Mekong River birds

Boat trip on the Mekong River, 30/4-1/5

Took a boat trip on the river, starting in Stung Treng, to see some of Cambodia's most threatened resident birds, riverine species. It was a privilege to see a large portion of the River Tern population (6 adults) and see at least three juveniles, the hope of a future on the Mekong for these rare birds.

Adult above and juvenile below

We also came across a pair of Great Thicknees. Another very rare bird on the Mekong.

River Lapwing is another species who's population has declined on the Mekong. Around seven birds seen in different areas.

Other Mekong specialities seen:
- Mekong Wagtail (endemic), about 7 seen over the two days
- Small Pratincole, around 5 birds on a rock and at least one seen flying around one of the islands

Also a single Whiskered Tern in full breeding plumage.

Thanks to Andrea and Senglim for helping with this trip.

John Kennedy, Robert van Zalinge





 

Climbed Phnum Aural with Stefan Harrison during Khmer New Year 13th-16th April 2016. Linked up with Mr. Chim- a local villager 0975033399 who takes tourists to the top. It was dry and Mr. Chim said he had never seen the forests so dry. Lower elevations it was hot, dry till we went above the 1st camp. We saw Asian fairy-bluebirds, Puff throated bulbuls, Green-billed malkohas, Grey-eyed bulbuls around the 1st camp. Black and Spangled drongos were also there with a few Greater-racket-tailed drongos.
Stefan saw a pair of Wreathed hornbills and a great hornbill on the way to the top. Wreathed was in the higher elevation after the difficult part of the climb. At the second camp Stefan saw a Common hawk-cuckoo. Next morning waited at the waterhole (6 am) and saw the Blue pitta, a brief glimpse of Chestnut-headed partridge. A pair of Mountain-bulbuls and a White-throated fantail gave us away so left the water hole around 8 am. We could hear Blue pittas calling. Stefan climbed up to the Wat at the peak while I stayed lower trying to photograph the partridges and laughingthrush. I was playing the partridge call and this attracted an accipeter that flew in stealthily, but no answering call from the partridges. The thick litter of dry leaves made approaching the partridges difficult, I flushed several but approaching for photos was difficult. Stefan also saw White-throated needle tails at the wat. In the evening waited on the other stream with flowing water which was good. A lot of birds came including White-tailed robins, Blue-whistling thrush. Other small birds also came but could not see due to our position. It is important to take a hide next time.
Some photos from the trip.

Bakan floodplain ricefields

29-30 March 2016

I visited the Bakan floodplain ricefields on 29th afternoon and 30th morning. The morning visit produced best results. Parked the car just beyond the last houses, where the floodplain starts (there were two shelters where I parked). Area to the east of the track seemed most productive. Highlights were:

- Large scattered flocks of Yellow-breasted Bunting (estimate around 50 birds)
- Rufous-rumped Grassbird/Babbler

- Manchurian Reed Warbler (probably 2 birds, both in woody vegetation: scrub in hedgerow and at base of tree)

Thanks to Simon Mahood for also considering warbler identification before inclusion here.

Traditional seasonal rice farming in the Tonle Sap floodplain is rich in biodiversity and deserves conserving.

Robert van Zalinge

Koh (Ach) Seh, near Kep

Spent 24-28 February at Koh Seh (Horse Island), off the coast of Kep and just past Koh Tonsai (Rabbit Island). Apparently there are two Koh Sehs in Cambodia, and the official name of the one I visited is actually Koh Ach Seh which apparently means Horse Shit Island. It's a small island and is where the NGO Marine Conservation Cambodia is based. I recorded the following bird species there:

Collared Kingfisher
Greater Coucal
Blue-tailed Bee-Eater
[Germaine's] Swiftlet
Large-tailed Nightjar
Shikra
Pied Fantail
Mangrove Whistler
Orange-headed Thrush
Asian Brown Flycatcher
Hainan Blue Flycatcher
Oriental Magpie Robin
Oriental White-Eye (I'm assuming Oriental because of range and also they had fairly yellow heads and backs, although they seemed to be lacking the yellow ventral stripe shown in Robson)
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Arctic Warbler

-Andrea Claassen

More Bokor birding

Bokor, 27 February

A one day visit, but one which was extremely productive. What is the partridge trail is still not clear to me, but the trail we found last time resulted in several encounters with partridges on this day. One or two pairs were foraging near the trail. Also spent time in the early afternoon on the "exercise trail" which turned out to be well worth the time.

