More Local Ratchaburi Birding

On Sunday morning, 24th June I took Richard round to the local rice paddy where he scored with Streaked Weaver. This is my type of birding, drive in, view the bird, add the tick! Job done in a handful of minutes! Weavers, specifically Asian Golden and Streaked, with their distinctive nests are very active in the locale at the moment. We then headed to the reservoir where we had one River Lapwing and in excess of  ten Rain Quail. It would be hard to put a precise number on the quail as they were more easily heard than seen and were on the move. Clearly they have dispersed but numbers were good. The highlight of the day was a Chestnut-winged Cuckoo which flashed across the road above us on our way to the reservoir; absolutely no doubt about the ID on size and colours - chestnut wings clearly visible and white breast/belly. This observation towards the end of June suggests the bird is resident in the area.

Back to the Reservoir

It was my pleasure to show Richard Carden, from Singapore,  around the Huay Mai Teng reservoir this afternoon and he had one principal target: rain quail. I am delighted to say Richard got it but he had to work for it. As day started to close in a male and female flashed past us and landed a little away. The female showed well enough for Richard to get a good view of it. Phew!  Last weekend Richard was in China twitching Chinese Crested Tern. Elsewhere we recorded 3 - 4 River Lapwing, 3 Small Pratincoles,, an Oriental Skylark, an Indochinese Bushlark, a Greater Painted Snipe, a Yellow Eyed Babbler - good numbers of Asian Golden Weaver and Green Bee-eaters and lots of Oriental Pratincoles.

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. 

The Weekend

River Lapwing

Vanellus Duvaucelli

นกกระแตหาด

I didn't have any classes on Saturday morning so it was a joy to head up to Huay Mai Teng reservoir without any time pressure. On arrival there were five River Lapwing around the main launch area and they appear to be reasonably settled.  I didn't see any Small Pratincoles anywhere in the site today so I imagine they will not be back until December or thereabouts. In the main Small Pratincole area I even managed to see one River Lapwing but I don't know if it was one of the five dispersing from the launch area or another bird.

Little Grebe

Tachybaptus ruficollis

นกเป็ดผีเล็ก

I took advantage of the lack of pressure to have a good look around this morning and recorded 54 species. All fairly common species too including a decent look at Barred Buttonquail which didn't seem too bothered about my presence until I attempted to photograph it at which point it scurried off into the undergrowth! I had to settle on a very confiding Indochinese Bushlark that appeared to welcome the opportunity to pose.

Indochinese Bushlark

Mirafra marionae

นกจาบฝนปีกแดง

This pair of Sooty-headed Bulbul's showed well for me. Their most interesting feature is the yellow undertail covert which is just about visible on the left hand side bird. This indicates they are of the thais sub species; red undertail covert that they are klossi ssp. They are very common in the local area, for example nesting in the trees facing our house. However it is a species that had me marvelling at the start of my birding and I was glad to get a shot of them, not the best I hasten to add.  

Sooty-headed Bulbul

Pycnonotus aurigaster thais

นกปรอดหัวสีเขม่า

The attraction of the reservoir is obvious. It's an ideal place in hot weather to catch a bit of a breeze. Many of the locals come for a swim and wash their cars and motorbikes here! In the evening barbecues are popular. The reservoir is also popular with anglers. Sadly some poor child must have been drowned or injured as this sign has gone up in the last few days. I have done my best to translate it - but word for word translation doesn't work! 

A recently added warning at the reservoir launch area

"Take care! Danger

Children are forbidden from playing -  deep water"

All photographs, except for the last shot, digiscoped at Huay Mai Teng Reservoir Saturday 02.07.11

On Sunday afternoon I took a drive up to Chaloem Prakhiat Thai National Park in Ratchaburi Province. Dodgy weather with grey overcast conditions in the park and not a single shot of a bird in the forest. Plenty of White-rumped Shamas, Greater-racket Tailed Drongos and a fair few Black-naped Monarchs. Lots of calls. It would have been nice to get a shot of a Shama as they are beautiful looking birds but they were making lots of noise, including Laughing thrush but not posing for me in the available light. I only managed to shoot insects but they are nevertheless nice shots. I actually needed a shot to highlight pollination for my Grade 5 science students: they loved the bottom shot even if to my perfectionist eye the focus could be better! Now I don't have a clue about identifying any of these species so feel free to help!

My thinking about this national park is that due to its comparative proximity to Kaeng Krachan, maybe about 60 km to the north, it must have a lot of the same species in it. I think there must be Pittas and other species skulking around in the undergrowth especially at this time of the year. Nothing today, some interesting sounds, but nothing other than an idea. I think I need to get to higher ground in the park and that means an early start so maybe next week with  Friday a public holiday I shall get up there and really check it out!

I am happy to report that the reservoir is full of water.

It was a pleasant weekend, unpressured and gentle, and I was simply happy to be out and about. 

