Changeable Hawk Eagle Taking Shower

We expect rain but didn't expect such a heavy rain when we decided to come to Thailand during the month of August. Well, I guess is just blessing from the sky. We get to witness some rare sighting in Huai Kha Kheang Wildlife Sanctuary!

We spotted this Changeable Hawk Eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus) just as the rain started to pour from the sky. The bird looks stunned too and is definitely not the good time to hunt for food.

After few short flight, the eagle decided to embrace the rain.

Instead of wasting energy looking for food in the heavy storm, the eagle spread her wing in the rain.

 The eagle is taking shower in with the rain water.

 The eagle spread her wing to the max and let the rain water washes every inch of her feathers.

 The eagle spread her wing for more than 10 minutes until the rain subside.

 The eagle is totally enjoying the rain!

Look so fresh after the shower. After preening, the eagle is good to go again.

Huai Kha Kheang Wildlife Sanctury

As soon as we are out of the Arrival Hall of Bangkok Airport, we head to the direction of North East to Huai Kha Kheang Wildlife Sanctury.

Since, it will be at least another 4-6 hours away we stop by Uthai Thani  to buy some local fruits to eat along the way.

We bought some longan

and rambutans.

Besides fruits, we also stop for lunch. We have this vege with Japanese tofu.

Spice pork with eggplants

and egg omelette to go with Thai Jasmine rice.

We finally arrive at Huai Kha Kheang after the long drive.

This is not my first time here, however I don't remember seeing this building before. Is the newly built visitor center.

 Can't wait to check it out what we will find for this trip.

The last time when I visit here, is their drought period in the summer and appear very dry. This time round is during their monsoon raining period.

The plant here looks so lively during this wet season. The sky quickly turn gloomy and follow by heavy rain. We have no choice but pause our birding temporarily. Hopefully more things to see after the rain...

Birding at Chinese Garden

With summer at northern hemisphere slowly slipping away, which means we should be expecting the return of the migratory birds back in Singapore soon. Is time to be out in the field to look out for them. I usually go to Singapore Botanic Garden (SBG) to look for the sign of their arrival, but I go to Chinese Garden this time instead.

The 1st bird that welcome me is this female Pink Necked Green Pigeon.

Hiding behind the bush is the male with the distinctive pink neck. Is the male more shy than female?

Carpenter bee is busy collecting pollen from flower to flower.

Spot this female Olive Backed Sunbird preening with the cover of thick foliage.

I guess landing on the top of the tree need some practice?

Compare to Grey Heron, I find Purple Heron more attractive and elegance.

These 2 are Pacific Swallow and not the migratory Barn Swallow.

This pair of Collared Kingfisher keep showing me their back. Each time I move to the front, they will turn their back on me. What a shy bird... haha

Like many of us, we just don't feel comfortable with others watching while having our meal. So as this pair of kingfisher.

This Grey Heron stay as still as a statue waiting for the fish to swim nearer to her direction.

This Changeable lizard is feeding on the ants on the tree trunk.

What a cute Plantain Squirrel feeding on the grass.

Still no sign of any migratory birds yet, they should start to come in in the following week or so. I will try another park next week hope to see my favorite Asian Paradise Flycatcher again.