Birding/ Bird watching in Bangkok, Thailand

Wednesday 17th of May 2023 and I went to the eBird hotspot: Benjakiti Park to test my new camera that I bought yesterday. I was going to buy the Canon EOS R3 and the 100 - 500 mm lens at B & W Photo in New York.

I was going to trade in my old equipment and I was excited and, in a hurry, to get back to my hotel room to pick up my stuff before B & W Photo would close. The price was 8000 US Dollars and that was a very good price. Luckily enough I was thinking about the tax when I was about to leave my room with my camera equipment in my back pack.

I went back to the desk and I called B & W Photo and they would add tax and now we were talking almost 9000 US dollars. Still cheaper than Thailand but I decided to skip B & W Photo and to buy the stuff at Fotofile at MBK Center in Bangkok instead.

I have bought all my equipment at Fotofile so I can as well buy my new R3 and lens there. So, I went there yesterday to have a look and I bought the Canon EOS R3 and the RF 100-500mm IS USM lens. Plus, an extra battery and a Control Ring adapter for my old lenses to my new camera.

Fotofile at MBK Center in Bangkok, Thailand
My new Canon equipment

I take a taxi back home to get my equipment:
Canon 5D Mk. III
Canon 5D Mk. IV
Canon 100-400mm lens
Canon extender 2X

I take the same taxi back to MBK Center and I get my new stuff and I leave Fotofile. I turn around and I buy the Canon G7X Mk. III camera, the same I forgot when I returned my AVIS rented car in Miami.

Anyway, coming back home from my yoga and a session with the Red Devil, ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์ at Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym and I was excited to get down to the park. Canon EOS R3 is a mirror less camera and it is really not any good to look in the view finder as it is some kind of TV.

This will for sure take tame to get used to. My new camera has “BACK BUTTON AF” function something I learned about looking at online review videos before I bought the camera. I had it on my old cameras as well, but I never knew about it.

Birding/ Bird watching at Benjakiti Park in Bangkok, Thailand
Reaching Gate #1 to Benjakiti Park

Birding/ Bird watching at Benjakiti Park in Bangkok, Thailand
Coming in to the Benjakiti Park

So, one of my “BACK BUTTONS” are programmed for AF with eye detection and I push the shutter half way and the metering start and when I push my “BACK BUTTON” the auto focus starts and when it detects an eye on the bird it focuses on the bird.

So, I was really looking for birds, never mind what bird it was, just to try the camera. I walked past two Black-collared Starlings foraging on the lawn and I tried to get a picture. And instantly, I realized that this will take some time to get used to.

Before I pressed the shutter button half way and the camera did the auto focus, and then I pressed the button fully to take the picture. Now I have to press the shutter button half way using my index finger to start the metering and then one of the back buttons with my thumb to auto focus and then push the shutter button fully to take the picture.

Birding/ Bird watching at Benjakiti Park in Bangkok, Thailand
Black-collared Starling - My first ever bird picture with the EOS R3

The eye tracking feature was quite impressing, as soon as the camera spotted the eye easily, even on small birds in the dark it focused on the eye. Both my index finger and the thumb are occupied by taking the picture.

Not using the back buttons and I only use the index finger and I have the thumb to adjust ISO and the exposure. And the exposure it very important for me when taking bird pictures and I don't have any third finger for this.

Birding/ Bird watching at Benjakiti Park in Bangkok, Thailand
Zebra Dove

Birding/ Bird watching at Benjakiti Park in Bangkok, Thailand
Zebra Dove

Birding/ Bird watching at Benjakiti Park in Bangkok, Thailand
Zebra Dove

Birding/ Bird watching at Benjakiti Park in Bangkok, Thailand
Oriental Magpie Robin - Here it would have been nice with easy exposure control

It was very hot walking around and it seems like the birds are taking refuge in the shadows in the park. Even though I am here to test the camera and to get used to it I would not have minded to see some exciting birds.

And of course, some birds to try the camera on, but there were not many birds to be seen.

Not even around the water in the wetland, well, there was one heron but between me and the sun. And the few birds moved around and with the new camera I need birds sitting still, especially when I am new to the “BACK BUTTON AF”

Birding/ Bird watching at Benjakiti Park in Bangkok, Thailand
Scaly-breasted Munia

Birding/ Bird watching at Benjakiti Park in Bangkok, Thailand
Oriental Magpie Robin

Birding/ Bird watching at Benjakiti Park in Bangkok, Thailand
Female Oriental Magpie Robin

Birding/ Bird watching at Benjakiti Park in Bangkok, Thailand
It is a beautiful park, but today it is very hot

I walking back towards the southern entrance at the convention center and there is not much excitements on offer, a couple of Oriental Magpie Robins and that is it. Coming back to the lake and there is a great view over Bangkok so this is something to enjoy.

I used my phone for pictures as the 100-500mm lens would not make any good pictures.

