Highlights from the local patch at Suphanburi over the last couple of days:

26th November 2015

Freckled-breasted Woodpecker 2, Watercock 1, Ruddy-breasted Crake 3, Spotted Redshank 1, Wood Sandpiper 55, Grey-headed Lapwing 47, Black-eared Kite 2, Painted Stork 2, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo 3, Black-naped Monarch 1, Siberian Rubythroat 3, Lancolated Warbler 2, Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler 4 and Red Avadavat 4.  

Siberian Rubythroat
by Fred Rowe

25th November 2015

Pink-necked Green Pigeon 3, Ruddy-breasted Crake 1, Spotted Redshank 1, Greenshank 3, Wood Sandpiper 45, Grey-headed Lapwing 35, Caspian Tern one high south, Painted Stork 2, Glossy Ibis 2 over shortly after dawn, Black-naped Monarch 1, Siberian Rubythroat 2 and Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler 2. 

Painted Stork
by Fred Rowe

The Caspian Tern was the first I have recorded over/on the site and made a change from the usual Whiskered Tern which were also present in good numbers. It is also interesting to note that over the last few years, I have recorded an increasing number of both Glossy Ibis and Painted Stork, two species which seem to be currently doing well in Thailand. 

Slaty-legged Crake - Doi Inthanon

Have just spent the last two nights at Doi Inthanon, again staying at Lung Deang's, despite lots of rain good numbers of species seen, the star bird being a Slaty-legged Crake present in the gully at the back of Mr Deang's, throughout our stay.  

During the drier interludes I made several visits to most of the key birding areas. Lots of birds at summit and around the boardwalk, including 8 Rufous-throated Partridge, 2 Ashy Woodpigeon, a Dark-sided Thrush, 2 Snowy-browed Flycatcher, White-browed Shortwing, 2 Northern White-crowned Forktail, Yellow-browed Tit, 8 Buff-barred Warbler, 2 Pygmy Wren Babbler  as well as the usual Dark-backed Sibia, Bar-throated Minla, Silver-eared Laughingthrush, Ashy-throated Warbler, Green-tailed and Mrs Gould's Sunbirds. 

Silver-eared Laughingthrush
by Fred Rowe

The roadside forest beyond the second checkpoint were full of birds, after a couple of visit I had managed decent list just from this area alone, best species in addition to many common ones  included 2 Stripe-breasted Woodpecker, 2 Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, 3 Speckled Woodpigeon, 2 Barred Cuckoo Dove, 25 Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Peregrine, 3 Maroon Oriole, 35 Eye-browed Thrush, Grey-chinned, Short-billed and Long-tailed Minivet, a male Zappy's Flycatcher, White-gorgeted Flycatcher, Large, Small  and Rufous-beilled Niltava, 2 Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Yellow-browed Tit, several Mountian Tailorbird and Slaty-bellied Tesia, 3 Hume's Warbler, 2 Chestnut-crowned Warbler, 2 Clicking Shrike Babbler, 6 Blue-winged Minla, 5 Spectacled Barwing and 3 Rufous-backed Sibia.   

Grey-chinned Minivet
by Fred Rowe

Over two visits to the track at kilometer 34.5, I saw many of the species previously mentioned as well as 2 Lesser Yellownape, Asian Emerald Cuckoo, 5 Oriental Turtle Dove, Black Eagle, 8 Long-tailed Broadbill, 2 Slender-billed Oriole, 5 Fire-capped Tit, 4 White-bellied Redstart all calling from scrub in the valley at the end of the trail, 2 Hume's Treecreeper, 40 White-headed Bulbul in flowering trees, 2 Russet Bush Warbler which as usual were heard but not seen, 2 Buff-throated Warbler, single Pallas's and Chinese Leaf Warbler, Black-eared Shrike Babbler, 2 Rusty-cheeked Scimiter Babbler, 30 Silver-eared Mesia and 15 Grey-headed Parrotbills.  

One of the most conspicuous species throughout the time I was at Doi Inthanon, were White-eyes with flock of birds up to a hundred strong everywhere, with Chestnut-flanked dominating. 

Woodpeckers

Monday spent the full day birding at Mae Ping National Park, mostly along the road to the Tung Kik campsite and track beyond, the park was very quiet, seeing only about four people all day. The rarest bird was a Black Stork  over forest viewable form the campsite. As always though the star birds were the woodpeckers, with seven species noted, including 5 Grey-capped Pygmy, 3 Greater Yellownape, 15 Black-headed (with many more heard), 4 Common Flameback, 1 Rufous Woodpecker, 11 Great-slaty (in three groups) and 2 White-bellied Woodpecker. The Great-slaty Woodpecker were especially impressive showing throughout the day at the kilometer 2 roadside marker, with four species feeding together at kilometer 4. 

White-bellied Woodpecker
by Fred Rowe

It was also nice to see a Chinese Francolin feeding out in the open at the campsite, normally this species is heard but not seen, eventually it realized it was being watched and soon disappeared. Several groups of Yellow-footed Green Pigeon were fluhed from roadside trees and from the camp ground. Other lowland forest species noted included at least 40 Grey-headed Parakeet, an Oriental Turtle Dove, Burmese Shrike, 3 Rufous Treepie, 11 Red-billed Blue Magpie, 40 White-crowned Laughingthrush, 3 Burmese Nuthatch and 3 Yellow-streaked Warbler. The list of other species was typically poor, but did include very large numbers of wintering Yellow-browed and Two-barred Warbler, Black-naped Monarch and Taiga Flycatcher.  

Red-billed Blue Magpie
by Fred Rowe

Hoopoe and Watercock

Back around the local patch at Suphanburi this morning, best birds a Hopooe, a species I have only seen a few times before locally and two Watercock which were typically flushed never to be seen again. As well as the usual  big flocks of Black-winged Stilt other waders noted included 45 Wood Sandpiper, 45 Wood Sandpiper, 5 Common Snipe, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Pin-tailed Snipe and 2 Common Snipe. At least three broods of Little Grebe were noted along with good numbers of Pheasant-tailed and Bronzed Winged Jacana

Little Grebes

Other species recorded included 3 Black-capped Kingfisher, 2 Ruddy-breasted Crake, 250 Whiskered Tern, 9 Brown Shrike, 15 Eastern Stonechat, 10 Oriental Reed Warbler, 8 Red-throated Pipit and at least 50 Asian Golden Weaver.

Asian Golden Weaver