Huay Mai Teng ...... for a Change!

Blue-throated Bee-eater

Merops viridis

นกจาบคาคอสีฟ้า

Huay Mai Teng Reservoir, Ratchaburi Province

27.05.12

I managed to spend some time in each of Saturday and Sunday afternoon at Huay Mai Teng Reservoir this weekend. The undoubted highlight for me was seeing a pair of Yellow-eyed Babblers on Sunday. I was fearful that human disruption might have impacted on this bird's continued presence at the site. No or not yet.

Green Bee-eater

Merops orientalis

นกจาบคาเล็ก

Huay Mai Teng Reservoir, Ratchaburi Province

27.05.12

On Saturday I noted one River Lapwing at the main staging area but none elsewhere or on Saturday. No Rain Quail either but I must confess that the ease with which I have been able to see this species over the last few months means I am disinclined to work for it! A cursory glance in the usual area drew a blank. However Nick Upton advised me he saw about eight on Friday afternoon so they are alive and well.

Little Grebe

Tachybaptus ruficolis

นกเป็ดผีเล็ก 

Huay Mai Teng Reservoir, Ratchaburi Province

27.05.12

The site is a hive of breeding activity at the moment so there are a lot of recently fledged birds; notably Black-winged Stilts which really look very adorable. I also saw a fair number of juvenile Black-winged Stilts and good numbers of juvenile Oriental and Small Pratincoles. I have to say there were good numbers of Small Pratincoles. I doubt whether their cycle has changed. I rather suspect that they have been more dispersed in view of having more suitable habitat than in each of the previous two years on account of the high water level. The level this year is very low.

Small Pratincole

Glareola lactea

นกแอ่นทุ่งเล็ก

Huay Mai Teng Reservoir, Ratchaburi Province

27.05.12

It would appear that a further consequence of the low water level is a human fishing frenzy. Nets and rods  are abundant and people seem to be having great fun pulling out large numbers of fish with comparative ease. Of course this means disruption so it can present some difficulties in respect of birdwatching.

Small Pratincole - juvenile

Glareola lactea

นกแอ่นทุ่งเล็ก

Huay Mai Teng Reservoir, Ratchaburi Province

27.05.12

Late Saturday afternoon I also had good views of a Pied Kingfisher, a favourite bird but a species I have not seen a lot of recently. I would really like to get in close with the camera. Also some good views of a Barred Buttonquail, although I am really on the look out for Small and Yellow-legged Buttonquail.

Black-winged Stilt - juvenile

Himantopus himantopus 

นกตีนเทียน 

Huay Mai Teng Reservoir, Ratchaburi Province

27.05.12

On Sunday, frustrated by a lack of recent, decent shots, I decided to concentrate on photography so my movements were governed by the sun's position. It is actually a a difficult place for photography as it is open with little natural cover. I use the truck for cover but it is not exactly satisfactory. Anyhow I love this Blue-throated Flycatcher.

Blue-throated Bee-eater

Merops viridis

นกจาบคาคอสีฟ้า

Huay Mai Teng Reservoir, Ratchaburi Province

27.05.12

Almost as an afterthought there were two Chinese Francolin calling to each other and I suspect I might be able to draw one or both of these out; a pair of Oriental Skylarks dropped dramatically out of the sky and as always plenty of Indochinese Bushlarks and Paddyfield Pipits.

