July 2020

Bird watching trip report


Introduction

I have not been to Suan Rot Fai Park for a very long time so I will take the opportunity to visit the park. And I will try to explore the eBird hotspot: Chatuchak Park. I have never been to this park so I will try to visit this eBird hotspot: when at Suan Rot Fai Park. If I can find the entrance that is, most of the entrances to the park are closed due to the Wuhan Virus.

Suan Rot Fai

Now I use the eBird app I go more and more for the eBird hotspots. What I call Suan Rot Fai is actually 3 different eBird hotspots and the park next to Suan Rot Fai, I get out of the taxi between the parks is a third hotspot. So from now on I will use the below eBird hotspots for the Suan Rot Fai:

• Rot Fai Park (Wachira Benchatat Park)

• H.M. Queen Sirikit Park (Suan Somdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit)

• Chatuchak Park

To skip the information and to go straight to the TRIP REPORT click HERE


Guide

I usually don't use any bird watching Guide in / around Bangkok. But could be a good idea to have a Guide to help me identify all the birds I see. As it is now my eBird checklists are not very impressive as I can only ID half of the birds I see


Land transportation

Taxi is a very convenient way of getting to Suan Rot Fai. Suan Rot Fai can be a bit hard for some of the drivers to understand. So show this Thai Script:
• Suan Rot Fai สวนรถไฟ
• Wachirabenchathat Park สวนวชิรเบญจทัศ

Entrance at Kamphaeng Phet 3 Road ถนน กำแพงเพชร 3


Scan for map

If you don´t like the comfort in the back of a taxi you can go by sky train or subway. Nearest Sky train station: Mo Chit – take exit 1, turn into Kamphaeng Phet 3 Road and walk through the Queen Sirikit Park. Or take a motorbike taxi.

Nearest subway station: Chatuchak Park – take exit 1 and exit 2, turn into Kamphaeng Phet 3 Road and walk through the Queen Sirikit Park. Or take a motorbike taxi.


Equipment

Canon 5D Mk. III + Canon 5D Mk. IV
Canon EF 28-300/3,5-5,6 L IS USM
Canon EF 70-200/2,8L IS II USM
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens
Canon Speedlite 600EXII-RT flash
Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II
Panasonic HC-W585 video camera

Sound recorder
ZOOM H5 Handy Recorder

Binocular
Steiner Skyhawk 8x32 (Since May 2020)


Weather / climate

Weather, I don´t know if Bangkok is the hottest capital in the world. But this is what they say and I have no reason to doubt this information because it is darn hot.

Bangkok, Thailand - Climate & Temperature
Pictures from www.climatemps.com

Bangkok, Thailand - Climate & Temperature - Click picture for full size
Pictures from www.climatemps.com



References/Resources

Thai National Parks - About the National Parks in Thailand A very good web page - Do you know that there are still wild tigers, elephants, leopards, tapirs, gaurs, bears and many monkey species in many tropical rainforests across Thailand? Do you also know that around 10% of all marine species in the world can be found in Thailand? And the fact that Thailand is the best bird-watching destination in mainland Asia?

National parks are protected areas of land because they have unspoilt landscapes and a diverse number of native plants and animals. There are 127 national parks in Thailand, of them 22 marine national parks. These parks offers a diverse range of flora and fauna, home to important population of endangered species.
So now it will be easy to find out if there are any National Park close to you.

Bird Conservation Society of Thailand (BCST) - The Bird Conservation Society of Thailand (BCST) is one of the oldest Bird Conservation Society of Thailand (BCST)organisations conserving birds and nature in Thailand and is the country partner of BirdLife International. BCST's role to the local community is to spread awareness about urban birds and reconnect people back to nature.

The Logo
Dated back to 1986 when BCST was then a loosely-formed “Bangkok Birdwatching Club”, the Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis), or “Nok Gang Ken Baan” in Thai, has been chosen to represent the organisation.

There are two sites covering Thailand and I have used them many times. These two web pages are actually everything you need for your birding adventures in Thailand. All the information you need about all the birding spots. Click on the map and then select your spot and you will have maps and everything you need to know about the areas. They have put a lot of jobs in to their web pages, North Thailand Birding and thaibirding.com A must to visit before you go bird watching in Thailand.

www.norththailandbirding.com - A one stop only for all your birding in Thailand

thaibirding.com - Nick Upton's one stop only for all your birding in Thailand.

Use both www.thaibirding.com and www.norththailandbirding.com and you have a winner. Some of the maps on www.norththailandbirding.com are way better than Nick Upton´s, while some of Nick's maps are much more detailed. So I have found that if I use both the web pages for information, well, nothing else needed.

PBase/Peter Ericson - Peter Ericson, a guy I thought was from USA because of his family name. I met him at Lat Krabang Paddies in May 2020 and turned out that he was Swedish. Anyway, I have used his excellent page PBase since 2016 as help to ID birds by the help from his beautiful bird pictures.

Here you can also find information about birding tours.

He is also having a Blog - Thaibirds and more with interesting information.

Bangkok City Birding - A lot of interesting birding stories and information on this bird watching blog by David Gandy. Bangkok-based patch-worker in Suan Rot Fai, a large park close to the city's famous weekend market. He have recorded 150 species on his patch since 2008. As one of the only big green spaces in the city, “SRF” acts as a real magnet for migrants during spring and autumn, and holds a healthy selection of "sibes" during the winter months.


ebird - Find birding hotspots with bird checklists from all over the world

Avibase - is an extensive database information system about all birds of the world, containing over 25 million records about 10,000 species and 22,000 subspecies of birds, including distribution information for 12,000 regions, taxonomy, synonyms in several languages


www.oiseaux.net This web page is also excellent for identifying birds. There is information and range maps for many many birds from all over the world. This page is almost guaranteed to give you any answer you have about any bird in the world.

