Thailand Diary

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

RE: Thailand Diary

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

09/05/2026 - 04.50 am - Si Sa Ket province.

An early start by Paul into Si Sa Ket province which is directly south from Yasothon. He reports the park entrance (he has not specified which park!) as closed to both Thais and to farangs (foreigners) but open to locals to allow them to go about their normal business. I can guess his whereabouts as somewhere close to the Cambodian border.
He starts his listing with calls from 2 Asian Koels a Collared Scops-Owl 3 Asian Barred Owlets and an early White-rumped Shama.

At 05.45 am he spent 75 minutes at Wat San Sawan where he logged 9 species but spent most of this stop focused on a Himalayan Cuckoo which flushed twice ahead of the car then perched briefly over the road before being lost despite his efforts at trying to relocate it.

A 20 minute stop at the Nong Si reservoir where the lake was almost completely dried out yielded up 11 species - the main features being:-

500 Lesser Whistling Ducks

5 Small Pratincoles

30 Oriental Pratincoles

20 Little Grebes

8 Asian Openbills

At 09.03 am he turned up at Huai Sala Wildlife Sanctuary for a marathon 8 hour exhausting stint logging 54 species the highlights being;-

1 Thick-billed Green Pigeon

3 Coral-billed Ground-Cuckoos (all heard and sound recordings taken. 2 birds near the start of the sealed road to the temple 1 bird 2 kms. further along the dirt road. This is still my most wanted species which I have heard but yet to ever set eyes upon).

5 Greater Coucals

2 Green-billed Malkohas

2 Asian Koels

1 Chestnut-winged Cuckoo (heard)

1 Drongo Cuckoo (heard)

3 Plaintive Cuckoos (to bring up a hell of a day for cuckoo species!)

18 Brown-backed Needletails ( photos)

5 White-nest Swiftlets

60 Pacific Swifts (he states that these started appearing at about 15.30 with more joining the gathering and by 17.15 all were feeding together - photo of one attached).

6 Crested Treeswifts

5 Black Bazas

1 Oriental Honey-Buzzard

3 Crested Serpent-Eagles

2 Shikras

1 Rufous-winged Buzzard

1 Collared Owlet (calling at 11.00 - its distinctive four note whistle carries some distance for such a tiny creature and its presence in any well forested area can be deduced by the reaction of small passerines and sunbirds to playing of its calls).

2 Blue-bearded Bee-eaters

10 Asian Green Bee-eaters

2 Dollarbirds

2 Laced Woodpeckers (calls recorded)

2 Grey-headed Woodpeckers

1 Blue Pitta (called twice in response to playback - about 500 m. beyond the concrete river crossing. On his last visit here with Paul Farrell they noted quite a density in distribution terms logging 7 calling birds in a relatively small area).

4 Blue-winged Pittas

1 Great Iora (a female in with a mixed flock).

Drongos - 3 species

1 Red-billed Blue-Magpie

Bulbuls - 5 species

1 Abbotts Babbler

60 White-crested Laughingthrushes (in 6 assorted groups - these delightful birds are unmissable in well forested areas and generally knock about in noisy gangs).

2 Dark-sided Flycatchers

3 Sunbird species

1 Leafbird sp.

Finally at 18.10 he cruised the road in fading light logging 6 species as follows:-

3 Great Eared Nightjars

1 Large-tailed Nightjar (photo)

2 Red-wattled Lapwings

1 Malayan Night-Heron (photo- another of my wanted species)

1 Collared Scops-Owl

2 Brown Boobooks

Cheers

Mike P.

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Monday 11th of May 2026 10:46:47 AM

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

05/05/2026 - 05/05//2026 07.35 am - Phu Phan Nat.Pk. Tor Khet (protection unit 6) Kalasin Province.

Paul teamed up with Shaun Green for an early foray into Kalasin just to the north of their respective home bases in Roi Et and Yasothon. At this first site they noted 32 species in just under 3 hours the best being;-

2 Blue-winged Pittas

2 White-bellied Erpornis

1 Black-naped Oriole

2 Blythes Paradise-Flycatchers

5 different Bulbul species

1 Dark-sided Flycatcher

At 10.45 am (still in the same national park) they ended up at Sawoei Cliff lookout vicinity where in 30 minutes they recorded 13 species most notably:-

5 Brown-backed Needletails

3 Black Bazas

2 Rufous-winged Buzzards

3 Shikras

1 Blue-winged Pitta

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

30/04/2026 07.25 am - Unnamed Road Tambon Phon Thong - Nakhon Phanom province.

For his final morning in Nakhon Phanom Paul settled quite close to the base of a cliff complex hoping to log a few raptors logging 19 species in a session of two and a half hours - most notably the following:-

2 Plaintiff Cuckoos (photo of one in transitional plumage attached)

4 Oriental Honey-Buzzards (photo attached of a fine male)

1 Crested Goshawk (photo attached)

2 Shikras (photo of one attached)

1 Dollarbird

7 Blue-winged Pittas (quite a density with birds calling from all around him - even from within an adjacent rubber plantation indicating that this beautiful species is relatively adaptable - and pleasingly quite common all across Isaan)

1 Puff- throated Babbler

2 Abbotts Babblers (both this and the above species calling from close to the base of the cliff).

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

29/04/2026 - 05.10 am - Huai Hai reservoir - Nakhon Phanom province.

Paul arrived on site at dawn - this being the first of multiple stops in a two day blitz of this province several hours drive north from Yasothon.

