get correct exposure plus it helps to disguise itself. I never appreciated this species had such long necks!

The return to Chumphon revealed some unidentified pelagic birds. Our fast moving catamaran passed a small flock of at least 10, possibly as many as fifteen, birds in a feeding frenzy. I was some way off so it was impossible to get a good ID. The most distinct characteristic I could see was white underparts with a dark fringe: possibly Bridled Terns, but possibly Brown Boobies. There is absolutely no way I could claim anything but I was really pleased to be able to see what were clearly pelagic birds.

I have to say our day trip saddened me a little. It exposed us to a part of Thailand we know exists but don't encounter too often. The bus which transferred passengers from the ferry to the railway station in Chumphon terminated short of the destination. An announcement was made to the effect that passengers could use a nearby restaurant with a wash room and wifi with a free taxi to the station in time for the Bangkok service that evening. So clearly a scam to entice people to use a restaurant presumably with super-inflated prices.........and who knows what else.

As day trippers we were taken back to the railway station for transport back to our hotel. The railway station was about 750 metres from where our fellow passengers were deposited.....but they wouldn't know this, would they?! We bought a package which included picking up and dropping off. But there was no transport for us and we were offered a 1,000 baht tuktuk for the 10 minute ride to our resort. This was about 18:00h and we had been up since about 04:30h plus we had our  22 month-old baby boy with us. We firmly told our hosts to sort it out and remarkably they did; they raised the driver from his house and we got dropped back to our hotel.

I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions. What I would say is to be very careful about costs and services if you are contemplating a do-it-yourself birding trip.  I was reading the locally produced guide to Ko Tao last night and it suggested there was no need to become hostile and aggressive about overcharging. The fact that this is included in such a publication, unusually written in flawless English I hasten to add, tells me this is a big problem. So be advised - make sure you get what was agreed upon and check the price of everything before you order. Remember you have the right to say no and also it is very difficult in Thailand to get your money back if you are not happy with a service. Caveat emptor!

Chumphon: Gateway to the South of Thailand

In recent years Chumphon has become well known in the birding world as an important observation point for migrating raptors. As a result of visiting the area during the watch I have to say I really like Chumphon and the surrounding area to the extent that I would say it is probably my favourite place in Thailand. Raptors apart Chumphon is a good birding place, very close to the sea for waders and with plenty of different habitats, there is an excellent variety of birds to be had in the area. Local facilities, in particular the food, are excellent and cheap. For me Chumphon represents the best of Thailand. So here we are again for a few days holiday before the new school year begins.

I haven't been bursting a gut on the birding front: it is very hot and I am feeling a bit tired and sluggish. In and around the seaside there has been an abundance of Pacific Golden Plovers looking quite magnificent in their breeding plumage. On the sea shore I have seen a  few Terek Sandpipers alongside Whimbrels, Pacific Golden, Kentish Plovers, Little Herons and Greater Sand Plovers. I have been birding at Laem Kho Kwang, a promontory on the coast and the most obvious bird there is the absorbing Lineated Barbet which is nesting there. I would say there must be at least 10 different birds.

In the same area I have seen a White-bellied Sea-eagle, Streak-earred bulbul, Indian Roller, Brown Shrike, Green-billed Malkoha, Pacific Reef Egret, (Dark Morph), Vinous-breasted Starling, Common Myna, White-vented Myna, Olive -backed Sunbird, White-rumped Shama, Stripe-throated Bulbul. There have also been many birds heard but not seen. I reckon I might have been able to add a few lifers if I had been able to get up early in the morning!

 I would love to have got a shot of the Shama, it's a really beautiful bird but its star attraction is the range of its various calls. I must investigate recording equipment. This bird is really expert at throwing and changing its call; it can range from melodic tune to harsh clicking. Good to get some of these birds on my year list. More to the point they serve to highlight what might be out there. I managed a poor shot of one unidentified raptor with which I'll need to get some help.

Probably my favourite bird of the trip is the Jungle Myna. I was desperately trying to get a shot of one perched on a water buffalo. In Thai a literal translation of its name นกเอี้ยงควาย, nok iiang kwai, is "Buffalo Myna". Alas not today, a few near misses. That's been a feature of my photography over the last few days: no sooner was I set up and ready to shoot than the bird flew off!

I will have to add shots at a later stage as blogger's photo uploader does not appear to be operational......maybe they are trying to stop me making my readers suffer! Tomorrow I am taking a day trip to Ko Tao in the Gulf so that should be a pleasant family day out and who knows, possibly some pelagic birds. However this is first and foremost a splash in the sea trip so my expectations are low!

Ah I managed to get some photos uploaded but there are more to come!