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.

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.

27/06/2022 - 7.14 am Sabai Sabai resort - Tambon Lochut Narathiwat Province.

-A useful start to the day with a roadside perched Black-thighed Falconet atop a telegraph pole. The team were now en route to the airport in Songkhla Province with some final birding in this province at the Ko Taeo paddies.

After arriving on site at 17.04 they logged 19 species nearly all of which were repeats of species seen in Narathiwat but with one exception - a flock of 10 of the rare White-headed Munias - a new Thai species for both PF and PP which PF photographed as well.

All of the photographs were taken by PF so I do not know at this stage if I shall be able to include the best of these here as a memento of their trip. In summary PF appears to have added about 20 species to his Thai list, Peter Ericsson about 7 more (to arrive at a notable 898 species) and PP (on his first visit to this region) has added 58 species and although I have not yet spoken to him I am sure he will be well pleased if not understandably a little birded out?

Cheers,

Mike P.

26/06/2022 - 06.55 am Toh Moh Community Forest, Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary, Narathiwat Province.

A long session of over 6 hours produced 45 species (and must have involved much perspiration) on this last full day down here- best of these were:-

1 Scarlet-rumped Trogon (heard only)

1 Orange-breasted Trogon

2 Blue-banded Kingfishers

1 Red-throated Barbet (heard only).

2 Bamboo Woodpeckers (plus photos - one of the birds of the trip?)

3 Blue-crowned Hanging Parrots

3 Black and Yellow Broadbills

2 Black-winged Flycatcher-Shrikes

2 Black Magpies

3 Rufous-tailed Tailorbirds

12 assorted Bulbuls of 8 species: -

Spectacled

Black-crested

Olive-winged

Cream-vented

Red-eyed

Hairy-backed

Ochraceous

Buff-vented.

5 Chestnut- winged Babblers

1 Rufous-fronted Babbler.

4 Grey-headed Babblers.

1 Short-tailed Babbler (photographed and described as like Abbotts with shorter tail and a moustache).

3 Ferruginous Babblers

2 Abbotts Babblers

1 Long-billed Spiderhunter (presumed - photos obtained and need to be studied)

1 Little Spiderhunter

1 Bushy-crested Hornbill (seen only by PF).

At 15.45 the team had moved on again to the Chom Sat viewpoint where they spent a final hour and a half seeing more or less the same species mix as on the previous day.

Cheers,

Mike P.

25/06/2022 - 6.42 am Toh Moh Community Forest - Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary.

A morning session here of just under 4 hours rewarded the guys with some 43 species, the most notable being the following: - 

1 Square-tailed Drongo- Cuckoo

2 Whiskered Treeswifts

1 Chestnut-headed Bee-Eater

1 Rufous Piculet

2 Banded Woodpeckers

3 Black and Yellow Broadbills

1 Lesser Cuckooshrike

4 Dark-throated Orioles

1 Bar-winged Flycatcher-Shrike

1 Green Iora

1 Blyths Paradise Flycatcher

3 Rufous-tailed Tailorbirds

4 Pacific Swallows

2 Spectacled Bulbuls

2 Hairy-backed Bulbuls

1 Ochraceous Bulbul

1 Buff-vented Bulbul

3 Yellow-bellied Warblers

2 Black-throated Babblers

1 Black-capped Babbler

1 Ferruginous Babbler

1 Horsfields Babbler

1 Brown-streaked Flycatcher

1 Chestnut-naped Forktail

In addition a nice assortment of flowerpeckers - Yellow-breasted Crimson- breasted Yellow-vented and Orange- bellied.

Yesterdays Streak-eared Bulbul was mistyped as Steak-eared so apologies for that; - I must have been looking forward to my meal; (though I must say that were such a species to exist it surely would go down well with a pinch of horseradish sauce?)

At 15.45 the team spent some 90 minutes at the Chom Sat viewpoint (still in Hala Bala) where additions for the day included: -

1 Chestnut-breasted Malkoha

4 Plume-toed Swiftlets

1 Crested Serpent-Eagle

2 Rhinoceros Hornbills

1 Blue-eared Barbet

1 Yellow-crowned Barbet (heard only)

4 Chestnut-winged Babblers

1 Rufous-fronted Babbler

2 Grey-throated Babblers

1 Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

-All of which amounted to another good day of fifty plus species - not bad going in the context of tropical forest birding (where only the unhinged bird all day without a midday break).

