Brazil, Chapada dos Guimaraes and Jardim da Amazonia

Continuing from the Atlantic coast (see that blog) we arrived to the million city of Cuiaba. As fast as possible we were on our way in the rental car towards the small town with the same name as the national park, Chapada dos Guimaraes. This is an arid country with stunning cliffs and superb birds. To make this trip possible financially we had not booked a guide through a company so we were only related to our own skill, pre-resarch on e-bird and other trip reports but also the help of a local guide at the Jardim da Amazonia.The lodge booking/ local guide and boatmen in Pantanal was made by Southwild Pantanal to a very good and competitive price.
Our first stop was at the famous waterfall, Veu de Noiva. The first bird to be spotted was this handsome White-eared Puffbird. At the viewing point we had and absolute awesome sight with this group of Red and Green Macaws and a few of the common Black Vulture.

There are a few fancy lodges around but you can easily stay in a cheaper place in town, like the Hotel Turismo. Here we had some nice views in the evening while having a well deserved beer at the veranda. Pale-breasted Thrush and Red-bellied Thrush having an evening bath.

One of the best place to bird in this area is along the very dirty and dry MT-020 also called Agua Fria Road. Hardly an awesome nature experince with dust flying around when cars come in high speed. However, birding is great and you will put in new bird for every new km you proceed. Some highlights were this Burrowing Owl and Red-pileated Finch. We also saw this Cinnamon Tanager which is not supposed to be here according to the field guide. Last, the quite common Chalk-browed Mockingbird.

Not only arid country, we visited some more grenish places like Vale da Bencao where we had Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Yellow-rumped Cacique. Hardly a good photo but The Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper is not a very easy bird to see and probably the reason why I get so excited about these ground dwelling, skulking juvels. We managed to spot this bird at the bottom of a dark creek.

We were recommended to visit Mirante Morro dos Ventos for nice vistas and good food, which we followed. Here we had som nice and close perched birds as these Crested Black Tyrant and Cliff Flycatcher.

After 2 and a half day we had to continue on our trip. After spending time in more dry and open areas we were now looking forward to experience the Amazonas.

Welcome to "Garden of Eden"
Saved by a true nature lover, named Almor,  Jardim da Amazonia is truly an Amazonian Garden paradise in the middle of logged and farming country. Along this part of a sub-river to the Amazonian complex you will find so many rainforest specialties and still not travel too far north and to a much cheaper cost.
Except for all the wildlife the lodge is unique with all its fish ponds and natural swimming pool. The big fish (over 2 meters) is a Arapayma and the others are Catfish.

On our way in towards the reserve we found this Burrowing Owl. By the look of it, I'm not sure it wanted us around.

In the first evening Almor took us to some lakes just on the outskirt of the property. This paradise has been made by himself to protect the Blue and Yellow Macaws (among other Macaws and Parrots) which use the lake and the cut palms as roosting places each night. Exceptional experince to see all these birds fly in in the evening light "screaming" and calling for each other.

Nick, Jim, me and Almor.

Next to this lake we also had two gorgeous flycatchers, The Vermilion FC and the White-headed Marsh-Tyrant.

The first morning Almor and (South Wild) had helped us to arrange with a local guide. He´s been taken care of by Almor since he was a child and is now educating himself as a professional guide. Already a good birder and of all necessary help to find most of our birds. On your bucket list there's always been to make a boat trip in the Amazonas. Even if Jardim is not in the deepest part of the jungle, the boat trip was still amazing. In first day light we took off in good speed. Our first goal was to look for the rarest of our birds on the trip, the Cone-billed Tanager. This place is maybe the only reliable place in Brazil to see this bird. In a small oxbow lake we found 2 of them together with a beautiful American Pygmy Kingfisher.

At resort area there was a family of Capybaras present every day. Not shy and very proud and integrity looking animals which became a favorite during the trip. Lots of butterflies as well seeking for minerals. This 2 cm Bullet-ant is on of the most fearful animals in this region, known to be the giving the strongest of pains "the pain of a bullet". Not poisonous but with a sting that makes the local people be very careful where they know they can be.

