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  My three top countries with observed bird species is: 1/2) Thailand/ Etiophia 263 species 3) United States 238 species So, I was pretty excited driving to the salt pans, will I push Thailand to the top today? I drive towards Chon Buri, but I will stay in Chachoengsao as the salt pans are west of the Bang Pakong River. The border between Chachoengsao and Chon Buri is just east of the river. Driving past the eBird hotspot continuing towards Chon Buri. I drive almost all the way to the bridge crossing the Bang Pakong River before I find a petrol station  Driving back towards west and I was soon reaching the salt pans. I left Sukhumvit Road and I got out in the wilderness to look for the Spoon-billed Sandpiper. I bring out my Canon EOS R3 with the RF 100-500mm IS USM lens from under the seat. I put the camera in the basket in front and I start the eBird app and I continue out on the salt pans. Zebra Dove, two of them are the first birds I report to eBird.  Exploring the Bang Pakong salt pans
 Black-winged Stilts
 Exploring the Bang Pakong salt pans
 Common Greenshank
 Black-winged Stilts
 Pacific Golden Plover
 Black-tailed Godwit
 Black-tailed Godwit
 Marsh Sandpiper
Thanks to dwatsonbirder at www.birdforum.net for help with the ID
 Common Greenshank
 Driving back to Sukhumvit Road
 There was a lot of waders in the area, but I never got to see the Spoon-billed Sandpiper. When I came to the of the dust road, dust when dry and it is like glue in the wet season. I discovered a lot of birds behind the embarkment between the salt pans, 3 beautiful Black-tailed Godwits and one Pacific Golden Plover. I managed to get a few pictures before I started to drive back to Sukhumvit Road. Back at Sukhumvit and I turn off my eBird app and when I choose the area, I discover that I am just next to the eBird hotspot: Bang Pakong--The Gleua Café salt pans If I had known this, I would not have bothered to turn off my eBird app. Driving along Sukhumvit Road and after 50 meters I turn off again. The first birds I see are two Great White Egrets and 5 Indian Cormorants. I take a picture of the Indian Cormorants before I start my eBird app.  Indian Cormorant
There is also two Tree Sparrows that I can report when I pass the dwellings before getting out on the dust road between the salt pans. There are a lot of waders in the salt pans but it is very hard to get close to the birds. Keeping good speed driving south and I do not care about the bird too much. I have the sun coming in from 9 o'clock and I will have the sun in the back driving back to Sukhumvit Road. Turning around and I start to drive back towards Sukhumvit keeping my eyes out for birds.  Driving back to Sukhumvit Road
 Pond Heron
 Little Cormorant
There are salt pans and some small mangroves, dead mangroves and I could spot one Pond Heron, winter plumage so not possible to give a proper ID. There was a Yellow-bellied Prinia and at least one Malaysian Pied-Fantail. A couple of Barn Swallows was flying around in the area as well. Dry season and they are busy putting rocks on the dust road, preparing for the wet season? It is a very nice area and I enjoy driving along, but today I am mostly exploring the area and I will be back leaving home earlier in the morning. And next time I will keep my eBird app running all the time using the eBird hotspot: Bang Pakong--The Gleua Café salt pans  Bird watching in the salt pans
 Driving back to Sukhumvit Road
 Putting rocks on the dust road
 Turning towards west when I am back on Sukhumvit and I take off Sukhumvit again after a minute. Driving past the Gleua Café and out on the salt pans. Again, I drive towards south not bothering about the birds. I turn around to drive back towards the Gleua Café and Sukhumvit Road with the sun in the back. I drive slowly to keep an eye out for the Spoon-billed Sandpiper. I run in to another bird watcher and he is here to look for the Spoon-billed Sandpiper. He is walking around and I ask him if he manage to get close to the birds. - Don't you flush the birds walking around? - It is hard to get close. - How did you get here? I asked - I came with a car. It is at the Café, my wife is waiting at the Café - Try your car, the birds are not scared of the car. He told me that he would try with the car. I continue and there are a lot of waders and I take pictures and I will try to ID the birds when I am back home with my books. And of course, I will seek assistance from www.birdforum.net   Red-necked Stint
 Kentish Plover
 Little Stint
 Red-necked Stint
 Whiskered Tern
 The Gleua Café salt pans
 +++++++++++++++
Sunday 12th of January 2025 and it was pitch dark when I got out on Sukhumvit Road at 6 o'clock  in the morning. And it was darn cold and I was freezing cold driving east towards Bang Pakong salt pans and the eBird hotspot: Bang Pakong--The Gleua Café salt pans
Light early Sunday morning traffic but I had to hold back on the speed because of  the temperature. I have my wind breaker but it does not help very much.
