Yonok Wetlands

The Bird pictured center - is a Lesser Kestrel photographed in India by Mike Prince - This bird was in the company of an adult male. Lesser Kestrel which makes its identity a certainty. The Chiang Saen Bird photographed by Dowroong Danlammajak (pic L-R)

This small Falcon was perched in a tree for a long time. Luckily my partner in life “Dowroong” insisted on photographing it. I can’t remember our thoughts at the time other than that it was an odd looking small falcon. We considered Amur as maybe first years can have yellow legs, but not so!

The bird was seen at our Raptor counting spot just south of Chiang Saen Northern Thailand.
Our interest is in the relatively small passage of Amur Falcon that passes through the Little England Valley and south through Yonok Wetland. We had 88 this year in an 8 day period and 37 on this day.

Perched Raptors have a nasty habit of sneaking off when your not looking and fortunately I got it as it took flight.
The Falcon was imediatley identifiable as a Kestrel species as it showed Rufus upper body and wings with the characteristic black primaries. Structual details bore similarities to the mekong bird of 2008.

Lesser kestrel (female / immature) must be in the top ten difficult birds to identify. The structual proportions are the only way to identify non male kestrels species in flight.

On returning home we had a look at Dowroong’s photographs and while we were studying them I suddenly noticed the white claws; a presumed diagnostic feature of Lesser Kestrel.

There were features that did not quite make sense to me and not confirmed by the numerous photos of Lesser kestrel / kestrel on the Web. Most are of western paleartic birds and this Lesser kestrel may be an Eastern Form as the male photographed in india does seem somewhat differant to those in the west.

I had downloaded a number of photos and for some reason overlooked the obvious one until it hit me yesterday.

The Photograph by: Mike Prince. Location: Sultanpur, Haryana, India 30 April 2003.
Shows pretty much exactly the same features and distribution of the feather tracts as the Chiang Saen Bird. I had been concerned that our bird shows a weak supercillium but this feature shows quite well on his bird.

Thanks to Mike for allowing use of his photograph and for his kind words: Nice sighting. I certainly agree it is a very similar bird. Identification was simplified by the fact that it was with a male: picture also on OBI.

The picture of a male lesser kestrel also from Mike Prince is also of interest with regard to the Mekong lesser Kestrel: present from the: 9th- 28th January 2008 nearly 2 years ago now.

10th - 13th December Harrier Roosts Counts:

December 2009 Yonok Harrier Roost counts: I have included comparative dates fro previous years, except 2005 as at that time I had not realized that Wat Bamak No had large numbers of Harriers roosting.

2008 December Harrier Roosting Counts; several counts have been made between the 20th December and 5th January. The Nong Lom roost contains a maximum of 310 and the Par Mak No 120. The birds having been arriving later than normal and some after dark. The Little England roost has declined.

31st Wat Bamak No - Yonok: Harriers Roosting 164 arrived from the NNW counted in by DD. The majority of birds arrive from this direction. However others come in from other areas and I therefor uncounted.
Red-throated pipit 1500, grass owl 2, Barn Owl 1+, Night Heron (many), grassbird.

29th Wat Bamak No - Yonok: Harriers Roosting (120 Est) including a 1st winter juv (male) Hen Harrier (MHD DD)

We were joined by a family from Chennai, India and their 3 children sang a selection of Christmas Songs on the journey home.
Thank you and we really enjoyed your singing and the genuine interest in the birds of Yonok. Dowroong & Mick

21st An adult Lesser Sand Plover in full SP was present on the Mekong and 3 LB Plovers.
CSL: Good for Coot 130 must be a record. Garganey-Teal mixed flock 100+. Spot-billed Duck 500 est. Mallard 2 , Shovels 8, Pintail few. Shelduck, Ferruginous Duck 15 Baers Pochard 1.

18th CSL: usual Ducks including; immature female Baers Pochard 1, Shelduck 1. female Mallard 2, Coot 40, garganey 50.

17th Chiang Saen and around: Ruddy Shelduck 6, marsh Sand 2, Long-billed plover 3, River lapwing 18, Spot Sank 20. Shikra.
Brown-headed Gull.

16th Chiang Saen currently boast the largest and smallest Peregrines. A massive female peregrine was seen today sitting in a tree with a Shikra and estimated at 2.5 x the Shikra size. A very small male Peregrine has been regular in the Mekong, both are of the northern race.

9th - 15th December: a juvenile Crane has been seen off and on at Jo tong dam.
Duck numbers are very low for all species of Dabbling Duck, except for Spot-billed; I have only seen single Pintail and a few Shoveler. I recently found a new site that contains 500 dabbling ducks, mostly Spot-bills, but did contain around a 100 mixed dabblers; pintail, Shoveler & garganey. No counts as the light was awful.

Diving Duck; Max counts for Tufted Duck and Ferruginous Duck of around 20 for both species. Within these are the usual crop of hybrids and some resembling Baers Pochard.

Spotted Redshank is another species that is lacking. Nine on the Mekong and CSL and only singles on south Yonok.

8th December: a few birds of interest of late; a Whites Thrush was seen at CSL feeding in the open on a footpath. The common Shelduck was seen yesterday and 3 Black-headed Gull, a single BH Gull has been present on the mekong this week.

3rs December: At Last a Mega rarity - Bo Diddley’s Beach Party – Bo Diddley (1963) I bought this live album when it came out and played it to death. It 's a great tribute to the father of modern music, ah yeah there are many other great musicians from black america. Bo Diddley is pure rhythm and imagination. A hero I only saw him live one time in a small theatre in St Albans in 1862.
The Everly Brothers were top of the bill and The Rolling Stones opened the show an almost unknown band in those days.
I lost my record collection when I moved to Thailand and this worn out album was a sad loss. Thanks to Sir Charlie Palmer for this torrent, a treasure indeed. I'll just have to save up for the sound system to deafen the neighbors.

Birds 1st - 3rd: A single adult Black-headed Gull, 16 River Lapwing, 3 Small pratincole (first records for a few months) Duck numbers are low, with only single Pintail and a few Shoveler. The Grey heron island roost contained about 50 on the 2nd. The lone river lapwing that frequents CSL has returned.

Wat Bamakno Harrier roost 1st: 117 Harriers turned up to roost, several barn Ows were calling and 30 Night Heron.

25th: CSL: Grey Heron 15, Cormorant 6, Ferruginous Duck 23, Tuften duck 12, Pochard (drake + 2 imm's) Baers Pochard (male), spot-billed Duck 100+

23rd CSL; Mallard (adult female). not the most exciting bird, but a rarity none the less.

Mekong; Long-billed plover 1 adult, 2 1st winters were seen the previous day. An immature Cormorant flew south a rarity on the Mekong

14th: CS Lake - Coot 45 + 1 stranded in submerged fishing nets Nong Bong Kai Non Hunting Area ?????. Diving Duck 11
A male Merlin was seen hunting the Mekong in the late evening. Greenshank 13, Stints 35.