Birding/ Bird watching at Benjakiti Park in Bangkok, Thailand
View over Bangkok

Birding/ Bird watching at Benjakiti Park in Bangkok, Thailand
View over Bangkok

eBird

eBird Report


Benjakiti Park, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon [Bangkok], TH
May 17, 2023 16:22 - 17:35
Protocol: Traveling
1.94 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments:  This was mostly to test my new camera
14 species

Feral Pigeon 14
Zebra Dove 9
Asian Koel X  Heard only, all over the park
Striated Heron 1
Coppersmith Barbet 1  Heard all over the park
Large-billed Crow 11
Yellow-vented Bulbul 1
Black-collared Starling 4
Siamese Pied Starling 1
Common Myna 1
Great Myna 3
Oriental Magpie-Robin 3
Scaly-breasted Munia 7
Eurasian Tree Sparrow 5

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S138092194

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Birding/ Bird watching at Benjakiti Park in Bangkok, Thailand
Today's track at the Benjakiti Park

I took a taxi back home and I went through the pictures and I was happy with the “eye tracking” but the high ISO pictures was not impressing me. I disabled the SMART CONTROLLER, a sensor on the AF button. You can move the AF point by moving the finger over the SMART CONTROLLER and I end up losing track where the AF point are if I touch the button by accident.

I fixed the AF point in the center and I did a couple of more changes to the settings and I will bring the camera with my 17-40mm lens to Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym to see if I can get more practise with the EOS R3 when I do my session with The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์)

+++++++++++++++
Thursday 18th of May 2023
and I take a taxi to Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym and I brought my new CANON EOS R3 and the first picture I took was of The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์) sitting on the ring waiting for me. They wanted me to take some pictures, well, I misunderstood, they wanted to have pictures of me and The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์)

Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym
The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์)

Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym
I manage to get focus on one of many pictures

I started by taking a few pictures with my camera but again, the focus point was off and I tried to change some of the settings again. And also, the “BACK BUTTON AF” is something I need time to get used to.

I push the shutter button forgetting the “BACK BUTTON AF” and there is no AF on this button so the pictures are not any good.

Now my friend got restless and he wanted to start the session, we have 10 rounds to do so we took a few quick pictures with the phone.

Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym
Some pictures have to be taken before we can start

Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym
Some pictures have to be taken before we can start

Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym
Some pictures have to be taken before we can start

Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym
Some pictures have to be taken before we can start

Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym
Eager to start

I sit down to make some adjustment to the settings and my friend come to get me to get my gloves on. And we get started and I am busy with my camera between the rounds. Not many people Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stat the gym today and I had been hoping to be able to practice some “action” photography with my new camera.

Well, at least I learned that I need more training and the get used to the “BACK BUTTON AF” as I forget to focus before pushing the shutter button.

Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym

Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym

Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym

Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym

Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym

We go for lunch after the session and we end up at a Japanese Restaurant and I had salmon and even though I am not diabetic anymore I was a little worried about the rice. I am losing weight like there is no tomorrow and the rice will not make anything to help with the daily weight loos.

I have to make something the call a Chemical Blood Test annually and I was at the hospital last Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stSaturday to take the sample. Picking up the result on Sunday and it was only good news.
- Your diabetes is gone, the Doctor said.

Long time sugar should be 4.8-6 and I had 6. A couple of years ago it was 13++ and the Doctor gave me a bag full of medicines. I was soon stopping to take the medicine; I realised that I did not need them as soon as I stopped to eat carbs.

And my insulin resistance disappeared and our Japanese lunch with rice, I checked the sugar Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stin the evening and it was 84. Two years ago, it would have been 100++ for a couple of days after a meal with carbs.

The absolute best way to lower the blood sugar is exercise and the whole thing started when they closed the gym during the Covid scam.

Covid

Japanese food
Lunch

Japanese food
Lunch

+++++++++++++++
Sunday 21st of May 2023
and I will leave for yet another bird watching with my new camera. My friend will come to pick me up in his taxi at 06:00. Saturday and I was at the gym in the afternoon. I did not wake up until 8 thirty so I decided to do an afternoon session at Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym with The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์)

I spent the day with my new camera and I was reading the manual, 1100 (Eleven Hundred) pages! And I watched a lot of videos on internet. I had decided to change from “BACK BUTTON AF” to shutter button AF. But after having seen the videos, I decided to give it a few more times with the “BACK BUTTON AF” to see if I get used to it.

According to the reviews on the internet Canon EOS R3 takes EXCELLENT high ISO pictures. I have a small Puffin that I bought on Iceland when I was there looking at Puffins. I use the Puffin to train and practice what I read in the manual and see on the videos.

I took a picture of the Puffin using ISO speed 25600 and, well, it was not bad, but I was far from satisfied. And I was soon running in to information about Topaz

Puffin from Iceland
ISO 25600
Puffin from Iceland
After Topaz Denoise AI

Topaz DeNoise AI
Topaz Sharpen AI
Topaz Gigapixel AI

• Topaz DeNoise AI - Eliminate noise and recover crisp detail in your images.

• Topaz Sharpen AI - The first sharpening and shake reduction software that naturally reverses blur.

• Topaz Gigapixel AI - Upscale your photos by up to 600% while perfectly preserving image quality.


I downloaded the Topaz suite and it is a 14 days free trail with a water stamp and tried the programs and it seems to work OK. I checked videos on internet and I watched Topaz DeNoise AI DxO PureRAWVS DxO PureRAW and as no surprise, some videos say Topaz is better and some video say that the DxO PureRAW is better.

