Yonok Wetlands

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31st Yonok Birding trip, highlights; A foggy start, clearing just in time to see, Long-billed Plover and River Lapwing on the Mekong, Chiang Saen was quiet as the water levels are high, with few waders. Yonok; Both species of jacana, White-browed Crake 8 , Peregrine, Grey-faced Buzzard, Long-tailed Shrike onwards to Little England, a male Shikra and Pied Harrier, Burmese shrike and Roller Russet Sparrow (DD) House Sparrow 2. Thanks to Phil & Lesley Evans for joining us. Evening: Grass Owl, Ruddy Crake.

30th Yonok Walks; Osprey 1, Aquilla Eagle sp, a pale eagle was seen on Yonok this morning, perched on a tree, to distant to identify. Thanks to Paige & Steve Okun and family for your interest in Yonok. Pa Mak No, harriers. 200 harriers were seen here this evening.

29th Yonok; Great Spotted Eagle isr winter, Black Kite, pheasant-tailed Jacana 25. Baers Pochard elusive, 1 repoted yesterday.

A couple of welcome visitors to Yonok - Long-billed Plover and Friends - Good to meet up at last. Photos: Peter Ericsson

28th Mekong; Long-billed Plover 1 ist winter (MD), Kentish 1, LRP 50, River Lapwing 14, Snipe 16, Pintail 4, Temminks 25, Sands: Wood 6, Green 3, Common 4, Greenshank 20 Spotreds 100, Small pratincole 20, Spot-bill Duck 18.

25th Pa Mak No. Small pratincole 450. Harriers: Lots and hard to count, 75 females were seen over the roost these were joined by 60 males from the eastern pre-roost, 80 mostly pied's got up at 6pm and move in almost darkness to Nong Lom. 2 pallas's Gulls present on the river.

20th Nong Lom Harrier Roost Count and estimated total for the two Yonok roosts. Nong Lom 20th: 205 arrived from the SW- WNW and 42 from the NW = 247 + Estimated unseen birds 100 = 347

!8th, Mekong; the 4 gulls were present near Sop Ruak this morning and a pallas's Gull flew west at CS.

17th Mekong: Ruddy Shellduck 2, Spot-billed Duck 14, River lapwing 3, Pin-tail snipe 14, Common snipe 3, Temminks 25, Pacific G plover 1, Spt reds 40, Small pratincole 60, a few - greenshank, common, green and wood sands, LRP 30, Gret Heron 2, Little egret 8, Heuglin's Gull 1,

15th; The male Hen Harrier was seen again this afternoon, flying south over Yonok at 4.30pm.

13th Mekong Chiang Saen: Heuglin's gull 1 juv, Pallas's Gull 3 1st winters, ruddy shellduck 4, Kestrel 2, Peregrine 2. There are 2 peregrines wintering here, adult female and juv male.

12th Mekong: River Lapwing 13,Heuglin's gull 1 juv, Pallas's Gull 3 1st winters, Small Pratincole 40, Peregrine male.

10th Chiang Saen area; a few common birds; Rufous W'pecker. Blue-bearded bee-eater, Crimson Sunbird, Two barred Greenish Warbler, Y B Warbler, rufesent Prinia, Plain Prinia, Rock Thrush, Hainan Blue Fly', River Lapwing 13,Heuglins gull 1 juv, Pallas's Gull 3 1st winters, Spt Reds 40.

9th Chiang Saen area; Heuglin's Gull 1, Yellow-streaked Warbler, Brown-throated Sunbird, Large Hawk Cuckoo. Peregrine (imm male)

8th Mekong; Heuglin's Gull 2 1st winters. Peregrine (adult female). Yonok Black Kite.

7th Chiang Saen Lake: Baers Pochard 11 (6 male and 5 female), Coot 20, Stork-billed Kinfisher. At Pa Mak No; approx 120 Harriers came into roost, around 60 males were seen close to dusk and mosly Pied, only 2 were seen to pass to nong Lom and the Hen harrier was not seen.

6th Nong Lom: 225 Harrier came into roost, from the NE and NW with roughly an equal split. A sub adult male Hen Harrier was also present. Spotted Reds 12, Grey Heron and Crow 2. An Osprey was also on CS Lake.

4th Pa Mak No: 38 Harriers flew south to the nong Lom roost and 120 roosted locally and 40+ male pied's were seen flying close to dusk.

2nd Chiang Saen Lake: Low wader numbers, please see above article raised water levels.