The first wintering diving ducks arrived on the 5th 4 Tufted and 5 Ferruginous Duck and 2 Coot on the 8th

Species / Date / October	25	26	27	28	29	30	31
Black Kite		1		1
Black Baza		20		5
Chinese Sparrowhawk		1	4
Shrika		2
Eurasian Sparrowhawk			1
Oriental Honey Buzzard	3	5	43	8	15
Common Buzzard		6	4	2	2
Rufus-winged Buzzard		1	1	1	2
Grey-faced Buzzard		2	1
East Marsh Harrier	1				1
Pies Harrier			1	1	2
Kestrel		1
Amur Falcon	14 E		24	37	10		3
falcon Sp:	1			1
All birds moving South except: (E, W, N.)

Yellow-vented Bulbul 1 (DD)

Migration has been rather slow. most of the regular common passerine migrants have arrived in small numbers. Raptors have been moving in very small number on most days.

White-winged Black Tern 2 flew north on the 2nd

Amur Falcon (male 29th)
Photo's - Dowroong Danlammajak

River lapwing; a peak count of 45 at the start of the month, is the highest number of birds recorded in Chiang saen in recent years, typical numbers over the past 4 years are around 22. The birds have dispersed somewhat and on the 14th 35 were still present with 4 Yellow Wat led lapwing. The first Temminks Stint. Common Sands have been arriving in small numbers from late July. The first Green Sands on the 2nd Sept and single Wood sands from the 6th.

Pretty quiet on the whole, a lot of rain and high water levels on the river. Single Osprey's were noted on various dates from mid july.

Keep on Rockin'

Holy Ground

India

Pure Insanity - 8 o'clock

Roots
Down Home Special

Roxette - I was so lucky (Yo'nok)

Happy days & Mixed feelings
Borin & Dui
University Honors
Accident

Me and You
Family & Frank

16th Mekong: Whiskered Tern 1, Grey-headed lapwing, Spot-billed Duck crossing river with 12 ducklings.

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica tytleri,) first described by Thomas Jerdon in 1864, and named for British soldier, naturalist and photographer Robert Christopher Tytler, has deep orange-red underparts and an incomplete breast band. The tail is also longer.[18] It breeds in central Siberia south to northern Mongolia and winters from eastern Bengal east to Thailand and Malaysia.

12th Site 4: Red Avadavat 40, Small Pratincole 600 est (breeding colony). Plain Martin (suspected colony 0) less than 50 birds seen on feeding / roosting movements. River Lapwing 2. LR Plover with full grown young

10th Plain Martin 00,000. House Swift 3, Palm Swift 50 (Palm Swifts can be seen incubating), Osprey 1.

Jerdon's Bushchat; It just occurred to me that I forgot to re survey the breeding sites. However I did visit the area during february and 5 birds were found, not as easy to find as in 2008.

8th Chiang Saen: Brown-headed Gull 64 adults; just 1 in breeding plumage. Blue-winged Pitta 2, Osprey 1. The count for the Plain martin roost was 13 - 18,000 as rain stopped play as darkness fell.

7th Plain Martin Roost: The number of Plain Martins roosting here was estimated / counted at 25,000.

4th Mekong river: Spot-billed Duck; 6 adults were seen with a cretche of 25 ducklings, the baby ducks were grouped in an area of floating vegetation, later a single female was see herding a group of 13 ducklings over the shingle and onto the riiver 284 Whistling were also sitting on the sand banks.

The river has risen some what with the recent rain and just one River lapwing were noted and holding territory.

Late dates; a single Osprey flew south at 6pm and a lanceolated warbler was calling.

Odd behavior; At 5pm I noted 200 swallows grouping around a reedy island and appeared to roost. This is very early for swallows to retire. I scanned for plain martins and swallows but no more than 30 were seen in the following period 5-7pm. At 6,50; about 1000 plain martins appeared close by over the Mekong in a hurried feeding flight, this lasted for just a few minutes and although they were static I have now idea where the went. MD DD.

A few days ago, I found a new birding site with good habitat. I returned later that afternoon to check it out for grass Owls. Luckily I was a bit late and as I approached I saw a gang of 6 Hunters armed with Long Rifles, they also had a pack of 10 hunting Dogs.
Had I been walking with my family, this could have been a worrying experience. I was under the impression that this sort of thing is illegal in Thailand and in an area I would have described as public access and recreation.

The man in the photograph was spoken too by Dowroong and later I took this photograph. I past his shop a little later and the sign was removed.
However a friend went to his shop to purchase some food and she was met with extreme abuse from this man. He said! “I will pay someone to kill that faring “That’s me! Well! I just took a few photographs; I don't think that's against the law. However! Murder is a serious crime so I believe.

Plain Martin Explosion - 28th April Mekong - Mick Davies; I had another look at the Plain Martins this evening. At 17.30 I estimated the number of to to be close to 2000. The majority were resting on the sand bars, 400 sitting on reed stems and 300 hawking for insects.

By 18.10 numbers of birds in the air had dramatically increased and I estimated 4000. The birds were pretty static, hunting in tight flocks within a set area, The largest concentration of numbers hawking the central Mekong, and very few birds drifting north, there may have been a dispersal south, but no birds were seen to fly north for more than a few meters. At the same time large numbers were also seen over the land and high over head, the higher birds all came from the north.
Between 18.10 and 18 40 about 200 -300 birds a minute passed low over the river close to me, none of these birds tracked back north and so the estimate is 5 - 7000. By 18 50 all had departed south and no passage north was seen. Difficult to asses the numbers but I would think in the region of 10,000 or more. Molt and wear: There was no obvious sing of wing molt and most birds appeared pretty fresh although some seemed paler than others.

Plain Martin Riparia paludicola (Status: Thailand : Endangered . Laos , A t Risk )

Plain Martin is very scarce along the Mekong River , where it nests in verytical earth banks. One such colony at the confluence of the Nam Ruak and the mainstream Mekong , upstream of Chiang Saen, has already been lost due to the banks being concreted and graded. Elsewhere only a few individuals have been recently reported at Thai Mekong sites such as Pakchom. However, Duckworth et al. (in press) recorded numbers in the low hundreds on the Upper Lao Mekong, the pricincipal area that might be affected by blasting and dredging

Footnote re this evening. I see they have cut thousands of big trees across the river from Chiang Saen in Laos. Seems to me there is a big upsurge in deforestation taking place in this region now.

28th April CSL: Common Redshank 1, Coot 1. Mekong: Small Pratincole 100+ imm, possibly 3 locally bred Spot-billed Ducks.

27th April Mekong: A surprising sighting of around 1000 Plain Martins feeding on the Mekong and moving due south between 4-5pm. A male shoveler flew west.

23rd A small passage of raptors was noted (east of central Yonok; Amur Falcon 1, Chinese S'hawk 5, H Buzzard 3. the birds were moving NW.

Pics 1-6 The Good - Chiang Saen lake has returned to a lake that has wetland fringes and I think one can see from these pictures is now a very beautiful lake and will attract more foreign visitors.