Regards,

Mike P.

22/06/2022 -Narathiwat Province S.Thailand

Paul teamed up for a full weeks birding with Paul Farrell and Peter Ericsson in for him a totally new region - the southernmost extremity of Thailand where Narathiwat Province abuts against the border with Malaysia, and accordingly where many Malaysian species spill over north into Thailand. Their main focus is in and around the Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary.

Highlight species (in no particular order) seen so far included:-

Plume-toed Swiftlets, Whiskered Treeswifts, Blyths Paradise Flycatchers, both Red-eyed and Buff-vented Bulbuls, a Malaysian Hawk-Cuckoo, 2 Scarlet-rumped Trogons, a Rufous-fronted Babbler, 6 Silver-rumped Needletails, a Maroon Woodpecker, 2 Black Magpies, a Yellow-bellied Warbler, 2 Ferruginous Babblers (heard only), 2 Brown-streaked Flycatchers (at the nest), a Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker, and (from my viewpoint) the most desirable - a pair of Chestnut-naped Forktails.

23/06/2022 - 05.57am - Ban Bala resort vicinity. 

An early start at a known stakeout rewarded them with good views and photos of the rare Little Green Pigeon where they also heard a Banded Bay Cuckoo and saw a Red-throated Barbet.

Moving on at 7.34am to Tambon Phukao Thong they recorded another 8 species the best being a Rufous Woodpecker ( a species which I have only ever heard but not seen anywhere) and they also logged a Rufous-chested Flycatcher which they heard and recorded but failed to see it.

Back at Hala Bala by 10.22 among 11 species they saw one each of Buff-rumped Woodpecker, Black and Yellow Broadbill, Orange-bellied Flowerpecker and 2 White-bellied Munias.

After a lunch break the afternoon goodies (among 22 species) included a few more star birds - 2 Rufous-bellied Eagles and 2 Rhinoceros Hornbills, 2 Humes White-eyes, and singles of Purple-naped and Yellow-eared Spiderhunters.

Paul Farrell additionally saw a Temmincks Sunbird.

Cheers,

Mike P.

Suwintawong 47 Alley - woods and marshes, - Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Bangkok).

A few photos attached which I have only just seen from our last week birding in the Bangkok area:-

Australasian Bushlark - a well twitched Bangkok rarity (juv. - one of two we saw with an adult).

Oriental Pratincole- we saw 100s here - breeding adults and fledged young.

Red-wattled Plovers - many pairs on territories.

Tree full of Indian Cormorants with several Little Cormorants.

Hoping to get back for next winter?

Regards,

Mike P.

26/05/2022 Thursday Lam Takhong Dam - Nakhon Ratchasima Province.

After Barb and I had departed for the U.K. Paul and Pen birded their way back north on 26th and 27th mainly through Isaans westernmost province indulging in a bit of list boosting. Sharp eyed Pen found a new Thai species for both of them - a party of three Rufous Treepies.

Attached is a photo of an Asian Pied Starling a species which we had all seen well on the outskirts of Bangkok in the rice paddy habitats but appears to be absent from central and eastern provinces of Isaan.

We are finding it pretty cold in Wolsingham where temperatures are some 25 degrees lower than in Kut chum.

Cheers,

Mike P.

Sunday 22/05/2022 - Suwintawong 47 Alley -overgrown woods and marshes - (still Bangkok area).

We visited this site yesterday on advice from Ben Weil who had been birding there the previous day within 20 Kms. of our rice paddy site. This new site for both Paul and me is an abandoned housing development scheme which seemed to have run out of funding after the drainage and roads had been laid- a bit like Chernobyl but with no actual buildings (or radiation!).

We put in three hours from 06.15 am. adding some significant species to our respective province lists including several main targets UTB.

3 Lesser Coucals

1 Green-billed Malkoha

2 Oriental Darters

2 Stork-billed Kingfishers

2 Ashy Woodswallows

2 Australasian Bushlarks - (Our prime target species and a Bangkok rarity, found recently by Nick Upton)

1 Golden-headed Cisticola (a common Isaan bird but a Bangkok rarity - lured out onto overhead wires by leading Bangkok birder Peter Ericsson who turned up whilst we were scanning for it).