Cloudbirders - Read birding trip reports from all over the world

Fatbirder - Linking birders worldwide... Wildlife Travellers see their sister site: WAND


Fatbirder is a fantastic web page with information from, I think every country in the world. My first stop when I plan for my bird watching trips. There is information about locations and guides, well, pretty much everything you need to know. Sometimes this is the only place I need to visit to plan my trip.

BirdingPal - find a birding Guide around the world

BirdingPal


And the web page you cannot live without. I have been around the world looking for birds. I usually have a Guide, but sometimes it is not possible to find a Guide. So, well, I have lost count on how many times I have had help to ID birds at BirdForum. Joining this forum have been very very good for my bird watching experience.

www.birdforum.net

ClimaTemps.com is the place to learn about the worlds climates with more than 4000 locations documented. Each aspect of the climate is represented using colour enhanced tables and professional graphs so that data can easily be compared by switching between locations in different tabs in your browser.

“A Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand and South East Asia by Craig Robson”


A Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand and South East Asia by Craig Robson

A Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand and South East Asia by Craig Robson. New edition updated with 76 species since previous edition “A Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand and South East Asia by Craig” Nick Upton at www.thaibirding.com wrote “This quite excellent book is packed full of quality illustrations and written information on 1251 species recorded in Southeast Asia”

I bought this book for bird watching in Thailand, but it goes for all over SE Asia

I have been very happy with the “A Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand and South East Asia by Craig Robson” But I had a fire in my condo 2019 and I needed to buy a new book. I was looking for the “A Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand and South East Asia by Craig Robson” as I liked the book. But this book is not available anymore so I had to buy the “A Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand” by Craig Robson.

What a disappointment this was, using the pictures in the book didn't helped to ID any birds.

“Birds of Thailand” by Uthai Treesuconand Wich'yanan Limparungpatthanakij


I met Peter Ericson, a famous bird watcher and he recommended the “Birds of Thailand” by Uthai Treesuconand Wich'yanan Limparungpatthanakij. I bought the book as soon as the book stores opened after the Wuhan virus. And I am very happy with the book and I have managed to ID some birds using the book.

Birds of Thailand by Uthai Treesuconand Wich'yanan Limparungpatthanakij

This new field guide will help you identify all 1049 species to have been recorded in the country to date, including the 20 species endemic or near-endemic to Thailand.

-Taxonomy follows the HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World.

-Detailed texts covering status, habitat and behaviour, age, sex and geographical variation, voice, and confusion species.

-Almost 2200 illustrations covering all species and distinctive subspecies, birds in flight, males and females, juveniles and non-breeding plumages, where appropriate.

-QR code for each species, linking to the Internet Bird Collection gallery of photos, videos and sounds.

-More than 1025 full-colour range maps for all species other than vagrants.

-Well-marked subspecies groups receive full accounts, and the distributions of subspecies breeding in the region are clearly mapped.

-Local species name and local conservation status included.


I like the book, but I miss the picture index.


Places to visit


Suan Rot Fai

Wachirabenchathat Park (Thai: สวนวชิรเบญจทัศ) or State Railway Public Park (สวนรถไฟ, read suan rot fai) is a name of public park in Chatuchak district, Bangkok, Thailand. It was opened on 28 July 2002 and named by the Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. The park borders on the Queen Sirikit Park and Chatuchak Park, and it is also the largest park of the complex, covering an area of 0.6 square kilometres. It is one of the most popular parks in Bangkok.

Before the park was transformed into a public park, it was a golf course that belonged to the State Railway of Thailand. The park is commonly used for biking. It has a winding three-kilometre track for walking and biking around the park. At the start of bike track, there is a rental shop where visitors can rent bicycles for riding.

Near the bike track, there is a lake where people can rent paddleboats to go around the lake. In the park, there is a beautiful butterfly garden and insectarium for visitor's relaxation and education.

The other interesting point is a miniature town. The town consists of Bangkok's famous buildings and tourist attractions in scaled-down version. It was created for children to learn about traffic rules by riding a bicycle in this area.

Moreover, the park also has a sports center that provides various types of courts where people play sports or exercise in many ways. For example, people can do fitness, do yoga, go swimming, play tennis, play futsal, and more.
- From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Opening Hours: 04:30-21:00 every day

Location: Kamphaeng Phet 3 Road, near Chatuchak Weekend Market


Download thaibirding.com´s Checklist in Word Format HERE This checklist for Suan Rot Fai is by no means complete and is not to be mistaken for the official checklist maintained by the national recorders - it is only meant as a guide for visiting birdwatchers. More information about Suan Rot Fai can be found at thaibirding.com

Bangkok City Birding - Dave Gandy's Bangkok City Birding blog is the best source of up-to-date information on bird sightings at Suan Rot Fai.

Suan Rot Fai

There are three eBird hotspots in the Laem Pak Bia / Pak Thale Area, have a look at these if you CLICK the names below:

Rot Fai Park (Wachira Benchatat Park)

H.M. Queen Sirikit Park (Suan Somdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit)

Chatuchak Park


Suan Rot Fai


Rot Fai Park (Wachira Benchatat Park)


There are 2 big lakes/ bonds at the north side of the Rot Fai Park where you can see birds that like to be around water. There are a lake in the NE corner but there are paddle boats for rent so they scare the birds. But you will be able to see the big Asian Openbill and Egrets and Herons.

There are fruit tree on the SE side of the lake/ pond and you can see birds eating fruit in the tree.

