16th February 2023
After my first individual yesterday, yet another male Siberian Rubythroat feeding on a path with Bluethroat at the NW side of the lake
As it was only a few minutes down road from my digs, I thought I’ll go and check out the lake, Keang Nom Ton. No idea where to go when I got there but on the scooter I followed a dirt track from the south side that bordered around the lake. Some 30 Germain’s Swift were overhead while I was scanning across the water and found most of the 1000s of birds distant but I could make out of note, 150 Glossy Ibis, 9 Oriental Pratincole, 200 Garganey and a scarce winter visitor, 5 Shoveler. Taking my time, I arrived at the west side and here the birds were closer. Red-throated Pipit, flava Wagtail and waders were vocal and quartering the very large reed bed was an Eastern Marsh Harrier. I followed a path towards the lake where I had Zitting Cisticola, 4 Bluethroat and Oriental Reed Warbler and on a plain, more Oriental Pratincole.
Germain’s Swift
Birds were distant on the lake including these Glossy Ibis
A scarce winter visitor were these 5 Shoveler
Common Taylorbird
There were up to 4 Bluethroat
And 9 Oriental Pratincole
Mid-afternoon and I cruised round the lake and took a track to the north until I could go no further. Where I parked up, looked productive and immediately on getting off the scooter, I flushed a Yellow Bittern out from a small patch of reeds. I continued to go on foot, now following a river and Plaintive Cuckoo were all over the shop with at least eight individuals. I scanned ahead of me and picked out 2 Bluethroat on the deck when a bird landed head hight in a tree close by. Thinking it was another Bluethroat back on, I lifted my bins and kinda got a shock! Another male Siberian Rubythroat!! I was now eager to get a better shot than yesterdays individual and sat by the path and waited. It wasn’t long until I had, Dusky, Oriental and Black-browed Reed Warbler, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Bluethroat and the rubythroat. After an hour I left with very close stunning views. However, when out in the open the light was all wrong, with the sun infront while other times, it was obscured when feeding under brush in the dark. But what I did get, I was very pleased with. Another Yellow Bittern flew out from the side of the path before I came to a dead end and had to go back the way I came. I saw the same species as before, including the rubythroat as I returned to the scooter. It was now almost dark when a Eastern Mash Harrier passed by while I was on the scooter.
There were at least 8 Plaintive Cuckoo if not more
One of the commonest birds is Dusky Warbler
And the star of the show was my second male Siberian Rubythroat in two days!
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