Pied Kingfisher

Ceryle rudis

นกกะเต็นปักหลัก 

Huay Mai Teng Reservoir, Ratchaburi Province

27.05.12

Chestnut-winged Cuckoo in the Rice Paddy

It wasn't raining after work this evening, a pleasant change, in fact it was bright and sunny. So we put the boy's bike and the baby's push chair in the back of the truck and headed for the rice paddy en famille. Most pleasant to be outside and there was a pleasant breeze coming over the fields. I had my bins and there was plenty of bird activity, lots of weavers which I didn't pay much attention to, a Black-shouldered Kite, a Plaintive Cuckoo, Purple Heron, Asian Palm Swift, (but no Barn Swallows), and Streak-earred Bulbuls..... all the regular residents in this area. I wasn't really expecting any surprises. We had a pleasant walk. Before heading home we drove to the very end of the road in the rice paddy; this is where it reaches the railway line. We then turned round and headed back home and as we were slowly driving along, still in the rice paddy, Luna, my wife, said there was a big bird like a coucal in the bushes. My wife has a good eye so I reversed; out came a Streak-eared Bulbul; she said it wasn't this and then added her bird was still there. She put me onto it and I could make out a long tail reminiscent of a malkoha, simply in terms of length; I got the bins on the bird and could make out a bill a bit like a bee-eater and a rufous throat. I could also see the bird had a black crest. So I drove the truck forward and got out and walked back and the bird allowed me to get a good view. I could make out white underparts, a white neck collar, black eyes, reddish and black wings. I thought it must be a cuckoo of some description but couldn't call it. I didn't have a field guide in the car. We had a good look at it through the twigs and branches. I took field notes as I knew this was a new one plus I had decided not to bring a camera with me.  I really thought it had done an excellent job in disguising itself. On return home it was easy to see in the field guide that this was a Chestnut-winged Cuckoo. The Thai guide says it is "not seen often". I am not really sure of its status. Watch this space ! However for the record it is Thai lifer ⌗ 357 and I am indebted to Luna, my dear wife. Thanks baby!

Huay Mai Teng Reservoir: River Lapwing Back

Diplacodes trivialis

แมลงปอบ้านคู่สีเขียวฟ้า

แมลงปอบ้านฟ้าเขียว

Thanks to Sebastien of Vietnam Bird News for the identification

At approximately 06:00h this morning, after a lovely drive from home with the sky behind me ablaze with the rising sun, I observed a first River Lapwing of the year at Huay Mai Teng reservoir in Ratchaburi province. It was at the main staging area. I didn't attempt to get close, in fact I took the camera off the scope and simply enjoyed the view of the new arrival.  About an hour later I observed three River Lapwing, from a distance, on the southern side of the reservoir. In addition I am delighted to report at least 20 Small Pratincoles at the staging area. I think these birds have taken advantage of the greater amount of  habitat available to them  in view of the water level at the reservoir being at its lowest for over two years. Such is the low level of the water that it is possible to make a circular drive around the reservoir which hasn't been possible at any time during the last two years.

Crocothemis servilia

แมลงปอบ้านบ่อ

แมลงปอบ้านแดงเหลืองใหญ่

Thanks to Sebastien of Vietnam Bird News for the identification

Clearly the River Lapwing has a very strong time clock hard wired into it. I recorded it here last year on 21st May 2011, and in 2010 I observed it first in July, when it was a "lifer" and a very exciting moment as I had headed to the site simply on the basis of seeing a large area of water on a map and thinking that there must be birds here. Even if in each of the last two years the lapwing has arrived a few days before my first sighting of it I am still staggered by its reappearance at virtually the exact same time. How does it manage to do this? In fact I have so many questions: where has it come from and where will it go? Its range can be seen from this IUCN  map. I also know that this species' conservation status is under review and that it may change from "Least Concern" to "Near Threatened". From what I understand it has traditionally bred on the banks of the Mekong River, Thailand's northern border; this habitat has been under considerable threat over the last 10 years. More information can be gleaned from this article at BirdLife International.

There has been a lot of rain however in the reservoir area. The road which runs across the reservoir on the west side had a small stretch that was partially submerged though still passable; last weekend it was completely clear. The rain however has left the Rain Quail feeding area submerged and today was the first occasion over the last few months when I haven't observed any. They appear to prefer dry scrub. I am sure they are still be around.

Diplacodes trivialis

แมลงปอบ้านคู่สีเขียวฟ้า

แมลงปอบ้านฟ้าเขียว

Thanks to Sebastien of Vietnam Bird News for the identification

A pair of Greater Painted Snipe made a pleasant spectacle. I also sighted 3 Barred Buttonquail, a number of Indochinese Bushlarks, and lots of noisy cisticolas. There were also good numbers of Cotton Pygmy-Goose on the water - I don't recall this species being here before in such significant numbers especially at this time of the year. In the distance I could hear the distinctive rasping call of a Chinese Francolin.

