Thailand Diary

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

Thailand Diary

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

06/01/2023 Friday - 07.25 am. Phu Suan Sai Nat.Pk -Tat Hueang Waterfall - Loei Province.

Having vacated our lodgings our immediate port of call was the spectacular Tat Hueang waterfall. Here in the dry season one can very easily walk into Laos on stepping stones and the bedrock above the falls as the border is unmanned and barely 10 feet away though a warning sign is there to discourage such adventurism.

Unusually in the context of such beautiful surroundings we had the whole place to ourselves (probably because the New Year celebrants from the weekend had all gone home). Having spent 20 minutes walking on the upper section above the falls we went off to one of the viewpoints where PP saw a Blue-Whistling Thrush perched on a tree in Laos. We watched it descend to the waters edge where it poked about among the rocks and noted that it was of the yellow-billed form.
PP then scored again with one of our targets for the site - a fine male Plumbeous Redstart which entertained us intermittently as it darted after flies at the foot of the torrent. PF then spotted a Grey Wagtail perched on a bamboo stick above the falls. - A profitable stop therefore though we were denied the other target species - White-capped Water Restart which has recently also been recorded here.

Moving on south-east I noted a roadside perched Rufous-winged Buzzard for the province trip (I was quite pleased as I am not particularly adept at identifying birds on wires/posts from a fast moving vehicle).

Our next stop was at Nong Hi lake where a total of 23 species boosted our trip lists, -the best here being: -

1 White-browed Crake

1 Oriental Darter

1 Black-winged Kite

2 Indochinese Rollers

4 Plian-backed Sparrows

With two heard only species - Pallass Grasshopper Warbler and Baikal Bush-Warbler.

At 13.32 our last stop still just in Loei was at the spectacular limestone cliffs of Wat Tham Erawan where we added Barn Swallows Red-rumped Swallow and both Himalayan and Asian Palm Swifts.

We drove on east into Nong Bua Lamphu- totally new ground for us three Passants and the province where the notorious shootings occurred several months earlier. We arrived at Tambon Nong Sang and found rice fields with an ideal mix of water and mud to be suitable for waders and wagtails finding both Common and Pin-tailed Snipe, an Asian Openbill the 4 white egrets and Pond Heron with a nice list padding selection of the usual suspects. Best of all however was an Eastern Yellow Wagtail (tchuschensis form) topped by 2 Citrine Wagtails (for me Thailand firsts).

Total species here : 28 - but time was a factor as we had many hours of driving to arrive back in Khon Kaen and then almost 3 hours more back to Kut Chum.

Regards,

Mike P.

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Wednesday 11th of January 2023 03:07:10 AM

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05/01/2023 - Culvert hide- photo selection (continued):-

Grey-throated Babbler (a catch-up species for me in Thailand which looks better from the front when it is not wet through from bathing).

Brown-cheeked Fulvetta (although the cheeks seem grey! - the other congener Grey-cheeked Fulvetta/ Yunnan Fulvetta thankfully has an eye-ring).

Martens Warbler - the one here with a complete eye ring.

Black-naped Monarch female /imm. (generally common species well known to many of you of course).

Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher. - (even more common and seemingly ubiquitous).

Puff- throated Bulbul.

Cheers,

Mike P.

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Wednesday 11th of January 2023 01:03:06 AM

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05/01/2023 - Culvert Hide photo selection (continued).

Hill Blue Flycatcher.

White-bellied Erpornis (formerly called White-bellied Yuhina).

Pin-tailed Parrotfinch. (Record shot. An all too brief appearance of this female and a much appreciated world lifer for both PP and me).

Blue-bearded Bee-eater.

Verditer Flycatcher.

Cheers,

Mike P.

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Wednesday 11th of January 2023 01:10:12 AM

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

05/01/2023 - Phu Suan Sai Nat. Pk. - Culvert Hide.

Our day started at around 8.00 am with a roadside session hoping for Short-tailed Parrotbills (which sometimes cross the road close to the hide from their favoured bamboo stands) but no sign this morning though we did find an obliging Rufous Woodpecker.

With the light improving we made our way down to the hide with PP and I in one side and PF in the other. We were pleased to note the absence of the White-throated Fantail which on the previous afternoon had been defensively seeing off and bullying other smaller birds daring to encroach on its favourite perches over the water.

We stayed in the hide all day but with small breaks to have lunch or to stretch our legs from time to time. A full list of species follows, though not in chronological order:-

Blue-bearded Bee-eater

Blue-throated Barbets (heard continually).

Bay Woodpeckers (heard).

4 White-bellied Erpornis

1 White-throated Fantail (turned up like a bad penny after lunch).

2 Ashy Drongos

2 Bronzed Drongos

1 Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

1 Black-naped Monarch

2 Grey-headed Canary-Flycatchers

1 Black-crested Bulbul

2 Puff-throated Bulbuls

2 Grey-eyed Bulbuls

2 Ashy Bulbuls

2 Yellow-browed Warblers

2 Grey-crowned Warblers

3 Martens Warblers

2 Yellow-bellied Warblers

2 Chestnut-flanked White-eyes

7 Indian White-eyes

5 Pin-striped Tit-Babblers

2 Golden Babblers

2 Grey-throated Babblers

2 Rufous-throated Fulvettas

5 Brown-cheeked Fulvettas

1 White-rumped Shama

1 Hill Blue Flycatcher

1 Verditer Flycatcher

1 White-tailed Robin (male)

1 Taiga Flycatcher

4 White-rumped Munias

1 Pin-tailed Parrotfinch (female- and for me the bird of the day).

Grey-headed Warbler was PFs 700th Thai species and new for me of course along with Martens Warbler. These species are the result of a four way split alongside Alstroms and Bianchis Warblers and are a nightmare in the field for birders such as me. The Grey-headed shows a break to the rear of its eye ring best captured on photos.
It took Paul Farrell six or seven trips to see the Parrotfinch so PP and I were very fortunate.

We left the hide for lunch down the road at a restaurant all to ourselves overlooking superb scenery (reminiscent of a scene from Braulio Carillo Nat.Pk in Venezuela for those readers who may have visited there) and we finally called it a day when the light became too dark for photography at around 17.10.

Several selections of photos follow:-

Cheers,

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

04/01/2023 - a 06.58 am.start saw us exploring the temple gardens at Tambon Neón Phoem (still of course in Phitsanulok).

As we drove up almost onto the car park we disturbed a wholly dark blue bird on the roadside which walked into the grass verge before flying off; - the size and plumage of a White-tailed Robin, though we didnt quite manage to clinch it with a clear sight of the outer tail. We headed for the pond area which was of the steep sided dug out variety so hope of muddy fringes were dashed. We did however record a perched Striated Heron and better still a Grey-faced Buzzard perched up on a tall pole. Scoping this (as my first ever in Thailand) I was pleased to clearly see the black vertical mesial stripe on its white throat, and strong creamy supercilium The best of the rest were 2 Large Niltavas and a female Hill Blue Flycatcher.

We had a brief sally into a lower section of the Nat. Pk. on the Loei side (viewing from roadside) and enjoyed views of a Blyths Shrike-Babbler whilst hearing calls of Great Barbets.

After a few incidental stops we returned to vacate our lodgings as we had two nights booked further north including two full days booked at the famous Culvert Hide further north up in Loei, which we planned to reach by 13.00. - about which more later.

Two alternative routes were given on the maps. We chose the quicker one to save 30 minutes.

As we travelled deeper into the valley bottom passing ever smaller villages the road became steeper as the route was basically a pass over high hills which were not quite mountains as such and we were reassured by a large lorry coming the other way. I remarked that if there were no more villages that would be a reassurance that the lorry had come over the pass. Otherwise it may have been simply delivering to the remotest settlements.

The road became a steepening dirt road, now with sizeable ruts and a stream to cross. PF (driving) made a brave run at the obstacles and succeeded expertly only to see ahead a totally impassable section - impossible even with four wheel drive which the vehicle did not have. We were defeated only 10 Kms.from our destination.

PF then skilfully managed to revers back to a turning point with PP directing. We now had 150 Kms. to our destination and would certainly miss out on at least 3 hours in the hide.

We soon cheered up and lowered our expectations and PF drove patiently and well to get us to our destination by 15.32 so having parked up we followed PF (who has been here about 7/8 times previously).