So, I work my way slowly towards east and I hope for the sun to come up over Sukhumvit Road soon so I can enjoy a few extra degrees.
 Early morning on Sukhumvit Road
 Early morning on Sukhumvit Road
 Early morning on Sukhumvit Road
 I reach the Gleua Café and I stop to bring out my camera and binoculars from under my seat. I put my helmet under the seat as I do not wear my helmet while bird watching. Driving slowly and I need to take pictures so the helmet is kept under the seat. One guy came out from the Gleua Café and I asked what time they would open. - 7 o'clock - I went inside and now I found out that the kitchen doesn’t open until 9. No tea and I left and I will be back at 9 for some pork collar. I get on my “bird watching” scooter and I start to get out towards the salt pans. One girl is coming out from the Gleua Café, running after me and she say that it is not allowed to drive out on the salt pans. A men va fan!  The salt pans from the Gleua Café
 Collecting the salt
 Collecting the salt
Very annoying and I turn around to drive back to Sukhumvit Road. I did not turn off my eBird app as I was going to drive down on the next dust road exploring the salt pans. I could report a few Zebra Doves and House Sparrows at the Gleua Café. Driving down the dust road and they are busy collecting the salt that are collected in heaps on the dry salt pan. I drive all the way down to the mangroves at Gulf of Thailand and there are a lot of birds and the first birds I get on pictures are two Common Redshanks and a Spotted Redshank   Common Redshank
 Spotted Redshank
 Grey Heron flying over the salt pans
Reaching the mangroves and there are some dwellings, but no people seen, but there was a couple of dogs. There was a small path going out in the mangroves but I did not want to get out there with my “bird watching” scooter so I turned around. I stop to try to get a picture of one female Oriental Magpie-Robin sitting on top af the remains of a dead tree. The bird dive to catch an insect “flycatcher” style. One kingfisher was flying by at a far distance and it landed in the mangrove and I reported the bird as a kingfisher s.p. as I could never ID the kingfisher.  Oriental Magpie-Robin
 Oriental Magpie-Robin
 Black-winged Stilt
Continuing back towards Sukhumvit Road and I spot another wader in one of the salt pans. I still have a hard time to see the difference between the Marsh Sandpiper and the Common Greenshank. So, I have to wait until I am back home to ID the bird. There were also some stints, they are foraging along the pans as they are very small comparing with the other waders that, well, yes, can wade on the pans. Actually, the waders cannot swim, but it looks like they are swimming when they are in deep water looking for food.  Common Greenshank
 Red-necked Stint
 Collecting the salt
 Collecting the salt
 Collecting the salt
 Common Tern
Back at the Sukhumvit Road and I turn right against the west bound traffic to Samut Prakan/ Bangkok. No helmet, but it is only for 50 meters and I turn off Sukhumvit getting out on the salt pans again. One Whiskered Tern was sitting on a stick and I got a picture. The dust road ends at a dwelling, well, a house used for something, no sign of anyone living there and I continued for 100 meters or so before the area turned in to wilderness and I drove back to Sukhumvit Road again. Turning right again, against the west bound traffic to Samut Prakan/ Bangkok. No helmet, but it is only for 50 meters and I turn off Sukhumvit getting out on the salt pans again. I was soon running in to some stints and a couple of Little Ringed Plovers in the salt pans.  Little Ringed Plover
 Little Ringed Plover
 Common Greenshank
 Marsh Sandpiper
Continuing and I am soon passing a pond with a big group of Spotted Redshanks. Again, it looked like they were swimming in the water walking on the bottom. And they stuck their arses up in the air foraging on the bottom It looked very funny when they had their arses up in the air to reach the bottom and the food. Driving all the way down to the sea side and I turn around to check out all the birds sitting in the ponds. I had just passed the birds to get better light going back towards Sukhumvit.  Spotted Redshank
 Spotted Redshank
 Gull-billed Tern
 Turning around and I was soon followed by a guy on a motorcycle. He wondered where I came from and what I did. I was also welcome to his house and we chatted for a couple of minutes before I continued along the dust road. Stopping after 20 meters or so the check out the birds on the pond. They are resting on the rocks and mudflats. There are a lot of Gull-billed Terns and many Golden and Grey Plovers. Most of the birds have the back against me so ID is not very easy. And there was a lot of stints, I have no idea if it is the little or red-necked stints, most likely both of them. And of course, a couple of Black-winged Stilts. Way too far away for any pictures, but they were good enough to ID some of the birds.  Terns and waders resting in the pond
 Black-winged Stilts
 Black-winged Stilt and Bar-tailed/Black-tailed Godwit
I had spotted one Common Kingfisher turning on the dust road from Sukhumvit. The bird sat on a branch above the water just next to the road, but the bird took off when I stopped. Coming back and I drove slowy to see if I could see the bird again. Approaching the mangroves and there was no sign of the Common Kingfisher. But I flushed a Black-capped Kingfisher that took off deeper in to the mangrove. If the Black-capped Kingfisher would have stayed I would never have spotted the bird, but now I saw the bird taking off and I could report one Black-capped Kingfisher to eBird.