Because of many stops at different sites I am just commenting on the highlight species over his stay which yielded an overall gain of 17 additions to his own province list.
The pick of the bunch at this first site was a single Pacific Golden Plover in full breeding plumage.

At 07.00 he arrived at an unnamed road following the Mekong checking out the sandbars noting several calling Blue-winged Pittas in wooden riverside stands plus a single Black-napped Oriole and a good count of 60 Black Drongos presumed to be migrants. He photographed a fine phillipensis Brown Shrike and a Richards Pipit.

By 08.30 he reached Phu Langka Nat.Pk. where the highlight species were 2 Violet Cuckoos 4 Blue-winged Pittas and a Claudias Leaf-Warbler. Later in the headquarters vicinity he noted further additional species - 3 Brown-backed Needletails 3 more Blue-winged Pittas 2 Buff-breasted Babblers 2 Abbotts Babblers and 3 Dark-sided Flycatchers.

After a break for lunch still on site he found and photographed an Indian Cuckoo logged a Great Iora and at dusk heard a calling Collared Scops-Owl 3 Asian Barred Owlets and later a single Brown Boobook.

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

25/04/2026 05.57 am - Nong Ya Ma - Kalasin province.

Paul was on site very early hoping to catch up with several potential wader additions to his list for Kalasin province.

A three hour session yielded 45 species including two of his three targets species - pick of the bunch being:-

30 Black-winged Stilts

6 Little Ringed Plovers

3 Greater Painted-Snipe (1 of his target species)

15 Pheasant-tailed Jacanas

4 Bronze-winged Jacanas

1 Common Sandpiper

1 Curlew Sandpiper (another of his targets - scoped from long range. The main target - a Tibetan Sandplover was not to be seen however).

3 Long-toed Stints

1 Wood Sandpiper

3 Spotted Redshanks

30 Oriental Pratincoles

Other species of note were 30 Glossy Ibis - a Blue-winged Pitta both heard and seen here in very marginal habitat.

He was rained off at 09.00.

Regards

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

22/04/2026 - 10.45 am - Various stops around the Sirindhorn Dam complex near Coco campground - Ubon Ratchathani province.

Pauls visit enjoyed a flying start when a Peregrine shot across the road just before his arrival here.

His first stop was for 90 minutes checking for waders with a total species count of 21- within which he logged the following wader species:-

4 Black-winged Stilts

16 Little Ringed Plovers

1 Tibetan Sandplover

6 Common Sandpipers

1 Common Greenshank

4 Small Pratincoles

25 Oriental Pratincoles

- Then the assorted common mix of the usual suspects. Following this he moved round to the headland at Ban Non Chik scanning from a different angle - here within a mix of 30 species he noted:-

51 Pacific Golden Plovers (2 groups of 29 and 22 some distance apart)

20 Little Ringed Plovers

2 Tibetan Sandplovers

1 Kentish Plover

6 Common Sandpipers

16 Common Greenshanks

2 Red-necked Stints

3 Small Pratincoles

25 Oriental Pratincoles

8 Eastern Yellow Wagtails (a decent count for these)

His final stop (in the same complex) was at Phu Kratae island where he added nothing more of particular note.

Sundry photos attached.

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

21/04/2026 - 2.30 pm - Huai Pho - Amnat Charoen irrigation project - Amnat Charoen province.

Paul visited yesterday to check out the site and its current potential for some good wader finds.

At this time last year he recalls that there was much more by way of grassy margins and hard mud exposed, but following the extensive subsequent earthquake works much more water is being retained with reduced wader habitat ensuing. He logged just 12 species in 45 minutes hoping to find perhaps a candidate Little Stint masquerading as a Red-necked but alas to no avail:-

6 Little Ringed Plovers

2 Common Sandpipers

2 Temmincks Stints (photos)

1 Red-necked Stint (photos)

7 Oriental Pratincoles

Cheers

Mike P.

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Thursday 23rd of April 2026 04:23:18 PM

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

20/04/2026 - 04.05 am - Pha Nam Yoi Forest Park - Roi Et province.

An early start this morning saw Paul in owling mode working the ridge below this temple complex along the Roi Et/ Mukdahan boundary line. As well as 8 calling Red Junglefowl he noted the following in response to playback:

2 Collared Scops-Owls (one on the Roi Et side and one on the Mukdahan side).

2 Asian Barred Owlets

1 Brown Boobook (This was initially heard on the Mukdahan side but flew in responding to Pauls playback in Roi Et where it flew in just over his head).

Later he enjoyed some general birding around the temple complex and photographed the nesting House Swifts.

Regards
Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

18/04/2026 - 07.43 am - Phu Sa Dok Bua Nat Pk.- Phu Sung Charoen Tham Buddhist sanctuary - Yasothon.

Paul put in a 45 minute session here this morning logging 25 species which included the usual suspects but also 4 swift species 4 migrant Dollarbirds and a Blue Rock-Thrush.

1 Brown-backed Needletail

3 White nest Swiftlets

3 Pacific Swifts (an obvious movement going on here)

2 House Swifts

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

16/04/2026 -06.55 am - Huai Aeng -Roi Et side.

Paul met up with Shaun Green Paul Farrell with Su Saenon anticipating a good wader session here based on past experience. However they found water levels unexpectedly high with fewer waders around as a result.