Although neither ramsar or any conservation groups have not replied to my emails and detailed reports; regarding the damage to Chiang Saen Lake, by damming and creating artificially high water levels for more than a year, thus rendering Chiang Saen Lake to no more than a reservoir. Lets hope that the Lake will become a true haven for water birds once more.

Pic 7 The Bad News is that the ever encroaching spread of rubber plantations is a worrying factor for Yonok. The land here, seen going under the plough was formally Yonok wetland and has been taken by the former Ramsar representative for Nong Bong Khai.

Pics 8-9 This is an Ugly sight and is common now within the Chiang Saen & Chiang Rai Districts. Formally a beautiful back road from Yonok to Chiang Rai is now devastated by slash and burn. this beautiful valley had many past years of recovery to new secondary forest and bamboo, destroyed in few weeks by hill farmers.

Burning; Proclaimed on Thai TV "its Laos and Myanmar that cause the pollution: On our Journey south during March we drove south to town of Poon; 200 km from Chiang Saen on minor roads. We saw burning all the way and similar destruction to habitat. Nation Park signs and and no burning signs are ignored and areas contained in Nation Park were also destroyed. we camped over night and many lories transporting wood kept us awake. This may well be legal, however some of this wood comes from protected areas.

21st Little England: Whistling Duck 5, Cinnamon Bittern 2, Chinese Francolin 3, Grass Owl 2, Lesser Coucal, Blue-winged Pitta, Black-throated Laughing Thrush 10, Chestnut-capped Babbler.

12th Wat Bamak No (Harrier Roost) 85 harriers roosted this evening, including 15 adult male Pied's. 29 night heron flew west at dusk. a single Grass Owl was seen briefly and a Barn Owl was calling nearby.

Thanks to Raph & Nitthayah Thompson for joining us. We had a great evening at the Thai Kitchen; reminiscing the old days of birding in the UK when sanity prevailed.

What ever happened to these characters; a little bird tells me they're hiding away; here in Thailand ???.

Amazing Electric Storm over the Mekong this evening. Good luck to all those who know why they are birding; atime for bed said;Zebedee

One thing i do miss about Eng lang is the humor and all the laughs. I understand we cant call ourselves english anymore "were british" basically were f---ed. Thanks to all your government fools who have spent the last 30 years wrecking Our Country; that's why so many of us have left.

Hidden and Secret Agenda's; This Video was released in 1986 - Yet the Devils disciples still get elected and you can't get them out - Bush - Blair - Thatcher - all of them War criminals - England gives sanctuary to Genocidal Killers and we treat them better than our own people- We the English and American people have no power; is Democracy the ultimate Scam.

When I first went to work, three of the people I worked with had fought in the 2nd World War, one was a spitfire pilot. I never knew who they were. They just wanted to forget it. There was no pride or a need to brag. I was politley asked never to speak of it. Churchill said it was the war to end all wars. Seems he was wrong.

After the Flood; Four years later we return to our Island Home; to see if it can be selvedged, following four years of flooding and hopefully restore the island to its former glory.

The birds on our Island garden were surprisingly; in good numbers. Water birds were well represented and quite tame. The floods had destroyed most of the trees and reed beds. However some surprises were in store. A pair of Rollers had young in a nest hole next to the kitchen. Several pairs of Ashey Wood swallows also had nests in the dead trees. Two pairs of White-bellied Sea Eagles were seen dally taking fish to their respective eire's in the mountains.

About 88 species were recorded during our stay and a number of new species added; Pacific Golden Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Common Snipe, Pin-tailed Snipe, Swinhowes' Snipe, Oriental Pratincole. This brings the total for the Island to 194 (Island List - click). The destruction of the reeds has resulted in easier viewing of many birds that would have been concealed.

Our intention is to restore the Island to a Wetland Bird and Migration sanctuary. In order to do this we need some voluntary help. We need in particular fast growing trees that can survive in water during times of floods. Careful planning of the reed beds and wet pools will hopefully bring back the large numbers of birds that formerly breed and winter here.

Celebrations at Yang Chum; Dowroong, family and friends join with the villagers of Ban Pu Bon on the "Island" Dowroong's son Marathon gets ready for the transformation to Monk and will stay at Wat Rai Bon .

Kui Buri National park: remains one of my favorite lonely places and I spent many days walking my favorite trail. this trails is unusual as it has almost zero annoyances; mosquitoes and leeches are rare, no ticks and only a few suicide flies and few humans, just the occasional Elephant to keep you on your toes.

Khao Sam Rio Yot; Some of the most impressive mountain scenery in coastal Thailand. Sad! that the prawn farms are allowed to cover the place in garbage and orange and blue netting. I find it hard to understand "WHY" the park is in such a untidy state, whereas outside is well looked after. Are you taking the piss. The charge for driving through a park that one cannot see at times the mountains through the masses of plastic fences is a wonder to me. Surely as a park one has a duty to preserve ot.

Mae Wong National Park: This is my idea of a well managed park. One road in with a barrier, you have to pay (fare enough). After a few KM you reach the HQ, several signs proclaim. No Litter, fire, music, taking of flora, fishing or hunting. Sign the book and you can camp and drive up the mountain. Good forest and no people living here, except for a few dwelling in the forest. Seems a lot of mountain forest has to be restored and large areas are cleared, however all is quiet and only one gun shot heard. This park has a great future and good birding.

15th Mekong River: A female / imm Merlin was seen hunting over the Mekong at dusk. Observed by Mick and Dowroong and Andy Price (I was stunned that the later two observers failed to have any bin's with them). However close views were had as the bird circled over head while ripping the head of an unfortunate Plain Martin ?.

All the salient id features were noted as it put on an electrifying display of active killing of birds in flight. I watched as it made 2-4 kills of swallow like birds and I managed to keep it in view until it was lost in the failing light. I can only guess as to the number of kills of 2-4 as the light was so poor that I would suddenly notice that it had another in it talons as it maneuver the prey two a position where it could tear the head off.

Prey; not sure what it was catching, prior to dusk around 80 Plain Martin were feeding low over the river. The Merlin was taking prey at a higher altitude and at the height bats were flying, however the prey was small and swallow sized; the majority of bats flying at this time are all fairly large in comparison to hirundines. The bird was so agile that it took the prey in a split second.

80 Plain Martin (this is the highest count here in the 4 years we have been here)

I notice that Merlin in not included in Phil Rounds book Birds of Thailand 1993. Maybe a new bird for Thailand.

More of the unusual visitors to the Mekong..

River Tern

and

Ringed Plover

March has got off to a good start with a number of rare bird discoveries. a Water Rail; present from the 1st-3rd. Common Ringed Plover was seen briefly a few days ago and was again present on the Mekong yesterday (2nd), the bird was heard in display flight. A second River Tern also arrived on the Mekong at the same time.

3rd; Hot shot Dowroong spotted a male Eurasian Blackbird in the undergrowth as we rode by on our motorbike. The bird was later seen well and was an immature male in final moult to adult. Also a Lesser pied King fisher was fishing Yonok.