Trail starting in large clearing past waterfall:
- Chestnut-headed Partridges. Black on flanks is more prominent than illustrated.

Exercise trail:
- Silver Pheasant. Two males that seemed to be in a non-violent dispute. Following each other closely and making a variety of growls. One male seen raising crest. Four females following. All crossed the trail at a leisurely pace and seemed completely unconcerned by our presence.
- Blue Pitta. Several responses. One seen.
- White's/Scaly Thrush. A very big thrush! Palish head. Large, but scattered, black markings below.
- Orange-headed Thrush. At same location (near the log stack/prescribed log lifting exercise!).
- Streaked Wren Babblers

In the clearing:
- Black Eagle. Yellow bill and legs, barring visible in tail. Hunting low over forest.

No hornbills seen this time round. Several forest fires could be seen at lower elevation from Kampot on both 26th and 27th.

Robert van Zalinge with John Kennedy.

We also met John Bowler and walked the clearing trail together in the morning. He then continued walking this trail until around 2 p.m. and when we met later he reported having seen mostly the same species as we did.

Ban Lung, Ratanakiri

Spent some time in Ratanakiri in February. I stayed at Treetop Lodge for a few days and also spent the morning of 5 Feb birding around the perimeter of Yeak Laom Lake.

TREETOP LODGE

 Asian Koel

Greater Coucal

Red-breasted Parakeet

Asian Barred Owlet

Spotted Dove

Black-naped Oriole

Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher

White-throated Rock Thrush

Asian Brown Flycatcher

Red-throated Flycatcher

Pale Blue Flycatcher

White-rumped Shama

Black-crested Bulbul

Red-whiskered Bulbul

Dark-necked Tailorbird

Arctic Warbler

White-crested Laughingthrush

Little Spiderhunter

House Sparrow

YEAK LAOM LAKE

Greater Yellownape

Laced Woodpecker

Great Slaty Woodpecker

Green-eared Barbet

Common Kingfisher

Banded Bay Cuckoo

Greater Coucal

Red-breasted Parakeet

Vernal Hanging Parrot

Asian Barred Owlet

Brown-backed Needletail

Crested Serpent Eagle

Common Iora

Black-naped Oriole

Ashy Drongo

Bronzed Drongo

Spangled Drongo

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike

Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher

Red-throated Flycatcher

Hill Blue Flycatcher

Hill Myna

Barn Swallow

Black-headed Bulbul

Black-crested Bulbul

Dark-necked Tailorbird

Dusky Warbler

Yellow-browed Warbler

White-crested Laughingthrush

Striped Tit Babbler

Olive-backed Sunbird

--Andrea Claassen

Bokor Birding

Bokor Mountain, 21-23 November.

We focused on a specific trail looking for partridges, but they remained only heard in the distance. We did have some good montane specific and other interesting sightings though.

On the plateau:
- Himalayan Buzzard

- Grey-faced Buzzard

On the trail (all likely seen above 800m if plateau is 1000m):
- Streaked Wren Babblers (four birds at one location and some more slightly further along the path)
- Red-headed Trogon (a pair)
- Siberian Blue Robin (both male and female)
- Orange-headed Thrush
- Great and Wreathed Hornbills (GH on upper part of trail and at least 12 individuals; WH: one male with two females flying over clearing on plateau and also one pair much lower down along main road, perhaps around halfway up)
- Mountain Imperial Pigeons
- Barred Cuckoo Doves
- Plain-tailed Warblers
- White-browed Scimitar Babbler
- Black-throated Sunbird

Heard onlys (along trail):
- Chestnut-headed Partridges
- Silver-breasted Broadbill
- Long-tailed Broadbill
- Barbets (Moustached/Blue-eared)

Also several unidentified snipes and a single pipit flying overhead in a large vegetated clearing on the plateau. Many pitcher plants there too.

