Thailand is the bomb!

Just under two weeks in Thailand and this place has not ceased to amaze me. The people are incredible, dramatic landscapes, powerful forests and wonderful birds (and fishies). Its also the reason why I have not been blogging.

Here are some pics from our first stop - we stumbled completely randomly and unplanned on probably the most gorgeous beach (place?) I have ever seen near the southern coastal town of Krabi (Prananga beach and Railey). Incredible stalagtitic formations and caves, towering limestone cliffs, white sand beaches and turquoise water.

Diamond cave was beautiful.

Birding highlights were the (amazingly common) blue whistling thrush, frequent sightings of white-bellied sea eagle, and a black-thighed falconet.

We subsequently spent a week on Ko Phi Phi diving with good friends who work there, and have now had a few days in the rainforest of Khao Sok National Park (including my first two Pittas and a bucket full of lifers!)

Happy birding,
Dale Forbes

Oystercatchers in spring blossoms

I just loved these oystercatchers in the lovely spring blossoms. Texel was so much fun!

she thinks she is an oystercatcher. who am I to tell her any differently?

happy digiscoping,

Dale Forbes

More wallcreeper photos

Last Sunday I headed out to the Wallcreeper nest again, this time accompanied by Paul W. Instead of going for the front-on across the river view (see the last wallcreeper blog post with a photo of the area), we decided to see if we could get above the nest and look across. This really was an incredible spot and it was amazing to have the wallcreepers all around us.

Wow I love this bird!

These next two photos of the male wallcreeper flying lack speed and focus, but I think they get closest to summing up a lot of what makes the wallcreeper such a powerful bird for me. They have these big flappy butterfly wings and flutter about most of the time. But surprisingly often, they will decide to "give gas" (as the Austrians would say) and can really fly surprisingly fast - a flash of scarlet dashing by. No focus, just an impression of something powerfully beautiful.

All photos digiscoped with a Swarovski Optik STM80 HD, TLS800 digiscoping adapter and a Canon 7D

The images here have been resized but not cropped at all.

Happy digiscoping,

Dale Forbes

Wallcreeper nest 3

Wallcreepers at a nest in the Paznauntal (western Tirol). They are nesting in a drainage hole in the side of an old bridge. It does not make for the prettiest of settings, but the birds are gorgeous. This is the third location this year where I have seen a pair of wallcreepers. very nice.

The nest is over there in the middle of that great big wall.

Okay, I really need to go get ready - we are going out to the nest again in 10minutes!

Happy birding,

Dale Forbes

Skiwwels! in some nice light

So the trip out to the Netherlands a few weeks ago was to support our (Swarovski Optik's) promotion at the Dutch Birdlife partner's retail store (Vogelbescherming Nederland).

Late the one afternoon, a squirrel came down to their garden feeder and perched himself in beautiful light. This is what happened.

Digiscoped with a Swarovski Optik STM80 HD spotting scope, TLS800 digiscoping adapter, Canon 7D.

Happy digiscoping,

Dale