Comments for Dartford Waffler

Comment on Parakeets & Peafowl | Birding in Thailand by Nick

Nick — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 21:15:21 +0000

It’s been there for 20 years or so but it is somewhere that I have only started visiting over the last few years.

Comment on Parakeets & Peafowl | Birding in Thailand by Laura Bakken

Laura Bakken — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 22:45:13 +0000

I remember a lot of these birds! But I don’t remember a tower. Is that a new addition, or is my memory just too foggy? We did see the parakeets at the base of Doi Inthanon, as you described.

Comment on Beach Birding in August | British Birding by Nick

Nick — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 15:32:55 +0000

Hi John.

Thanks for that really interesting comment. The first half was a really nice story and makes me remember that yesterday was the funeral of my old French teacher, Mr Graham Nicholls, who was an inspiration to me and many others as young teenagers with our birding trips after school.

The second half of your comment has some sad themes, particularly the destruction of that estuary. I am lucky to be able to travel to lots of great birding locations around the world but Shellness is somewhere I always appreciate every time I am back in UK. On this visit I was on the beach for many hours, and only a very few people came by; just me and the birds, it’s lovely. I found some similar lonely beaches recently in Oman where I was the only person around, alongside lots of Sooty Gulls, terns, egrets and even Persian Shearwater. I love those lonely beaches.

Comment on Beach Birding in August | British Birding by john williams

john williams — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 03:53:34 +0000

It is a delight to read this report about a place I always wanted to visit, and hope to if I can ever afford to go back to England. Thank you for posting all the info. I met you briefly on Doi Inthanon some years back, and hope I thanked you then for all you had posted about different birding sites in Thailand. My interest in the bird world goes back 67 years when our primary school nature teacher took our class on bird walks in the Nottinghamshire area. Seeing that my best friend and I were interested, he took the two of us to see Peter Scot giving an illustrated talk in the city hall about his Gloucestershire reserve. We were introduced, and when we asked for the great man’s autograph, he produced a sketch pad that had original water color sketches of two Mandarin duck in flight, and signed each page. It was an emotional moment. I got to see his reserve years later, but Peter Scot had passed on. At the age of ten, my pal and I went on bird walks together. We had no binoculars but were delighted to spot a Purple Sandpiper on Nottingham sewage farm. Our teacher confirmed that, but told us not to hang around there because of the foul air!
I left England in 1966, and travelled around Europe, the Middle East, and India, but had little money, and no binoculars, which I regretted when seeing birds off the Norwegian Coast, in the Himalayas, and boating through the huge bird reserve near Agra in India – place set up for the rich Brits during the Raj. But it wasn’t until I found myself in a well paid job in Japan that I could afford binoculars, and a telephoto lens to help ID the wide range of new birds. South of Nagoya, there were wetlands I was able to see all the shore birds you list in your Sheppey report, and at one point, in wellingtons, trying to photograph hungry Phalarope, I had Spoonbill Sandpipers running around at my feet. Sadly, that whole area was soon filled in, fenced off, and replaced by a huge oil refinery. And there has been a similar ending for nearly all tidal estuaries in Japan. So much for the Japanese love of nature.
But here I am in Chiang Mai now dependent on affordable hospital care, and thankful for your excellent field trip notes. So, thank you again!

Comment on A Morning Birding at Pathum Thani Rice Research Centre by Nick

Nick — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 14:46:24 +0000

Nice to know you enjoyed the post Paul. Great birds here but for sure I miss the Thames foreshore at Rainham, Dartford and Higham. Look out for me when I’m next in UK. I’m sure to visit Rainham.

Comment on A Morning Birding at Pathum Thani Rice Research Centre by Nick

Nick — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 14:44:56 +0000

Hope you get the chance to visit again. Thailand is still a calm, tolerant and easy-going place full of great birds.

Comment on A Morning Birding at Pathum Thani Rice Research Centre by Sherried

Sherried — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 14:14:31 +0000

I visited Thailand three years ago but wasn’t able to do any birding. Would love to visit again. Thank you for sharing.

Comment on A Morning Birding at Pathum Thani Rice Research Centre by Paul nesbitt

Paul nesbitt — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 14:45:45 +0000

Always great to follow your adventures Nick hope to meet up with you again one day at RSPB Rainham marsh. Take care.
Regards Paul nesbitt

Comment on Singing Song Thrush on a Misty Morning | British Birding by Alasco López

Alasco López — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 02:58:41 +0000

What a beautiful pictures!
If you want to see more photos of birds, I share you my blog.

https://avesdecordobayargentina.blogspot.com

Comment on Great Grey Shrike | British Birding by Nick

Nick — Sun, 08 Nov 2020 15:02:41 +0000

Hi Eric, I have been back to the same spot a few times and have not seen the LSW again. It could still be around with tit flocks but I have been visiting that spot since I was about 5 years old and this was only the second time I have seen this species there. It is an easy location to visit though and if there is a really cold spell it can turn up some good birds.

It wasn’t me that you met a Grain. After I found the Ring Ouzel I don’t remember speaking to anyone & indeed I put on the KOS site in which direction it was. Must have been some other devious birder!

Email me your book list – nickupton@thaibirding.com

Cheers