- Ike’s take:

A Bay Owl was seen in flight near the Chevrolet dealership on Bypass Road on the evening of the 14th. It landed on the crash barrier, almost causing me to crash (as I was worried I would hit it while it was flying!) but I was going a tad bit too fast to enjoy the bird. No doubt it was headed into the rubber plantations across the road from the dealership.

The Reddish Scops Owl was heard calling in a forested area near Muang Chao Fah Road at 11 PM on the night of the 11th.

A pair of Red Whiskered Bulbuls (presumably a male and female) were seen investigating possible nesting trees around my yard on the afternoon of the 16th. No doubt they were feral, but nevertheless a very welcome sight.

14 Yellow Vented Bulbul nests were discovered in the Muang Chao Fah area, including two in my own yard. These birds are becoming more common than the Streak eared Bulbul!

Updates to the website included reviews of Thai Muang beach in Phang Nga and Khao Rang in Phuket.

- Ian’s take:

 All following records are from Laem Mum Nai: One male Yellow rumped Flycatcher on the 5th and one female on the following day. A pair of Mugimaki Flycatchers and a single Ferruginous Flycatcher (first known sighting by birders in Phuket) was seen on the 6th. A female Mugimaki was also seen on the 16th.

A Tiger Shrike was seen in Laguna Resort and four male Mugimaki Flycatchers were spotted outside Khao Prataow National Park in Talang on the 9th. A female Yellow rumped Flycatcher was also recorded on the same day in Ton Sai waterfall.

In KNCC, Krabi, a Red Crowned Barbet nest was discovered on the 22nd and a birding trip on the following day netted Gurney’s Pitta, Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher, Rufous-collared Kingfisher, Spotted Wood-Owl, Large-tailed Nightjar, Blyth’s Frogmouth and Large Wren-Babbler.

Ian and Mike just got back from KNCC with terrific news:

“Our first morning we found a Red-crowned Barbet nest. We were very happy with it but didn’t know how big a deal it was until we later told Yotin. He’s only ever found two and neither was as accessible as ours.”

This is a rather rare bird and finding a nesting pair is not only good news for birders (for those who desperately want the tick, like myself) but also for the status of the bird, which hopefully repopulating at a higher rate than it was in previous times.

-Good find Ian!

Yesterday I had to send my mother to the airport so Rosie and I took the kids and decided to make an excursion out of it. Continue Reading

Fairy Pitta, a new bird for Thailand, was discovered in Puttamonthol Park in Thonburi during the Songkran week. 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.

A trip to Coral Island off the coast of Laem Panwa led to a few interesting discoveries. Notable sightings of birds inhabiting the island included Great Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Osprey, Crested Goshawk and Brahminy Kite. Continue Reading

Mr. Phillip Round, co-author of Birds of Thailand and the country’s foremost ornithologist, visited Phuket during the Songkran Holiday. Continue Reading

Pitta season begins this month and already we’ve had our share of goodies.

Two species: Banded and Mangrove Pitta were spotted on the same day in Phang Nga, albeit in two separate locations. Sri Phang Nga currently seems to be the easiest place to find the Banded Pitta, and the mangrove walkway outside Phang Nga town is still the best location in Thailand to see the Mangrove Pitta.

The key to finding the Mangrove Pitta is to come when the tide is on its way out. Playing the call is another option but beware that you don’t overdo it. –These birds are fast learners and after a few minutes will refuse to show interest in the playback.

Next month we should be expecting the breeding season to start up, and with it will come two more species: Hooded and Blue Winged Pitta.

Those still seeking to tick their first Gurney’s Pitta should also make a serious attempt sometime between now through May.

Birders on the hunt for these birds should also remember to wear cool clothing; April is the hottest month of the year and the humidity will be at an all time high!