Thirty-three Pied Avocets at Laem Pak Bia

Encouraged by Saturday's unexpected Spoon-billed Sandpiper at Khok Kham and feeling energetic, I decided to head to Laem Pak Bia this afternoon. I had no expectations. I decided to start at Bang Kaew a small fishing village to the south of Laem Pak Bia to check out what was on the seashore. Nothing unusual but plenty of great photo opportunities and I had a bit of a laugh talking to the fisherman and explaining in my basic Thai how the very prominent brown head on the Brown-headed Gull was its breeding plumage. For a digiscoper it is important every now and then to have good light and co-operative birds. It makes a huge difference being able to shoot at fast shutter speeds. I got that here. In fact soon after the light changed as rain clouds began covering the sky moving from west to east.

At Laem Pak Bia there wasn't much too get excited about although small flocks of waders were on the move. What drew my attention however was a distant group of white birds with a black lateral ridge on their heads - I thought these might be Pied Avocets and so walked in and sure enough, Pied Avocets, quite  a rare bird in Thailand. I made two separate counts, about 30 minutes apart,  both of which matched at 33 birds. Now that was exciting and excitement levels increased as the flock took to the air and swooped and cascaded before settling down again in the salt pans. The effect of this is brilliant due to the monochrome colouring - it really enhances the effect of synchronisation as the birds move.

Four Spot-billed Pelicans were roosting further up in the same saltpan - large immobile lumps looking from a distance like large bean bags. Probably very tired after a long flight. First of the year and it will be interesting to see how their numbers build. Also noteworthy was a distant aerial group of at last 50 Painted Storks, but this species is resident year round and numbers in general are high. So a pleasant afternoon.

In the fading light to the Kings Project which is still under repair. All the pools remain empty and they appear to have hacked down a lot of the perimeter trees favoured by roosting starlings. Little of note here but a Peregrine Falcon perched on a radio transmitter and allowed me to shoot it.

Sterna albifrons

now you know why if "albifrons" means "white forehead"

Local News - Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

เหยี่ยวเพเรกริน

Ratchaburi 23.02.12

I am unable to explain how but I appear to have developed an ability to spot Peregrine Falcon in flight. I can't really describe what it is but I watched this fellow fly past me in the local rice paddy in Ratchaburi and was able to follow it on to its perch high on an electricity pylon. I had no doubt I was watching a Peregrine. Not a very good shot but adequate for the record. In fact when I consider the bird was about 350-400 metres away, it was 18:00h, and I was shooting at ISO 200, it is a small miracle and testimony to Kowa's brilliant optics and old faithful, the Nikon P6000. I was using the 20-60x zoom eyepiece at maximum zoom.  Truly amazing reach. Not much else to report, same really as yesterday but no harriers.

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

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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.

Out with the Old.....

So to the Abandonned Building, Laem Pak Bia,  this morning and apart from a huge number of Black-tailed Godwits, maybe in excess of 2,000 birds, I managed to find a Spoon-billed Sandpiper in among the Red-necked Stints. I feel very pleased about this as it is the first time I have found this fellow unaided. He was as effervescent as ever. Alas no photos as the birds were on the move and not making it easy.

I headed back to the Abandonned Building, where I had parked the truck,  and watched the Peregrine Falcon above fly in and land on its top and in fact he posed a little for me. A Thai lifer for me though I have seen it in the Philippines. I retreated to the rubbish dump in search of the Brahminy Starling. I thought I was looking at a set from Doctor Who as there were 4 greeen tents with lenses sticking out bang in the middle of a rubbish dump ....... they looked like tanks! It took me a few moments to realise the big lens photographers were on the scene and our dear Brahminy Starling was right under their noses jostling the mynas and other birds in pursuit of the food left out. I had good views for about 10 minutes but alas no photograph as it then flew off and did not return. What a beautiful bird and a lifer.

