Thread: A visit to the Black Kite Roost in Nakhon Nayok.

Notes on Black Kite Nakhon Nayok 5-6th January 2017

Arrived around mid-day on a hot day to see a few Black Kites on trees in the distance and one reasonably close, later in the afternoon hundreds started to arrive to drink and roost not only on trees but on fallen trees and even on the ground in one place.



Black Kite


The Thai word for kite, as in go fly your kite, is Wow which is appropriate for the sight of so many large birds in the one place, I counted over a dozen in one tree. Most were a bit far from the road for good photos but as soon as I got out of the car to attempt to walk closer the closest ones took off, not at all trusting of people on foot.



Over a dozen in one tree

Driving around the roads produced Oriental Darter, Purple Heron, Bluethroat, Striated Grassbird, Chestnut-Eared Bunting, Red-throated Pipit, Bronze-winged Jacana and commoner birds such as egrets, kingfishers, sparrows and pond herons.



Even roosting on fallen branches


Next morning was cloudy and cool so the kites stayed on their roosts till it warmed up around 10am when they started to find thermals that allowed them to circle higher and higher. More driving along the roads got me more sightings then it was back home before mid-day.



Chestnut-eared Bunting

A splendid bird-watcher, Robby..
There's a place for these things.

Cheers.

You must have been in your element.
I wonder....what makes these predators congregate in this place? Is it an abundance of prey, and if so what prey, and how do that prey affect the environment?
(I'm thinking rats or sparrow-like birds and do they (the prey) affect humans?)
Just interested, asking a question not making an implied comment on the birds or the humans.