We knocked off early as rain was threatening and we had each added ten more species to our still modest Bangkok lists.

Cheers,

Mike P.

19/05/2022 - Surin Province - various sites.

We left Kut Chum at 08.15 am bound for Bangkok but had decided to take in some birding in Surin en route.

We reached our first stop at 10.10 at Phon Khrok crossing from Roi Et at a bridge overlooking an arm of the Mun River. Typical birds on the overgrown rather stagnant water here were a Bronze-winged Jacana to start with, Little Cormorants, a Black-winged Kite, Green - Bee-Eaters and Indochinese Roller among an initial 17 species to launch our lists for Surin.

Moving on to Tambon Thung Kula arriving at 10.30 we logged 9 species (all common but most being list additions).

At 12.45 we reached the main site at the Huai Saneng Reservoir which offered up 45 species in an hour and a half.

The more significant records were:-

60 Lesser Whistling Ducks

20 Cotton Pygmy Geese

1 Watercock

12 Grey-headed Swamphens

15 Bronze-winged Jacanas

3 Red-wattled Lapwings

3 Little Cormorants

1 Yellow Bittern

3 Cinnamon Bitterns

1 Purple Heron

4 Brahminy Kites

4 White-throated Kingfishers

11 Green Bee-Eaters

8 Indochinese Rollers

3 Indochinese Bushlarks

Plus a host of common passerines including all the expected Doves Sparrows and Munias. With all the wintering species now absent our score at this excellent site was more than respectable for May.

We left early afternoon to journey on to Buri Ram Province (still in Isaan) for an overnight stay with dinner at an excellent Danish run pizza restaurant which we had visited before.

At 15.31 We entered the Sanambin No hunting reserve which has been sadly dug out in extensive areas of former reedbeds to provide deep water pools as reserves in case of a repeat of severe drought suffered over the last few years in this area.Still there is much to see and the huge Egret/Heron roost trees nearby have been left undisturbed. We recorded 41 species in a one hour session the best of which were:-

1 Indian Spot-billed Duck

25 Lesser Whistling Ducks

10 Oriental Pratincoles (probably nesting here).

1 Whiskered Tern

7 Painted Storks

2 Oriental Darters

8 heron species

A quick half hour visit the following morning (20/05/2022) gave us a Freckle-breasted Woodpecker 3 Sarus Cranes and a Rufous-winged Buzzard. 
We moved on to our last planned site (new for all four of us and  still in Buri Ram) at the Dong Yoi Wildlife Sanctuary (close by the Bo Mee Ngam ranger station) but stopped briefly en route to take in a Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker and a fine male Watercock. It was then that I heard a faint - Bow wow Bow wow emanating from across the nearby lake from the waterside forest some 200 yards away - surely not!? I shouted Paul  - Pitta! and pointed. He duly cupped his ears and gave a thumbs up in response. We drove further and waited - sure enough there were in fact two birds calling clearly to each other - yet another province in which we (and Paul in particular) have recorded the presence of this stunning species.

We arrived at Dong Yoi and spent an excellent two hours in a good mix of heathland and forest habitat overlooked by a well forested hill. This will be a top site for further exploration in winter with a full complement of wintering warblers and flycatchers - our 28 species here could readily top 60 then. Our highlight species were: - 

1 Black Baza (a late bird for this date though seen well in flight and perched.

1 Rufous-winged Buzzard

2 Green-billed Malkohas

1 Cinnamon Bittern

2 Hoopoes

3 Chestnut-headed Bee-Eater

6 Green Bee-Eaters

2 White-throated Kingfishers

2 Indochinese Rollers

2 Vernal Hanging Parrots

4 Coppersmith Barbets

4 Green-eared Barbets

3 Lineated Barbets

2 Indochinese Bushlarks

3 Grey-breasted Prinias

3 Golden-headed Cisticolas 

As soon as we got into the car for the onward journey to Bangkok the skies opened and we had driving rain for about an hour. The route into Bangkok took another four and a half hours;- altogether from leaving the Isaan region we had been travelling and birding for some eleven hours.

