The golden hour mesmerizes like no other

 

During one of the afternoons at Khao Yai National Park, it rained and we decided to try our luck at another birding location. After all, this whole area is Arjin’s playground because he is lucky enough to have a permanent residence here. He took us to an open country and scrubland type of habitat in Ban Ngoi with a peculiar bird in mind to brighten up our day. The Yellow-eyed Babbler behaves more like a Reed-Warbler more than anything else and thrives in an environment that is preferred by the latter as well. The first of these birds that we encountered actually fulfilled all the requirements for a lifer record – visual, call and image. But I was secretly hoping for something more.

We then drove to the next spot but not before obtaining a record shot of another lifer. The male Asian Golden Weaver in breeding colours is a sight to behold but he just would not oblige our photographic requests.

The target at the next spot was the Small Pratincole and from the air of confidence surrounding our guide, I would say this uncommon species is a regular here. Initially, we did our photography from the vehicle. The human form will probably put all forty of them to flight – yes, forty! And the look on this individual is not a positive sign at all.

We knew it was unlikely to come across this opportunity again and decided to put our fate to the test. We carefully got out of our vehicle and inched towards these unusual-looking waders.  The three of us went our separate ways. It is a big congregation after all. I found myself drawn to a particular individual and I followed what could only be my gut instinct.

To my surprise, the chosen one started to approach me instead and I immediately stopped moving and waited. I guess the unexplainable connection between me and this adorable little fellow was real after all.

Eventually it came closer than most wild birds would to a birder. You noticed that I used the word birder and not human. It is an unspoken truth (and personal observations) that birds of open country are extremely tolerant towards field workers. Present yourself as a birder and the posterior of the bird as it flies away is what you will get most of the time.

The Small Pratincole is sort of a personal bogey bird for my life list especially on home soil. And here, more than a thousand kilometers away, I can finally put that ‘tick’ to rest. Fortune favours the bold and, in this case, my life has certainly been enriched by the accommodating nature of this particular feathered individual.

I was so caught up in the moment that I lost track of my companions. When I came to, they were on the opposite side of the pratincole patch photographing a couple of Temmick’s Stint. Before leaving the vicinity, we encountered another species that was uncommon to us but the Oriental Skylark was just too far for any improvement shots.

We made another attempt at the Yellow-eyed Babblers but at a different spot. And this time, the birds were exceptional. My hope did come true and that does not happen often enough when birding.

There was a pair of them again and when I did some post-trip research, these birds are known to develop life-long bonds and encountering solitary birds would be rare. They also exhibited the inquisitive qualities typical of babblers. Thus, rebuking my earlier thoughts of them having an identity crisis.

As the sun gradually descended towards the horizon, the effects of the golden hour were added value to our photography. This Yellow-eyed Babbler was so accommodating that I found myself lost in those piercing eyes. And if eyes are indeed the windows to our souls, then this fascinating species has certainly entered mine.

Sitting in our vehicle parked next to some bushes overlooking a stream was not exactly a picture one would envision of birding in a far-off land surrounded by the wonders of nature. However, this unassuming location provided one of the most memorable photo sessions of the trip for me.

By the time we started our drive back to the hotel, it was already dark. And we finally got an owl in a nocturnal environment. The Eastern Barn Owl is a widespread species and its proficiency at keeping rats at bay makes it a welcomed member to any community.

All good things must come to an end and the final day of our Thai adventure came faster than anticipated – naturally. With a few hours to spare before we all parted ways, our guide presented us a parting gift by taking a detour across an agricultural land in Pak Phli at the outskirts of Bangkok City. The Plain Prinia is not new to us because we encountered this species a few times before but today, we were able to capture good images of this relatively common species.

Typical of this family of birds, it is active by nature and we had to constantly deal with its rapid movements. The bright lighting conditions was a double-edged sword. Although it helped my modest photographic gear to keep up with the Plain Prinias, the harshness effected the quality of the images. But I rather have sharp than ideally exposed photos anytime.

Before I embarked on this remarkable journey to Thailand, news broke out of Bluethroats wintering at one of my local patches in mainland Penang. I have recorded this species during my trip to Cambodia but it is a rare migrant to Malaysia nevertheless. No doubt a significant tick in my Malaysian life list as well. But a greater calling beckoned and I told myself I will gradually get round to this rare visitor after my big trip. Fast forward a week or so and here I am, in central Thailand, enjoying a striking male Bluethroat performing admirably in front of us. And I could not help but to feel the irony. It is not uncommon here in central Thailand but I guess a confiding individual like this one probably is.