There are several ponds/ pools at the centre of the parks and I have seen Kingfishers here. And the Indian Roller like to sit in top of the high tress here.

The park is surrounded by a moat / canal going from the NE corner of the park to the SW corner. If you walk along the bike track you walk along the canal and you can see a lot of birds, BUT BE CAREFUL WITH THE BIKERS!

Suan Rot Fai
Access between owl area and the flower plantage have been improved during the Wuhan closedown (May 2019)

At the south end of the park you have two bridges crossing the moat / canal to the Queen Sirikit Park. One of the bridges is called the Bird Wave Bridge and there is a hide at the middle of the bridge.

Going to Suan Rot Fai and I usually enters from the Kamphaeng Phet 3 Road ถนน กำแพงเพชร 3 Cross the bridge and walk by the place where they sell water and I turn right going up on the field going north sneaking behind the bushes to see of there is any Kingfishers in the pond.

Suan Rot Fai

Suan Rot Fai
No more bushes to hide behind (April 2019)

Suan Rot Fai
No more bushes to hide behind (April 2019)

Suan Rot Fai
No more bushes to hide behind (April 2019)

At my last birding the bushes had been cut down and removed so it is not possible to sneak up on the Kingfishers anymore. March 2020 and I discovered a farmland area not far from the Kingfisher Pond, they were working with it when I was here back in 1919. But now it is ready and there is a bamboo walk bridge along the rice paddies. A very nice area just 200 meters west of the entrance.

There had been a lot of action in the park during the closure during the Wuhan Virus. The field in front of the Kingfisher Pond is now full of trees and in a few years it might be like a forest here. The trees are freshly planted and it will take for them to grow big.

They have built a full loop of Bamboo board walk in the farm land area

Suan Rot Fai
The field is full of new trees (May 2019)

Suan Rot Fai
Now the Bamboo boardwalk is a full loop (May 2019)

Suan Rot Fai
Now the Bamboo boardwalk is a full loop (May 2019)

Suan Rot Fai
Now the Bamboo boardwalk is a full loop (May 2019)

Suan Rot Fai
Now the Bamboo boardwalk is a full loop (May 2019)

Walking back and I usually enter the bike track following the moat/ canal/ pond between Suan Rot Fai and the Kamphaeng Phet 3 Road. But be careful, there are many bikers, especially on weekends and all of them are not very happy to have bird watchers on the track.

When the bike tracks bends to the left (At the butterfly house) there is an overgrown area where you can sneak in to look for Herons and Kingfishers etc. There is a small tongue or whatever they call it between the pond and the moat where you can walk. Keep an eye out for Water hens on the other side of the moat. This is also the area where I have seen the most Common Kingfishers in the park.

Suan Rot Fai

Walk pass the Butterfly House and you have soon reached the new bike bridge across my old Kingfisher Land. I have not seen any Kingfishers here since they built the bridge. Reaching the end of the bridge and you turn left for Queen Sirikit. I usually tune right to go look for owls. Then I come back and cross the bridge to Queen Sirikit Park.

Suan Rot Fai
Walking along the new bike bridge. At the end, turn left for Queen Sirikit Park and right to go look for owls

Suan Rot Fai
Bridge over the moat to Queen Sirikit Park

Suan Rot Fai
Turn right to go to the owl area

Suan Rot Fai

The Audubon Bird Caller I was kind of impressed with my Guide's Audubon Bird Caller in New Zealand. And I saw a Bell bird coming after him when he was using the bird caller.

I try my new Audubon Bird Caller in Singapore November 2017

Audubon Bird Call

Product Description
When twisted, this simple birch wood/pewter instrument will produce sounds which attract a variety of wild songbirds. It is now the standard songbird call throughout the world. The Audubon Bird Call comes packaged with a capsule of rosin powder. Carefully apply to the metal surface to renew the call’s “voice.”

The bird call’s sound is produced by twisting the cast zinc plug against the wooden cylinder. Originally used by hunters in Europe, the bird call’s sound attracts birds by convincing them that there are other birds in the area. They are curious about the sound.

**PLEASE NOTE: When using your bird call, please do so ethically. Avoid stressing birds by calling near nesting areas.

The Audubon Bird Call measures approximately 2 1/4 x 5/8 inches.

Audubon Bird Call


I always have the Audubon Bird Call hanging around my neck and I, well, I always twist the darn thing, most likely some therapeutic reason, as using Worry beads. Walking over the open field towards the “owl area” BOOM! A Spotted Owlet landed next to me. I had to shot from the hip and the owlet took off again.

My Guide in New Zealand had have the same experience. He told me that the Audubon Bird Call sounds like a bird baby or a injured bird and the owlet come to eat the bird.

Spotted Owlet, Athene brama, นกเค้าจุด

Walking north from the Bird Wave Bridge towards the main entrance to the park. Looking out for Sunbirds and there are Indian Rollers sitting in the trees in the ponds in the middle part of the park almost every time I walk by. But they are very scared, and they are not as beautiful as they are in India as this is a different subspecies.

I walk “off road” going north along the trees and ponds, Kingfishers and Indian Rollers are seen here almost every time. And there are many birds in the bushes and trees, try to find vegetation with small fruits and there will be birds enjoying the fruit.

Suan Rot Fai
Walking north towards the Main Entrance from the Bird Wave




H.M. Queen Sirikit Park (Suan Somdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit)


H.M. Queen Sirikit Park is more “MAN MADE” park. Arranged vegetation and flowers along the walk paths. The park have several bridges crossing water and here are many small birds, and if I´m 5 times in Suan Rot Fai I see something new and interesting 1 time.

This is what´s exciting, you never know what´s going to show up here.

