A Leisurely BY 2022 from Herman and Kit

[Kitsafari]

1 minute ago, Soukous said:

"A leisurely BY"  Hah!

Positively frantic by my standards

 

well done on a rapid 200. At this (leisurely) rate you should have 600 by year end. 

 

a super "understatement", at least for now.....

[Kitsafari]

202/CB108. Brown Boobook, Tmat Boey lodge hide

 

Also known as the Brown Hawk-owl, this was a really accommodating owl at the hide! Initially drawn out by a shrikra, which I missed, the boobook flew around the camp for a bit before vanishing into the forest again. It came out again the next day, and gave a better showing. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

203/CB109. Brown Fish Owl, Tmat Boey

 

Not great shots, so please just combine the eyes and the body in your imagination for the full bird. 

 

 

[PeterHG]

Congrats on your (first) 200 and what a splendid bird to celebrate it with!

[TonyQ]

Well done on reaching 200, and so early in the year!

[Galana]

Well done on the double century.

[Kitsafari]

Thank you @PeterHG @TonyQ @Galana.

 

it'll be the first and last 200th as i've only got a few more to go for Cambodia. 

 

204/CB110. Burmese Nuthatch ,Tmat Boey

 

I do love a nuthatch, but missed taking a photo of the the Velvet-fronted nuthatch, which is a real beauty.

 

 

[Kitsafari]

205/CB111. Burmese Shrike, Tmat Boey

 

A lovely looking shrike. 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

206/CB112. Streak-eared Bulbul, Tmat Boey/Templation Hotel

 

better viewing in the fruiting fig tree just behind my room. 

 

the reason for its name.

 

[Kitsafari]

8/CB113. Yellow-vented Bulbul, Templation

 

The more common bulbul in the same tree as its less common streaky cousin

 

 

[Kitsafari]

The only mammals seen were squirrels: 

 

Variable Squirrel at Chongkran Roy and Templation Hotel

 

 

 

Cambodian Striped Squirrel

 

templation hotel

 

tmat boey hide

 

[Kitsafari]

207/CB114. Crested Treeswift, Tmat Boey

 

We were surprised by a pair that very generously landed on the trees neaar us - the female just behind where we stood and the male two trees away. I was hopelessly unprepared for the mating shot so missed that. 

 

I never tire to see the beautiful treeswifts.  Singapore only has the grey-rumped treeswifts while whiskered treeswifts are rather rare.

 

the male flying off soon as he done the deed. 

 

the gorgeous male with the rufous cheeks

 

and the chic elegant female

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

208/CB115. Rufous Treepie, Tmat Boey

 

A very skittish and secretive bird, I couldn't get full shots of this species. 

 

a distant shot of the first bird

 

a closer second bird, just minus the head. no big deal. 

[Kitsafari]

209/CB116. Greater Coucal, Tmat Boey hide

 

as always, skulking away.

 

 

[Kitsafari]

210/CB117. Rufous-winged Buzzard, ATT/Tmat Boey

 

almost overlooked this. 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

Onto Woodpeckers! doing very well in this deciduous forest. 

 

211/CB118. Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Tmat Boey

 

[Kitsafari]

212/CB119, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, Tmat Boey

 

[Kitsafari]

213/CB120. Greater Flameback, Tmat Boey

 

We saw the common flameback but i was focussed on the greater since it's a lifer for me, and missed the shot of the more common one.

 

only the female was in the open.

 

the male was hiding in the tree

 

[Kitsafari]

214/CB121. Black-headed Woodpecker, Tmat Boey

 

quite a bright species, a pair was always together but I couldn't make out if one of them had a red crown which would be a male.

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

215/CB122. Lesser Yellownape, Tmat Boey

 

[Kitsafari]

216/CB123. Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Tmat Boey

 

two sightings of this beautiful colourful woodpecker. 

 

Female (no red crown)

 

Male with the red crown.

 

[Kitsafari]

 

217/CB124. White-bellied Woodpecker, Tmat Boey Hide

 

A loud shriek alerted us to this wonderful and rather large woodpecker at the hide. 

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

I saw a total of nine woodpecker species - an amazing number just in one location. apparently, there are more species and I guess you can see more if you stay longer in the forest. But the best sighting for me is - 

218/CB125. Great Slaty Woodpecker, Tmat Boey

 

This species is the largest woodpecker species in the world and is distributed only in SEA includinng the Philippines. A very unique and rather odd-looking bird, almost pre-historical and gangly as ebird describes it, its behaviour is very fascinating. A gregarious species, they move in fairly large family groups. They are very loud, making what ebird calls loud rolling whinnying calls. The calls are sharp, and certainly very loud. as they climb up the trees, the birds take turns flapping their wings and making those shrill calls but they all follow a leader and they follow very closely. I'll include a video clip. 

 

i was over the moon about these sightings. one of my top targets ever since I missed the rare rare sighting in Singapore. The first sighting was of 3 birds, and the second of 5 birds. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

apologies for the shakes in this videoj. put on the sound for their crazy calls. 

 

 

 

Edited April 17, 2022 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

219/CB126. Shikra, Tmat Boey

 

3rd time lucky!

 

[Kitsafari]

220/CB127. Red-billed Blue Magpie, Tmat Boey Hide

 

A territorial species, the Red-billed Blue Magpie is a magnificent bird but a rather skittish one. This magpie appeared a couple of times at the hide, thanks to a small waterbath and leftover rice that the lodge leaves on the serving table for the birds. the magpie lords over the dinner table.

 

drying after a shower