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

Kampot over Pchum Ban

Hired a motorbike from Lucky Lucky Motorcycle shop on Monivong, Phnom Penh. Paid 13 USD per day, and the owners were very nice. They made sure I got a good motorbike that could go up the mountain. My plan was to try photograph the Chestnut - headed Partridge and then if possible, Mangrove Whistler and Ruddy Kingfisher.

Drove to Salt pans with Simon Mahood on 22nd evening and was able to photograph the Stints.

23rd disappointing drive up to Bokor; no Wreathed Hornbills, Great Hornbills or Chestnut - headed Partridge. No birds on the CHP trail. Went back to the salt pans alone and photographed the Marsh Sandpiper and possible Curlew Sandpiper.... if I am right!!

Lots of Common Sandpipers and Lesser Sand-plovers and Ringed Plovers also seen in the salt pans.

24th morning took a boat to  Trapeang Sangke CPA and found a Ruddy Kingfisher!!
Photos from the trip below:

                                          Blue - eared Barbet (Bokor)

                                         Thick-billed Green-pigeon (Bokor)

                                         Marsh Sandpiper (Kampot salt pans), with Simon

                                         Red-necked Stint (Kampot salt pans), with Simon

                                         Long-toed Stint (Kampot salt pans), with Simon

                                         Curlew Sandpiper (?) Kampot salt pans

                                         Ruddy Kingfisher (Trapeang Sangke CPA)

                                         Ruddy Kingfisher (Trapeang Sangke CPA)
Ashish J I John.