Nevertheless they logged 48 species in an hour (normally this would be good going) but 10 species of waders was a bit underwhelming - the pick being 25 Pacific Golden Plover and 2 Greater Painted Snipe (photo of female).

By 08.23 they had driven round to the Maha Sarakham side of the same water body mainly to do a thorough survey with little hope of anything different. Here they turned up 38 species in a 55 minute session pick of these being a Brown Shrike of the philippensis race sporting a typically grey crown and 2 Richards Pipits.

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

12/04/2026 - 01.15 pm - Dong Bang E Arboretum - Mukdahan provincial forest fire station - Map kdahan province.

A 20 minute call here produced 15 species (the usual culprits for the most part) the best being a Forest Wagtail).

After this Paul moved on to Phu Mu Forest Park working the Mukdahan side of the boundary for an hour and a quarter where he logged 25 species which pleasingly included some migrants - the pick of these being:-

2 Yellow-browed Warblers

1 Raddes Warbler

3 Asian Brown Flycatchers

2 Yellow-rumped Flycatchers

1 Mugimaki Flycatcher (almost in the exact spot as last year - unfortunately no photo this time)

4 Taiga Flycatchers

Cheers

Mike P

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

05/04/2026 - 2.50 pm - Mukdahan city - Mekong river sandbars - Mukdahan province.

Paul arrived here for his periodic check hoping for migrants species (especially as no less than 13 Oriental Plovers have appeared on passages in Khon Kaen as reported by Paul Farrell and Su). Obviously the end of March/early April is the key window to search for these birds and this latest record fits nicely with our own find of 31/03/2025 with the very first record for eastern Isaan.

Paul was scoping up the perched waders on the offshore sandbar when a eureka moment occurred - a River Tern as large as life before him. Although much commoner in India the species in Thailand is a very rare breeder and scarce passage migrant and this record constitutes the first for Mukdahan province.

He waved down some fishermen who initially ignored him but then a younger one in a boat came over but initially refused to take him out thinking he was perhaps wanting to illegally enter Laos.

However he convinced the lad that he only wished to head for the sandbar so he secured a lift over for a modest fee and obtained rather good photos as attached. Additionally he now has a good contact with the local boatmen which augers well for the future.

He returned on the following day with Shaun Green who also enjoyed the bird - for him a Thai lifer no less.

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

04/04/2026 -11.30 am - Kutchum garden compound. Yasothon home province.

Paul is noticing the White-rumped Shama increasingly flaunting itself around the garden and today (the 5th) a pair seem to be inspecting potential nest sites. (photos attached).

This morning he was in Mukdahan yet again checking out the Mekong river sandbars (where of late he has been noting both Osprey and Peregrine) and was rewarded with an excellent new species for that province.

-Full account and photos to follow..

Regards

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

29/03/2026 - 11.30 am - That Phanom Nuea sandbars Nakhon Phanom province.

Paul spent an hour here scoping the Mekong river sandbars noting most species at the northern end with ducks and pratincoles off further to the south. His count of 25 species comprised the usual common suspects so he focused on the three swift species present with photos attached:-

10 White-nest Swiftlets

2 House Swifts

15 Asian Palm Swifts

Later heading back south into Mukdahan he stopped off at the Friendship bridge which spans the Mekong and is one of the key crossing points into Laos. This is a prime site for the communal nests of House Swifts which we know well - photos attached.

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

24/03/2026 03.45 pm -Saharuang Sugar Factory Ponds -Mukdahan.

It took Paul an hour and a half to chalk up 44 species at this his favourite hotspot in this province which he discovered some 18 months ago. It is rapidly becoming the top site in the province and should do well in the imminent spring migration? Notable records were as follows:-

1 Chinese Francolin (heard only)

30 Black-winged Stilts

6 Little Ringed Plovers

2 Red-wattled Lapwings

2 Common Sandpipers

1 Green Sandpiper

40 Little Grebes

30 Chinese Pond-Herons

20 Asian Green Bee-eaters

1 Bluethroat

1 Siberian Rubythroat (male)

6 Amur Stonechats

2 Red Avadavats

8 Eastern Yellow Wagtails

1 White Wagtail (ocularis)

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

24/03/2026 - Huai Kabao reservoir (Dong Mu) Mukdahan side.

Paul arrived here to find water levels still pretty high with few exposed areas for waders. Woodland species were noted in a small wooded patch at the south west end of the dam. An hour and a quarter yielded up 36 species- most notable being:-

1 Purple Heron

1 Shikra

1 White-browed Piculet

1 Indochinese Blue Flycatcher

2 Ruby-cheeked Sunbirds

2 Eastern Yellow Wagtails

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

24/03/2026 - Kutchum garden compound - Yasothon.

Paul reports an additional nesting species in the garden - a Yellow-vented Bulbul. Whilst this is a generally common species (especially in Mukdahan and Amnat Charoen in scrub along the Mekong river) this is perhaps a little reward resulting from Paul and Pens re-wilding efforts.

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

18/03/2026 - Phu Pha Thoep Nat.Pk. - Mukdahan province.

Paul headed east for a two hour session here hoping for some early migrants but as yet there was no sign. He did log 28 common species the best being:-

1 Shikra

6 Lineated Barbets

2 Common Ioras

3 Common Tailorbirds

2 Dark-necked Tailorbirds

2 Grey-breasted Prinias

2 Eastern Red-rumped Swallows

1 Two-barred Warblers

1 Asian Brown Flycatcher

1 Ruby-cheeked Sunbird

2 Brown-throated Sunbird

7 Ornate Sunbirds.

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

09/03/2026 - Images from Pauls foray into Nong Kai on 7th and 8 th of March:-

Pied Harrier

Black Kite

Grey- throated Martin

Streaked Weaver

Cheers

Mike P

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

08/03/2026 - 06.07 am - Nong Kom Ko - Nong Kai province.

