Counting waterbirds can be tricky despite the fact that the open nature of the habitat apparently makes seeing all the birds easy. However, due to many waterbirds skulking amongst thick vegetation, which is usually flooded and inaccessible, making accurate counts can be harder than it first seems. probably the simplest method of making useful counts in this habitat is to use a series of counting points and count birds for a set period of time, making note of the counting points for later use; this type of counting is usually referred to as making “spot counts”.

Back in June I visited Muang Boran Fishponds to make a series of spot counts in order to get some idea of the size of the resident waterbird population at that location. On Saturday 9th August I revisited the site and repeated the counting process.

Records from a soggy notebook

It has to be said that fewer birds were present than I anticipated, the reasons for this could include the disturbance levels on the day of my visit or could simply reflect the fact that I had over estimated the numbers present; further counts will make the picture clearer. However, good numbers of several interesting species were present including a number of family groups of White-browed Crakes and at least one Pheasant-tailed Jacana taking care of 3 tiny chicks. Some of the more interesting counts included 50 Little Grebes, 43 Pheasant-tailed Jacanas, 48 Javan Pond Herons and 7 Black Bitterns. A full write up of the waterbird count can be found here: Waterbird Counts at Muang Boran Fishponds.

The total number of species seen was 51. Here is the day list in no particular order.

1. Lesser Whistling Duck
2. Little Grebe
3. White-breasted Waterhen
4. White-browed Crake
5. Pheasant-tailed Jacana
6. Bronze-winged Jacana
7. Yellow Bittern
8. Little Egret
9. Cattle Egret
10. Great Egret
11. Intermediate Egret
12. Javan Pond Heron
13. Little Heron
14. Black Bittern
15. Indian Cormorant
16. Little Cormorant
17. Wood Sandpiper
18. Common Sandpiper
19. Black-winged Stilt
20. Little Ringed Plover
21. Red-wattled Lapwing
22. Oriental Pratincole
23. Streak-eared Bulbul
24. Yellow-vented Bulbul
25. Zitting Cisticola
26. Asian Golden Weaver
27. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
28. Common Iora
29. Large-billed Crow
30. Common Myna
31. Black-collared Starling
32. White-vented Myna
33. Asian Pied Starling
34. Plain Prinia
35. Yellow-bellied Prinia
36. Scaly-breasted Munia
37. Chestnut Munia
38. Striated Grassbird
39. Indian Roller
40. Barn Swallow
41. House Swift
42. Asian Palm Swift
43. Oriental Magpie Robin
44. Pied Fantail
45. Black-crowned Night Heron
46. Spotted Dove
47. Peaceful Dove
48. Red Collared Dove
49. Rock Pigeon
50. Eurasian Tree Sparrow
51. Asian Koel

birds, birding, thailand, nature, national parks