28th Chiang Saen Lake: 25 Diving Duck present. Tufted Duck 10 including 2 males. Ferruginous Duck 14, Pochard 1, most of these ducks are imm/females or partial eclipse. Coot 15. Tufted and Coot seem to be more regular now. Baers Pochard not sited since about the 15th. Northern Sparrow Hawk female

25th Nong Lom: Harriers 156 were counted in, however a likely maximum is about 200, as in 2005 birds were seen arriving in the distance from the NE and moving slong the eastern border at a distance of 0.7-1km, as the light dims at 5.40 it becomes impossible to see how many birds are comming in, during this perion up until 5.55pm. which is the peak arrival time. Tufted duck 5, Purple-backed Starling 7.

23rd Chiang Saen: Rufous-winged Buzzard 3, Common Buzzard 2, Honey Buzzard 5. Little Pratincole 400.

Migration over the last two weeks has been light, with more birds departing than arriving.

16th: black Kite 6, HB 's 10. Osprey, Grass Owls feeding young ? (looks likely), Comorant, Sibe Rubythroats, Coot 2, Red Minivets 10, Drongo 68 arrived mid afternoon.Crested bunting, R T Pipits roosting 4000.

Harrier Roost counts post migration; are as follows: Raptor migration at Chiang Saen is light, this autumn was better than usual due to heavy periods of rain. The first migrants were noted on 19th September at Yonok, when 11 Honey Buzzards and 4 Chinese Sparrow Hawk flew South.

Peak migration was observed between the 27th October and 5th November, this short period was dominated by heavy rain. The rain cleared on the 6th and since that date very few raptors have been seen. It was noticeable that Harriers were seen to be moving over Yonok on the clearance of rain on the afternoon of the 4th November. On that afternoon we toured the whole perimeter of Yonok and Little England, all the concentrations of Harriers were centered around Yonok South. The Harriers were moving South in singles and I would estimate that we saw about 20. A few individuals were also seen hunting the fields around that area.

Counts were then made at all three Harriers Roosts over the following Days in early November; Little England 14 on the 7th, Pa Mak No 48 on the 8th and 62 on the 9th, Oranges contained 129 on the 12th. Total for all 3 roost is around 200, whereas the peak counts for late October were 348.

These figures clearly demonstrate that the roosts are used as migration stop over's.

Magic Moments: 12th, 10am Little England, I had decided to look a a small cut area of paddies in the hope of locating something of interest. An adult male pied harrier was sitting in the rice stubble just 50 meters from me. The bird was unconcerned at my presence and after a short while took flight. It was a beautiful day and the harrier slowly quartered the rice field, hovered briefly and dropping onto it's prey and returning to a small hay pile to eat, after a break of five minutes the male again took flight and quickly caught another item and sat close by to feed. After a brief period it rose into the air and circled slowly above my head, joined by a passing Kestrel. The birds circled briefly and went they're separate ways. I walked over to check the remains but nothing was to be seen as the prey was very small and looked like a large insects. As I approached the hay pile I flushed a Chestnut-eared Bunting.

Sometimes one is privileged to witness amazing close views of birds behaving in a natural way and unaffected by humans.

11th Chiang Saen East (Ban Rai): Brahminy Kite (adult) DD, this is the second record for Chiang Saen the previous one was an immature a year ago. CS Lake, Spot-billed Duck 100+, 10 diving duck, some Furruginous Duck. Kestrel several winter resident from 5 sites.

6th Yonok; Red Avadavat 2, CS Lake, Spot-billed Duck 100+, 4 diving duck, Baers Pochard 2, the other's sleeping looked like Furruginous Duck (MD).

5th Little England: Japanese 1, Shrika 1, Amur 16, HB 15 + 1 small race ?, Cm Buzzard 1, Mekong - Spot-billed Duck 16,

4th Little England and around: Black Kite1, Amur Falcon 31, HB 6, Besra 2, Baillons Crake, Oriental Cucloo, Citrine Wag 6, Large-tailed Nightjar, Long tailed Shrike 14, Burmese 8. (DD, MD, DG)

3rd Yonok: Persistant heavy rain, clearing midday, Eurasian Hobby 1 adult (MD) , a very distant flock of Amur Falcons, were seen insect catching to the south of Yonok . A small passage of HB's 10 and Harriers 7, also Osprey 2, Black Kite 1, Brown-Headed Gull 4. (DD, MD, Dave Gandy)

White-browed Crakes; Smmary of records from North Thailand 2007; Chiang Saen Lake 3 sites (+ pair with young NHA record) Yonok 2 + 1 pair with young) all these records were during the winter and start of Wet season breeding. 10 were seen and heard (singing) at Nong Han Kumpawapi on 24 January (DD, MD). The crake pool site that held 14 individuals and some breeding and where several young were seen last year, was drained early this year and no birds have been seen there since. Breeding was confirmed on the opposite side of the causeway and so it's probable that the birds were breeding in the main wetland (DD, MD).