The reserve is of course mostly forestred but there are some open spaces as well, especially where all the different fishponds are. Here we had good and easy observations of Rusty-margined Flycatcher, Straited Heron, Smooth-billed Ani and Southern Lapwing.

There are several trails to walk as well with thick forest/ bush and therefor quite difficult for photos but at the edges of forest (as always) you will find some good stuff. Here a Black-fronted Nunbird, Spotted Puffbird, Blackish Nightjar and a Blue-headed Parrot at nest.

Some of the more memorable birds from this gorgeous place are the Brown Jacamar and the Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant. The first with its, compared to the body, huge bill and the latter because it's the worlds smallest passerine.

Everywhere, being a difficult bird to see, Jardim is a reliable spot to see the almost mythical Amazonian Umbrellabird. Again we took off on the river, this time in the afternoon. We headed towards a spot where it sometimes is seen. We fastened the boat to a branch and waited. And waited and waited. The guide blew in a bottle as the sound is just the same as the one you get from a empty bottle. Finally, when it was close to dark, 3 birds appeared in to the big tree on the other side of the river. Even at quite a big distance and in bad light, this was a great event. Here you can also see two very happy twitchers after seeing it.

We also picked up some good woodpeckers, here the handsome Yellow-tufted Woodpecker and also the Ringed Woodpecker.

One of the most funny and spectacular species I saw, was this Monk Sake Monkey in a family of four. Very curiously looking one with its fur a big eyes.

We spent 3 fantastic days here and I really must recommend this oasis of green vegation and great wildlife. From here we drove the long way down to tha Pantanal, the biggest wetland area in the world. Renowned to be the absolute best spot to see  Jaguar and the world largest parrot, The Hyacint Macaw. See this blog.

Itatiaia National Park Brazil July -18

This 3,5 day trip to Itatiaia NP was a part of a longer trip in Brazil (other parts described in other blogs). Itatiaia is Brazils oldest NP and an excellent place to find fantastic birds. In these days we saw 193 species including 18 different Tanagers. We also birded the wetlands just outside the park itself. Our guide Hudson was great! His English needs some improvements but he surely knows his birds. Here the four Gringos (me Örebro, Per Askengren Örebro, Nick Armstrong England, Exeter and Jim Royer USA, California, Los Osos) from a selfie of him.

Hotel Ype where we stay is a very cosy place and highly recommended. The feeders are famous for attracting Tanagers, Hummers, and many others. One of my sought after species was the Frilled Coquette which we only saw briefly once the first hour.

When it comes to Tanagers, this place is just amazing. During the three full days we spent here we saw no less than ... Tanagers. Quite common at the feeders at were these two stunners, Green-headed Tanager and Black-goggled Tanager.

If you are interested in photography, you can easily spend a half day here and just let the birds come to you. Also quite frequent was the Blue Dacnis, here both a male and a female.

Except for the tanagers you will easily find Saffron Finch, Double-colored Seed-eater.

The second day we took the winding Agulhas Negras road towards the top of the mountain at 2400 meters. On the way we stoped for Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture and a group of Red-rumped Warbling-Finch.

Halfway we had a short stop for some shoping and the everywhere excellent Brazilian coffee.The long drive gave us stunning views, crispy air and the endemic Itatiaia Spinetail.

Nick enjoying the great Brazilian coffee.

Me at the top.

One of the starbirds up on these higher levels is the gorgeous Green-crowned Plovercrest. You would probably not find it by yourself but Hudson knew where to stop.

Hotel Ype also has its privileges during evenings and nights. During the last hour of light usually a few Gray-necked Wood-rails emerge from the thickets to feed and stroll at the lawns. Hotel Ype also is a good spot for the Tawny-browed Owl which we had excellent views of in the flashlight. Next to the restaurant I found this great and beautiful Moth Bugmaniac.

