randombirder

A quick trip up to the brilliant Frampton Marsh where the pacific golden plover - a stunning adult summer - perked up after a snooze out on the saltmarsh.  In immaculate plumage, it was nice to see another one since my first way back in 1998, a memory which seems to have faded over the intervening period. Summer plumage dunlin were present in good numbers, along with two spotted redshank , five greenshank , at least 15 spoonbill , and a short-eared owl of the notable species. 

Pak Thale is around a 45 minute drive north from Cha Am. It's an easy drive along the 4028 coast road, minimal traffic, decent roads, and agreeable scenery. Information on birding at Pak Thale can be found at thaibirding with comprehensive directions to the site and what to expect when you get there. It is an astoundingly impressive site for waders. The salt-pans are clearly signposted, a right turn off the main road when heading up from the south. Park up on the right-hand side by the rubber tyres and start walking down to the shoreline. There are thousands of waders here. I wondered how it was even possible to pick up Spoon-billed Sandpiper in amongst all the other waders voraciously feeding out on the mud. As well as waders, Chinese Pond Heron moved stealthily around the muddy pools with Intermediate Egret and Eastern Great Egret there. It was all about the waders, so many different species reside and winter here including Kentish Plover...