Work goes on. We found 40 or more fishermen swarming over Yonok North, the amount of "Litter" and rubbish left behind is sad as the villagers take a great deal of pride in the wetland. ZZZ-ELECTRIC KILLER'S-ZZZ were again in evidence and Dowroong spent a greta deal of time on this matter. I have to say that the Chiang saen Police; acted promptly and we passed them on route to the hunters located near Yonok North Buffalo camp.

Another serious matter of litter and broken beer bottles is causing problems on the Mekong Sand bars as groups of trippers leave their rubbish behind.

Now I feel is the time to approach Chiang Saen district for the making of signs and help with these problems. Through our efforts with regard to Yonok we have created opportunities for numbers of foreign birders and tourists to visit Yonok and Chiang Saen. Sad that a few disgrace their country with such bad behavior.

Top American Birders: , Larry Sansone & Jon Dunn; spend a week birding Yonok and Chiang Saen.

Dowroong, Jon Dunn, Larry Sansone and Mick Davies; with a combined age of 220+ + + + are still turning up the birds. A number of rarities were discovered or re-found.

Bird List 22nd - 1st March; areas visited; Yonok North, Yonok South, Chiang Saen Lake, Little England, Mekong, Chiang Khong and a day on Doi Lang.

Little Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Chinese Pond Heron, Cattle Egret, Great White Egret, Yellow-billed Egret, Little Egret, Night Heron, Yellow Bittern, Great Bittern,

Gadwall, Spot-billed Duck, Ferruginous Duck, Mandarin Duck, Ruddy Shelduck, lesser Whistling Duck,

Black-shouldered Kite, Shrika, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Rufous-winged Buzzard, Grey-faced Buzzard, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Pied Harrier, Kestrel, Harrier roost counts: Nong Lom 22nd = 192, Bamak No 26th 168 and 207 on the28th

Chinese Francolin, Water Rail, Ruddy-breasted Crake, White-browed Crake , White-breasted Waterhen, Moorhen, Purple Galllinule, Coot, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Bronze wing Jacana,

Grey-headed Lapwing, River Lapwing, Long-billed Plover, Ringed plover, Little-ringed P;over, Kentish Plover, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Temmink's Stint, Long-toed Stint, Pin-tailed Snipe, common Snipe, Oriental Pratincole, Small Indian Pratincole, Black-winged Stilt, River Tern,

Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Red Turtle Dove, Spotted Dove, Zebra Dove, Large Hawk-Cuckoo, Plaintive Cuckoo, Asian Koel, Green-billed Malkoha, Greater Coucal, Lesser Coucal,

Grass Owl 3, Asian Barred Owlet, Collared Scops Owl, Long-tailed Nightjar, Kingfisher, White-breasted Kingfisher, Little Green Bee-eater, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Indian Roller, Great hill Barbet, Lineated Barbet, Golden-throated Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, Coppersmith's Barbet,

Wryneck, Black-headed Woodpecker, Lesser Yellownape , Grey-capped Pygmy W'dpecker, Little Swift, Asain Palm Swift, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Striated Swallow,

Richards pipit, Paddyfield Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit, Red-throated Pipit, Yellow Wagtail - angarensis, Yellow Wagtail - macronyx, Yellow Wagtail - taivana, White Wagtail - leucopsis, White Wagtail - alboides, White Wagtail - ocularis, Citrine Wagtail, Large Cuckoo-shrike, Grey-chinned Minivet, Long-tailed Minivet, Common Iora,

Crested Finchbill, Straited Bulbul, Black Crested Bulbul, Black-headed Bulbul, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Sooted-headed Bulbul, Flavesent Bulbul, Mountain Bulbul, Black Drongo, Ashey Drongo, Spangled Drongo, Grey Treepie, Himalayan Treepie, Racket-tailed Treepie, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Brown-throated Treecreeper, Puff-throated Babbler, Rufous-fronted Babbler, Chestnut-capped Babbler, Yellow-eyed Babbler, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Rufous-winged Fulvetta, Brown-cheeked Fulvetta, Striated Yuhina,

White-browed Shrike Babbler, Blue-winged Minla, Specktacled Barwing, Black-headed Sibia, Yellow-bellied Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Orange-barred leaf Warbler, White-tailed leaf Warbler, Thick-billed Warbler, Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler, Lanceolated Warbler, Straited Marsh Warbler, Grey-breasted Prinia, Rufescent Prinia, Yellow-bellied Prinia, Plain Prinia, Commn Tailorbird,

Spotted Bush-Warbler, Siberian Rubythroat, Red-flanked Bluetail, Magpie Robin, White-rumped Shama, Stonechat, Dark-grey Bushchat, Pied Bushchat, Jerdon's Bushchat 5, Blue Rock Thrush, Red-throated Flycatcher, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Brown Shrike, Burmese Shrike, Long-tailed Shrike, Ashey Wood Swallow,

Chestnut-tailed Starling, Black-collared Starling, Common Myna, White-vented Myna, Olive-backed Sunbird, Purple Sunbird, Fire-tailed Sunbird (adult male), Little Spiderhunter, Streaked Spiderhunter, Scarlet-backed Flowerpiecer, Oriental White-eye, Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow, Baya Weaver, White-rumped Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Chestnut Munia, Yellow-breasted Bunting,

Highlights so far this week. Nong Lom 22nd 192 Harriers roosted. 3 Long-billed Plovers and 3 Long-toed Stint, with 2 Red-necks were present on the 26th. 120 Oriental Pratincole flew north on the 25th. Lanceolated warbler 25, Spotted Bush Warbler 6 and Rufus- winged Buzzard

Wat Bamak No; Dowroong's skill in counting and finding of interesting birds proved reliable as she counted in 163 Harriers, 3 Grass Owls and a Great Bittern. Bill counted a 100+ Purple Swamphens and the wetland was alive with whistling ducks.

The trip was a bit sowered by the finding of mist net traps and while searching for the river tern we found a gang of thirty hunters with electric probes. and so a potion of our time was taken up with reporting this to the police and non-hunting area.

Chiang Saen 20th: Needle Tail sp-2, Small Falcon sp-1 female (took a swallow) Plain Martin peak count this week 20. River Lapwing 4, LB Plover 3. Swallow 1 (deceased). Spot- billed Duck 17.

River Tern and Grass Owl; Bye-Bye baby it was fun while it lasted ???; The River Tern was last seen on the 13th flying off high and calling) The Grass Owls seem to be our one failure at Ba Makno as none have been recorded here for two months now. I hope that no birders have been disturbing the breeding / roosting area. I have to say this as Dowroon and I have invested three years of our lives in protecting this site. I cannot see as to why the number of Owls has declined since thier discovery two years ago.