The hide is situated in the Phu Suan Sai Nat.Pk. not far from the HQ and can be booked at this time of year for 200 bahts per person for the day and can seat 6 people. The culvert is under the road and some 50 feet long and best described as like a double barrelled shotgun with viewers in either/ both barrels - each one about 6 ft. wide At each end is mesh netting with viewing slots cut at the business end for cameras and water flows beneath down a shallow centre channel. In spate in the wet season the whole thing would be full to ceiling with a raging torrent. The seating is surprisingly comfortable and upon firm planking.

Once in situ I saw that a little pool is just in front with a White-throated Fantail (a new Thailand species for me) and a Grey-eyed Bulbul bathing in the pool. In total despite the loss of time we logged a dozen species the best of which were a pair of White-tailed Robins and the star bird of the whole day and new for PP and me - a stunning little Rufous-throated Fulvetta.

The following day promised much and afterwards over a few beers we saw the lighter side of our earlier calamity and named the road through the valley forevermore as The Road To Nowhere!

Regards,

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

03/01/2023 - Phu Hin Rong Kla Nat. Pk. Loei Province.

We rose early and downing coffees drove off towards the hill from the village into Loei.

En route we stopped for a short session of roadside birding and were rewarded by a calling Bay Woodpecker which responded promptly to playback by flying from cover providing PP with an early addition to his Thai list and a fine trip bird for PF and me.

Up on the higher ground we were disappointed to see the mist rolling in, so retreated to slightly lower ground where PF pulled in fancying a dodgy looking rutted but dry side track which he had never previously explored. We took the plunge and hung on as the vehicle rocked and rolled on the descent like a boat then the track levelled out and we parked in an area where the tall grass and bracken had been left uncut.
White-browed Scimitar Babblers were calling from higher up but by now we only had one priority - Jerdons Bushchat in suitable though unexplored habitat!

PF played the call and as if by magic up popped into view a male Jerdons Bushchat right where Paul and I by chance happened to be looking. All too brief a view but PPS exclamation - Thats it! summed up the moment - so high fives and big smiles all round. Both Pauls had seen the species before some hundreds of kilometres further north but they were elated that this represented for me a really tough world tick.
We continued along the track for a further 500 metres to find a turning point and passed some minutes scanning and noting a few common species as the visibility improved before heading back hopeful that PF might manage to negotiate the rough hill. We stopped and played the Jerdons calls near the same bushes and of course up it popped and gave excellent views for about 20 seconds.

Paul had a fast run at the hill and despite having no four-wheel drive successfully bounced us back to the safety of the road.

Back down the road in Phitsanulok a half hour stop gave up 14 species - the best being :-

2 Bay Woodpeckers

7 Scarlet Minivets

4 species of common bulbuls

1 Indian White-eye

2 Yunnan Fulvettas

6 Blue-winged Minlas

1 Grey Wagtail (on the road briefly)

1 Oriental Honey-Buzzard

1 Lesser Shortwing (seen by both Pauls but which continued to elude me for the whole trip).

After a lengthy break for lunch we headed back into Loei and then spent over 3 hours on an excellent forest trail. Although I managed to find a responsive Lesser Shortwing moving in deep cover it refused to offer up an acceptable view despite a good half hour teasing us so we moved on and hearing a party of noisy White-necked Laughingthrushes hopes rose of another good bird in prospect. Alas the birds moved slowly away never to be seen or heard again. PP soon spotted 2 Silver-breasted Broadbills (always star birds) and followed up with a Black Bulbul of the white headed form- record shots of both species obtained. Other notable species included 3 Large Niltavas a Davisons Leaf Warbler, several Yellow-browed Warblers a Golden Babbler and a Yunnan Fulvetta with the usual barbets here vocalising for all the afternoon.

We beat a hasty retreat as we didnt want to be benighted in the forest.

After an improvised meal back in our lodgings a night birding session on the edge of the large campsite field resulted in repeat views of Large-tailed Nightjar (which we had heard on the previous night) though a Collared Scops-Owl refused to come out to play, in addition we heard a Red-wattled Lapwing as well.

Regards,

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

02/01/2023 - A five day lads trip mainly in what for me were two new provinces - Pitsanolok and Loei.

Paul and I made a very early start and were on the road heading west at 03.00 am. to meet up at Paul Farrells home in Khon Kaen where we transferred into his pick up truck just before 6.00 am. Topping up for fuel coffees and cheese and ham toasties I got my first new province list off to a modest start with 8 common species - the usual sparrows mynas and doves which are everywhere around such places.

At 08.30 we stopped on the fringe of Nam Nao Nat.Pk. in Petchabun and walked a trail I first visited in 2017.The target here was Great Slaty Woodpecker which however failed to show but we did see Claudias Leaf Warbler - a philloscopus which forages nuthatch style on trunks and branches, along with the white-headed form of Eurasian Jay a couple of Red-billed Blue Magpies and a calling Grey-headed Woodpecker (now Black-naped Woodpecker), amongst other regular species.

By 11.35 we finally reached Loei up at around 1400 m. ASL and commenced birding in earnest with a fine selection of species the more significant being:-

4 Golden-throated Barbets

4 Nepal House Martins

2 Mountain Bulbuls

2 Black-backed Sibias

2 Slaty-backed Flycatchers (female photographed).

2 Streaked Spiderhunters

Other species heard were Great Barbets, a Bay Woodpecker and two which I initially missed- singles of Golden Babbler and a potential Thai lifer - a Grey-throated Babbler.

By 15.15 we had secured our accommodation for 2 nights in the Phu Hin Rong Kla Nat. Pk. which straddles both Loei and Phitsanolok. Our lodgings being in the latter province but with our main target bird (Jerdons Bushchat) a few minutes up the hill in open grassland and bracken in Loei. The accommodation had 3 bedrooms cooking facilities two toilets/shower facilities and a rear view over a rough lawn area with a backdrop of scrubby forest (Brown Shrike here) but at the front stands of pines with Taiga Flycatcher and Magpie Robin hanging around. PF went out onto the rear veranda shortly after our arrival and his exclamation brought us scurrying to see what was afoot.

There bold as brass on the rear lawn was a fine Whites Thrush which entertained us for about 15 minutes ( photos obtained).

Later we drove uphill noting a Grey-chinned Minivet a fine Burmese Shrike and a Grey-backed Shrike only to find that the ideal roadside habitat for Jerdons Bushchat had all been cut down, much to our dismay. Nevertheless we soldiered on with new additions being Hill Prinia and a great find with 3 Little Buntings. PP had found the first record for the Isaan region of these in Yasothon last year followed by PF making another find later and then todays find in Loei. I thus joined a small club to became the only birders ever to see Little Bunting in Isaan. Photo obtained.

Other species up here were Blue-winged Minlas, Flavescent Bulbuls and Olive-backed Pipits.

An out of habitat imm/female Eastern Marsh Harrier up at 1600 metres had us trying to call it as some kind of buteo caused consternation until reason prevailed. A calling Siberian Rubythroat remained unseen while on walking back to the truck PP saw a party of 6 Common Rosefinches.

Later back at base a few beers flowed while we formulated our plans for the following day.

Cheers and Best Wishes for 2023!

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

28/12/2022 - 08.20 am, Tambon Khueang Nai - Ubon Ratchathani.

As we were due to meet Pen flying into Ubon from Bangkok at around 13.20, we set off early from Kut Chum to get in a few hours birding at a couple of sites within about 30 minutes of the airport.The first site produced some 37 species in 1 hour and 40 minutes, the pick of the bunch being two Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters, and two Chestnut-capped Babblers.

We then moved on the the Rice research centre at Tambon Pa Ao where an hour and a quarter produced 23 species which included a few surprises and site ticks:-

The first oddity was an overhead circling Crested Serpent Eagle in habitat a little different from its normal forest haunts. This was followed by a fine male Hainan Blue Flycatcher, three Ruby-cheeked Sunbirds, and a White-throated Rock-Thrush - for me a long awaited new species and seen well first found by Paul, refound by sharp-eyed Art.

I finished the session with 8 additions to my Ubon list and Paul gained 3 - about which more later.

Pen arrived safely and Art drove us all back to Kut Chum where we all showered and changed in quick time to shoot off to our third party in five days at the new home of John Cook and his wife Nan. Their hospitality food and drink was overwhelming and made a stark contrast to the start of our day, with gourmet food fine wine and single malt whiskies which would do justiice to any celebration. We toasted Paul on becoming the first and only member of the Ubon Ratchathani 200 club; - Mr. Paul Heaton would have thoroughly approved.

Cheers,

Mike P.

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26/12/2022 - Nong Thueng Park, Kalasin Province.

