Another 5.30am departure for the Florican Grasslands where we arrived soon after dawn. We were met by two wardens who then accompanied us for the morning - the younger of the two proving exceptionally sharp at finding our hoped-for species. We were soon watching a male Bengal Florican walking through the grasslands that on reaching the track helpfully flew c.100m to avoid walking across the open ground - superb. We then set off to an area of acacia-like thickets bordering small pools that played host to several Bluethroats before finding an obliging Manchurian Reed Warbler. Having enjoyed good views we started a lengthy walk through a recently burnt area of grassland in search of Small Buttonquail seeing three more male Floricans. Suddenly the young warden started circling a small area of grass having seen a Buttonquail. As we gathered around looking for it the bird took flight for 30m and then a second individual did likewise. With all three hoped-for new birds seen by 9am we took a leisurely look at a distant pair of Sarus Cranes flushing another Small Buttonquail in the process before saying our farewells and commencing the drive to Prey Veng stopping enroute for lunch and then a perched White-rumped Falcon. The last couple of hours were along bumpy sandy tracks and we were pleased to arrive at the rustic eco-lodge where we dropped our bags in our cabin and headed straight out to a roost site for White-winged Duck with a local guide albeit in the knowledge that none had been seen since January. Whilst walking to the area Orange-breasted Green-Pigeons and Freckle-breasted Woodpeckers were both welcome additions. As we arrived a local hunter was leaving the makeshift hide with 3 hunting dogs that did little to fill us with confidence although our guide checked to ensure that his quarry didn't include ours! Not surprisingly, our wait until dark proved fruitless although we did see a roosting Woolly-necked Stork and hear a Green Peafowl.
Florican Grasslands
Painted Stork 15
Indian Spot-billed Duck 15
Eastern Marsh Harrier 1
Pied Harrier 1 male
SMALL BUTTONQUAIL 3
BENGAL FLORICAN 4 males
Sarus Crane 2
Pintail Snipe 2
Wood Sandpiper 1
Spotted Redshank 1
Greenshank 6
Little Ringed Plover 3
Oriental Pratincole 20
Blue-tailed Bee-eater 10
Sand Martin 15
Black Drongo 15
Bluethroat 5
Stejneger's Stonechat 6
Pied Bushchat 6
Striated Grassbird 2
MANCHURIAN REED WARBLER 1
Eastern Yellow Wagtail 1
Prey Veng
Woolly-necked Stork 1
Rufous-winged Buzzard 1
White-rumped Falcon 1 male
Chinese Francolin 2
Green Peafowl h
Barred / Yellow-legged Buttonquail 1 seen too briefly crossing track
Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon 2
ORANGE-BREASTED GREEN-PIGEON 4
Spotted Dove 6
Blossum-headed Parakeet 1
Red-breasted Parakeet 2
Great Eared Nightjar h
Large-tailed Nightjar h
Crested Treeswift 10
Green Bee-eater 2
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater 2
Indian Roller 4
Hoopoe 2
Oriental Pied Hornbill h
Lineated Barbet 1
Black-headed Woodpecker 2
FRECKLE-BREASTED WOODPECKER 2
Large Woodshrike 1
Small Minivet 2
Streak-eared Bulbul 2
Hair-crested Drongo 2
Chestnut-capped Babbler 2
White-crested Laughingthrush 1
Asian Brown Flycatcher 1
White-rumped Munia 15
the Florican Grasslands
Male Bengal Florican at the Florican Grasslands
Male Bluethroat at the Florican Grasslands
macronyx Eastern Yellow Wagtail at the Florican Grasslands
Manchurian Reed Warbler at the Florican Grasslands
Sarus Cranes at the Florican Grasslands
Male White-rumped Falcon enroute to Prey Veng
Our driver cooling his vehicle at Prey Veng eco-lodge
Blossum-headed Parakeet at Prey Veng
Male Orange-breasted Green-Pigeon at Prey Veng
Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon at Prey Veng
Woolly-necked Stork at Prey Veng