 Today's track at Gleua Café salt pans
Driving back home to start the work with my bird books to ID the waders. And of course, I have www.birdforum.net as a back-up. Waders in winter uniform are not very easy to ID. I took the time to go to wash my Honda Giorno when I had dropped my camera at home. Salt pans and it is only dust roads and I really need to wash the scooter. Covered in dust and I am lucky to have a washing station around the corner.  My “bird watching” scooter gets a good scrubb
 My “bird watching” scooter gets a good scrubb
 My “bird watching” scooter is ready for new adventures
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Tuesday 14th of January 2025 and I have my lunch/ dinner when I am back home from Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym after my session with The Red Devil, ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์. I have been at the gym every day since I came back home from Costa Rica.
Well, not the second day, I could hardly walk after the first session with The Red Devil, ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์ when I came back from Costa Rica. It is slowly getting better, anyway, I had my lunch and I decided to go visit the eBird hotspot: Mueang Boran fish ponds in the afternoon. I have not been there for a long time now and there are always plenty birds in the area. I leave the paved road, Phraeksa Road Soi 8 and I get out on the gravel road getting out among the fish ponds. I stop to start my eBird app using the eBird hotspot: Mueang Boran fish ponds  Continuing along the gravel road
 Gravel road turns in to a dirt road
There are pond herons in winter plumage on the mud flats. Not possible to give any proper ID until they get their breeding plumage. There were cormorants and egrets in the wetland. The cormorants were too far away and they were reported as Little/ Indian Cormorants. There were also a couple of Great White Egrets. Driving along the gravel road and I have the fish ponds on my right-hand side and houses and wilderness on my left-hand side. There are a group of 14 terns hunting for fish in the corner of one of the fish ponds. I have no chance to ID the birds with my limited skills o terns and gulls. The birds make sounds and I make a recording. Listen to the Common Tern
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org
  Common Tern
 Common Tern
 Common Tern
 Common Tern
One of the birds landed on a stick and I got some pictures. Should be good enough for ID and coming back home I ID the bird as a Common Tern. I continue and I am soon stopping to try to get pictures of more terns, there are a lot of them a few ponds up the road. Afternoon and the ponds are between me and the sun so it is not all that easy to take the pictures. There is a line between poles in the pond and the line is full of terns. Many of the Common Terns are taking off when I stop. But a few of them stay on the line and I can get some pictures.  Common Tern
 Common Tern
 Continuing towards the Ancient City in the south and I reach a couple of houses again. I say hello when I drive past and all the people, I meet are very friendly. I stop to check out a few weavers and it turns out to be Asian Golden Weaver (ID when I was back home with my books) and I got a few pictures before I continue. Only one Common Myna seen and that was when I started. There were a group of House Sparrows as well. Now I had sparrows and I slowed down to have a look. Suddenly, one Yellow Bittern jump up on a tree just in front of me. They are usually very scared so I was surprised. But as soon as the bird discovered me it took off. But I managed to get one picture before the bird disappeared.  Asian Golden Weaver
 Asian Golden Weaver
 Yellow Bittern
 White-throated Kingfisher
 There is on pond that have mud flats close to the road. But now it was filled with water and I spotted one Little Grebe. There was also one White-throated Kingfisher sitting on a pole in the wetlands behind the pond. Continuing towards the south and I pass a couple of houses and there are a lot of dogs on the  dirt road. They all barking at me and a guy tells me not to be scared.