An early start this morning saw Paul logging 26 species within a 30 minute session. As this site is totally unknown to me and as Paul has provided no habitat description I can only speculate that with duck species noted it obviously is a lakeside area with some reedbed fringes. The more significant of his sightings would be:-

30 Lesser Whistling-Ducks

20 Cotton Pygmy-Geese

15 Eurasian Moorhens

20 Grey-headed Swamphens

15 Pheasant-tailed Jacanas

20 Little Grebes

3 Little Egrets

4 Chinese Pond-Herons

1 Purple Heron

1 Black-browed Reed Warbler

2 Yellow Bitterns

- No surprises here of course but some of these would be additions to his modest province list.
At 07.05 am he had moved on to a different habitat - the Mafueang sandbars of the Mekong at Pakchom IBA (whatever that is) where an hour and twenty minutes turned up 39 species which included:-

1 Plaintive Cuckoo

4 Little Ringed Plover

2 Kentish Plovers

1 Common Greenshank

3 Temmincks Stints

400 Small Pratincoles (an astonishing and surely significant total?)

30 Oriental Pratincoles

2 Pied Harriers (both males)

3 Black Kites

1 Eurasian Kestrel

10 Grey-throated Martins

2 Bluethroats

Paul then adjourned for breakfast with the upshot of his efforts being the addition of 22 species to his province list though he still trails top dog Paul Farrell by 38 species in Nong Kai.

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

07/03/2026 - 01.00 pm Udon Thani province.

Today saw Paul and Pen heading north via Udon Thani up to Nong Khai province for a celebratory party for the wedding of Pens niece. En route a passing Black Kite seen from the car was a fortuitous addition to Pauls Udon Thani list.

Once over the province line into Nong Khai (as any respectable birders would) they had a 35 minute stop at Nong Thin Park where they logged 24 fairly common species including 4 additions to Pauls province list as he has done very little birding here in the past. Barb and I visited the province for the one and only time twelve months ago spending five minutes to establish a token list here and this remains the only province in Isaan where I have yet to log 100 species.

Regards,

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

05/03/2026 - 4 pm -Mukdahan City - Mekong sandbars (as exposed during dry season).

Paul put in a shift of 25 minutes scoping the Mekong river sandbars and noted several of the usual raptors which seem to use this broad area for hunting.

11 species were noted as follows:-

25 White-nest Swiftlets

2 Little Ringed Plovers

3 Kentish Plovers

11 small plover sp.

15 Common Greenshanks (all together in shallow water seemingly sleeping)

8 Small Pratincoles

2 Little Herons (yet another tedious name change! What on earth was wrong with Striated Heron??)

4 Great Egrets

1 Osprey (likely the same individual seen here over recent months? - photo attached)

1 Brahminy Kite

1 Peregrine Falcon (Also seen here on 26/01/26 - same individual? - photo attached)

15 Barn Swallows.

Paul moved off and arrived at 5 pm at his favourite Mukdahan site - the Saharuang Sugar Factory Ponds where in 1 hour and 20 minutes he recorded 46 species but with nothing unusual for here- the most noteworthy being 41 assorted wagtails comprised of 15 leucopsis 1 ocularis and 25 Eastern Yellows of unspecfied subspecies.

Cheers,

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

02/2026 - 11.30 am - San Chao Pu Lake - Don Tan - Mukdahan Province.

After leaving Amnat Charaen Paul called in at this Mukdahan site logging 19 common species in just under an hour- these included a Shikra (photo) and a decent count those gems of the forest floor - 12 Olive-backed Pipits.

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

Midday on 27/02/2026 - Paul was quite surprised to record within the garden compound a White-rumped Shama - not new for the local patch but a nice addition to their garden list (perhaps indicative that the tree planting over the last few years is potentially attracting forest birds).

02/03/2026 - 06.05 am -Tambon Khok San - Amnat Charoen province.

An early start saw Paul on site here recording 41 species in an hour and a quarter. These comprised the usual culprits with no surprises yet - the best of the bunch being 2 Black-naped Orioles.

A short 20 minute stop subsequently close by (in presumably slightly different habitat) yielded up 17 species notably 4 Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters 2 Chestnut-capped Babblers 15 Red Avadavats and oddly - a Mekong Wagtail perched up in a tree ( photo).

By 08.05 he had arrived at Kaeng Song Yai for a half hour stop logging 21 species logging 5 species of the usual common waders (best being a couple of Kentish Plovers) and 4 species of the usual herons/egrets. He scoped up two far distant wagtail sp. which in the heat haze appeared to have white supercilia indicative of Mekong Wagtail.

His final stop of the morning was at Tambon Khok Kong where he spent 45 minutes to note 21 species including a White-browed Piculet - (photo - always a pleasure to see one of these tiny bamboo loving sprites).

A decent support cast comprised Yellow-browed, Two-barred and Pale-legged Leaf Warblers and singles of Taiga Flycatcher and Asian Brown Flycatchers.

Regards

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

22/02/2026 - 06.30 am - Huai San reservoir - Si Sa Ket Province.

