Unexpectedly Encountered a Lifer and Achieved a First in the Province.
On Saturday, September 2, 2023, it was a worry-free weekend when I made an appointment with my friend to go for early morning birdwatching in my favorite place in Bangkok — a rice field and paddy in Lad Krabang. We aimed to see the Red Avadavat as it’s a favorable period of the year to spot it there.
An Oriental Darter among a Flock of Spotted-billed Pelicans
I started to explore the dirt road, and it began to get wet until we reached a large agricultural pond where hundreds of Spotted-billed Pelicans were feeding. It was the first time I had seen such a large group of them. As they started to fly, we drove back, and on the way, I spotted some interesting behavior — a tiny bird with distinctive walking steps. At first, I thought it was some kind of sandpiper, as they are common here, but it was even smaller and quicker.