Reopening of Chinese Garden

After more than 10 years of redecoration and refurbishment, the Chinese Garden has finally reopened its doors to visitors. It is an excellent location for a leisurely stroll in the garden.

The old wooden bridge that led to the entrance of the garden has now been replaced with a new concrete bridge.

A lot has changed, including the resident birds in the garden. The usual spot for the Collared Kingfisher can no longer be found.

Pied fantails, which were previously abundant in this area, are no longer observed.

Hopefully Little Terns that are found here previously will be back soon.

Due to the scavenging nature of Monitor lizards, it seems that they are not affected by the works here.

It is a relief that common birds such as the Spotted Dove have returned to his garden.

Dollar birds can be seen here actively hunting for flying insects.

One of the new addition to the garden is this green walls

and the Sunken Garden.

The Lotus Lake at The Tea Pavilion provides a peaceful atmosphere.

White Breasted Waterhen can be spotted walking freely on the leaves of the lotus plant.

Butterflies are attracted to the Cat Whiskers plants around the garden.

Many different varieties of Water Lily families can also be found in the garden. From white 
to yellow

Red

and pink.

For an optimal birding experience, this garden may require an additional year or so to become established and mature in order to re-attract the feathered friends that once called it home. Nonetheless, it is a pleasant location for a stroll in the garden.

First Oversea Wildlife Trip 2024 (2)

After enjoying the delicious Khao Soi curry noodles, which are unique to Northern Thailand, we continue our journey southward to Lamphun province. Our goal is to observe any raptors that may be found around the paddy fields near Ban Thi.

I am particularly excited about this wildlife trip as it is my first oversea trip in 2024. I am also grateful to have overseas friends, Euphtw, joining me in exploring the wildlife of North Thailand.

The first photo I took with my dslr camera was of a pair of Red-wattled Lapwings.

I spotted a pipit swiftly running through the ridges of the paddy field and disappearing from my sight before I could zoom in closer. It reminded me of the famous cartoon character, Road Runner.

I also saw another bird, the Oriental Skylark, which looks very similar to the pipit and is commonly found in open country areas.

I used to call this bird the Siberian Stonechat, but due to a recent classification change, I am unsure if it is still referred to as the Siberian Stonechat or if it is now called the Amur Stonechat.

I found another familiar bird, the Gray-backed Shrike, seeking shelter under the shade on a hot afternoon.

To my surprise, I witnessed a pond-heron catching a snake. As I zoomed in with my camera, I realised that the snake was actually an eel.

Another bird that I am familiar with, the Indian Roller, is now known as the Indochinese Roller.

I managed to catch a glimpse of a Brown Shrike before it flew away.

Unfortunately, I had no luck spotting any raptors this afternoon. The weather was too hot, and they were most likely soaring high above in the hot thermal currents. Instead, I captured a photo of a flock of Rock Pigeons.