AjarnNorth

Funny you should mention Openbills, Isanbirder. No less than 25 this morning! I was out for a run and saw them in flight and then landing. At this time of year at Huay Senang, there are large islands of floating vegetation that, I think, are a result of the water levels rising so dramatically. At present, there is a large island near the center of the lake in front of my place and at the end of the road (in front of Chai Nam restaurant in case anyone is in the area) a lot of floating vegetation. The later is where I saw the Openbills. After my run I drove back with my telescope and was able to get very good looks at a number of them. I have a fairly good Meade telescope that is heavy and impractical, but great for my porch and the occasional car sojourn. Not something you would carry on a hike!

Yesterday afternoon/evening, after posting here, I was again able to get very good looks at the Grey Heron via telescope from my porch, of which a dozen or so can be seen in the center island of floating vegetation. They perch on the floating veg and feed and they don't move much (unless startled by para-gliders as they were yesterday evening). They were there again this morning.

Also yesterday afternoon, a Purple Heron in among the Greys (on the same island of veg anyway). Anybody seeing these? I only saw the one. And a number of very large Egrets, but these seem to favor the far side of the lake so I will need to get over there for a better look sometime over the weekend.

The painted storks I saw were in flight when I was out on the boat. My presence startled them and so no good long stationary look, but as they passed they seemd a dead match for the illustration of same in flight in Robson. I haven't seen them since with the telescope so I'll keep an eye out for them and post again.

The Great Bittern was absolutely not, as you more experienced birders already knew, a Great Bittern. Somehow between flicking back and forth between the color plates and the notes in the back, I misread the size. I didn't realize until after you all had commented on the unlikelihood and I had a chance to check the guide again. Whatever I saw/am seeing was not even close to 70-80 cm. Maybe half that. My Gaffe! When I get a good look, I'll post about it. Thanks for setting me straight.

Chinavet, I had a chance to look at your bird pics yesterday. Great pics and looks like you have a great set up where you are. I have a question, though. In your September 5 album, picture number 322, yellow head, white breast, dark brown back with some white on wings and tail? I have been seeing a lot of these but can't find it in my guide. Anyone?

OK. That's all from me today. Excuse my enthusiasm.

Grey Heron? Anyone else seeing these? The Robson guide has it as a resident of Cambodia and former resident of C. Thailand. Absolutely saw one adult this morning along with what I believe were some juveniles nearby. Had a good 20 minute look through telescope.

Thanks all for the input. As I said, I am a complete novice. I have been carrying around a Robson guide for a few years now, but have just started trying to actually ID birds in the last few months.

Isanbirder and Hanno, based on your input I am scratching "Great Bittern" until I can get a better look. Whatever it is I am seeing there are a fair share nesting in reeds near my house so I ought to be able to get a better look soon.

Chinavet, I haven't seen any of the Red-Breasted Parrots that you saw in the area. The bird that sat on my window ledge was 15 centimeters at most and had a blue crown and a green breast which is why I was going with juvelile Grey-Headed, but as I said its behavior was so odd that it may have been an escaped pet.

I was out on the lake in the evening yesterday and saw a dozen or so Painted Storks as well as some Egrets and a few passing flocks of ducks too distant to ID. If any birders find yourself in the area and would like to take the boat out and see what is to be seen you are welcome to it.

I have a bird question. I am a novice bird enthusiast and I live on Huay Senang Reservoir just outside Surin. Birds that I am fairly sure I’ve seen here include:

Coucals (Greater, I think), Common Hoopoe, Painted Stork, Common Myna, Crow (?), Great Bittern, Green Bee-Eater, Fulvous Breasted Woodpecker, Peaceful Dove, Pied Bushcat, lots of others I have yet to ID.

Here’s my question. In mid August, a parakeet landed on my kitchen window sill and stayed there for nearly two hours allowing me and my wife to walk right up to it. It wasn’t startled by our presence at all, and my wife was able to put a tomato slice right next to it without it flying away. Camera was out of batteries and I was sure if I went to get more it would be gone when I got back. We were cleaning and banging stuff around and still the bird just sat. I am fairly certain it was a juvenile Grey-Headed Parakeet (using Craig Robson guide). Has anyone else seen these in the area? Has anyone seen this kind of behavior in any other parakeet in these parts? Are these commonly kept as pets here?

Eventually, it flew off (of course), but because it was so comfortable with our presence I was left wondering if it might not have been an escaped pet.

If anyone is due down to Kap Cheung office in the near future, I would be grateful if you would kindly doublecheck/check this statement posted on our local Surinfarang site????????

Latest from the mouth of the aforementioned horse, 10 minutes ago, Immigration are to man a small 'shack' close to the Chong Chom border crossing where 90 day reporting may be effected. Believe what you wish!

This is a worryingly sensible Thai solution to the hundreds of expats having to visit(or maybe post) 90 day reports?

Dave

Checked. Confirmed. Was there today and told a small office will be opened in Chong Jom for 90 day reporting. Visa renewals, etc. to be handled in Korat.

Yes, you can make it in a day. Leave Surin early. Minivan from Surin bus station to Chong Jom / O'smach (60 baht). Cross border. Haggle with taxi drivers until you get them down to 2,000 or thereabouts. You'll be in Siam Reap by early afternoon barring any unforseen circumstnces which will almost certainly happen in which case you'll still be there before 3 or 4.

A friend of mine has just started a FREE Thailand Book Exchange. You sign up and post ten books you are willing to trade, find books on the list you want, contact the people who own those books, trade books via Thai post.

THAILAND's FREE BOOK EXCHANGE:

honkeyboybooks (dot) webs (dot) com

It just started about five days ago, so the library is not full by any means now, but there are some great books up already and the more people that join the more there will be to choose from.

At the risk of sounding like a snob - which when it comes to books I suppose I am - I think the idea is to try and post books that one would not necessarily be able to find at the airport or on the meager "Asia Books" shelf of your local Bookazine or such like...