Pam and I had an active night.......we took Ferusamide for our travel swollen legs and had to visit the loo frequently - it's a water releasing drug !
Our bungalows are very nice and all face the lake, the Bees have one on the front row overlooking the quiet road and lake, ours is in the row behind as we needed single beds.
The owner is a formidable Thai. Not in stature but, in demeanour and attitude. Bossy as hell, domineering and forgetful. We couldn't have dinner here last night because her cat had gone missing. She then got breakfast wrong, firstly telling Neil last night that it would be a buffet and then, when we arrived to eat at 10.30 after our drive, as arranged, she said he'd ordered 3 full English and pancakes for the others ???
The owner is a formidable Thai. Not in stature but, in demeanour and attitude. Bossy as hell, domineering and forgetful. We couldn't have dinner here last night because her cat had gone missing. She then got breakfast wrong, firstly telling Neil last night that it would be a buffet and then, when we arrived to eat at 10.30 after our drive, as arranged, she said he'd ordered 3 full English and pancakes for the others ???
In the van at 6.30 a.m. for a drive around the lake, frequent stops for sitting and scanning, Very enjoyable. Two Grey-headed Lapwing amongst the Black-winged Stilts were new for the trip.
Best for me were at least 5 Oriental Honey Buzzards, two sitting and, three of the five then flying around. Apologies for the poor, heavily cropped photos - rather distant for my lens.
Best for me were at least 5 Oriental Honey Buzzards, two sitting and, three of the five then flying around. Apologies for the poor, heavily cropped photos - rather distant for my lens.
We also had Green-billed Malkoha, Burmese Shrike and Racquet-tailed Tree-Pie .
Back for the infamous and excellent English breakfast at 10.30. Sausage (proper stuff), fried egg, tomato, mushroom, bacon and HOME-MADE, still warm and floppy, BREAD. Excellent local coffee and fresh fruit from the garden.
We then had a blessed off time until 3 p.m. Downloading pictures, photographing the migrant dragonflies (me, totally futile), reading. Pam had a nap and rested her legs after watching the Purple Sunbird build her nest in the climber beside our balcony.
This Heliconia is in full flower at the back of the Bees' bungalow.
The late afternoon session was a tremendous experience. Half an hour's drive through rubber, pineapple and teak plantations, reaching a temple and some lakes at Wat Bamakno. Choom drove the minibus down the hill and along a track as far as the overlook point for the harrier roost. Pam, Jax and I stayed in the van, us until 5.00 p.m. when the first of the harriers might appear.
A magical one and a half hours later, we'd counted (Neil and David) 159 Pied Harrier and 55 Eastern Marsh Harriers, flying in from all directions. At one time, I had 6 awesome male Pied in my bins at once. My favourite Harrier without doubt, first seen in China. So handsome, as are the male Eastern Marsh. A lifetime experience. This is said to be the world's largest harrier roost. Too distant and then, poor light, for photography.
Also infamous for biting insects, stealth bombers.
Also infamous for biting insects, stealth bombers.
Pintailed Snipe, Striated Grassbird, Brown Shrike and Stejneger's Stonechat filled the spaces during the first hour before they started to pour in.
A very good supper at 7 ish, Massaman Curry, heart-shape moulded brown rice and stir-fry veg, followed by Starfruit and Guava from the garden.
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| Brown Shrike - if you can find it. |
All accompanied by the too frequent and over zealous presence of Dragonlady.
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