 |
 |
 |
 |
  1) Bang Pla--Moo 7 Village Headman Office vicinity 2) Bang Sao Thong--Orchid Villa scrub & reedbeds 3) Bang Bo--Bang Na Garden 17/4 Alley reedbeds 4) Ban Rakat--golf course surroundings 5) Wat Sao Thong Nok (Sao Thong Nok Temple) I loaded the hotspots in my GPS before I left my room. Getting to my scooter and I started the GPS and I took off towards East on Sukhumvit Road.  Leaving Sukhumvit driving towards north through the country side and I reach the first eBird hotspot: Bang Pla--Moo 7 Village Headman Office vicinity This hotspot was a small track between fish ponds. The first bird I see is one Asian Openbill (นกปากห่าง) on the other side of one of the ponds. After about one hundred meters the concrete road was blocked and I turned around. Getting out on a dirt track along one of the fish ponds. On my left-hand side, I had vegetation and  I could hear two Yellow-bellied Prinia (นกกระจิบหญ้าท้องเหลือง) but I could not see the birds. There was an opening in the vegetation and I could see a dirt road going along.
Making a U-turn and I was turning in to the dirt road. I spotted 5 Asian Golden Weaver (นกกระจาบทอง) along the dirt road. Reaching a house and the dead end and I made a U-turn.  Asian Openbill (นกปากห่าง)
 Asian Golden Weaver/ นกกระจาบทอง
 Coming back on the concrete road and I discover a group of Chestnut Munia (นกกระติ๊ดสีอิฐ) bathing and drinking from one of the puddles on the concrete road. Of course, they took off when I brought out my camera. Waiting for a while and they were soon coming back to another puddle. Small bird and too far away foe even try to take a picture. But I got a glimpse of one Yellow-bellied Prinia (นกกระจิบหญ้าท้องเหลือง) By the time my camera had focused on the branch it was gone.
 Today's track at Bang Pla--Moo 7 Village Headman Office vicinity
Turning off my eBird app and I turn right coming back to the paved road. Next eBird hotspot: Bang Sao Thong--Orchid Villa scrub & reedbeds is located north of the Thanon Bang Na-Trat Frontage Road. At least 6 lanes in each direction and the elevated Bang Na - Chon Buri Expressway above. So, this is a wee bit exciting and as I want to spend as little time as possible on the Thanon Bang Na-Trat Frontage Road I had chosen to do the Wat Sao Thong Nok on my way back to Samut Prakan. Wat Sao Thong Nok is on the south side and the other hotspots are on the north side of the Thanon Bang Na-Trat Frontage Road. Following the Suvarnabhumi Canal north and I have to turn to west reaching Thanon Bang Na-Trat Frontage Road and when I reached the U-turn bridge, I got over to the north side and I drove towards east and the next hotspot.  Thanon Bang Na-Trat Frontage Road, at least 6 lanes, bumper to bumper with huge trucks and lorries. I kept on the left-hand shoulder and I was hauling behind plunging down the Thanon Bang  Na-Trat Frontage Road. Taking off the road and I was going north on a small road passing the Orchard Villa and there was nothing looking like a birding hotspot. I turned around after having passed the Orchard Villa. On my right-hand side was vegetation and I was looking for an entrance to the wilderness. I found a walk path and I went out in the wilderness on my “All Terrain” Honda Giorno with my Canon EOS R3 with the Canon RF 100-500mm IS USM bouncing around in the basket in front of the scooter. I have dressed the basked with my rain poncho so it should be OK. I reach a fish pond and there is a small path along the pond with trees and reeds on my left-hand side. I turn on my eBird app using the hotspot: Bang Sao Thong--Orchid Villa scrub & reedbeds The first bird is a Yellow Bittern (นกยางไฟหัวดำ) that get flushed from the reeds and I stop to report the bird in my eBird app. There was a rail/ crake running across in front of me, but no chance for me to ID the bird. I had to report the bird as a rail/crake sp. in eBird. There was also one Greater Coucal getting flushed from a tree, landing just in front of me and disappeared in to the reeds in a jiff.  eBird hotspot: Bang Sao Thong--Orchid Villa scrub & reedbeds
 I turn around when I reach the end of the path and I drive back to the paved road. Turning off my eBird app and I drove back to the Thanon Bang Na-Trat Frontage Road. Continuing towards east for about 2 km before I turned north again. Following a small road and I had to stop to consult my map. Continuing and I made a U-turn and I was soon at the eBird hotspot: Bang Bo--Bang Na Garden 17/4 Alley reedbeds There was not much to see and I was soon back on the main road driving back towards Thanon Bang Na-Trat Frontage Road. Continue towards east and the next hotspot.  eBird hotspot: Bang Bo--Bang Na Garden 17/4 Alley reedbeds
