At the Restaurant

Wednesday March 8

After a disturbed night for Pam (stomach), we did not get up for another 5.30 breakfast, even though it was only a half day excursion with the afternoon free. Pen was told they'd be back at 11.30, it is now 12.10. Held up by birds I expect.

We had a leisurely start, shower, hair wash and a sort out. Bless her, Pen arrived with our sandwich breakfast whilst Pam was only clad in a towel. Pen's lovely.

Down to the restaurant,  where there is the only WiFi. We found a table where I could plug in my laptop, see the feeding table and have a fan directed towards us. We thoroughly enjoyed watching the squirrels visiting he table, Blue Whistling-thrush on the small water bowl and, unlimited coffee.

Pen joined us after an hour or so, eating her lunch whilst being highly amused by Pam pishing the squirrels away from the newly replenished feeder. A futile task. They just kept coming back, three large Grey-bellied  and one of the very small Burmese Striped Squirrels.
They are only a foot and a half long and move like greased lightning, this is the sharpest image Pam managed - better than mine.

Neil and the Bees returned at 12.20, joining us at the table - Pan had phoned Neil to tell him where we were.  They'd been back to K16 of the road we did yesterday, stopping before the first river crossing and. walking to the next one and back. We thought that was to-morrow's plan........... 
From our table, I spied a Racket-tailed Drongo perched in the deep shade. Can't blame them in this heat but, it makes for nonsense photography. If you look carefully, the 'rackets' can be seen at the bottom of the photo, at the end of the long tail feathers.

After a leisurely lunch - I asked for bananas, twice, but didn't get any so, did not eat. My fault for not being pushy, why change the habits of a lifetime......Pam and I walked down to the lake, settling in the covered gazebo, waterside. This platform was not shaded.

Many more birds than yesterday, too distant for good photos. Bronze-winged Jacanas did their lily-trotting thing on the water lily pads in front of us 

A White-breasted Waterhen abluted in the shade, Dollarbirds, Indian Roller, Asian Koel and Asian Fairy Bluebird occasionally showed. A secretive Hoopoe probed for insects in the deep shade of a nearby tree.
The Bees joined us later, after their well earned rest, bringing me a welcome banana. We managed to haul another very heavy bench to the front and they saw all that we had - apart from a Hoopoe. We added a Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, identified by Dave. He's one of the best birders I've ever birded with. He has also had the benefit of Neil's warbler knowledge, which I've missed out on. 
After we'd left, Dave and Jacquie continued to bird in another pool area and saw........Black Bittern, a bird I'd like on my list. They're migratory and only come to Thailand in the wet season. Just beginning to arrive.