Siem Reap

After a couple of nights in Bangkok we travelled to this excellent Cambodian town famous for the jewel of SE Asia, Angkor Wat. Having been here before (and the entry fee now being considerably more expensive) we opted to stay to the south of the town close to the wet rural lands that extend towards the Tonlé Sap. Our intention was to enjoy the peace and quiet and wildlife of the area (despite the early morning Cambodian songs blaring out and continuing through the day!) and the Yi Family Homestay was a perfect base.

Pin-tailed Snipe Gallinago stenura

Easy walking from here takes you across paddies and fields with varying amounts of water and alongside small lakes and lotus beds. The latter were home to many Plaintive Cuckoos (c.20) and the open water held waders and Whiskered Terns. Black-winged Stilts, 3 Greenshank, a Little Ringed Plover, 2 Wood Sandpipers and a few Snipe - probably Pin-tailed Snipe (my first) with Black-winged Kite overhead. 

White-shouldered Starling Sturnia sinensis

Passerines were plentiful with several Black-browed and Oriental Reed Warblers, Dusky and Yellow-browed Warblers, Pied Bushchats, Stejneger's Stonechats, Baya Weaver, Plain-backed Sparrows and more. A single first-winter White-shouldered Starling was my only other lifer here.

Oriental Darters and the occasional Painted Stork passed over along with the numerous Asian Openbills.

Could have stayed here longer to explore further towards Tonlé Sap but we had plans to meet up with friends in Phnom Penh so after three nights were moving on again.

Oriental Darter (Anhinga) Anhinga melanogaster

Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea

Plain-backed Sparrow Passer flaveolus

Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier

Oriental Reed Warbler Acrocephalus orientalis

Common Palmfly Elymnias hypermnestra

Common Tiger Danaus genutia

Green Marsh Hawk (Slender Skimmer) Orthetrum sabina