Spoon-billed Sandpiper and other Bangkok birding, Thailand, January 2001

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by Martin Birch (martin (AT) surfbirds.com)

Lumphini Park, Saturday 13th January 2001

Lumphini Park is the largest park in the centre of Bangkok, but on a weekend can feel distinctly small as thousands of Thai's jog, sleep, do Tai Chi and generally enjoy the pleasures of a green oasis in a polluted city. For the jet-lagged executive birder though, with a few hours to spare between meetings, it can still produce some exciting finds - particularly in winter. Best of the bunch today was a beautiful "Red-throated" Flycatcher that proved remarkably loyal to the lower story of the same tree (similar to Red-breasted Flycatcher but may well merit specific status from the nominate race). Along with the cracking Brown Shrike and the good numbers of Yellow-browed Warblers, European birders in Bangkok could pass an enjoyable couple of hours in this park - but choose a weekday if you can.

Species seen:

Coppersmith Barbet, Megalaima haemacephala (8+)
Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopacea (1)
Asian Palm Swift, Cypsirius balasiensis (6)
Red Collared Dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica (2)
Peaceful Dove, Geopelia striata (2 - perhaps feral !)
Brown Shrike, Lanius cristatus (ad.male)
Large-billed Crow, Corvus macrorynchos (10+)
Black-naped Oriole, Oriolus chinensis (6)
Common Iora, Aegithina tiphia (5)
Pied Fantail, Rhipidura javanica (6)
Asian Brown Flyctcher, Muscicapa dauurica (4)
Red-throated Flycatcher, Ficedula parva (1 in winter plumage)
Oriental Magpie Robin, Copsychus saularis (6)
Chestnut-tailed Starling, Sturnus malabaricus (1)
Black-collared Starling, Sturnus nigricollis (5)
Common Myna, Acridotheres tristris (30+)
White-vented Myna, Acridotheres grandis (20+)
Streak-eared Bulbul, Pycnonotus blanfordi (20+)
Yellow-browed Warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus (10)
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Dicaeum cruentatum (6)
Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus (50+)


Kok-kfam Saltpans, Samot fakron Province, Bangkok, Thursday 18th January 2001

Less than one hour from the centre of Bangkok these salt pans cover an extensive area and have an equally extensive list of wading birds. At least one Spoon-billed Sandpiper has overwintered amongst the large numbers of Red-necked Stints making these salt-pans a magnet for birders visiting Bangkok. But don't relegate the rest of the birdlife - just read through the list to appreciate how special this place really is.

Species seen:

Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus (3)
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis (15)
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia (1)
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola (2)
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos (1)
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres (4)
Spoon-billed Sandpiper Calidris pygmeus (1)
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis (40)
Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii (1)
Long-toed Stint Calidris subnimuta (10)
Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus (20)
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea (30)
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus (30)
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus (6)
Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus (40)
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva (8)
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola (8)
Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus (30)
Caspian Tern Sterna caspia (1)
Common Tern Sterna hirundo (14)
Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica (1)
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus (6)
Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus (1)
Little Egret Egretta garzetta (10)
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea (6)
Great White Egret Casmerodius albus (8)
Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia (1)
Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger (60)
Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica (4)
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica (10)
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis (4)
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava (2)

Other sites visited and species seen included:
Don Munt, Bangkok North

Java Sparrow Padda oryzivora (16)

Ban-pu, Bangkok

Garganey Anas querquedula (1)
Little Grebe Tachybaptus rufficollis (3)
Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata (1)
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa (40)
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus (10)
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata (10)
Common Redshank Tringa totanus (5)
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis (10)
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos (1)
Brown-headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus (60)
Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bachus (6)
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax (1)
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis (2)
White-vented Myna Acridotheres grandis (4)


Bangkok Technical College

Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus (3)
Black-capped Kingfisher Halcyon pileata (4)
Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus (2)
Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis (2)
Red-collared Dove Streptopelia tranquebarica (2)
Peaceful Dove Geopelia striata (3)
Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus (23)
Black Kite Milvus migrans (1)
Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans (20+)
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus (2)
Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus (5)
Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus (5)
Pied Fantail Rhipidura javanica (1)
Red-throated Flycatcher Ficedula parva (1)
Common Stonechat Saxicola torquata (2)
Plain Prinia Prinia inornata (2)
Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius (1)
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus (1)
Olive-backed Sunbird Nectarinia jugularis (1)
Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus (3)
Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata (5)