I drive for a few kilometres before turning off the road again and driving north for a few kilometres. I cross a bridge and I can see the golf course from the top of the bridge. I pass the security, empty boot but when I have passed the boot with about 20 meters the guard is shouting at me. He tells me that it is a private golf course and no one is allowed to enter, MEMBERS ONLY. The golf course looks very well maintained, but abandoned. Outside the golf course it looks like everything have felt apart. So, my first thought was that the golf course was abandoned. I ask if I can rent a golf cart to go around to look for birds. The security guy is calling someone and they arrive with a golf cart. It is not possible to rent a golf cart and I said good bye. Can't stop watching this
There is a road going around the Ban Rakat--golf course and I start to drive around the golf course. The eBird hotspot: Ban Rakat--golf course surroundings and it is the surroundings that is the hotspot. But I would not mind having been able to drive around in a golf cart. The road around the gold course was in a poor condition. But the worst is all the garbage they throw along the road. At some places there was a terrible stank from the dumped garbage and I will not go through the trouble to come back here again.  Ban Rakat--golf course
 The road around the golf course leave a lot to wish for
I am soon stopping to try to take a picture of one Black Drongo (นกแซงแซวหางปลา) sitting on a wire along the road. It looks to be a young bird, but the bird was between me and the sun so it was not easy to get any pictures. Stopping again after a few minutes, there was a group of Asian Pied Starling (นกเอี้ยงด่าง) sitting on the wire. Trying to get pictures, but again, the birds between me and the sun. Continuing along the cracked concrete road and when the road turns there is a gravel road going straight and I drive up on the gravel road. Ending up next to a fish pond and I flushed a lot of Javan Pond Heron (นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา) fishing at the edge of the pond. The road ends at a house and I flush more egrets and herons. Two Black-crowned Night Heron (นกแขวก) and this is the first time the night heron have been reported at this hotspot.  Black Drongo / นกแซงแซวหางปลา
 Asian Pied Starling / นกเอี้ยงด่าง
 Asian Pied Starling / นกเอี้ยงด่าง
There was a big group of dogs at the house and they were making a terrible noise running after me while barking. Of course, all the birds took off and I left going back to the concrete road going around the golf court. Turning off the concrete road again and I drove between two fishponds and there was a lot of Javan Pond Heron (นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา) Completing the circle around the golf court and I had managed to report 16 different species plus the Little/Indian Cormorant that was too far away for proper ID. I was happy but I will not come back here again.
 Today's track at Ban Rakat--golf course surroundings
Leaving the golf course and as I wanted to avoid the Bang Na-Trat Frontage Road I drove north to come out on Bang Na-Trat Frontage Road west of the small road under the Bang Na-Trat Frontage Road. Then I only need to spend a wee bit of time on the road before going under it and I will be south of the road. Driving through the country side and I passed several ponds and mudflats. In one of them there were hundreds of egrets and herons. And at least 50 Asian Openbill (นกปากห่าง) and they were all at the side of the pond close to the road. It looked fantastic when I stopped and all the birds took off landing in the middle of the mudflats. I reached the Bang Na-Trat Frontage Road and I drove towards east for a couple of minutes before I reached the road under the road. I have 90 minutes or so to go back home, a soar behind and I decided to skip the last eBird hotspot: Wat Sao Thong Nok (Sao Thong Nok Temple) A bit of cowboy music
+++++++++++++++
Sunday 4th of August 2024 and as Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym is closed on Sundays I will go look for birds. My plan is to go to the eBird hotspot: The Gleua Café & salt pans W of Bang Pakong River
And my Honda Giorno + is ready for action. Driving back home from Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym yesterday and I stopped at a Honda shop and I made the 6000 km service.  6000 km service of my Honda Giorno
 6000 km service of my Honda Giorno
 I have my morning tea before taking off towards east on Sukhumvit Road and I will reach almost all the way to the Bang Pakong River. The sun is shining but there are still many puddles as there had been a very heavy rain yesterday evening. Light Sunday morning traffic on Sukhumvit and I haul arse plunging down the road. I stop in Klong Dan to fill up petrol and to buy a refreshment. Leaving the Sukhumvit Road to go check out the Javan Pond Heron (นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา) nest and there is no birds. The nest is abandoned.   Passing the nest to find it abandoned
