ZOOTHERA BIRDING BLOG: Rare Buntings and Bluetails

The big news from the Zoothera Birding tour to Thailand with Nick Upton today was our discovery of 7+ Black-headed Buntings and a pair of Red-headed Buntings in Thatorn rice fields late this afternoon. There are apparently less than 10 records of both species for Thailand..... In company with them were also some Yellow-breasted Buntings as well. This was a magical couple of hours trying to get definitive views and although I have the following Black-headed Bunting photo, it was Nick Upton who managed a record shot of a Red-headed Bunting. This totally overshadowed the male Jerdon's Bushchat and Baikal Bush Warbler found a little later....!

Black-headed Bunting

Also liked the views of this Pintail Snipe today

Earlier in the day we had birded Doi Lang from the Thatorn side and may well have found one of the few records of Northern Red-flanked Bluetail for Thailand. Although a female and pretty much unidentifiable in this plumage, the call was totally different from the several Himalayan Bluetails in the same area....

female Northern Red-flanked Bluetail

male Himalayan Bluetail

We saw all the usual suspects at the feeding stations and thoroughly enjoyed the mind-blowing views you get here. It really has to be seen to be believed, so here's a few of the best photos from today...