Tmatboey - 29th Feb 2012

It was a very early start at 4.30am in order to be at the viewing blind well before daybreak to see Giant Ibis. As we waited for the sun to rise the sounds of the forest were all around us and yet even before it was daylight we had 3 Giant Ibis in the scope, albeit in silhouette. Just as the light became good the ibis departed and we hoped for better views later in the day. As it turned out we found another one perched on top of a large dead tree in perfect sunlight an hour or so later and were able to watch it at leisure. However, before that we walked a short distance to a clearing and had a great packed breakfast seeing Common Flameback and a brief Rufous Woodpecker along the way. Several Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpeckers were seen as well and continuing the ‘woody’ theme both White-bellied Woodpecker and a party of 4 very active Great Slaty Woodpeckers were also seen well. A female White-rumped Falcon was a nice find and was fully appreciated through the scope, especially as we took a couple of days to find one on our tour last year. A circuitous route through the forest then produced a pair of Greater Flamebacks, followed a little later by a cooperative Banded Bay Cuckoo calling from the top of a tree and just before reaching our waiting vehicles a Black Baza was scoped in a tree. We then drove back to the lodge arriving mid-morning and because of the heat decided to just ‘chill out’ here and wait before venturing out again in the afternoon. Our first stop then led us to a day roosting Spotted Wood Owl which looked down on us nonchalantly from its hiding place in a leafy tree. Despite the local village guide tempting us closer to get a good photo we declined as we did not wish to disturb the bird – something other groups should heed! A little later as we joined the tarmac road we screeched to a halt as in a tall tree an adult White-shouldered Ibis was seen feeding a well grown youngster in a nest, and we also found a group of Velvet-fronted Nuthatches here as well. Further along we walked through a nice patch of forest which was a little quiet although we picked up several Blossom-headed Parakeets, Common and Large Woodshrikes, Indochinese Cuckooshrike, and a few other common species. Back at the vehicles we had some snacks and spotted a Chinese Francolin across the clearing perched thirty feet up a tree and everyone enjoyed fine looks through the scope. We ended the day with a Large-tailed Nightjar flying past us in the spotlight with a background of spectacular lightning flashes before heading back to the lodge.

Giant Ibis

White-shouldered Ibis

Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker