Kampong Thom, Cambodia.
For the first time I hired a guide to take me around the outskirts of Kampong Thom. It was a waste of money. I saw very few birds. The problem was that most of the grasslands and scrub around the lake has been put under rice cultivation. Thus driving out all the birds. No habitat, no birds.
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum)
This is a non-breeding adult Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum). I saw two of these, one just flying over some rice fields and another flying above a flock of Cattle Egret. I thought it was a large swallow or swift at first until I had a deeper look and the tell-tale russet underwing-coverts gave it away.
Cinnamon Bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus)
This Cinnamon Bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus) flew past at a distance. It is not a yellow bittern, because it did not have white underwing-coverts. Also flying past were a couple of Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans) and a solitary Black-crowned Night-Heron ( Nycticorax nycticorax).
Large-billed Crow (Corvus japonensis)
Or is this a Jungle Crow (Corvus macrorhynchus)? It is hard to separate them and the taxonomy is messy. There were about three of them on a road near the rice paddies. On the way back I came across a large flock of Cattle Egret (Bubulcus coromandus), who were feeding on a field, probably looking for frogs and snails perhaps.
House Swift (Apus affinis)
These House Swift (Apus affinis) were darting in and out under the bridge just near my hotel.
Kampong Thom bird list
Crested Myna (Acidotheres cristatellus)
Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans)
Black-crowned Night-Heron ( Nycticorax nycticorax)
Oriental Pratincole (Glareola maldivarum)
Cinnamon Bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus)
Large-billed Crow (Corvus japonensis)
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus coromandus)
House Swift (Apus affinis)