And so after spending seven weeks with Paul we finally left the Isaan region (which comprises about one third of Thailands land area and in birding terms is the least visited/ most neglected). Both Paul Farrell and our Paul are making groundbreaking discoveries as regards range extensions for quite a number of significant species about which more news will emerge in due course. Barb and I have enjoyed playing a small part in this and also in learning a fair bit more about the birds of Isaan.

Cheers,

Mike P.

16/05/2022 - Klong Siao (Horseshoe Bends)  Si Sa Ket Province.

A torrential downpour had us twiddling our thumbs this morning when Paul suggested that we dive into the car and head south into Si Sa Ket - for us a totally new province in the south of Isaan where we could at least do some fun birding out of the car windows. We set off accordingly arriving at 11.00 with steady rain an ongoing feature.

Our two hour session yielded 38 species in total (33 for me) with nothing unusual but a few highlights: -

1 Cinnamon Bittern

2 Black Bitterns

4 Oriental Pratincoles ( a flyby squadron - missed by me sitting in rear seat).

The following morning dawned unexpectedly fine and after an early morning session cutting grass (during which I accidentally hit and ruptured a plastic watering stand tight against the perimeter wall with the heavy mower- this resulted in a huge gusher akin to an oil strike ten feet into the air drenching me immediately).
Paul emerged and quickly closed off the feed from the water tower and I finished off my grass cutting feeling rather rueful. (I mention all this as we do not nip off birding every day - there are chores to be fitted in).

Paul suggested a return to Si Sa Ket as we had unfinished business there and our time in Isaan will soon be finished.

17/05/2022  10.30 a m - Rasisalai Dam vicinity - Tambon Nong Khae Si Sa Ket.

An hour and a half resulted in 29 species with the focus mainly on species missed on 16th; best were : - 

1 Oriental Darter

1 Whiskered Tern

1 Cinnamon Bittern

1 Black Bittern

2 White-throated Kingfishers

2 Raquet-tailed Treepies

4 Asian Golden Weavers.

We moved on to the rice paddies at Tambon Wan Kham logging 20 species there- the best of which were:-

2 Watercocks

1 Rufous-winged Buzzard

1 White-throated Kingfisher

1 Plain Flowerpecker - (this underwhelming species turned out to be new for me in Thailand).

During our session Paul casually mentioned that the sluggish river in front of us was a tributary of the Mun River and the opposite bank was in fact in Surin Province where none of us had ever birded. The White-throated Kingfisher in front of us accordingly shot off over the river into Surin. Thus ensued the old discussion as to when birds are (or arent) tickable. We were in Si Sa Ket with birds visible in another province (Greater Coucal and two Treepies were visible across there, and Paul and Barb noted a Cinnamon Bittern flying from there into Si Sa Ket whilst I was scrutinising assorted shy bulbuls in a thick bush offering no good views).

As we were basically recording species in these underwatched sites (arguably for the first time in some locations) we decided that any birds seen in Surin were to be logged for there.

As a result of our two days my list for Si Sa Ket ended up on a satisfactory 50 species - not bad for a starter.

Regards,

Mike P.

12/05/2022 - 07.07 am - Ban Nom Khao - Boong Khla Community Forest Yasothon

Paul Barb and I made an early start for the 1 hour drive to this fine expanse of lowland primary forest (the best forest site in Yasothon which he discovered only last year and which continues to yield up new discoveries).

It is here that he first found breeding Blue-winged Pittas and accordingly was encouraged to seek out and find other territories both in Yasothon and adjacent provinces. Also in the forest he discovered Abbotts Babblers and Van Hasselts Sunbirds (increasing the known range of this latter by 200 Kms. further northwards).

Yesterday we saw two Pittas and heard probably another four. Interestingly his other sites for the species have been in well wooded strips along the Chi River in Roi Et and Yasothon whereas here there is no river close by. From the apparent density of birds at Ban Nom Khao this would appear to meet the species prime requirements whereas the riverside strips are probably secondary sites? Whatever - the species seems to be thriving in central Isaan where suitable habitat exists. 
We also recorded four Abbotts Babblers (including my first sight record of one since 2001) and other new species for my own Yasothon list in the form of a Dark-necked Tailorbird and both Lineated and Green-eared Barbets.

