Oriental Skylark

Oriental skylark - adult

Alauda gulgula

นกจาบฝนเสียงสวรรค์

Huay Mai Teng Reervoir, Ratchaburi

04.04.11

Huay Mai Teng Reservoir never ceases to amaze me. At 15:30h I decided to head out after school to see if I could take advantage of the sunshine to get some decent shots of Rain Quail. No sight or sound of RQ on arrival though I did register a soaring Oriental Honey Buzzard near the reservoir. It was hot and I was just enjoying looking around from inside my car; a little voice inside me was saying to get set up just in case; anther voice was saying not to bother because there probably won't be anything to see today.

And some small birds, which I thought were quail, dropped down very close to my truck. A quick view through the binoculars showed an unexpected sight: a lark/pipit like bird with a very prominent crest. From recent checking of  more common species of larks I knew this could only be one thing: an Oriental Skylark which my Thai field guide describes as พบไม่บ่อย, pob mai boi,  or "not seen often".

I managed to get set up without disturbing the bird and I was able to get a couple of shots of it and the juvenile. In fact they seemed very confiding. Nevertheless it was still difficult to get a decent shot as they were feeding so constantly on the move and lots of head bobbiing. For me this species is a lifer and represents ⌗300 in my Thai list; a nice bird to bring up this milestone.

 Oriental skylark - juvenile

Alauda gulgula

นกจาบฝนเสียงสวรรค์

Huay Mai Teng Reervoir, Ratchaburi

04.04.11

I am very happy with the shot of the juvenile Oriental Skylark, above, probably the best shot of the day. The ID was  made much easier due to its proximity to the adult which, it can be seen, sports a crest. I am not sure it would have registered as an Oriental Skylark had it been a solitary bird, given the absence of the adult's crest. And of course the Small Pratincoles and Oriental Pratincoles had to play second fiddle to these birds today but of course their presence was noted!

Small Pratincole

Glareola lactea

นกแอ่นทุ่เล็ก

Huay Mai Teng Reservoir

04.04.11

I was packing up thinking I should head home as a dutiful husband and a good father when my attention was attracted by a raptor in the sky. My immediate reaction was Black Kite but the tail was not right and from what I could see the tail was  banded. Wing tips also slightly upturned. Oriental Honey Buzzard, I thought. Then a few minutes later along came a further two raptors, almost the same, and then two more flew over and then another solitary raptor. I am sure they were all Oriental Honey-Buzzards and that they are migrating north.

I didn't try to set up again but I think I know what I am going to do on Wednesday this week, a public holiday here in Thailand. I was thinking I might head down to Pak Thale or visit Chaloerm Prakhiat Thai National Park. I now think I am going to spend a long day at the reservoir and survey the birds, especially if there are migrating raptors.

Not bad for a couple of hours after work!