A 6.00 am start saw us on site at 8.53 scanning through the water birds of this excellent reed fringed lake site. Barb and I have only previous driven through this province with only a modest token sample of birds noted at food and petrol stops so we had high hopes for an enjoyable day. We were hoping particularly for Pintail and possibly Wigeon among the huge numbers of Lesser Whistling Ducks and a rather nervy few hundred Garganey.
Paul Farrell made the far shorter drive to team up with us from neighbouring Khon Kaen and soon picked up a new species for the province list in the shape of 2 Indian Spot-billed Ducks with which he was understandably pleased.

Full list for this first stop was :-

1000+ Lesser Whistling Ducks

70 Cotton Pygmy Geese

223 Garganey

50 Little Grebes

30 Feral Pigeons

4 Zebra Doves

1 Germains Swiftlet

30 Moorhens

50 Coots

4 Grey-headed Swamphens

8 Pheasant-tailed Jacanas

1 Asian Openbill Stork

12 Little Cormorants

1 Grey Heron

4 Purple Herons

3 Eastern Marsh Harriers (photos attached of a sub adult male)

1 Common Kingfisher

7 Asian Green Bee-eaters

1 Ashy Woodswallow

1 Malaysian Pied Fantail

4 Black Drongos

1 Large-billed Crow

1 Plain Prinia

1 Black-browed Reed Warbler

1 Yellow-vented Bulbul

A scatter of Common and Great Mynas

1 Amur Stonechat

2 Paddyfield Pipits.

After a lunch break when PF had to leave us the three of us moved to Don Yung where we added more species:-

1 Red Collared-Dove

2 Asian Palm Swifts

5 Chinese Pond Herons

10 Night Herons (the main reason for visiting this site where up to 80 birds are often counted in the evenings).

3 Glossy Ibises (the find of the day as these came soaring overhead).

1 Black-shouldered Kite

1 Brahminy Kite

1 Pied Harrier (juv.)

1 Coppersmith Barbet

1 Freckle-breasted Woodpecker (heard only).

2 Ashy Drongos

1 Brown Shrike

1 Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher

2 Yellow-browed Warblers

2 Hainan Blue Flycatchers

2 Swinhoes White-eyes.

At our final stop driving around the wet rice fields with new growth apart from a few Little Egrets we found the only waders of the day - four Grey-headed Lapwings. I missed both a Hoopoe and a Green-billed Malkoha as we drove by but on the whole a really good mix of birds with my first real birding here giving me 58 species.

Regards,

Mike P.

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Tuesday 27th of December 2022 12:04:37 PM

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

22/12/2022- Ban Samrong rapids Mekong River, Ubon Ratchathani.

The day started quietly enough; with nobody else out of bed I enjoyed a 40 minute stroll on part of the local patch and from the little footbridge enjoyed a session following the foraging of a calling Raddes Warbler working its way around the edge of a large pool with much in the way of cover provided by overhanging bushes. I have watched Raddes do this here before and as usual upon reaching the bridge it flies across to the north end of the pool where it is grassier. I followed it and creeping very quietly guided by its calls got it to pop up in the knee high grass in response to gentle squeaks. There was little else going on save for a Common Tailorbird and a small party of Streak-eared Bulbuls a Brown Shrike and a few Scaly-breasted Munias.

Back home Paul was up and about and showed me a photo on his phone - Look whats turned up on the Mekong!

Bloody Hell - thats a Long-billed Plover!

Its three hours away - are you up for it?

Yes! So we all got geared up. Barbara Pen Paul and I with Art driving (due to Pauls back strain). We arranged to meet with Paul Farrell at the site as he had at least a four hour drive from Khon Kaen. The bird had been found the previous afternoon and watched from 1 oclock until 4 by a Thai birder who obtained excellent photos. on arrival we did some long distance scoping but the heat haze was a major problem. After PF arrived we all walked south parallel with the river but keeping a good distance from the shoreline. Another problem was that the locals were tending their fishing tackle and a few kids were playing by the water as kids do and though we doggedly spent over four hours scanning Little Ringed and Kentish Plovers Common Sandpipers a single Greenshank and a scatter of at least 40 Small Praticoles and a few White Wagtails there was no sign of our bird.

As Art had to be back he and Pen drove off home and the remaining 4 of us resolved to stay over for an early morning search. Paul Farrells fluency in Thai served us well and after enquiring at the local cafe as to where we might stay and eat the helpful staff came up with a little hotel recommendation only minutes from the river which was quite adequate.

The following morning we were up at 05.15 and walking the site at 6.00. Great views of a Mekong Wagtail was a bonus in habitat not quite in keeping with its usual requirements and we had repeat views of all the previous days waders but no target bird despite another 2 hours of searching. The site here is very close to Laos only 200 yards east over the river and we could hear both Green-eared and Coppersmith Barbets calling from there with Wire-tailed and Red-rumped Swallows crossing backwards and forwards.
We admitted defeat and set off to explore another site further north at Chon Dao - the Don Ngio Rapids which looked full of potential but which Paul Farrell says is totally neglected by birders.

Here Barb found 5 River Lapwings and we scanned through more Small Pratincoles and then Paul Farrell found a Great Thick-Knee, then another. This was a major find for the site as birds are sometimes rarely found both well north of here and well south so this would constitute an important link in terms of distribution of this endangered species in Thailand.

In summary our efforts had been rewarded with a great find by PF and the drive back to Kut Chum was all the more palatable for that.

Regards,

Mike P.

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Saturday 24th of December 2022 02:35:28 AM

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

20/12/2022 05.45 am. Tuesday. Amnat Charoen Province.

The previous afternoon I omitted to mention that Paul Farrell joined us for the harrier roost session and then stayed overnight with us at Kut Chum.
Four of us made an early start for a pretty full day in Amnat with the idea of checking what might have turned up on the Mekong river habitats in the period of prolonged NE winds.

After a drive of some 110 minutes we arrived at our first destination, parked up and ventured out on to the sandstone flats where the habitat consists of rock pools and larger ponds with a scatter of sand banks and rocky islets of varying sizes out towards mid river. There are many little mini-habitats with some bushes and grassy dunes which are always above flood levels and in a couple of hours we logged 46 species in total stopping at around 09.45 by which time it was getting quite hot.

2 Red-collared Doves

4 Zebra Doves

2 Greater Coucals

2 Germains Swiftlets

2 River Lapwings

6 Little Ringed Plovers

1 Common Snipe

1 Pin-tailed Snipe

4 Common Sandpipers

1 Greenshank

2 Little Egrets

4 Chinese Pond-Herons

1 Common Kingfisher

1 White-throated Kingfisher

Nos. Asian Green Bee-eaters (The name change seems to indicate that this has now been split from its W/Palearctic congener?)

2 Common Ioras

2 Malaysian Pied Fantails

1 Ashy Drongo

1 Brown Shrike

2 Large-billed Crows

1 Common Tailorbird

2 Yellow-bellied Prinias

4 Plain Prinias

2 Thick-billed Warblers

Nos. Barn Swallows

6 Wire-tailed Swallows

3 Red-rumped Swallows

2 Yellow-vented Bulbuls

2 Streak-eared Bulbuls

1 Yellow-browed Warbler

4 Dusky Warblers

2 Chestnut-capped Babblers

3 Common Mynas

4 Great Mynas

1 Oriental Magpie-Robin

1 Taiga Flycatcher

1 Amur Stonechat

1 Pied Bushchat

1 Brown-throated Sunbird

3 Olive-backed Sunbird

No. Scaly-breasted Munias

2 White-rumped Munias

1 Red Avadavat

Nos. House Sparrows

2 Tree Sparrows

6 White Wagtails (all leucopsis).

A brief stop further down river yielded a few repeat species plus a Plaintive Cuckoo for the day list. Then a 40 minute stop further south at Kaeng Song Yai gave us-

2 Kentish Plovers

4 Little Ringed Plovers

1 Dunlin

1 Greenshank

3 Small Pratincoles

1 Great Egret

1 Little Egret

8 Chinese Pond-Herons

1 Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher

1 Common Tailorbird

1 Mekong Wagtail

1 Paddyfield Pipit.

The Dunlin was a good 300 metres out feeding in typical fashion on a sandy shoreline in shallow water. Once it was flushed by a Myna but went only a short distance onto a rocky islet where it preened for a while and seemed to have found a mini-habitat to its liking. One was found last week in Laos and we of course also found one less than a fortnight ago in Buri Ram (at Sanambin no hunting reserve). The present bird was a first for the province as was our Buri Ram bird and we understand there are only a handful of records for the whole of Isaan so we took time for Paul Farrell to get a poor photo for our record submission. -A major find and icing on the cake on our days outing. According to the field guide the race occurring in Thailand appears to be Calidris alpina sakhalina - one of the long billed forms.