Upon leaving for home we crossed a small rivulet into Amnat Charoen - effectively into a different ravaged world with Cassava plantations amid old root bases and fallen tree stumps - remnants of a vanished portion of the forest.

Regards,

Mike P.

09/05/2022 - mid morning  Roí Et Province.

Barb and I took the opportunity to go out with Paul who had a brief appointment in Yasothon City after which we went over the Chi River into Roí Et and quickly confirmed that one of his Blue-winged Pitta territories from last year was again occupied. The bird was calling even as we drew up in the car. 

Further along the same farm road we had the first minivet species of our trip - Paul had recognised these by their rapid fluttery wing beats as they vanished into a tall tree overhanging the road. With patience scanning the foliage we saw them well enough to identify them as Small Minivets - a new species for all of us in Roí Et and in more or less identical habitat to where I had found them on Pauls local patch in Kut Chum some years ago.

Later before leaving Roi Et and parked briefly to scan riverside shrubbery in relatively open habitat (looking especially for Grey-breasted Prinia for what would be for me my 100th Roí Et species) we heard another Blue-winged Pitta in less than ideal territory - quite a surprise!

The main event over the last few days in the district has been the annual rocket festival -a peculiarity of Yasothon Province which attracts visitors from far and wide. A competition is held to see whose home made rocket stays aloft the longest and many reach prodigious heights leaving vapour trails far into the sky. These are not fireworks but serious missiles which must be potentially hazardous to the watching crowds.

Regards,

Mike P.

07/05/2022 - Kut Chum - Yasothon.

With Paul and Pen away on business since Wednesday, Barb and I have been birding only the local patch on a rather spasmodic basis between carrying out our share of chores - feeding the Coi Carp and staying on top of the grass mowing in the garden compound.

I have never driven in Thailand. While the roads are pretty good with some excellent dual carriageways the lane discipline which we are used to in Europe is absent here with undertaking quite normal and scooters and motorbikes driven by youngsters likely to dart out from side roads quite unexpectedly. At night many scooters have no lights and many drivers wear no helmets.

It is rather strange not to see the usual winter visitors around the fields - because we have never been here in May and they have all departed apart from a Raddes Warbler still present on May 6th, - quite a late bird.

On May 4th I added two new species to my local patch list - a Cinnamon Bittern giving excellent fly past views and repeat sightings of Grey-breasted Prinias (which on a poor view look very similar to Lesser Whitethroat). Two frustrations (potential province ticks) have been Freckle-breasted Woodpecker and Dark-necked Tailorbirds both of which I have heard calling but failed to see so far.

Regards,

Mike P.

01/05/2022 - 08.30 - Birding along both banks of the Chi River (the Yasothon/Roí Et boundary).

Barb Paul and I made a leisurely start checking out if any more Bllue-winged Pittas had arrived back on last years territories in both provinces. One of the Yasothon birds was in song as we drove by but across the river later we detected no signs yet of any birds there Yet.

We logged 36 species on the Yasothon side including Oriental Reed Warbler, Black-browed Reed Warbler and Golden-headed Cisticolas (readily located by their characteristic plick calls). A Grey-breasted Prinia showed well and was a new province tick for me.

Crossing the bridge into Roí Et we noted virtually the same species but several of these were much appreciated by Barb and me as three were new province species for us (having done very little birding in Roí Et in the past).

Birding has been both fragmented and opportunistic over the last week due to very unsettled weather coming on strong north-easterly downpours.

Regards,

Mike P.

28/04/2022 - Huai Khee Lek - Mukdahan Province.

After a rest day on 27th Paul and I were joined by Barb for a run over to this extensive lake site close to Phu Mu Forest Park (the place I vowed never to return to some years ago when I had found it to be the best looking bit of forest with the least number of species- an odd conundrum of a place).

