Saturday, November 30, 2013

Thailand's fishing village - Bang Ta Boon (3)

This must be one of the very "tough" birding trip I ever had! Not that the journey is tough but to id the birds that I saw really not an easy job. Most of the birds' id below are based on my best judgement, hope I got the id right.
Little Cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger)
The very first bird that we saw was a very familiar Little Cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger)
Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis)
There are lots of pole and pillar from the kelong (fishing farm) along the way, that make birding so much easier. I have not been able to get so close to this Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis) before.
Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii)
So as this Greater Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii).
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)
This is my first time seeing a Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea).
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)
Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) just landed on one of the pole.
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
A very smart Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) riding on a shoe sole!!
Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus)
I seen this Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus) yesterday at Bang Pu too.
Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus)
Another close look at Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus)
Dolphin
Since this is a birding trip, seeing these dolphin is a bonus!
Bryde's whale
Not just dolphin, I have dpouble bonus! Is a pair of Bryde's whale!
Heuglin's Gull (Larus heuglinii)
Heuglin's Gull (Larus heuglinii) - saw it at Bang Pu too.
Mongolian Gull (Larus mongolicus)
This looks like a Heuglin's Hull but bigger in size. I can only guess this is a Mongolian Gull (Larus mongolicus) anyone can confirm?
 Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
Little egret are waiting for easy meal at the floating fish farm.
Great Egret (Casmerodius albus)
A Gret egret with grey heron & brown-headed gull at the background.
Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus)
This is one of the place that you can take lots of hunting shot! This Brown Headed Gull caught a fish but dropped it at the end as the fish is just too big perhaps.
This is the trail of my trip after export my GPS log into Google Earth.




Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Thailand's fishing village - Bang Ta Boon (2)

Both view be it on top of the bridge & under the bridge equally fascinating! Perhaps, this bridge is the most significant landmark for Bang Ta Boon.
Bang Ta Boon, Thailand
What a massive construction to build a bridge across such a big river.
Fishing boat, Thailand
Fisherman are busy at work.
Fishing farm
Lots of birds have taken advantage on the pole from the kelong (Malay word describing a form of offshore platform built predominantly with wood for fishing purposes).
Fishing farm, Thailand
More birds are found around the kelong.
Fishing boat, Thailand
It was a fantastic day out at sea. The sun is about to set and is time we return to the jetty.
Sun set at Bang Ta Boon
I can't remember how many times I have click on my camera's shuttle. It was so beautiful!
Fisherman, Thailand
Is time for fisherman to return with their catches too.
Sun set at Bang Ta Boon
Sun rise to sun set.... it was a fun day out at sea.
Bang Ta Boon
Last shot of terns before it get dark.
Bang Ta Boon
Back to where we started...  (to be continued)

Friday, November 15, 2013

Thailand's fishing village - Bang Ta Boon (1)

After a day out at Bangpu watching so many gulls & terns, we drove to another coastal area and ready for more sea birds. We plan to rent a boat & do some birding at the Gulf of Thailand.
Chinese Temple, Bang Ta Boon
We arrived at Bang Ta Boon just after sun-rise.
Bang Ta Boon
Our destination is Bang Ta Boon Bay, and it was situated at the mouth of  Petchburi River.
Street Market, Bang Ta Boon
Is Friday and today is the week-end market day. Since we are going to be out in the sea until sun set, we stock up some snacks from the market. It will be great experience to relax with sea breeze, birding & biting snacks away until sun set!
Street Market, Bang Ta Boon
Different from the actual market, this week end market or farm mart is for the residents/farmers to sell their produces directly to the consumers.
Street Market, Bang Ta Boon
From vege, fish, meat to fruits. You name it, they have it.
Bang Ta Boon Mangrove Learning Resource
There's a mangrove learning resource here at Bang Ta Boon.
Petchburi River Mouth
Petchburi River flow through Kaeng Krachan National Park that I used to visit for birding and the length estimated about 210km.
Petchburi River
The village on the left of the photo is where I will take a boat out to the sea for birding.
Fisherman
The fisherman are collecting the catches from the net on the jetty.
Fish in net

Fisherman's catch

Fisherman's catch
The fishes are segregated based on types & sizes.
Fishing boat
Well, the boat is ready for boarding! Yeah!!... (to be continued)

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Seafood, Sea Birds & See Birds at Bangpu (3)

After taking shelter from the scorching hot sun in the watch tower, I head to the jetty for the gulls & terns. I'm never good at identifying sea birds especially gulls & terns! They come in so many different plumage/morph even though they are from the same species! Well, I'm so excited finally get to see so many different species of gulls & terns and at the same time, having headache to id all the different species that I saw. Do notify me if you spotted any wrong id...

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus)

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybridus)
 Whiskered tern
Little Tern (Sterna albifrons)
 Little tern
Little Cormorant(Phalacrocorax niger)
 Is late afternoon and sun setting soon. This Little Cormorant is trying the dry feathers before dark.
Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus)

Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus)

Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus)

Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus)

Brown-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus)
Brown headed gull in all the different pose. Love the lighting now & it add colour to the almost all white subjects.
Heuglin's Gull (Larus heuglinii)

Heuglin's Gull (Larus heuglinii)
There are only 2 out of thousand of terns & gulls at Bangpu. Need to spend some time to spot this Heuglin's Gull (Larus heuglinii). Once you spot them, you will not miss them as they are so different from other gulls or terns.
Brown & Black Headed Gull
Very similar to Brown headed gull, but with slightly narrower bill and more prominent dark ear-spot is this Black Headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) on the right chasing the Brown Headed Gull.
Black Headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
 Black Headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Flock of sea gulls
 The gulls & terns will visit this place every year from late October otherwise a quiet jetty.
Bangpu Nature Education Centre

Bangpu Nature Education Centre, Sea gulls
What an amazing experience to have gulls & terns all over your head right? This place give me an alternative else I'll have to travel further to remote off-shore island or Australia/New Zealand to have the same experience!
Bangpu Nature Education Centre
At Bangpu, everyone is a photographer! From DSLR, compact camera, smart phone to tablet! Everyone just can't resist to capture this special moment. Will you?