There is no denying the beauty of a male Bluethroat though. The vivid blue throat and breast band complimented by the surrounding tinge of orange gave the impression that the bird ornamented himself with precious stones. I bet my fellow birders back home are just as enthralled.

After the exhilarating encounter with the Bluethroat, I was finally ready to go home. But the alluring bird life of central Thailand was not quite done yet.

The Striated Grassbird is another species very foreign to me. When we came across one perched right out in the open, I guessed this is not a common behaviour judging from the excitement in our guide’s voice. Either that or like yours truly, thinks it is an absolute stunner of the bird. And I am not saying this because it is a lifer. Just look at the wickedly long tail and bold markings on its upperparts. If this cannot get you excited, I do not know what will.

A Little Cormorant sunning itself would have received more attention from me if this species had not colonized and multiplied in my country in recent years.

The Bronze-winged Jacana has also amended its rare status in Peninsular Malaysia but not as significantly as the Little Cormorant. This attractive water bird is doing much better here in Thailand and this locality was no different. The presence of drab juvenile birds indicated another successful breeding season.

A striking adult bird that was a little more tolerant to our presence than the rest allowed a photo to be included in this post.

I could not help but to notice several soaring raptors in the vicinity. A habitat like this could produce notable species but the only one recorded was the Black Kite. It was not the only migrant that was conspicuous in this vast open landscape. Black Drongos were also present in big numbers which is not unusual as it should be as common here as in Peninsular Malaysia. One confiding individual provided a decent capture due to its close proximity. Photographing a black bird at a distance under harsh lighting can be a challenge.

The company that you have during birding trips also plays a vital role in determining the success of the outcome. Nigel and Kok Siong are both great companions and I have also known Nigel for a long time. This paragraph is my way of thanking them for having me on this trip and being a part in this fantastic chapter of my birding life. And that concludes our birding adventures in central Thailand. The Penang birder signing out for now.

Checklist of birds recorded:

1. Ban Ngoi

2. Pak Phli

The Bird Hide Part 1: Never say never

 

I never thought the day would come when I will spend an entire day sitting in a hide. I also never thought that I could exhaust both my memory card and camera battery during one single sitting. Never say never, I guess. I always carry spare cards with me but for the other problem, thankfully Nigel had one to spare. Just beyond the borders of Kaeng Krachan National Park, there is a hide owned by a man that goes by the name of Mr. Bird. His hide is called, none other than, The Bird Hide. A simple name but an apt one indeed. How else could I, a birder by nature, spend almost ten hours straight in a permanent hide. Lunch and drinks were delivered and the only time we actually took breaks were to answer the call of nature.

Like what I mentioned in one of my earlier post, there is also a watering hole here to entice feathered gems out of hiding. The weather condition plays a major role and it was another sweltering day which made it perfect. The flood gates opened when a flock of Greater Necklaced Laughingthrushes swarmed in like paratroopers. Beautiful and boisterous, this lifer immediately increased the level of exhilaration within the hide.

I am no stranger to the antics of Laughingthrushes as this family of birds also occur in Malaysia. Even back home, I have not grown tired of observing them. Now imagine a new species with tons of personalities. Enough said.

Before we could regained our composure, a flock of Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrushes decided to join in. I usually do some homework before I visit another country for birding and so, I am aware of the existence of two Necklaced Laughinghthrushes. However, it still took a while before I could comfortably differentiate the two species. And here are plainer-faced and shorter-billed Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrushes.

Behaviour-wise, I think both species are identical. What the Greaters do, the Lessers did it too. And the result is not unlike observing a fiesta. Initially I had my camera mounted on a tripod. That is the usual practice for hide photography. But I could not cope with the level of bird activity in front of my eyes. Once unrestrained, it evened the playing field and I slipped into a hidden world filled with awe and wonders.

I ended up shooting more the Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrushes. It was not because I had favouritism but simply because they were more photogenic.

Because of the unprecedented number of images obtained during our time in the hide, much thought was given as to how to blog about this divine experience. In the end, I decided to go with covering one species at a time. And made it into two parts instead of cramping all into one. Hence, you will notice that images of a single species will have different lighting conditions as they were taken throughout the day. The third species of Laughingthrush recorded, the White-crested Laughingthrush, makes a fine example of that.

At least three birds were present in the vicinity and they started appearing around midday. They were also one of the last birds we photograph before calling it a day.

However, their contrasting plumage colourations made it difficult to get the right exposure. These active birds’ preference for the forest floor did not make it any easier. What was easy though was being amused by all their garrulous chatters and quirky personalities.

At the Cafe De Camp Hide a few days back, I was intrigued by the captivating Racket-tailed Treepie. Here, I was overwhelmed.