All photographs digiscoped at Chaloem Prakhiat Thai NP Sunday 03.07.11

A Quick Trip to the Reservoir

Little Egret

Egretta garzetta

นกยางเปีย

I was mightily pleased to learn that I wasn't required to attend school after 12 noon today due to an electrical outage. Only one thing to do and one place to go: Huay Mai Teng Reservoir. On arrival there were 4 River Lapwing near the launch area and I have no doubt they wouldn't have been there at this time at weekends. I managed a couple of shots but I then managed to scare them away by trying to get in close. In fact I was furious with myself because the plan was to cash in on the light! 

River Lapwing

Vanellus duvaucelii

นกกระแดหาด

On the subject of disturbance and the like soon after I arrived some council workers arrived to erect warning signage at the entrance to the launch area: "DANGER" signs forbidding children from swimming. I rather fear there has been some sort of tragedy. Elsewhere I noticed a new bright red and white barrier on the road at quite a sharp bend; on the other side of the barrier is a deep drop into a water chute from the reservoir. I rather fear a vehicle went through it, another tragedy. Anyway I was the only source of disturbance to the birds today and in consequence I missed out on a great photo opportunity.

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

นกยอดขัาวหางแพนลาย

I counted two Small Pratincoles at different locations around the site on my short trip. I also managed some shots of these exuberant Zitting Cisticolas and I also managed a few shots of the above Little Egret; in breeding plumage this bird always reminds me of a classic image of Marilyn Monroe, you know the one where she is holding down her little white frock.

All photographs digiscoped and taken at Huay Mai Teng Reservoir 29.06.11

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at Khok Kham

Sharp-tailed sandpiper

Calidris acuminata

นกชายเลนกระหม่อมแดง

Khok Kham 20.09.10

I was going to write to you about my buffoonery, I have recently hit a rich seem of it, but the real story is the presence today of a sharp tailed sandpiper at Khok Kham viewed by Mr Dtee, Tom Baclund and myself this afternoon. Of course we were there with spoon-billed sandpiper on our minds but he didn't show and Mr Dtee, despite heroic efforts, could not sniff him out. This sharp-tailed sandpiper is a lifer for me and I count myself lucky to have seen and photographed the bird. Likely to have originated in the north of Siberia and may stay here or may be on its way further south, common in Australia and New Zealand during the northern winter.

Buffoonery Part 1: I managed to leave my Hoodman Loupe at home hence most of my photographs today are not brilliantly focused plus I was working in strong sunlight. The Hoodman is a perfect solution for these issues and I went to a lot of trouble and expense to get one!

Pacific golden plover

Pluvialis fulva

นกหัวโตหลังจุดสีทอง

Khok Kham 20.09.10

Next a very common bird but a real treat for the eyes, a pacific golden plover, male, in breeding plumage, well in fact it is in moult. Nevertheless a very striking bird on the eye, looks a bit like a pearly Cockney, sorry me ol' Chinas from the Smoke.

Buffoonery runs to several parts including two broken cable shutter releases, leaving my shutter release bracket at home yesterday,  an Australasian Bushlark which I corrected to a Paddyfield Pipit.......and the latter is probably the best photograph I have take using the digiscope rig!

Paddyfield pipit

Anthus rufulus

นกเด้าดินทุ่งเล็ก

Huai Mai Teng Reservoir 19.09.10

So notwithstanding the buffoonery my digiscoping skills are improving. The paddyfield pip shows what the potential is. I missed some great shots because of my buffoonery, a little grebe with her two grebelets sprawled on her back, a picture of absolute contentment and devotion.......all badly out of focus. Such is life!

Finally the River Lapwing was back in the local rice paddy on Sunday evening but not at lunch time today.

Huay Mai Teng Reservoir, Ratchaburi

River lapwing

vanellus duvaucelli

นกกระแตหาด

Huay Mai Teng Reservoir

Ratchaburi Province

04.09.10

This reservoir never fails to deliver. Today an afternoon jaunt essentially to practise with my digiscoping rig threw up 7 river lapwings. These fellows won't be around for much longer as they come here to breed along with oriental pratanicoles of which there were many. I was also hoping to see rain quail but not today.

Peaceful dove

geopilia striata

นกเขาชวา

Digiscoping is most assuredly not point and shoot. I am still struggling with focus and composition but I am clearly improving. So I took advantage of shooting this dove which was much more obliging than the  lapwings. Good for practise!

I have to publish this picture of a dragon fly. Later in the afternoon I was relaxing in my chair by a pond when I decided to take a look at a dragonfly with my bins. I am glad I did. This fellow was close to me and was very obliging. I have to say I am very pleased with this. There is hope!

There were some great birds about today. I saw some bronze-winged jacanas, a yellow bittern, two pied kingfishers, and all the usual suspects. 

Here is a beautiful flower I captured with my 60 mm macro lens. I guess it is some sort of water lily.

Here are a couple of my bloopers, a bronze-winged jacana and a yellow bittern.

Both were shot late in the afternoon, in the final hour of daylight and the bittern was an attempt to get a light reading but of course the bird flew once I had my reading!!! The jacana was a fair distance away. 

There you have it, a real joy.