For a complete contrast PP took us to a spectacular scenic cliff overlook on the way back to base but still in Amnat at Phu Sing where in spite of the afternoon lull we added all three common Barbets calling (Coppersmith Lineated and Green-eared) Black-napEd Monarch, Dark-necked Tailorbird, Black-crested and Stripe-throated Bulbuls a calling Pale- legged Leaf Warbler which PF assessed and by means of spectrograph reading at 5.8 was able to eliminate Sakhalin Leaf Warbler. (I fear this technology has relegated me into the relative Stone Age!) Finally we had a fine posing Blue Rock-Thrush 2 Hainan Blue Flycatchers and a Ruby-cheeked Sunbird to round off a fine 8 hours of birding in spectacular surroundings. PF reckons that we (Barb and I) are the oldest Europeans ever to have ventured out onto the Mekong river islands so we take that happily as a testament to our lunacy.

Best Wishes to all in the Manchester birding community for a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Birdy 2023!
Regards,

Mike, Barb and family.

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Wednesday 21st of December 2022 09:59:03 AM

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Wednesday 21st of December 2022 10:00:30 AM

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Wednesday 21st of December 2022 10:05:24 AM

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

19/12/2022 - Khok Sung - along Song Khon Canal - local home patch Yasothon.

An 8.00 am start saw me patrolling the local patch with no great expectation and indeed in an hour and a half I logged only 13 species but did add a new species to my personal local patch list in the shape of a pair of White Wagtails (leucopsis form) long overdue and which Paul has previously had in the garden. On the previous day in the garden he had flushed from his feet a Barred Buttonquail a species which I have only ever seen in flight.

The main event took place in the late afternoon when we visited Pauls newly discovered harrier roost barely 20 minutes drive from home. Here we logged at least 14 birds coming in and on 20th around 25/30 birds comprising both Eastern Marsh Harriers and Pied Harriers. 3 adult male Pieds and two adult male Eastern Marsh were readily identified and bigger numbers of juvenile Pieds were evident but there was much head scratching concerning supposed female Pieds and immature Eastern Marsh birds. Rarities here would be Western Marsh and Hen Harriers of which we saw no hint.

Photos of adult males of the two species are attached.

Cheers,

Mike P.

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Tuesday 20th of December 2022 02:23:37 PM

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

16/12/2022 - Boong Khla Community Forest - Yasothon.

Four of us were on the road this morning at 07.00 headed for Pauls favourite forest area in the home province. The strong NE winds blowing over Vietnam and Laos had dropped and the hope was that late drift migrants might be skulking in the forest undergrowth. 12 months ago Paul had been logging small numbers here of Siberian Blue Robins which would be new for me in Yasothon.

However as is often the case with birding the place was devoid of birds both on the ground or in mid canopy. We could hear all three regular barbets (Lineated Green-eared and Coppersmith) and there were glimpses of the regular bulbuls and Drongos but no flycatchers or babblers. A dash of the spectacular appeared above the first clearing we reached with a low flying Crested Serpent Eagle circling just above us whilst we were attempting better views of Van Hasselts Sunbirds high above in difficult light (the male bird just seemingly a blackish silhouette).

The Serpent Eagle was at least a new province species for me as was a subsequent Little Spiderhunter, and on leaving a hovering Black-winged Kite was a site addition leaving this location on 99 species to date.

Cheers,

Mike P.

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15/12/2022 -Yasothon Province various sites.

A few relaxed days doing some of the local sites and adding one or two species to several of them.
-A few shots of life here:-

1. We dont get out birding all the time here. The contractor at work baling the rice straw after the harvest. (It wasnt a good season as there was far too much rain this year). Following the baling machine were some 60 Great Mynas and about 8 Black Drongos swooping on hapless insects and possibly small mice but specific prey items could not be discerned due to the distance. These were the only two bird species involved.

2. Part of a flock of 21 Grey-headed Lapwings on the Nong Hoi paddies today - a record number in terms of Yasothon and no. 141 for my province list. Paul however is lead jockey in Yasothon on 212.

Regards,

Mike P.

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Thursday 15th of December 2022 11:21:11 AM

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Thursday 15th of December 2022 11:27:02 PM

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11/12/2022 Sunday - Nong Kae Dam and boardwalk -Maha Sarakham Province.

Today five of us made a leisurely 10.30 am start heading west as grandson Art wanted to show his visiting non- birding girlfriend Eem this scenic area with its long 500 metre rickety looking boardwalk spanning the lake. As Barb and I had never previously birded at all in this province we were pleased to be able to add to our province listing efforts.

The boardwalk was surprisingly stable though care was needed to avoid the many gaps in the planking and too much scanning for birds could well have resulted in a broken ankle or worse. The best of thirty odd species to show to Eem were obvious attractions such as Hoopoe and Asian Green Bee-eaters (implying now a split from Little Green Bee-eaters?) both Jacana species, Grey-headed Swamphens and numerous Lesser Whistling Ducks and a few of the handsome little Cotton Pygmy-Geese. A passing Eastern Marsh Harrier flushed many of the waterfowl but was a province tick for Paul. 5 Yellow Bitterns was an excellent count for the site and I could only speculate as to which of the crakes and rails might also be around but unseen.

At 12.10 we arrived at Huai Aeng lake which borders the Roi Et boundary (where we have birded before) but were disappointed that the water levels were too high for any chance of waders other than two Black-winged Stilts.

A few other species made it onto our lists (Grey Herons, Little Grebe, Taiga Flycatcher, Brown Shrike, Pied Fantail) before we headed off east for Yasothon with Eems favourite birds being perhaps predictably the bee-eaters.

Cheers,

Mike P.

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09/12/2022 Friday.

A travelling day across 9 provinces up to Yasothon, with a 50 minute break at Sanam Bin no hunting reserve on the off chance that the European Spoonbill might still be present.

The Spoonbill had been seen on Dec. 5th. As only the second ever record for Thailand it had been twitched by a few Thai birders who had been quick off the mark but had not been seen on any subsequent days.

As a result of droughts over the last few years the marshy pools here have been dug out over a wide area to act as an additional water storage facility with the result that many roadbeds and fringes have been spoiled for now so from a birding point of view the place is not what it was. Nevertheless the extensive roosts for the Openbill Storks and Night Herons were kept largely intact and the friendly and knowledgable reserve staff advised us where to search for some of the 20 Glossy Ibis to be seen and as we set off one staff member beckoned us towards a small shaded muddy glade where a single Glossy Ibis was at the waters edge keeping loose company with a couple of immature Night Herons.
Later we were interviewed by a local camera crew with Pen as our principal spokesperson - a role she fulfilled with a very confident and professional manner. As we drove out a squadron of 10 Glossy Ibis passed over the road ahead.

However the main event still lay ahead barely 2 Kms. along the exit road. We pulled in to check a wagtail perched on top of one of the heaps of excavated sand and clay some 50 yards away. Straight away this bird looked very interesting and I noted a narrow black eyestripe and a grey mantle- surely a candidate for Siberian Wagtail (M. alba ocularis). As Paul was already out of the car with his camera Barb pointed out a party of Kentish Plovers and as I glassed through them I saw a winter plumaged calidrid sp. with the plovers - either Curlew Sandpiper or even possibly a Dunlin.
Scoping up the wader it was indeed a Dunlin - a relative rarity in this province as were the 14 Kentish Plovers and what for me was bird of the day my first ever ocularis White Wagtail (aka Siberian or Swinhoes Wagtail) photo of this latter is attached.

Regards,

Mike P. et alía

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Saturday 10th of December 2022 04:57:28 AM

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Saturday 10th of December 2022 11:01:24 AM

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08/12/2022 - Khlong Tamru salt pans Chon Buri Province.

Barb Paul and I were up at 04.30 am headed for Chon Buri province in search of waders aiming at arriving for high tide. We arrived at dawn and logged a total of 45 species between us in the subsequent few hours ignoring many distractions among the available passerines in what for Barb and me was totally new ground.

Highlights were 3 Northern Shovelers a single Pied Avocet (a new Thai species for Paul having made two previous unsuccessful attempts). For me and for Barb (at last) 4 Asian Dowitchers - a much appreciated addition to my world wader list. These were the pick amongst 20 wader species. Almost certainly also still present on this huge area but unseen by us were 2 Far Eastern Curlews hidden in the distant pack of Eurasian Curlews.

