jack2964

Robson now calls it the Taiga Flycatcher. Without checking, I think this and Red-throated have been split from a single species. It doesn't show any red in winter, but as you say, the white on the tail in flight is a giveaway.

Pardon my ignorance does this mean Taiga and Red-throated are now two separate species?

I did a quick google search and came up with Ficedula parva, F.albicilla and finally F. parva albicilla.

I am totally confused.

Thanks Long tang for the link. Will see if I can find some nice birds.

And for today from my patch what I initially thought to be the usual Asian brown flycatcher might instead be Red-throated flycatcher?

Can't say for sure whether it's male (non-breeding) or female. I picked this after referring to Robson's 'Birds of Thailand'.

The conspicuous white in the tail after it took flight made it easy. Please correct me if I am wrong here. Ta!

Saw a beautiful Burmese shrike, common Iora, streaked spider hunter and loads of black Drongos and hoopoes passing through the grounds of the big stadium in Khorat last week.

Great stuff!

That's a good specie count. I drop by Korat quite often but don't know where this 'big stadium' is, can you give more specific details please. Is it some sort of park with lots of trees?

Btw, forgot to mention in my earlier post on patch update; anyone seeing Grey heron lately as I have quite a few now at my reservoir. But I miss the darters, nowhere to be seen for about 3 months now.

Need help with this guys.

Osprey.

your bird in post #153 is a Hainan Blue Flycatcher

That was quick, thanks Goshawk.

And Hainan blue it is. That's relief; I don't need to chase it anymore.

Need help with this guys.

As usual taken from far and cropped over 100%.

Was seen flying over water. Thanks.

And update for my patch:

First sighting of 3 stripe-throated bulbuls feeding on some kind of fruit.

Small flock of ashy minivet (5 or 6) and 1 Blue-bearded bee-eater again

Couple of phylloscopus warblers which I won't attempt to ID.

I do have a general understanding of how manipulating aperture and/or focal length will alter the amount of DoF.

So far this knowledge has served me well until this picture below:

I don't know why the subject's left foot is out of focus but not the right.

The distance of either foot to my camera should be nearly equal and I expect both to be either in or out of focus.

I am stumped, what do you think happened here?

Thanks everyone. I was just responding to Samuijimmy when Tywais's post came through with the solution.

I made the mistake of attaching the image link rather than "Copy image location".

Easy when you know how...lol. Thanks again.

I wish to post pics here linked to my flickr account but I get a red message which says:

You are not allowed to use that image extension on this community.

I've read the sticky in "Posting Images-Guidelines" and have followed the 'method 2' procedures correctly.

So guys how do you post your images?

Club me if this has been done to death...Thanks!

Sounds like you are not using a 'jpg' extension on your image.

Don't think so. All my images were uploaded as Jpeg to Flickr; unless they (flickr) alter the file extension.

I wish to post pics here linked to my flickr account but I get a red message which says:

You are not allowed to use that image extension on this community.

I've read the sticky in "Posting Images-Guidelines" and have followed the 'method 2' procedures correctly.

So guys how do you post your images?

Club me if this has been done to death...Thanks!

Another backyard friend-Male Brown-throated sunbird:

And possibly a female Olive-backed:

Another backyard visitor:

Only been through ACR but I think the sky blue is exaggerated.

Good I got this one right. Didn't know about the 'protruding' head as a distinctive feature. Good tip!

Where I am I don't get to see many raptors other than the occasional sparrowhawk high up in the sky.

To date I have yet to sight any harrier.

The black drongos are around but lesser in numbers against last year.

The couple of resident darters have gone missing for the past 3 or 4 months and the large flock of

whistling ducks has disappeared as well. Only the open-bills are still around but their numbers have dwindled too.

As for that 'flycatcher' in post #153 the likeliest ID would be Hainan blue if I can discount the tail cocking and fanning.

If you had to make a wild guess what would it be?

Thanks.

Am I right here....Oriental honey buzzard?