Today saw Paul enjoying a blitz around various sites in the safer sectors of this province where he usefully added a further 8 species to his own list.

His two hours at this lake habitat were spent doing a full and thorough circuit yielding up 59 species most notably:-

800 Lesser Whistling-Ducks

50 Cotton Pygmy-Geese

9 Eurasian Coot (the furthest east he has ever recorded these)

1 White-breasted Waterhen

30 Black-winged Stilts

15 Little Ringed Plovers

1 Kentish Plover (photo)

25 Bronze-winged Jacanas

2 Common Sandpipers

1 Green Sandpiper

4 Wood Sandpipers

5 Small Pratincoles

1 Oriental Pratincole

50 Little Grebes

20 Asian Openbills

25 Little Cormorants

4 Little Egrets

8 Chinese Pond-Herons

10 Eastern Cattle-Egrets

1 Great Egret

1 Grey Heron

1 Purple Heron

3 Brahminy Kites

22 Asian Green Bee-Eaters

1 Common Kingfisher

2 White-throated Kingfishers

8 Indochinese Rollers

10 Amur Stonechats

6 Pied Bushchats

4 Eatern Yellow Wagtails (tschutschensis)

3 Eastern Yellow Wagtails (macronyx)

4 Paddyfield Pipits

15 Red-throated Pipits

By 09.10 he arrived at Wat Pa Sri Sam Ran for a twenty minute stop which turned up 15 species of which the pick were:-

2 Shikras

2 Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters

a flyby Black-headed Oriole

2 Pale-legged Leaf Warblers

2 White-crested Laughingthrushes.

His next stop was at Nong Khrok Community Forest for twenty five minutes which appeared to be rather underwhelming with the best of 14 species being 5 Yellow-browed Warblers, 4 Two-barred Warblers and another Pale-legged Leaf Warbler.

His final hour and three quarters he spent logging 47 species at Tambon Nong Ueng around the south west corner of a lake where the standout find was an Indian Cormorant keeping company with 8 Little Cormorants (photo).

Regards

Mike P.

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18/02/2026 - 06.23 am - Nong Han Lake - Race Track Headland - Sakhon Nakhon Province.

Paul and Pen were able to make an early start here. They drove quickly to the end of the peninsula and then came back slowly with the benefit of the sun behind them; - in an hour they logged 47 species the more notable being:-

1 Ruddy-breasted Crake

8 Little Ringed Plovers

1 Little Cormorant

1 Rufous-winged Buzzard

1 Brown Shrike

1 Burmese Shrike

3 Thick-billed Warblers

1 Lanceolated Warbler

9 Chestnut-tailed Starlings

2 Bluethroats

1 Siberian Rubythroat

1 Taiga Flycatcher

8 Amur Stonechats

4 Pied Bushchats

4 Eastern Yellow Wagtails (tschuschensis)

2 Eastern Yellow Wagtails (macronyx)

6 Paddyfield Pipits

At 07.45 they moved on to a nearby scrub and flood plain area just logging species not seen the previous evening:-

30 Garganey

4 Northern Shovelers

6 Indian Spot-billed Ducks

2 Green-winged Teal (continuing birds previously found by Paul Farrell and Su).

3 Grey-headed Lapwings

20 Streaked Weavers

25 Scaly-breasted Munias

22 White-rumped Munias

8 Red Avadavats.

(I dont normally bother specifying munias or sparrows but as they only listed 9 additional species at this location I have been more inclusive than usual).

The outcome of their little excursion was a further 8 species for Pauls province list moving him again onto a top spot 185.

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

17/02/2026 - 2.45 pm - 6011 Rural Rd - Tambon Na Tong Watthana - Sakhon Nakhon Province.

Paul and Pen undertook a two day jaunt north into Sakhon Nakhon province. At their first stop they spent twenty minutes checking particularly through the ducks :-

700 Lesser Whistling-Ducks

1 Garganey (believed to be more but discouraged by poor light)

4 Indian Spot-billed Ducks

1 Tufted Duck (the main reason for their stop here; this bird was found recently by Paul Farrell and girlfriend Su Saenon).

By 03.35 pm they arrived at 199 Tambon Tha Rae where in an hour and twenty minutes they recorded 44 species, most notably:-

40 Black-winged Stilts

8 Little Ringed Plovers

2 Pheasant-tailed Jacanas

1 Bronze-winged Jacana

2 Common Snipe

2 Pin-tailed Snipe

4 Wood Sandpipers

2 Spotted Redshanks

8 Oriental Pratincoles

50 Asian Openbills

1 Little Cormorant

2 Purple Herons

3 Harrier sp.

5 Eastern Yellow Wagtails (tschutschensis)

1 Eastern Yellow Wagtail (macronyx)

6 Paddyfield Pipits

10 Red-throated Pipits

- More to report later.

Cheers

Mike P.

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Wednesday 18th of February 2026 01:36:25 PM

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

12/02/2026 - 06.59 am Huai Phu reservoir Mukdahan province.

Looping south east Paul entered the northern portion of Mukdahan province where he met up with Paul Farrell and Su Saenon and in a short 10 minute session they logged 18 common species before moving on to the Phu Si Than Wildlife Sanctuary.

Until recently they have been consistently denied access here by the local ranger staff but diplomacy by Shaun Greens wife has been beautifully effective and they encountered no problems upon arrival and were joined here by Shaun.