I didn't take any photographs of birds today. I couldn't get close enough but I did take some shots of dragonflies which I rather like and would welcome identifications. I think my recent trip to Mae Wong has dampened my enthusiasm for photographing birds unless I am going to be able to get in close!

Same last weekend when I made a brief visit on Saturday afternoon to Wat Khao Look Chang in Phetchburi province. The sought after Black-headed Woodpecker dipped......again! A Spotted Owlet did oblige but it wasn't posing. I was a real clut and couldn't  manage to shoot birds so I ended up concentrating on butterflies.

I am extremely busy at school right now. The new academic year began last week. So birding has to play second fiddle for the moment.

Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, Chiang Mai

We had a family trip to Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden ("QSBG") Saturday 5th May 2012 and I have to say I recommend it highly to birders and non-birders alike. The garden is situated in Mae Sa, in Mae Rim District, about 27 km northwest of downtown Chiang Mai. It probably warrants a full day. Birding and logistcal information can be found here.

In terms of birds we didn't see a lot though I did note four species of sunbirds, including Purple-naped, and there were loads of Pied Stonechat, Sooty-headed Bulbuls and Red-whiskered Bulbuls. We also had a Shikra circling around us.

With small kids we only managed the afternoon. I really enjoyed strolling through the greenhouses. It wasa  bit hot and wet for strolling around trails. This is a site I will return to perhaps in the "winter" months when there is likely to be a lot more bird and plant activity. QSBG would make an ideal day trip for a party of birders and non-birders based in Chiang Mai and I rather fancy the Botanic Resort opposite the main QSBG entrance may be a cool place to stay, but probably at a price.

Chiang Dao

Red-whiskered Bulbul

Pycnonotus jocosus

นกปรอดหัวโขน

Malee's Nature Lover's Resort

Chiang Dao

03.05.12

I had been to Chiang Dao before and had birded along the Muang Khong road. It was a rather hurried affair, driving from Chiang Mai in the morning and returning there that same day. On this occasion we decided to stay overnight and I am so glad that we did. It really provided a sense of the unique atmosphere of this area: peaceful and relaxed. Everything is dominated by Doi Chiang Dao itself, the third highest peak in Thailand, it towers over everything and makes an impressive sight. Lots of very high trees provide excellent cover at all levels and also mean lots of birds everywhere. We stayed at Malee's and it would be hard to think of a place that blends in more harmoniously with the setting. Malee's is birder friendly and children friendly and Malee herself is an excellent host.

Grey-eyed Bulbul

Iole propinqua

นกปรอดเล็กตาขาว 

Doi Chang Dao

03.05.12

This time we went en famille and Dave Sargeant came along too. After meeting up on Thursday 3rd May 2012 we drove north and stopped en route at the Mai Teng Irrigation Project. Here we did see Wire-railed Swallow (lifer ⌗337) after we had seen  lifer ⌗336, the humble House Swift . The real story, however, was the presence of two Asian Openbills. In Dave's absence I would have treated these birds as I would were I to see them locally: indifference with occasional interest when in very large numbers. It is very common. It is, however, according to Dave an uncommon bird in the north, rarely seen north of Bueng Boraphet. So an excellent stop and I am particularily pleased to bag two species which are theoretically easier to see in the north of the country.

Oriental Honey Buzzard

Pernis ptilorhynchus

เหยี่ยวผึ้ง

Doi Chang Dao

04.05.12

After lunch at Malee's Dave and I went to get our permit for entering the Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary. Now this is a totally different arrangement than entering a national park where you show up at the barrier, pay the entrance fee and proceed. You cannot do this with a "wildlife sanctuary".  For Chiang Dao you have to go to the Wildlife Sanctuary's Headquarters, fill out the paperwork and pay the fees; the staff then issue you with a permit and this is what gets you through the various barriers and check points. The real point is that the Headquarters operate to normal office hours. This means that you simply cannot show up early in the morning and enter the sanctuary; you'll have to wait for the office to open in order to get your permit.

Mountain Imperial Pigeon

Ducula badia

นกมูม

Doi Chang Dao

04.05.12

We then went round to the Muang Khong Road and concentrated on butterflies in view of the heat and the fact that there weren't many birds around. I know nothing about butterflies so I guess I have to start somewhere!