Obviously, hummers are a highlight and some of them frequently come in to the feeders. Here a Violet-capped Woodnymph, White-throated Hummingbird and a male and a female Brazilian Ruby constantly observed by the Black Capuchin.

We also explored areas just outside the park as there are plenty of good birding in some of the more open areas around the town and nearby wetlands. We stopped randomly? just in the middle of the small town and I experienced some of the most memorable minutes of the trip. In a tree (which we later called the "crazy tree") we saw Tropical Parula, Southern Beardless Tyrannulet, Purple-throated Euphonia, Narrow-billed Woodcreeper, Hooded Tanager and many more.

Further down close to the wetlands we had these two beautiful hummers, Glittering-throated Emerald  and Glittering-bellied Emerald. As a finish of this fantstic day we experienced super high class birding with the funny performance of a group of Streamer-tailed Tyrants. Something I wish all birders sometimes will be able to see.

Our great birding continued with so many great birds and memories. My number one bird was this Such's Ant-thrush which we waited for about 30 minutes before it arrived. It was at a stake-out and the bird surely knew that Hudson had put out some worms. Unforgettable to hear it coming closer by just walking on the jungle floor!

The last day our great birding continued with so many good birds. What about male and female Surucua Trogon!

If you go here you can also see the "ruins" of the abandoned hotel Simon, which used to be afamous luxury hotel before it was bancrupt. Still it now possible to stroll around and see some good birds like this Variable Antshrike, Sirystes and  White-crested Tyrannulet.

Now we went back to the airport at Sao Paolo for the flight to Cuiaba and more birding at Chapada dos Guimaraes, Jardim da Amazonia and the Pantanal (se these blogs)!!

 

Selous Game Reserve Nov.-17.

Starting a new school project again for the third time made me again visit Tanzania early November 2017.  This was my 4th trip to this fabulous country and after finishing the agenda concerning the project, we had some holiday before going back. This time I visited Selous Game Reserve, which is the largest game reserve in Africa. Not being a national park means advantages and disadvantages. Good for visitors is the possibility to drive wherever you want and also get out of the car if you want/ need. A large part of the reserve is bushy which means it sometimes could be difficult to see the mammals. One superb thing is that you could do a boat trip on Rufiji River and look for hippos and crocs and of course some birds related to water. I spent 2 1/2 days here, sleeping at the new Selous Mapumziko Lodge which is about 15 min drive outside the park on the eastern side. This means lower prices as prices inside the reserve is high. My guide mentioned a lodge which costs around 2000 dollars/ night!!!!. Not for a teachers salary!

The first afternoon we took a boat ride which was very nice. We saw many hippos and also a few crocs.

I had some hope to find White-crowned Lapwing and Böhm's Bee-eater which both are special birds for this area and not easy to see at other places. White-crowned was easy and the lodge had two pairs of Bee-eaters breeding on its grounds.

The boat trip was also nice for weavers and kingfishers. The Af. Golden Weaver was common and breeding at this time and we also saw both Malachite and A. Pygmy Kingfishers along the river banks.

Selous is famous for the rare Wild Dog, which I unfortunately didn't see but of course we saw some other nice mammals as these Greater Kudus which is one of the biggest antelopes you can see. On its back you can also see Red-billed Oxpeckers.

The most numerous and common animals are the Warthogs, the Impalas and Giraffes which are plentiful all over the park.

I have now been on 5 different safaris but this was the first time we got stuck. We were lucky to have an other jeep just in front of us at this situation otherwise I don't know what had happened. 

There are 6 or 7 lakes which you pass when driving around in Selous. As usual many birds are attracted to this and a good place to spot them. The "umbrella bird" or the Black Egret which is the correct name, was very funny to watch when it walked around and pushing its wings like an umbrella to se the fishes better. The same type of behavior can also be seen by the Hammerkop.

As I said in the beginning, one of the highlights here in Selous is that you can drive wherever you want and get out of the car. Having lunch like this just make you want to get back.

Right next to my table I had some curios White-browed Sparrow-weavers and Lesser Blue-eared Starlings.

