Birds in your garden

[thetefldon]

A new addition to my patch list. Number 40 was hanging around in the garden this morning.

Drongo Cuckoo

Managed a quick image with the point and shoot, just for ID

BTW If you want to see a clear image of DC, Moushound has just posted a cracking image of a similar bird on "the birds" thread.

[BLACKJACK2]

Great idea, i'm going to start my list.

We have loads of birds in the garden but i did not think there were many different species, after seeing the other lists it will be interesting to find out.

Can anyone recommend a camera/lens for photographing them.

[cyberfarang]

Directly outside my bedroom window is a big lime tree. Every morning from about 5 30 am onwards as it starts to get light I am treated to a most spectacular wildlife show of exotic birds. Yes, I do have an eye for the birds. They are not aware of my presence because of the mosquito wire, but I can see them clearly. They are all colours, all sizes and overhead I see flocks of storks flying gracefully way up in the air.

I’ve looked on the Internet to try and determine the species of birds they are but the problem is many appear very similar and it’s hard to tell. I would love to catch them on video but the birds move fast, now you see them then they’re gone and I am no wildlife photographer. I thought about placing a bird feeder on the tree to attract them but I have no idea what they eat. Some could be seed eaters and others live on insects, I really don’t know.

[Skeptic7]

Directly outside my bedroom window is a big lime tree. Every morning from about 5 30 am onwards as it starts to get light I am treated to a most spectacular wildlife show of exotic birds. Yes, I do have an eye for the birds. They are not aware of my presence because of the mosquito wire, but I can see them clearly. They are all colours, all sizes and overhead I see flocks of storks flying gracefully way up in the air.

I’ve looked on the Internet to try and determine the species of birds they are but the problem is many appear very similar and it’s hard to tell. I would love to catch them on video but the birds move fast, now you see them then they’re gone and I am no wildlife photographer. I thought about placing a bird feeder on the tree to attract them but I have no idea what they eat. Some could be seed eaters and others live on insects, I really don’t know.

I would suggest you buy a Bird Guide or Field Guide of the birds of Thailand. Here's two...

My go to is...A Guide To The Birds Of Thailand. Would also recommend A Field Guide To The Birds Of Thailand

[AjarnNorth]

The wife took this photo (with iphone) of an owl in our garden wall (khlong, trees, fishfields behind the wall). What type of owl is it, and is it adult or juvenile?

IMG_2238.JPG

Collared scops Owl.

Is it a native or visitor to Thailand? I ask as i couldn't find much about it and Thailand on the web, but i know the local collectors around me keep them (my barber 200 m for example keeps them and eagles) so was wondering was an escapee (wouldn't be the first escapee in my garden).

They are resident. Their call is a soft "pooh" which they will repeat at 12 second intervals. They nest in holes in trees. I had two just next to my house which I assumed were nesting and possibly raising young but suddenly disappeared, though I still hear them. Probably their nest was raided by a monitor lizard.

[AjarnNorth]

Great idea, i'm going to start my list.

We have loads of birds in the garden but i did not think there were many different species, after seeing the other lists it will be interesting to find out.

Can anyone recommend a camera/lens for photographing them.

If you're just looking to photo birds but don't want to take on the monumental task of learning about photography and lenses and etc. then look to the fixed lens superzoom cameras. I use a fuji HS35. Make sure you get the manual zoom. Affordable, nothing to learn. I keep mine on auto almost constantly. And if i drop it in a stream or flip in a kayak, they're only about 12000 baht. If you want Nat. Geo quality, then prepare to spend a lot of money. If you just want good clear shots of birds and a good camera you can use for multiple purposes, i highly recommend the Fuji or other fixed lens superzooms. All the photo buffs will say I am wrong.

[isanbirder]

I've never kept a garden list. I live in Buriram on the edge of extensive rice paddies on two sides of my garden, with a wooded temple compound on the third side, and village houses on the fourth. Every morning I take the dog(s) for a walk lasting about two hours, and in 8 years, I have recorded 170 species in this area.

I tried whittling that down to birds I had actually seen in or from the garden, and got a total of about 75 species.

[Skeptic7]

The wife took this photo (with iphone) of an owl in our garden wall (khlong, trees, fishfields behind the wall). What type of owl is it, and is it adult or juvenile?

IMG_2238.JPG

Collared scops Owl.

Is it a native or visitor to Thailand? I ask as i couldn't find much about it and Thailand on the web, but i know the local collectors around me keep them (my barber 200 m for example keeps them and eagles) so was wondering was an escapee (wouldn't be the first escapee in my garden).

They are resident. Their call is a soft "pooh" which they will repeat at 12 second intervals. They nest in holes in trees. I had two just next to my house which I assumed were nesting and possibly raising young but suddenly disappeared, though I still hear them. Probably their nest was raided by a monitor lizard.

Yes...they are native. The have a wide range in South Asia. Here is a range map...

[Hel123]

I used to specialise in photos of 'Hardbills' in the UK.

From what I can see a lot of these birds are probably 'Softbills'.