They enjoyed a four hour session logging 45 species - main species were:-

22 Red Junglefowl (reported as everywhere;- normally we are cautious about recording these and are guided by habitat - here they would be wild birds).

2 Thick-billed Green Pigeons

2 Oriental Honey-Buzzards

7 Rufous-winged Buzzards

2 Lineated Barbets

1 Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker

1 Greater/Common Flameback

4 Black-headed Woodpeckers (a prime site here for this species)

2 Burmese Shrikes

2 Brown Shrikes

2 Eurasian Jays

4 Red-billed Blue-Magpies

3 White-crested Laughingthrushes

3 Olive-backed Pipits

In summary this has been a good two day session of listing in three of the north eastern provinces with a few new additions and hopefully now both Barb and I will be able to access Phu Si Than for the first time on our next visit.

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

11/02/2026 - 06.15 am - Dong Man Sugar Factory - Kalasin Province.

An early start on a north bound sweep saw Paul on site here where he logged 32 species in an hour before continuing onwards. Best of the first sightings of the day were:-

1 Yellow Bittern

1 Harrier sp.

3 Brown Shrikes

2 Rufescent Prinias

2 Thick-billed Warblers

2 Taiga Flycatchers

1 Blue Rock-Thrush

4 Amur Stonechats

6 Pied Bushchats

10 White Wagtails (all ocularis - a surprising count for these. As for the similar site in Mukdahan these birds were also to be found on a dry dusty field used as a staging area for the trucks. Photos attached of different individuals).

2 White Wagtails (leucopsis).

At 08.10 still in Kalasin Paul arrived at Tambon Kham Bong where he spent an hour logging 41 species most notably:-

6 Garganey

100 Lesser Whistling-Duck

12 Cotton Pygmy-Geese

Along side small numbers of common waders and egrets the best of a scatter of common passerines were 2 Eastern Yellow Wagtails both of the form macronyx (photo attached).

By 10.00 he had arrived at his next Kalasin stop- Phu Phan Nat.Pk. spending two and a half hours logging 27 species the most notable being:-

1 Black-winged Cuckoo-Shrike

2 White-bellied Erpornis

1 Great Iora (female)

8 Grey-headed Canary-Flycatchers

2 Dark-necked Tailorbirds

4 Two-barred Warblers

3 Pale-legged/Sakhalin Warblers

2 Golden-fronted Leafbirds

5 Olive-backed Pipits

Travelling further north into Sakhon Nakhon province Paul arrived at Nong Han lake at 04.05 pm where a useful stop of one and a quarter hours yielded 44 species- the most noteworthy as follows:-

1 Lesser Coucal

2 Purple Herons

1 Eastern Marsh Harrier

1 Peregrine Falcon

2 Common ioras

10 Malaysian Pied Fantails (common indeed but quite a count for these).

2 Thick-billed Warblers

10 Black-browed Reed Warblers (an outstanding count)

1 Lanceolated Warbler

7 White-shouldered Starlings

Cheers

Mike P.

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09/02/2026 - Kutchum - Yasothon province.

Its been a quiet week or so for Paul (catching up with chores ahead of the anticipated spring migration - surely now only weeks away?).

A Hoopoe pair around the garden have been laying a tentative claim to Paul and Pens home- repeatedly perching on the open window as if casing the joint (photo attached).

This morning saw Paul make an early start (07.55 am) spending one and a half hours checking out the Huai Hin Kong reservoir over in Amnat Charoen where he noted 45 fairly common species in an hour and 34 minutes. The most notable being:-

1 Purple Heron

5 Indochinese Bushlarks

6 Oriental Skylarks

20 Ashy Woodswallows (photo attached - I counted 18 here but they are pretty well packed).

2 Lanceolated Warblers

1 Bluethroat

60 Asian Golden Weavers (in two groups)

Later moving on to Phu Pha Phueng Forest Park a very brief incidental stop by a roadside pool with a scatter of trees and bamboo grass turned up a few additional species including a Pied Harrier and a Taiga Flycatcher.

On site by 10.51 am he logged 33 species - highlights being:-

1 Little Cormorant

1 Great Iora (belatedly he realized that this was a province tick otherwise he would have taken a photo. This fits in with the species distribution as he has recorded it in all the adjacent provinces).

3 Pale-legged/Sakhalin Leaf Warblers.

6 Yellow-browed Warblers

4 Two-barred Warblers

6 Chestnut- flanked White-eyes (photo - his first for eastern Isaan)

1 Thick-billed Flowerpecker

2 Yellow-vented Flowerpeckers (photo)

1 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker

Regards

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

Roi Et Airport Pools 07.45 am - Roi Et Province.

Paul took the opportunity to check out ducks on the complex of pools close to the airport after dropping off his wife Pen for a flight down to Bangkok.

His focus today was for a change on duck species which he listed as follows:-

100 Lesser Whistling-Ducks (southern lake)

60 Garganey (southern lake)

6 Northern Shovelers (southern Lake)

150 Indian spot-billed Ducks (northern lake)

20 Northern Pintails (southern lake)

5 Green-winged Teal (Eurasian) (southern lake)

I have never visited the site but wonder if it might be worthy of more frequent winter checks with Baikal Teal and Falcated Duck in mind?

Cheers,

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

26/01/2026 - 2.40 pm - Saharuang Sugar Factory Ponds -Mukdahan province.

