In Praise of Common Birds

Chinese Pond Heron

Ardeola bacchus

นกยางกรอกพันธุ์จีน

Ratchaburi

28.12.11

The plan today was to stake out the irrigation canal adjacent to the Ratchaburi rice paddy and attempt to get some decent shots of Pied Kingfisher. They were there yesterday morning and they were there last year! They are also spectacular birds in my humble opinion and so it seemed a good idea to set up in the hide and wait. I failed miserably in terms of the target but I had a lot of fun shooting common species that can be seen very easily in most parts of Thailand. Some of these birds got in close, others were the same distance away as usual but by virtue of being unseen I gave myself a bit more time for the shot.

Plain Prinia

Prinia inornata

นกกระจิบหญ้าสีเรียบ

Ratchaburi

28.12.11

First of all, prior to setting up in the hide, I had a quick scout round the area to see what I could see. Not an awful lot. A few Black Kites. I did battle with a Common Iora - it wouldn't sit still and allow me to photograph it!  It was very close and would have made a pretty shot, but this creature was not co-operating. Of course digiscoping just doesn't allow for fast movement onto a bird that is cavorting.  This creature was having a blast, upside down and all over the place. I remained patient and hopeful for an opportunity. Then it simply flew off! I feel good that I had only taken one duff shot in the 20 minutes or so I devoted to my efforts.  I immediately deleted it too!

So I spent a few hours in the hide and in fact had the unusual experience of one bird being too close to photograph, a Plain Prinia. I think I'll try and bit more of this tomorrow.

Ratchaburi Rice Paddy

Little Egret

Egretta garzetta

30.10.11

A very pleasant afternoon in the rice paddy where I got up close and personal with a very confiding Little Egret which didn't seem to mind me being within about 10 m. How unusual for the subject bird to be so close I couldn't fit it all inside the viewfinder! I'd like to get as close to some raptors.

Little Egret

Egretta garzetta

30.10.11

Lots of common birds. Aerial views of both Pied & Eastern Marsh Harrier, an "interesting" reed-warbler,unidentified, buried deep in reeds in a split second, and an Asian Brown Flycatcher,. The Snipe and Wood Sandpipers were still present but they weren't smiling for the camera today!

Little Egret

Egretta garzetta

30.10.11

White-throated Kingfisher

Halcyon smyrnensis

 30.10.11

Noteworthy that there was no rain this afternoon, so perhaps the weather is changing for the better in terms of the flooding. All being well I'll head further afield next weekend. I rather fancy the reservoir.

Common Hoopoe

Upupa epops

30.10.11

On my way out to the rice paddy a couple of hoopoes were feeding on some lawn. Difficult to photograph as they were feeding and on the move but they are very distinctive and very attractive birds.

A Busy Saturday: Pak Thale/Laem Pak Bia PART 2

A late afternoon stop on our drive south to Chumphon revealed no major surprises, no tattlers or noteworthy flocks of migratory birds. The most significant observation was the arrival of an unphotographed Spot-billed Pelican in the Kings Project at Laem Pak Bia. What a spectacular awe-inspiring bird. It was 6:00pm and I had packed up when it came down and it didn't hang around for long. A fair number of Painted Storks at Pak Thale but no Milky Storks. My wife asked me how we would have reacted two years ago as raw novices had such birds been in our sights: we would have been delirious, I said!

Sibacan, Balanga City, Bataan Province

A juvenile Brahminy Kite with loving parent looking on

Sibacan

Balnaga City

04.10.10

Most of my information about birdwatching comes from two excellent volumes entitled Birdwatching in the Philippines, a joint publication of the Department of Tourism and Wild Bird Club of the Philippines. The Balanga City map shows Sibacan as a recommended site and the book describes it as "a combination of grasslands, fishponds and wetlands". So with only an hour to kill before heading by bus to Manila I decided to take a quick early morning spin down there. It was a great hour. I don't think I saw any new species but I really enjoyed this site and the locals, very friendly people, told me they are expecting thousands of birds over the next few weeks. It might be a little unnerving for some because you actually have to go through  peoples' houses to get to the ponds! In fact, forget any prospect of discreetly slipping in and out unnoticed. Life is lived to the full out on the narrow streets and lanes of Sibican, the water pump acting as a public shower.  You may feel like the Pied Piper as the kids follow and make such a lot of noise that most of the birds retreat!

Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron

Sibacan, Balanga City

04.10.10

I watched some brahmny kites from a distance and managed to get a couple of pictures. I think I am going to need to do a little work with exposure because my images are too light. In the same area I saw 2 great cormorants, 2 grey herons and I reckon the picture above is a juvenile black-crowned night heron. I have asked for confirmation on PBPF. Hundreds of beautiful little egrets too with a few intermediates.

Grey Heron

Sibacan, Balanga City

04.10.10

Little Egret

Sibacan, Balanga City

04.10.10

This is a huge area and worthy of exploration. I did the equivalent of sticking my big toe into the water this morning but I am glad I did and I hope I can return. I have to say I am really impressed with the birding possibilities in this small area. I am starting to think that wild birds might be one of the Philippines' greatest attractions. If nothing else the birds bring me into contact with decent, kindly and simple people who are mildly interested in what  I am doing if not a little amused.