I downloaded the DxO PureRAW and I ran the Puffin through the program and the result is OK,

Puffin from Iceland
ISO 25600
Puffin from Iceland
After DxO PureRAW

DxO PureRAW is OK as well, but I have photoshop filters with the Topaz so I might be buying the Topas suite, Topaz Photo AI with the three different programs in one.

Topaz Photo AI

I was eager to get out to take more bird pictures and to practice with my camera and we were soon on our way towards Moo Ban Pramong where we will start the bird watching. Sunday morning and light traffic so it went pretty quick to reach Moo Ban Pramong.

I started my eBird app at 07:10 and there was not so many egrets and herons. Something we had noticed coming here, normally here is thousands of them, but it is breeding season so they are busy building nests.

We had a pair of Siamese Pied Starlings building a nest next to the road and they were flying back and forth between the grass and the nest with building material. I tried to get some pictures. But they were covered by sticks and twigs.

Bird watching in Thailand - Moo Ban Pramong
Siamese Pied Starling

Bird watching in Thailand - Moo Ban Pramong
Little Cormorant

Bird watching in Thailand - Moo Ban Pramong
Black-winged Stilt

Bird watching in Thailand - Moo Ban Pramong
Little Egret

Bird watching in Thailand - Moo Ban Pramong

Bird watching in Thailand - Moo Ban Pramong

Well, I am not too impressed by the camera, I had expected more from a 9000 US dollars camera set. It might be my handling of the “BACK BUTTON AF”, must be as others get excellent pictures with the EOS R3 and the lens is top notch according to all tests and reviews.

But the pictures I got from my old camera was as good. Using the R3 and there is a lot of brackets and auto focus points flying around in the viewfinder. I have set up the “BACK BUTTONS” so, I have eye tracking, follow target and servo on one button.

The other button has ONE SHOOT and normal AF and this works quite well now. I think about programming the third button for burst.

I don't like the mirror less as it is to look at an electronic picture in the view finder. My old camera with mirror and it was like looking through a binocular and it was easy to find the bird. I find it impossible to find the small birds in bushes etc. with the electronic view finder.

Bird watching in Thailand - Moo Ban Pramong
Striated Heron

Bird watching in Thailand - Moo Ban Pramong
Oriental Magpie-Robin
The picture has been through Topas AI

Bird watching in Thailand - Moo Ban Pramong
Little Cormorant

Bird watching in Thailand - Moo Ban Pramong
Zebra Dove on nest

I spotted a pair of Zebra Doves and they had a nest on a bamboo pipe. I took several pictures and they all turned out to be nothing but sh*t. I was about to delete them but I decided to keep two to try out the Topaz Phot AI.

And I decided to try the Topaz Gigapixel AI just to see if it was any good. And even though it was the first time using the program was quite happy with the result, there is the watermark on the picture, but if I decide to buy the program the watermark will disappear.

Topaz Gigapixel AI

Bird watching in Thailand - Moo Ban Pramong
Zebra Dove

Bird watching in Thailand - Moo Ban Pramong
Zebra Dove

Bird watching in Thailand - Moo Ban Pramong
Brahminy Kite before Topaz Photo AI

Bird watching in Thailand - Moo Ban Pramong
Brahminy Kite after Topaz Photo AI

Bird watching in Thailand - Moo Ban Pramong
Painted Stork after Topaz Photo AI

We drive towards west and we make a U-turn when we reach the Phanthai Norasing Non-Hunting Area and we drive back to Moo Ban Pramong. Going back and we don't see many birds and I had been hoping for the Common Kingfisher but nothing.

Reaching Moo Ban Pramong and I turn off the eBird app.

eBird

eBird Report


Khok Kham--Moo Ban Pramong, Samut Sakhon, TH
May 21, 2023 07:10 - 08:57
Protocol: Traveling
16.91 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments:  Another test run with my new camera
20 species (+1 other taxa)

Feral Pigeon X
Red Collared Dove 1
Zebra Dove 13  With nest
Black-winged Stilt 23  Sitting on nest
tern sp. 1  No picture, no ID
Painted Stork 45  Fly over
Little Cormorant 25
Indian Cormorant 21
Great White Egret 19
Little Egret 16
Javan Pond Heron 16
Striated Heron 3
Brahminy Kite 2
Collared Kingfisher 4
Malaysian Pied-Fantail 2
Streak-eared Bulbul 6
Siamese Pied Starling 4  Two birds busy building a nest
Common Myna 2
Great Myna 7
Oriental Magpie-Robin 1  Only one seen. But many heard in the area
Eurasian Tree Sparrow 18

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S138608333

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Bird watching in Thailand - Moo Ban Pramong
Today's track at Moo Ban Pramong

We turn north and we go back towards west north of the Khok Kham salt pans. Getting out on the salt pans and there are no birds to be seen. We will go to the Phraek Nam Daeng rice paddies and fish pond area to look for birds and we will pass a few eBird hotspots in the Khok Kham area.

We left Khok Kham behind and not many pictures were taken, exactly zero pictures since we left Moo Ban Pramong. Well, I took a picture of two terns so I could ID the birds coming back home. It is hot and breeding season so we kind of did not expect many birds to be seen.