- They do not bite! He said. The dogs, they chase me, like they chase a car down the road. If I stop, they just stop and all interest are lost. When I start again, they  continue to run after the scooter, pretty much like throwing a stick and the dog take off to fetch the stick.
Reaching the Ancient City and I continue on the path. Previous times the path have been covered in vegetation, but now it is cleared. So, I can drive along and I flush one Yellow Bittern sitting next to the pond. Suddenly, there is a huge group of Great Mynas taking off from the vegetation. I have never seen such a big group of Mynas before, at least 60 of them. Turning around and I start to drive back towards north and Phraeksa Road again. The dogs are chasing me again, they never getting bored chasing their own tail.  Pond Heron
 Little Grebe
I stop at the pond where I had seen the White-throated Kingfisher but I could not see the kingfisher again. The kingfisher was gone but I got a piture of the Little Grebe. There was a huge group of birds flying in the horizon. First, I thought it was some waders. Flying around like a cloud changing colours and brightness like flashes, reminded me of the starling’s murmuration. I think they call the phenomenon the “black sun” Look it up on internet and you will see some fantastic videos of hundreds of thousands of starlings flying around in the sky. Well, why not, I can imbed one video down below for you to enjoy.
 A lot of terns
 A lot of terns
Checking the birds with my binoculars and it is terns flying around and I have never seen them like this before. I tried to get pictures, but I already knew that it would be for nothing. Continue towards Phraeksa Soi 8 driving past a pond, now on my left hand side and there is vegetation between me and the pond. Reaching and opening and I flush on Purple Heron taking off in to the sun shine. Purple Heron, and it is for sure not a beautiful bird and there is nothing purple with it. But I was lucky and I got to know why they call it the Purple Heron. Taking off in to the sun and the bird exploded in a metallic purple colour, just for a split second and it was unbelievably beautiful. Same with the Green Heron in America, the bird is red but it is called Green Heron. I never understood why until I spotted one in Florida. The sun hit the bird in a certain angle. For a split second, the bird exploded in green and it was very beautiful.  We haven't had country music for quite a while now
 Asian Openbill
What an experience to have got to see the Purple Heron. I am soon stopping again, two Asian Openbills standing next to the dirt road. Asian Openbill, not the most beautiful bird, but I like them. Getting a picture and I continue. Stopping again and I search the wetland with my binoculars. I discover one more Purple Heron and two Grey Herons in the wetland. There are a lot of Great White Egrets as well, but there is a big pond between me and the wetland so no pictures. Driving along the gravel road, the dirt road had turned in to a gravel road and I am thinking about the Common Kingfisher. I have not had a picture of a Common Kingfisher for a long time now. And just as I am thinking about this, I spot one Common Kingfisher. Managing to stop without flushing the kingfisher and I get a picture. The bird takes off but landing close by and I can get more pictures. Reaching the village and I stop for a chat with the villagers before I continue to Phraeksa Soi 8.  Common Kingfisher
 Common Kingfisher
 Common Kingfisher
 Common Kingfisher
 Today's track at Mueang Boran fish ponds
Turning off the eBird app and I drive back home to my bird books to see what the tern was I had seen. And I need to check the weavers and I ID the birds as Asian Golden Weaver as the top of the bill was dark. +++++++++++++++
Friday 17th of January 2025 and I have my lunch/ dinner when I am back home from Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym and my session with The Red Devil, ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์. In a good mood, did 2 rounds of clinching. I was very sore this morning after one  round of clinching yesterday.