We arrived relatively late at 9.15 and concentrated on the lake itself and shoreline margins which proved quite rewarding with:-

2 Cotton Pygmy Geese

2 Little Grebes

2 Greater Coucals

1 Lesser Coucal

1 Asian Koel

1 Little Ringed Plover

12 Whiskered Terns (the first ever records for this province)

2 Cinnamon Bitterns

1 Little Egret

1 Cattle Egret

1 Chinese Pond Heron

2 Brahminy Kites

6 Green Bee-eaters

1 Coppersith Barbet (heard)

1 Green-eared Barbet (heard)

1 Brown Shrike

6 Oriental Skylarks (first record for province)

1 Common Tailorbird

2 Plain Prinias

6 Zitting Cisticolas 

3 Golden-headed Cisticolas

1 Black-crested Bulbul

2 Streak-eared Bulbuls

2 Black-collared Starlings

3 Great Mynas

3 Pied Bushchats

1 Purple Sunbird

1 Olive-backed Sunbird

1 Paddyfield Pipit

Paul added two new species to his own leading list for Mukdahan (these aso new for the province itself) and my list increased from a very modest 26 species to a sightly more respectable 49.

Regards,

Mike P.

25/04/2022 - Phu Chong Na Yoi Nat.Pk. Ubon Ratchathani

A later start than usual after a very hot sticky night. We all hit the forest trail with Dennis going off to do dragonflies, Paul Farrell undertaking an exploratory 20 km. route along one of the main trails and Paul and I doing various sections of the site in an effort to boost my modest province list and for he to boost his own list if possible (as he already shares the top list for this province with Paul Farrell). It was soon apparent that things were much quieter than in January, with all the wintering warblers and flycatchers seemingly absent now. 
We heard Abbotts Babbler and Rufous Woodpecker en route and managed a Rufous-winged Buzzard, and singles of Black-naped Monarch, Grey-eyed Bulbul, Puff-throated Babbler, Golden-fronted Leafbird, and 3 Van Hasselts Sunbirds, but little else of note.
At noon we went down to the reservoir and logged a few more common species followed by a lunch break back at the lodgings.

Mid afternoon saw us at the car park by HQ where we saw and managed record shots of an obliging Orange-breasted Trogon (a nice one for me as I had not seen one for perhaps 21 years- and who among us doesnt like trogons?). Other added species here were both Yellow-vented and Thick-billed Flowerpeckers, with a support cast of assorted common bulbuls and sunbirds. A useful tip from Paul Farrell as to how to identify Grey- eyed Bulbul on call was that it has a scouse accent! An apt and fitting description which makes me smile as I type this. -(No offence intended to Liverpudlians here- I myself am a Liverpool fan).
The day had not quite lived up to expectations but we had chipped away doggedly and resolved to be up early for the next morning.

Regards,

Mike and Paul P.

22/04/2022 - Friday. After a lazy day off on Thursday (resting from our travels) Paul felt that it might be worthwhile checking along the Chi river to see if any of the Blue-winged Pittas may be back on the breeding territories where he discovered the first of them on May 1st last year. The first site we checked (mid morning on the Yasothon shore) proved an instant success with a confident male showing well much to Barbs delight - her first ever. Indeed for me only my second since my first down south in Krabi in April of 2001. A second territory check drew a blank but the third one also produced stunning views of another bird. Both sightings were within a few metres of where Paul had found them last year. This years birds set a marker in terms of establishing a pattern for return dates for future study.

We crossed the river bridge over into Roí Et to another of last years sites but found no Pittas there presently. In spite of the time approaching midday by now we did find some active common species with Paul finding a little prize for us in the form of a tiny obliging White-browed Piculet preening on a horizontal branch just above the forest path which we enjoyed for some minutes.

Regards,

Mike P.

18/04/2022 - Monday saw the four of us driving west through Roí Et and Kalasin Provinces to meet up with Paul Farrell in Khon Kaen from whence we headed off in two vehicles into Isaans westernmost province Chaiyaphum where we were booked in for two nights in the Chulabhorn Dam area.
Upon arrival in mid afternoon we visited the temple with food offerings and provisions for the monks. Here the head monk granted us an audience. Pen obviously understood everything said though Paul Farrell is also fluent in Thai and both passed on the monks blessings. In turn we were all individually gifted safety tokens with good luck wishes for our quest of the following morning.

Our plans for an evening owling session were quickly dashed as the skies opened with an uncompromising deluge which washed out any plans, the only birds seen being a couple of Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrushes which I begrudgingly accepted to launch my list in what for me were first steps in a new province.