19th; Bird protection at Ba Makno (Yonok Wetlands North) is the prime aspect of "Friends of Yonok Project" The people who dwell in the area have stopped hunting; and although they are poor they have embraced our ideas on wetland conservation and as a result the Whistling Duck have increased to 5000 feeding in the wetlands just off the Buffalo Camp. Dowroong spoke to some of the "Buffalo herders" (some formally active hunters and trappers of duck) Mrs Dui said: In the eight years I have lived here I have never seen this number of Duck and swamp hens in the Wetland"

"OH NO! Not the Chair" One again the gangs of fish and all life killers have descended on Yonok. Armed with their battery packs and electric probes they swam over areas killing everything in the path. I shouted at the first one and he ran off, However I discovered a load of them on the 19th while on my 50 km circuit of yonok (this is essential as we have to keep an eye on trapping, illegal distruction of habitat and, check on the numbers of birds using the wetlands). these gangs and I mean "gangs" are un popular with local villagers; as they are in numbers no one can tell them to get out. I had to dash to a friend to borrow her phone to get Dowroong to phone the River Police; whom I believe acted swiftly.

"Friends of Yonok" please join" I hope to have the details of membership ASAP. The work here is urgently in need of support.

Ba Makno 167 (112 pied if which 67 were adult male) 35 of these birds flew further south. The counts were made by Dowroong and the Danish Raptor Study group.

Yonok Wetlands 15th: Purple Swamp hen 120 present on yonok North - this is a record count and shows that conservation here is working, the previous maximum counts were 30-45. Whistling Duck; 2000 are now using Yonok North and feeding in open areas, 2 and 3 years ago they were confined to just one area and number about a hundred. Bronzed-winged Jacana is hopefully increased in numbers , we were down to just the odd pair. 7 adults are present in one area and 2 first winter birds. I have not seen first winters before here and I assume that these birds were bred here. Bronzed-winged Jacana breeds yearly and we do see the small young, however, survival to full grown has not been noted previously and so this is encouraging.

Chiang Saen Lake: Water levels are dropping slowly and large number of stilt have arrived; this is the time for them and about 300 were seen today. whistling duck are in good numbers and estimated at 5000.

Mekong: Ruddy Shelduck 3 + 4 in two localities. River Lapwing 4 = 2. Plain Martin 14 at Chiang Saen. Long-billed Plover 3.

Sex on the Sand Bar; The Long-billed Plover was observed mating; on the 11th. The male is now in quite good plumage mated with a (imm female ?) the mating ritual involved the male strutting with an upright posture and circling the female with his breast puffed up and collar ruffled.. The female was in a sub-missive pose with a flattened crown. Mick.

Dear Dowroong and Michael, I had a wonderful day with the two of you. Unfortunately, my memory is not as good as I
suspected. If you would send me a list of the birds we saw it would be greatly appreciated. Warmest regards, Thannk you, Joel

Little Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Java Pond Heron, Cattle Egret, Great White Egret, Yellow-billed Egret, Little Egret, Spot-billed Duck, Lesser Whistling Duck, White-browed Crake , White-breasted Waterhen, Moorhen, Purple Galllinule, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Bronze wing Jacana, River Lapwing, Little Ringed plover, Long-billed Plover, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Pin-tailed Snipe, Common Snipe, Small Indian Pratincole, Black-winged Stilt, River Tern, Spotted Dove, Asian Koel, Greater Coucal, Kingfisher, White-breasted Kingfisher, Little Green Bee-eater, Lineated Barbet, Wryneck, Barn Swallow, Red-rumped Swallow, Olive-backed Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail, Common Iora, Striated Grass warbler, Oriental Magpie Robin, Stonechat, Pied Bushchat, White-vented Myna, Common Myna, Burmese Shrike, Long-tailed Shrike, Racket-tailed Treepie, Black Drongo , Ashey Wood Swallow, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Sooty-headed Bulbul, plain prinia, Dusky Warbler, Yellow-browed warbler, Common Tailorbird, Chestnut-tailed Starling, Black-collared Starling, Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow, Scaly-breasted Munia, Chestnut Munia.

Thanks to Joel and recent visitors from America, Scotland and Denmark whom were impressed by "Dowroong"s Yonok" and it's birds.

The "RAMSAR" representative for Chiang Saen Non Hunting Area; admitted to Dowroong! two years ago that he had taken the area in this photograph for himself to grow rice and that he intended to give it back to Yonok ???. Seemed to be empty words.

Today in the same area we met Khun Suriya, Boompop and (NHA) on routine patrol, they had discovered a number of nets sited where the "River tern' feeds. Two nets were also dicovered on Mr Ramsar's property. We also removed 20 nets from a local fish farm.

What is a "RAMSAR" site; I pose this question as I am unclear. Wetland convention - Wetland protection - safe gard for wetlands ? I'm not so sure. Seems a lot of money is provided for projects, but many of these project for local people are dmanging to fragile wetlands. Yonok is now suffering serious mis apporiation of wetland and I hear that it may become a Rasar site. Ayear or two ago I would have welcomed this news but now I am not so sure. Surely wetland conventions need to keep a close eye on activities detremental to wetlands that are in a way entrusted ti thier care.

I have wriiten to Ramsar and this was the reply: I also acted as requested; by emailing; however no reply from Ms. Nirawan Pipitsompat (Senior Environmentalist) and its 3 months since I wrote to you.

Dear Mick Davis and Dowroong Danlamajak,

Thank you for your e-mail and information about the threat to the Nong Bong Kai Ramsar site.

As a first step, I wonder if you have spoken to the Ramsar Focal Point in the Thai Government about the problems? The lady's name and contact is;

Ms. Nirawan Pipitsompat (Senior Environmentalist),
Biological Diversity Division,
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment,
60/1 Soi Phibun Wattana 7,
Rama VI Road,
Bangkok 10400,
Thailand.

Tel/Fax: 662-2656636 / 662-2656638
e-mail: nirawanfang@gmail.com or nirawanpipitsombat@yahoo.com
She is normally very good and if you contact her, I am sure that she will try and help. Let me know what her response is as well so that I can then know how best to follow up if there are still problems.
Good luck and please stay in touch.
Lew Young
Senior Regional Advisor for Asia/Oceania
Ramsar Convention Secretariat
28 rue Mauverney, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland

100,000 Swallows - 3rd feb: The migrant swallow roost in Chiang Saen hit "six foguers" this evening.

The roost has increased at a dramatic rate over the past two days. The earlier roost of 20,000 was almost entirley first winter birds. However; on the 2nd a large number of aduts had arrived.

Small Praticole 300; The praticoles are now getting ready to nest and quite a number can be seen in arial display. The 2 Long-billed Plover are still around and 5 River Lapwing. I removed a Waterhen from a Laos Hunters trap; lucky for the waterhen. I heard it struggling in the reeds.

GET THE TRAPS _ WEEKEND: I intend to organise a trap removal day ASAP. If you would like to join please emai; me or phone. I intend to clear all the traps out of the Mekong on the Thai side and some mid river.

Swallow; The temporary swallow roost hit the 20,000+ on the 25th and lesser numbers were seen on the 30th. A miniature male peregrine has been seen regularly hitting the roost. The swallows roost after dark and it is quite amazing to see this peregrine trying to catch them in almost total darkness. A common Kestrel was also seen attempting to catch one, but it was to slow and gave up.