While still in Mukdahan Paul called in at his seemingly favourite site where he notched up 43 species in an hour and forty minutes, - included were 7 species of the usual waders (nothing unusual) - though again the wagtails and pipits were noteworthy with 80 Red-throated Pipits 4 Paddyfield Pipits and best of all a single Richards Pipit (photo).

Wagtails were not recorded as to sub species so I assume that the eight Eastern Yellow Wagtails and ten White Wagtails were all tschuschensis and leucopsis respectively.

Attached is a photo of the Peregrine (photographed earlier on the sand bars) and of the Richards Pipit.

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

26/01/2026 - 02.25 pm - exposed city sandbars Mukdahan Province.

With business in Mukdahan Paul spent 45 minutes checking over the exposed sandbars where we have often in previous dry season outings turned up the odd surprise.

The pick of a dozen species was as follows:-

10 Kentish Plovers

4 Temmincks Stints

50 Small Pratincoles

1 Grey Heron

1 Brahminy Kite

1 Osprey

1 Peregrine (probably a likely addition to his province list and a species I have yet to catch up with in Thailand).

Cheers,

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

22/01/2026 - 2.00 pm -Saharuang Sugar Factory Ponds -Mukdahan Province.

Paul spent an hour and forty minutes here mainly checking for waders;- the pick of 29 species logged being as follows;-

20 Black-winged Stilts

2 Wood Sndpipers

2 Green Sandpipers

7 Spotted Redshanks (photo attached)

3 Common Greenshanks

1 Temmincks Stint

1 Small Pratincole

2 Eastern Yellow Wagtails (tschutschensis)

6 Eastern Yellow Wagtails (macronyx)

10 White Wagtails (leucopsis) - these seemingly preferring the wetter poolside habitats.

3 White Wagtails (ocularis) - these were in the same dusty field as the following species.

80 Red-throated Pipits (in the large dusty field used as a staging area by the sugarcane trucks - presumably attracted by lots of small insects there).

Regards,

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

18/01/2026 - 08.20 am - Khok Sung along Song Khon canal Kutchum- Yasothon province.

To open his 2026 account on the local patch Paul logged 41 species in a 90 minute session turning up no less than 3 site ticks - White-breasted Waterhen Rufous-winged Buzzard and Great White Egret = disgraceful as he hasnt done his local patch circuit like this since (by his own admission) February of 2023!

Of the two pools he mentions one is in his garden just behind the kitchen the other a few hundred yards away in their rice fields. However on our next visit Ill try to catch up a little. (Gloat gloat - I still have Yellow-vented Flowerpecker on him for the home patch - at least for the present).

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

17/01/2026 - 11.40 am - City sandbars Mekong river- Mukdahan province.

A forty min.session scanning the low water sandbars out across the river was slightly hampered by the heat haze but 6 species were identified as follows:-

4 Little Ringed Plovers

2 Kentish Plovers

14 Spotted Redshanks

30 Small Pratincoles

1 Brahminy Kite

3 White Wagtails ( leucopsis).

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

15/01/2026 - 15. 05 pm - Saharuang Sugar Factory Pools - Mukdahan province.

Later on the afternoon of this the same date as the last post Paul headed south into Mukdahan to check out this very productive site - his first visit of the new year. A two hour session turned up 47 species most notably the following:-

20 Black- winged Stilts

8 Little Ringed Plovers

6 Common Sandpipers

1 Green Sandpiper

2 Wood Sandpipers

4 Common Greenshanks

60 Little Grebes (this really is a prime site for these)

100 Great Mynas (a pre-roost gathering?)

3 Eastern Yellow Wagtails (tschutschensis)

2 Eastern Yellow Wagtails (macronyx)

1 White Wagtail (ocularis - Paul considers this to be one of the individuals seen here before - so possibly overwintering?)

15 White Wagtails (leucopsis)

2 White Wagtails (alboides)

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

15/01/2026 - 12.11 am - Kaeng Tang Lang - Amnat Charoen province.

Im not sure where this site is precisely but from the mix of the 31 species which Paul noted in approx. an hour and ten minutes it seems as if it is on the Mekong river.

most worthy of mention were:-

2 Little Ringed Plovers

1 River Lapwing (flight shot attached)

1 Common Sandpiper

6 Yellow-Bellied Prinias (these reedbed loving attractive birds - surely the most handsome of the prinias were very vocal and often in loose company with the following species)

1 Thick- billed Warbler

50 Barn Swallows

30 Wire-tailed Swallows

6 Dusky Warblers

6 Chestnut-capped Babblers

2 Red Avadavats

Regards

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

13/01/2026 10.47 am - Nhong Nhae Paddies - Nakhon Ratchasima Province.

Paul and Pen travelled to Isaans westernmost SE province and met up with Any Pierce all hoping to catch up with a lingering Short-toed Eagle.

The site consists of large areas of harvested dry paddies with a scatter of small water holes and trees.

A session of over 3 hours and 40 minutes turned up 37 species but alas no Short-toed Eagle. The best were:-

8 Little Cormorants

2 Indian Cormorants

1 Greater Spotted Eagle (photo)

1 Peregrine (Andy only)

2 Ashy Minivets

2 Black-naped Orioles

8 Red Avadavats

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

07/01/2026 11.25 am - Khlong Kam - Nakhon Phanom province.

On a short (45 min.) return visit to this lake site Paul discovered an addition for his province list in the shape of a Forest Wagtail in the grounds of the adjoining temple complex of Wat Ap Si Chomphu. I find this wacky striped species always fascinating and surprisingly easy to miss as it forages in the leaf litter of the forest floor with its rear end swaying laterally (as if its read the wrong instruction book concerning tail wagging).

