Thaibirds and more

Here is the reason I did a 48 hour stint: Spot-breasted Laughingthrush. Ever since I 1st saw it with  Bob Sothman  a couple of years back (my only time) I have dreamed of getting a picture of it since it has never been photographed in the wild and was missing in the OBI database. So when Mr Kamron told me of his find I simply 'had to go'..............I couldn't find a car to hire though in Chiang Mai since it was long weekend. I gave up the idea of going and went to Baktaley and the waders. While watching the Spoonies the phone rang and my dear wife informed me she had found a car for me. Wammo! Got the flight and off I went....and here is my hero! Spot-breasted Laughingthrush is an extreme skulker but had been lured into view with the help of meal worms. Now a couple month later it is still habituated and 'checking in' for some worm hand outs! 2.11.0.0

Kaengkrachan National Park and Petchaburi province 3-10th of March 2013. James Phillips contacted me almost a year in advance of this trip. He wanted to make sure to visit at the optimal time of year and that I was available. Along with James , a keen and driven birder from England, came his spouse, Jenny and friends Mark and Christine Taylor. Mark and Christine opted  for a slower pace during our time together and would take time off for leisure and privacy.  As it was, we strived to find as many species as possible without killing ourselves. Day 1. A rather late pick up at 9 am at  Amaranth Hotel (plush) and off to Muang Boran Fish ponds. Since the area holds a great number of wetland birds I wasn’t too concerned about our late arrival except for seeing the White-browed Crake.  As it turned out we not onl y saw the WBC but also Ruddy-breasted. The ponds were teeming with wildlife.  Not a still moment for a couple of hours. Loads of Pheasant-tailed Jacanas in breeding pluma