Thursday, September 20, 2018

Oriental Pied Hornbill Picky About Snail

While on my way to Hide 1D from the Main Bridge of SBWR, spotted this Oriental Pied Hornbill caught an african snail. Like other hornbill, as their bill is much longer than other birds they can't manipulate their food with their tounge. So they have to toss the food caught directly to their throat.
Oriental Pied Hornbill
Seeing an Oriental Pied Hornbilll on the ground is uncommon and getting to see this male hornbill catch the prey on the ground is even epic.
Oriental Pied Hornbill
After the 1st toss, the hornbill manage to move the snail to the middle of his bill.
Oriental Pied Hornbill
The hornbill continue to jerk his head and move the snail further in.
Oriental Pied Hornbill
The hornbill crushed the shell of the snail in the process. Not sure if this is by purpose to de-shell it or accidentally.
Oriental Pied Hornbill
The hornbill repeat the tossing process with the half 'naked' snail.
Oriental Pied Hornbill

Oriental Pied Hornbill
The hornbill miss the snail and fell off it's grip.
Oriental Pied Hornbill
The hornbill pick it up again and I didn't realise is the different snail until I take a closer look while processing the photos.
Oriental Pied Hornbill
This time round, the hornbill decided to go somewhere else to enjoy his meal lead me one big question unanswered. Is the hornbill dropped the half 'naked' snail by purpose or accidentally. Could it be the hornbill become picky when the food is abundant?

Saturday, September 15, 2018

Migratory Birds Arrived at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

I was told that migratory birds have started to arrive at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (SBWR). Is rather early this year, so I made a trip there on 2 September.
estuarine crocodile
 Is getting easier to spot crocodile in  SBWR. I saw this huge crocodile at the main bridge.
estuarine crocodile
 Not just one but 2 at the main bridge.
purple heron (Ardea purpurea)
 This very colorful Purple heron patiently waiting for fish to swim near the river bank.
little egret (Egretta garzetta)
 Different from the Purple heron, this little egret is more active in finding food.
Painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala)
 Painted stork taking a rest with both leg down.
Common redshank
 This Red Shank is one of the early batch of migratory birds that arrived in Singapore.
Common redshank

collared kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)
 Other than migratory birds, I saw a pair of Collared Kingfisher.
Flying dragon
 A flying dragon
Sea Almond tree
Twice a year, Sea almond tree shed their leaves. This is closet to autumn that we can get here in tropical.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Last Birding Stop Before Leaving for airport at Pak Phli

After 5 days of birding in Thailand, is time to go back to Singapore. While on our way to airport, we have about 2 hours to spare so we make a pit stop at Pak Phli.
Pak Phli
There are 2 different habitats in this area. We should be able to see open country birds.
Pak Phli, buffolo
As well as water birds since this is also a paddies field.
Red-wattled lapwing
One of the most common lapwing in Thailand is this Red-wattled lapwing. You will not miss it in any open country area.
Green bee-eater
Another common open country bird that we saw is this Green bee-eater.
Blue tailed bee-eater
Migratory Blue tailed bee-eater has also arrived here in Thailand.
Asian pied starling
Asian pied starling may not be common in Singapore, but they are very common here in Thailand.
Little Cormorant
Little Cormorant getting sunlight to help speed up the drying of the feathers.
Pond heron
Pond heron is fishing from the top of lotus leaf.
Black drongo
This Black drongo took few attempts before able to perch steadily on top of the lotus flower bud.
Black-shouldered kite
Another common bird of prey of open country is this Black-shouldered kite.
Watercock
One of the rare find of this trip will be this Watercock in breeding plumage! Can't wait to coma back to Thailand for more birding soon.

Sunday, September 9, 2018

Day Trip to Khao Yai National Park

I can't exactly remember how many times have I visited Khao Yai National Park. Every visit is unique and we get to see different wild life in this very popular national park.