A few other species present were:-

4 Black-naped Monarchs

6 Grey-headed Canary-Flycatchers

5 Yellow-browed Warblers

2 Pin-striped Tit-Babblers

1 White-rumped Shama

2 Hainan Blue Flycatchers (both males)

4 Taiga Flycatchers

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

03/01/2026 - 12 noon - Phu Pha Yon - Kham Phi -Nakhon Phanom province.

Paul arrived at this dry diptocarp habitat (open forest)area hoping for nuthatches and Cuckooshrikes but found neither in conditions much dryer than when he was last here in May.

He noted 28 species the best being:-

1 Shikra

2 Burmese Shrikes

1 Eurasian Jay (white-faced form- photo)

2 Chestnut-capped Babblers

1 Asian Brown Flycatcher

4 Taiga Flycatchers

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

01/01/2026 - 12.30 pm -Khlong Kam - Nakhon Phanom Province.

A leisurely start to the new year at this wetland site saw Paul logging 57 species in two and a half hours.

Despite a good count generally to get his new year effort underway there were no particular surprises or standout species other than an Eastern Marsh Harrier (photo) singles of Oriental Reed Warbler and Black-browed Reed Warbler with two Pallas's Grasshopper Warblers heard, and two Siberian Rubythroats also heard with a good number of twenty Amur Stonechats on site.

Cheers,

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

29/12/2025 12 noon -Si Bun Rueang Mukdahan Province.

Later having parted from Ben Paul made a 15 minute routine stop here logging 13 species most notably a single Osprey and 2 Kentish Plovers keeping loose company with at least 50 Small Pratincoles.

Regards and Best Wishes for 2026!

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

29/12/2025 -09.45 am -Saharuang Sugar Factory Ponds, - Mukdahan Province.

Paul was joined by Ben Weil (one of Thailands top birders) whom Paul showed around this productive site where in 90 minutes they logged 43 species including six of the usual common wader species the best of the rest being:-

1 Siberian Rubythroat

1 Red Avadavat

10 Eastern Yellow Wagtails

1 White Wagtail (ocularis)

25 White Wagtails (leucopsis)

2 White Wagtails (alboides)

1 White Wagtail (odd hybrid type - seemingly leucopsis crossed with perhaps alboides but outside our experience- photo attached)

30 Red-throated Pipits.

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

27/12/2025 - 09.30 am - Phue Hi - Yasothon.

Paul passed a leisurely hour and a quarter at this fairly close reservoir site logging 37 species the more significant of which being:-

600 Lesser Whistling Ducks

25 Grey-headed Swamphens

1 Little Cormorant (new for this site - photo)

3 Purple Herons

1 Black-browed Reed Warbler

10 Amur Stonechats

20 Red-throated Pipits

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

26/12/2025 - 09.00.am - Dong Por and Dong Ee Community Forests Khoi Yai reservoir - Yasothon province.

Paul spent an hour at this site mainly scanning for duck species with a few incidental site additions in the surrounding forest margins recording just seven species in all - (a rather low key outing) as below:-

250 Lesser Whistling Ducks

50 Cotton Pygmy-Geese

1 Garganey (looking lonely with a few of the above - photo attached).

8 Indian Spot-billed Ducks

1 Greater Coucal

2 Grey-headed Canary-Flycatchers

4 Pin-striped Tit-Babblers

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

23/12/2025 - 11.58 am - Huai Khaen reservoir - Nakhon Phanom province.

Paul headed north this morning into Nakhon Phanom and spending just under 3 hours logged 65 species the best being:-

18 Wood Sandpipers

2 Pied Harriers

30 Asian Green Bee-eaters

40 Black Drongos - (an outstanding count)

25 Oriental Skylarks (all in song - an obviously healthy population)

1 Bluethroat

20 Amur Stonechats

3 Red Avadavats

20 Plain-backed Sparrows (unusually the commonest sparrow around the site).

4 Eastern Yellow Wagtails (all macronyx)

25 Red-throated Pipits

Cheers

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

22/12/202 - Rice Paddies Tambon Wan Kham - Si Sa Ket province.

Paul enjoyed an 80 minute session in this rice growing habitat (hopefully a safe way north of the conflict zone).

The best of 30 species were as follows:-

3 Rufous-winged Buzzards

4 Brown Shrikes (including one of the phillipensis race).

8 Amur Stonechats

At 13.10 he had moved onto Tambon Nong Ueng - for him a new site. Once he found access to the lake he circled the whole lake Logging 46 species in two and a half hours - the best being:-

1 Eastern Marsh Harrier

3 Hoopoes (photo attached)

2 Black-browed Reed Warbler

Regards,

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

20/12/2025 - 6 am - Khon Kaen University - Romklao Kallapaphuruek Park Khon Kaen province.

A return visit by Paul who managed to finally catch up with the Asian Stubtail and the Japanese Thrush which had both eluded him several days previously.

He also logged two Asian Barred Owlets calling just after 6 am and a Brown Boobook calling a few minutes later and seen in silhuette just after dawn. Other excellent species were the still present female Black-breasted Thrush and a Rufous-tailed Robin. The latest appearance of the latter is the third year running that the species has been found at this well watched feeding station. (record shot attached).

He managed a record shot of the Stubtail (photo attached)

Regards

Mike P