In the bleak mid-Wheatear

Back to the Great White Cape for the first time in a good eight months (well, we've had good reasons), and a beautiful, crisp and frosty morning with Rich encouraged a short sojourn to Bempton, where a certain Desert Wheatear has taken up residence since the late autumn. 

After a half hour or so we happily bumped into the bird feeding in a field by the clifftop; giving good views and within reasonable range for the camera, I fired off a few shots - the clicking of the shutter inspiring the bird to look up, fly directly towards me, land at my feet, and tack indignantly before eventually hopping a little way along the path (and far enough away for these shots). Wonderful. 

Chiang Dao, part three

More from in and around Malee's garden.....

female Tickell's Blue Flycatcher

Striated Yuhina

Grey-cheeked Fulvetta

Ashy Drongo

The view from the restaurant - most of the species in this post and the last few were photographed from around here

Green-billed Malkoha

Verditer Flycatcher

Yellow-brows & Blue-beards - Thailand, Nov 2011

From just outside the door at Malee's.... Yellow-browed Warblers were pretty much everywhere, and were arguably the commonest bird in the area; Blue-bearded Bee-eaters were also very forthcoming, often posted like sentries by the front gate. More to follow.

Chiang Dao, NW Thailand - part two

Olive-backed Pipit

A few more shots from around Malee's, our getaway out in the sticks near Chiang Dao, NW Thailand; all taken within a stone's throw of our accommodation. More details and photos to follow in subsequent posts.

Brown Shrike

Sooty-headed Bulbul

Common Iora

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch

Yellow-browed Warbler

Taiga Flycatcher

Black-crested Bulbul

candidate Japanese Leaf Warbler, Taipei

One from a while ago now - the 20th September, to be exact - when this bird was found (by Amity) flitting in trees by the path between the entrance and the visitor's centre at Guandu nature reserve, Taipei city, Taiwan.


At the time it was the first individual of the trip from the freshly-divided Arctic Warbler species complex; there have been many since (throughout SE Asia), displaying a fascinating range of subtly differing tones and features, but none as distinctively different as this individual.


Essentially resembling a nominate Arctic Warbler in all but colouration, the bird showed strikingly bright tones seemingly far removed from the latter - including significantly brighter green upperparts and (most obviously) a strong bright yellow on the supercilium and underparts.


Despite online searches, information regarding definitive identification features (outside of those mentioned) seems scant at best; while it's best not to call it one way or the other for now, plumage characteristics - and, circumstantially, location - seem to strongly suggest this bird is indeed Phylloscopus xanthrodryas, Japanese Leaf Warbler.



Comments welcome.

Chiang Dao, NW Thailand - November 2011 (1)

Striated Swallow

Leaving Bangkok via the luxury of an internal flight (trains being out of the question with the lines underwater) provided first-hand evidence of the devastating extent of the floods; from the northern suburbs and for many miles northwards, entire communities and their lands were submerged beneath a shimmering blue sheet - another close encounter with meteorological chaos on the trip, and another timely reminder of our privilege.

male Tickell's Blue Flycatcher

Barely an hour later and we'd arrived in Thailand's historical capitol Chiang Mai - a magical introduction, with the nightime streets and canals festooned with intricate, illuminated sculptures (our visit coinciding with both Loy Krathong and Yi Peng festivals).

Black-crested Bulbul  (ssp. vantynei)

After a memorable few days enjoying a city with numerous beautiful shrines, plenty of cultural interest and a (comparatively) relaxed undercurrent, we journeyed north via tuk-tuk, public bus (much fun and great views) and then Songthaew to the idyllic, rural retreat of Malee's, near Chiang Dao.

Yellow-bellied Warbler

The far north-west of Thailand hosts a mouth-watering array of species that effectively 'spill' over the borders to the north and west, with many residents and winter visitors found nowhere else in the country; hence our often-delayed and much-anticipated time here was unlikely to disappoint.

Taiga Flycatcher

Malee's - our base for the next part of the trip - is tucked away in a lush valley between two forested ranges that dominate the skyline, and is established as an ideal stop-off for birders and other naturalists to, with access to several mountains - and their avian specialities - close by, and excellent birding opportunities within a couple of km (not least within and around the garden surrounding the accommodation).

Streaked Spiderhunter

Our plan, based on the above, was to stay two or three days - one day set aside for a specific excursion to the nearby mountain of Doi Chiang Dao for higher altitude species (and more besides), and a day or two within the immediate vicinity picking up whatever was possible within walking distance.

female Hill Blue Flycatcher

As implied by our staying six nights (and only then departing through necessity), it was hard to leave; an almost inexhaustible supply of birding thrills was augmented by the wonderfully peaceful and relaxing environs and good company (human and otherwise).

Part two to follow....

Vive La Resolution

So we finally made it home, and in time to share the celebrations in London town..... much more still to come from our travels, however - and in the meantime, a song about today I wrote some years ago now. Enjoy.

Zero One, Zero One by Morning Bride