31st Little England: HB 16, Black Baza 2, Amur 1, Brown-headed Gull 1imm. Pa Mak No: Harrier Roost - rain stopped play 50+.

30th Little England: small, brief and interesting raptor passage this morning of birds moving south between: 10.00- 10.30 Amur Falcon 26, Kestrel 2, Grey faced Buzzard 16, Honey 18, common buzzard 2, Chinese Sparrowhawk 4. We again counted the Orange Roost 221 harriers came in, a single Amur Falcon, 23 Grey Heron.

29th Yonok (orange harrier roost) 199 harriers arrived between 1700 -1800 with a roughly equal split of birds from the NE and SW- W, the early arrivals were dominated by eastern marsh and I would guess the ratio overall was about 70% marsh, this is somewhat unusual, however the count/estimate of male pied's was low, around 40 individuals A grass Owl appeared just after dark. Red-throated pipit roosting was in excess of 1000 and the combined total for the two roost will be around 2500. 13 Grey-headed Lapwing. 45 common snipe , 26 wood sand and Osprey, Purple-backed Starling 3 .

Earlier today, yet another possible Swinhowes Snipe. Records from Joanne and Neil: first autumn records of single Temminks and Long-toed Stint, Lt ringed Plover, a Booted Eagle (pale morph), Emerald cuckoo and Brown-thraoted Sunbird. are all new species for the Chiang Saen area.

27th Children from Pa Mak No: Elephant riding with Dowroong and John at Anantara: Maroon Oriole and 80 Black Baza flying east were the highlights. Little England: Roller 2, Blue-bearded Bee-eater. wryneck. Evening: Yonok roost; Peregrine. G H Lapwing 3. Red-t Pipit 1200, wryneck 5, Grey heron 15 south, Snipe 20, usual harriers and owls'

26th: CSL and Yonok: Black Kite, Grey-headed Lapwing 10, Bronze-winged and Pheasant-tailed Jacana 8, Buzzard, Hoopoe and Citrine Wagtail 6.

25th Ba Mak Roost: 104 Harriers were counted at roost. Grass Owl 2, Barn Owl and Collared Scops Owl.

24th Little England: Rufous-winged Buzzard, one near Dr Mong's WLS, interestingly this is the only regular spot for this species here.

23rd Chiang Lake Lake; Grey-headed Lapwing 3, Pheasant-tailed Jacana 2 Spot-billed Duck and Moorhen 3. Pa Mak No; 1000+ Red-throated Pipits roosting.

22nd Little England: a small roost of around 50 little green bee-eaters with a few chestnuts headed.

21st Yonok: Hoopoe 3, Amur Falcon 1, Long-billed Pipit not seen, Grey-headed flycatcher a common bird but one I've not seen in Chiang Saen before.

20th October 2007:

The good run of rarities continue:

a immature, Long-billed Pipit (MHD DD) was watched for half an hour at Wat Pa Mak No this afternoon,

This is a first for Thailand.

Other interesting species; Sibe Rubythroat 2 singing, Red-throated Pipit 100+ and several wrynecks.

Harrier roost arriving 5.45.

Long-billed Pipit - Photo by Dowroong - hand held bins and camera.

!7th: A male Eurasian Goshawk was seen over Chiang Saen this morning, and 20 Honey buzzards.

14th Lt England roost; On checking the roost this evening I was rather surprised, 8 harriers were present on the hill side and just 2 more came in. At about 5.50pm they drifted of south and circled for a while and flew back to the roost in a line. I was very close and decided just check the male pied's, I had noticed at the Pa Mak No roost the other night that there seemed to be more males at dusk than were seen to arrive. This was the case also at Little England tonight as I counted 14 male pied and 2 sub adult marsh, also a further 7 female types, making a total of 23. Good views of 3 grass owls and 2 large-tailed nightjars.