But it is getting better by the day and I might be back to three rounds of clinching tomorrow, I will see how I feel when I come to the gym.  Maybe a wee bit too much for lunch/ dinner and I had a quickest of the quickest power naps in the afternoon and when I woke up, I left for the eBird hotspot: Mueang Boran fish ponds to see if there are any exciting birds. Driving back home from the gym and there was a huge fire out towards the fish pond. Black smoke covering a huge area and the fire was still burning when I took off for bird watching. Driving down Phraeksa Road and I make a U-turn to get back to Soi 8 and I am soon on the gravel road. I stop to prepare my camera and binoculars, putting my helmet in the basket in front of the scooter and I start my eBird app.  Female Pink-necked Green-Pigeon
 Male Pink-necked Green-Pigeon
Stopping after 100 meters, there are some pigeons sitting in one of the trees, feral pigeons? I check the birds with my binoculars and it turns out to be Pink-necked Green-Pigeon couple. I move forward about 20 meters to try to get better light and I take a few pictures before I continue. Driving through the village saying hello to everyone, they recognise me by now. I do not think there are many foreigners coming down the gravel road. I pass the small village, 10 houses on my left-hand side and pond on my right-hand side. I come to one pond where I had seen a lot of pond herons and the Common Kingfisher last time here. The pond was empty and only mud remaining. No pond herons, but I could count to 70 Asian Openbills foraging on the mud flats. Three Painted Storks and they are really huge comparing with the big Asian Openbills.  Asian Openbill
 Painted Stork
Next Monday
I spotted several Great Mynas bathing in the small pools of water remaining. There were Black-winged Stilts as well, but the best was to see all the Asian Openbills foraging, a huge group. Continuing along the gravel road keeping my eyes on the fish ponds and wet lands. I was hoping  to find some more empty fish ponds with birds foraging in the mud.
The other ponds were full of water and I stopped to search the wetlands beyond the pond and I discovered one Pheasant-tailed Jacana and there are one Grey Heron. All birds too far away for pictures but I tried with one of the two Purple Herons. The bird looked very nice hunting with its neck extended and the bird was not moving for a very long time. And the bird was in the same position when I continued. I could also report one Large-billed Crow flying over the pond.  Purple Heron hunting far away
 Common Tern
 Black Drongo and a Common Myna
 Burning in Samut Prakan
 Terns hunting for fish
 Reaching the Ancient City (Mueang Boran)
Next Monday
Reaching the Ancient City (Mueang Boran) and I did not bother to get out on the cart track today. But I could see that there was a big group of Great Mynas on the shed roof further down the cart track. I spotted two Yellow-vented Bulbuls and one parakeet was flying over me. Not possible to ID the parakeet so I reported the bird as Alexandrine/Ring-necked Parakeet in my eBird app before turning around to drive back again.  Yellow-vented Bulbul
 Dirt road turns in to a cart track at the Ancient City (Mueang Boran)
 Common Myna
Stopping to have a look at a guy in a rowing boat looking for food in the pond. He is looking for some plants looking like a snake. He held it up to shop me and I ask if it is a snake. He tells me that it is a plant and it taste very good We have a chat and I keep my eyes out for birds. There are plenty terns like the last time. Several Black Drongos and some Pond Herons. There was one Brahminy Kite flying over the ponds and I managed to get a picture. I also spotted a new LIFER, the Striated Grassbird and I got both a picture (poor, too far away) and a recording of the bird.  Looking for food
 Burning in Samut Prakan
 Pond Heron
 Looking for food
 Great Mynas in a dead tree
 Brahminy Kite
 Looking for food
 Striated Grassbird
Listen to the Striated Grassbird
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org
Listen to the Pond Heron
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org
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Sunday 19th of January 2025 and I pushed Thailand to the top last time I was out birding when I spotted the Striated Grassbird. So, my top list is as below:
1) Thailand 263 species 2) Ethiopia 266 species 3) United States 238 species 4) Sweden 163 species 5) Costa Rica 143 species Let's see if I can add something to my Thailand list today. I will go to visit the eBird hotspot: Bang Pla--Sukhumvit 119 Alley fish ponds today. I was looking at the eBird map and there is another eBird hotspot: Bang Pu--estuary E of Dan Noi a little bit further east on the highway. I cannot remember having visited this hotspot before so this is a little bit exciting. And when at the fish ponds I will have a quick look at the Bang Pla--Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodin Hospital,  another eBird hotspot.
