Thailand 2019 - Week 4

The majority of the week was about the spectacular shorebirds of the Gulf of Thailand. Some of the highlights included Spoon-billed Sandpiper (at least 3 birds), Nordmann's Greenshank, Terek Sandpiper (over 250), Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Asian Dowitcher, Malaysian Plover, White-faced Plover, Chinese Egret and all the other usual and expected suspects. Curlew Sandpipers are common out here at this time of year, however seeing one in full summer plumage was spectacular - check out the photo of it below...

One of the major highlights involved the finding of a Thai rarity in the form of a drake Falcated Duck. What a stunning bird! Really pleased to find it. The bird was associating with a female Gadwall, itself uncommon in the area. Lots of other birds seen included a wide range of wildfowl (lots of Garganey, a few Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler), and Black-headed Ibis. We also found African Sacred Ibis, an introduced species from Africa into Thailand. After the rare starlings earlier in the tour I was on it was great to see 4 Rosy Starlings, also uncommon birds in Thailand.

Here are a few pics:

Falcated Duck - one of my better finds this year (Phone-scoped record shot!)

Asian Dowitchers

Black-headed Ibis and African Sacred Ibis

Curlew Sandpiper in full breeding plumage! 

Green Bee-eater giving some nice views

Malaysian Plover

Painted Stork

Rosy Starling - another rare bird in Thailand

Spoon-billed Sandpiper

Part of the Terek Sandpiper flock

White-faced Plover

Thailand 2019 - Week 3 (Part 2) - PITTA TIME

As you may know I rather like Pittas.... so when we had an amazingly cooperative Blue Pitta down near Kaeng Krachan I was very happy indeed... I got the following photos of it. What a stunning bird!

Thailand 2019 - Week 3 (Part 1)

Spent most of the week birding in the forest and on the saltpans. Loads of highlights. Here are some photos from my time spent in the hides in the forest.

Common Green Magpie can be quite shy and skulking (despite being quite vocal) and we had great views of this amazingly bright bird - always a popular one! Lots of other quality birds and it was nice to see Red Junglefowl and a very smart male Hainan Blue Flycatcher. Not to mention the stunning male Blyth's Paradise Flycatcher and the Common Emerald Dove in magic light. 

Common Green Magpie

Black-crested Bulbul

Blyth's Paradise Flycatcher

Common Emerald Dove 

Hainan Blue Flycatcher

Large Scimitar Babbler

Orange-headed Thrush

Racket-tailed Treepie

White-crested Laughingthrush

Red Junglefowl

Found some really great birds at the coast, will post details and pics of those very soon!