Mekong River, Cambodia.

As you can see, I am now in Cambodia. I got a VIP bus from Don Det in Laos, paid the suitable amount of bribes to get over the border, and here I am. First day birding in Cambodia and it is already ten times better than Laos. It is remarkable the difference.

Green-billed Malkoha (Rhopodytes tristis)

I went north of Stung Treng and stayed at the Mekong Bird Lodge. That afternoon I followed the path behind the lodge that follows the Mekong River. It is part of the Mekong Discovery Trail, a system of bike roads and trails that traverse the northern part of the Mekong in Cambodia.

Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis)

I was not sure if this was a female Purple or not, but today was the clincher when I got some shots of an eclipse male. There were a few Little Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) catching some grasshoppers as well as a few Chestnut-headed Bee-eaters (Merops leschenaulti) as well. I got decent photos of them today so wait for the next installment.

Streak-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus blanfordi)

The kids along the track kept shouting out “Hello, hello” and I think I said hello about fifty million times. The people were very nice. It poured rain a couple of times and I had to shelter under a house. They are all on stilts, luckily.

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

The Barn Swallows were wheeling nice and slow overhead so I was able to get some reasonable shots.

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus)

They were quite a few Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus) around. This one is a juvenile because he has a light streaky front.

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus)

This is an adult. He was swooping on this squirrel and chasing after dragonflies just like the bee-eaters.

squirrel

This squirrel was scurrying around the trees near the drongo above.

Sooty-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus aurigaster thais)

This is race thais with a yellow vent.

Crow-billed Drongo (Dicrurus annectans)

A Crow-billed Drongo (Dicrurus annectans) in flight. They have a heavy thick bill and shorter tail that curves like the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo. So that is it for this afternoon’s session. I went out this morning and got some more great photos along the same track, so I will put them up when I have got them ready.

Bird list Stung Treng

Green-billed Malkoha (Rhopodytes tristis)
Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis)
Little Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis)
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti)
Streak-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus blanfordi)
Sooty-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus aurigaster thais)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus)
Crow-billed Drongo (Dicrurus annectans)
Common Myna (Acidotheres tristis)