Other mammals seen were Spotted Hyena, Waterbuck and families of Baboons.

New birds on my life list included the Dickinson's Kestrel and Retz's Helmet-Shrike, both striking birds in their own way.

Some of the more common birds were Cut-throat Finch (juv), Af. Open-billed Stork and Emerald Spotted-Dove.

There were many of the classic colorful birds like Bee-eaters and Rollers. Here you can see White-throated Bee-eaters, Little Bee-eater and Lilac-breasted Roller

Raptors and Vultures were quite common but not easy to approach for good photos. However, these White-backed Vultures, a single young White-headed Vulture, a young Af. Hawk-eagle and an Af Fish-Eagle were cooperative enough for some decent photos.

When we stopped for some antelopes my eyes fell to this creature inside a bush. First I thought it was a bird but then realized it was a bat. This one,probably common here, is called Yellow-winged Bat and is just so beautiful.

An other new bird for me on this trip was this cute Collared Palm Thrush, which I saw about five times.

Driving around in a park/ reserve like this is just so nice. Usually not far between new birds makes the days go too fast. Here Fisher's Sparrow-Lark, Af. Grey Hornbill, Red-billed Oxpecker on a Giraff and a proud and stunning Saddle-billed Stork.

When I stopped at these birds I got confused as the were mating and in my opinion were different species. Sending this picture down to a member of Tanzania birds (org) and got the answer that the "blackheaded" bird is not a Burchell's Coucal but a hybrid between this and a White-browed Coucal, which is the second one. The crazy thing about this is that I saw one more mating pair at a total different location between the same type of birds.

Down here you can first see the list of the Selous Mapumziko Lodge and further down birds seen in the reserve itself, during 2 1/2 days. I had a great time and really recommend anyone to do the trip.

List for Mapumziko Lodge.

Af. Fisheagle
Egyptian Goose
Af Open-billed Stork
Af. Darter
Little Egret
Striated Heron
Goliat Heron
Trumpeter Hornbil
Af. Crow
Spot-flanked Barbet
Brown-breasted barbet
Af. Skimmer
Common Sandpiper
White-crowned Lapwing
Water Thick-knee
White-browed Coucal
Green Wood-Hoopoe
Square-tailed Drongo
Fork-tailed Drongo
Speckled Mousebird
Ring-necked Dove
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
Little Bee-eater
Böhms's Bee-eater
White-fronted Bee-eater
Malachite Kingfisher
Af. Pygmy Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
Giant Kingfisher
Mangrove Kingfisher
Lesser Striped Swallow
Barn Swallow
Wire-tailed Swallow
Af. palm Swift
Yellow-bellied Greenbul
Common Bulbul
Zanzibar Sombre Bulbul
Arrow-marked Babbler
Tropical Boubou
Black-backed Puffback
Winding Cisticola
Af. Paradise Flycatcher
Black-throated Wattle-eye
Lesser Blue-eared Starling
Peter´s Twinspot
Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu
Common Waxbill
Olive Sunbird
Collared Sunbird
Purple-banded Sunbird
Af. Golden Weaver
Lesser masked Weaver

Lake Victoria and Bagamoyo

In June 2017 I made a private visit to my friend Robert Shilingi who lives in Kibaha one hour west of Dar es Saalam. We had earlier decided to visit his home village Ukerewe which is in Lake Victoria. Going up there is really an adventure. Not many "white" people visit this area and my presence was quite an event for some of the locals. We flew from Dar to Mwansa and met a relative to Robert who should be our driver for the next 4 days. Robert wanted me first to see Saanane Island N.P which actually is the smallest N.P in Africa. It is a 30 min boat ride from Mwansa and not so many people around. As there are no dangerous animals on the island you are free to walk around as much as you want. There are som Zebras and antelopes but also some good birds.

The island is very beautiful with some patches of forest and also some peaks. I found the endemic Swamp Flycatcher at nest and at the highest peak I was surprised to find one Madagaskar Bee-eater.