My favourite species for photos in the UK were Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Siskins etc. These are all Hard bills (seed eaters) whereas the likes of Robins, Thrushes etc., are Soft Bills (Berry eaters)

Are there any birds here that are similar to our UK Hard bills ?

[AjarnNorth]

I used to specialise in photos of 'Hardbills' in the UK.

From what I can see a lot of these birds are probably 'Softbills'.

My favourite species for photos in the UK were Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Siskins etc. These are all Hard bills (seed eaters) whereas the likes of Robins, Thrushes etc., are Soft Bills (Berry eaters)

Are there any birds here that are similar to our UK Hard bills ?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_birds_of_Thailand

[BLACKJACK2]

The wife took this photo (with iphone) of an owl in our garden wall (khlong, trees, fishfields behind the wall). What type of owl is it, and is it adult or juvenile?

IMG_2238.JPG

Here's one that got trapped in some netting near our house, luckily my wife spotted it as she was driving past.

[antoniuni]

When I saw the Barn Owl in 2008 near my house people set out immediately netting to trap it! I destroyed the netting but at the end the owl disappeared.

http://www.antoniuniphotography.com/p152661571/h461e6280#h461e6280

I'm afraid they cached it at the end and the owl ended in the infamous Chatuchak Market in Bangkok!

A few nights ago I saw by coincident two big grey birds flying low along the trees near my house. I hope they are back again and shall not be cached anymore! But money is money in Thailand and lots of people don't give a damn about animals!

[AjarnNorth]

I've never kept a garden list. I live in Buriram on the edge of extensive rice paddies on two sides of my garden, with a wooded temple compound on the third side, and village houses on the fourth. Every morning I take the dog(s) for a walk lasting about two hours, and in 8 years, I have recorded 170 species in this area.

I tried whittling that down to birds I had actually seen in or from the garden, and got a total of about 75 species.

Why not post the list, IB? May give those in Isaan some inspiration to document their own gardens, give them an idea of what they might look out for and put an end to the myth that there are no birds in Isaan because "they've all been eaten." My Surin Yard list is longer than my Chonburi one and was done in half the time. I will post it soon.

[Skeptic7]

Finally added #40 to my BKK yard list...Scaly-breasted Munia. The next 10 are certain to be more difficult than the first 40...

[villagefarang]

When we built our house in the countryside near Chiang Rai there wasn’t much birdlife but things have changed over the years and I often marvel at the variety of birds now. I am not really into counting or naming but a quick look at the lists and I did not notice my favorite bird, the Pied Harrier. Their black and white coloring is so dramatic and their low-level aerobatics over the rice fields are mesmerizing. The Open-billed Storks are new this year and our largest bird by far. They all seem to have plenty to eat so we don’t feed any of the birds.

[Bredbury Blue]

^why do you think there wasn't much bird life previously but that's changed now. Any thing you can put that down to?

[Skeptic7]

Common Tailorbird is #41 and one of the glaring absentees alluded to in my initial yard list post. A great morning of yard birding...adding 2 new species!

[thetefldon]

Two new visitors today. So 42 now. Latest a fly over for a Pied Harrier and a Plaintive Cuckoo in the big tree.

[villagefarang]

^why do you think there wasn't much bird life previously but that's changed now. Any thing you can put that down to?

That is easy, there was no habitat in the beginning because we build on a mound of dirt in a rice paddy. Now we have trees, yard and pond to attract our sometimes noisy feathered friends.

Edited March 17, 2016 by villagefarang

[thetefldon]

It must be Tailorbird week. I too was missing the Common Tailorbird but on cue one turned up in the big tree this morning. Also had a pair of Red Collared Doves M + F. So that’s 44 now on my patch list.

Attached photos of doves plus a better pic of Drongo Cuckoo. All shot with 250mm canon kit lens as big Sigma is away for cleaning in Bangkok.

The whites are well blown on the Doves round the neck and the perch of the DC looks bleached!!

[villagefarang]

Well I've learnt something today: birds like dog food.

Occasionally I've opened up over ripe (for us to eat) bananas and left them in the garden for the birds to eat but they didn't seem interested (I know the field rats love bananas so can't leave the bananas out over night).

The Doves, Mynas and even robins in my garden love "small breed" dog biscuits. I put any mango's that fall from my trees on a table which seem to mainly attract the Bulbuls and even butterflies. I've seen Orioles feeding from the mango's on the tree. The Coucals seem to be after large snails, I find many empty shells every morning around the garden.

This Black Backed Kingfisher flew in to a friends window the other day, I've seen a few different Kingfishers here in Thailand but this was a first for me - it's beautiful ! IMG-20160304-WA0000.jpg

We had one of those once. Our cat found it but didn't hurt it.

[Skeptic7]

A great late addition to the list this evening about 6 pm...White-breasted Waterhen. 3 new the past couple days ups the total to 42 for the yard.

Edited March 18, 2016 by Skeptic7

[Skeptic7]

I used to specialise in photos of 'Hardbills' in the UK.

From what I can see a lot of these birds are probably 'Softbills'.

My favourite species for photos in the UK were Bullfinches, Goldfinches, Siskins etc. These are all Hard bills (seed eaters) whereas the likes of Robins, Thrushes etc., are Soft Bills (Berry eaters)

Are there any birds here that are similar to our UK Hard bills ?

