Banding at Laem Pak Bia

Pale-legged Warbler

Phylloscopus tenellipes

Kings Project, Laem Pak Bia

19.03.11

The real story today is Phil Round who has been banding birds in Thailand and elsewhere in the world for over thirty years and as a result has built up an incomparable knowledge of Thailand's avaifauna. Phil's recently back from a trip to Banglasdesh where he has been assisting a government agency there set up a banding project. Phil's knowledge is mind-boggling and to watch him at work is an experience in itself. So for me to join Phil, James and Tom on Saturday was a great opportunity to "assist" and indeed to learn and take a few photographs. 

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Kings Project, Laem Pak Bia

19.03.11

(thx to Paan for the correction)

Using mist nets we trapped 28 birds of which six were retraps; the highlight of the retraps was a Black-capped Kingfisher, a migratory bird, which has returned this winter. We don't know where it went, possibly China. The highlight of the new birds was the Pale-legged Warbler above and 4 Dusky Warblers; we also banded 3 Long-toed Stints and a juvenile Cinnamon Bittern photographs of which are above and below respectively

 Cinnamon Bittern

Ixobrychus cinnamomeus

Kings Project, Laem Pak Bia

19.03.11

 Collared kingfisher

Todiramphus chloris

Kings Project, Laem Pak Bia

19.03.11

I can't think of a better way to get closer to birds and to learn about their taxonomy and structure. I must say I am lousy at it. I find it impossible to get the birds out of the net and I am not very good at taking them from the bags used to carry them to the processing station. I managed to handle a Barn Swallow and a Scaly-breasted Munia and managed to band and measure them, with some difficulty. I have no doubt I will be better next time. Nevertheless I really enjoyed myself and I took advantage of the opportunity to digiscope a few non-captive birds.

 Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Kings Project, Laem Pak Bia

19.03.11

 Painted Stork

Mycteria Leucocephala

Kings Project, Laem Pak Bia

19.03.11

 Whiskered Tern

Chlidonias Hybridus

Kings Project, Laem Pak Bia

19.03.11

 Little Grebe

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Kings Project, Laem Pak Bia

19.03.11

 Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea

Kings Project, Laem Pak Bia

19.03.11

 Indian Cormorant

Phalacrocorax niger

Kings Project, Laem Pak Bia

19.03.11

 Common Snipe

Gallinago gallinago

Kings Project, Laem Pak Bia

19.03.11

 Wood sandpiper

Tringa glareola

Kings Project, Laem Pak Bia

19.03.11

 Spotted Redshank

Tringa erythropa

Kings Project, Laem Pak Bia

19.03.11

Late afternoon we had a short stop at Pak Thale and for the record observed 3 Spoon-billed Sandpipers and a number of Dunlin, possibly four; a couple of the males were changing into their breeding plumes which makes identification, in particular separation from the abundant Curlew Sandpaper, very easy. The shot below is very much for the record as the light was against us and the bird was in the shade as daylight faded. In full breeding plumage this fellows belly will be completely black and his upper feathers chestnutty and blackish.

Dunlin

Calidris alpina

Pak Thale

19.03.11

Digiscoping News

An unseasonable and unexpected blast of cold air and rain has  made Thailand remarkably cool these last few days. 17℃, which was the temperature at lunchtime today is at least half the normal temperature. No sun and rain today that was reminiscent of childhood summer holidays in the East Neuk of Fife.

So I took the rig out later in the afternoon with one specific objective: to shoot pied kingfisher. Now what is interesting is the bird in the above picture was about 120 yards away. I fixed the Kowa x20-60 zoom eyepiece to my scope and attached the camera to it. The light was not very good with grey and overcast conditions. So the above is the original shot and below is the same shot cropped and tweaked a little. Amazing really. Another huge vote of confidence for the new rig. Basically I can get a passable shot with the eyepiece zoomed in the x60 region. I wasn't able to do this with my previous rig.

Finally a Great Egret in breeding plumage. It looks quite strange because its legs are foreshortened by the rice plants. What a beauty and once more the bird was about 100 metres away.