So I headed off to the Kings Project in pursuit of Long-billed Dowitcher with a spring in my step. There I met some very obliging Pintail Snipe, once more lifers and none too shy of the camera. I originally thought I had spotted a Temminck's Stint but my advisor(!), Tom Bucklund, tells me it is definitely a Long-toed Stint - pictured below

Long-toed Stint

Kings Project

Laem Pak Bia

31.12.10

Nearby a Black-capped Kingfisher offered a few shots. This is one of my favourite birds and species. I could look at this fellow and his ilk all day.

I passed by on the eagles and Cinerous Vulture and headed home. They can wait for another day or year! In the late afternoon I went out into the local rice paddy where I was greeted by a Common Kestrel perched on a pillar in the distance. Not the best picture I ever took but a good record shot and a  new tick for the patch.

Common Kestrel

Ratchaburi

31.12.10

I headed over to the other side of the paddy and had a look at the recently reported Western Marsh Harriers ..... again my advisor tells me these aren't Western but are Eastern Marsh Harriers, specifically a male juvenile. Now that I have looked at the books I have absolutely no problem with this - I got it completely wrong and if I had done my research I would have realised that a Western is something of a rarity, something to crow about....a pun!  News Year Resolution: take time in making IDs and consider the literature and ID guides.

Eastern Marsh Harrier

Ratchaburi

31.12.10

My Dear Readers & Viewers that is it for 2010. Let me wish you a Very Happy New Year and express the hope that you have a great year's birding in 2011. My  birding year in 2010 felt like a privilege, like I was spoiled, spoiled rotten. I have seen some truly memorable birds, been to some great places and met some excellent people. I hope to see you out there in 2011 and when I get a moment I will review the year and give you the numbers. Once more best wishes and a Happy New Year.

Subic Bay, Zambales Province

Glossy Swiftlet

Subic Bay Forest Park

03.10.10

Subic Bay, the former US navy base in Zambales province, adjoining Bataan, is now a marvellous birding site; low level forest containing a wide variety of interesting birds. Visiting birders could easily visit this site unguided: the roads in the site and in the surrounding area are excellent quality, probably a relic of Uncle Sam's time in the province, plus the trunk roads are tolls so they are well maintained. It would be feasible to visit from nearby Clark Airport. If Subic Bay International Airport ever opens to commercial flights then you could literally fall off a plane into the park.

Our only downer was finding the recommended sites especially "Hill 394". It is not marked or signed in any way. I would recommend you  to stop at the animal rescue in the park and got the directions to the main birding sites from the very helpful staff there.

As we loitered aimlwssly we observed what appeared to be a pair of  peregrine falcons high in the sky; what really makes me feel confident I have got this ID correct was their impressive swoops. Elswhere a very noisy philippine bulbul demanded our attention and I might easily have dismissed it as a streak-eared bulbul on initial sighting because of the obvious streaking in the ear covert area. However it was obvious this streaking was extensive so a quick view of the field guide confirmed the Philippine bulbul, an endemic and a lifer.

When we made it into the Hill 394 area there was a distinct dearth of birds barring glossy swiftlets. I managed a few pictures of these birds on the nest. They nest in disused shelters built by the US military. I have no doubt this area warrants much more extensive investigation and would yield great birds especially with time and a dawn start. From here we made it to Nabusan and here I managed to sight a few white-bellied woodpeckers and a rufous coucal, unmistakable with its green bill and all rufous feathers: an uncommon bird according to the field guide and an endemic and another lifer. Elsewhere we saw a philippine coucal, some some white-vented mynas and a white-bellied kingfisher. Now there aren't a lot of mynas in the Philippines unlike Thailand!

The mangrove walkway at Triboa, the other recommended birding site in Subic, is closed for renovation at present. I didn't take photos other than the swiftlets. By the time we found perched woodpeckers it was too dark and a rain storm was coming in. In the final analysis I am happy with the day - three lifers two of which are endemics. Like General MacArthur who, according to expedia , stated : "I came out of Bataan and I shall return". He's best remembered for the second part of the quote but I think the preceding clause makes it much more interesting. How appropriate!