Moving on en route back to base in Bangkok we called in at another well known wader site in the next province north - Chachoangsao - again new ground for Barb and me. Here the key area is at the rear of the Gleau Cafe and salt pans west of the Bang Pakong River. Our main target here was Broad-billed Sandpiper and though we initially were struggling looking at promising but distant silhouettes against the sunlight and with enough wind blowing to hamper our scoping efforts Paul eventually found 2 birds on the favourable side of the bunds with the sun behind us.
Relief at last! - Another wader for the visitors Thai lists.

A really nice bonus flew over us in the form of a winter plumaged Gull-billed Tern and a good reason to fully enjoy a break with the the exceptionally good coffees at the Gleau Cafe.

Photos attached of the Avocet and a Wood Sandpiper - always an elegant species and a pleasure to see.

Regards,

Mike & Barb

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07/12/2022 mid morning Lat Krabang - Thap Yao paddies and aquaculture ponds Bangkok.

A more leisurely start here this morning yielded over 40 species but sadly only one wader (a Red-wattled Lapwing) due to the fields being quite flooded, so no real finds other than 5 Spot-billed Pelicans as the highlight for me.

Later at 4 pm in the afternoon we went off to the local Suan Luang Park in search of a reported Eye-browed Thrush but found instead hordes of people in celebratory mood with music blaring etc. There were of course the usual Coppersmith Barbets and Pink-necked pigeons to be seen but initially nothing special Among only 14 species logged.
Then as we followed a path through a secluded little glade Paul found a drongo flitting beneath the canopy which we all got onto as it perched up very conveniently and began a critical assessment as it already looked interesting. It quickly became obvious that we were looking at a Crow-billed Drongo, sporting a text book heavy slightly de-curved bill with white speckling on its breast indicative of immaturity. My first in Thailand since 2001 and for Paul a self found true lifer. Photo attached.

Regards,

Mike and Barbara P.

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06/12/2022 - Pom Thong Khieo noodle shop garden - Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok) Province.

Following our slightly delayed flight into the airport we were met by Paul and Pen and after a quick change of clothing we were whisked across Bangkok for a 30 minute session in the hide at the above locally famous site for an introductory avian treat. Birds noted were:-

Asian Koel (h)

Coppersmith Barbet (h)

1 Hooded Pitta (Chestnut headed form)

1 Orange-headed Thrush

1Oriental Magpie-Robin

1 Chinese Blue Flycatcher (female)
House Sparrows.

The cafe owner has set up a feeding station in the wooden but tiny glade at the rear of his property and seasonal passage migrants seen here have made quite an impact on the listing efforts of local province birders.

Paul and Pen were here earlier in the day and obtained some quality photos of the two star birds, but didnt manage a shot of the flycatcher.

A cracking start for Barb and me and well worth going 30 hours without sleep.

Regards,

Mike P.

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30/11/2022 to 02/12/2022 - Phu Suan Sai Nat. Pk. - Loei Province.

Paul Farrell has recently been enjoying some excellent birding in Loei Province, which is the north western province in the Isaan region.

Attached are a couple of Pauls fine portrait shots of a Rufous-throated Fulvetta and a species which would be entirely new for me - the bamboo loving Pin-tailed Parrotfinch.

Regards,

Mike P.

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04/12/2022. 08.05 am - Phon Ngam & Dong Por Community Forests - Loob Nong Nor Reservoir, Yasothon.

An hour and a half session produced 33 species at this rather local site (only about 20 mins. from home). Best records were several new species for the site : - Osprey, Crested Serpent Eagle, and a Red-throated Pipit.

A photo of this latter is attached taken from below showing the strength of the breast streaking.

Regards,

Mike P.

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20/11/2022 College of Agriculture &Technology, Yasothon.

Paul spent an hour mid afternoon birding in the vicinity of this college site logging 26 species which included 5 wader species: -

4 Little Ringed Plovers

2 Common Snipe

1 Pin-tailed Snipe

1 Common Sandpiper

1 Green Sandpiper (photo attached).

This latter in my experience is decidedly scarcer in Thailand than the literature suggests and my only scoped up sighting there is of a bird far out on an island of the Mekong river which was more likely to have been on the Laos side of the mid river boundary.

- A far cry from Teal hide at Pennington where I once counted 7 Green Sandpipers together and recall scanning each one (checking for Solitary Sandpiper - well one always lives in hope!)

Also attached is a roadside photo of Pauls from 17/11/2022 - a Pied Harrier in its distinctive juvenile plumage which although not pin sharp otherwise ticks all the boxes.

Regards,

Mike P.

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Monday 21st of November 2022 03:23:13 PM

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19/11/2022 - Tambon Bang Sai Yai - Mukdahan Province.

En route into Mukdahan Province on an errand Paul worked in a little birding and was rewarded with an Eastern Yellow Wagtail (to boost his own list for this province) and followed with a textbook overwintering Burmese Shrike in a roadside copse, - photo attached.

Cheers,

Mike P.

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07/11/2022 - Chanthaburi Province.

After the retreat to their camp, P. Passant decided to enjoy a photography session whilst P. Farrell and Mark Hogarth carried on birding along a different forest trail. A selection of Pauls photos were attached on my last post, namely Taiga Flycatcher White-throated Rock-Thrush Green Peafowl Asian Fairy-Bluebird and Greater Flameback.

This turned out to be a smart move on Pauls part (even though he missed out on a new species in the shape of a Black-browed Fulvetta) as his two companions returned covered in leech bites up beyond their legs and groins and also up past their waistlines, both soaked in blood. Even though Thailand is now entering the dry season it is generally much wetter in Chanthaburi, hence the nuisance with leeches.

08/11/2022 - 6.40 am Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, - Chachoengsao Province.

Having scurried north west out of Chanthaburi, the guys commenced a three hour session here and logged 65 species; - obviously a very productive area; most notable species being:-

1 Violet Cuckoo

1 Blue-throated Bee-eater

3 Dollarbirds

1 Greater Flameback

2 Common Flamebacks

2 Greater Yellownapes

1 Laced Woodpecker

4 Black-naped Orioles

The main outcome from this was a boost to all their province totals. Chachoengsao Province seems to have a good variety of habitats and I think that the costal section is one of the prime areas for Asian Dowitcher and accordingly should be one of my own priority sites on any future trips, whereas Chanthaburi is perhaps best left to the elephants as I cannot run that fast these days.

Regards,

Mike P.

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07/11/2022 - 09.30 am. Khao SoI Dao Wildliife Sanctuary and Waterfall area -Chanthaburi.

A later resumption of birding at the same site yielded some 28 species in a five hour (!) session but brought mixed results. One of the objectives was to ascend a mountain trail in a search for their main target (Blue-rumped Pitta) in the upper forest. However it is well known here that Elephants descend at night using this trail to raid the villagers crops and the locals were reluctant to provide a guide for this route even in daytime so the lads decided to cautiously proceed by themselves. Some way along their route while birding and proceeding quietly Paul Farrell (a few yards ahead of Paul and Mark) suddenly halted and commenced walking slowly backwards whilst drawing attention to an Elephant some twenty yards ahead blocking the trail. A strategic retreat was made on the basis of a 2:1 vote (3:1 if one counts the Elephant).

Most noteworthy species were: -

1 Green Peafowl (reintroduced here where a self sustaining population has now been established but barely tickable?)

2 Oriental Pied Hornbills

6 Blue-eared Barbets

6 Greater Flamebacks

1 Vernal Hanging-Parrot

4 Black-winged Cuckooshrikes

2 Black-naped Orioles

4 Ashy Drongos

2 Ochraceous Bulbuls

5 Grey-eyed Bulbuls

1 Yellow-browed Warbler

1 Eastern-crowned Warbler

1 Two-barred Warbler

1 Asian Brown Flycatcher

2 Taiga Flycatchers

2 Hainan Blue Flycatchers

1 White-throated Rock-Thrush

2 Plain Flowerpeckers

1 Cimson Sunbird

1 Olive-backed Sunbird

1 Little Spiderhunter

8 Asian Fairy-Bluebird

1 Grey Wagtail.

Cheers,

Mike P.

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Sunday 06/11/2022 - 07.51 am. Sa Kaeo Province.