On the way back down I felt lucky when I saw my first African Pygmy Kingfisher and at some rocks the stunning Cliff Chat.

The next morning we started the long drive  towards Ukerewe. Half way we stopped at the excellent Zeke Bay Lodge for lunch and some birding in the nearby areas. The bird thet was on the top of my list was the Three-banded Courser, which breeds here. A local guide gave me some directions and even if it took a while before I found it, it was worth it. What a gem!

The restaurant and the accommodation is in a perfect spot. Right here a saw this magnificent Eastern Paradise Whydah and a family of African Thrushes.

On bad roads we continued our trip and finally reached the ferry for Ukerewe. From there it was only a short ride to Robert's home village. A very nice experience to meet his relatives and be this far away from the standard routes for tourists. We walked through different plantations and also visited some historical sites. Here a saw some raptors, the very common Black Kite (Yellow-billed) and the less common Af. Harrier Hawk and a Western Banded Snake eagle which was a new bird for me.

Swimming in Lake Victoria is not advisable as both crocs and hippos call this lake their home. Taking nice walks along the shores is no problem though. I found both Swamp F.C and Af. Pygmy K.F. in the same bush and even if it's not a very good picture I still find it quite amuzing.

I also saw many herons and kingfishers and among them this Little Heron, Grey-headed Kingfisher and Pied Kingfishers.

One of my best experiences here was a visit to the nearby "fishing island". This place is a 45 minutes boat ride (hand powered by three local boys). Out here fishermen stay for several months and sleep and live under easy circumstances. All fishing is done by hand and takes both time and effort from these people.

Out here I also found some colonies of herons and weavers. Again a Little Heron and the local specialty, the Northern Brown-throated Weaver.

In some reed I also got close up to the local sunbird here, the Red-chested Sunbird as well as the Af. Reed-warbler.

In the ceiling at Robert's house I found these cute Ethiopean Epauletted Fruit-bats. These creatures continue to fascinate me.

We had three lovely days here before we took the big ferry back to Mwanza. At this ferry terminal I saw this Hadada Ibis and a lonely Af. Open-billed Stork.

As we returned to Kibaha for some more days and also visiting some students I know from our former exchange programs I also had the oppotunity to again visit Bagamoyo. I wanted to visit this area in summer time to have the chance of seeing some resident waders in breeding plumage. On my wanting list was both Kitltz's Plover and White-fronted Plover, which I both have seen many years ago, but only in dull winter plumages. My satisfaction was complete when I found both these stunners with help from a local boy who showed me where to go between the salt lakes here.

Not as high up on my list as I have seem then several times before were also this Water Thick-knee and the Three-banded Plover.

Not far from these salt lakes you find some nice bushy habitat where I found this White-fronted Bee-eater. The picture is not fullt sharp but I still find this photo one of my best.

Every-time I have visited Bagamoyo I have seen the gorgeous N. Carmine Bee-eater. This time in poor light and a dull telephone line but still one of the most beautiful birds to be found.

My last photo from this trip will be on this young Sulphur-breasted Bush-Shrike I saw next to Kibaha School. Asante sana, Tanzania!

Tanzania bird list June 2017

Excluding the most common/ frequent birds. (p) photo availible.

Around Kibaha edu. Center and the nearby water treatment areas.

 Af. Pygmy Goose               3                   (p)

Malachite KF                     2

Little Bee-eater                 10                 (p)

Common Scimitarbill        2

Af. Grey Hornbill               5-6

Red-fronted Tinkerbird   1

Spot-flanked Barbet         2 at nest

Mosque Swallow               5-6 breeding around the school

Zanzibar Sombre Bulbul  1-2                (p)

White-browed R-chat      1-2

Red-faced crombec          3-4                (p)

Sulphur-br Bush-shrike  2                   (p)

Grey-head Bush-shrike    1

Violet-backed Starling      4

Red-billed Quelea             2

Red-collared Widowbird 3 Males

Cut-throat Finch               2

 Bagamoyo salt plants (coastal and inland)

 White-face Wh-duck        7                                         (p)

