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

Talk about disguise!

The first time I saw this species I was with Peter Ericsson in Kaeng Krachan. Peter took some photos of the bird resting on the warm blacktop, after which he started the van and drove over the bird.

- Accidentally of course.

The happy ending to the story is that regardless of that fact, the bird was not harmed and did not actually get flattened by the tyres. What a relief.

This photo was taken by Ian at Khao Nor Chuchi, and we can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Peter’s van was nowhere near this bird.

The Common Kingfisher is an all too common bird. This tiny thing can be found in territories spanning from Asia to Europe. The amazing structure of this bird was no doubt the inspiration behind some of the revolutionary designs which translated into some of the most potent fighters of WW II such as the P-51 Mustang, the Spitfire and Yak 5.

While some people have grown accustomed to seeing this bird, one has to appreciate the amazing blend of colors which make this bird and the other species that make up the kingfisher family some of the most attractive of all birds.

Thanks to Peter Ericsson of use of his photos.

Even the simple things in life are beautiful.

The White rumped Munia ranks as one of the most common birds in Thailand. This little finch is so common that in parts of the northeast they are routinely trapped and sold as “nok tamboon” for merit-making. These little creatures build nests in trees in gardens and plantations and can raise up to four chicks per clutch. -Not bad! 

Birders are often bored of these little birds since they are so common, yet as you can see from this shot, each and every one of them is a unique individual.

And God thinks the same as well. “Not one bird falls to the ground that your Heavenly Father is not aware of.”

Thanks to Peter Ericsson for permission to use his photos.