Thailand, bird watching on a scooter - May 2024

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

Birding/ Bird watching on a scooter in Thailand

Thursday 9 ^th of May 2024 and I take off to pick up my friend and he is ready when I arrive and we are on our way after a couple of minutes. It takes us about 20 minutes to reach the eBird hotspot: Bang Pu--Thetsaban 108 Alley

We reach the sea front and we discover a concrete promenade along the sea front. It is the same concrete promenade that I use when I am at the Bang Pu Recreation Center/ สถานตากอากาศบางปู.

But there is a fence/ gate at the eastern side.

So, you cannot enter the Bang Pu Recreation Center/ สถานตากอากาศบางปู coming from the east. And you cannot leave the Recreation Center coming to the eastern end. Would be nice to be ableto go get a bottle of water. You have to walk all the way back to buy water.

Anyway, I start my eBird app and I can report Tibetan sand plovers / นกหัวโตทรายเล็ก, there are many of them. I try to give it a count, at least 33 of them. There are also Black-winged Stilts/ นกตีนเทียน on the mud flats.

Tibetan sand plover / นกหัวโตทรายเล็ก

Tibetan sand plover / นกหัวโตทรายเล็ก

Tibetan sand plover / นกหัวโตทรายเล็ก

Tibetan sand plover / นกหัวโตทรายเล็ก

We turn around at the fence to the Bang Pu Recreation Center/ สถานตากอากาศบางปู and we are soon stopping. We have a Tailorbird in the trees and I try to get pictures.

The bird is covered with branches and twigs so the pictures was no good. I tried to get a recording of the bird using my mobile phone.

Fence at the Bang Pu Recreation Center/ สถานตากอากาศบางปู

Dark-necked Tailorbird/ นกกระจิบคอดำ

Listen to the Dark-necked Tailorbird

Sound from www.xeno-canto.org

Remarks from the Recordist

I did not have my ZOOM H5 Handy Recorder so I had to use my mobile phone. High Pass Filter applied with Audacity

The bird is in a tree between me and a construction site so we can hear the hammering in the back.

Driving towards East

We leave the tailorbird behind and we continue towards East. We meet two cars and a couple of motorcycles. We spot one Javan Pond Heron/ นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา and I stop to try to sneak up on the bird sitting next to the concrete promenade.

One motorcycle come from behind and when it passes the Javan Pond Heron/ นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา the bird takes off.

We spot one Collared Kingfisher and the bird take off when I bring the camera from the basked in front of the scooter.

We reach Bang Pu Fish Bridge Viewpoint/ สะพานปลา ชมวิวบางปู, the end of the promenade and we turn around to drive back towards the West.

Zebra Dove/ นกเขาชวา

Bang Pu Fish Bridge Viewpoint/ สะพานปลา ชมวิวบางปู

We turn around and drive back towards West

Great Egret/ นกยางโทนใหญ่ is not bothered with the tide,
catching fish in the water

Driving back east and all the mudflats were gone. The highwater was on the way in when we arrived, but there was still 10 to 20 meter of mudflats outside the promenade.

20 minutes later and the mudflats were under water and all the birds were gone. So, we had been very lucky arriving before the high water. I will check the times for high and low water next time coming here.

You do not want to come during the low water, then the birds are far away, unless you can walk on a pier over the mudflats.

The best is to come when the high water is arriving, pushing the birds in towards you and you will be close to the birds.

Waiting for the highwater to catch fish

Fishing is very popular in Thailand. If you drive around Thailand, or pretty much any country in theworld on a Sunday or holiday the roads are full of people going fishing.

I can understand it, fishing and relaxing while philosophize. I would go crazy of boredom after 2 minutes as I am very impatient and I have never enjoyed fishing.

eBird Report

Bang Pu--Thetsaban 108 Alley, Samut Prakan, TH
May 9, 2024 15:26 - 16:14
Protocol: Traveling
4.84 kilometer(s)
11 species (+1 other taxa)

Feral Pigeon 2
Zebra Dove 8
Black-winged Stilt 6
Tibetan Sand Plover 33 Thanks to johnallcock at www.birdforum.net for help with ID
Little Egret 3
Javan Pond Heron 3
pond heron sp. 1
Great White Egret 3
Collared Kingfisher 1 One seen, many heard in the area
Dark-necked Tailorbird 1
Common Myna 2
Oriental Magpie-Robin 2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S172947913

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

Today's track at eBird hotspot: Bang Pu--Thetsaban 108 Alley

We get back on the Sukhumvit Road and we drive towards west and after a kilometre or so we turn left to get in to Bang Pu Recreation Center/ สถานตากอากาศบางปู to see if we can see any birds.