Horses for courses as we say: The Peregrine is a "stooper" and hunts from high perches. In prolonged level flight it cannot out fly a swallow, even given the Peregrines amazing agility it can't seem to catch them. The Kestrel is a "hoverer" and is not suited to prolonged active flight. The "aerial hunters" on the other hand; Hobby, Amur and Lesser Kestrel can pick them off with ease.

Harrier roosting numbers are seriously down this year!, the combined roost totals are about 350 - 400 max. Last year peak was about 650. Grass Owl have also been in low numbers and are proving difficult to see.

Long-billed Plover 2 present all month; an influx of pheasant-tailed jacana's was noted at 'north" Yonok of 70 from the 27th and 2 Rufus-winged Buzzards are roosting nearby.

14th around Chiang Saen this week ; 3000 swallows dropped in this evening to roost close to the Mekong and a small influx of waders was noted; mostly temmink stint 50 and greenshank. The River Tern has been seen on CSL and Yonok. Pamak No harrier roost was visited and held 90 Harriers. Ducks on CSL were back today 30 spot-bills and 40 pintail, no diving ducks were seen, Coot 3 cormorant 8. I was pleased to see that the water levels have dropped to the level of the old dam, this has increased the wetland fringes, however the water levels on Jo Tong Dam are still to high and few birds are using that area.

6th Yonok; Glossy Ibis; an adult bird dropped in this afternoon, and later flew north. Two River Terns were heard calling this morning and an adult was present this evening.

5th. Ducks; the recent warmer weather has resulted in a clear out of ducks from CSL, with just a few Tufted 4 and 2 Ferruginous. Spot-bills are down to 200-, however a Coot numbers are up to 9. All other dabblers have departed. Whistling Duck numbers are highish, however it is difficult to asses the true numbers here as they are spread over a wide area.

4th; 3 adult GBH Gulls flew north at CS in the morning and 3 ruddy shell duck were seen flying north in the evening. The Long-billed plover count is two.

Doi Lang; A brief visit produced a number of good birds; including Golden bush Robin and Cutia.

Harrier Roosting Counts; several counts have been made between the 20th December and 5th January. The Nong Lom roost contains a maximum of 310 and the Par Mak No 120. The birds having been arriving later than normal and some after dark. The Little England roost has declined. Grass Owls are present at all roosts but are proving difficult to see.

Great Cormorant 12 CSL, Purple Heron (small increase in numbers) Yonok, Night Heron a few at all harrier roosts, Cinnamon bittern 1 mist winter.

Raptors; a single Osprey is wintering, up to 4 Black Kites, a jap sparrowhawk was seen on the 30th dec, Shikra and HB's are common and single Grey-faced and Rufus-winged Buzzards are around. A few more Kestrels around than in the past and several Peregrines are in the area.

Wading birds. White-browed crakes are courting and in stable numbers, Jacanas and swamp Hen numbers are noticeable slightly up, as is the case for Moorhen and Ruddy-b crake, a single water Rail was heard on CSL.

River Lapwing - peak count of 12 on the 5th Mekong and 1 CSL. Red-wattled 3 CSL, Grey-Headed 2 CSL. The water level in the river is still quite high and low numbers of waders have resulted. A rough estimate of numbers. LR Plover - low and few displaying, Kentish 2, Spot Reds 10, Greenshank 20, Temminks 25, Small pratincole singles displaying (normal 100.s).

We caught Loa's hunters illegally setting wader traps in Thailand a few days ago. I hope to organize a trap removal weekend where we will remove all the traps on the Thai border between the Golden Triangle and Chiang Khong any one wishing to have a go please contact me.

Red-throated Pipit numbers are lower than in previous years; with counts lower than 500 at Nong lom and Pa Mak No. The wagtails roost on the Mekong as about 300 white, 20 Citrine and 50 yellows. a single Forest Wag was seen at CSL on the 4th.

Warblers; I was lucky to turn up as Phil Round was ringing a netted chestnut-crowned Bush warbler (2nd Thai record).

Buntings a few present but as usual hard to see; Crested, Black-faced and Little's are reported.

Part 1: A few days before Christmas day we were walking the Mekong River shore line with

Phil Round family and friends Andy Price "Dowroong" Nick Diamond at the Mekong b dddddb Laos Wader trappers caught in the act

We had found a long-billed Plover and I notice two men setting noose traps for waders close by to us.

I pointed this out to Dowroong and she went over to talk with them. It quickly dawned on me that they were from Laos and not Thailand and so; what they were doing was not only illegal but they had no right to be here.

Dowroong; spoke to them for a while and then asked them politely to leave, and so they did.

On the 15th on January 2009 I was doing my evening observations on the Mekong where I observed another Hunter setting traps and after he left I removed all of the traps.

The following evening a canoe with three Laos hunters approached and moored next to me. I asked them if they were Thai, but they gave no reply. They; then proceeded to climb the embankment and beat the birds from a roost that was in a nearby bamboo.

I could not see any nets and a means of catching the birds, so it is likely they were trying to make a statement to me.

I discussed the matter that evening with Dowroong and we decided to go and talk with the Thai Commander of the naval barracks in Chiang Saen.

Noose traps set for waders - Dowroong says "Bon Voyage to Laos hunters" Captain Monchai Boomnik meets with Dowroong - Chiang Saen Naval Base

On the 17th of January we had an informal meeting with the Naval Captain & commander at 10am.

I must say the Captain Boonnit and his officers were most helpful and willing to assist in any way they can.

In fact there response was most impressive and they have very kindly offered the following in the way of cooperation.

1; Captain Boonnit; first of all he dispelled the myth that Laos hunters are free to roam the river banks of Thailand. The border is defined as the deep water channel and they have no right to land in Thailand. This is an interesting point; and if so it may be possible to set up a nature protection area on the sand bars that are situated in mid channel as the deep water channel is between the islands and Laos.

2;Captain Boonnit has instructed his men to arrest all illegal trappers operating on the Thailand river shore.

3; We will assist them this evening by showing the naval officers traps that have been set and places where trappers are regularly seen operating.

4 ; The Chiang Saen naval base is responsible for 70km of the Mekong from he Golden Triangle to east of Chiang Kong and Captain Boonnit will send out recognizance groups to seek out nets and traps on his area of river.

5; Captain Boonnit; will also contact the commander of the naval base in the East Mekong - Nong Kai provence; to alert them as to this situation and we hope for a similar response.

6; Captain Boonnit; advised Dowroong that he has periodic meetings with his counter parts in Laos and he has requested that Dowroong accompany him on future visit to explain the need for conservation with regard to the Mekong river.

It is proposed that the naval base will join in a conservation effort with Yonok Wetlands Project; to build a wildlife and conservation initiative between the countries of Thailand and Laos. This is seen a a major result for Yonok wetlands project and some thing I had been considering, for a number of years; however with out this gesture would be impossible to achieve.