Disappointed to find the nest abandoned as I had been hoping to see some babies. Driving back to Sukhumvit Road and I continued towards east. Driving past salt pans on the south side of the Sukhumvit Road and I know I approach the eBird hotspot: The Gleua Café & salt pans W of Bang Pakong River I know there is one eBird Hotspot north of Sukhumvit and I decide to visit this hotspot first. Stopping on the shoulder to look at my map and it turns out that I am just one kilometre or so south of the hotspot. And I am lucky, I had stopped just at the exit that I am supposed to take and it is straight north to the eBird hotspot: Bang Pakong fish ponds Turning off Sukhumvit driving north to look for the fish pond.  Stopping to check my map
Crossing a small bridge over a stream and I turn left and I pass the hotspot, impossible to see the pond. Dense vegetation and I could not see any way to enter the area. Making a U-turn to go back to have a second look. I can see the pond but the vegetation, no way I am going out there to fight snakes and only God knows what else. There is an opening, a small track going in to a house. I could not see anyone, but I was not sure if the house was abandoned so I decided to give up. I could report two Zebra Dove (นกเขาชวา) sitting on a wire and one Little/Indian Cormorant flying over the area.  Driving along looking for the fish pond
 There is an opening
 No way I get out walking in this wilderness
I left the area driving back towards Sukhumvit Road. The eBird hotspot: The Gleua Café & salt pans W of Bang Pakong River is a little towards west so I have to drive back for a couple of hundred meters when I reach Sukhumvit. Lucky it is Sunday and light traffic on Sukhumvit, the U-turn area is almost across the entrance to Sukhumvit and I have to cross the road to do the U-turn. Driving west and I am soon taking off Sukhumvit and I am at The Gleua Café. I have been here before and there are some sheds and wooden buildings looking to be very worn. I have been here looking for birds so I have never been looking for The Gleua Café. But today I had planned for a cup of tea, and maybe a snack. The Gleua Café is behind a hedge of red flowers in a garden full of trees in front of the building, and it is the first time I see The Gleua Café. I had expected something like the buildings in the vicinity. Wood buildings you expect to see around salt pans, nothing much and I had brought my refreshment from Klong Dan just in case.  So, I was very pleased to discover the restaurant in the garden. Looked very nice and I was not disappointed stepping inside. AC and the place were very clean and they had a lot of choices on the menu. First disappointment was that they did not have tea. No tea and I had a bottle of water. I ordered pork collar without any chilly and vegetables and they brought me a plate with pork collar with steamed rice. The pork collar was very good and I ordered a second plate with pork collar only. And a second plate of the toast. And it tasted very good.  The Gleua Café
 The Gleua Café
 The Gleua Café
 The second disappointment
I ordered something called cocoa bread and it looked very good on the picture. But it turned out to be my second disappointment. I dug in and it looked like chocolate cream, but it was crushed ice with cocoa powder. This was not pleasant, ice with chocolate powder. And the ice melted and the bread was soaked in water and I left the most of it when I left. The food was good and I will for sure come back, and the whole thing set me back by less than 400 Baht so I cannot complain about the price.  I am ready to get out on the salt pans
I was told that I could not get out on the pans with my scooter as it had been raining. I enquired if it was possible to get out with a car as I was thinking about renting a car. Impossible, and I was surprised as it looked dry on the paths between the pans. Well, I grabbed my camera and I started to walk out in to the salt pans. The first bird I could report was the Black-winged Stilt (นกตีนเทียน) and there was many of them. There was also one Striated Heron (นกยางเขียว) flying over the salt pans.  I am ready to get out on the salt pans
 Walking out in to the salt pans
Walking, the first hundred meter was OK, well, all the birds took off when I was approaching. So it would have been much better with a car or the scooter. But I managed to get a picture of the Black-winged Stilt (นกตีนเทียน) and the Striated Heron (นกยางเขียว), but this bird was way too far away for any pictures. But I was in a good spirit and I gave it a try. There was a lot of terns around the salt pans put I cannot ID the terns si I tried to take some pictures so I can ID the birds with my book when I am back home. And consulting my books and it turned out to be Common Tern (นกนางนวลแกลบธรรมดา) and there was a lot of them. I had expected a lot of exciting shore birds, but they all took off when I approached. But I managed to get a picture of one Lesser Sand Plover (นกหัวโตทรายเล็ก)  Black-winged Stilt/ นกตีนเทียน