I ID the bird as a Whiskered Tern and I never intended to keep the picture. But I decided to let the picture go through the Topas Photo AI to see what I could do before deciding to buy the program as it comes with a hefty price tag.
Topaz Photo AI

Bird watching in Thailand
Whiskered Tern - Not too much to do about this far away bird

Bird watching in Thailand
Plain Prinia - Not too much to do about this far away birds


Thanks to johnallcock at Birdforum for the correct ID. I had ID the bird as a Yellow-bellied Prinia but it is a Plain Prinia

Forum thread HERE


Birdforum


We reach Phraek Nam Daeng and we leave the highway and I turn on my eBird app. Here are three different hotspots but I use the “Phraek Nam Daeng (general area)” We are soon stopping to try to get a picture of a Yellow-bellied Prinia.

Again, the bird sitting in a tree and I had a hard time to find the bird in my view finder and I took a couple of pictures before the bird disappeared. I decided to take a couple of hours in the Benchasiri Park when I have time.

I practiced with the pigeons there when I bought my Canon 5D and pigeons are good training targets, not too big so it will be too easy. And there should be sparrows as well, so I will give it a try to get more training with the EOS R3.

Bird watching in Thailand
Bronze-winged Jacana - Not too much to do about this far away bird

Bird watching in Thailand
Asian Openbill

Bird watching in Thailand
Little Green Bee-eater

Bird watching in Thailand
Little Green Bee-eater

Bird watching in Thailand
Juvenile Little Green Bee-eater

Bird watching in Thailand

Well, the pictures had been nothing but a disappointment since I started this morning. So, I was quite happy to get a few good ones of a bunch of Little Green Bee-eaters sitting on a wire. I had lost my hopes for my new camera. But I have seen amazing pictures taken with the R3 and 100-500 lens.

So, there is nothing wrong with the equipment and it must be me. And this was good to know after having invested the money in the new equipment.

Bird watching in Thailand

Bird watching in Thailand
Asian Golden Weaver

Bird watching in Thailand
Asian Golden Weaver

Bird watching in Thailand
Cattle Egret

Bird watching in Thailand
Cattle Egret

Bird watching in Thailand
Asian Openbill - After a session with Topaz Photo AI

eBird

eBird Report


Phraek Nam Daeng (general area), Samut Songkhram, TH
May 21, 2023 11:01 - 12:26
Protocol: Traveling
13.64 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments:  Another test run with my new camera
27 species

Lesser Whistling-Duck 5
Little Grebe 4
Red Collared Dove 2
Asian Koel 2  Pair flying across the road landing in a tree across the canal
Plaintive Cuckoo 1  Heard only
Black-winged Stilt 31
Red-wattled Lapwing 2
Bronze-winged Jacana 3
Oriental Pratincole 1
Asian Openbill 9
Little Cormorant 2
Indian Cormorant 1
Great White Egret 1
Little Egret 12
Cattle Egret 10
Javan Pond Heron 26
Glossy Ibis 1
Asian Green Bee-eater 2
Plain Prinia 4  Thanks to johnallcock at Birdforum for the correct ID. I had ID the bird as a Yellow-bellied Prinia but it is a Plain Prinia
Siamese Pied Starling 1
Common Myna 1
Great Myna 9
Oriental Magpie-Robin 1
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 1
Asian Golden Weaver 12  With nest
Scaly-breasted Munia 1
Eurasian Tree Sparrow 1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S138619901

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Bird watching in Thailand - Moo Ban Pramong
Today's track at Moo Ban Pramong

Back home and I almost started to cry watching the pictures. I had expected more after having Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stspent 9000 US Dollars on the equipment.

Most of the pictures went straight to the garbage, I kept a few poor ones to practice with the Topaz Photo AI. I need more training and I was pepped by birdforum members

Don't despair!
The problems you are having with transition from DSLR to Mirrorless is one that's experienced by many. It's well documented on the net and there are many methods of overcoming the issues.

The use of BBF does take a bit of mastering - it did for me anyway and once you get the hang of it, you will reap the harvest in the long run.


Birdforum


+++++++++++++++
Monday 22nd of May 2023
and I will continue my camera training but first a trip to Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym for a session with The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์) And I will also do yoga today. I try to do yoga every second day to get a day of rest in between the sessions.

But I take on The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์) every day, well, Sunday and it is closed. Anyway, I will meet my yoga Teacher at 9 but the taxi driver takes a different route, I was snoozing in the back seat so I did not notice the changed route.

So, I was 10 minutes late and they sent me a message on line asking where I was.

Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym with The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์)
My yoga Teacher and The Red Devil

I arrived and just when we were about to start one of the lottery sellers came by and we bought some lottery tickets, 5 numbers in a row are 630 baht and we split it three ways and we paid 210 baht each. To choose lottery numbers is a science in Thailand, but I do it the easy way.

I choose the lottery tickets with closed eyes and now we will Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st hopefully win 30 million baht.

Choosing the ticket


I skipped the Benchasiri Park and I went to the University next door instead. I have seen birds there during my constitutionals Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st and they play soccer there was well. So, I will practice action photography as well.