Tuesday at least dawned dry and we started off early to take up position behind the black canvas blind erected the previous night by the two Pauls in the pouring rain. As we drove on the approach road ahead of us were both Red Junglefowl and better still a scatter of perhaps 8/9 Siamese Firebacks, several males flashing their mustard coloured upper rumps as they spread their wings.

The monks scatter unwanted rice from their vehicle each morning en route to their devotions at the temple. This in turn is why birds are out feeding along the road and among these from time to time are Coral-billed Ground Cuckoos - these of course the main target for us here in what is arguably the best place in Thailand at present to have a chance to see this shy species.
Paul Farrell has managed to see and photograph two birds along this road in the past but only after about ten attempts to do so. Needless to say we managed no sighting though later in the adjacent Phu Khieo Wildlife sanctuary on Wednesday morning we heard loud and ongoing vocalisations from a bird barely 60 metres off the road in dense forest - progress of sorts!

Still- back to Tuesday we moved on doing some general roadside birding still in the area of Chulabhorn Dam finding new trip species with: - 

2 Red-wattled Lapwings

6 Oriental Pied Hornbills

1 Grey-headed Woodpecker

2 Vernal Hanging Parrots

3/4 Bronzed Drongos

5 Red-billed Blue Magpies

3 White-crested Laughingthrushes

At about 11.00 am we moved on into the nearby extensive Phu khieo Wildlife Sanctuary where we had booked a hide to try for Blue Pitta which is regularly seen coming to drink along with other species at the little pool in front. This plan quickly backfired. Barely 20 metres in along the forest trail both Barb and Pen started leaping around and did a hasty about turn back to the road. The earlier downpour had brought out a profusion of leeches crawling on to our shoes quicker than we could pull them off. We three guys carried on the extra 100 metres to the hide, increasingly covered with leeches with the small uncomfortable hide offering no respite. Inside we quickly realised that there would be no reason for any birds to visit the tiny pond as there were plenty of wet puddles and mud all around us. Accordingly with no sign of a single bird we beat a retreat to join the shoeless girls on the road, - Pen refusing to wear her shoes in case any evil leech might be inside waiting to get her, despite my assurances that both shoes were now vacated.

I did mention on this thread some time ago that this location is the prime site for the very rare and endangered White-winged Duck. While there does exist a small wild population here deep within the sanctuary, most sightings involve released individuals from the reintroduction program, and Paul (Passant) obtained some shots of a fairly tame bird from the car - nice to actually see one but sadly - untickable.

With plans A and B both buggered up we moved to plan C (albeit rather belatedly) - general birding in one of the wildest and best (and least visited) locations in Thailand, new additions being: - 

Ashy and Hair-crested Drongos,

1 Crested Goshawk

6/7 Striated Swallows (coming down to muddy puddles collecting mud)

Best of all at our first meal stop (15.00 - yes Mr. Rayner breakfast truly is for wimps) we set up by a roadside table in an open area overlooking two pools on Paul Farrells recommendation.

Within a short space of time (as predicted) we were treated to the spectacle of not only a small number of Cooks Swifts swooping down skimming the surface of the water, but two species of Needletails- both Brown-backed and Silver-backed rocketing about giving superb opportunities to compare the differences. These seemed to reappear at 4/5 minute intervals and were most likely the same few individuals on a circuit. I also picked out a single House Swift, squarer tailed and with its squarer rump contrasting with the slimmer wrap around rumps of the Cooks. We almost certainly overlooked swiftlets (Himalayan or Germains) in the excitement over the Needletails.

Later, an owling effort at dusk produced no Great-eared Nightjar but we did hear repeated calling from a Collared Owlet.

Regards,

Mike P.

1&4/04/2022 Thursday morning - Kutchum

No bird updates today - just another snake incident. We noticed that the eyes of one of the two young dogs were almost closed and on closer examination very bloodshot and weepy. The dog was suffering extreme discomfort so Pauls mother in law bathed the dogs eyes after which it sheltered in the shade for the rest of the day.

Within a half hour it became evident that there had been a snake encounter as three sections of a Spitting Cobra were found on the driveway. The dogs had managed to tear it to shreds but obviously not before the young dog had received a jet of venom full In the face/eyes. It should fully recover in a day or two based on previous similar occurrences.