Both this province and the next further south (Chanthaburi Province) were totally new ground for Paul. These are situated east/south-east of Bangkok and sandwiched between the gulf of Thailand and Cambodia. The next province south beyond these is Trat where Thailand territory peters out as a pencil thin peninsula and a series of adjacent small islands.
While Pauls ultimate destination was Chantaburi (with plans to meet up there with Paul Farrell and Mark Hogarth) a 20 minute initial roadside stop en route at Tambon Thap Rat yielded 24 common species to kickstart his list for Sa Kaeo. Pick of the bunch here were a Green-billed Malkoha, 2 Red-wattled Lapwings, a Green Bee-eater, a White-throated Kingfisher and a Lineated Barbet. Moving on he recorded 4 Rufous-winged Buzzards an Indochinese Roller and (what would be a new Thai bird for me) a Rufous Treepie.

Later at 13.06 having met up with his friends at the Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary in Chanthaburi the team spent 3 3/4 hours birding in the vicinity of the HQ and the waterfall areas turning up 36 species the best of which were:-

2 Banded Bay Cuckoos

1 Large-tailed Nightjar

1 Orange-breasted Trogon

2 Oriental Pied Hornbills

5 Blue-eared Barbets

1 Green-eared Barbet

1 Moustached Barbet

2 Greater Flamebacks

1 Greater Yellownape

1 Dusky Broadbill

1 Black-winged Cuckooshrike

1 White-bellied Erpornis

1 Black-naped Oriole

3 Ochraceous Bulbuls

2 Grey-eyed Bulbuls

1 Little Spiderhunter

Later at 21.00 an evening owling session produced a response from an Oriental Bay Owl which however remained unseen. A repeat attempt at 3.00 am the following morning at the same location was more successful and pulled in a Collared Scops-Owl and an Asian barred Owlet.

Cheers,

Mike P.

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Wednesday 9th of November 2022 10:15:53 AM

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01/11/2022 - Khon Kaen University pools - Khon Kaen Province.

A telephone conversation yesterday with Paul Farrell (who of course lives in Khon Kaen) had Paul and Art heading west at 5 am on the three hour drive west on a twitch for a Thai lifer. Initially the bird was not to be found on its usual perch as two vehicles were parked directly beneath the precise spot. Fanning out further afield however, Paul located his quarry perched up on a pylon, an uncommon and local winter visitor in Thailand but positively rare in Isaan - none other than a Great Cormorant and currently very familiar to Paul after seeing many of course during his recent birding in Durham.

Photo attached.

Cheers,

Mike P.

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25/10/2022 - Head of the Gulf of Thailand - three provinces (Samut Prakan, Chachoengsao, Chon Buri).

Back in Thailand on Sunday (23rd) after a rest day Paul headed south east out of Bangkok with a few target species in mind (Avocet, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Red Knot - all of which still elude him in Thailand).

He had no luck with any of these but did add new species for each of his lists for these provinces. He was rather handicapped as his telescope was back in Kutchum. With hindsite he should have taken it down to Bangkok ahead of their flight out to the U.K.

A 06.10 am start at Khlong Tamru salt pans yielded 54 species (inc. 19 common wader species) in two and a half hours, the best of which being:-

3 Pacific Golden Plover

2 Kentish Plover

Many Greater and Lesser Sandplovers

3 Pin-tailed Snipe

2 Common Snipe

60 Black-tailed Godwits

10 Curlew Sandpipers

15 Long-toed Stints

Many Red-necked Stints

10 Marsh Sandpipers

8 Wood Sandpipers

15 Whiskered Terns

50 Painted Storks

15 Spot-billed Pelicans

4 Kingfishers species (Common, Black- capped, Collared, and White-throated)

1 Golden-bellied Gerygone.

By 10.30 am Paul was further north in Chachoangsao province at the rather famous Gleua Cafe and salt pans west of the Bang Pakong river but only boosted the wader list with a single Temmincks Stint.

Moving on his last port of call back up in Samut Prakan produced 8 Garganey, 15 Grey-headed Lapwings, 20 Oriental Pratincoles, 3 Blue-tailed Bee-eaters, 1 Amur Stonechat before heading back home into Bangkok.

It was great having Paul Pen and Art over with us in Durham mid month. We had some good birding days amid restaurant and pub nights. Highlight birds for Paul had been Lesser Yellowlegs, a flock of over 300 Greater Golden Plover a couple of Avocets (= rare in Thailand - one was in the Bangkok area whilst he was here!) a Spoonbill, Western Marsh Harrier, Merlín and Peregrine, a couple of Firecrests and a familiar local patch winter bird in Thailand a Yellow-browed Warbler in the hand. This bird exhibited a faint but definate central crown stripe - something new in my experience - any comments/observations welcome here please.

Cheers,

Mike P.

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03/10/2022 - Loeng Nok Tha airport Yasothon.

Paul again visited the old airport site but found only one new species for his site list - a passing fly through Pacific Swift, though he did obtain some better shots of Eastern Yellow Wagtails, (one of which is attached). With frequent records now in the U.K. and with field characters better known- why not one at Rumworth or Elton in the winter period?

Since the tragic event in Nong Búa Lam Phu last week Thai people are in shock - especially so in Isaan. Nong Búa Lam Phu is a few hours drive north west of Yasothon and is the only province of the twenty which make up the Isaan region where Paul has never done any birding. Both he and Pen shall be in the U.K. this week for their first visit since Brexit and the covid restrictions came into force.

Regards to all,

Mike P.

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24/09/2022 - 15.04 Loeng Nok Tha airport - Yasothon.

A 45 minute stroll around the old airport here yielded 17 species. This site is particularly good for larks and pipits and Paul managed a few good photos. Of particular interest is the first winter Eastern Yellow Wagtail in identical plumage to the individual which we saw in Northumberland in January 2020. Best of the species present were as follows:-

6 Little Ringed Plovers

6 Green Bee-eaters

4 Brown Shrikes

4 Indochinese Bushlarks

8 Oriental Skylarks

3 Pied Bushchats

4 Eastern Yellow Wagtails

4 Paddyfield Pipits.

This morning Paul is heading off west to try to relocate Paul Farrells Dark-sided Flycatcher, though this may well have moved on.

Regards,

Mike P.

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22 and 23/09/2022. Tambon Nong Mi - Yasothon

With Pen away in the far south on business the two Pauls met up for a birding blitz round some of the eastern provinces in Isaan. One of their main target species was a reported Grey-headed Parakeet well east of its usual haunts in NW Thailand. Not only did they fail to find the bird but were also forced to stand down due to heavy rain.

While Paul Farrell was returning west but still in Yasothon the rain ceased and he pulled in to check out the above site and a 50 minute session produced 9 species but did include a new addition to the Yasothon province list:-

15 Indian Spot-billed Ducks

2 Whiskered Terns

8 Small Minivets (photo attached)

1 Dark-sided Flycatcher (aka Siberian Flycatcher - new for this province - photo attached)

1 Asian Brown Flycatcher

2 Black-naped Monarchs

1 Eastern-crowned Warbler

1 Thick-billed Flowerpecker

2 Scarlet-backed Flowerpeckers

PP rushed off to join PF only to arrive too late. This leaves Dark-sided Flycatcher as one of only 8 species in Yasothon which PP has not seen (210/218 species).

Cheers,

Mike P.

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Saturday 24th of September 2022 06:40:42 PM

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Saturday 24th of September 2022 06:42:55 PM

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14/09/2022 - 16.30 Dong Yai wildlife sanctuary - Laloeng Roi Ru. Buri Ram Province.

The guys moved on to this site where in less than an hour they chalked up 55 species - the pick of which were:-

100 Green Imperial Pigeons (many birds coming in to roost. A regular photographer here reckons there are up to 200 individuals in this population).

3 Woolly-necked Storks (reintroduced here so whether these are tickable yet is debatable seeing that they have not yet bred!)

1 Black-capped Kingfisher

12 Blue-throated Bee-eaters (probably passage birds here).

4 Vinous-breasted Starlings.

- Enough for now I need a break.

Cheers

Mike P.

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Saturday 17th of September 2022 12:15:51 PM

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14/09/2022 - 6.27 am. Sab Sadao Ranger Station and Huai Thap Khrua reservoir.

The guys put in a three and a half hour session recording 27 species most noteworthy being:-

6 Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters

5 Black-headed Woodpeckers

1 Greater Yellownape

2 White-bellied Woodpeckers

3 Vernal Hanging-Parrots

4 Rufous Treepies

4 Brown Prinias

Photos of the Chestnut-headed Bee-eater and Brown Prinia attached.

Regards,

Mike P.

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13/09/2022 - 7.16 am. Thap Lan Nat. Pk. Dry forest west of Sab Sadao Nakhon Ratchasima Province.

