Ratanakiri, Cambodia

My last day in Stung Treng only yielded an Eastern Marsh-harrier. I jumped on the minivan to Ban Lung. The road was excellent all the way and there was lots of open forest on the way. Plenty of scope for someone to explore all that bush.

Kan Saign Lake

My guest house was on the shores of Lak Kan Saign, and in the afternoon I borrowed a bicylcle and went around the lake looking for birds. There were not many about, so I ventured up a hill and down into a valley but found nothing except lots of Red-whiskered Bulbuls.

Dark-necked Tailorbird (Orthotomus atrogularis)

A few Dark-necked Tailorbird (Orthotomus atrogularis) were in the trees just above the lake. They were flittering around ferociously and it was really difficult to photograph them. I went up the hill to where there was a church and saw a male Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis), coming out of eclipse plumage.

Yeak Lom Lake

Yeak Laom is located four kilometers east of Ban Lung, the capital of Ratanakiri province in North-east Cabodia. The center piece of the area is Yeak Laom Lake, a volcanic crater lake believed to have been created about 700,000 years ago. The present day lake is 800 meters acrss , more than 50 meters deep at the center and surrounded by forest to the top of the crater rim.

Black-headed shrike-babbler ? rufous-tailed shama ?

I am not quite sure what this is. I poured through the book, but could not find anything that resembled this bird. I was stumped.

Brown-backed needtletail (Hirundapus giganteus)

There were heaps of Brown-backed needtletail (Hirundapus giganteus) circling overhead.

Black-crested Bulbul (Pycnonotus flaviventris)

The forest around the lake was very thick and the sky was overcast, so photography was difficult. But at least it was nice and cool.

Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike (Hemipus picatus)

It took me a while to work out that this was a Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike (Hemipus picatus). I looked at similar birds such as Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike – no, Pied Triller – no and Little Pied Flycatcher – no.

Ashy Woodswallow (Artamus fuscus)

Later that morning I went back to Lake Kan Saign again and saw some Ashy Woodswallow (Artamus fuscus) perched on trees near the water. I could not get any closer because it was all swampy along the lake.

juvenile scarlet-backed flowerpecker

There were a few birds in the trees along the road around the lake and I also spied a White-throated Kingfisher (Halycon smyrnensis) perched near the water.

Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus)

Back at the guest house, I spotted a Red-whiskered Bulbul, a squirrel and a male Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis) and photographed them from the balcony.

male Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis)

Bird List Ratanakiri

Dark-necked Tailorbird (Orthotomus atrogularis)
Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus)
Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis)
Brown-backed needtletail (Hirundapus giganteus)
Black-crested Bulbul (Pycnonotus flaviventris)
Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike (Hemipus picatus) yes.
Ashy Woodswallow (Artamus fuscus)
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
White-throated Kingfisher (Halycon smyrnensis)