We stop before the gate and I start my eBird app. We continue and the first stop is to buy two bottles of water at one of the many stalls down at the pier.

We took off, but we were soon stopping again. We had one Collared Kingfisher/ นกกินเปี้ยว sitting in the mangrove. The bird took off when we stopped so we continued for a few meters to try again. We managed to get a picture the third time.

We could hear several Collared Kingfishers/ นกกินเปี้ยว all over the mangrove.

Collared Kingfisher/ นกกินเปี้ยว

Coppersmith Barbet/ นกตีทอง

Coppersmith Barbet/ นกตีทอง

Coppersmith Barbet/ นกตีทอง

We stopped to take a picture of one Coppersmith Barbet/ นกตีทอง in top of a tree in the mangrove. We continue and we turn on to the promenade. We stop to take a picture of two Red Collared Doves in a tree.

We reach the fence blocking the promenade in the west. We turn around and we stop to take pictures of another two Coppersmith Barbets/ นกตีทอง in the mangrove.

We spot a huge V-formation flying over the area and I try to take a picture for ID purpose. The birds are too far away, but it looks like Little Cormorants/ นกกาน้ำเล็ก.

Little Cormorant/ นกกาน้ำเล็ก

Little Cormorant/ นกกาน้ำเล็ก

We drive back towards the gate, it is hot and we want to go back home. My fridge is full of ice and we have soda water, so home it is.

We reach the roundabout and I stop to try to get some pictures of the Common Mynas/ นกเอี้ยงสาริกา and the Eurasian Tree Sparrows foraging on the lawn in the roundabout.

Reaching the gate again and I stop to turn off my eBird app before getting up on Sukhumvit Road again driving to Macro to shop before going back home.

Common Myna/ นกเอี้ยงสาริกา

eBird Report

Bang Pu--Recreation Center, Samut Prakan, TH
May 9, 2024 16:21 - 16:47
Protocol: Traveling
3.25 kilometer(s)
11 species

Feral Pigeon 3
Red Collared Dove 2
Zebra Dove 1
Black-winged Stilt 1
Little Cormorant 50 50 birds flying over the area in a V formation
Little Egret 1
Collared Kingfisher 3 Heard all over the mangroves
Coppersmith Barbet 3
Common Myna 2
Oriental Magpie-Robin 1
Eurasian Tree Sparrow 5

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S172950333

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

+++++++++++++++
Sunday 12 ^th of May 2024 and I had been at Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym for my daily session withThe Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์) for a full week, except for last Tuesday when it was raining. Rain and I did not fancy riding my scooter.

But I had 5 days and the Gym is closed on Sunday. So, it is time for my Sunday birding again but first I went to the motorcycle mechanic to fix some stuff with the scooter.

And after that I went to check out the eBird hotspot: Bang Pu--Thetsaban 108 Alley I tried to get in to another soi to see if I could reach the sea front via this soi.

It was a road, but it was really like driving off road and I ended up at something looking like a Buss garage.

I turned around and I went back to Sukhumvit Road and I continued towards west. I turned in to the same soi we had entered last time and I was soon at the restaurant at the promenade.

Collared Kingfisher/ นกกินเปี้ยว

Cormorant

Cormorant

Javan Pond Heron/ นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา

I stopped and I got off my scooter and I brought out my Canon EOS R3, Canon RF 100-500mm IS USM and the first picture I took was of a Collared Kingfisher/ นกกินเปี้ยว sitting on a pole. I counted to 8 Javan Pond Herons/ นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา in front of me.

I took off to the fence closing the promenade to the Bang Pu Recreation Center/ สถานตากอากาศบางปู. I stop at the fence and I try to start the eBird app again. I discover that the battery is flat so I put the phone on charging and I can start the eBird app.

I report the Collared Kingfisher/ นกกินเปี้ยว and 8 Javan Pond Heron/s นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา when I start the app. I see two Collared Kingfishers flying by so I report two more, three in total before I start my scooter and start driving towards east.