Red-billed Teal                 15                                       (p)

Curlew sanpiper               +200

Terek sandpiper               2-3

C Greenshank                   +10

March sandpiper              5-6

Little Stint                          2 (one in breed plum)

Three-banded Plover      2                                         (p)

White-fronted Plover       5-6 + 10                            (p)

Kitlitz´s Plover                   2 + 6                                  (p)

Water Thick-knee             2 + 1                                  (p)

Pied KF                              +10                                    (p)

Long-tailed cormorant     2                                         (p)

Malachite KF                     1

Wh-fronted Bee-eater     3                                         (p)

E. paradise-whydah         2

 Ruvu-river Ranch (+bridge where highway cross)

Black-headed Batis           2

Amethyst Sunbird            1

Wh-browed Scrub-robi   1

Z Sombre Bulbul               2-3

Pin-tailed Whydah                                 3

E-Paradise-Whydah                              1

Several unidentified Cisticolas and whydas

Saanane NP

 Pied KF                              +50

Pygmy KF                          1                   (p)

Grey-headed KF               1

Little-Bee-eater                 10

Madagaskar Bee-eater     1                   (p)

Plain Martin                                            10

Spot-flanked barbet         2

Ruppel´s Robin-chat         2                   (p)

Cliff Chat                           2 + 2             (p)

Red-winged Starling        3                   (P)

Green-winged Pytilia       2

Green-ba camaroptera    2

Winding Cisticola              2

Red-chested Sunbird       1 male

N Brown-throated Wea   3                   (p)

Black Bishop                      10

Af. Fish-eagle                     2 

Speke Bay Lodge (only 2 hours spent around the lodge/ lunch)

 Three-banded Courser    2 at nest       (p)

Blue-naped Mousebird    2

Blue-ca Cordon Bleu        +10

Af. Firefinch                       1

Green-winged Pytilia       2

Grey-backed Fiscal           4

Chin-spot Batis                 1

Silverbird                          3-4

Swamp FC                         5                   (p)

Grey-capped warbler       3

Angola swallow                 20

Plain Martin                                            4

Stout Cisticola                   2                   (p)

Red-chested Sunbird       3                   (p)

E. Paradise Whydah         1                   (p)

Slender-billed weaver     +10               (p)

Ostrich                               6-7 (along the road)

Ukerewe Island

 Hammerkop                                            2

Pink-backed Pelican         1

Osprey                               2

Af. Harrier Hawk               2-3

W Band snake-eagle        1                   (p)

Af Grey Hornbill                3

Grey Kestrel                                            1

Pygmy KF                          3

Collared Sunbird              +10

Variable Sunbird              +5

Red-chested Sunbird       3-4                (p)

Black-billed Barbet           2                   (p)

Brown-thro wattle-eye    1

Grey-capped warbl          1

Yellow-bel eremomela     2

Swamp Fc                          +5                 (p)

Winding Cisticola              2-3

Yellow White-eye             2 + 2

Swahili Sparrow               3-4

Grey-h sparrow                3

 

                     

 

 

 

 

Thailand Dec 16

From December 22:nd I went to Thailand with my family  on a classic family holiday. We stayed 4 days in Bangkok (from where I went to Pak Thale with a hired guide) and 8 nights in Ao Nang close to Krabi. We also spent 2 nights on the bus down and up this location. A 24 seater is a cheap and decent way to travel during night as the seats are quite comfortable. You also save the money for two hotel nights this way.

Going down to Krabi I had planned some biding of course. Down here you have Krabi river mouth, mangroves close up for some good birding. I hired a boat man for a couple of hours and took a walk to look for shore birds. I didn't´t come up close at this location and one of few birds that came close was this Common Greenshank. I´d hoped for Nordmann´s but lack of time and long distances made me go back without seeing it.

We also took a walk in a nearby village where I saw this cattle and Cattle Egret together. It was a pretty nice walk  and I also saw (among others) a few Brown Shirkes.