Lighting is of utmost importance when it comes to capturing the true beauty of the Treepies. I could ogle at that greenish plumage and blue eyes all day long. Come to think of it, I actually did.

I reckon the Racket-tailed Treepies were one of the main reasons I exhausted my memory card. I just could not help myself and I think their visitation frequency outnumbered every other species present.

Everything at The Bird Hide seemed to be amplified and the Racket-tailed Treepies at times show up in flocks of up to three individuals. When they lined up on the same vine, it was simply adorable.

There will be birds in your birding life that will not cease to amaze and excite no matter how many times you have observe them before. The Common Green Magpie certainly lives up to this statement. On this hot and sunny day, it made several appearances and is one of the main highlights of the day.

I came across this species quite regularly during my birding in the mountains of my homeland. But they are a pale comparison to what we experienced here during our ten hours at this basic but effective gateway to an amazing world I rarely have been given the privilege to witness.

Big, bold and beautiful there is nothing not to love about this forest denizen. The vibrance of its plumage colourations border the surreal at times and we are more than happy to be in this dream-like state.

It would take something spectacular to distract my attention while I was shooting the Common Green Magpie at the watering hole. And a Large Scimitar Babbler will absolutely do. Unlike the former which it shares its habitat with back in Peninsular Malaysia, I have seen it only once in all my life and a few heard records. This photo captured the moment I realized that today may well be one of the best birding experiences ever. Hallelujah…

It was unfortunate the Large Scimitar Babbler only appeared during the hottest part of the day when the lighting is at its worst. However, it could be for this reason it decided to show up at all. After quenching its thirst, it hastily hopped back into the forest leaving only an encounter that is forever etched into memory.

A definite thumbs up for our day at The Bird Hide...

It is second nature to have my bins with me whenever I am out birding. However, the close proximities of the birds here rarely require the extra magnification for identification. But a little brown job skulking about the shadows of the undergrowth immediately put my bins to use. Eventually the juvenile Siberian Blue Robin left no doubts about its identity and it was back to photography (on a tripod) again.

A Taiga Flycatcher also frequented the vicinity but its distinct undertail made it rather recognizable.

The novelty of the Brown-cheeked Fulvetta has yet to expire and this dull-looking species still has my attention when it was present.

One species that is certainly not a little brown job was the Black-naped Monarch. The male sports a vivid blue plumage and his arrival brought additional colours and splendour to The Bird Hide.

His mate may not be his equal in terms of beauty but she still deserves some recognition.

I did not spend too much time on Bulbuls as most species are relatively familiar to me like the Black-crested Bulbul.

Inevitably, the Stripe-throated Bulbul received similar attention. It is just human nature at work. In the presence of so many amazing species and a number of them being new to me, the commoner species will be taken for granted.

The Blue-winged Leafbird may not be new to me but it will take a heart of stone to ignore the brilliant plumage and song of the male. We shared the hide with another group in the morning. When this species made an appearance, I understood every word they said despite not speaking their language. Their body language and sense of excitement said it all.

It is heartening to see the White-rumped Shama finding sanctuary within and around Kaeng Krachan National Park. Although, this male did show off his vocal talents, his aesthetic appeal was undeniable.

Unbelievably, a male Oriental Pied Hornbill decided to join in the fun and its sheer size sent most of the patrons scattering for safety. I am just grateful I have a zoom lens. Otherwise, I will only have head shots to show.

It is always a pleasure to obtain long and good views of the Asian Emerald Dove. Generally skittish by nature, it is often seen flying for cover more than anything else.

When it stepped into the sunlight, you can see how its name was derived. A true feathered jewel regardless of its common status.

Common but striking. That would be how I will describe a male Common Flameback. I am guessing it is as common here as it is in Peninsular Malaysia but opportunities to increase my field experience with this woodpecker is always welcomed. Especially close encounters like these.

The female lacks the flaming red crest of the male bird but she can still hold her own in terms of attraction.

A little degree of scrutiny is required to differentiate the larger but similar-looking Greater Flameback. I do not come across the species as often as the former and this prolonged encounter did not go unappreciated. I guess hoping for a male to come along was pushing it a little far.

The sleek and shiny form of a Bronze Drongo grace the vicinity for a short period of time. Too short if you asked me. After taking a sip, it retreated back into the forest and did not return again.

Honestly, I could not complain. It faired so much better than the Hair-crested Drongo. For the second consecutive hide experience, a Drongo species remained sceptical and kept its distance from the refreshments being offered. 

I have left out a fascinating group of birds that made our visit to The Bird Hide so phenomenal. In fact, they were the main targets for this birding location and it was a blessing that the poor show of the Drongo in the previous paragraph was an isolated incident. Stay tuned for the second part of this post.