16FEB17: Thailand Day 1 - Mangrove Research Station - Part 2

First, let's take a look at the Mahachai Mangrove Research Station:

Mahachai Mangrove Research Station

The little area around the blue map point is the actual Research Area.  To the west of the Center, are a series of impoundments that hold roosting shorebirds and waders.  This is where we ventured off to.

As we walked down the road, I heard a familiar "quok" call and was able to get my glass on a Yellow Bittern.  Bob and I lingered there for a bit and then headed into the main area.  Some of the first birds that we saw were Intermediate Egret, Gray-headed Lapwing, Long-toed Stint, and both Little and Indian Cormorant.  I had Kona moment.  I asked Rick if he knew why they called it Intermediate Egret, and, in a voice like he was pointing out the obvious (which he was), it is Intermediate in size between Little and Great Egret.  A brief explanation of "Kona Moment".   When Thomas was 8, he won a free trip to Hawaii to play in the Pokemon World Championships.  While getting coffee one morning, I looked at the selection of coffee on the blackboard and lo and behold, they served Kona coffee.  I put two and two together and BOOM!, I was on Kona and this is where Kona coffee comes from.  So, Kona Moment = (Finally) Recognizing the Obvious.

Intermediate Egret

Gray-headed Lapwing

Long-toed Stint

There were birds just about everywhere we looked.  Many shorebirds of various species.  High in number were Pacific Golden-Plover, Lesser Sand-Plover, and the ever present and beautiful Black-winged Stilt.  We spent a fair amount of time birding the impoundments.  A typical berm looked like this:

Roosting Shorebirds

It was getting near lunch time and Nok called.  Yup, she was bringing food for us!  She is the best!!!!  We finished up and walked back.  That's when Rick suggested that we hang for a little bit, the tide was high and we might get some good views of shorebirds as they pile out onto the flats to feed as the tide falls.  It would also be good to have lunch on the viewing platform because it was shaded.  A good idea that turned out to be a amazing idea.  

Part 3 next....