It seemed like the housing development on the plateau has stalled. Let's hope the stop is permanent!

Intend to do more montane birding in Cambodia soon, also as a means to take a break from the coming heat.

Robert van Zalinge with John Kennedy

Kampong Thom's House Sparrows

We were forced to stay a night at the Arun Ras Hotel in Kampong Thom. On waking found the tree opposite my room full of house sparrows and the occasional plain-backed. There must have been between 500-1,000 in this tree. At dawn they started flying off in groups, most towards the floodplain. It must be a lot safer for them to roost in the middle of town than out in the floodplain, or there is just a lack of nice tall trees where they can sit together in the hundreds.

RvZ, 11 September 2015

White-rumped Falcon in KPWS

White-rumped Falcon (male) seen in southwest Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary on 19 August.

RvZ

Indian Spotted Eagle in Preah Vihear

Saw an Indian Spotted Eagle at Veal Kbal Damrei, Preah Vihear Protected Forest on the 1st of July. It was being chased away by a Lesser Adjutant.

RvZ

Some birds near Phnom Penh

On 31 July there was a Lesser Sand Plover with a juvenile Little Ringed and a few Black-winged Stilts on a sand-spit in Boeung Veal Basset. Chestnut-capped Babbler was seen carrying nest material on a hill slightly beyond the marsh. At Prek Ksach an adult Little Ringed Plover was present on 2 August.

Andrea Claassen, RvZ

Indian Thick-knee at Anlung Pring

On the 29th of May I found an Indian Thick-knee pair at Anlung Pring. This record is the most southern record in Cambodia (of course, further south would mean it occurring on an island). Most records in Goes 2013 are from the North.

RvZ

White-shouldered Ibis at Stoung

There has been a White-shouldered Ibis hanging around Stoung, since at least March. On the 25th (a few days ago) I saw it in Stoung's best wetland, although actually its just outside the reserve. The ibis moves up and down from the Neang Sar Lngeach river, nearby.

Also in this small wetland were 47 cranes and 120 Comb Ducks (not all in the photo below).

 RvZ

A recent record of Cambodian Tailorbird from the Bassac Marshes

 

On 11 June 2014 (dry season) at about 6:55 AM, more than 2 Cambodian Tailorbirds were seen in inundated grasslands with scattered trees and scrub in Bassac Marshes, Kandal province, Cambodia. I was about 15 m from it and only obtained one photograph of it. I found it when I was trying for the Blue winged Pitta (Pitta moluccensis) by using a broadcast with 20s of recorded song of the Pitta. On 21 August (flood season), I came back to the same location, but I did not see them that time. Water level in the Bassac Marsh then was about 1.2 m.

This species was found in mixed group with Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier), Sooty-headed Bulbul(Pycnonotus aurigaster) and Brown-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis).

Record from Duy Le, posted by RvZ

Steppe Eagle at ATT

Yesterday a large eagle circled overhead while I was working in the southernmost area of Ang Trapeang Thmor reservoir grasslands. It flew in close enough to make some relatively good photos (see previous blog about an eagle at ATT). I believe it is an immature Steppe Eagle. It may be the same individual as seen earlier. If it is, the moult has progressed, but not completed yet. Pens are still bare at secondary/tail tips.

Markus Handschuh saw the first recorded Steppe Eagle for Cambodia in Tonle Sap grasslands in 2010, but was considered unconfirmed in Frederic Goes's checklist. Hopefully it can now be added to the list of eagles that overwinter in Cambodia.

