Saturday 23 March 2013

Thailand forest birding

Carrying a heavy lens/camera when birding in dense forest is not easy,
especially when it's difficult enough just to even glimpse a Bird, let alone
photograph one! For most of the time i kept the camera in the van and
concentrated just on birding. I did however, take some images, although
well down on what i would typically take.

We visited Kaeng Krachen, which lies south west from Bangkok and
later the following week, spent time at Doi Chiang Dao and Doi Inthanon
in the north of Thailand. All these areas were excellent and each had it's
own appeal.

Inthanon

Inthanon

Butterlies at Kaeng Krachen

Black-hooded Oriole

The boardwalk near the summit of Doi Inthanon


Oriental Pied Hornbill

Dark-sided Thrush

Grey-sided Thrush

White-capped water Redstart

Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher

After heavy rain during the night at checkpoint two, Doi Inthanon

The track down from Doi Chiang Dao

Sultan Tit

Me with a White-handed Gibbon at Kaeng Krachen

Black-backed Forktail


Slaty-backed Forktail

Dyk sub-station at Doi Chiang Dao



Kaeng Krachen

The impressive Wat Tamphaplong Temple at Doi Chiang Dao

Dark-backed Sibia


Blue-eared Barbet

Black-crested Bulbul

Black-naped Monarch

Besra

Large Niltava

Black Bulbul

Blyth's leaf Warbler

Chestnut-tailed Minla

Giant Nuthatch

Olive-backed Pipit

Displaying male Hume's Pheasant, Doi Chiang Dao

Lesser racket-tailed Drongo

displaying Crested Goshawk

Black-napped Oriole





Monday 18 March 2013

Laem Pak Bia sand spit, 27th feb' 2013

During the afternoon we took a boat trip out to the sand spit with mr Daeng
and despite the fierce heat we saw Maylasian and 'White-faced Plovers'.
Both Sand Plovers, Great and Lesser Crested Tern and Chinese Egret,
along with a whole variety of other birds.

Mr Daeng's place

the man himself

Little Cormorant

Pacific reef and Chinese Egrets


'White-faced Plover'

Malaysian Plovers




very soothing!

A drive around the nearby King's project was productive with Eastern Marsh Harrier
and lots more waterbirds to be seen at close range.

White-winged Tern


Whiskered Tern

Red-wattled Lapwing

Water Monitor

King's Project

A last check of some more salt pans and we managed to find a floating party
of five Red-necked Phalaropes but sadly, Nordmann's Greenshank and Asian 
Dowitcher could not be located.