Pratincoles

Darter

Anhinga melanogaster

นกอ้วงั่ว

Huay Mai Teng Reservoir

14.03.11

I met up with my friend Tom Backlund early this morning and we had a very plesant morning's birding at Huay Mai Teng Reservoir. What a joy for me to be on holiday and to be able to go out birding on a Monday morning.Tom has been reading this blog and the presence of the Burmese shrike and Small Pratincoles was too much for him to resist. I am glad to say we were able to locate the shrike without too much difficulty and the Small Pratincoles obliged too....... and for me there was one lifer and a number of new ticks for the patch.

Black-collared Starling

Sturnus nigricollis

นกกิ้งโกรงคอดำ

Huay Mai Teng Reservoir

14.03.11

Our first bird was a Darter, a species I thought I saw here a few weeks ago but didn't feel I could claim as it was literally a flash in the pan. This is a species I have only seen at Bueng Boraphet before. I even managed a shot of it from a distance in the early morning light; this shot also represents a further vote of confidence in my new rig. Tom then called two Black-collared Starlings in nearby trees and these too are a new species for the patch. No sign of Small Pratincoles and also no sign of Saturday afternoon's Bluethroat. Next up came a Red-throated Pipit, a further new species for the patch.

In the absence of Small Pratincoles we moved on in search of the Burmese Shrike which duly obliged at the same location my wife spotted it on Saturday. Phew! Species ⌗468 for Tom's Thai list. I say phew because I don't like to disappoint people and Tom was really after this one. Tom got some nice shots of a Black-shouldered Kite.

Oriental Pratincole

Glareola Maldivarum

นกแอ่นทุ่ใหญ่

Huay Mai Teng Reservoir

14.03.11

We moved on to the reservoir proper to a part at which I have spent a fair amount of time and Tom managed to flush some Small Pratincoles there. Phew again! Thai species ⌗469 for Tom! I concentrated on some Oriental Pratincoles which were in range so I managed a few shots of this very attractive bird and then turned my attention to the Small Pratincoles which were very obliging. The shot below is what I was looking for on Saturday! As you can see there is a resemblance between the two species but they are strikingly different in size and colouration.

Small Pratincole

Glareola lactea

นกแอ่นทุ่เล็ก

Huay Mai Teng Reservoir

14.03.11

Small Pratincole - flight shot

(© Tom Backlund)

At this point we turned our attention to quail. Tom reckons the habitat is perfect for these species and he called Yellow-legged and Barred Buttonquail in this part of the site. I have also seen Rain Quail here in the not toodistant past. Now after some consideration I am not going to claim either species both of which would have been lifers.  It just doesn't seem right: I saw both species flying off after we flushed them but didn't get the binoculars on either and really couldn't claim to have sighted any distinguishing features for either species. What is important is to know these particular species are in the locale and I will, of course, be back and will endeavour to have a more meaningful contact with them!

Indochinese Bushlark

Mirafra marionae

นกจาบฝนปีกแดง

Huay Mai Teng Reservoir

14.03.11

We drove on to the far side of the reservoir and en route we spotted a Common Kestrel flying off. On the far side we saw some Brown Shrikes, lots of Plain Prinias, a Zitling Cisticola and a Bright-headed Cisticola, my lifer for the day. A little detour in search of another part of the reservoir offered an opportunity to shoot this Indochinese Bushlark.

As always when Tom and I get together I had great day and it really helps to be with such an experienced and knowledgeable birder. Tom's view is this site could yield 100 species in a day due to the diversity of habitats in and around the area.

Back on Familiar Territory

Burmese Shrike

Lanius collurioides

นกอีเสือหลังแดง

Huai Mai Teng Reservoir, Ratchaburi

12th March 2011

Fortune certainly favoured me yesterday as I cleared Narita Airport, Tokyo before the earthquake and tsunami struck. I rather fear I might still be in Tokyo had I been any later in leaving. My thoughts and prayers are with the people affected.

