A rude awakening - the alarm clock was set for 5.50 and breakfast was due at 6.00. That was the fastest wash and dress yet. The others were seated, drinking coffee but, the food hadn’t arrived. Phew. We sat in silence whilst they talked Norfolk bird records - a not infrequent occurrence. Understandable.
In the van soon after 6.30 for a salt pan search. The Bees ‘needed’ Far Eastern Curlew and were also wanting Avocet and Red-necked Phalarope for the Thai list. Hoping to break the 40 wader sightings I think, as other Norfolk birders had.
The first stop was a different area of the pans from Saturday. No salt workers in sight, the waders again, very distant. We watched them walk past the salt mountain into the distance, re-appearing on top of a bund, scopes hoisted. We saw many Great Knot, Heuglin’s, Pallas’s and Brown-headed Gulls, a host of Caspian Terns and a few Marsh Sandpiper. The small waders were too distant to ID. We did catch up with Dave’s suppressed Turnstone - the cause of much ribbing.
They’d seen the Curlew but not the other two waders. Try again - at the Spoonbilled site - for a better view. No.
Some more salt pan tours - they are very extensive - before a last visit to the rubbish dump for some bird or other. I scoped from the van's open door, adding five Ruff to the list - it's a Thai rarity.
No luck with the wanted waders. Time to return to finish the packing before moving on
for 4 nights at Keang Krchan National Park.
An uneventful, and only two hours, journey through a large place where Pen changed some money for us and we all had a Magnum, the last chance before Bangkok ! I’d never eaten one before this trip.
Lunch was at a roadside eating place, we all had fried rice - Cow Pat is what the Thai name sounds like. It’s rice, chicken and vegetables in a bowl.
The latest resort, Baanmaka, is set in a heavily wooded area with a lake in the grounds. We can just about see the water from our shared accommodation. A large cottage with the usual steep steps leading to a balcony and then a shared seating area. We each have our own bedroom and en suite.. So hot here. The trio went off to a booked hide which is approached via a quarter of a mile dried stream bed. Pam and I sat on the balcony, watching butterflies - and the rising thermometer. We went indoors to the cool of our room when the thermometer showed 99.5 C. I think it had stopped rising. It's UK time on the thermometer.
We shall walk to the lake at about 4, hoping for a few birds. Insect repellant sounds essential, just as the previous bites are healing. My hands are the worst, the repellant must rub off.
Sitting on a solid wooden bench under a lakeside awning, gave relief from the heat. There was a pleasant breeze rippling the water. Not many birds, scoping produced a Moorhen (!) and a Smyrna Kingfisher, Great and Little Egret, dozens of Barn Swallows and Asian House Martins. At last, a sighting of an Asian Koel, which produces its repetetive call at all hours.
The best was two Asian Pied Hornbills flapping their way from left to right and back again.
All water areas, however small, have Pond Herons in residence, A striped grey brown heron - until they fly - when they have white underparts and wings, showing a dark saddle from above.
In the van soon after 6.30 for a salt pan search. The Bees ‘needed’ Far Eastern Curlew and were also wanting Avocet and Red-necked Phalarope for the Thai list. Hoping to break the 40 wader sightings I think, as other Norfolk birders had.
The first stop was a different area of the pans from Saturday. No salt workers in sight, the waders again, very distant. We watched them walk past the salt mountain into the distance, re-appearing on top of a bund, scopes hoisted. We saw many Great Knot, Heuglin’s, Pallas’s and Brown-headed Gulls, a host of Caspian Terns and a few Marsh Sandpiper. The small waders were too distant to ID. We did catch up with Dave’s suppressed Turnstone - the cause of much ribbing.
They’d seen the Curlew but not the other two waders. Try again - at the Spoonbilled site - for a better view. No.
Some more salt pan tours - they are very extensive - before a last visit to the rubbish dump for some bird or other. I scoped from the van's open door, adding five Ruff to the list - it's a Thai rarity.
No luck with the wanted waders. Time to return to finish the packing before moving on
for 4 nights at Keang Krchan National Park.
An uneventful, and only two hours, journey through a large place where Pen changed some money for us and we all had a Magnum, the last chance before Bangkok ! I’d never eaten one before this trip.
Lunch was at a roadside eating place, we all had fried rice - Cow Pat is what the Thai name sounds like. It’s rice, chicken and vegetables in a bowl.
The latest resort, Baanmaka, is set in a heavily wooded area with a lake in the grounds. We can just about see the water from our shared accommodation. A large cottage with the usual steep steps leading to a balcony and then a shared seating area. We each have our own bedroom and en suite.. So hot here. The trio went off to a booked hide which is approached via a quarter of a mile dried stream bed. Pam and I sat on the balcony, watching butterflies - and the rising thermometer. We went indoors to the cool of our room when the thermometer showed 99.5 C. I think it had stopped rising. It's UK time on the thermometer.
We shall walk to the lake at about 4, hoping for a few birds. Insect repellant sounds essential, just as the previous bites are healing. My hands are the worst, the repellant must rub off.
Sitting on a solid wooden bench under a lakeside awning, gave relief from the heat. There was a pleasant breeze rippling the water. Not many birds, scoping produced a Moorhen (!) and a Smyrna Kingfisher, Great and Little Egret, dozens of Barn Swallows and Asian House Martins. At last, a sighting of an Asian Koel, which produces its repetetive call at all hours.
The best was two Asian Pied Hornbills flapping their way from left to right and back again.
All water areas, however small, have Pond Herons in residence, A striped grey brown heron - until they fly - when they have white underparts and wings, showing a dark saddle from above.
I suddenly noticed what looked like a lizard or frog scooting fast across the water. After the third one - slow or what - I saw that it was at the end of a fishing line being pulled in by a young man. He then snagged his frog lure on a stump, swam fully clothed to retrieve it then put jeans on top of his wet shorts.Apparently it's to catch a vicious catfish variety.
No WiFi here at Baanmaka, except in the restaurant. This will be copied and pasted in when I have the opportunity.
No WiFi here at Baanmaka, except in the restaurant. This will be copied and pasted in when I have the opportunity.
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