August is the low season in the national park due to the monsoon and the weather is usually wet. We arrived at the view point around 7.45am. There are high chance to see hornbills fly pass the view point.
Green bill malkoha
 Green bill malkoha was the first appear right in front of us.
Wreathed hornbill
Is our lucky day and we saw the Wreathed Hornbill fly pass the view point.
Oriental Pied Hornbill
 Hornbill after hornbill... Oriental Pied Hornbill also made their appearance.
Great hornbill
 We are spoil for choice. Rather be late than never, Great hornbill made its appearance too.
Blue Pitta
This blue pitta cross the road at the right time! Just when we stop for our morning coffee, so lucky to see the pitta crossing the road!

After the rain, is the show time for butterfly. This is the same butterfly, view from the top and the bottom is so much different.
Pileated gibbon
 Follow the loud territorial call, we managed to locate this Pileated gibbon family.
Pileated gibbon
 They are here for the fruits.
Sambar deer
Sambar deer is the larger deer in the park.
Barking deer
Barking deer ( Muntjac ) is the smaller deer in the park.

Although it rain in the morning, not a bad day after all. We get to see so many wildlife.

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Backyard Birding at Pak Chong

After the excitement at Hup Pa Tat, we move to our next stop - Pak Chong. It will be at least another 4 hours journey.

As usual, we stop along the way for buying some local fruits and lunch. It was about 2.30pm when we reached Pak Chong. After check-in to our accommodation and left our luggage. We start our birding around Pak Chong.
Greater Coucal
What an unexpected find of this Greater Coucal out in the open. There is another bird on top of the tree - a Hoopoe. Fly away before I could take any shot.
Spotted Owlet
 Another unexpected find! This Spotted Owlet was out from the nest to greet us!
Sooty-headed Bulbul
The temperature rising after the rain and these birds just know how to cold themselves off. SUch as this Sooty-headed Bulbul.
Scaly Breasted Munia
 More birds join the fun - flock of Scaly Breasted Munia.
Red-wattled Lapwing
 This Red-wattled Lapwing as noisy as usual. From far we know her existence.
Indian Roller
Just before we go to our next destination - Pak Chong Market, we saw this Indian Roller pose nicely for us to shoot. Not bad for a short birding session at Pak Chong.

Monday, September 3, 2018

Hup Pa Tat Limestone Cave of Thailand

After the wet day at Huai Kha Kheang Wildlife Sanctuary. The weather seem clear this morning and we are going to Hup Pa Tat to look for an elusive bird that only forage for food around limestone wall.
Hup Pa Tat
Limestone cliff can be seen from the junction to Hup Pa Tat.
A very traditional gate on the way to Hup Pa Tat.
Hup Pa Tat
Is always a good idea to know the assembly area in the event of emergency.
Hup Pa Tat

Hup Pa Tat
There are actually quite a number of things to see here, due to time constraint our only target for today is an elusive wren babbler.
Hup Pa Tat
There are lots of cycad plants on to wall on top of us.
Hup Pa Tat
To get to the potential birding area, we need to follow the trail to lead us straight to the limestone.
Hup Pa Tat
Nice scenery along the trail.
Hup Pa Tat Limestone Cave
The potential birding spot is in the valley and we will need to go through a cave that is about 200m long.
Hup Pa Tat Limestone Cave
There are lots of bats on top of our heads and we try not to wake them up.
Hup Pa Tat Limestone Cave
Is a short walk and we see light at the other end.
Hup Pa Tat Limestone Cave

We meet a local resident and he point us the birding location. And true enough we get to see our target bird - Greyish Limestone-babbler (Turdinus crispifrons) in less than 5 minutes.
White-rumped shama
We have a bonus bird - White-rumped shama
Greyish Limestone-babbler (Turdinus crispifrons)
This is our target bird - Greyish Limestone-babbler (Turdinus crispifrons). We get our job done and happily we start our long drive to Pakchong to get ready for Khaoyai tomorrow!