I start by trying to get pictures of a Eurasian Tree Sparrow sitting on top of a pole next to the road. I am busy with the bird when I spot one Red-whiskered Bulbul in front of me. This is considered a SENSITIVE species.

The bird was gone before I could get my camera ready for action.

Sensitive

Public information for Sensitive Species is restricted due to potential harmful impact to these birds. Site-specific information is visible only to the observer and eBird reviewer(s) for the region.

We encourage you not to share specific location information about this sighting via social media, public websites, or email listservs.

Learn more about Sensitive Species in eBird.


Bird watching in Thailand - Srinakharinwirot University [Prasan Mit campus]
Eurasian Tree Sparrow

I continue towards Srinakharinwirot University and I get a few pictures of two Common Mynas at the gate. I see one female Oriental Magpie Robin inside the gate. I try to get pictures but it is dark and I need to use a crazy ISO SPEED.

I spot two Black-collared Starling sitting in a tree and I try to get some pictures even though the birds are far away. And the camera manages to focus on the eye. But the pictures were a little underexposed and I was not happy with the pictures.

I walked to the north east corner of the field looking out for birds in the trees in the corner. I have seen interesting birds in these trees before so I was hoping to see something. I could hear one Coppersmith Barbet and I saw the bird in the tree.

Bird watching in Thailand - Srinakharinwirot University [Prasan Mit campus]
Common Myna
ISO Speed:
 5000
F-stop:
 F/8
Exposure time:
 1/800 sec
Exposure bias:
 + 0,7 step

Bird watching in Thailand - Srinakharinwirot University [Prasan Mit campus]
Female Oriental Magpie Robin
ISO Speed:
 25600
F-stop:
 F/8
Exposure time:
 1/800 sec
Exposure bias:
 + 0,7 step

Bird watching in Thailand - Srinakharinwirot University [Prasan Mit campus]
Black-collared Starling

Bird watching in Thailand - Srinakharinwirot University [Prasan Mit campus]
Coppersmith Barbet

I leave the track around the field and I walk in among the university buildings and I am soon running in to a group of Zebra Doves and Tree Sparrows and I sit down starting to take pictures changing the “BACK BUTTON” settings to try to figure out the different modes.

Not the most exciting birds to photograph, but it is excellent for practice and training. The birds are not scared and they really don't bother with me sitting there. The sparrows are small in the grass so this is also a good practice.

The Zebra Doves and mynas are bigger, but not so big so it is impossible to fail with the pictures.

The lighting conditions are not so good, overcast and the afternoon was turning in to evening. But the pictures were not so bad and I am getting better with the camera.

Bird watching in Thailand - Srinakharinwirot University [Prasan Mit campus]
Tree Sparrow

Bird watching in Thailand - Srinakharinwirot University [Prasan Mit campus]
Zebra Dove

Bird watching in Thailand - Srinakharinwirot University [Prasan Mit campus]
Feral Pigeon

Bird watching in Thailand - Srinakharinwirot University [Prasan Mit campus]
Tree Sparrow
After a session with Topaz Photo AI to reduce the noise

There was a lot of pigeons at the university but I never tried to get any pictures as I was happy with the doves and sparrows and I wanted to get back home to check out the result. I stopped at the field to try to get some action pictures with the camera.

My plan was to practice some “birds in flight” photography with the football. But I was soon giving up this idea and I walked back home.

Bird watching in Thailand - Srinakharinwirot University [Prasan Mit campus]
Great Myna

eBird

eBird Report


Srinakharinwirot University [Prasan Mit campus], Krung Thep Maha Nakhon [Bangkok], TH
May 22, 2023 16:52 - 18:01
Protocol: Traveling
1.74 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments:  Practicing with my new camera
9 species

Feral Pigeon 70
Zebra Dove 6
Coppersmith Barbet 1
Red-whiskered Bulbul 1  I am out practicing with my new camera. Taking pictures of a Tree Sparrow on top of the pole. I see the Red-whiskered Bulbul just in front of me on the pole but he jumps in to the bushes before I can get a picture.
Black-collared Starling 2
Common Myna 3
Great Myna 1
Oriental Magpie-Robin 2
Eurasian Tree Sparrow 28

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S138807713

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Bird watching in Thailand - Srinakharinwirot University
Today's track at Srinakharinwirot University

+++++++++++++++
Tuesday 23rd of May 2023
and I skipped the bird watching. I went to eat Japanese BBQ with The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์) after the session at Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym. I was going to Fashion Island to have a look at new suitcases at the Samsonite shop.

Japanese lunch at Fashion Island
Japanese lunch at Fashion Island

Japanese lunch at Fashion Island
Japanese lunch at Fashion Island

Japanese lunch at Fashion Island
Japanese lunch at Fashion Island

Japanese lunch at Fashion Island
Japanese lunch at Fashion Island

Japanese lunch at Fashion Island
Japanese lunch at Fashion Island

The shop had run out of the TAX-FREE forms and they would get them on Friday. First, he said that he did not know what this “TAX FREE” was, but it turned out they had the forms, but they had run out of empty forms.

We returned to have a second look after lunch, the bags are very expensive, 40.000 Baht for one suitcase + a carry on. But Samsonite is good and I need bags that I can trust and the Samsonite bags I have now have been working good for many years now.