There is also a plant nursery on the east side of the park. ON the west side there is also many “gardens” with flowers. A nice area to walk around in even if you're not looking for birds.

One guy I met had seen an Oriental dwarf Kingfisher, a gorgeous bird and I only seen it once, and that was on Bali. So you never know what´s going to show up.

Suan Rot Fai

Queen Sirikit walking along the islands keeping my eyes out for birds. Plenty Coppersmith Barbets and in the nesting season you see their holes in the trees. Herons along the water. I have seen many colourful Minivets etc.

I met one bird watcher that showed me a board walk through the bushes that I had never seen before. He told me that they had seen a Blue-winged Pita there and he had seen a Slaty-legged crake there a few times. So this board walk will be included in my bird watching from now on.

Suan Rot Fai
Entrance to the board walk

Suan Rot Fai
Queen Sirikit Park




Chatuchak Park


Chatuchak Park (Thai: สวนจตุจักร) is the name of a public park in Chatuchak district, Bangkok, Thailand. It is also the name of the Chatuchak Park MRT Station that lies under the park.

Chatuchak park is one of the oldest public parks in Bangkok. Construction began in 1975 on land donated by the State Railway of Thailand. The park opened on 4 December 1980. It has an area of 0.304 square kilometres. It was later augmented with Queen Sirikit Park and Wachirabenchathat Park, though they are separated from Chatuchak Park by Kampaengphet 3 Road. An artificial lake runs along this thin and long park with numerous bridges crossing the lake. A train museum is situated inside the park.

Chatuchak park include Wachirabenchathat park in the summer (March to April) every year is a time when pink poui are blooming, especially along the Phaholyothin Road adjacent to the Chatuchak Park MRT Station, makes the highly scenic.

- From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


A beautiful park with two big lakes, one in the north part and one in the south part of the park. And a good land mark is the clock tower at the south end at the entrance from the “weekend market.” It is about 3 km to walk around the park rounding both the lakes. Of course, you will have to add if you're walking around looking for birds.

Birding/ Bird watching at Chatuchak Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Looking south from the north lake

Birding/ Bird watching at Chatuchak Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Looking south from the north lake

Birding/ Bird watching at Chatuchak Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Looking south

Birding/ Bird watching at Chatuchak Park, Bangkok, Thailand
There are gyms and play grounds around the park

Walking between the north and south lake on the east side of the park is a bit (very) noisy as you walk along the huge (traffic non stop) Phahonyotin Road. On this side there is a canal just inside the fence to the Phahonyotin Road. Canal starts when you reach the tree area coming from north and when you reach the bridge the canal turns in to the southern lake.

East side is beautiful area but the noise from the road is really bothering me and most likely the reason I didn't spotted any birds in this area. Otherwise there was nice seating arrangements at the canal but impossible to enjoy because of the noise from the traffic.

Birding/ Bird watching at Chatuchak Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Walking south on the east side of the park

Birding/ Bird watching at Chatuchak Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Walking south on the east side of the park

Birding/ Bird watching at Chatuchak Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Reaching the bridge

Birding/ Bird watching at Chatuchak Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Bridge over the south lake

Birding/ Bird watching at Chatuchak Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Looking south over the south lake

Birding/ Bird watching at Chatuchak Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Reaching the clock tower at the south entrance

Birding/ Bird watching at Chatuchak Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Looking north

Birding/ Bird watching at Chatuchak Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Walking north on the west side

Birding/ Bird watching at Chatuchak Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Tree area

Birding/ Bird watching at Chatuchak Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Tree area

A good thing with the park is that there are plenty benches and seating arrangements along to track so no problem to find a place to sit down to relax.

West side is quiet with only a few cars passing on the Kamphaeng Phet 3 Road between eBird hotspot: Chatuchak Park and Rot Fai Park (Wachira Benchatat Park) and this area is also a little bit ”treeier“. NO PLACE TO BUY WATER IN THIS PARK! Something to think about when you walk around in the blazing sun.


Suan Rot Fai bird watching map


Bird checklist

I never use any bird lists, but since I try to make it in to Cloudbirders. A very helpful site when planning your birding trips. But they ask for a bird checklist, and if I use their service, of course I want to contribute as well. My two first bird watching trip reports was rejected by Cloudbirders.

So I started to take ideas from the reports I found on Cloudbirders. So I have started to use bird lists, eBird generate one for me and I can post it on Cloudbirders. I will post my birds on eBird and on my different “BIRDS THAT I HAVE OBSERVED” pages.

Full Thai list updated to the taxonomy, nomenclature and sequence of the IOU/IOC World Bird List. The complete checklist, including Thai names and synonyms, can be downloaded in Excel format - Thailand Bird Checklist. - Version 8.2 (2018) - found at www.norththailandbirding.com

Check lists can come in handy to find out the local name of the bird etc. And Avibase have a list with pictures and sounds, excellent!

So I will post bird checklists here and if my Guides provide me with checklists I will also post them here.

Cloudbirders


Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World

Bangkok Metropolis bird checklist from Avibase, click HERE - eBird version 2018 taxonomy

Avibase is providing you with bird checklists from all over the world. And I´m impressed by their web page. Select country and area and you get the bird checklist. Like the PDF files I got from Avibase on the links above. You also get the checklist with pictures and sounds.

The best part is that you get the local names of the birds and the online checklist gives the names in English plus the language you have selected. But it seems like the PDF cannot handle some alphabet.

For example the Japanese language so it is blank in the PDF checklist. But it worked excellent with Swedish. But you get them in the local language on the online version.


Bird list

I only list birds I have got on picture on my list of OBSERVED BIRDS. But since I started using eBird I have changed a bit. I list all the birds on the eBird checklist. See the DAY TO DAY report in the itinerary below.