Dowroong and I thank Captain Boonnit and his staff for this offer of help, their enthusiasms and generosity.

7; Captain Boonnit; said he was delighted to work in conjunction and with Yonok Wetlands project for conservation in Thailand. And would like to assist in a variety of ways, he had a number of good ideas, and he and Dowroong are keen to work together on this project for the Mekong River.

8: I have to say this: Dowroong and I work very hard on researching conservation ideas for Thailand's birds.

Unfortunatley we receive little credit and no financial support. We only continue because we can see many ways to advance conservation in Thailand. Please support our project and the ground breaking work we achieve.

Yonok was put on "The World Map" by Yonok Wetlands Project: through our discoveries of; "all major Harrier roosts in Thailand" and our commitment to stopping hunting.

We have effectively turned many people altitudes in Thailand; to having an interest in conservation and a stop to hunting of birds and animals. We have highlighted many conservation issues over the past two years. Promoted Yonok through the Yonok Wetlands web site and in finding a many new and interesting birds in Thailand.

However; I am very proud of everything Dowroong and I have archived in Thailand.

Birding is the ultimate freedom. In many ways the birds still have it; as people freedom is fast disappearing. Birders and conservationist should all be on the same side. It would be a great step towards conservation and humanity if we did.

9; The Mekong: We need to act now! and before The Mekong river is "bird less". Formally one could have found; Thick Knee, River Tern, and who knows what breeding on the sand bars here. Buntings are a rarity now! Jerdonds bushchat has gone from many former sites in Chiang Saen.

Now we are down to protecting a few 'river lapwing and small pratincoles" and little else. The future looks bleak. If you want to see sand bars with just a few Little ringed Plovers and some migrant waders; well! that's where were heading.

Playing Games: I used to do this while doing visible migration at Foreness, a way of killing the boredom!, by seeing how many species you can get in an hour, without moving. My best count was 54 species (good day for vis mig).

I had a go here a few days ago; at my former Mekong River watchpoint in Chiang saen; I managed to get 9 (its a game not worth the effort}.

Here's the list. Tree sparrow, Common Myna, Munia, Common kingfisher, White Wagtail, Magpie Robin, Brown Shrike, Small Pratincole, common Sand. I could not even manage to get to 10 and note the almost complete lack of water birds.

I'm looking at a "sand bar" most of the birds I see are in a car park. This is the future!

Out on Patrol; Dowroong and I were very proud to accompany; Commander Sakda Watnatum and his team of eight men on a recognizance patrol this evening 17th jan 2009 Mekong River Chiang saen Thailand. We discovered a number of traps, but no trappers, just as well as the navy is fully equipped to deal with any problem.

Commander Sakda Watnatum said that they will check the river bank in the early morning as the owner of the Rim Kong restaurant said she had noticed fishermen on the foreshore where the traps were found.

The co-operation we have from the Thai Navy is excellent and they will act on any information that we supply.

We presented a number of Bird books and we will be looking into ways to assist one another.

The numbers of Small Praticole; seem lower than usual this winter. 400 or so were present in mid December but since, few have been noted in the usual locations.

The river is higher than normal. However there are large areas of sand banks available and I would have expected to see them displaying by now.

1; Hunting; as I state in the above article the numbers of trappers has increased. I am most vigilant and I don’t miss much. I have found traps on the mid river sand bars but not on the Thai side in the past.

The traps are set on small vegetated pools and, would be targeting River Lapwing, a bird that is in seriously low numbers in Chiang Saen. River lapwing is a local breeding species. I have located nest but the young have never been found.

The serious floods of last August revealed 10 adults in moult on flooded fields, the fact they were in moult suggests that they were breeding and that the young were lost in the floods. This also suggests to me a the total number of pairs in the Mekong Sandbars for Chiang Saen to be about five. Also it is likely that I was seeing all of the River lapwing resident at Chiang Saen as the water was so high all the birds were resting together. As hunting on the Laos side is a serious problem, I doubt that waders roost in Laos.

Long-billed plover is another bird that will be caught in such traps as they frequent this area.

2; The second possible problem is one that is unlikely to be resolved. On the Laos side there is a large amount of excavation of sand for building the new casino complex and so the level of disturbance to the Chiang Saen Sand bar is heightened.

Why worry. Well! From my point of view the Mekong is fast becoming a dead river and as we have lost so many interesting riverine species I feel I need to address this situation.

River Tern and Great Thick Knee are just two species that come to mind. You won’t see them here now. In 4 years of observations I have only noted 1 Tern on just one day. the last thick Knees, eight years ago. The numbers of Plain Martin counts are all single figures.

We need to do something.. As a conservation project we get little help and our reward is just personal satisfaction, but it doesn't pay the bills.

Yonok wetlands Project is the foremost action group for conservation in Thailand. We don’t waste time. Every problem has a solution and a way to effect a change, Dowroong's has the rare ability to state a good case for conservation and people listen. I am very proud of her and the respect we have won from many Thai authorities.

The fragile line is ever closer: I named these places years ago as "empty valleys" beautiful areas to the eye and DEAD with little or no sounds of birds of animals, vast areas of waste and exploitation.

We are obssed with chemical poisoning; only recently a 100 or more Whistling Duck were baited with poison rice in the fields of YONOK. The boss of this rice planting sceme is the RAMSAR representative for Chiang Saen Lake "Non Hunting Area" "Three Cheers for CONSERVATION.

This RAMSAR guy is currently facing prosecution for stealing YONOK WETLAND "LAND" for rice planting for his personal gain.

We spend a great deal of time meeting and discussing plans to change nature for the good of all. Are we wasting our time. Well better to do something than nothing; Its the human race I'm disappointed in.

The hunter is not such a bad guy. he knows what he knows and thats it; But! I can talk to him and he is more likely to help than many conservationist who just pretend to care.

Our non hunting policy has won many hearts of many in North Thailand; AND IT WORKS - please give us your support.

I will be removing the donations as we don't get any and we seem to be in some dispute with paypal. this seems odd as our balance has remained at zero.

Update 21st January 2009; Observation over the past few evening I have revealled an up serge in wader numbers, following the excellent effort by the Chiang saen Naval base and Dowroongs patrol. This seems to have sent a clear signal and I have not seen any trappers or people coming over from Laos.

It is probably coincidese that the number of waders has increased; however the birds seem more at ease. The numbers of Small pratincoles swelled to 200+ from 0.

Movements of waders moving north in the evening, this mainly involes Temminks Stint with 70 north on the 20th and 120 on the 21st. Spotted Reds are up from singles to around 70 and Greenshanks 35.

A male eastern marsh harrier is a regualar evening bather and Perigrine. Long-billed Plove 2 and River lapwing 5 in semi territorial disputes. Varible numbers of wagtails are roosting; max 500 white and 50 Citrine.

Observations 27th Jan 2009: I have watched the area where Laos Trappers were formally operating on the Thai shore line in the areas of the Rim kong sand bars, for several evenings and I am pleased to say that I have not noted any suspicious activities.

