Birding/ Bird watching at Bang Pu Recreation Center, สถานตากอากาศบางปู, Thailand

OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.

Jiffy (also jiff)

noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.

So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!

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E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.

Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.

Birding/ Bird watching in Bangkok, Thailand

Sunday 7 ^th of January 2024 and my friend have invited me for BBQ in Samut Prakan. So, I decided to start the day with bird watching at Bang Pu (บางปู), Bang Pu Recreation Center (สถานตากอากาศบางปู) a couple of minutes by taxi from my friend's house.

And I have not been at Bang Pu Recreation Center (สถานตากอากาศบางปู) for a long time, so it is about time to revisit the eBird hotspot.

I booked a taxi via Lineman and as it is early Sunday morning it did not take a long time before I had a taxi.

Light traffic and I could turn on my eBird app at 07:34 and I will start by exploring the western area of Bang Pu Recreation Center (สถานตากอากาศบางปู) and I will use the taxi so the driver just left the meter running.

Black-capped Kingfisher/ นกกะเต็นหัวดำ

The first bird we stopped for was a Black-capped Kingfisher (นกกะเต็นหัวดำ) sitting in a tree in the mangroves. We had of course seen mynas and pigeons but I had not bothered to stop.

The Black-capped Kingfisher (นกกะเต็นหัวดำ) was too far away for any good pictures, but I kept it for ID purposes.

We moved along and I asked the driver to stop again after 10 meters or so, three Pink-necked Green-Pigeon (นกเปล้าคอสีม่วง) sitting in the top of a tree in the mangroves. Again, too far away for any good pictures.

Male Pink-necked Green-Pigeon/ นกเปล้าคอสีม่วง

Male Pink-necked Green-Pigeon/ นกเปล้าคอสีม่วง

Female Pink-necked Green-Pigeon/ นกเปล้าคอสีม่วง

Streak-eared Bulbul/ นกปรอดสวน

Streak-eared Bulbul/ นกปรอดสวน

We moved along but we were soon stopping again to take some pictures of two Streak-eared Bulbuls (นกปรอดสวน) sitting in a tree next to the mangrove. I spotted one Collared Kingfisher and we tried to get close for pictures but I failed to get any good pictures.

We are moving along the ponds and mangroves and we turn around when we reach the North Western corner. Moving south and I spotted one Great Egret (นกยางโทนใหญ่) in the pond and it came quite close so I could get a picture.

I spotted one Purple Heron (นกกระสาแดง) on the far end of the pond so it was way too far away for any picture. But I took a picture to confirm that it was a Purple Heron (นกกระสาแดง) and not a Grey Heron.

Collared Kingfisher/ นกกินเปี้ยว

Great Egret/ นกยางโทนใหญ่

Purple Heron/ นกกระสาแดง

We drove back towards west passing the mudflats and I spotted 3 waders on the mudflats. One Little-ringed Plover and two Wood Sandpipers (นกชายเลนน้ำจืด) I get out on the mudflats using the board walk to try to get closer to the birds.

The plover takes off and the Wood Sandpipers (นกชายเลนน้ำจืด) takes off before I can get any pictures. I get one photo and the birds are gone and I go back to the taxi.

We turn left at the first street and we are going back east between the mangroves and there are some pond herons hunting in one of the ponds.

Wood Sandpiper/ นกชายเลนน้ำจืด

Pond Heron

Winter plumage so no proper ID

Pond Heron

Winter plumage so no proper ID

Great Egret/ นกยางโทนใหญ่

Collared Kingfisher/ นกกินเปี้ยว

Striated Heron/ นกยางเขียว

We reach the eastern side and I spot another Collared Kingfisher (นกกินเปี้ยว) and we try to get pictures. We make a U-turn and we go back towards the east again. We drive slowly and I spot one Striated Heron (นกยางเขียว) and we go back so I can get a picture.

We continue towards east and we turn towards north to check out an Asian Koel. The Asian Koel takes off when we turn in to the narrow street. We are soon stopping to take a picture of two Scaly-breasted Munias (นกกระติ๊ดขี้หมู) foraging next to the road.

We continue and the Asian Koel is coming back and lands in the tree. Turns out that there is some fruits in the tree that the bird like to eat.