Pacific Golden Plover/ นกหัวโตหลังจุดสีทอง

Javan Pond Heron/ นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา

Mudflats full of birds

Javan Pond Heron/ นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา

Javan Pond Heron/ นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา

I spot one Pacific Golden Plover/ นกหัวโตหลังจุดสีทอง, well, the bird s very far away and I could not ID the bird until I was back home to have a look at the picture.

I spotted a lot of Javan Pond Herons, and not one single “Pond Heron” so seems like the moulting in to summer uniform is now completed.

I continued and I was soon stopping to check the birds far out on the mudflats. And there were at least 11 Painted Storks in a group of at least 8 Great Egrets. And there are also several Javan Pond Herons/ นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา in the group.

And back home, I can blow up the pictures and I can see that there are two Tibetan Sand Plovers as well and I add them to my checklist.

There are also some Black-winged Stilts on the mudflats.

Low water in Bang Pu

Low water in Bang Pu

It is very hot and I am scared that my camera will be destroyed. My telephone is very hot, I keep it on the handle bar, so I had to drive back to the starting point and back again. Full speed to cool down my phone with the wind.

I returned to the same spot again to check out the Painted Storks/ นกกาบบัว I had spotted on the mudflats together with the Great Egrets.

They are a wee bit too far away for good pictures, I got a picture for ID purpose and I tried to come closer. They were very close to the promenade but they were flushed when I approached “stealth” style.

They took off but I gave it a try with my camea.

Painted Stork/ นกกาบบัว

Painted Stork/ นกกาบบัว

Painted Stork/ นกกาบบัว

eBird Report

Bang Pu--Thetsaban 108 Alley, Samut Prakan, TH
May 12, 2024 12:29 - 12:59
Protocol: Traveling
4.41 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments: Take away 2,3 kilometers, my phone was burning hot so I had to run full speed with my scooter back to where I started the eBird app and back again to cool down the phone with the wind.

It was very hot and my camera was so hot I was afraid it would get destroyed.
13 species (+1 other taxa)

Feral Pigeon 1
Asian Koel 1 Heard only
Plaintive Cuckoo 1 Heard only
Black-winged Stilt 5
Pacific Golden Plover 1
Tibetan Sand Plover 2
Painted Stork 11
cormorant sp. 1 Too far away for proper ID
Little Egret 25
Javan Pond Heron 19
Great White Egret 8
Collared Kingfisher 5
Common Myna 3
House Sparrow 15

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S173820456

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

Reaching the fishing pier and I left for Sukhumvit. It was hot so I decided to leave instead of driving back towards west along the sea front.

Coming here and I had an unexpected adventure on a very rough road so the cover to the battery pack on my ZOOM H5 Handy Recorder had come off. So, I will go back to look for it on the way to Bang Pu Recreation Center/ สถานตากอากาศบางปู.

I find the first battery half way down the “rocky” soi and I spot the second battery 15 meters further down the soi. I reach the end and I drive back to Sukhumvit without finding the cover.

I turn around to give it another try and I find the cover half way down to soi. I am very happy when I turn around to get back to Sukhumvit Road.

I reach Bang Pu Recreation Center/ สถานตากอากาศบางปู and I turn on my eBird app. There is a Great Egret but it is very shy so no pictures. I drive through the gate and I start to look for birds driving towards west along the mangroves.

I can hear the Collared Kingfishers/ นกกินเปี้ยว in the mangroves but I cannot see any birds. No barbets, well, nothing. But it is very hot so the birds are most likely taking cover from the sun.

I continue along the mangroves and I check out the dead mangroves and there is one Black-winged Stilt/ นกตีนเทียน and I continue out on the promenade. I can hear a lot of birds but I see nothing until I come to the fence closing the promenade.

I spot one bird on the mudflats and it turn out to be an Bar-tailed Godwit/ นกปากแอ่นหางลาย.

Bar-tailed Godwit/ นกปากแอ่นหางลาย

Bar-tailed Godwit/ นกปากแอ่นหางลาย

Bar-tailed Godwit/ นกปากแอ่นหางลาย

Bar-tailed Godwit/ นกปากแอ่นหางลาย

I start to drive back and I drive around the area and I see three Common Mynas and it looks like they are fighting. One on the back in the grass and two on top. I stop to try to take pictures and they take off.

I pass an Black-winged Stilt/ นกตีนเทียน sitting on eggs so there will soon be babies in the area.