And you can visit my list of “Birds I have seen in Thailand” ONLY BIRDS I HAVE ON PICTURE.

Trip Report

Monday 27 July 2020 and I decide to start in the Queen Sirikit Park. And I entered at the south entrance and what a change from last time I was here. Plenty new plants and it looked like this area had received a facelift during the Wuhan Virus close down. There was one Feral Pigeon sunbathing at the entrance. Looked a little strange so I took a picture.

Walking along the track and I heard a bird sound that I have heard many times before. I go off track to see if I can find the bird and it turns out to be a male Oriental Magpie-robin and I manage to get both a picture and a sound recording.

Birding/ Bird watching at Queen Sirikit Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Feral Pigeon at the entrance

Listen to the Oriental Magpie-robin

Remarks from the Recordist

Recorded with my ZOOM H5 Handy Recorded. High Pass Filter applied with Audacity

Heard this sound many times, but I have never known what bird it was. Now I spotted a male Oriental Magpie-Robin doing the sound.

And the bird had food in the mouth while doing the crrrrrrr sound and that was strange to me.

Two recordings of the same bird put together to one recording

We can see the same bird on the recording with food in the mouth


www.xeno-canto.org
Male Oriental Magpie-robin

www.xeno-canto.org

Birding/ Bird watching at Queen Sirikit Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker

Birding/ Bird watching at Queen Sirikit Park, Bangkok, Thailand
It is a beautiful park

Birding/ Bird watching at Queen Sirikit Park, Bangkok, Thailand
It is a beautiful park

Walking through the park and the plan is to get in to the eBird hotspot: Rot Fai Park (Wachira Benchatat Park) via the Bird Wave Bridge, สะพานคลื่นนก. Approaching the Bird Wave Bridge and I decide to go to the next bridge to buy a bottle of water. The girl recognised me already when I approached and she started to scream and wave at me.

We joked for a while and I asked if she had seen any birds. She told me that there was an owl behind the kiosk.

I went back to check it out. And yes, there was a Asian barred owlet sitting in a tree. I asked about snakes before I continued further out in the scrubs to get closer to the owlet.

Asian barred owlet, Glaucidium cuculoides, นกเค้าโมง, นกเค้าแมว

Asian barred owlet, Glaucidium cuculoides, นกเค้าโมง, นกเค้าแมว
Asian barred owlet / นกเค้าโมง, นกเค้าแมว

Birding/ Bird watching at Queen Sirikit Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Today´s track at Queen Sirikit Park


eBird

eBird Report

H.M. Queen Sirikit Park (Suan Somdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit), Krung Thep Maha Nakhon [Bangkok], TH Jul 27, 2020 14:53 - 16:21
Protocol: Traveling
1.54 kilometer(s)
10 species

Feral Pigeon 4
Zebra Dove 1
Asian Koel 3 Two black birds and one greyish looking like baby in a tree. Sun against me so no good view
Asian Barred Owlet 1
Large-billed Crow 5
Black-collared Starling 1
Common Myna 11
Oriental Magpie-Robin 6
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 1
Eurasian Tree Sparrow 30

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S71863212

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

Asian Barred Owlet, I have been looking for this bird for a very long time in the park and here it was. I was happy when I left to walk back to the Bird Wave Bridge. I turned off the eBird app and I changed to eBird hotspot: H.M. Queen Sirikit Park (Suan Somdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit)

Public holiday and the park was full of people and it was impossible to walk on the bike track. But I managed to get to a group of crows drinking and bathing in some water remaining from the rain. No pictures but I managed to get a sound recording of the crows sitting in the tree above me.

Listen to the Large-billed Crow

Remarks from the Recordist

Recorded with my ZOOM H5 Handy Recorder. High Pass Filter applied with Audacity

A group of 50 crows drinking water and I record a few of them sitting above me in a tree


www.xeno-canto.org

I walk down to the traffic school to have a look for the Spotted Owlets, but no sign of them and I continue to look around for the Stork-billed Kingfisher, again, no luck. But I see one White-breasted Waterhen. I walk back towards gate #4 and I pass the Kingfisher pond.

I was surprised to see 6 Cattle Egrets as the rest of the park have been free from Egrets and Herons and they are all in a tree somewhere attending their babies. As soon as they are able to take care of them self the parents will be back in the park again and they will stay until it is time to have babies again next year.

White-breasted Waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus, นกกวัก

White-breasted Waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus, นกกวัก
White-breasted Waterhen / นกกวัก

White-breasted Waterhen, Amaurornis phoenicurus, นกกวัก
White-breasted Waterhen / นกกวัก

Common Myna, Acridotheres tristis, นกเอี้ยงสาริกา

Common Myna, Acridotheres tristis, นกเอี้ยงสาริกา
Common Myna / นกเอี้ยงสาริกา

Common Myna, Acridotheres tristis, นกเอี้ยงสาริกา
Common Myna / นกเอี้ยงสาริกา

Indochinese Roller, Burmese roller, Coracias affinis, นกตะขาบทุ่ง

Walking back towards gate 4 where I will buy a bottle of water before taking a taxi back home and I walked pass the Kingfisher pond. I had not seen any Herons and Egrets today as they are most likely off to have babies. But I spotted six Cattle Egrets at the Kingfisher ponds.

Of course, the birds needs to eat even if they attend to their babies. So I guess they are coming in for food. There was Asian Openbill storks at the pond as well and when I left they were all in the trees together with the egrets and it looked like they were preparing for the night. Coming here early morning and you can see the storks sleeping in the trees.