Blyth's Shrike-babbler

Pteruthius aeralatus

Doi Chang Dao

04.05.12

Later in the afternoon we walked from Malee's to the temple at the roadhead, Wat Tamplaplong. This is the perfect way to experience the feel of the area. In general terms Buddhist temples make little appeal to me, it's usually a case of "seen one, seen them all" such is their uniformity to my mind. Wat Tamplaplong is exceptionally and exquisitely beautiful, atmospheric and deeply tranquil especially late in the day. There's the small matter of 500 or so steps to negotiate to get to the temple buildings but worth every step. And then there's the birds.....

Ashy Drongo

Dicrurus leucophaeus

นกแซงแซวสีเทา

Doi Chang Dao

04.05.12

In the space of a couple of hours I added nine lifers and that might be higher but I don't see any point in claiming a bird that I get a glimpse of but of no discernible feature. So Dave called an aerial Violet Cuckoo but I got a glimpse of its rear before it disappeared; I didn't get any view of the bird's features and I didn't see anything which I would describe as "violet" so it doesn't make it onto my list. The same applies to Pin-tailed Green Pigeon. I did see some lovely birds and was especially happy to get close to a couple of Streaked Wren Babblers which, in response to playback, gave great views - a first Wren Babbler;  plus Yellow-vented Flowerpecker, Drongo Cuckoo, Little Spiderhunter, Grey-eyed Bulbul, Ruby-cheeked Flowerpecker, Black-throated Sunbird, Black Bulbul and Brown-cheeked Fulvetta and lastly the Streaked Wren-babbler which was lifer ⌗346. All of these birds were lifers.

The next morning we started very early and after an amazing drive up a dreadful track we made it to the sub-station known as "DYK" (Den Ya Khat?)  at an elevation of about 1500 m. We stopped a couple of times on the way up in a vain attempt to find Giant Nuthatch and Mrs Hulme's Pheasant; we did get reasonably close to an Oriental Honey Buzzard perched on a tree. On arrival at the sub-station we flushed a pair of Bamboo Partridges - I can hardly claim these as they were gone in an instant and in Dave's absence I would have had no knowledge what species they were. Sadly it became a bit like this for me, a day of glimpses and as a result I don't feel able to claim a lot of good birds.

I did see a fair few lifers nonetheless starting with White-throated Fantail (⌗347), Streak-breasted Woodpecker, Blyth's Shrike-babbler, and Blue-eared Barbet. In addition to this there were a number of more birds I had already seen: Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Ashy Drongo, Silver-breasted Broadbill, plus a number of Oriental Honey Buzzards flying high in the sky. I missed out on Grey Treepie, Great Barbet, Orange-bellied Leafbird and a number of other species ...... glimpses of birds but not enough to claim. I wouldn't even be able to list these birds without the benefit of Dave's presence.


But the lifers kept coming: Indochinese Swiftlet, Blue-eared Barbet, Davison's Leaf Warbler and then the two biggest scores of the day, a pair of Green Cochoas and a pair of sexually dimorphic Pale Blue Flycatchers. The Green Cochoas were a successful glimpse in that they showed enough of their wing pattern to confirm an ID and the Pale-blue Flycatchers had us working for a while as initially we could only see the female. The arrival of the male enabled Dave to call this species and it posed for a little while but not long enough for me to shoot. 


Lots of great birds and I managed to miss out on some biggies:  Giant Nuthatch, it had flown by the time I arrived at the tree where Dave had finally spotted it: once more I watched it fly off and we pursued it but I was not able to see it; I also missed out on Grey-headed Parrotbill and Japanese Tit both of which were simply too quick for me. There were also lots of breeding Burmese Shrikes and Flavescent Bulbuls flying around the camp site at DYK.


I was far from unhappy about the morning: I added a further nine lifers to my list. I rather fancy I will be back. I reckon next time I will bring the family up too. It really is a wonderful area. However we had to get back to check out of Malee's so in real terms we only managed a few hours at DYK. 


On our way back to Chiang Mai we stopped briefly at the rice paddies to the south of Chiang Dao village where I saw a further lifer ⌗ 356, Striated Swallow, a number of which were perched on cables.