Check out the Munias, Sparrows, Finches, Weavers, Buntings, Grosbeaks and Parrotbills. Some are common...others not so much, but would love to see some pix!

[Bredbury Blue]

A great late addition to the list this evening about 6 pm...White-breasted Waterhen. 3 new the past couple days ups the total to 42 for the yard.

Where are you? Water area? For me, I see them on a very regular basis for many years now making their way slowly along the banks of the khlong outside my window or when the khlong is fully blocked with vegetation they go back and forth across the leaves of the plants. Towards the end of last year I watched daily an adult and its 3 chicks doing their daily rounds on the khlong. Occasionally they fly in to my garden but they're very alert and sense me straight away if I go out. We used to have a little fish pond but we stopped stocking it as something kept eating the fish; think I know who was guilty.

[Skeptic7]

A great late addition to the list this evening about 6 pm...White-breasted Waterhen. 3 new the past couple days ups the total to 42 for the yard.

Where are you? Water area? For me, I see them on a very regular basis for many years now making their way slowly along the banks of the khlong outside my window or when the khlong is fully blocked with vegetation they go back and forth across the leaves of the plants. Towards the end of last year I watched daily an adult and its 3 chicks doing their daily rounds on the khlong. Occasionally they fly in to my garden but they're very alert and sense me straight away if I go out. We used to have a little fish pond but we stopped stocking it as something kept eating the fish; think I know who was guilty.

Not water area, though there is a filthy inactive klong nearby. Actually I'm in the city...BKK. Only 5 minute walk to Sukhumvit Road and 7 mins to Skytrain. A more detailed description of the habitat behind my building can be found in my initial yard list post.

You are spot on about their alertness. This bird lit in some trees about 20 meters away (I'm well concealed on my 5th floor lanai) and the hen was totally aware of me...nervously craning it's neck and eyeballing me. It didn't stay long, quickly disappearing into lower thickets by the klong.

Funny story about who the fish thief!

[AjarnNorth]

Thought I would post some pics of birds taken in or from my yard in Bangsaen, Chonburi. I posted my 86 species yard list above. These pics are of some of the more interesting sightings in or from my yard. The first is a Green-backed Flycatcher which Robson has a "rare to scarce rassage migrant." The second is a juvenile Christmas Frigatebird. Supposed to be uncommon this far north though I have since seen them four times (and got much better photos) in the area.

Both those were seen on the same day from my yard. I also had my first Dollar Bird that day so it was a really good day with three lifers all from my yard. it was Songkran so i wasn't leaving the property that day.

The third is an Alexandrine Parakeet. Red-breasted Parakeet are very common in Bangsaen, but Alexandrine not. In fact, it's likely this and the few others i used to see may have been a small feral group as a result of escapes. Sadly while i used to see them regularly in and from my yard, it's been a few years since i have seen them so they may have been caught or poisoned.

The fourth is a Crested-serpent Eagle. Not so rare out in the forest but an odd site just sitting on a pole on my soi.

The fifth is a pale morph Booted Eagle. Robson has these as rare to scarce passage migrants in South Thailand but as vagrant elsewhere in Thailand (though notes it may be a more regular passage migrant than is reported in some areas).

Edited March 20, 2016 by AjarnNorth

[Skeptic7]

Tough to compete with the previous post by AJ, but 2 new species in the yard brings my total now to 44. Flyover Intermediate Egrets and a Drongo sp. (Most likely Black, but distance made it impossible to rule out Ashy for positive ID)

[Bredbury Blue]

Had an entertaining past 2 days.

Across the khlong from my house, on the banks of the Plaa Salid fields, there some trees often occupied by storks. I noticed yesterday a pair of large dark birds with the forked tail like drongos (don't usually see them around here) in those trees. I later got higher in the house and with my binoculars noticed there's about 8 of them, and they're swooping over the waters of the fish fields (fishing?).

Today I've got a family of squirrels running along my fence and up and down the trees chasing each other for fun for hours and hours nonstop. And in the trees opposite storks are on top of the trees and drongos lower down in the trees.

[isanbirder]

Not far from my garden, so I'll put them here.

I'm used to crows mobbing raptors, and hoopoes and Black Drongoes joining in..... but the other day I watched a Black Drongo mobbing a Cattle Egret. I wonder why!

Sorry I don't have a suitable camera to photo this, and it's too far for my phone. You know those brushes with a long handle which you use to brush away cobwebs? Well, imagine one of those sticking out of a sizeable tree. That 'brush' is a nest..... and not just the nest of a background bird like the common doves and mynahs..... but the nest of a Rufous-winged Buzzard! From the right angle, I can see the yellow cere of the sitting adult.

Another interesting observation. The place is full of young Koels flying about the place and shrieking their heads off. Koels are parasitic, and the commonest host is the Collared Mynah. The other day I saw a young Koel begging for food from a crow. The crow in this case wasn't having any, but presumably the young bird had been brought up by crows.

[Skeptic7]

Pair of Dusky Warblers this morning brings the list to 45