Getting out on Sukhumvit Road heading towards East on my “bird watching” scooter. Light Sunday traffic and I was hauling arse heading towards Bang Pu. My plan is to start at the hospital so I leave Sukhumvit at Suvarnabhumi Canal Road and from there I get on the Thetsaban Bang Pu 119 approaching the hospital from the north. Pretty clever as the eBird hotspot: Bang Pla--Sukhumvit 119 Alley fish ponds is just south of the hospital. So, I will start to look for birds at the hospital when passing on my way to the fish ponds. I pass the gate to the hospital and I stop to start my eBird app. They come to ask me what I am doing here. I tell them that I come to look for birds. - Ah! The Doctor, she said pointing at the building. I did not bother to explain, I said thank you and I continued in to the area with my scooter.  Stopping to take out my binoculars from under my seat when I reach the “wilderness” area. One of the security guards come after me on a bicycle and I explain that I look for birds. - Birds! Not the Doctor! He said smiling and he left me alone. I drove down towards the trench between the hospital area and the surrounding wilderness. Driving along the road next to the trench. I see some Pond Herons and one Blue-tailed Bee-eater hunting for insects above me. I drive along the trench and there are a few Asian Openbills, and when I reach a security guard I turn around. Driving back to the beginning of the trench and I turn around again. I stop to have a look at one Pond Heron that takes off. I discover one Yellow Bittern between me and the trench. And the bird does not bother about me and I can get a picture before the bird takes off.  Driving along the trench
 Yellow Bittern
 Yellow Bittern
 Asian Openbill
 I meet a new friend
Driving back to the security guard and I turn right to check out all the purple flowers between the streets. Some House Sparrows and one Eurasian Tree Sparrow was seen before I drove back to the security guard. Spotting one Brahminy Kite so my eBird checklist is slowly building up. I end up at the entrance to the hospital, dead end and I drive back and I pass the security guard for the fourth time.
Tomorrow
Back at the entrance and I stop to turn off my eBird app before getting out on Thetsaban Bang Pu 119. Driving south for about 100 meters and I turn off the road. I stop to start my eBird app and there is one Blue-tailed Bee-eater sitting on the wire next to the road. The bird is sitting in a very bad position with the sun coming in from behind, but it is better than noting overexposing the pictures. So, the Blue-tailed Bee-eater is the first bird I can report at eBird hotspot: Bang Pla--Sukhumvit 119 Alley fish ponds today. I reach the fish ponds after a couple of hundred meters and I can spot cormorants and egrets/ herons in the ponds. And weavers in the grass between the road and the ponds.  Blue-tailed Bee-eater
 Blue-tailed Bee-eater
 Zebra Dove
 Asian Golden Weaver
 Asian Golden Weaver
Stopping to have a look on the mudflats and I spot a few waders foraging. I do not know what kind of bird it is, but I took a few pictures and I will seek assistance on www.birdforum.net. I have ID the birds as Long-toed Stints, but I need someone to confirm the ID for me.  Long-toed Stint
Thanks to Andrew Whitehouse at www.birdforum.net for confirming my ID
 Long-toed Stint
Thanks to Andrew Whitehouse at www.birdforum.net for confirming my ID
There was another wader as well, but it took off when I approached to take pictures. But I ran in to one Wood Sandpiper a few ponds up the road. There were many Black-winged stilts and Common Terns was sitting on the poles in the ponds. I could hear both the Asian Koel and the Greater Coucal, but I never sotted any of the birds. Cormorants, too far away for proper ID so I reported them as Little/Indian Cormorant in my eBird app. Small cormorants so it is either of them. Reaching the farm and I turned around as I did not want to continue, maybe private area. So, I turned around and I drove back on the cart track. The flimsy wooden bridge and then it was paved road again.  Common Tern
 Wood Sandpiper
 Wood Sandpiper
 It is a beautiful day
Driving back to Sukhumvit and I drive towards east until I can make a U-turn to drive back towards Samut Prakan. The eBird hotspot: Bang Pu--estuary E of Dan Noi is a couple of minutes’ drive towards Samut Prakan. Turning off Sukhumvit and I stop to turn on my eBird app and I drive along the gravel road and I pass something that looks like a construction site. A swimming pool surrounded by sand and palm trees and some restaurants. So, a new weekend destination for Thais to come enjoy the weekend. But it still looks to be a long time before they are ready to open the area.  Mud flats
 Mud flats
 Pirate ship?
Four Collared Kingfishers was sitting in a dead tree on the mud flats. Too far away for any pictures, but they were hunting from the dead tree. Black-winged Stilts and egrets foraging on the mud flats. There is an old wreck, at least it looks like a wreck moored to the gravel pier. Turning around to explore the rest of the area. And the area is surrounded by mangroves and we have low water now and thus mud flats around the area. Arriving here and I flushed one Black-capped Kingfisher and when I left the barge the kingfisher was back on the same pole. The bird took of when I had my camera ready.  Black-capped Kingfisher
 Black-capped Kingfisher
The Black-capped Kingfisher landed on a wire on the other side of the gravel parking area and I  followed the bird. I managed to sneak up on the bird to get a picture before it took off again, this time in to the mangrove.
