Thursday 18 February 1982

30 years ago: 17-18 February 1982, Bangkok, Bang Poo & Rangsit

Wednesday 17th February 1982: Bangkok and Bang Poo Thailand
Arrived at Bangkok at 07:55 after a 19 hour journey. Walked to Thai Airlines Office to check flight to Kathmandu on 1st March was OK (it was). Then walked to Bangkok Car Rent to find no decent car available until the next day. Tried an alternative but a more expensive outfit and didn’t like the people so ended up back at Bangkok Car Rent with a clapped out Cortina for one day. Went to Bang Poo for the rest of the day. Visited Dr Boonsong after dark to find him in good health and Phil Round there too. Told of 100 Dusky Thrushes on Doi Inthanon. Shortly before we left the UK Andrew Moon, who had just returned from Thailand, told me there was an influx of them and we had extended this part of the trip to give us time to visit the north to try for them. It was a relief that they were still there! Drove to Rangsit where had a really bad night’s sleep (too hot).

Birds seen included: Green Heron 4, Javan Pond Heron 1 in summer plumage, Cotton Pigmy Goose 10, Kentish Plover 100+, Greater Sand Plover 100+, Pacific Golden Plover c50, Red-necked Stint 15, Long-toed Stint c50, Broad-billed Sandpiper 4, Marsh Sandpiper 10, Gull-billed Tern 1, Crested Tern 1, Whiskered Tern c50, White-winged Black Tern 2, Common Koel 2, White-breasted Kingfisher 6, Black-capped Kingfisher 4, Black-collared Starling 1.


Greater Sand Plover at Bang Poo

Pacific Golden Plover at Bang Poo
Thursday 18th February 1982: Rangsit, Chiang Rak and attempts to drive N Thailand
Rangsit was excellent at dawn, though Chiang Rak was poor later. Returned to centre of Bangkok to change the car and get a meal. Met Chris Kightly who told us of a Fulvous Pitta at Nam Nao, which got immediately added to our agenda. Drove N but after 75 kms the car broke down (turned out to be a cylinder head). Ironic that the newer car seemed worse than the clapped out one we’d had the previous day. Waited in a cafe for 7 hours while locals failed to fix it, called the car hire company who sent mechanics who also couldn’t fix it and we had to return to Bankok with them. Finally took an hour to fit and test new cylinder heads and we were on the road again driving N through the night.

Birds seen included: Yellow Bittern 1, Javan Pond Heron 40, Asian Openbilled Stork 9, Lesser Whistling Duck 15, Cotton Pigmy Goose 10, Garganey 4, Black-shouldered Kite 4, Eastern Marsh Harrier 2, Baillon’s Crake 5, *Ruddy Crake 6, Pheasant-tailed Jacana 4, Bronze-winged Jacana 15, *Oriental Pratincole 17, Plaintive Brush Cuckoo 1, Common Koel 1, White-breasted Kingfisher 2, Black-capped Kingfisher 2, Blue-tailed Bee-eater 2, Indian Roller 1, Coppersmith Barbet 1, Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler 5, Lanceolated Warbler 2, Black-browed Reed Warbler 15, Oriental Great Reed Warbler 10, Clamorous Reed Warbler 1, Red-breasted Flycatcher 1, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 3, Brown Shrike 5, White-vented Myna 10, Pegu Sparrow 10, Yellow-breasted Bunting 10.

Baillon's Crake at Rangsit
  

Lanceolated Warbler at Rangsit


Yellow Bittern at Rangsit


Coppersmith Barbet at Rangsit


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