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Sunday, 9 January 2011

The Birds of Wat Norng Blah Lai

Himalayan Griffon

Gyps himalayensis

Wat Norng Blah Lai, Phetchaburi

January 2011

A photo essay by my friend Wich'yanan Limpaяungpatthanakij (ป่าน วิชญนันท์) who sent me these photographs of some of the birds he has photographed in the Wat Norng Blah Lai area since the beginning of the year.

Cinereous Vulture

Aegypius Monachus

Wat Norng Blah Lai, Phetchaburi

January 2011

This is an exciting time for birders in Thailand as two Himalayan Griffons were seen on Friday 7th January 2011. A "restaurant" has been set up in an attempt to lure the birds down to the ground; Chaiyan Kasorndorkbua and his colleagues from The Thai Raptor Group are poised to catch the bird and fit a radio transmitter to it so we can monitor its movements and start to learn more about it. The Cinereous Vulture is still in the area too.

Booted Eagle - dark morph

Aquila Pennata

Wat Norng Blah Lai, Phetchaburi

January 2011

Booted Eagle -pale morph

being mobbed by Jungle Crows

Aquila Pennata

Wat Norng Blah Lai, Phetchaburi

January 2011

Booted Eagle -pale morph

Aquila Pennata

Wat Norng Blah Lai, Phetchaburi

January 2011

Greater Spotted Eagle

Aquila Clanga

Wat Norng Blah Lai, Phetchaburi

January 2011

Greater Spotted Eagle

Aquila Clanga

Wat Norng Blah Lai, Phetchaburi

January 2011

Greater Spotted Eagle

Aquila Clanga

Wat Norng Blah Lai, Phetchaburi

January 2011

from left to right: Eastern Imperial Eagle, Steppe Eagle & Cinereous Vulture

Aquila Heliaca, a. nipalensis & Aegypius Monachus

Wat Norng Blah Lai, Phetchaburi

January 2011

Eastern Imperial Eagle

Aquila Heliaca

Wat Norng Blah Lai, Phetchaburi

January 2011

Steppe Eagle

Aquila Nipalensis

Wat Norng Blah Lai, Phetchaburi

January 2011

Pied Harrier

Circus Melanoleucos

Wat Norng Blah Lai, Phetchaburi

January 2011

Eastern Marsh Harrier

Circus Spilonotus

Wat Norng Blah Lai, Phetchaburi

January 2011

Black-shouldered Kite

Elanus Caeruleus

Wat Norng Blah Lai, Phetchaburi

January 2011

Brahminy Kite -juvenile

Haliastur Indus

Wat Norng Blah Lai, Phetchaburi

January 2011

Black Kite

Milvus Lineatus

Wat Norng Blah Lai, Phetchaburi

January 2011

Common sand-martin

Riparia riparia

Wat Norng Blah Lai, Phetchaburi

January 2011

If you are a visiting birder this site can be reached very easily on the main south bound road from Bangkok to Laem Pak Bia/ Kaeng Krachan. In fact it is signed as "EAGLE VIEWPOINT" and if you follow those signs they will get you there. However there is no real advance warning and there are many, many signs! Look at for the crags of Khao Yoi on your left hand side as you drive south; they are unmistakeable as they are the only crags you will pass. About 4 km after these crags you will see the "EAGLE VIEWPOINT" sign pointing left.

Finally all credit for this goes to Paarn .... a truly outstanding achievement and let me once more thank him for permission to use his photographs.

Monday, 3 January 2011

.....and In with The New

Greater Spotted Eagle

Wat Norng Blah Lai

Phetchaburi 01.01.11

A Very Happy New Year to you all! My first bird of 2011 was a White-breasted Waterhen at the local rice paddy and my first lifer was a Cinereous Vulture at Wat Norng Blah Lai about 30 minutes from home in Phetchaburi province. I have no pictures as I was too busy looking in awe at this magnificent creature as it gently hovered overhead. It is a sensational bird, huge with its tiny little head sticking out from the mid-point of its incredible wingspan. Talk about barn doors!

I haven't seen them but there has also been a definite sighting in the same area of 2 Himalayan Griffons possibly three. I was chatting wth a Thai birder/photographer, Pornrapee Abhakorn, at the vulture site and he was telling me that he can recall seeing vultures on a regular basis in and around Bangkok as recently as 40 years ago. Porn reckons the Vietnam War and the concomitant deployment of deadly chemicals has had a large part to play in the drastic decline of these birds, due to the consumption of poisoned carrion. Anyway from a contemporary perspective it is a raptorologist's heaven in the Wat Norng Blah Lai area at present with significant numbers of aquila eagles present plus many harriers and black kites.

Greater Spotted Eagle

Wat Norng Blah Lai

Phetchaburi 01.01.11

The good news is that these birds have come down in a very bird aware area due to the strong association with wintering eagles. There is excellent coverage in the area and this should reduce the possibility of harm coming to the birds. My friend Parn of www.discoverythai.com is on the case and he and the Thai Raptor Group are co-ordinating coverage and have set up feeding stations with carrion. So if you are likely to be in the area over the next few weeks keep tuned in as these birds look as if they may settle for a while. I have added some photos to give you a flavour of what is on offer. I must say the birds are coming in close and offering great opportunities for watchers and photographers alike.

Black Kite

Wat Norng Blah Lai

Phetchaburi 01.01.11

Eastern Marsh Harrier

Wat Norng Blah Lai

Phetchaburi 01.01.11

Eastern Marsh Harrier

Wat Norng Blah Lai

Phetchaburi 01.01.11

Black Kite

Wat Norng Blah Lai

Phetchaburi 03.01.11

So for the moment it is a wonderful time to be birding in Thailand. Sadly all good things must come to an end! I am back at work tomorrow and I have three consecutive weekends in January where I shall be busy with work-related activities so I am afraid to say my time in the field will be very restricted. But I am not complaining. I have had a charmed existence these last few months as far as birds are concerned.

Once more a Very Happy New Year and Happy Birding to You in 2011.

Pages

Sunday, 9 January 2011

The Birds of Wat Norng Blah Lai

Monday, 3 January 2011

.....and In with The New