Eastern Cattle Egret, Bubulcus coromandus, นกยางควาย

Eastern Cattle Egret, Bubulcus coromandus, นกยางควาย
Cattle Egrets in the tree

Birding/ Bird watching at Suan Rot Fai, Bangkok, Thailand
Asian Openbill storks

Birding/ Bird watching at Suan Rot Fai, Bangkok, Thailand
Today´s track at Suan Rot Fai


eBird

eBird Report

Rot Fai Park (Wachira Benchatat Park), Krung Thep Maha Nakhon [Bangkok], TH Jul 27, 2020 4:22 PM - 5:40 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.51 kilometer(s)
12 species

Feral Pigeon 3
Zebra Dove 2
Asian Koel 3
White-breasted Waterhen 3
Asian Openbill 8
Cattle Egret 6
Indochinese Roller 2
Malaysian Pied-Fantail 2
Large-billed Crow 50 One big group drinking and bathing in water on the lawn
Common Myna 13
Great Myna 4
Oriental Magpie-Robin 6

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S71863877

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


Tuesday 28 July 2020 and I had a quick lunch and a shower coming back home from the boxing gym. I booked a GRAB and I was off to Suan Rot Fai Park again for some afternoon birding. Getting of at Gate #4 and I walked past the Kingfisher Pond. Did not see any birds at the pond except for Asian Openbills and Cattle Egrets sitting on a tree.

I left and I decided to walk to the north instead of my usual route towards the traffic school. Walking north and I turn to the west when I approach the northern gate. And I end up at an area of the park I had never been before.

Birding/ Bird watching at Suan Rot Fai, Bangkok, Thailand
Asian Openbills and Cattle Egrets

Zebra Dove, Geopelia striata, นกเขาชวา

Zebra Dove, Geopelia striata, นกเขาชวา
Zebra Dove / นกเขาชวา

Birding/ Bird watching at Suan Rot Fai, Bangkok, Thailand
Looking south over the lake

Birding/ Bird watching at Suan Rot Fai, Bangkok, Thailand
Looking south over the lake

Birding/ Bird watching at Suan Rot Fai, Bangkok, Thailand
Walking south west of the lake

Coming down to the south part of the lake on the west side of the park and I came very close to the Asian Openbill. Otherwise the park was dead regarding birds, well, of course, many Mynas and a couple of Zebra Doves. I continued south towards the Bird Wave Bridge, สะพานคลื่นนก. By the time I reach the Bird Wave Bridge, สะพานคลื่นนก I had not got any bird pictures. I tried to make a sound recording of two Rollers fighting but by the time I had my recorder up and running.

No birds, but I got some exercise out of it and it is kind of nice to walk around in the park.

Birding/ Bird watching at Suan Rot Fai, Bangkok, Thailand
Asian Openbill

Birding/ Bird watching at Suan Rot Fai, Bangkok, Thailand
Asian Openbill

Birding/ Bird watching at Suan Rot Fai, Bangkok, Thailand
Asian Openbill

I walked up the Bird Wave Bridge, สะพานคลื่นนก and I had an old guy (My age) telling me “ไม่มีอะไร” (Here is no birds) He spotted my camera and he knew that I was looking for birds. He told me about some places he had been to and he showed some pictures. He would show me a Collared Scops-owl pair in one of the trees and we walked back to the lake.

There was two Collared Scops-owls in the tree but DARN! It was next to impossible to get any pictures as the owls was sitting high up in the tree covered by leafs.

No pictures that I could use, but I could put down two Collared Scops-owls in my eBird record. He took me to show me a Spotted Owlet tree and he told me that it was one of the babies from our Spotted Owlet family at the traffic school had moved to this tree. We spotted two Spotted Owlets in the tree and I was very happy, a day with no birds had turned out quite well.

Birding/ Bird watching at Suan Rot Fai, Bangkok, Thailand

Spotted Owlet, Athene brama, นกเค้าจุด

Spotted Owlet, Athene brama, นกเค้าจุด
Spotted Owlet / นกเค้าจุด

Spotted Owlet, Athene brama, นกเค้าจุด
Spotted Owlet / นกเค้าจุด

Birding/ Bird watching at Suan Rot Fai, Bangkok, Thailand
Today´s track at Suan Rot Fai


eBird

eBird Report

Rot Fai Park (Wachira Benchatat Park), Krung Thep Maha Nakhon [Bangkok], TH Jul 28, 2020 15:03 - 17:16
Protocol: Traveling
3.29 kilometer(s)
17 species

Feral Pigeon 6
Zebra Dove 5
Asian Koel 2
Asian Openbill 7
Cattle Egret 6
Javan Pond Heron 4
Collared Scops Owl 2 Two siting in a tree
Spotted Owlet 2 Outside nest
Stork-billed Kingfisher 1 Heard only
Indochinese Roller 5 Two bird fighting
Malaysian Pied-Fantail 1
Large-billed Crow 20
Black-collared Starling 2
Asian Pied Starling 3
Common Myna 25
Great Myna 8
Oriental Magpie-Robin 5

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S71891099

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

Wednesday 29 July 2020 and I had a quick lunch and a shower coming back home from the boxing gym. I booked a GRAB and I will explore the Chatuchak Park, one of three eBird hotspots at Suan Rot Fai. I managed to find an open gate to the park and I was lucky, gate was just opposite of gate #4 to Suan Rot Fai.

The first gate I tried was not open so I had to go look for another gate.

Not many birds in the park, mostly mynas and Tree-sparrows. And you could see Feral Pigeons all over the park, hundreds of them all over the park.