I continued to explore the area and there was at least 50 Black-winged Stilts resting in one of the ponds. And there was a huge group of terns resting with the stilts. I managed to get a picture of one cormorant and I could ID the bird as a Little Cormorant. Continuing and I spot one Common Sandpiper and I am soon hearing one Collared Kingfisher.  Little Cormorant
 Little Cormorant
 Collared Kingfisher
Looking for the Collared Kingfisher and I discover the bird sitting on a branch just above the mud flats. I try to record the bird, but as soon as I start my recoding the bird turns quiet. Trying to get a picture, but the bird was really too far away for any pictures. But when the bird was there, so why not? I decided to call it a day as I had some other things to attend to in the afternoon. Driving back to Sukhumvit and I turned off my eBird app.
 Today's track at Bang Pu--estuary E of Dan Noi
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Monday 20th of January 2025 and I have to skip my session with The Red Devil, ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์ at Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym in the morning as I have some important things to do in down town Bangkok and I expect this to take a couple of hours.
I take the sky train, of course, no seats available. So, I have to stand up all the way to Bangkok, about an hour. I get on at one of the first stations on the line so the train was almost empty, but there are not many seats on the train. And I am wearing my Trump hat as it is the Trump’s inauguration, first time I wear it since the election. It was fun before the election, but after the election, not so much. Anyway, I wear my MAGA cap today. Trump’s inauguration back in 2017,
what an embarrassing performance from Swedish TV   On my way to Bangkok
 The train is arriving
 Ready to get onboard
 The train is full when we reach Bangkok
It was so nice to get off the train at NANA station. It was not so bad when we left Asok station, but it was still a terrible experience riding the train. I finished my business and I went to check out the cafe at Landmark, they are having tea by the  pot and good pastries. And I like their grilled cheese and ham baguette.
I have not been there for many years, but I kiss their grilled baguette and now when I am in town, why not take the opportunity. Instant disappointment, the cafe was not open and it looked like they were redecorating the area.  The cafe is closed
I asked around for information and there was no news on when they are going to open again. But they told me that there was a coffee shop at the reception and I went to check it out. The coffee shop was very nice, lounge style and very comfy. I do not know if this is a permanent coffee shop, or just until they open on the bottom floor. And I really don't know if they will open the coffee shop on the ground floor again. Never the mind, I took a seat in a comfy sofa and I asked for the menu. They did not have any baguettes, only croissants. This was a disappointment, but as I was here, I ordered two grilled cheese/ ham croissants. And they only had one so it was one with cheese only.  New coffee shop at Landmark Hotel
 New coffee shop at Landmark Hotel
I asked for two different pastries, one toffee and one Trump cake. The croissants were, well, I  remember the baguettes as much better. But it was OK and the tea was perfect.
The pastries were very good, especially the Trump cake. My diet went straight down  the drain and I decided to drive to have my daily session with The Red Devil, ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์ at Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym in the afternoon.
Paying the bill and it was a wee bit difficult to get out of the sofa, I was full, but feeling good.  Trump’s inauguration party
 Trump’s inauguration party
 Trump’s inauguration party
Trump cake
 Getting back out on Sukhumvit Road and I stumble down Sukhumvit Road to NANA sky train station. I had bought a two way ticket at Samut Prakan (saving 40 Baht) so I went through the toll gate and taking the escalator up to the platform. Waiting for a few minutes before the train arrived and I enjoyed the view. It is not so long ago I was at lower Sukhumvit, a couple of years and I could hardly recognise the area with all the new sky scrapers that have popped up in the area. Not so much people on the train after Ekkamai and I found a seat so the trip was not so bad. By the time we approached Samut Prakan the train was almost empty. If every train trip would have been like this it would have been a joy riding around Bangkok. I get  off the train in Samut Prakan and I spent the afternoon at Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym.
Trump’s inauguration was worth celebrating, and the cake tasted very good. But now I need to exercise to lose the pastries the hard way.  Going back home
 Train almost empty approaching Samut Prakan
I will go to have a look in the Samut Prakan area and you just need to click HERE to find out if I see any birds or any other excitements  
    
  You are visitor no.
To www.aladdin.st since December 2005
Visitors from different countries since 26th of September 2011
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