Birds from Laem Pak Bia, part 2 of 3

Second part that accounts some of my many photographic expeditions at Laem Pak Bia, a great area for waders and much more…

December 23rd, 2008   &   December 27th, 2008

Just before Christmas (08), we visited the King’s Project on a sunny day and got a few images… it was already pretty dry around Central Thailand and most of the ponds had little or no water. This keeps the waders in smaller areas and you can approach them a considerably better.

This day I got two new species for me at the location: the Temmick’s Stint and the huge Stork-billed Kingfisher; the last one never seen there again; as I understand

Temminck's Stint - non breed by Alex Vargas

Temminck's Stint - non breed by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2008

Stork-billed Kingfisher by Alex Vargas

Stork-billed Kingfisher by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2008

I managed to get really close to the Painted Stork, that somehow seemed more colorful that day…  The noisy and funny Black-winged Stilt was in big numbers in the nearly dry ponds, while the non-breeding Little Grebe seemed common in the oxidation ponds kept full

Painted Stork - portrait by Alex Vargas

Painted Stork - portrait by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2008

Black-winged Stilt by Alex Vargas

Black-winged Stilt by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2008

Little Grebe - non breed by Alex Vargas

Little Grebe - non breed by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2008

We then went back a few days later and it was a whole new set of birds we found!… lots of waders…
The Golden Plover was perfectly camouflaged, the Wood Sandpiper froze and the Spotted Redshank didn’t minded at all

Pacific Golden Plover - non breed by Alex Vargas

Pacific Golden Plover - non breed by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2008

Wood Sandpiper - non breed by Alex Vargas

Wood Sandpiper - non breed by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2008

Spotted Redshank - non breed by Alex Vargas

Spotted Redshank - non breed by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2008

A Greater Coucal ran across the road, the Lapwings were screaming -as usual- and a cute Whiskered Tern gave signs of molting into a breeding adult

Greater Coucal by Alex Vargas

Greater Coucal by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2008

Red-watled Lapwing - sunny by Alex Vargas

Red-watled Lapwing - sunny by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2008

Whiskered Tern - molting by Alex Vargas

Whiskered Tern - molting by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2008

The bird of the day was a wonderful -back viewing- White-throated Kingfisher

White-throated Kingfisher - back view by Alex Vargas

White-throated Kingfisher - back view by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2008

January 24th 2009

2009 was a busy year for me and traveled quite a bit, what resulted in birding at Laem Pak Bia only twice that year.
I knew I was gonna be gone for months and decided t have a last run by the end of January.

We witnessed the struggle of a Little Cormorant with a fish, perhaps a bit too big

Little Cormorant - prey by Alex Vargas

Little Cormorant - prey by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2008

I got two new birds for my galleries that day… Ruff and Pintail Snipe, both uncommon winter visitors to Thailand

Pintail Snipe by Alex Vargas

Pintail Snipe by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2008

Ruff - female - non breed by Alex Vargas

Ruff - female - non breed by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2008

Tiny bamboo sticks seemed as comfortable perches for a Barn Swallow and a wonderful Common Kingfisher

Barn Swallow by Alex Vargas

Barn Swallow by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2008

Common Kingfisher - front view by Alex Vargas

Common Kingfisher - female - front view by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2008

A non-breed looking Long-toed Stint was my last wader of the season

Long-toed Stint - non breed by Alex Vargas

Long-toed Stint - non breed by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2009

 

Happy Bird-Photo Adventures!

 

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