Baer's Pochard

For a break from forest birding we drove to Chiang Saen today and birding close to the Laos border and the mighty Mekong River. Stand out finds today were the superb drake Baer’s Pochard (the 3^rd time we’ve seen it on this tour over the years) and a drake Falcated Duck. Views were good through the scope but too far for photos.

Birding was typically slow throughout the day but we did find many top birds and amongst other species around the lake were Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Garganey, Pintail Snipe, Grey-headed Lapwings and Plaintive Cuckoo. Along the Mekong was a flock of Small Pratincoles, with Citrine Wagtail, Kentish Plover and Temminck’s Stints. We also had close Red Avadavat, Bronze-winged Jacana, Striated Grassbird and Slaty-breasted Rail. 

Eastern Marsh Harriers

Ending the day watching 200+ Eastern Marsh and Pied Harriers flying in to roost was awesome, and we even had better than usual looks at Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler. The male Western Marsh Harrier we saw at the roost was also a special bird as there are less than 10 Thai records. So a good haul and our perseverance was rewarded with plenty of quality sightings despite the heat today.