Calling the cops

I had been in the resort for a couple of days before I finally saw the bird that was making a curious and monotonous deep airy sounding "tonk tonk tonk... you get the idea, it goes on for a bit! ... tonk tonk etc" - coppersmith barbet.

Two birds were initially observed, both appeared to be immature - this bird is just starting to get some red feathers under its throat. Short tailed, almost appearing top-heavy, this birds were real crackers.

...Meanwhile, back here in the north-east of England,weather conditions are looking good for this weekend, with Holy Island already holding bluethroat and icterine warbler... I bet there are a few other goodies lurking too... just need this rain to stop!

H&E

Chinese pond heron (adult)

The resort that we stayed in had several waterways and some mangrove habitat - sufficient to attract two chinese pond heron (one adult and one immature), while on the shore a single pacific reef egret would frequent at low tide.

Chinese pond heron (immature)

Pacific reef egret

Mrs G

Female gurney's pitta, Khoa Nor Chu Chi.

Look closer and see...

A couple more images from the forest at Khoa Nor Chu Chi - a record shot of banded pitta (it was VERY dark!) and a slightly better one of green broadbill. Lush.

The banded pitta image has had some blur removed from around the bird in photoshop - it is too colourful a species not to have at least a record shot posted, and was the most intriguing of the three pitta species seen on the day with Yotin. This bird was calling frequently with a deep airy "Poww!!", often perched up a foot or so from the forest floor.

The green broadbill appeared above us, calling, as we staked out a ferruginous babbler (which was less photogenic). I got a real kick out of this - a delightful species!

Early Night(jar)

Large-tailed nightjar, Khoa Nor Chu Chi.

Post gurney's pitta celebrations started well with this beauty...

Spotlight on the fan(tail)

Pied fantail was conspicuous in the resort area, with at least three territories identified during the visit.

Very vocal and active - a challenge to photograph - this species flitted around the mangrove and waterways in the resort and was rarely in one position long enough for a slow grumpy codger like myself to get the camera lined up and in focus before it was off again...

Annoyingly, the only decent shot I managed is presented here - on a pesky spotlight! How un-natural could it get? Seconds prior to this, the fantail was feeding in some nice plant (I'm afraid that's my botanical level of expertise!), but I could not get the camera on the bird quick enough.



Like their name suggests, this family does fan its' tail frequently. But not when I'm taking a picture!

A sure bet

The emerald pool was buzzing with tourist activity during my visit to Khoa Nor Chu Chi, many of which were unaware of the striking bird species that was nesting in a tree hole above them.

This red-crowned barbet was a treat, visiting the nest site every ten minutes or so - and luckily for me - utilising the same branches to perch on prior to descending to the nest hole. Quite a bulky fella' with a hefty bill to suit! One of four barbet species on the trip, but my first encounter with this delightful family.


Photographically I wish that I had brought the 500mm along with me - photo opportunities such as this would generally be worth the effort of lugging a big lens and heavy tripod along, but given the terrain and vegetation encountered, the 100mm-400mm was a better bet for general forest birding.

Whats black and yellow and has a broad bill?

Depression has set in - holidays are over and work recommences this afternoon. Boo.

To keep my spirits up a little I've started the trawl through the holiday images - not too many great shots (most species on the trip were tricky to photograph) but a lot of reasonable record images were obtained.

First up on the blog is a (in my opinion) stunning species - black-and-yellow broadbill, a great advert for Asian birding, unlike any species I've seen before. How crazy is this bird - looks almost like a cartoon character!

This male bird was photographed in the afternoon session with Yotin Meekaeo at Khoa Nor Chu Chi, one of two broadbill species seen (more on the other in a later post).

The use of fill flash was an incredible asset to the trip and will certainly be a route that I'll take for future photography. Sincere thanks go to Colin Bradshaw for the loan of his 580 speedlite unit.

The bird was picked up on call and was one of three birds seen in the vicinity. Other birds seen from this particular location included black-naped monarch, black-bellied malhoka, ochraceous and red-eyed bulbul.

I've also changed the header image for the blog - could not resist the temptation to use one of the gurney's pitta images.... more will follow for sure, including more of the male and some of the female.

Pitta Patter...

It's been a hot few days in Thailand and the birding has been just as good as the weather. I'll not beat around the bush, and I'll head straight to events of yesterday - a day out with local guide Yotin.

With an early morning pick-up I was at Khoa Nor Chu Chi by 06.30. First port of call was a site good for long-tailed nightjar - and within seconds of arriving I was admiring my second nightjar species of the trip (the first being great-eared nightjar, a huge species that has been hunting over our hotel each evening). I've not really had the opportunity to see a nightjar roosting before - and this bird did not disappoint - once you could see it - their plumage is incredibly camouflaged!

A short while late I was in a hide, with a female gurney's pitta on show immediately. Very soon it was joined by a male. OMG what a species - blue on the tail is very like the blue on a common kingfishers' back - and even in the dark gloom of the forest this was a highlight of my birding - full stop. Many photographs have been taken ( at ISO3200!!!! - it was dark) - images, no matter how grainy will appear upon my return.

If that was not good enough, two blue-winged pitta and a banded pitta (the prettiest pitta?) were observed prior to 10am, and by 11am I had been shown a red-crowned barbet visiting it's nest. This was some day!

After lunch our journey continued, exploring primary forested areas - the birds did not stop - green broad bill, yellow and black broadbill were personal highlights and the supporting cast included nine species of bulbul, eight species of babbler (including a favorite, black capped babbler), black-naped monarch, red-throated barbet, 4 tiny black-thighed falconet and, on the way out back to the hotel, calling spotted wood owl.

Needless to say the birding was the main priority of the trip and record shots are the best that will be on offer. The use of flash has been invaluable, especially in the forested areas. Details of how to contact Yotin will also appear on this blog when I return - he comes highly recommended.

The hotel itself has also been rewarding, indeed today I picked up coppersmith barbet, orange-bellied flowerpecker and a richard's pipit in the grounds.