 Black-winged Stilt/ นกตีนเทียน
 Striated Heron/ นกยางเขียว
 Common Tern/ นกนางนวลแกลบธรรมดา
 Common Tern/ นกนางนวลแกลบธรรมดา
 Lesser Sand Plover/ นกหัวโตทรายเล็ก
 Walking between the salt pans and I notice that it is getting harder and harder to walk. And it seems like I lift from the ground. I look at my shoes and they are full of mud. The mud is “snow balling” under my shoes and it is like walking on platform shoes. It is not wet so it looked like no problem to walk in the area. But the mud is like glue stinging to my shoes. Lucky that I did net get out here with my scooter. I would not have been able to get back. I have experience getting out in mud like this with a car. The mud is building up in the wheel house and it is growing and growing until the wheels are just turning around in the mud not touching the ground.  The mud is “snow balling” under my shoes
 I look behind me to check out my foot prints
 Common Redshank/ นกทะเลขาแดง
 Marsh Sandpiper/ นกชายเลนบึง
Not giving up even though the mud was very annoying. I approach on pan and there are several shore birds, but they take off when I approach. But two birds remaining, one Common Redshank (นกทะเลขาแดง) and one Marsh Sandpiper (นกชายเลนบึง) The bird was way too far away at the other end of the salt pan but I gave it a try with my camera to see if I can ID the birds. There is a lot of shore birds in the next pan but I only see them as dots. And if I get closer, they will take off. It was hot and no bird pictures so I turned around.  Salt sheed
 Terns, stilts and shorebirds at a distance
 I turn around to get back to my scooter
 Our hero in the field
 Following my foot steps back towards my scooter
 Today's track at the The Gleua Café & salt pans W of Bang Pakong River
I was back at my scooter and I left The Gleua Café behind getting back on Sukhumvit Road to drive back to Samut Prakan. Still puddles on the road and I stop at all of them. Sitting on my scooter walking through the puddles to get the mud of my shoes. Of course, the other people on Sukhumvit were looking from their cars wonder what I was doing. Back in Samut Prakan and I drive to my friend to wash my scooter. My friend had the tea ready when I arrived. I washed my scooter before driving back home.  My scooter gets a good scrub
 My scooter gets a good scrub
I will meet my friend at Robinson Lifestyle Center at 5 o'clock and we will try the new BBQ restaurant. So, this is something to look forward to. But I will try to get an hour of sleep first. But it was impossible to fall asleep. Tossin' and turning  in the bed for an hour and my alarm went off.
An hour to kill and I studied the few bird pictures I had managed to get in the salt pans earlier today. Meeting my friend at Robinson Lifestyle Center and we went to AKA BBQ. Sunday and we were pleasantly surprised to discover that there were not many people and we could choose a good table. We ordered buffe and we got a QR code to scan we got all the items on our phones.  Time for BBQ
 Korean BBQ
 Korean BBQ
We ordered the GOLD buffe instead of the SILVER as there is beef on the GOLD buffet. But next time it will be the SILVER. I ordered most of the pork, only pork collar and it is way better than beef. And I was not disappointed. Beef is more expensive, but I find pork to taste better. And me and my friend have our favourite, the pork collar. And we ordered almost only pork collar. Buffet comes with a “FREE FLOW” of drinks, but I am still to find a buffe with anything I want to drink. We had bought fresh orange juice and it was a very good juice. We had planned to go to Swensen for ice cream after the BBQ. But there was nothing we wanted to have so we went to S & P.  Cake at S & P
 Cake at S & P
We know that they have a very nice cake at S & P, the problem is that it is usually sold out. We stepped inside and asked for the cake and they had the cake. We ordered four pieces and tea. Well, Sunday morning and I am off early in the morning to attend a Thai wedding, so click HERE to find out how that turns out.  
    
  You are visitor no.
To www.aladdin.st since December 2005
Visitors from different countries since 26th of September 2011
|
Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas
Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!
Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!
Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra
Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!
คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้
Вы говорите по-русски? Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!
E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.
Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.
 |
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
||||