Paul again met up with Paul Farrell on site with several specific target species in mind over a two day blitz.

At this first stop they logged 31 species in just under four hours- the pick of which were:-

4 Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpeckers

2 Freckle-breasted Woodpeckers

3 Common Flamebacks

3 Black-headed Woodpeckers

6 Blossom-headed Parakeets

8 Red-breasted Parakeets

2 Large Cuckooshrikes

6 Indochinese Cuckooshrikes

3 Black-hooded Orioles

6 Common Woodshrikes

10 White-browed Fantails (the main target species in perhaps the best location in Thailand in which to see it - primarily discovered by Paul Farrell).

4 Brown Prinias

This location consists of dry dyptocarp forest adjoining thicker evergreen forest and is reasonably safe during the daytime heat (indeed Barb and I visited with Paul and Pen some years ago). However there is a real danger of encounters with numbers of elephants in the small hours or at night and a definate friction exists between the villagers (whose crops have in the recent past been ravaged) and the animals.

Later after a break from the mid day heat in the vicinity of ranger station no.8 they logged 34 species in just under two hours- the best being:-

8 Black-headed Woodpeckers

2 White-bellied Woodpeckers

2 Blossom-headed Parakeets

30 Red-broasted Parakeets

8 Small Minivets

2 Common Woodshrikes.

Cheers,

Mike P.

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10/09/2022 - Chatting with Paul yesterday he advised that the Whimbrel was also a first record for eastern Isaan (which itself covers approx. 1/6 of the countrys land area). There are still waders to be found as Paul and I feel that many species surely directly overfly Isaan from the Gulf of Tonkin en route to the Gulf of Thailand and only put down in Isaan if water levels are suitable.

Regards,

Mike P.

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09/09/2022 - Nong Hoi Paddies, Yasothon.

A midday hour spent here yielded a new species for both Yasothon and eastern Isaan - a long overdue juv. Curlew Sandpiper keeping loose company with a Common Sandpiper two Little Ringed Plovers and fifteen Wood Sandpipers.

This morning the Curlew Sandpiper had been joined by a Whimbrel though five of the Wood Sandpipers had moved on.

Later at noon Paul called in at the Phu Song Charoen Tham Buddhist sanctuary recording 18 species in a 45 minute session the best being 2 Dollarbirds and a juv. Blue Rock-Thrush.

Cheers,

Mike P.

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06/09/2022 - 15.30. Phu Mu Forest Park-Rabiang Tawan Terrace - Mukdahan Province.

Paul spent an hour here exploring the rice paddies near the forest.
Several years ago we previously expressed disappointment after two previous morning outings to the forest here based on the paucity of its bird life other than its concentration of Black-crested Bulbuls.

Paul recorded 22 species here on the paddies but not a single wader species. The best of the haul being 8 Brown-backed Needletails bombing around for a half hour and a new addition to his province list in the shape of 4 Pacific Swifts. Other species of note being a Barred Buttonquail, a Cinnamon Bittern and 2 Brown Shrikes (likely to winter hereabouts).

Cheers,

Mike P.

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August - Koh Samui Island - shots from various morning walks.

1 Stripe-throated Bulbul. - A common but quite striking species.

2. Malaysian Plover. A diminutive little plover readily identified by the white and black of the collar extending right round the hind neck. Paul recorded these daily on early morning strolls along the beaches.

3. Black-naped Tern. Pauls best count of this handsome species was a group of 17 viewed from the pier. (This and the Malaysian Plover would be new for me in Thailand).

Regards,

Mike P.

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August - Various additional photos firstly from Krabi and later Surat Thani (Koh Samui Island).

1. Both Sand-Plover species for a useful comparison as to size and structure.

2. Pacific Swallow.

3. Collared Kingfisher. (Seemingly the commonest kingfisher around coastal mudflats and piers).

4 Coppersmith Barbet. This ubiquitous little character is widespread throughout and readily located by its incessant calls.

Cheers,

Mike P.

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02/09/2022 - 08.00am. Lat Krabang Thap Yao paddies- Bangkok.

After dropping off Anne and Warren at the airport for their Madrid flight Paul made a bee-line for this excellent nearby site for a 2 hour session before heading home. His visit yielded 45 species but disappointed somewhat as he had hoped for some easy passage waders to boost his Bangkok list but these failed to materialise.

He did manage 4 new species for this province and saw 4 Painted Snipe (which thus far continue to evade me in Thailand).

Among his few additions were 6 Red Avadavats (photo attached) and 2 Streaked Weavers.

Cheers,

Mike P.

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Sunday 4th of September 2022 04:56:42 PM

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A few of Pauls recent photos are attached below from his morning sessions of 28/08 and 31/08 at the Khlong Tamru salt pans site in Chon Buri:-

1. Milky Stork flanked by 2 Painted Storks.

2. Asian Dowitchers.

3. Broad-billed Sandpiper (showing well its classic split supercilium).

4. Zitting Cisticola (Thai birds give their zitting calls as couplets as they fly around in quite random circular patterns unlike the distinctive single calls given in yo-yo style flight by their European cousins - hence the quite apt but clumsy alternative name Double-zitting Cisticola).

Regards,

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

31/08/2022 - 6.45 am. Khlong Tamru salt Pans (Again!) Chon Buri Province.

A chat with Bangkok based Peter Ericsson resulted in both meeting up on site here for another two and a half hour waderfest even better than 3 days previously with a total of 52 species recorded of which 20 were waders. Full morning list as follows:-

Feral Pigeons

Zebra Doves

2 Pink-necked Green Pigeons

1 Asian Koel

Germains Swiftlets

Black-winged Stilts

2 Pacific Golden Plovers

2 Red-wattled Lapwings

Lesser Sand-Plovers

2 Little Ringed Plovers

Whimbrels

Eurasian Curlews

Black-tailed Godwits

1 Great Knot

3 Broad-billed Sandpipers

20 Curlew Sandpipers

40 Long-toed Stints

Red-necked Stints

6 Asian Dowitchers

24 Terek Sandpipers

2 Common Sandpipers

Marsh Sandpipers

4 Wood Sandpipers

Common Redshanks

1 Oriental Pratincole

3 Gull-billed Terns

1 White-winged Tern

4 Whiskered Terns

1 Common Tern

100 Painted Storks

Little Cormorants

6 Spot-billed Pelicans

Great Egrets

Little Egrets

6 Javan Pond-Herons

1 Black-crowned Night-Heron

2 Collared Kingfishers

1 Green Bee-eater

1 Golden-bellied Gerygone

5 Malaysian Pied Fantail

2 Large-billed Crows

1 Common Tailorbird

1 Plain Prinia

2 Zitting Cisticola

2 Barn Swallows

3 Common Mynas

4 Great Mynas

1 Olive-backed Sunbird

5 Scaly-breasted Munias

1 Chestnut Munia

4 Plain-backed Sparrows

10 Tree Sparrows

-All in all a great session with a further 5 Thai lifers for Paul, (4 also being world lifers). I think the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper photographed here two weeks earlier by Peter would also have been new for Paul but that one is for the future?

(It would be nice if he had a break for a while as my typing finger is beginning to throb).

Cheers, Mike P.

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Wednesday 31st of August 2022 09:56:04 PM

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

28/08/2022 - 10.05 am. Gleua Cafe and salt pans west of Bang Pakong river - Chachoengsao Province.

Paul has passed through this province several times previously en route back to Bangkok from Chon Buri without doing any birding here but this time passed an hour on this particular site to search for White-faced Plover based on information from Suebsawat.

He recorded 25 species (including 13 wader species) the best of which were:-

1 White-faced Plover

2 Ruffs

4 Curlew Sandpipers

1 Little Tern.

I have no personal experience of White-faced Plover (Charadrius dealbatus) also known as Swinhoes Plover which is treated by Robsons Birds of South-East Asia and by Del Hoyos Birds of the World and Croom Helms Shorebirds as a race of Kentish Plover.

However these sources of literature reflect the taxonomic view of some twenty years ago and the latest Thai fieldguide and the position on ebirder promotes the bird to full species status on the basis of cumulative data from experienced birders in the field based on the birds more open-faced appearance based on cleaner whiter lores (mainly lacking any black), also less black on the head behind the eye and also reduced black on the forecrown - a marginally longer/thicker bill, and pale (or pinkish) legs differing from the normally black legs of Kentish. As regards the breeding status or habits of the bird the literature says little or nothing The fieldguide has both this form and Kentish as winter visitors to Thailand (the White-faced noted as being rare).