A great trip and as well as good birding our enjoyment was enhanced by great accommodation and great food. At Malee's I ate home made brown wholemeal bread, (toasted), with jam - first bread of this quality in years and it was so good I scoffed four slices! The toast went down very well with a couple of cups of fresh coffee made from home-grown beans and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. We also had an outstanding meal in Chiang Dao village at Mon & Kurt's Restaurant, offering Thai-German  fare. We had Roast Beef, Bratwurst and Ham Burgers  served with freshly mashed potatoes, vegetables and gravy and some cold shakes. The bill came to 690 baht. So I will be back, we will back and I have little hesitation in recommending a trip to Chiang Dao.

Huay Tueng Tao, Chiang Mai

I am in the unusual position of writing this almost a week after the event! Quite simply, I refuse to pay 80 baht for 30 minutes wifi or 600 baht for the day and other such nonsense when most places these days are providing it as part of the room charge. No matter that I was in Chiang Mai, Thailand's second city; or in a large hotel. Not a connectivity issue, simply one of cost. In the midst of this we went to Chiang Dao for one night and were without internet there due to a technical fault. Plus my images are on my laptop and it's bothersome copying them onto a data stick and then going into an internet café and using an unfamiliar Windows desktop! It was actually very good for me to have a break from the internet.

An early start 06:30h on Wednesday 2nd May 2012 at Huay Tueng Tao, to the north of Chiang Mai......a recreation area consisting of a lake with a road running round it and a variety of different habitats, including a forested west side which marks the start of the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. I had been here before but this time I was meeting up with Dave Sargeant. What a difference it makes meeting up with someone who not only knows the area well but also has real birding expertise.

It got hot very quickly. Dave had forewarned that it had been very hot in the north, with daytime highs of 40℃ +; what hadn't registered with me was that night time temperatures had also remained unusually high, rarely dropping below 30℃. Scorchio!

While waiting for Dave Sargeant I picked up the distinctive call of Chinese Francolin. After Dave arrived we headed for the western side in the hope of  ticking off Wire-tailed Swallow which is usually here but sadly not for us today. We had a nice circular walk through the forest and saw a good range of regular birds however including : Lesser Coucal, Black-collared Starling ( a much more common bird in the north than in central and southern parts), Barred Buttonquail, Red-whiskered Bulbul ( nice to see it in the wild and not in a cage), Lineated Barbet, Shikra and Racket-tailed Treepie. I was pleased also to see Eurasian Jay and I even managed lifer ⌗335 in White-crested Laughingthrush, according to Dave a fairly common bird in these parts.


Once again I have decided to tidy up my list as we also saw Lesser-necklaced Laughing Thrush. My list includes this species from a trip to Chaloerm Prakhiat National Park in Ratchaburi in 2010. Dave reckons this is a much more difficult bird to see in central and southern parts, plus it is not even that common in the north. On this basis I have to accept my original record may have been wrong and may have been a Greater Necklaced Laughing Thrush. So Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush becomes lifer ⌗242.

On our way back to our cars we had great views of an Asian-barred Owlet but it didn't hang around for a photograph. In fact no photographs at all today.

So by 09:45h we were done with birding which was just as well as it was vert hot. Dave very kindly took me to a hard ware shop where I was able to buy a "butterfly" screw; this will enable me to dispense with the screw and screwdriver for attaching my camera to the scope. I had lost the one that came with the Kowa adaptor. This looks as if it will work a treat and at 7 baht a piece I bought 10 - cheaper than 30 minutes wifi in my hotel!

Huay Tueng Tao is a great area and would be make a nice day out especially in the winter when there will be significant numbers of migrants. Additionally there are restaurants and shaded areas so non-birders might enjoy visiting the site too.

The Last Few Days: Not Grim Up North!

Pale Blue Flycatcher

Photo Credit : Dave Sargent

This link will take you to Dave Sargent's trip report of the last few days.  I will write my stuff up when I get access to affordable wifi! Chiang Dao . Dave has kindly provided a couple of pictures of some of the beauties we've been lucky enough to see.

Streaked Wren Babbler

Photo Credit : Dave Sargent

Streaked Wren Babbler

Photo Credit : Dave Sargent