+++++++++++++++
Wednesday 24th of May 2023
and it is a wee bit hefty to pay 40.000 Baht for two bags. I checked internet and there is something called American Tourister and it was about 14.000 Baht.

I decided to go check out the American Tourister as CentralPlaza Bangna and my friend will come along to help me to choose suitcase.

The have both American Tourister and Samsonite at CentralPlaza Bangna. I went to pick up my friend and we took off for the big SAMSONITE vs AMERICAN TOURISTER battle.


Samsonite Unimax
On my way to buy new luggage

We found the luggage department on the 3rd floor and I started by attacking the American Tourister and it was kind of flimsy, 3 years warranty. I moved over to the Samsonite and I tried the Unimax, 10 years warranty.

This suitcase was, well, it felt sturdier and the whole bag felt sturdier. Wheels, zipper and case was better, of course, with more than the double the price nothing else was expected and I decided to buy the Samsonite Unimax.


I was at Lotus or Carrefour on Rama 4 to buy groceries. I passed a shop selling luggage and I bought a beautiful, black and orange set. One suitcase and one carry-on bag, both wheeled units. I was happy as I was going to Rainbow Warrior in Singapore. I could not wait to get away with my new beautiful luggage.

And I was sure that the Greenpeace’s would be impressed with my new luggage, orange and black. Suitcase and the carry on were the same design, only different size.

The luggage set me back by 4000 to 6000 Baht, I don't remember. But I remember that the wheels felt of my luggage before I even reached my flight.

Now I had to carry my wheeled units and I was not so very happy with my new luggage. I have only bought Samsonite since then and that is 20 years ago.

Samsonite Unimax
Test run of the Samsonite Unimax

Samsonite Unimax
Test run of the Samsonite Unimax

Samsonite Unimax
My friend helps with the bags

We put the carry on in the suitcase and we leave CentralPlaza Bangna to go back to S & P at Robinsons Samut Prakan. My friend had chicken and a cake but I only had tea. No more diabetes, but I will avoid eating more than an absolute minimum as I need to lose a couple of metric tons.

But I had a couple of pots of tea before we left. I was happy for my new bags and I am looking forward to try them out. Me and my friend booked a trip to Laos on the 2nd of June coming back on the 5th of June, a what we call a weekend trip.

And I will have to bring my bags and camera equipment to reclaim the tax at the airport. Otherwise, it would have been enough with a weekend bag.

S & P at Samut Prakan
Tea time

+++++++++++++++
Thursday 25th of May 2023
and The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์) calls me in the morning to say that he is sick. So, I cancel Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym as there is no yoga today and I call my friend. We decide to go visit Wat Sam Ngam (วัดสามง่าม) in Nakhon Pathom.

We drive to Samut Prakan to pick up our friend and we are soon on our way to Nakhon Pathom, two hours north of Bangkok.
- TWO HOURS??!!!!

I was surprised, I thought it was in Samut Prakan and I had planned to go look for birds at the bird hide at the temple in Chonburi. Well, this plan was cancelled and I will have to look for birds in the Nakhon Pathom.

Bird watching in Thailand
We are on our way

Wat Sam Ngam is famous for Kuman Thong (กุมารทอง) and we are going there to have a look at the statues. My friend has many Thai Buddha amulets (พระเครื่อง) with Kuman Thong.

Kuman Thong (กุมารทอง)

a household divinity of Thai folk religion. It is believed to bring luck and fortune to the owner if properly revered. Kuman, or Kumara (Pali) means "Sanctified young boy" (female kumari); thong means golden.

These beings are often worshipped to obey their worshippers for personal gains, protection, wealth and harm in some cases. It is believed to have consequences to each request.

Description
The veneration of Kuman Thong is not part of mainstream Buddhist practices, but it is popular in Thailand. Mainstream Buddhism does not recognize such practice. However, due to the widespread belief in animism in Thailand, Kuman Thong adopted Buddhist beliefs and mixed the two together.

Origins
The authentic Kuman Thong originated in a practice of necromancy. They were obtained from the desiccated fetuses of children who had died whilst still in their mothers' womb. The witch doctors were said to have the power to invoke these stillborn babies, adopt them as their children, and use them to help them in their endeavours.

According to ancient Thai manuscripts used by practitioners of black magic (Thai: ไสยศาสตร์ Saiyasat), first the unborn fetus was surgically removed from the womb of its mother. Then the body of the child would be taken to a cemetery for the conduction of the proper ceremonial ritual to invoke a Kuman Thong.

The body was roasted until dry whilst the witch doctor chanted incantations of magical script. Once the rite was completed, the dry-roasted Kuman was painted with Ya Lak (a kind of lacquer used to cover amulets and Takrut with gold leaf). Thus, this effigy received the name of “Kuman Thong”, meaning “Golden Little Boy”.

Some Kuman effigies were soaked in Nam Man Phrai, a kind of oil extracted by burning a candle close to the chin of a dead child or a person who died in violent circumstances or an unnatural death. This is much less common now, because this practice is now illegal if using fat from human babies for the consecrating oil.