Birding/ Bird watching at Chatuchak Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Eurasian Tree-sparrow

Birding/ Bird watching at Chatuchak Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Large-billed Crow

Birding/ Bird watching at Chatuchak Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Large-billed Crow

I am very thirsty by the time I reach the clock tower at the south part of the park. But no water on sale in this park and I made a mental note to bring water if I ever decide to come back here again. Walking north on the west side of the park and there is a little more shadow as there are more trees on this side of the park.

Middle of the park is kind of a forest but the trees are far apart, but the ground is very wet and like a swamp is it is rainy season so I did not want to get out walking around on the lawn.

Birding/ Bird watching at Chatuchak Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Large-billed Crow

Birding/ Bird watching at Chatuchak Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Asian Pied Starling

Birding/ Bird watching at Chatuchak Park, Bangkok, Thailand
Today´s track at Chatuchak Park


eBird

eBird Report

Chatuchak Park, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon [Bangkok], TH Jul 29, 2020 14:53 - 16:51
Protocol: Traveling
3.17 kilometer(s)
12 species

Feral Pigeon 100
Zebra Dove 2
Asian Koel 3
Malaysian Pied-Fantail 1
Large-billed Crow 6
Streak-eared Bulbul 1
Black-collared Starling 5
Asian Pied Starling 1
Common Myna 8
Great Myna 24
Oriental Magpie-Robin 4
Eurasian Tree Sparrow 50

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S71919364

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

Back at the gate and I crossed the road to Suan Rot Fai where I bought a bottle of water before going back home. The plan for today was to look for owlets in Suan Rot Fai but as I managed to find a gate to Chatuchak Park I decided to check out the park as I had never been there before. So tomorrow it will be the owls in Suan Rot Fai.

Thursday 30 July 2020 and I had a quick lunch and a shower coming back home from the boxing gym. I booked a GRAB and I was off to Suan Rot Fai Park to look for owls. I got off at Gate #4 and I walked straight to the Kingfisher Pond. Really don't know why I call it the Kingfisher Pond any more, have not seen any Kingfishers there for 5 years.

Nothing exciting at the Kingfisher Pond and I walk towards the Scops-owl toilet to look for the owls and the Stork-billed Kingfisher. I spot one Asian Pied Starling and the bird is fighting with a worm.

Pied Myna, Asian Pied Starling, Gracupica contra, นกอีแจว, Siamese Pied Myna, Gracupica floweri
Pied Myna foraging

Pied Myna, Asian Pied Starling, Gracupica contra, นกอีแจว, Siamese Pied Myna, Gracupica floweri
Pied Myna found something interesting

Pied Myna, Asian Pied Starling, Gracupica contra, นกอีแจว, Siamese Pied Myna, Gracupica floweri
Pied Myna fighting with the “snake”

Pied Myna, Asian Pied Starling, Gracupica contra, นกอีแจว, Siamese Pied Myna, Gracupica floweri
Pied Myna fighting with the “snake”

Pied Myna, Asian Pied Starling, Gracupica contra, นกอีแจว, Siamese Pied Myna, Gracupica floweri
Pied Myna with dinner

I could not see the Scops-owl today and I walked back to the traffic school where I met two bird watchers. They are waiting to see the Spotted Owlets and we have a chat. I ask them how many years they have been coming here to Suan Rot Fai Park to looks for birds. We agree that the park have become very nice the last couple of years. But there is no longer as much birds as we could see a few years ago. Of course, there are plenty Mynas and Pigeons / Doves.

While talking we could hear the Stork-billed Kingfisher calling and I went to have a look for the birds. I stepped in deep mud coming off the paved track and the only thing I saw was a Greater Coucal and the White-breasted water hen.

I walked back to the traffic school to continue our chats and as time passed very quickly it was time to get back home. I stopped at the new Spotted Owlet tree and no sign of the owlets. But I almost stepped on two Monitor Lizards making babies, or trying to make babies as I disturbed them.

I was actually sneaking up on another lizard when suddenly the two lizards in love got scared when I was almost stepping on them. I made a video just in case there would be any action.

Birding/ Bird watching at Suan Rot Fai, Bangkok, Thailand
Monitor Lizards trying to make babies

Birding/ Bird watching at Suan Rot Fai, Bangkok, Thailand
Monitor Lizards trying to make babies

Birding/ Bird watching at Suan Rot Fai, Bangkok, Thailand
Monitor Lizards trying to make babies


Birding/ Bird watching at Suan Rot Fai, Bangkok, Thailand
Asian Openbill storks

Listen to the Large-billed Crow

Remarks from the Recordist

Recorded with my ZOOM H5 Handy Recorder. High Pass Filter applied with Audacity

Bird sitting in a tree above me and make some very strange sounds.


www.xeno-canto.org

There was an Large-billed Crow in the tree above the lizards and I managed to get a sound recording when the lizards had ran away from me and the video camera. I walked back to the gate, of course looking for birds on the way but there was a very little bird action in the park.

Just doves and mynas and plenty of them. I bought a bottle of water back at the gate and I enjoyed my water sitting down watching all the people coming to enjoy the park.

Birding/ Bird watching at Suan Rot Fai, Bangkok, Thailand
Spotted Dove

Birding/ Bird watching at Suan Rot Fai, Bangkok, Thailand
Juvenile Black-collared Starling

Birding/ Bird watching at Suan Rot Fai, Bangkok, Thailand
Today´s track at Suan Rot Fai


eBird

eBird Report

Rot Fai Park (Wachira Benchatat Park), Krung Thep Maha Nakhon [Bangkok], TH Jul 30, 2020 14:44 - 17:05
Protocol: Traveling
2.43 kilometer(s)
15 species (+1 other taxa)

Feral Pigeon 18
Spotted Dove 1
Zebra Dove 1
Greater Coucal 1
Asian Koel X Heard only
White-breasted Waterhen 2
Asian Openbill 3
Cattle Egret 4
pond heron sp. 1 Winter plumage
Malaysian Pied-Fantail 1
Large-billed Crow 11
Black-collared Starling 8
Asian Pied Starling 4
Common Myna 10
Great Myna 5
Oriental Magpie-Robin 4

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S71946820

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

Back home and the plan is to visit Suan Rot Fai Park tomorrow again to have a look for the owls and the Stork-billed Kingfisher. But first boxing exercise in the morning.

