When you haven’t been birding in a while, you start to lose your birding skills. I really noticed that in my first day out after a two-month breather from birding. I was hoping to be able to find a Hooded Pitta, as this is one of the few pitta left on my list which I really would like to see. Ian had told me of a good spot in Sri Phang Nga where they could be seen, but that was too far away for an afternoon trip. Since I had to bring the kids along, we decided to go to the airport, Thai Muang Golf Course and then the beach.
Our first stop was the Chinese Egret Stakeout (otherwise known as the Phuket Future Plan Estate) where I was hoping to get better looks at the Mangrove Whistler. Well, it was a Sunday, so you can imagine was as going on there on a Sunday. –Too many people, all making ruckus and scaring off the birds. No woodpeckers were seen and the favorite hangout pond for the Purple and Grey Herons (and perhaps even the Great billed with persistence) was now being filled on one end. No herons there. The Mangrove Whistler stakeout had a group of 40 teenagers doing something (suspicious?) in the area, so again nothing there.
Highlight of the area would have to be Drongo Cuckoo, although even that is not something too special in itself. Other birds seen included Lesser Whistling Duck, Little Grebe, Brahminy Kite, Collared and White throated Kingfisher, Little Heron and an assortment of barbets.
Altogether, there were 17 species seen. -Terrible.
Next we headed off to the golf course, a 30 minute drive away. I had to exchange my ID card to get in, and thinking that the heightened security meant less intruders in the area, we headed for the ponds hoping for a feast of good birding.
WRONG!
The place looked like someone had called in a fishing competition and the fishermen had all shown up with their cows. The place was packed with cows and fishermen. What a bummer. Despite that, I was able to find Black Bittern, Paddyfeild Pipit, Indian Roller, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Red wattled Lapwing, Greenish Iora and a few other species. It was disappointing but in a way I enjoyed the experience. For one, going birding when no migrants are around has a very different feel than birding during the winter months. It somehow feels like half the birds that should have been there weren’t.
Nevertheless, it was a good experience. -18 species seen at Thai Muang.
Around 6 we took the kids to the beach where they were able to play and swim for 45 minutes. My usual spot is a stretch of beach just within the national park boundaries, as they allow visitors to use the facilities (showers, to be precise). I went to the HQ to ask about the restaurant and was blessed with a sighting of Greater Racket tailed Drongo up close (missing the crest) and a group of three Hill Mynas in the tree tops. Further down the dirt road in another tree were three Green Imperial Pigeons. Not too bad!
A majestic White Bellied Sea Eagle flew overhead on the way home.
I would have done more birding but I had to keep my promise to go swimming with my boys. There will be other days in the future when I will be free to enjoy my personal interests, but for now my family must come first.
All in all, it was a rather good day and I hope to start making a habit of getting out at least once a week.
Total species seen: 39 species.