Occasionally there are still some amulets obtained through the authentic methods appearing in the market. Some years ago, a famous monk was expelled from the Buddhist Sangha for roasting a baby. He was convicted, but later continued to make magic as a layperson after his release.

18 January 2011 and www.news.com.au had the following story: Man killed wife for 'lucky' lotto foetus

18 May 2012 and we can read the following story in New York Post: Bangkok police arrest man accused of buying fetuses


We get out of the taxi and we walk down to the canal and I have to walk past a stall with caged birds. You can pay to release the birds and you will get good luck. I explained for the lady, but what does she care. Instantly, I did not like this temple, the first temple I visit that I don't like.

There were quite a few Javan Pond Herons in the canal and I discovered two Pheasant-tailed Jacana walking on the vegetation covering the Ban Phum Canal.

Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus, นกอีแจว

Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus, นกอีแจว
Pheasant-tailed Jacana / นกอีแจว

Javan Pond Heron, Ardeola speciosa, นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา
Javan Pond Heron / นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา

Javan Pond Heron, Ardeola speciosa, นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา
Javan Pond Heron / นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา

Javan Pond Heron, Ardeola speciosa, นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา
Javan Pond Heron / นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา

Javan Pond Heron, Ardeola speciosa, นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา
Javan Pond Heron / นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา

Bird watching in Thailand - Wat Sam Ngam
My friend feeding the fishes

Bird watching in Thailand - Wat Sam Ngam
My friend feeding the fishes

Bird watching in Thailand - Wat Sam Ngam
Red-wattled Lapwing

We leave the Ban Phum Canal and we go to look for the amulets and statues. There were plenty statues but I think they are newly made so not made by Luang Pho Yeam of Wat Sam Ngam, the only one who succeeds in making Kuman Thong from Luang Pho Tae.

There was also Holy cloth (ผ้ายัน) but they were newly made so I was not interested, I was really not interesting in anything they had for sale.

Wat Sam Ngam (วัดสามง่าม)
Wat Sam Ngam (วัดสามง่าม)

Wat Sam Ngam (วัดสามง่าม)
Wat Sam Ngam (วัดสามง่าม)

Wat Sam Ngam (วัดสามง่าม)
Wat Sam Ngam (วัดสามง่าม)

Wat Sam Ngam (วัดสามง่าม)
Wat Sam Ngam (วัดสามง่าม)

Wat Sam Ngam (วัดสามง่าม)
Wat Sam Ngam (วัดสามง่าม)

Wat Sam Ngam (วัดสามง่าม)
Wat Sam Ngam (วัดสามง่าม)


Wat Sam Ngam (วัดสามง่าม)
Wat Sam Ngam (วัดสามง่าม)

Before we leave my friends pray for good luck and to get lottery numbers by pulling balls from a pot and shaking sticks out of a cup. When they are ready, they hurry out to the lottery stalls to buy lottery tickets.

This is a concept that I had seen at almost all the temples in Thailand. And to choose the lottery number is a serious business here in Thailand. And I don't want to go in to any lengthy discussion. But I use to ask them why they do all this and they explain that it is very important with the numbers and good luck.

- So, you have done this for many many years?
- Yes
- And you win every time?
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st - No
- Have you won, even once?
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st - No
- Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st

Wat Sam Ngam (วัดสามง่าม)
Getting serious with the lottery tickets

Wat Sam Ngam (วัดสามง่าม)
Getting serious with the lottery tickets

Wat Sam Ngam (วัดสามง่าม)
Getting serious with the lottery tickets

Wat Sam Ngam (วัดสามง่าม)
Getting serious with the lottery tickets

Wat Sam Ngam (วัดสามง่าม)
Getting serious with the lottery tickets

eBird

eBird Report


Wat Sam Ngam, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Pathom, TH
May 25, 2023 13:12 - 14:14
Protocol: Traveling
1.22 kilometer(s)
11 species

Feral Pigeon 21
Zebra Dove 15
Asian Koel 1  Heard only
Red-wattled Lapwing 1
Pheasant-tailed Jacana 2
Little Egret 2
Javan Pond Heron 5
Coppersmith Barbet 1  Heard only
Common Myna 1
Great Myna 7
Eurasian Tree Sparrow 3

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S139167115

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Bird watching in Thailand - Wat Sam Ngam
Today's track at Wat Sam Ngam

We leave the temple and I search internet for birding hotspots but there is nothing interesting and we decide to drive back to Bangkok and I will make food. We have one eBird hotspot that we will visit on the back to Bangkok, the eBird hotspot: Em Bang Toei Alley

We have to drive south towards Bangkok for about 90 km to reach the eBird hotspot: Em Bang Toei Alley, another rice paddy birding spot.

Bird watching in Thailand - Pathum Thani
Baby Red-wattled Lapwing

Bird watching in Thailand - Pathum Thani
Baby White-breasted Waterhen

Bird watching in Thailand - Pathum Thani
Female Plain-backed Sparrow

Bird watching in Thailand - Pathum Thani
Asian Openbill

We see two babies, one Red-wattled Lapwing and one White-breasted Waterhen but they were quite far away. We drive around for 40 minutes looking for birds before we decide to call it a day.

