30th December 2015 Beachy SSE7 mainly overcast 8.30am-12.30pm

Red-throated Diver 8 E, 45 W
Great Crested Grebe 13 W , 6 on sea
Grey Heron 1 on beach
Gannet 26 E, 515 W
Fulmar 4 E, 33 W
Brent 556 E
Shelduck 4 W
Eider 1 W drake
Red-breasted Merganser 2 E
Common Scoter 5 E
Bonxie 5 W (10.09, 11.40, 2 at 10.52, 11.44)
Common Gull 1 E, 7 W
Mediterranean Gull 1 E ad w/p
Kittiwake 11 E, 98 W
Auk sp. 70 W, 33 E
Guillemot 2 W
Razorbill 1 W

29th December 2015 Birling 8.20am - 9.20am SSW4 Overcast & Rodmell

Red-throated Diver 7 E, 9 W
Little Egret 1 on beach
Gannet c.10 E, c.10 W
Fulmar 3
Brent 8 E, 6 W
Scoter 1 E female
Wigeon 16 E
Common Gull 45 E
Mediterranean Gull 5 E all ad w/p
Guillemot 4 E
Auk sp. 4E

Rodmell
White-fronted Goose 4



Eurasian White-fronted Geese at Rodmell

Four were seen on and off at Rodmell last Winter so it was tempting to think the same four had returned but the lower individual above clearly looks a juvenile so perhaps the adult pair have returned with their latest offspring? 



28th December 2015 Pett, Scotney & Dungeness

Glossy Ibis 1
Marsh Harrier 1
Ruff 18

 

Glossy Ibis at Pett (JFC)

Scotney
Greylag Goose c.400
Barnacle Goose c.50
Tundra Bean Goose 1
White-fronted Goose 4
Marsh Harrier 1

 

Tundra Bean Goose at Scotney

With the on-going mild weather (we saw Daffodils and Camelias in full bloom today but no Redwings or Fieldfares!) finding a Tundra Bean Goose present amongst the Greylags was a considerable surprise

Dungeness
Great White Egret 1
Goldeneye 5
Smew 1
Marsh Harrier 2
Scandinavian Herring Gull c.10
Caspian Gull 1 first-winter
Long-eared Owl 1

Long-eared Owl at Dungeness RSPB

 

Great White Egret at Dungeness ARC
 

 

First-winter Caspian Gull at Dungeness



JFC and the Caspian Gull at Dungeness

Glossy Ibis and McCartney's place

20th December 2015 Bueng Boraphet

We spent the morning birding at the nature reserve on the southern shore of Bueng Boraphet. Whereas a year ago we were offered a boat trip out onto the lake when we unfortunately didn't have time, this year, we couldn't find anyone to take us out. We then drove to Bangkok International Airport for our evening departure.

Asian Openbill 200
Purple Heron 1
Pond Heron sp. 5
Little Cormorant 5
Black-winged Kite 1
Eurasian Sparrowhawk 2
Eastern Marsh Harrier 2
Black-eared Kite 2
White-breasted Waterhen 4
Black-winged Stilt 10
Red-wattled Lapwing 4
Red Turtle Dove 5
Zebra Dove 15
Greater Coucal 6
Green-billed Malkoha 1
Asian Koel 3
Plaintive Cuckoo 1
Germain's Swiftlet 50
Indian Roller 1
White-throated Kingfisher 2
Common Kingfisher 1
Green Bee-eater 2
Blue-tailed Bee-eater 10
Peregrine 1
Ashy Woodswallow 25
Brown Shrike 1
Black Drongo 50
Pied Fantail 4
Black-naped Monarch 1
Large-billed Crow 6
Yellow-vented Bulbul 8
Streak-eared Bulbul 6
Sand Martin 2
Barn Swallow c.250
Red-rumped Swallow 30
Dusky Warbler 10
Oriental Reed Warbler 1
Thick-billed Warbler 2
Striated Grassbird 1
White-vented Myna 60
Common Myna 50
Chestnut-tailed Starling 2
Oriental Magpie-Robin 6
Taiga Flycatcher 4
Siberian Stonechat 2
House Sparrow 2
Plain-backed Sparrow 5
Tree Sparrow 20
Baya Weaver 6
White Wagtail 1



 

Bueng Boraphet

 

Tawny Coster at Bueng Boraphet

 

