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, Thailand 2008
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, Thailand 2008
Black-winged Stilt by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2008
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, Thailand 2008
Wood Sandpiper - non breed by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2008
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, Thailand 2008
Red-watled Lapwing - sunny by Alex Vargas, Thailand 2008
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, 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, 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, Thailand 2008
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, Thailand 2008
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, Thailand 2009
Happy Bird-Photo Adventures!