Monday, July 28, 2014

Suan Rot Fai in late July

I did the patch yesterday morning (Sunday, 27th) for the first time in a month.  The park is not exactly inspiring in mid summer, but there was enough to justify the trip with the first birds encountered being a pair of Stork-billed Kingfishers calling loudly and flying around the park at considerable altitude.  This behaviour made me wonder if I was seeing an adult and newly fledged chick - perhaps they have bred in the park?!

city centre Stork-billed Kingfisher

Other notable birds were TWO Chinese Pond Herons - very surprising to see here in mid-summer.  They were a breeding plumaged bird (presumed to be the same individual seen in late June) plus a second bird in almost full non-breeding plumage, with a few vestiges of maroon on the neck and head.  A juvenile Shikra was chased across the park by a murder of Large-billed Crows, and I had a brief encounter with a Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (without rackets) which might be either a post-breeding dispersant or an an escapee  from the weekend market.

Javan Pond Heron

Chinese Pond Heron

Chinese Pond Heron

CPH - note maroon tones in neck & head feathers


1 comment:

John Holmes said...

I'm glad we don't get Javan PH here in Hong Kong, I'd never work them out !