Thursday 4 October 2012

Ban Song Nok, Petchburi

Orange-bellied Flowerpecker - male
Dicaeum trigonostigma
นกกาฝากท้องสีส้ม
Ban Song Nok, Kaeng Krachan District, Petchburi Province
04.10.12

My trip to Ban Song Nok threw up two lifers today in an otherwise fairly low key trip. The undoubted highlight was a brief glimpse of a Blue-bearded Bee-eater whose identification was confirmed by its very distinct, monosyllabic call. I am not ticking this because it really was the briefest of views, I saw a clear powder blue beard, and then it was gone. I don't know at what point I would take the tick, but this was way below "better view required". I must have some sort of reasonable contact with the bird and this wasn't it!
Orange-bellied Flowerpecker - female
Dicaeum trigonostigma
นกกาฝากท้องสีส้ม
Ban Song Nok, Kaeng Krachan District, Petchburi Province
04.10.12



I will claim the Tickell's Blue Flycatcher because I got a number of clear if somewhat fleeting views of the front and rear, not enough to photograph, but enough to identify it. The Large Scimitar Babbler was too large and too near to fit in the LCD. In fact a pretty ugly bird not helped by the fact it was having a good splash and so getting wet. So Thai lifers #364 and #365.

Large Scimitar Babbler
Pomatorhinus hypoleucos
นกระวังไพรปากยาว
Ban Song Nok, Kaeng Krachan District, Petchburi Province
04.10.12


The joy however is the simple business of photographing the flowerpeckers. The Orange-bellied is sublimely beautiful and it's still there, much to Ba Ek's surprise.

Black-naped Monarch
Hypothymis azurea
นกจับแมลงจุกดำ
Ban Song Nok, Kaeng Krachan District, Petchburi Province
04.10.12


But this is not easy-peasy stuff. Light conditions in the hide area are actually very difficult for digiscoping. Slow shutter speeds are the order of the day and this is not ideal for birds which are often moving about very rapidly. Also I  often have too much magnification so can't frame the whole bird! I do think the hide is 300 mm territory. Whatever I had the place to myself today and I got a couple of decent shots, so I'm happy.

4 comments:

  1. Hi there.....quite a difficult place to find as it is signed in Thai only. The best directions I can offer are from the road leading from the main entrance to the park. As if you are coming out continue to the first junction and turn left. I cannot give the exact mileage but it is on this road on the left hand side about 10 -12 km down the road; easy to miss. If you can read Thai or are with someone who can it has a simple sign saying Ban Song Nok and the owner is called Ba Ek

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  2. Cheers Gerry , I think I may try to find it tomorrow,, Do you think there will be much around at this time of the year........cheers brian

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  3. You never know, Brian! The Orange-bellied Flowerpeckers usually go in August but were still there last week and showing very well. Blue-bearded Bee-eaters were in the garden. They say it is best in dry weather when birds are drawn to the small pools. Ba Ek charges 200 THB for using the hide but that includes water and coffee; it's a great place and Ba Ek is a nice woman.

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