I couldn't resist paying another visit to this great open area. It is 120 km from my house so it means an early rise to be there at sunrise. Today there was more traffic as many folks were headed out of Bkk to celebrate the up coming New Year.
My target for this trip was to find an Australasian Bushlark. A bird that has eluded me till now. It actually didn't take all that long to find it as I had reviewed the bird's song. There is was singing away in a towering flight display. I later stalked one but never got close enough for any decent shots so had to settle for scope views.
A lot of singing in the air included Striated Grassbird, Oriental Skylark and the afor menetioned Bushlark.
So I put up my hide again. The birds seemed quite eager to grab the worms. Perhaps the cool night, 14 C, had made them hungry?
This time there were two male Bluethroats coming in. The one brighter then the other.
It seemed that Rosy Pipit had more rosy on throat and breast this time. Do these birds start to assume breeding plumage this early?
I rather sympathetic looking Stejnegri Stonechat showed nicely in the early morning light.
I also wanted to see if I could find the resident Black Kites (Milvus govinda)found in the area. The area holds a massive roost for wintering Black-eared Kite (M. lineatus) but also a few Black ones. I got really lucky when this individual showed up on the bank of the canal next to my car for a few brief moments. Black Kite has yellow cere and feet and is also more slender then Black-eared.
A Yellow Wagtail also came to the party. This one has an odd yellow spot on the breast.
Not sure what race this is?
Oh, so photogenic!
Comments