Friday 31 July 2020 and I will have to go to Rayong to leave my stuff for delivery to Roy Mærsk on Map Ta Phut anchorage. Impossible to join here in Thailand so I might have to go to Malaysia to join the ship. So then it would come in handy to have my things on board already. And I made a quick decision while at Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym exercising with ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์, Red Devil.

I was pondering idea of going to Rayong tomorrow afternoon or morning, but a quick decision and I decided to go today when I was ready at Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym. A quick shower and I packed my stuff and I was off in the taxi. I called the same taxi I use when I go look for birds and I had checked Rayong on eBird and I found 2 hotspots that I want to check out.

• Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Herbal Garden

• Huai Pong
Road trip in Thailand
On our way to Rayong

Rayong, Thailand
Arrive to “MAMA” in Rayong

Rayong, Thailand
“MAMA” meet our hero

Rayong, Thailand
At FUJI

Rayong, Thailand
At FUJI

We left my condo at 12 and we arrived to Rayong 2 and a half hour later. I left my stuff with “MAMA” and her boat will bring it to Roy Maersk together with some fruit. Roy will leave for Bongkot tomorrow morning and by then my stuff will be on board.

I Brought “MAMA” to Central where we had Japanesse food at FUJI. I went to my taxi when I was ready with my afternoon snack at FUJI. First stop on the way back to Bangkok will be the eBird hotspot: Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Herbal Garden some 15 minutes away from Rayong.

eBird hotspot: Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Herbal Garden
Gate to the eBird hotspot: Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Herbal Garden

eBird hotspot: Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Herbal Garden was closed due to the Wuhan Virus. So we had to go to the next eBird hotspot, Huai Pong not far away and we reached Huai Pong in about 10 minutes. I discovered that the hotspot Huai Pong was inside an industrial area and they did not let us in to the area. So we drove to a spot just north of the hotspot.

The first bird I spot is a Olive-backed Sunbird. But I never manage to get any good picture.

Birding/ Bird watching at Huai Pong, Rayong, Thailand
Walking around the area looking for birds

Birding/ Bird watching at Huai Pong, Rayong, Thailand
Walking around the area looking for birds

Birding/ Bird watching at Huai Pong, Rayong, Thailand
Olive-backed Sunbird

Birding/ Bird watching at Huai Pong, Rayong, Thailand
Zebra Dove

Birding/ Bird watching at Huai Pong, Rayong, Thailand
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker

Golden-headed Cisticola, Cisticola exilis, Bright-capped Cisticola, นกยอดข้าวหางแพนหัวแดง

Golden-headed Cisticola, Cisticola exilis, Bright-capped Cisticola, นกยอดข้าวหางแพนหัวแดง
Golden-headed Cisticola / นกยอดข้าวหางแพนหัวแดง

Golden-headed Cisticola, Cisticola exilis, Bright-capped Cisticola, นกยอดข้าวหางแพนหัวแดง
Golden-headed Cisticola / นกยอดข้าวหางแพนหัวแดง

Birding/ Bird watching at Huai Pong, Rayong, Thailand
Scaly-breasted Munia

Birding/ Bird watching at Huai Pong, Rayong, Thailand
Scaly-breasted Munia

Birding/ Bird watching at Huai Pong, Rayong, Thailand
Scaly-breasted Munia

I had forgot my glasses back home in Bangkok so my sight left a lot to wish for. But there was a lot of birds in the area and I really enjoyed to walk around in the area. And there was a lot of birds in the high grass.

I walked around the area for an hour before it was time to leave. If you pass the area it can be worth a visit, but to drive here for birding, well, you can find other better places to look for birds.

Birding/ Bird watching at Huai Pong, Rayong, Thailand
Today´s track at Huai Pong, Rayong


eBird

eBird Report

Huai Pong, Rayong, TH Jul 31, 2020 16:57 - 17:57
Protocol: Traveling
1.87 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments: Why make this a hotspot? Inside industrial area with no access. I FORGOT MY GLASSES AT HOME!
8 species

Feral Pigeon 1
Zebra Dove 3
Racket-tailed Treepie 2
Golden-headed Cisticola 2
Common Myna 7
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 3 Sitting on a wire too far away for any good pictures
Olive-backed Sunbird 2
Scaly-breasted Munia 6

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S71973867

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

We drive to Ban Chang for our last stop before going back to Bangkok. We will stop at Homemade Pizza & Steaks Ban Chang for a pizza and I will meet my friend for a chat. Pizza on top of the Japanese food back in Rayong and of course, I had too much to eat. I did not feel very good when I left for Bangkok.

HOMEMADE PIZZA & STEAKS, BAN CHANG (บ้านฉาง)

Homemade Pizza & Steaks Ban Chang
Homemade Pizza & Steaks Ban Chang

Homemade Pizza & Steaks Ban Chang
Eating pizza

Arriving back home and I agreed with the taxi driver to come to pick me up at 6 o'clock on Sunday morning. I will go back to Phutamonton to see if they are open. Click HERE to find out if I see any birds.


Bird watching trip report



       
                  
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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