It took me 32 years of looking at birds to find a Green Sandpiper in Bangkok! My first one for Central Thailand for that matter.
Seen them regularly in the North.
This charmer has find a small and quiet wetlands in the SouthWestern parts of Bangkok.
It has been reported for a couple of weeks but driving through the city is never much fun so I waited till today, Sunday.
Got there and noone else about except for a jogger or two. I worked the area but no sign of the bird. So I stopped in a suitable area and contemplated what to do when it suddenly flew in seemingly out of nowhere!
The season is drawing closer towards its end. Soon this enigmatic and unique creature will head towards Eastern Siberia and its breeding grounds. How long can it hold on to the pressures of loss of suitable 'refueling' habitat during its long flight? Can it find suitable breeding habitat? Will it find a mate? Can it survive another season of villagers in Bangladesh harvesting shorebirds for staple? Don't we all wish him sucess? This season I have had a high count of 8 individuals at Bak Taley, Petburi. The birds have proven quite easy to spot. Or perhaps I am getting sharper in my 'spotting skills'? Either way, when one is found and I see the joy in the face of the visiting birder, I can sense the awe and almost europhic relationship that exist between birders and this very special bird. The birds are never easy to approach very close on foot and seldom do one have a chance to use the car as a cover. This bird was pretty accommodating though and I managed a few shot...
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