TARGET BIRDING!

Participants: Peter Ericsson and Alex Vargas
Boatman: Khun Ing (089-462309)
Place: Prasae, Klang, Rayong, and Krating Waterfall, Kichakhot National Park, Chantaburi
Date: 30th September 2010


The South-Eastern part of Thailand is an area I haven’t birded much in. The news of a River Tern showing well at Prasae, Klang in Rayong, was enough to motivate
Both Alex and myself to do the drive. We also wanted to photograph Crimson Sunbird at Kichakot National Park so we had our agenda set up for us.

We arrived at the mangroves where the boat man was waiting for us at 7 am.
The tide was starting to come in and we spared no time to get in the boat.
There were hundreds of poles out in the waters. Each one of them seemed to have a Tern on them. Someone had reported a Roseate Tern amongst the
many common terns but we scanned and scanned to no avail.

It didn’t take very long for us to spot the strikingly adorned River Tern in its full breeding plumage. My 764th bird for Thailand and a lifer as well.
The bird is very rare in Thailand and mostly pop up at inland rivers or larger lakes.
It was very approachable and we both ended up with close up shots.

Equally interesting was to see loads of waders in the area. 50-100 Terek Sandpipers were nicely lined up on fishing contraptions.
Normally I only see one here or there on mudflats or in salt pans, so this was a real treat. Some of the birds were still in breeding plumage.

We proceeded to set up our bird blinds on a smaller sand bar in hope that the tide would drive the birds to us. There was a flock of 100 Whimbrels mixed
in with several Eurasian Curlews that we were hoping to photograph. On another bar there were many smaller waders: Great Knot, Tereks, Lesser and Greater
Sand Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones, Grey Plovers and Sanderlings being the dominate ones.

Our plan wasn’t working as the bar we were on started to flood before the one with the birds on. We decided to move to another bar but as we slowly
moved our blinds forward the birds suddenly flew off. Three teenagers came walking in the water having a ‘jolly good time’, and that was it!

On the bars were also Little Terns and a White-winged Tern.

Instead we approached the Tereks who had taken to the poles and were able to get some decent shots.

After lunch we drove further towards Chantaburi province. At Kichakhot National Park they have planted some flower trees (In Thai called ‘mooak jeen, Chinese hats).
These flowers attract sunbirds and give good chance to shoot the stunningly beautiful Crimson Sunbird.
It didn’t take long to locate the trees and soon the birds. It was over cast and not that easy to get clear and clean shots but it was fun and we both ended up with some
nice images.

No general birding was done in the park but I suppose it could be worth a morning checking it out. Both Brown-throated and Olive-backed Sunbird came to the trees.
A Violet Cuckoo showed nearby, a Blue-eared Barbet called, a Grey Wagtail and Common Kingfisher showed near the small lake, and there were some Black-crested
Bulbuls in the trees.
The park had some very nice and clean bungalows. Hopefully I will be back sometime to utilize this service.

Our drive back to Bangkok went well in spite of some heavy downpours. All in all we drove 600 kilometers for the day but it was well worth it having been blessed with sights of some of God's wonderful creatures in a natural and serene setting.

Peter