Small Pratincole; We are become a bit concerned. The increase in numbers a few days ago was short lived and I am seeing very few hunting and displaying in the evening and day time. As they have young in April it is likely that numbers of breeding birds will decline this year.

Little Grebe
Little Cormorant
Darter
Grey Heron
Purple Heron
Chinese Pond Heron
Javan Pond Heron
Cattle Egret
Great White Egret
Yellow-billed Egret
Little Egret
Green Heron
Black Bittern
Night Heron
Yellow Bittern
Schrenk’s Bittern
Cinnamon Bittern
Great Bittern
Garganey
Cotton Teal
Lesser Whistling Duck
Osprey
Black-shouldered Kite
Black Kite
Brahminy Kite
Black Baza
Crested Goshawk
Northern Sparrowhawk
Chinese Sparrowhawk
Shrika
Japanese Sparrowhawk
Oriental Honey Buzzard
Common Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard
White-bellied Sea-Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle
Mountain Hawk-Eagle
Changeable Hawk-Eagle
Black Eagle
Spotted Eagle
Eastern Marsh Harrier
Pied Harrier
Peregrine f p ernesti
F. P. japonensis
F. P. pereginator
Kestrel
Chinese Francolin
Yellow-legged Buttonquial
Barred Buttonquial
Slaty-breasted Rail
Baillon’s Crake
Ruddy-breasted Crake
White-browed Crake
White-breasted Waterhen
Watercock
Moorhen
Pheasant-tailed Jacana
Bronze winged-Jacana
Grey-headed Lapwing
Red Wattled Lapwing
Whimbrel
Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Black-winged Stilt
Pacific Golden Plover
Little Ringed plover
Common Snipe
Pin-tailed Snipe
Swinhowe's Snipe
Oriental Pratincole
White-winged Tern
Whiskered Tern
Pink-necked Pigeon
Rock Dove
Spotted Dove
Emerald Dove
Large-hawk Cuckoo
Indian Cuckoo
Oriental Cuckoo
Banded-bay Cuckoo
Plaintive Cuckoo
Emerald Cuckoo
Violet Cuckoo
Asian Koel
Green-billed Malkoha
Greater Coucal
Lesser Coucal
Barn Owl
Brown Hawk Owl
Collared Scops Owl
Collared Owlet
Asian Barred Owlet
Brown Fish Owl
Brown wood Owl
Great Eared Nightjar
Large-tailed Nightjar
Pied Kingfisher
Common Kingfisher
Stork-billed Kingfisher
White-breasted Kingfisher
Black-capped Kingfisher
Collared Kingfisher
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater
Blue-tailed Bee-eater
Green Bee-eater
Blue-throated Bee-eater
Indian Roller
Dollarbird
Hoopoe
Wreathed Hornbill
Oriental Pied Hornbill
Lineated Barbet
Coppersmith’s Barbet
Common Flameback
Rufous Woodpecker
Blue-winged Pitta
Germains Swiftlet
Himalayan Swiftlet
AsIan Palm Swift
Silver-rumped Needletail
Pacific Swift
House Swift
White-throated Needletail
White-vented Needletail
Brown-backed Needletail
Sand Martin
Dusky Crag martin
Barn Swallow
Pacific Swallow
Red-rumped Swallow
Asian House Martin
Olive-backed Pipit
Paddyfield Pipit
Grey Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Forest Wagtail
Common Iora
Black-crested Bulbul
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Streak-eared Bulbul
Black Drongo
Crow-billed Drongo
Hair-crested Drongo
Gt Racket-tailed Drongo
Black-naped Oriole
Racket-tailed Treepie
Large-billed Crow
Puff-throated Babbler
Abbotts Babbler
Large Scimitar Babbler
Chestnut-capped Babbler
Dusky Warbler
Arctic Warbler
Two-barred Greenish Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
Thick-billed Warbler
Clamorous Reed Warbler
Oriental Reed Warbler
Black-browed Reed Warbler
Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler
Lanceolated Warbler
Bright-capped Warbler
Grey-breasted Prinia
Plain Prinia
Common Tailorbird
Dark-necked Tailorbird
Spotted Bush-Warbler
Magpie Robin
Stonechat
AsIan Brown Flycatcher
Brown-streaked Flycatcher
Red-throated Flycatcher
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher
Black-naped Monarch
Asian Paradise Flycatcher
Brown Shrike
Tiger Shrike
Phillippine Glossy Starling
Chestnut-tailed Starling
White-shouldered Starling
Purple-backed Starling
Aaian Pied Starling
Black-collared Starling
Vinous-breasted Starling
Common Myna
White-vented Myna
Olive-backed Sunbird
Scalet-backed Flowerpecker
Tree Sparrow
Plain-backed Sparrow
Baya Weaver
Scaly-breasted Muni

Yonok Wetlands; is against commercial slaughter and exploitation of all life "Human and Animal".
These gross acts of inhumanity and cruelty, have lead to total extinction of so many species.

There is a line, one should avoid crossing, at all costs.
killing is the quickest way to self destruction. If you kill for profit or worse for a manufacturing company you are submitting yourself
to the eventual enslavement of peoples throughout the world. It's time to stop the endless progress of capital wealth for a minority and put our energy into community.

In the end we all live in small communities and have no power over our destiny, that is manipulated by self interested "elected leaders" who have secret hidden agenda and total disregard for the electorate and for the reason they were elected.

Democracy has become a lie. What is needed is a fair to the World and all it's creatures policy.
There are many good, bright and intelligent people in Our World its time now to re think government as we are in the hands of lunatics. There has to be a better solution and quick.

Why! tolerate a democratic system that allows maniacs who go to war on foreign soil and against the wishes of their fellow countrymen.

The slaughter of Whales is just one drop in the ocean of blood that has been the norm for thousands of years since the arrival of mankind here in this amazing world.

The Movie Home 2009 - A brilliant and Truthful film In the "Trailer" these words are spoken at the end of the film.
We all have the power to change! - So What are we waiting for?

A Question; is there a Man out there who can work a miracle.
Jesus - He completely wasted his time on us didn't he.
All the Truth he spoke has been twisted for Evil Ends
Wake Up - They are Lying to You!

Far right "pictured" is our ultimate Doom - A Lump of Rock.
By far most common Item in the Universe.
We Once Had the Most Beautiful World.
The Only one in The Universe

We all have the power to change! - So What are we waiting for?
We are Waiting for Legal Government; that Has the interest of all people and Our World in their heart. Until we get that we and the World are Doomed

There is now a Copenhagen Conference; an attempt at controlling World Pollution. No doubt it will be a load of "Hot Air" Talk, talk, talk and do nothing! Just empty promimses.

Yonok Music on this page 2010 - Browse this site for more great music and laughs. Back to Top

The music on this sites has a relevance and often reflects my thoughts at the time. Not all is my taste in music but most of it is.

I'm late! I'm late! for a very important date: Anyway! Well done Gordon, "lost all the countries money and now you've lost your handbag".