Scaly-breasted Munia/ นกกระติ๊ดขี้หมู

Asian Koel/ นกกาเหว่า

Asian Koel/ นกกาเหว่า

Asian Koel/ นกกาเหว่า

Female and male Pink-necked Green-Pigeon/ นกเปล้าคอสีม่วง

Female Pink-necked Green-Pigeon/ นกเปล้าคอสีม่วง

Sunbird

There were three Pink-necked Green-Pigeon (นกเปล้าคอสีม่วง) in top of a three. I had spotted many Pink-necked Green-Pigeon (นกเปล้าคอสีม่วง) but I only reported 5 as I am not 100% sure it is not the same birds previously seen.

There is one sunbird next to the road, but as the bird have the back against me so I am not sure if it is a Brown-throated or an Olive-backed Sunbird.

The taxi dropped me at the pier and I will do walking to explore the rest of the Bang Pu Recreation Center (สถานตากอากาศบางปู)

I get out on the pier and I am soon discovering hundreds of gulls and terns

Walking out on the pier

Walking out on the pier

Brahminy Kite/ เหยี่ยวแดง

I was busy with hundreds of gulls and terns when I saw one big bird approach. I had not any raptors in mind so I looked up in the sky thinking maybe a crow.

The bird came close and it was a raptor, but by the time I had my camera ready for sky pictures the bird had passed and I only got a picture from behind.

But I am pretty sure it is a juvenile Brahminy Kite (เหยี่ยวแดง)

There were hundreds of gulls and terns next to the pier and it was not easy to take pictures of the birds flying around. They were sitting down on bamboo pools but they took off when I approached. There were people watching the birds so I do not think it was me flushing the birds.

Brown-headed Gull/ นกนางนวลธรรมดา

Brown-headed Gull/ นกนางนวลธรรมดา

Brown-headed Gull/ นกนางนวลธรรมดา

Whiskered Tern/ นกนางนวลแกลบเคราขาว

Whiskered Tern/ นกนางนวลแกลบเคราขาว

Whiskered Tern/ นกนางนวลแกลบเคราขาว

Whiskered Tern/ นกนางนวลแกลบเคราขาว

I left the pier to go explore the mangroves on the eastern part of the Bang Pu Recreation Center (สถานตากอากาศบางปู) and I walk long the sea front. I can hear several Collared Kingfishers in the mangrove, but I cannot see any of them.

I sent a message to my friend that I would show up around 10 thirty or so. I will walk around the ponds on the eastern part before going back.

It was hot, but not too bad and I enjoyed walking around the area. I spotted many Painted Storks flying high above the Bang Pu Recreation Center (สถานตากอากาศบางปู). And there were many egrets and cormorants flying around.

I get a picture from my friend, BBQ is prepared

Walking along the water front

Walking along the water front

Digital Prison

I leave the water front crossing in to the ponds on a new walk bridge that I had never seen before. There are a couple of waders, sandpipers that take off when cross the bridge. Not possible to ID the birds.

I walk along one of the ponds and I can see Painted Storks through the trees. They were in the pond and suddenly they were flushed and I counted 54 Painted Storks taking off.

And suddenly the sky was full of Grey Herons flushed from the pond. But no opportunities to take any pictures. The pond was covered by the mangroves and you could only see the birds through the trees. There are some “unmaintained” hides.

Little Cormorant/ นกกาน้ำเล็ก

Little Cormorant/ นกกาน้ำเล็ก

Little Cormorant/ นกกาน้ำเล็ก

Little Cormorant/ นกกาน้ำเล็ก

I could see one Little Cormorant (นกกาน้ำเล็ก) sitting in top of a tree and the bird did not mind me when I came close so I could get some pictures. here were many cormorants in the area. This was the only one I got close enough to for picture so I could ID.