So as a result of this good fortune I was able to head out to the reservoir this afternoon and had a great afternoon's birding. I saw three important species today but only managed to photograph one: the Burmese Shrike featured here. However I observed a Bluethroat, a lifer, and a number of Small Pratincoles but neither species would perform in front of my rig. I need to express my gratitude to Luna, my wife, for spotting the shrike - in her deprecating way she added it was just a small brown bird!

I got involved in a bit of  row  about this species last year. I reported an observation of it to a website over a year ago and the owner of that site "challenged" it, saying it doesn't come this far south. I was most put out! But what do I know?! Seriously I know zero about bird ranges and distribution. I was pretty sure at the time that I had called the species correctly. Anyway the experience left me feeling a little angry and annoyed but it was a useful introduction to some of the issues involved in being a birdwatcher and submitting records.

Anyway I got over it and I decided to go out and buy a camera as I didn't want to be in this position again. So the abundant crap photographs can be attributed to this experience! And once I started shooting with a basic DSLR I realised I was not getting very many decent shots so I then ventured into digiscoping. I am pleased to say this is beginning to enable me to get some decent shots of birds and I feel comfortable that this is a Burmese Shrike. I can also confirm it was shot about 15 km from the location of the "challenged" bird.

Now I make mistakes. I have made some howlers in my short birding career, and I have little doubt I will do so again. I am happy to acknowledge this. I am very clear about this: I really don't want to get it wrong and I don't want to purvey unreliable information. I am more than happy to correct any errors I may make. I think I have also learned to be a lot more cautious about calling a species and I do let a bird go if I can't get a good ID/description of it. If I am in the unreliable pigeon hole, (a good,unintended pun huh!)  I can live with it.

Back to today. I really wanted to shoot the Small Pratincoles but unfortunately too much human activity. And with the Bluethroat I initially thought I was looking at a Small Pratincole but it was only when I got it into the bins that I realised it most certainly wasn't a pratincole. I wasn't properly set up so alas no shot of this very photogenic species.

I am so grateful to be safely back in Thailand on familiar terrain.

Yatsu-Higata, Chiba Prefecture

Common Teal

Anas crecca

10th March 2011

Yatsu-Higata is a great place to get close to ducks and records suggest that it is in general an excellent place for birdwatching and photography. Non-birders may like it too as it has a fantastic state of the art observation centre with a restaurant and tea room and comfortable facilities; Tokyo Bay shopping mall is short walk form the  station and there is also an amusement park nearby. In fact non-birders could spend the day at Tokyo Disney Resort which is a few stops before on the railway line. 

Eurasian Wigeon

Anas penelope

10th March 2011

Yatsu-Higata is a tidal mudflat completely surrounded by urban life. It really is an amazing place and at the right times it will be a great place for waders too; I believe our friend Spoon-billed Sandpiper has been recorded here. There is also a small freshwater pond next to the observation centre. It is remarkably easy to reach from central Tokyo; take the Japan Rail Keiyo Line to Minami-Funabashi station, turn right out of the exit barriers and there is a board showing the way.....pretty simple, turn right out of the station , cross the road at the pedestrian bridge about 300 meters along the road, turn right again, cross the road at the lights and enter the site on the left. No more than a 10 minute walk from the station. There is a good sealed footpath making it possible to walk around the entire site. The observation centre is a further 10 - 15 minutes on from this entrance.

Northern shoveller

Anas clypeata

10th March 2011

I decided to digiscope today as the ducks were so close. However it was freezing cold so first up I had to head to the mall and get a hat, some gloves and a neck baffle. Thereafter I had a lot of fun and I split the day up with a late lunch in the observation centre: a very tasty beef curry with rice.

Greater Scaup

Aythya marila

10th March 2011

There were vast numbers of duck with Eurasian Wigeon probably being in the majority and in addition to the birds shown here there were Coot, Little Grebe, Dusky Thrush, Brown-eared Bulbul, Grey Heron, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Common Sandpiper, Pale Thrush, Black-winged Stilt, Common Reed Bunting, Grey Plover, a solitary Bull-headed Shrike in front of the observation centre and a very substantial flock of what I took to be Dunlin flew in about 1700h.