11 and 12th Oct Harrier Roost Counts: Oranges roost 12th, 107 most arrived from SW and none from NW, approx 40 male pied present: Pa Mak No roost 11th, 59 at least 30 male pied and 5 eastern males. Total Harriers for all 3 roosts 172: Night Herons 70, others red-throated pipit, a few wrynecks, 2 grey-headed lapwing and thick-billed warbler, a lot of dusky warblers and a few yellow-browed warblers, R B flys very common, grass owls present at 2 sites.

9th: Lt England: 20 chestnut-headed bee-eater, richards pipit 20, 10 singing bushlark, Yonok: Harriers present 20, mostly male pied, (AJ) Ajan Sane. New resident Birder in the Area: see records

5th: Sibe rubythroat,wryneck yellow-browed Warbler,spotted babbler, Black-capped Kingfisher.

1st Honey buzzard 1, pied harrier 2 (last night 5 males at roost and 2 grass owl) large-tail Nightjar.

27th Little England: Harrier Roost: 5 birds male in early at 4.30, 2 Pied (1 male) and 3 Marsh, pintail snipe 2 and Besra. 30th Whiskered tern 8, Naked Snipe 300.

26th Pa Mak No, Harrier Roost: A total of 22 Harriers were seen to roost this evening. Oddly the first bird of the autumn did not join the roost an was an adult male Western Marsh Harrier seen well and for about 1 minute and continued flying south. Roost totals as follows: Pied Harrier 13 adult male + 1 juv, Eastern Marsh 4 adult male + 4 female/imm. Grass Owl 1-4, Grey Heron 8 and 1 Indian Nightjar. Mick.

This week until 25th: Wryneck 2, Asian Paradise Flycatcher 3, Reb-breasted and asian Brown Fly' common, Hoopoe, Buzzard, Black_naped Oriole, Golden-spectacled Warbler and Chestnut-tailed Starling 600. Larger numbers of common winter visitors arrived this week Pond Herons and common Kingfisher.

Night Heron 12 east 16th, an unidentified Pitta was calling in the Town on the 17th at 10pm, 11 Honey Buzzards and 4 Chinese Sparrow Hawk flying South on 19th Yonok, a roost of 500+ Baya Weaver at CS on the same day. 20th CSL: 3 asian pied starling a rarity these days, painted snipe, Stonechat first of the autumn.

17/08/07 : Barn Owl has regularly been seen in Chiang Saen recently and on 17th August a Lesser Shortwing, an Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher,a Banded Broadbill and Streaked Spiderhunter were found in woodland near Yonok Wetlands.

A family group of 6 Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters were seen at Yonok Wetlands on 12th August.

07/08/07 : A trip to Doi Lang on the 3rd August turned up some nice species with 1 Rusty-naped Pitta, 1 Cutia and Jerdon's Bushchat. A possible Spot-breasted Laughingthrush was seen; another birder claimed the same species at the same location earlier the same day. Most interestingly, 2 Dark-rumped Swifts were found, which were not in the same state of moult as the accompanying Pacific Swifts

25/07/07 :A few interesting species from Sri Nan National Park in Nan province between 22nd and 25th July included a Collared Falconet, a Brown Wood Owl and 10 Brown Needletails. A probable Grass Owl was seen near Nong Khai on the 23rd July.

15/07/07 : The Yonok Wetlands near Chiang Saen held 5 Grass Owls and 3 Black Bitterns with breeding White-browed and Pied Kingfisher all on the 10th July. A Green Sandpiper passed through on the 12th June - a late departure or early return?

Also close to Chiang Saen a Common Kingfisher was seen on the 10th July along with Watercock, breeding Hooded and Blue-winged Pitta and Grass Owl.

03/07/07 : At the Yonok Wetlands near Chiang Saen a River Tern was seen on the 30th (possibly a new Bird).

Also near Chiang Saen 3-5 Grass Owl were found and 8
Hooded Pittas are holding territories on the 29th.

16/06/07 : Up to 400 Barn Swallows were seen near Chiang Saen and were found breeding, with 3 young seen in a nest. Three Black Bitterns were also located in wetlands close to Chiang Saen.

14/06/07 : 190 Oriental Pratincole were seen in wetlands close to Chiang Saen on the 12th May, an impressive number of this wet season visitor.

11/06/07 : A single River Tern and 5 Grass Owls were seen near Chiang Saen on the 7th June.

03/06/07 : A Pale-footed Bush warbler was seen in wetlands near Chiang Saen on the 3rd June.

28/05/07 : Up to five Grass Owls were present at the site near Chiang Saen on the 27th May and the River Tern was seen again on the 25th. It is also reported that a flock of about 40 Plain Martins was present in the region for about 2 weeks in mid May.

