I understand your point, although it is somewhat distrustful of my observation skills.
I have been wrong before, however I brought back from the UK not one but 2 books of Birds of Thailand and although I don't think this kite is very common I am very confident about the identification.
Photo next time ....
^ looking forward to it, your pics are bit like the old Littlewoods spot the ball competition if you recall those.
We have a tree here that has these flowers on it and they give off an amazing scent that is strong and very nice.
I am hoping someone can identify it for me.
It produces flowers in what I would describe as clumps.
The flowers end up as a "nut" which is around 100mm diameter and has a thin wooden like outer case.
When these fall of they contain a lot of seeds inside
These are the leaves if that helps anyone identify the tree.
Known as the 'Cannonball Tree', though correct name is Couroupita guianensis
Had this guy on my red flowering shrub the other day. No idea what butterfly or moth it would turn into but sure a nice looking one. My wife told me that those white whiskers are barbed and if you touch with your hand it will itch for a few days. I was wearing my yard gloves as I always do and took care of it and fed it the birds that grabbed it up almost instantly once exposed on the ground.
^ another species takes a step nearer extinction
The dog was making its special snake bark and I found it keeping a safe distance from this snake. The tiles are 40cm so the snake is about 60-70cm, with a fairly thick body. It wasn't too bothered by the dog and it didn't rush off when I went out either, it moved slowly off in its own sweet time. I thought it might be a keelback of some kind, anyone know for sure?
The face markings look distinctive.
After a bit of research I think I'll go with the Yellow-spotted keelback, aka the Common keelback.
Xenochrophis flavipunctatus species page - THAILAND NATURE PROJECT
I'm going with checkered keelback. Non-poisonous but aggressive and bite happy.
If only Shutree could have gotten a bit closer, not that I would have without my gun.
I am cautious with snakes that don't slither away rapidly, if they are not afraid then there might be a reason. I think the keelbacks are venomous, enough to take down a frog, but unlikely to hurt a person unless they stuck a finger in its mouth and let it chew. Maybe someone else will volunteer.
Not poisonous enough for the Aussies to recognise:
However:Description. Keelbacks are Australia's only non-venomous, semi-aquatic snake. They are a small snake growing to 1 m at the most, but most adults range from 50 - 75 cm. They are grey to olive-brown or black in colour, with an indistinct banded pattern.
Keelback snakes have salivary glands that secrete poison they ingest from eating poisonous toads. While both venom and poison are toxins, a venom requires direct delivery, for instance subcutaneously through a snake bite, but can be ingested without harm.The tiger keelback snake (Rhabdophis tigrinus) is a venomous (and poisonous) colubrid from Japan that gets its toxin primarily from eating toxic toads, one of its main prey items.
And, closer to home:
Several of these species are quite venomous and extreme care should be taken around them. The most dangerous may be the Red-necked Keelback, found in lowland wetlands across the country and linked to several near-fatal reactions.Sep 22, 2563 BE
Keelbacks of Thailand
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