Black-headed Gull

Larus ridibundus

10th March 2011

I had a really enjoyable day here. I walked around the site and there are viewing areas at regular intervals with cover and viewing slots at different heights. A bit of a birder's paradise really. I am also very pleased with the photographs. They are not perfect but they show further progress and are where I want to be. Some work needed on focus and stepping down. In fact today I was in such a heaven that there were times when the birds were too close! 

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

10th March 2011

So I have a new issue: am I birder who photographs or a photographer who birds?! I think I would say at this stage I am a birder who photographs but I think I will need to ensure I allocate myself times when I shoot. That means checking out some of the blinds in places like Kaeng Krachan and at such times to forget about the list. I did this today: I simply concentrated on the birds on offer, under my nose so to speak. This means I missed out on Saunders's Gull which can usually be seen here.

Northern Pintail

Anas acuta

10th March 2011

But I had a lovely day out and really enjoyed myself today. I must make sure I have more days out like this, shooting days. I have to say I am very pleased with my new rig and I reckon there is a bit of improvement to come too. Yoroshiku!

I Love Digiscoping ....... and Tokyo

Daurian Redstart - female

Phoenicurus auroreus

Kasai Rinkai Koen

Tokyo, Japan

8th March 2011

Great Tit

Parus Major

Kasai Rinkai Koen

Tokyo, Japan

8th March 2011

Common Pochard

Aythya ferina

Kasai Rinkai Koen

Tokyo, Japan

8th March 2011

Tufted Duck

Aythya fuligula

Kasai Rinkai Koen

Tokyo, Japan

8th March 2011

Eurasian Coot

Fukica atra

Kasai Rinkai Koen

Tokyo, Japan

8th March 2011

Common Reed Bunting

Emberiza schoenicus

Kasai Rinkai Koen

Tokyo, Japan

8th March 2011

Japanese Cormorant

Phalacrocorax capillatus

Kasai Rinkai Koen

Tokyo, Japan

8th March 2011

Brown-eared Bulbul

Ixos amaurotis

Kasai Rinkai Koen

Tokyo, Japan

8th March 2011

Brown-eared Bulbul

Ixos amaurotis

Kasai Rinkai Koen

Tokyo, Japan

8th March 2011

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

Kasai Rinkai Koen

Tokyo, Japan

8th March 2011

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

Kasai Rinkai Koen

Tokyo, Japan

8th March 2011

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

Kasai Rinkai Koen

Tokyo, Japan

8th March 2011

White-cheeked Starling

Sturnus cineraceus

Kasai Rinkai Koen

Tokyo, Japan

8th March 2011

Dusky Thrush

Turdus Naumanii

Kasai Rinkai Koen

Tokyo, Japan

8th March 2011

Tokyo

First observed bird on arrival in Japan was a cormorant species. Alas I cannot tell you which one but it was aerial and I was moving very rapidly in a hitech train from the airport. Yes I made it to Tokyo and have been reunited with my telescope. Huge thanks to Moto Nakanishi of Kowa. I cannot tell you how helpful and kind Moto has been and let me just say they made it worth my while going to the trouble and expense of coming to Tokyo.  Clearly Kowa value my custom and I have little hesitation in recommending their optical products to you.

I  even managed a brief trip this afternoon to Kasai Rinkai Koen, a bayside park west of downtown Tokyo. It is freezing cold here, in fact snowing, so it was a brief trip. But lots of ducks, in particular Common Pochards, possibly some Scaups and other waterfowl species, a few Great Cormorants, the above Black Kite and lots of other birds. However I was frozen with wet feet and no warm hat or gloves, fresh from 100 ℃ heat in Thailand, so I really couldn't do it any justice. It is a brilliant park and it is set up for birders with lots of screens and some good observation faciliites. The Kite is the first picture using the repaired scope, the Nikon Coolpix P6000 and my new Kowa 25 LER eye piece. Conditions were atrocious and the light was far from ideal so I am delighted with this shot. 

More later.....possibly lots more, especially if I can get a decent hat and gloves and keep my feet dry!