Thanks.

I can't even make a guess, Jack. Sorry!

No worries Isanbirder. Hope to get a side view if I see it again. Thanks.

Need help please to ID this which I got today. Looks like some kind of flycatcher but not sure.

Pics are terrible and cropped about 70%. Size is about same as Asian Brown FC maybe a tad smaller.

It cocked and fanned its tail quite frequently. Habitat is secondary growth. Elev about 200 meters.

Its call is a series of 'tac' notes. Thanks in advance.

A happy update from my local patch:

Chestnut-winged cuckoo.

Lifer for me. Happy to snap a pic although it is an awful shot.

Recent sightings but no pics include a single Blue-bearded bee-eater and once again that

stout all black and white woodpecker in flight. Tail is almost non-existent and I could see clearly

a large white band/patch near its rump as it flapped its wings.

How big is the woodpecker. The only ones that spring to mind are Black-and-Buff and Heart-spotted Woodpecker.

It's a tiny one but 'stocky' as in short and broader if compared to Fulvous-breasted WP. I think it is Heart-spotted but given the habitat which is secondary growth kinda rules it out too. But nothing else seem to fit. I've seen this at least 3 or 4 times now, everytime in flight. Well, one day I might get lucky and get a pic.

A happy update from my local patch:

Chestnut-winged cuckoo.

Lifer for me. Happy to snap a pic although it is an awful shot.

Recent sightings but no pics include a single Blue-bearded bee-eater and once again that

stout all black and white woodpecker in flight. Tail is almost non-existent and I could see clearly

a large white band/patch near its rump as it flapped its wings.

LOL! at least it is in the frame.

You'd need to bait the area they frequent. Sit nearby concealed and you'd get some great pics.

Good luck.

That's a great idea. What type of seed should I get?

Not sure what they normally feed on but I find many birds happily pick up boiled rice and even raw grains.

Just scatter whatever leftovers and wait....patiently. I find early morning the best but late afternoon can be productive too.

If the area is bone dry, a shallow plate of at least half meter diameter with water attracts all sorts.

Sometimes you get unexpected visitors which make it all worthwhile.

LOL! at least it is in the frame.

You'd need to bait the area they frequent. Sit nearby concealed and you'd get some great pics.

Good luck.

Got the book recommended by Angiud. And my 1st attempt:

Common evening brown?

I haven't fished nor visited this dam/reservoir but I guess it to be typical of many dams around Thailand and you should find Jungle perch/hampala barb or krasoob (thai name) plentiful there. And of course the fearsome Giant snakehead. I am sure someone who has fished there would come along soon enough and make a post.

As for boats, I have an inflatable 2-man kayak which I have rigged to accommodate a thai-styled long tailed shaft and engine. Not really a good fishing boat as I have managed to puncture it once with a badly mistimed cast. Best bit about it though is I simply chuck it onto the back of my truck when done. In hindsight, I would prefer those all metal 15ft boats used commonly by villagers. It will take up to 3 adults easily. Cost for one of these metal boats range from 10k to 20k baht. They are very heavy but stable as compared to mine and with a 6hp motor you can get up to 5knots/10kmh. But if you have deep pockets, you might want to splurge out for a Nitro complete with trolling motor and sounder etc. You'll want one as your dam is huge. Google chai marine. I have no commercial interest nor know any of their staff. Just wish I could afford one.

But easy to hear, I have them calling right outside the hotel here in Siem Reap. And I think as far as owls go, they are the easiest species to see as they are often active during the day. At Ang Trapang Thmor I see them on almost every visit.

I have one here which calls almost every night if it isn't raining but all attempts to sight it has failed. The call is a single 'huuuu' repeated after approx 10sec.

I am thinking Collared Scops but not sure.

Another first for me.

A juvenile Lesser Coucal, never yet spotted an adult.

l c j.JPG

Good catch, I've only seen a Lesser adult over at Bueng Boraphet.

In my local patch all I see is Greater coucal and quite often as road kill