I booked a Lineman taxi when I was back at the visitor centre and I sent a message to my friend. I will be there in 20 minutes.

eBird Report

Bang Pu--Recreation Center, Samut Prakan, TH
Jan 7, 2024 07:34 - 10:03
Protocol: Traveling
6.02 kilometer(s)
27 species (+4 other taxa)

Feral Pigeon X
Red Collared Dove 5
Zebra Dove 1
Pink-necked Green-Pigeon 5 At least 5, most likely 11. Did not report last birds as it might be the same
Asian Koel X Heard all over
Black-winged Stilt 6
Little Ringed Plover 1
Wood Sandpiper 2
shorebird sp. 3 In the mangroves, not possible for me to ID
Brown-headed Gull 100 Hundreds, not possible to give an accurate count
Whiskered Tern X Hundreds of terns, not possible to count
Painted Stork 82 One group with7 and one group of 21 flying. Pkus one group of 54 taking off from one of the ponds
Little Cormorant 1 There were many cormorants in the area. This was the only one I got close enough to for picture so I could ID
cormorant sp. 33 One big group of 27 fly over. Too far away for proper ID
Little Egret 17 One big group of 11
Striated Heron 1
pond heron sp. 6
Great White Egret 11
Grey Heron 5
Purple Heron 1
Brahminy Kite 1 Juvenile
Black-capped Kingfisher 1
Collared Kingfisher 2 Two seen, many heard in the mangroves
Coppersmith Barbet 1
Malaysian Pied-Fantail 3
Streak-eared Bulbul 2
Common Myna 6
Great Myna 2
sunbird sp. 1 The bird was between me and the sun showing the back only so no proper ID
Scaly-breasted Munia 2
Eurasian Tree Sparrow 2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S158313574

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Today's track at Bang Pu Recreation Center (สถานตากอากาศบางปู)

I stopped at Makro on the way and I had to spend some time to find my friend’s house. The tea was ready when I arrived and the BBQ was going and we could soon start to eat.

Pork Collar, my favourite and we were eating a lot together with a barrel of tea. The food was good and my friend was happy, he was worried that it would not be as good as when I do the BBQ.

We finished the food and we booked a Lineman taxi to go to the gold shop at Big C. I will cover my new Kuman Thong (กุมารทอง) amulet.

BBQ

BBQ

Kuman Thong (กุมารทอง)

Kuman Thong is a household divinity of Thai folk religion. It is believed to bring luck and fortune to the owner if properly revered. Kuman, or Kumara (Pali) means "Sanctified young boy" (female kumari); thong means golden.

These beings are often worshipped to obey their worshippers for personal gains, protection, wealth and harm in some cases. It is believed to have consequences to each request.

Description
The veneration of Kuman Thong is not part of mainstream Buddhist practices, but it is popular in Thailand. Mainstream Buddhism does not recognize such practice. However, due to the widespread belief in animism in Thailand, Kuman Thong adopted Buddhist beliefs and mixed the two together.

Origins
The authentic Kuman Thong originated in a practice of necromancy. They were obtained from the desiccated fetuses of children who had died whilst still in their mothers' womb. The witch doctors were said to have the power to invoke these stillborn babies, adopt them as their children, and use them to help them in their endeavours.

According to ancient Thai manuscripts used by practitioners of black magic (Thai: ไสยศาสตร์ Saiyasat), first the unborn fetus was surgically removed from the womb of its mother. Then the body of the child would be taken to a cemetery for the conduction of the proper ceremonial ritual to invoke a Kuman Thong. The body was roasted until dry whilst the witch doctor chanted incantations of magical script.

Once the rite was completed, the dry-roasted Kuman was painted with Ya Lak (a kind of lacquer used to cover amulets and Takrut with gold leaf).

Thus this effigy received the name of “Kuman Thong”, meaning “Golden Little Boy”.

Some Kuman effigies were soaked in Nam Man Phrai, a kind of oil extracted by burning a candle close to the chin of a dead child or a person who died in violent circumstances or an unnatural death. This is much less common now, because this practice is now illegal if using fat from human babies for the consecrating oil.

Occasionally there are still some amulets obtained through the authentic methods appearing in the market. Some years ago, a famous monk was expelled from the Buddhist Sangha for roasting a baby. He was convicted, but later continued to make magic as a layperson after his release.

Kuman Nee
In the case of a female spirit child, the effigy is not called Kuman Thong, but Kuman Nee

In literature
The Kuman Thong is mentioned in the Thai legend of Khun Chang Khun Phaen, where the character Khun Phaen made one by removing the stillborn baby from the stomach of his wife, whom he had killed.