I suppose the birds credentials are enhanced once you have seen one? Hopefully some photos to follow.

Cheers,

Mike P.

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Wednesday 31st of August 2022 03:52:46 PM

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

28/08/2022 - 06.05 am - Khlong Tamru salt pans - Chon Buri Province

With the family safely back in Bangkok enjoying a lie in Paul drove off south east on a wader quest to this top site where he enjoyed an excellent three hour session with a fifty species haul; - full list as follows:-

1 Spotted Dove

3 Zebra Doves

Germains Swiftlets (many)

100 Black-winged Stilts

2 Red-wattled Lapwings

200 Lesser Sand-plovers

3 Greater Sand-plovers

Lesser/Greater Sand-Plovers (many more distant)

8 Little Ringed Plovers

30 Whimbrels

1 Far Eastern Curlew

50 Eurasian Curlews

50 Black-tailed Godwits

5 Ruffs

25 Curlew Sandpipers

1 Temmincks Stint

15 Long-toed Stints

100 Red-necked Stints (estimate)

4 Common Sandpipers

3 Common Greenshanks

15 Marsh Sandpipers

15 Common Redshanks

3 Asian Openbills

1 Milky Stork

80 Painted Storks

3 Little Cormorants

5 Indian Cormorants

6 Spot-billed Pelicans

1 Purple Heron

15 Great Egrets

25 Little Egrets

8 Javan Pond-Herons

2 Striated Herons

8 Black-crowned Night-Herons

1 Black-winged Kite

1 Collared Kingfisher

6 Green Bee-Eaters

7 Malaysian Pied Fantails

1 Yellow-bellied Prinia

4 Plain Prinias

4 Zitting Cisticolas

4 Barn Swallows

4 Yellow-vented Bulbuls

2 Common Mynas

4 Great Mynas

3 Oriental Magpie-Robins

2 Olive-backed Sunbirds

2 Asian Golden Weavers

4 Chestnut Munias

8 Eurasian Tree Sparrows

1 Eastern Yellow Wagtail

Paul was extremely fortunate to encounter the leading birder in Chon Buri - Suebsawat Sawat Chuto (who for example seems to be for Chon Buri what Andy Makin is for Horwich Moors). Suebsawat was very helpful and told Paul where and how best to find and identify the Far Eastern Curlew, advising also that the 50 or so Broad-billed Sandpipers would not be on site until late afternoon and gave him directions for the Milky Stork.
This latter species is prone to hybridise with the slightly larger Painted Stork and Paul has experience before of several untickable examples so was delighted to catch up later with this individual bird.
All in all this was Pauls best waderfest for many months and well worth the effort with a nice boost for both his province list and 4 additions to his Thai list.

Regards,

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

16/08/2022 - 26/08/2022 - Surat Thani Province (inc. Koh Samui Islands).

Back in the present, Paul Warren and the girls drove east and caught the ferry to their accommodation on Koh Samui where Paul and Pen had visited in the Spring.

Pauls short morning and afternoon walks along the local beaches and in Natian village feature almost daily encounters with Malaysian Plovers, Pacific Reef Herons and from the vantage point of the Thong Krut pier a group of 17 Black-naped Terns with a province tick in the form of an unremarkable Cattle Egret. Meanwhile the non-birding members ( who had performed quite well and willingly as spotters during the long spells of driving) were enjoying go-carting and jet - skiing as normal people often do. Anne turned out to be something of a speed merchant both on land and sea to the extent that Warren (riding pillion behind his daughter) on the jet ski soon became sickly as Anne frequently had them flying. A species which got away was a large tern perched some 80 metres away in difficult light when Paul was without his telescope. He deduced that it was either Crested or Caspian Tern of which he has no recent experience though both are regularly recorded on the gulf headlands and beaches.

A Black-shouldered Kite back on the mainland on 26th proved to be Pauls final addition to his list for Surat Thani.

27/08/2022 Chumphon Province.

This province is a long thin strip aligned north/south and sandwiched between Myanmar to the west and the gulf of Thailand to the east. The species total for Chumphon on Ebirder stands at 401. For Paul this represented new ground with a 55 minute early morning walk on the beach yielding a token 23 common species with which to open his account before the team continued on their drive back north to Bangkok. In all the trip to date had yielded a further 6 species for his Thai list.

Cheers,

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

Thailand - April 2001

I should have attached this to the last post.

David, Yothin and me in celebratory mood having seen our bird.

Rest in peace my friends.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

August 13th - 16th - Krabi Province

Paul, Pen, Warren, Anne spent 4 days of their none birding family holiday here during which time Paul added a further 43 fairly common species to his life list for this province, edging past me by 2 species.

Winding back the clock to 2001, the voice on the phone had asked me Mike, do you need Gurneys? In answer to which I replied that I did. So it transpired that Dave Fisher and I flew out to Bangkok on 21st of April and from there on to Krabi;- an 8 day trip aimed primarily at seeing what was even then considered the critically endangered Gurneys Pitta. Our contact was the late Yothin Meekaeo the self appointed guardian of the shrinking lowland forest home of this bird. We saw our target bird (a stunning male) on our second day at the feeding station set up by Yothin, and from then on enjoyed Yothins company and expertise in finding and seeing 4 more Pitta species with my own added highlight being a self found Rufous-collared Kingfisher deep in its forest habitat.

This bird is one of the stunning Actenoides genus comprising only 5 species (arguably the most beautiful of kingfishers) and was photographed by Ron Johns who happened to be in line behind me (though I never did receive a copy). Ron and his team (on a separate itinerary through SE Asia) had bumped into us and had managed to photograph no less than 10 Pitta species on their travels.

At the end of our week we had seen several more rare/scarce species, and ignoring list padders I was pleased to have seen 134 species to kick start my Thai list. Paul undertook much the same trip a few years later but without the services of Yothin he logged a mere 93 species in an admittedly shorter visit. So now he is 2 ahead on 136 as a result of his none birding trip!

Such is life! Sadly Yothin and David are both dead, and Gurneys Pitta is extinct in Thailand, while I plod on still inspired by the lure and the peace and solitude of the forests and its avian treasures.

Best wishes to all,

Mike P.

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

28/07/2022 - 06.00 - Khlong Tamru Saltpans Chon Buri Province.

Paul and Pen were down in Bangkok to meet his brother and niece due on an afternoon flight arriving from Madrid so took the opportunity for an early morning start at this site on the eastern side of the head of the gulf of Thailand, which Paul had never birded previously.

They logged a respectable 46 species in the two hours there, the best of which were:-

1 Pacific Golden Plover

40 Black-tailed Godwits

plus good nos. of:-

Lesser and Greater Sand-Plovers

Curlew Sandpipers

Long-toed Stints

Red-necked Stints

Wood Sandpipers

Marsh Sandpipers

Common Redshanks

4 Little Terns

12 Painted Storks

numerous Openbill Storks

1 Milky/Painted Stork (possible hybrid)

12 Spot-billed Pelicans

While pleasing that waders were obviously reappearing he rued the fact that he was wearing flip flops- not ideal for negotiating paths plastered in thick mud, with his mobility somewhat curtailed as a result.

At 08.55 still in Chon Buri they arrived at the Bang Pakong river mouth (Khlong Tamru Mangrove Education Centre) where a fifty minute session produced 33 species including a single Black-headed Ibis.

Having done little birding previously in Chon Buri Paul added 30 species to his list for this province.

En route back to Bangkok Paul and Pen called in at the Bang Pu recreation centre in Samut Prakan Province (which Barb and I visited with Paul on April 1st following our release from overnight quarantine). In forty minutes here they logged 29 fairly predictable species though Paul did add 16 species to his province list (largely due to his visit covering a different time of the year).

Cheers,

Mike P.

-- Edited by Mike Passant on Saturday 6th of August 2022 06:43:24 PM

Mike Passant · Status: Offline

20/07/2022 - Mukdahan Province.

With no signs yet of any return migration, Pauls recent focus has been on recording in Mukdahan, adding new species to that provinces list as well as boosting his own list now to 149 out of 188. Notable species have included both Black-headed and Grey-headed Woodpeckers, with more new sites found for Blue-winged Pittas, (by far and away the commonest pitta species in the Isaan region).

Birding will be somewhat curtailed over the next five weeks as Paul and Pen will be playing host to his brother and niece visiting from Madrid.

Attached is a photo of the attractive Chestnut-capped Babbler, (also recorded in Mukdahan).

Cheers,

Mike P.