Also what's probably a juvenile Pied Harrier flew by:

RvZ

ATT late dry season 2015

The low water levels at Ang Trapeang Thmor in the late dry season of 2015 make for some spectacular birding. Just from the embankment it is possible to see, particularly in the middle of the day:
- Various large waterbirds: Greater Adjutants (10-20 at roost), Black-necked Storks (family of 4), Spot-billed Pelicans,  Painted Storks, Sarus Cranes (>150 at roost)
- Small waterbirds: esp. Pheasant-tailed Jacanas (I didn't see Bronze-winged), Swamphens
- Waterfowl: Comb Duck (hundreds), Northern Pintail (at least 2), Garganey, Lesser Whistling Duck, Cotton Pygmy-Goose, Little Grebe
- Waders: thousands of Black-winged Stilts (much more than usual), Godwits (not sure of species), Ruff (two seen), Redshanks (at least Common), Kentish Plover (one male in breeding plumage), Long-toed Stints, Common Snipe

And all pretty much mixed up and standing side by side in the bit of water that remains.

As usual I didn't have a good opportunity to spend much time birding here, but I encourage others to go and properly assess what's there now. It is an unusual year at ATT and this is a rare opportunity to get a good overview of what's present. There are bound to be some rarities in there too.

Large Eagle at ATT

In the distance I saw a very large eagle yesterday at ATT, larger than the usual Greater Spots. I believe this may have been a juvenile/subadult Eastern Imperial Eagle or Steppe Eagle. It was undergoing heavy moult. It was noticeably larger and had a longer tail and wings than the Greater Spotted do. It's size also then excludes Tawny Eagle.

Here are some picture although they are unclear

In an earlier post from ATT I mentioned seeing a python while driving along the new irrigation channel which then seemed to have slipped in to the channel, well I can now add that this new irrigation channel is a major snake trap! Driving along 2-3 km of channel we came across two live snakes and one dead one! They can possibly escape where sections of the channel have been broken by local people upset that the channel blocks drainage from their ricefields, but the dead one indicates they don't always manage to get out.

Note (29 April): This is not a python, but a Russel's Viper. The lower part of the body was submerged which caused the confusion, but Timo Hartmann and Markus Handschuh passed on the correction. Other similar snakes in the channel were probably this species and perhaps the snake mentioned slipping in to the channel in an earlier post as well. So, lot's of vipers at ATT!

RvZ

Some sightings in early January from Stoung and Ang Trapeang Thmor

While working in Stoung from 10-12 January we flushed what must have been a Great Bittern in a small wetland. When it flew up I thought at first it was a female florican as it was large, had the same tawny colouring with black markings, but from the side profile it was clear it was an Ardeidae.

Also in Stoung we had a Black-necked Stork fly by and the ponds were still full of Painted Storks and pelicans.

At Ang Trapeang Thmor between 13-14 January we came across a group of 5 mostly sub-adult Greater Adjutants....

and a Booted Eagle circling nearby....

The bittern and eagle are first time sightings for me in Cambodia. The bittern has only been recorded a few times before in the country according to Frederic Goes's annotated checklist, while the eagle is also infrequently seen. January is a good time to visit Stoung and ATT  :-)  RvZ.

Black-faced Spoonbill at BPL

On 23rd and 24th December a single Black-faced Spoonbill was seen at Boeung Prek Lapouv associating with a flock of Black-headed Ibis. First sighting was in a ploughed area near a village called Dei Leuk. The second sighting was in a natural inundated area not far from the village Banteay Sleuk.

Sightings of Black-faced Spoonbill at BPL have occurred before, in December 2010 and February 2012. Most sightings in and around BPL have been of birds within Black-headed Ibis flocks. The bird was spotted as it was the only one in the flock resting with it's bill tucked in under a wing. Just a few days before Simon Mahood had mentioned how lazy they seem to be in the daytime, more often than not seen catching a nap than actively foraging. With this in mind the Spoonbill stood out in the Ibis flock, of which all other birds were in full foraging mode.

Other sightings:
- 156 cranes counted at a single foraging site. There are more than that in BPL at the moment, as will become clear from the monthly site counts which took place this morning.
- Hundreds of Painted Storks and Asian Openbills and several large groups of Black-headed Ibis
- Perhaps as many as a thousand Garganeys
- A juvenile Peregrine Falcon, likely attracted by the presence of so many Garganeys

December is a good month to visit Boeung Prek Lapouv!

RvZ