Purple Heron at Bueng Boraphet

 

White-throated Kingfisher at Bueng Boraphet

 

Male Stejneger's Stonechat at Bueng Boraphet

 

Red Turtle Dove at Bueng Boraphet

 

Chestnut-tailed Starling at Bueng Boraphet

 

Pied Fantail at Bueng Boraphet

 

 

Male Plaintive Cuckoo at Bueng Boraphet

 

 

Green Bee-eaters at Bueng Boraphet

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue-tailed Bee-eater at Bueng Boraphet





19th December 2015 Doi Inthanon to Bueng Boraphet

We made an early morning visit to the campsite where we heard Black-tailed Crake calling a few times but again failed to see it. We then said our farewells to Mr. & Mrs. Deang and made the long drive to Bueng Boraphet where we struggled to find nearby accommodation until a reasonably priced small resort with a restaurant was found.

 

Asian Openbill c.100

Eastern Cattle Egret c.50

Pond Heron 1

Little Egret c.20

Black-winged Kite 1

Black-eared Kite 1

Black-winged Stilt 30

Red-wattled Lapwing 1

Spotted Dove c.20

Zebra Dove c.15

White-throated Kingfisher 1

Kestrel 1

Ashy Woodswallow 5

Barn Swallow 50

Common Myna 50

House Sparrow 1

 

The campsite pool at Doi Inthanon

 

 Just time for another of Mr. Deang's finest fried egg sandwiches!



 

Saying farewell to Mr & Mrs Deang and their daughter

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journey to Bueng Boraphet



18th December 2015 Doi Inthanon

We first tried the Km34.5 track hoping it might be more active in the early morning but that didn't prove to be the case. We then walked the Km37 trail that runs through pristine habitat although very few birds were seen until we were on our way out when an Eye-browed Wren-Babbler and a pair of Slaty-bellied Tesias were encountered. We then revisited the Summit Marsh where we found a Grey-sided Thrush showing alongside a couple of Dark-sided Thrushes. We made another evening visit to the campsite pools where we succeeded in hearing but not seeing Black-tailed Crake. Having bumped into Bengt Legnell birding at the Summit Marsh we spent an enjoyable evening at Mr. Deang's Shop chatting with him and Chintana.   

Rufous-throated Partridge 2
Crested/Oriental Honey Buzzard 1
Eurasian Sparrowhawk 1
Eastern Buzzard 1
BLACK-TAILED CRAKE h
Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon 2
Grey-chinned Minivet 4
Maroon Oriole 1
Hair-crested Drongo 10
Yellow-bellied Fantail 1
Yellow-cheeked Tit 10
Flavescent Bulbul 6
Ashy-throated Warbler 6
Hume's Leaf Warbler 2
Rufous-winged Fulvetta 12
Pygmy Wren-Babbler h
Eye-browed Wren-Babbler 1
Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush c.10
Chestnut-tailed (Bar-throated) Minla 20
Dark-backed Sibia 10
Dark-sided Thrush 3
Grey-sided Thrush 1
Red-flanked Bluetail 3
Blue Whistling Thrush 1
Snowy-browed Flycatcher 2
Grey Bush Chat 2
Streaked Spiderhunter 2
Olive-backed Pipit 6

Km34.5 Jeep Trail at Doi Inthanon National Park

Km37 trail at Doi Inthanon National Park

Slaty-bellied Tesia along the Km37 trail at Doi Inthanon

King Inthanon's Shrine at the summit of Doi Inthanon

Elephants clearly playing an important role

Ashy-throated Warbler at the summit of Doi Inthanon

Rufous-winged Fulvetta at the summit of Doi Inthanon

Chestnut-tailed (Bar-throated) Minla at the summit of Doi Inthanon

Flavescent Bulbul at the summit of Doi Inthanon

Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush at the summit of Doi Inthanon

Doi Inthanon Summit boardwalk

Rufous-throated Partridge at the Summit Marsh, Doi Inthanon

Dark-sided Thrush at the Summit Marsh, Doi Inthanon

Grey-sided Thrush at the summit marsh at Doi Inthanon

Always nice to find a rarity and with a small global population this certainly qualifies. Seldom recorded in its small breeding range in China the odd wintering bird found annually in Thailand probably offers the best chance of seeing what was once known as Fea's Thrush.