Not so much exciting stuff to see, but I got some practice with my new camera. But there was not so much to photograph and we left.

eBird

eBird Report


Em Bang Toei Alley, Pathum Thani, TH
May 25, 2023 15:56 - 16:33
Protocol: Traveling
2.67 kilometer(s)
18 species

Red Collared Dove 2  PAIR
Zebra Dove 4
Pink-necked Green-Pigeon 1
Greater Coucal 1
Plaintive Cuckoo 1  Heard only
White-breasted Waterhen 1  Baby
Red-wattled Lapwing 3  One baby
Oriental Pratincole 1
Asian Openbill 3
Little Egret 1
Javan Pond Heron 2
Indochinese Roller 1
Malaysian Pied-Fantail 3
Great Myna 2
Oriental Magpie-Robin 1
Baya Weaver 1
Asian Golden Weaver 3  With nest
Plain-backed Sparrow 1  Female

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S139170267

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Bird watching in Thailand - Em Bang Toei Alley
Today's track at Em Bang Toei Alley

Bird watching in Thailand
We stop to buy groceries

We stopped to look for pork collar at a supermarket, but they did not have any pork collar. So, we bought beef instead, but they only accepted Citi Bank cards so we left empty handed with a mental note to never return to this Supermarket chain.

I had ordered from Villa Market and they delivery man arrived as we were rolling up to my apartment. Talk about luck! We were hungry and now we had food and we got on with the cooking straight away.

Bird watching in Thailand

Bird watching in Thailand

Bird watching in Thailand


+++++++++++++++
Sunday 28th of May 2023
and I was busy cooking all day long and we will start with Kålpudding. I was almost ready with the cake when it knocked on the door. I was ready with the Kålpudding and I put it on heating while I did the potato and gravy.

My friend practice to sing HAPPY BIRTH DAY while I did the last to complete the food, but according to the tradition there is no song until it is time for the cake.


We finished almost all the food, some leftover Kålpudding that I will have for breakfast tomorrow. We were all full so I was worried about the cake. Will we be able to eat all of it? The cake, I was happy with the cake, except for the marzipan cover.

The marzipan cover ended up as a lump on top of the cake, but it tasted as good as real marzipan. I had made green marzipan as well, but I gave up the idea with the rose on top of the cake.

Eating cake in Bangkok
This is how I wanted the cake to look

Eating cake in Bangkok
This is how it turned out




Eating cake in Bangkok

+++++++++++++++
Tuesday 30th of May 2023
and I skipped the gym today as I wanted to go look for birds at Suan Rot Fai. I woke up a wee bit late so I went in the afternoon instead, the original plan was to do it in the morning and to go to the gym in the afternoon.

I started the eBird app at 16:34 and I was walking towards the new area of the park and I could see that the sky was turning black behind me. There were not many exciting birds in the new part of the park, mynas and starlings, of course a couple of Tree Sparrows.

The most exciting birds was the Coppersmith Barbets, a beautiful green bird with yellow and red. But the pictures were not any good.

Bird watching in Bangkok
Entering the park

Pied Myna, Asian Pied Starling, Gracupica contra, นกอีแจว, Siamese Pied Myna, Gracupica floweri
Pied Myna or Asian Pied Starling / นกอีแจว

Pied Myna, Asian Pied Starling, Gracupica contra, นกอีแจว, Siamese Pied Myna, Gracupica floweri
Pied Myna or Asian Pied Starling / นกอีแจว

Pied Myna, Asian Pied Starling, Gracupica contra, นกอีแจว, Siamese Pied Myna, Gracupica floweri
Pied Myna or Asian Pied Starling / นกอีแจว

Bird watching in Bangkok
Common Myna

Bird watching in Bangkok
Leaving the new area of the park

The sky was black and there were a few drops of rain coming. Terrible lighting condition for pictures and I was not impressed by Canon R3's ability to handle high ISO speeds. Well, it is OK, but the videos I have seen and the R3 have been praised.

But also, looking at all the videos about R3 and bird photography and it seems like all the pictures have been “post processed” and this is how I found out about Topaz Denoise AI.

But even though I can remove the noise, using the high ISO, and I find some of the details disappears in the noise that is not coming back even though I remove the noise with Topaz Denoise AI. But maybe it is me needing more practice using the Topaz Denoise AI, but then how much time do I want to spend on each picture.

Bird watching in Bangkok
Large-billed Crow with a snack

Bird watching in Bangkok
Large-billed Crow with a snack

Bird watching in Bangkok
Large-billed Crow with a snack

Bird watching in Bangkok
Large-billed Crow with a snack

Bird watching in Bangkok

Bird watching in Bangkok

I was back home and it started to pour down so I had been very lucky. My camera is weather Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stproof but I don't fancy walking around the park when it is pouring down

Next birding will be in Laos and I will be flying to Vientiane on Friday and I will spend the weekend looking for birds in the area around Vientiane.

Click HERE to find out if I see any birds in Laos.

Nya Moderaterna




       
                  
OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.
Jiffy (also jiff)

noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.
So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!

Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas

Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!

Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!

Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra

Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!

คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้

Вы говорите по-русски? Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!

E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.

Flag of Skåne / Skånska flaggan Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.


                                       

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