25/05/07 : At least 3 fledged Grass Owls have been regularly seen close to Chiang Saen and on the 24th May a further 2 or possibly 3 pairs were located. On the same day a sub adult River Tern was photographed on wetlands near Chiang Saen. Additionally, an Oriental Pratincole and 10 Whiskered Terns were seen.

10/05/07 : A couple of interesting species have been found nesting around Chiang Saen: Besra and Savanna Nightjar. Two immature Painted Storks were seen near Mae Sai on the 23rd April and it is interesting to note that virtually all buntings had departed by the 12th April.

10/04/07 : Some very interesting records from Chiang Saen include 5 Little Buntings, 3 Chestnut-eared Buntings and a single Bluethroat on the 18th March. Siberian Rubythroats were said to be common. On the 11th a probable Swinhoe's Snipe was flushed several times and observed closely and 5 Comb Duck have been present on and off all through March at Chiang Saen lake.

08/03/07 : A male Scaly-sided Merganser was seen in flight at Chiang Saen lake today (8th March) "more or less opposite the HQ".

16/02/07 : Some interesting records from around Chiang Saen included 2 Long-billed Plovers on the Mekong on the 16th February; one adult and one sub-adult. On the 12th singles of Siberian Rubythroat, Eurasian Wryneck, Bluethroat and Hoopoe were seen and an impressive flock of 200 Red Collared Doves was present. On the 10th another large flock, this time of Common Rosefinches must have been quite impressive and from the 10th onwards various flocks of Chestnut and Crested Buntings were noted, totaling 60 and 20 birds respectively.

30/12/06 : It would seem that December has been a good month in the Chiang Saen area. On the 29th, 72 Harriers were at the temple roost with 47 at the hill roost on the 28th. On the same day a Long-billed Plover was still present on the Mekong. On the 26th a 1st winter Pallas's (Great Black-headed) Gull was seen.

Earlier in the month a female Spot-billed Duck turned up with 10 young on the 14th and an immature female Northern Goshawk was present near the Mekong. The customary Great-crested Grebe was at the lake on the 10th December and a Black Stork was also seen. On the same day 206 Harriers were at the main roost and 1500 Red-throated Pipits were also seen roosting, having been first noted on the 20th November.

11/11/06 : A few interesting records for late October were 136 roosting Harriers near Chiang Saen on the 25th and a female Amur falcon on the 27th which was still present on the 11th November. Also near Chiang Saen were four Gulls presumed to be Heuglin's Gulls, but could prove more interesting. Four birds were present from 31st October to at least 5th November. The group consisted of 1 Juvenile, 1 first year and two second year birds. The descriptions were as follows: But a bit distant, legs appear pink/flesh. The bill of the oldest bird appears fairly thick and heavy and seems to be pink or yelowish pink and very pale and extends 2/3, the tip is strongly black 1/3, the mantle colour is very dark more similar to pale form lesser black back gull. The juv if i had seen it in the uk looks a typical herring.

Other interesting birds putting in an appearance at Chiang Saen were a flock of 12 Ruddy Shelduck flying southwest on the 2nd November, a female Northern Sparrowhawk on the 3rd and a female Gadwall staying from the 3rd to at least the 5th November.

19/10/06 : A large Harrier roost near Chiang Saen was visited on the 19th October with 142 Harriers counted. Approximately 70% of these were Eastern Marsh Harriers and presumably the remainder would be Pied Harriers. Also seen near Chiang Saen was a female White-throated Rock Thrush and a group of 6 White-shouldered Starlings.

15/10/06 : Some interesting observations from Chiang Saen this month were 10 Jerdon's Bushchats (2 adult males, 3 females and 5 immature males) and 43 Grey-headed Lapwings on the 13th October, forced into a small refuge by the flooding of a large area by the Mekong river which burst its banks for 6 days. On the 15th and 16th a small roost of 23 Pied Harriers (including 10 adult males) and 1 sub-adult male Marsh Harrier was observed and on the 17th there was a small passage of raptors: Black Baza 87, Oriental Honey-buzzard 21, Common Buzzard 1, Grey-faced Buzzard 5, Amur Falcon 1 male.

Two immature Painted Storks at Mae Sai (Chiang Rai) on 23 April (DD, MD) is the first modern-era record from the far north.

Pride of place this month, however, goes to a male Scaly-sided Merganser that flew over Chiang Saen Lake (also known as Nong Bong Khai), Chiang Rai Province, on 5 March (DD, MD). A search in the two ensuing hours failed to reveal the bird anywhere on the water and no further reports have been received. This is only the second Thai record and a full description is awaited.