I drive around without seeing anything exciting and as it is very hot, I drive back to the gate and I turn off my eBird app.

Black-winged Stilt/ นกตีนเทียน sitting on eggs

Great Egret/ นกยางโทนใหญ่,

eBird Report

Bang Pu--Recreation Center, Samut Prakan, TH
May 12, 2024 13:23 - 14:04
Protocol: Traveling
5.9 kilometer(s)
12 species (+1 other taxa)

Feral Pigeon 11
Black-winged Stilt 2
Black-tailed Godwit 1
cormorant sp. 1
Little Egret 3
Javan Pond Heron 2
Great White Egret 4
Collared Kingfisher X Heard all over the mangroves, but no birds seen
Coppersmith Barbet 1 Heard only
Malaysian Pied-Fantail 1
Common Myna 1
Great Myna 1
Oriental Magpie-Robin 1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S173826579

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

Today's track at Bang Pu Recreation Center/ สถานตากอากาศบางปู

Back on Sukhumvit Road and I drive to Macro to buy black pepper and dry dill. I could not find the dry dill, but I got a big bag of ground black pepper.

I went home to leave my black pepper and the camera before going for a foot massage. I found a place a minutes’ drive from my apartment so I really hope this is a good place so I can come back.

The day came to an end, a real disastrous end. I had not had anything to eat since breakfast and I went to a Japanese restaurant with my friend. And to make it worse, we bought chocolate and we went to my apartment to have tea and chocolate.

For sure, I need to get to Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym tomorrow. But I can hardly walk, the Masseuse did something with my leg so I have a terrible pain in my right knee.

I will be back at Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym tomorrow morning

I will be back at Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym tomorrow morning

+++++++++++++++
Tuesday 14 ^th of May 2024 and I have studied the map of Samut Prakan and it seems like the promenade continues towards the west, after the fence at the west side of the Bang Pu Recreation Center/ สถานตากอากาศบางปู.

And I want to go check out this area with my scooter. And I was back home from Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym before 12 o'clock so it is too hot to get out. My plan is to leave around 3 o'clock so there is time to have a shower and my lunch.

Promenade along Samut Prakan water front

Known birding area

I have planned to explore this area

I took off towards east and I made a U-turn when I passed Miami Bayside/ Miami Bang Pu to go back towards west on Sukhumvit Road. I pass the Miami Bayside and I turn left going down towards the beach front.

My destination is the Miami Bang Pu Condo Beach Park down at the water front. A huge beach front condo complex, Beach Front Villa Condo Miami Bangpu, but it looks to have been abandoned.

The buildings along the soi have people living there, but all the other houses looks like they are abandoned, for sure no one looks to be living there.

Same with the common areas between the buildings. And there was a fence on the mud track going out to the sea front promenade so I had to turn around again.

Back on Sukhumvit and I continue towards west and I turn off at the next soi and I drive down towards the sea front.

This is as close as I come to the sea front promenade

They are serious, they do not want you to get out on the promenade

The two first sois after the Miami Soi ended up at restaurants next to the promenade. And it looked to be popular restaurants, but I was here to look for birds so I left again.

I had tried several small sois with no luck and I tried one wide concrete road going through a wetland. There is a restaurant on poles in the water when I enter from Sukhumvit Road.

There are many birds in the wetlands but I am concentrating on getting down to the sea front.

Like a “super highway” down to the sea front

The “super highway” ends at a gate and fence

It is a long and very wide highway going down to the sea front and it ends with a mud track and a fence and gate, a real barricade to make sure no one is getting out on the promenade.

I am really disappointed when I turn around and drive back to Sukhumvit Road. I try another few sois and I end up at Wat Asokaram / วัดอโศการาม. There are houses and I end up on a small concrete bridge, but I do not want to go out on the bridge with my scooter.

Wat Asokaram / วัดอโศการาม - Reaching a concrete bridge

Wat Asokaram / วัดอโศการาม - Reaching a concrete bridge

I discover an exciting dirt road that I want to explore

Dirt road ending in a disappointment

Leaving Wat Asokaram / วัดอโศการาม and I spot a dirt road going out in the wilderness and I turn on the road hopingto find some excitements.

I found nothing but disappointment and two dogs. I decided to call it a day and I drove to my friend to have tea.

Well, I will fly to Europe tomorrow, well, I will leave for the airport tomorrow night. Just click HERE to find out if I make it to the flight in time.

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