One hour from Krabi is KNC which is world wide known to be the only location for Gurney´s Pitta. I realized my chances were small as I had no guide and timing of the year not good. Tragically this spot is destroyed by all tourists that come for the Emerald Pool which also is located here. They have closed down all the trail and made it a tourist trap. This model of the Pitta is probably the closest any birder will come from now on.

Almost deserted from birds because of all screaming people I saw I few nice Golden Orb Spiders and this handsome Malayan Tree Nymph.

On the way back we stoped at Tiger Temple just north of Krabi town. Here I had a few hours of good birding and among others I saw this beautiful Blue Whistling Thrush and a group of 10 Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters and at the temple several families of Long-tailed Macaques.

As I had rented my own car we were quite free to make our own decisions. I booked one night up in Khao Sok National Park for just me and my daughter. We stayed at the very nice Tree tops just at the border to the park. Birding was quite slow in the jungle but around the headquarter I saw some birds like this Wallace´s Hawk Eagle and a pair of Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrikes.

The view from the restaurant at Tree Tops, very cosy. 

Inside the park we met a family of Spectacled Langurs which are very cute indeed. One of them carried a new born baby which was light brown in color.

At the western side of Ao Nang is Hat Nopparat Thara. This is a river mouth and when the tide is low there usually are some shore birds. About 50 Lesser and Greater Sand Plovers were here and made a good time of study as these birds (especially in non-breeding plumage) can be quite tricky. I hope I made the right decision below. First 3 Lesser and then 3 Greater.

While taking these photos I saw a much brighter birds alone further away. Thinking it was Kentish Plover (nominate) made me later realize it was a White-faced Plover. This bird is still a race of the Kentish but is by some taxonomists regarded as a full species.

Just next to it was this Common Sandpiper and in the trees next to the beach these cute Collared Kingfishers.

Staying at Ao Nang means you have to take some boat trips to the nice islands further out. Out here you will probably have no problem seeing Brahminy Kite and perhaps Pied Imperial Pigeon.

If you ever go here I can recommend Green View Resort, where we stayed. A nice garden and some interesting habits close by. Among the more common was this Brown-throated Sunbird.

We went back to Bangkok for a few days. Long before I had booked a guide to take me to Pak Thale which is the only decent place to see the magic Spoon-billed Sandpiper. I have never been so nervous in my life for a birding trip as this morning. After a couple of hours driving we reached the location and had a very rustic breakfast in a tented shed where a local woman sold fish soup for 10 Swedish Crowns. Hong, my polite and kind guide brewed some coffee for me.

As the sun started to rise we made our way towards the small salt lakes where all the waders like to rest and feed. The morning was quite windy and the flocks of birds restless in their behavior. At one spot we found a flock of about 500 Red-necked Stints which we started to look through. At one momentI had a brief look at one Spoon-billed which was quite a relief, but of course I wanted a better look. Suddenly all the shore birds took off and we had to move to other spots. Hong´s local friend and expert Lang also came along for our mission to see it better. The wind became calmer and so did the birds and after some looking we found not only one but three Spoon-billed Sandpipers. The first was at rest and we were not sure if it was one because of the resemblance of the Red-necked Stint. But as it woke up it turned and I had a very good look at the magic bill, what a moment! I have probably dreamt about this bird for 25 years. The picture is not mine but Hong´s as our bird was a little bit to far out for a picture.

You can see how happy I was on the next photo.

The rest of the day we spent driving around and looking for other species I hadn't on my list, like Three-toed Stint which was quite plentiful. We saw 2 Asian Dowitchers as well but too far away for decent photos.

As a shore bird enthusiast, this is heaven. I could easily spend several days looking at these and learn more about plumages and behavior. Many species are

known from my home but still nice to see in this incredible mix. As follows; Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Wood Sandpiper and Common Greenshank. The last is showing a Spotted Redshank and a Ruff.

The next bird confused me as I'm not very familiar to see a Broad-billed Sandpiper in this plumage.

Birds possible in Sweden but seldom seen was March Sandpiper and Red-necked Stint (the 2nd picture together  with a Curlew Sandpiper).