A Great Crested Grebe at Nong Bong Khai (Chiang Rai) on 29 November (BK) and 10 December (DD, MD) remained into January 2007.

An immature female Northern Goshawk was seen on the Mekong at Chiang Saen on 14 December (DD, MD).

The Nong Lom roost held 206 harriers, both Eastern Marsh and Pied, on 10 December (DD,MD) and 192 harriers, on 20 January (CK, SM, CP, KS, CT, CW et al.). 62 harriers (Eastern Marsh and Pied) entered a roost at Nong Han Kumpawapi (Udon Thani) on 24 January (DD, MD).

Peregrine Falcon: an adult female, took a Lesser Whistling-duck in mid-air at Nong Bong Khai in mid-December (DD, MD, BK).

Ten White-browed Crakes were seen at Nong Han Kumpawapi on 24 January (DD, MD).

Most remarkably, a flock 300 of what were thought to be Common Cranes was seen in flight in Muang District, Nong Khai, on the evening of 22 January (DD, MD). The birds approached from the north before continuing westwards up the Mekong Valley.

The Long-billed Plover first seen on the Mekong at Chiang Saen in late November was still present on 29 December (DD, MD) and 21 January.

First-winter Pallas’s Gull on the Mekong River at Chiang Saen on 26 December .

A roost of 1500 Red-throated Pipits was observed at Nong Lom on 20 November and 14 December.

Two Ruddy Shelducks were present on the Mekong River at Chiang Saen on 27 November (KB, DD, MD,PDR).

About 120 harriers entering the Nong Lom Roost, Mae Jan (Chiang Rai) on 26 November comprised roughly equal numbers of Pied Harriers and Eastern Marsh Harriers (the latter predominating slightly), though with at least 15 adult male Pied Harriers (KB, DD, MD, et al.). By 11 December there were 212 harriers present at this same roost

A female Gadwall at Nong Bong Khai, Chiang Saen (Chiang Rai) on 3 November (DD,MD). Twelve Ruddy Shelducks flew south-west over Chiang Saen on 2 November (DD,MD).

Oriental Honey-buzzards on migration 40were reported on 28 September at Chiang Saen.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk a female was seen at Chiang Saen on 3 November (DD,MD)

Integrated migrant hawk-watches: A small but varied raptor passage at Chiang Saen on 7 October, included 21 Oriental Honey-buzzards, one Common Buzzard, five Grey-faced Buzzards, and a Changeable Hawk Eagle (DD, MD).

Harriers at roosts and other sites: The smaller harrier roost near Chiang Saen held 23 Pied Harriers (including ten adult males) and one Eastern Marsh Harrier on 5 October (DD,MD). The main (Nong Lom) roost held 142 harriers on 19 October, of which 70% were Eastern Marsh Harriers, and 103 birds (CW) or 136 birds (DD, MD) on 25 October, both Pied and Eastern Marsh Harriers.

Amur Falcons were reported on 7 October (a male at Chiang Saen, DD, MD); (female or juvenile at Chiang Saen DD, MD); and November (female or juvenile at Chiang Saen, DD, MD)

Four “large white-headed gulls”, thought probably to be Heuglin’s Gulls, were present on the Mekong River at Chiang Saen from 31 October onwards to at least 5 November (DD, MD).

Small numbers of Asian Pied Mynas (two to four birds) are seen around Chiang Saen regularly (DD, MD). This species used to be abundant in northern Thailand, but is now very scarce.

18th March: Chestnut-eared Bunting 3, Chestnut Bunting 250, Little Bunting 5, Sibe Rubythroat common
Bluethroat 1, Red-throated Pipit sp, thick-billed warbler 2. striated warbler common (singing), small skylark breeding

9th March: Garganey 80 9th, Comb duck 5 present on off all month, Swinhowes snipe also 11th.

16th February: Dunlin 6 , Ruddy Shellduck 6 all month, B W Stilt big arrival 1000 most on the lake but 100 on river.
Chestnut Bunting 70 on 23rd

22nd January: Nong Khai Harrier roost 40. We revisited lake Nong Han (kumawappie} on the 24th jan, 140 harriers
roosted but we arrived late and failed to get a good view point.
Anyone interested in counting this roost here are some details. The roost is in the SW of the lake, we count from an eastern perimeter track which is a good spot but a little to distant.

28th December: Long-billed plover, probably same bird, but face seemed more strongly marked.