Cheers,

Mike P.

12/04/2022 Pha Nam Yoi Forest Park -Roí Et

Barb and I went back with Paul into Roí Et this morning for a mooch around this no-hunting forest area in the middle of which stands an enormous temple which so impressed when we first visited in 2017.

Many of the wintering passerines have already moved north but we were fortunate to locate a perched passage migrant in the shape of a Dollarbird - another species new to the Roí Et list. The common barbet here is Green-eared readily identified by its call (which sounds to my ear like gobble obble ook) outnumbers the ubiquitous Coppersmith here.

En route back Paul noted a perched raptor high in a bare tree which took wing at the mention of camera but which then circled overhead obligingly- a male Crested Honey Buzzard in wing moult.

Our final find before leaving the forest was a juv. Blue Rock Thrush which was marginally just in Mukdahan Province.

Regards,

Mike P.

09/04/2022 Kut Kong wetlands along Khwang Canal, Yasothon

This morning we made a 7.30 start at what was for Barb and me a new site though close to our familiar Yasothon Pools haunts from previous years. We were hopeful that some summer visitors might be possible now. - We were not to be disappointed with a session of 2 hours 20 mins yielding 49 species between us.

40 Lesser Whistling Ducks

32 Cotton Pygmy Geese

4 assorted common dove species

1 Greater Coucal

1 Green-billed Malkoha

3 Asian Koels 

2 Germains Swiftlets

2 Asian Palm Swifts

2 Moorhens

6 Grey-headed Swamphens

1 White-breasted Waterhen

1 Bronze-winged Jacana

130 Asian Openbill Storks

5 Yellow Bitterns

2 Cinnamon Bitterns

1 Black Bittern

2 Grey Herons

2 Little Egrets

8 Chinese Pond Herons

3 Black- winged Kites

1 Eastern Marsh Harrier

3 Brahminy Kites

1 Hoopoe

1 Common Kingfisher

5 Green Bee Eaters

2 Coppersmith Barbets

8 Pied Fantails

2 Black Drongos

4 Brown Shrikes

3 Large-billed Crows

4 Yellow-bellied Prinias

5 Plain Prinias

3 Black-browed Reed Warblers

5 Barn Swallows

2 Yellow-vented Bulbuls

4 Streak-eared Bulbuls

8 Dusky Warblers (probably 12-15 more heard)

2 Black-collared Starlings

3 Common Mynas 

14 Great Mynas

1 Amur (=Eastern) Stonechat

1 Olive-backed Sunbird

6 Asian Golden Weavers (+nests)

12 Chestnut Munias

3 House Sparrows

2 Plain-backed Sparrows

12 Tree Sparrows

Both the Cinnamon and Black Bitterns were the first arrivals for Paul this year and for Barb and me new species for Thailand as we have never been here before this late in the season.

Regards,

Mike P.

06/04/02022 and 07/04/2022 

The four of us undertook a two day clockwise sweep out of Yasothon, through the south of Mukdahan, into Amnat Charoen, and into Ubon Ratchathani. The main focus was to arise early (04.55) on Thursday to be in position by the Mekong shoreline to have a chance of seeing Great Thick-Knee and more importantly the River Tern in the place where Paul and Paul Farrell had them both at the end of March. In a four hour stakeout we failed to find either species.

Despite this we still had some highlights with good views of River Lapwings, many Small Pratincoles and a female Mekong Wagtail quite close to hand.

I was able to boost my province lists for Ubon, Mukdahan and Amnat considerably, while Paul added one species to reach 180 for Ubon with a Green Sandpiper (a much harder bird to see in the Isaan region than it is in the UK).

Cheers,

Mike P.

Correction! (Plus a dollop of humble pie!)

Ayuwat Jearwatanakanok has pointed out that our photo of one of the airfield Richards Pipits is in fact another of the Oriental Skylarks! On reassessing it we have to agree with him as it lacks any hint of a sub moustachial streak and the culmen looks too arched for a pipit! What threw us was the haughty carriage of these two birds and full breasted posture similar to that of our Mistle Thrush whereas the other Oriental Skylarks on this site were creeping around more furtively and in more horizontal postures, many with crests erect.

Regards to all,

Mike P.