To tell you the truth, this bird is not an easy one to get on film.

The bird was photographed at Huay Hong Krai Watershed Station in Chaing Mai in April. The wild birds tend to hang out around the breeding station near the cages of their fellow peafowl. These birds are genuine wild birds and unlike their cultured counterparts, can actually fly through the air like most other birds. Of course they prefer to be terrestial, but the sight of a bird this size, tail feathers in tow, flying through the forest or over a lake, is nothing short of impressive.

The birds are extreemly skittish and it is very hard to get within 10 yards of the birds. This photo was taken by chance as I rounded a tree and managed to snap a shot of a calling male before he scampered off into the deer enclosure.

Everyone loves pittas so why not celebrate with a fantastic photo of a Blue Winged Pitta? Continue Reading

No matter how many times I’ve seen this bird, every time I meet up with it, the feeling is one of pure bliss.

I’ve posted this photo before in an earlier post but the shot is just too pretty to let go without offering some recognition for the great photography. Ian Dugdale photographed this fellow in the Bala sector of Hala Bala Forest Reserve in the deep south. The bird is fairly common throughout the rainforests of the south and in the breeding season, has a habit of building its nest over streams and roads (the species have been around long before the invention of roads so they must think it’s a dry riverbed or something) so it isn’t too hard to spot this stunning creature.

The Silver Breasted Broadbill is just one of the beautiful and extreemly attractive birds in the broadbill family. My other three favorites would be the Black and Yellow Broadbill, the Green Broadbill and the Long Tailed Broadbill.

Thank you to Ian for sharing this photo with us and allowing permission to use his photos on this site.

-In case anyone reading the heading is wondering, this has nothing to do with Mr. Everett or his possibly malfunctioning eye. Despite the misleading name (along with other examples such as Brown Boobies, Great Tit … er, you get the point) we are actually referring to a  species of bird here. Continue Reading

A picture of peace and serenity. The  sunlight fading in the distance and time for creation to relax and unwind at the end of a long and busy day. It couldn’t have been a better setting for a lovely photo. Continue Reading

I’m sure you’ve seen this fella around somewhere. If not, you must be living underground or in a nuclear demolition zone.

Perhaps one of the most common of birds in Thailand and known by all locals as “Nok Gan-ken Baan”, the Oriental Magpie Robin is both plain and stunning. -Who would think that a black-and-white bird could look so good?

The name of the bird translated means “the roof-cross bird”, legitimately named for its habit of sitting on top of the rooftop in the early mornings and evenings where it loves to sing its little heart out. Traditional Thai houses have an x-shaped cross at the top of the house where the two sides of the roof meet and this is where the bird tends to sit. The birds are prolific singers and have a very loud and melodic song.

I took this picture at the park using the car as a hide but even if I wasn’t in the car, the bird was still very obliging and friendly, much like their European relatives, the Red throated Robin. I hate to put myself in the limelight but my wife really likes the shot and insisted I post it. I hope you enjoy it as much as she does.

If this bird was a chick, would you want to take a dip with it? -I would! -And the great thing about it, this bird lives by water almost all its life.

-Lets go for a swim!

The River Chat, or sometimes referred to as White capped Redstart, is a resident bird which inhabits the fast flowing streams and waterfalls of the high mountains of the north. The bird is almost always seen in the company of a Plumbleous Redstart, another vivid and gorgeous bird. The most well- known site to see this fabulous duo is at Vatcharathan Waterfall in Doi Intanon National Park. My first sighting of this bird was at a campsite above the 1000-meter elevation in the same national park and this bird indeed is a truly impressive specimen.

This is a bird which must be seen to be enjoyed; no artists’ illustration in a field guide can come close to portraying the splendor of this marvelous creature!

Peter Ericsson photographed this bird in Doi Angkang in February.

Look long at this shot … this may just be one of the best photos anyone has ever gotten of this particular species.

The Rusty naped Pitta is a bird which does not look as striking or as colorful as other pitta (start thinking of Gurneys, Banded, hey, even the Blue and Blue winged Pitta!) but it is nevertheless a bird which is highly sought after by birders throughout the kingdom. This bird is best known for being a very skulking creature, not showing for more than five seconds before retreating into the safety of thick vegetation. Photos of the bird usually are hard to come by and those who have managed to get a clean shot can testify that this is not a cooperative specimen to deal with.

Wat Thum Palong in Doi Chiang Dao is one place where birders often flock to try to catch a glimpse of this difficult bird. This is where I saw my second Rusty naped Pitta, the first being on Doi Sutep at 4 AM when I accidentally hit a bird flying across the road and stunned it momentarily before it recovered and scampered back into the forest.

Peter Ericsson photographed this particular bird in Mae Wong National Park. For some unexplained reason, this bird was happy to pose as long as it was allowed to fill up on worms which were laid out, intended for another specimen which failed to show.

Beauty. Grace. Precison.

-Yes, Canon lenses are great, but I was actually thinking about the Black headed Gull in the photo.

Flight shots are never easy and this one is a great shot, a real money-maker. Special thanks to Mr. Peter Ericsson for allowing us to use this photograph.

Bang Poo is a great place to find these gulls and people from all over Thailand know of this place as a haven for shorebirds. On occasion an interesting new specimen will show up here as well.

The thing about photography is its all about being at the right place at the right time. This is a great shot. No comment this time, I’ll let the picture do the talking.

Photo by Mr. Peter Ericsson.

Seeing is believing.

This tiny bird is one of the most beautiful of all sunbirds in Thailand. More amazingly, it is also one of the least shy of sunbird species, often more interested in feeding than in keeping clear of people. The Crimson Sunbird is a bird which must be witnessed in real life to be truly appreciated.

Call be biased if you want but I think this is a great shot.

The photo was take by my wife, Rosie Suriwong, an aspiring photographer and mother of three adorable little kids. The shot was taken at the Laem Pak Bia Research Center. I only discovered it the other day while sorting through the backlogged photos on my desktop.

A moment, frozen in time.

Take this picture and frame it!

This handsome Bluethroat Flycatcher (lets say pretty because it’s female) was photographed by Peter Ericsson. –Lovely little thing, isn’t it?

Bluethroats are members of the genius Cynoris (or flycatchers), a family of bird which are very similar and can be difficult to separate in the feild.  The females are sometimes more difficult to discern from each other and in the migrant and wintering months these birds will often show up in gardens. They are quite vocal and have a lovely call, which I for one would enjoy hearing all day long.

This shot could pass for a painting.

Interestingly enough, many historians blame the decline in great painting masters of the 19th and 20th centuries to the invention of cameras and the advancements in photography. Seems like artists started capturing their imagination through photography and no one was really interested in painting after that.

In a way, this is what Peter has done here; he used the camera as his paints and the film became his canvas. -Wonderful shot!

Photos are courtesy of Peter Ericsson and are used with his permission.

A moment frozen in time.

The memory of a species which may soon be forgotten in this country.

Pied Kingfisher are fairly widespread throughout the world, yet in Thailand their range has been diminishing. The natural habitat, once relatively undisturbed, is becoming more and more frequented by man. These birds were photographed by Peter Ericsson in Ayuthaya, one of the few provinces which still hold small numbers of these birds.

Local farmers sometimes trap these birds to sell in local markets. Their nesting habitat is often destroyed unintentionally by locals foraging through the open country.

Though for now there seems to be no immediate threat, the status of the species in Thailand is listed as uncommon.

Photo of the month is a bird which is not only highly-sought after by birders the world over, but is one of the more difficult birds to photograph: Malaysian Rail Babbler. Continue Reading