Only once before I have seen the Pacific Golden Plover so this one was a nice pick.

At one salt pond I saw this flock of Black-naped Terns, which had a behavior I hadn't seen before. They were hovering almost like a hummingbird and just picking at the surface for food.

This Slender-billed Gull was the only one we saw and is quite uncommon here.

One of the most common bird here was the Black-winged Stilt but still an awesome beauty.

A few hundred meters inland there is some more marcy areas were I saw this Pond Heron, which I don´t dare to say which species it is in this plumage.

My last picture from this trip is on a pair of dancing Little Egrets saying bye for now!

Birds list by location

Green View resort
Whie-browed Waterhen 4, Chinese Pond-heron 1, Asian Palm Swift 5-6, Brown Shrike 2, Blue Whistling Thrush 1, Streak-eared Bulbul 2-4, Common Tailorbird 2-3, Olive-backed Sunbird 5-7, Brown-throated Sunbird 2-3, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Oriental Magpie-robin 2-3, Red-rumped Swallow about 10
4-islands, Poda: Blue Rock-thrush 1, Blue and White Flycatcher 1, Yellow-browed warbler 1, Dark-sided Flycatcher 1, White-bellied Sea eagle 3, Brahminy Kite7-8, Pied Imperial Pigeon 4.
Krabi River including local village: Brown-winged Kingfisher 1, Collared Kingfisher 1, Common Snipe 3-4, Pintail Snipe 1-2, Wood sandpiper 1, Asian Koel 1, Green-billed Malkoha 1, Dollarbird 1, Indian Roller 2, Richard´s Pipit 1, Oriental reed Warbler 1.
River mouth: Great Knot 10, Black-tailed Godwit 25, L Sand Plover 150, Gr Sand Plover 20, C Greenshank 10, Sanderling 1, Ruddy Turnstone 2, Terek Sandpiper 20, Eu curlew 40.
Mangrove Walk:  Common tailorbird 1, Ashy tailorbird 1, Oriental White-eye 1, Arctic Warbler 1, Yellow-browed warbler 1.
Tiger cave: Mountain Hawk-Eagle 1, Black-capped Kingfisher 1, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater 10, Blue Whistling Thrush 3, Crimson Sunbird 1 male, Vernal hanging Parrot 2, Bar-winged Flycatcher-Shrike 2, Grey Wagtail 1, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 2, Olive-backed Sunbird 6, Coppersmith Barbet 1, House Swift 3,
Hat Nopara Thara: Gr Sand Plover 10, L Sand Plover 35, White-faced Plover 1, Common Sandpiper 1, Collared Kingfisher 2, White-throated Kingfisher 1.
Khao Sok N.P: Blyth´s Hawk Eagle 1, Grey-eyed Bulbul, Streak-eared Bulbul, Arctic Warbler 2, Pale-legged Warbler 2, Yellow-breasted Warbler 2, Asian Brown Flycatcher 1, Brown-streaked Flycatcher 2, Grey Wagtail 1, Moustashed Babbler 1, Bar-winged Flycatcher-Shrike 2, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 2, Orange-bellied Flowerpecker 2.
Pak Thale: Spoon-billed Sandpiper 3, Red-necked Stint 500, Long-toed Stint 30, Curlew Sandpiper 10, Broad-billed Sandpiper 10, Eu. Curlew 300, Black-tailed Godwit 200, C. Greenshank 40, Asian Dowitcher 2, L Sand Plover 200, Gr Sand Plover 25, Marsh Sandpiper 30, Wood Sandpiper 30, Pacific Golden Plover 3, Little Ringed Plover 20, Ruddy Turnstone 3, Black-winged Stilt 300, Black-naped Tern 40, Brown-headed Gull 200, Slender-billed Gull 1, Little-Intermediate and Great Egret (all common), Purple Heron 1, Red-collared Dove 2, Oriental Sky Lark 3-4, Brown Shrike 2 and 1 male Watercock.