20th January 2010

Another trip after work, and another patch tick upon arrival (!), this time in the form of a PEREGRINE.  There are a few that winter in the city, I've even seen one near my house, but this was the first one I'd seen on the patch (patch list now stands at 76).

The RADDE'S WARBLER was still around, and I took the camera with me this time...

 

"kiss my peachy peaches"

18th January 2010

Did Suan Rot Fai after work today and got a nice surprise with the first bird I saw being a male BROWN-THROATED SUNBIRD (also known as Plain-throated, depending which authorities you use), which was a patch tick   This species is, according to Round (2008) present in parks and gardens in the city, but this is the first one that I've seen.  I think I need to look at sunbirds a bit more carefully in future as I had assumed that all the birds in the city were  Olive-backed.

Other highlights included TAIGA (3) and ASIAN BROWN (2) Flycatchers, plus nice views of a THICK-BILLED WARBLER as it was chased through scrub by two resident ORIENTAL MAGPIE ROBINS and a PIED FANTAIL.

I THEN picked up a strange "tacking" call which I tracked down to get ANOTHER patch tick in the form of a RADDE'S WARBLER. Of course it gave great views and didn't have my camera.

3rd january - Back to the Patch

Did SRF this morning, to keep the year-listing momentum up (!).

Best were two THICK-BILLED WARBLERS, a single YELLOW BITTERN, and three of each TAIGA and ASIAN BROWN FLYCATCHER.

Year list on 70 already!

2nd Jan 2010 - keeping a year list

I've not kept a year list for about 20 years, but as I have quite a lot of travel planned in 2010 I'm going to have a go this year.  Trips lined up include the Philippines, Bhutan, the US and possibly Oz and Nepal.  I'm not going to go for stuff in Thailand simply to year list, so I don't expect the total to be massive.  My guess (hope) would be 500 spp.....

Started off the year list today with some waders at Khok Kham.  I'm not aware that any spoon-billed sandpipers have been seen there this winter (very bad news, especially as there are only 2 at Pak Thale), and I couldn't grill the RED-NECKED STINT flock as it was distant.  Managed both GREAT and RED KNOT (first time I've seen Red Knot in Thailand I think), with about 20 of the former and 10 of the latter. Huge numbers of SANDPLOVERS, a single GREENSHANK, plus good numbers of both BROAD-BILLED SANDPIPERS and CURLEW SANDPIPERS.

Also saw a PAINTED STORK fly over just as I was leaving at dusk.