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2 days of birding in and near Bangkok, September 2023!

2 days of birding in and near Bangkok 24-25th of September, 2023.
Peter Ericsson and Jeff Thomas

Bangkok seem to be a popular place for companies, institutions and other interest groups to hold seminars and meetings. The avid birder is naturally keen on getting some birding done but find it hard to get away from duties. So what better way to do it then to add a day or two on the visit and engage a local guide for a haul of new birds?

Jeff Thomas from the US had reserved the weekend after his conference for birding in and near Bangkok.

He had managed a short morning to Lumphini park but that was all. Jeff had never birded in Asia before so was quite excited to see some Thai birdlife.
We decided to see a cross section of birds in various habitats. Birding at leisure but staying focused.

Jeff had a Canon R7 with the 200-500 lens fit for this mirror less camera and Jeff sure made use of it.

The goal was to see birds and to photograph as many as possible.

The time of year place in to what one can see. Some migratory birds are back but nowhere near ‘full capacity’ and rains can set in at any time. We were thankfully spared the rains except for the late afternoon on day 1 where the road near Jeff’s hotel quickly got so flooded I couldn’t even drive all the way to the lobby. This is what happens when you keep pouring concrete all over the wetlands, the drainage system struggle to keep up with things.

8 sites were visited: It might sound like a hectic schedule but it was far from hectic. Jeff was happy, had read up on what to expect and had all the signs of being a seasoned and balanced birder.

1. Bangpra – Khao Kaew, Chonburi.
2. Klong Tumru mangrove area, Chonburi.
3. Gleu Café salt pans, Chachengsao.
4. Bang Poo recreactional seaside area, Samut Prakan.
5. Pathum Thani rice research center, Pathum Thani.
6. Suwintawong 47, Nong Jok district, Bangkok
7. Lat Krabang ricefields, Bangkok
8. King Rama 9 park, Bangkok

Bangpra – Khao Kaew, Chonburi

We arrived around 6:30 after a 5:30 pick up. The area is very green this time of year. Grasslands, stands of trees interspersed with scrub, ponds and golf courses. Some birds we got on to here we would not see closer to Bangkok: Chestnut-capped Babbler, Grey-breasted Prinia, Hill Myna, Red-breasted Parakeet, Eurasian Hoopoe, Racket-tailed Treepie, Green Bee-eater, Indochinese Bushlark, Vinous-breasted Starling, Ashy Woodswallow, Burmese Shrike and Vernal Hanging-Parrot to name a few.
The adjacent hillside was strangely quiet for some reason and the regular Crested Serpent-Eagle and some bulbuls, babblers and leafbirds did not show at all.

Klong Tumru, Chonburi

This is a good place for shorebirds. Must bring a scope. Not all shorebirds are here yet but there were plenty of lifers for Jeff. Wood, Common, Curlew and Marsh Sandpipers, Lesser Sand Plovers, Red-necked and Long-toed Stints, Ruffs, Black-tailed Godwits, Eurasian Curlews, Little Ringed-Plover, Common Greenshank and Common Redshanks. Of course also Black-winged Stilts, ever present birds in wet areas of Central Thailand. Jeff also got excited to see his first Brahimy Kite. We did not scrutinize the area as it was getting hot and we felt we had seen a lot.

Café Gleua salt pans, Chachengsao

A short drive to this place and we had our lunch at the Café. Some good coffee in here, AC and clean food. We had Gai Pat Bai Krapow with a fried egg and rice, a staple for locals and always a winner (chicken fried with chili and basil and seasoning on top of rice).

The scope came to good use again. There were large numbers of Terns resting. White-winged, Whiskered, Little and Common. We had already had Gull-billed at KT.

Picking out a Dunlin was fun but the big surprise was a Red-necked Phalarope, a new provincial bird for me. Again, it was very hot and we decided to move along.

Bang Poo seaside

It was high tide so no shorebirds on the mudflats. Also no gulls yet…They are about to start trickling in this time of year.

But there is a bird watch tower in the mangroves and here we sat down for a bit. Lots of Godwits, Collared Kingfisher, Painted Stork, Pacific Golden Plover AND AN ASIAN DOWITCHER! Only my second for the site! I pointed it out to the half a dozen Thai photographers that were sitting in the hide. They got really excited as it was new for them all.

We poked around a bit but only added Golden-bellied Gerygone to the list. A mangrove specialist in Central Thailand.

It had been a long day so now it was time to get Jeff back to the hotel. The heavens opened up as we approached the hotel and traffic came to a standstill.

It had been a good day!

Pathum Thani rice research center.

This place is criss-crossed with dirt roads and makes it possible to take pictures from the car. We got here at 6:20 so had a lot of time on hand. 50 some species were seen and many photographed by Jeff. Some new ones: Asian Golden Weaver, Java Sparrow, Pin-tailed Snipe, Zitting Cisticola and Bronze-winged Jacana. There were many more, see the link to the trip list at the end.

Suwintawong 47

An area with woodlands, scrub, grass and ponds. It is owned by a business company and hardly any people in the area as it somehow still remain undeveloped. Easy to drive around. In general it was quiet and some of the wintering birds had not arrived but we had cracking views of a pair of Greater Painted Snipes and a Black-winged Kite being the highlights.

Lunch

Nearby is a restaurant with some superb pork legs and rice. It was early but the opportunity was there so we dug in. As usual very delicious.

Lat Krabang paddies

My home patch did not fail to deliver some things not yet seen: Black-headed Ibises, Gray-headed Lapwings being the best!

King Rama 9 park

The park is nicely landscaped and easy on the eyes. Did not see any migrants to speak of but had some enticing flocks of Small Minivet and superb views of Spotted Owlet. It was a nice place to wind down our birding. I dropped off Jeff in the late afternoon and I am pretty sure he enjoyed that cold beer by the poolside while contemplating his adventures!

Thanks Jeff, I had fun.

https://ebird.org/tripreport/159323

 

Indochinese Bushlark

Asian Dowitcher

Olive-backed Sunbird

Spotted Owlet

Small Minivet

Coppersmith Barbet


Collared Kingfisher

                                                                         Plain Prinia
                                                                          
Jeff Thomas

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