Recent events
On May 18, 2012 a 28-year-old British citizen of Taiwanese origin, Chow Hok Kuen, was arrested in a Bangkok hotel room with six male fetuses that had been roasted and covered in gold. Police reported that Kuen intended to sell the fetuses in Taiwan for about 6,300 USD each.

In 2011, a case was reported in Laos of a man murdering his pregnant wife, so as to use the fetus as a "Louk Lord" under village shaman direction.

Hyper-realistic dolls of children (but not made out of real children), "Luk Thep" or "Look Thep" ("child angel"), have recently (2015) become popular in Thailand. Some people believe the dolls can be injected with the spirit of a child after being blessed by a Buddhist monk.

Their owners provide such care as food, water and clothes "in the hope of receiving good fortune in return", and some companies offer owners of the dolls the option to reserve them their own seats and services.

On 27 February 2021, a Vietnamese YouTuber, Thơ Nguyễn [vi] posted a video on asking for a "fora" from a Kuman Thong. This video was posted on TikTok. After being posted, Thơ Nguyễn's video immediately encountered a wave of strong protests from parents.

She was summoned by the Internal Political Security Department under the Ministry of Public Security, citing anti-superstition laws. On 16 March, she was fined VND 7.5 million for providing and sharing information that promotes superstition.

We had a massage, in a massage chair while waiting for the gold shop to make the cover. And when we went to pick up the Kuman Thong (กุมารทอง) amulet. We discovered a mistake and they had to redo the job. I also had one Kuman Thong (กุมารทอง) statue that I carried in a paper box.

Me and my friend decided to take a taxi to the “holy” shops around the Giant Swing (เสาชิงช้า)

We have been there before to buy displays for our holy statues. So, my friend was waiting in the taxi while I went to buy the display and we were soon on our way back to Big C in Samut Prakan to pick up my amulet. We stopped at my condo to leave my camera and birding equipment.

And of course, I left the Kuman Thong (กุมารทอง) statue as well.

The Giant Swing /เสาชิงช้า

The Giant Swing is a religious structure in Sao Chingcha Subdistrict, Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok, Thailand. Located in front of Wat Suthat, it was formerly used in an old Brahmin ceremony, and is one of Bangkok's tourist attractions.

History
The Giant Swing was constructed in 1784 in front of the Devasathan shrine by King Rama I. During the reign of Rama II the swing ceremony was discontinued as the swing had become structurally damaged by lightning. In 1920 it was renovated and moved to its current location in order to make space for a gas plant.

The ceremony was again performed until 1935, when it was discontinued after several fatal accidents.

The last renovations were done in 1959, and after 45 years of exposure to the elements, the wooden pillars were showing signs of serious damage. A major reconstruction began in April 2005. Six teak tree trunks were used. The two used for the main structure of the swing are over 3.5 m in circumference and over 30m in height.

The remaining four are used for support and have a circumference of 2.30 metres and a height of 20 metres.

The swing was taken down in late October 2006 and the work finished in December of the same year. The rebuilt swing was dedicated in royal ceremonies presided over by King Bhumibol Adulyadej in September 2007.

The timbers of the original swing are preserved in the Bangkok National Museum.

In 2005, the Giant Swing, together with Wat Suthat, was proposed as a future UNESCO World Heritage site.

My Kuman Thong (กุมารทอง) amulet

My amulet was ready when we were back and we crossed Sukhumvit to go have tea at S & P at Robinson Lifestyle Plaza. We ordered two pots of tea and 4 slices of cake on TWO plates. They have one cake in the menu and it is a very good cake.

We enjoyed our tea and then suddenly, something went wrong. We had finished the excellent cake and I ordered two pieces of blueberry pie. They brought two plates with two slices on each plate.

Well, we did not complain. They had put whipping cream on my plate as the blueberry pie is not served with whipping cream. It tasted very good as always on S & P.

Delicious cake

Blueberry pie

The scariest video I have seen in a very long time

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I have decided to leave Sukhumvit Soi 23 and to move to Samut Prakan, close to Bang Pu (บางปู) and the Bang Pu Recreation Center (สถานตากอากาศบางปู) so bird watching is just a few minutes away. So, no bird watching for a few days until I am ready with the moving.

Click HERE to find out how the moving is going.

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