Dave Gandy (Bangkok)

BB eye: A birder’s guide to High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI, bird flu) virus infections have historically been most commonly associated with wild Eurasian waterfowl with...

Our article, a birder’s guide to HPAI, was published today in @britishbirds.bsky.social - it’s open access this month.

We explain how bird-flu infected seabirds in 2021/22 and the importance of citizen science to montoring future outbreaks in the wild. 🪶🧪

britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...

From Private Eye.🤣🤣🤣

Context: this speech is from SIR THOMAS MORE, a history written, as near as scholars can tell, in the early 1600s by 6 or 7 people including Dekker, Heywood, Chettle, Shakespeare, and Munday.

It was never performed, because Jacobean England was a police state and it was banned by the censor.

There are few Baikal Teal (Sibirionetta formosa 花脸鸭 Huāliǎn yā) wintering at the Yellow River estuary in Shandong Province. Photo by "菜小hua". #birds #china #yellowriver

Explored this large patch of rough, wet scrub north of #Bangkok early today - stuffed full of Rubythroats, Amur Stonechats, Pallas’s Groppers, Lancies & Dusky Warblers. Point black views of Baikal Bush Warbler the highlight.

#ICE #Trump #USA #abuseofpower #immigration #therewillbeareckoning

One of at least 84 Yellow-breasted Buntings near Bangkok's main international airport this morning.

Thanks for this. Unfortunately it seems this excellent little camera is no longer manufactured and has not been replaced. The march of the smart phone makes P&S cameras an increasing rarity 😢

Thanks James. As this was a family (not dedicated birding) trip Ai left my “nerd vest” at home. Perhaps I simply need to be less of a closet nerd.

Just about to board a long haul flight and airline being difficult about the weight of my hand luggage which is mostly #birdinggear Makes me think I need a lightweight superzoom bridge camera to cut weight for such trips.

What’s the best option that balances weight:performance these days?

Holy Moly!!! Let’s hope that’s not all your birding luck for 2026 used up on Day 1.

My first bird of 2026: Prairie Warbler - a world tick no less!!! #FloridaKeys #birding

This is literally going to be me today.

Here’s my Christmas turkey for all my BlueSky followers. Merry Christmas!

(Bornean Peacock Pheasant, July 2025)

I’m not the biggest fan of boxing as a concept, but I do think we’re at the point where the only thing that’s going to prove to some people that they aren’t the main character with pro level skills at anything they want is to be punched in the face repeatedly.

In 1956 Rupert Murdoch first reported on the danger of Immigrants (Hungarians leaving the Soviet Union) in the Australian Sunday Times.

69 years later and he is still stealing your cookies and using the same lies.

Best breeding season for Kakapo since 1977 New data from New Zealand’s conservation authorities show one of the world’s rarest parrots, Kakapo, has produced a record number of chicks in 2025-26 – its best season since 1977 and a major conservation success story.

Kakapo, the world's only flightless parrot, has enjoyed its most productive breeding season since 1977:

I'm at a meeting in Bali this week - the local mudflat has provided some pre-breakfast entertainment with several Javan Plovers providing a welcome world tick! Grey-tailed Tattler, Greater Sand Plover and Great Crested Tern as supporting cast.

Cambodia, since ancient times, has been hydrologist, controlling and living by the water. Fish is the main source of protein for Cambodians. Slow climate is much more complex. As a result, fish yield goes down, and the tools to catch fish become more damaging to the environment.

YouTube video by Right Livelihood Greta Thunberg delivers speech for Justice For Myanmar | 2025 Right Livelihood Award Presentation

Huge congratulations to Justice For Myanmar @justiceformyanmar.org on winning the 2025 Right Livelihood Award! 💪 အရေးတော်ပုံ အောင်ရမည် ✋

Absolutely my first thought too!

I understand Steve’s response but Canon have had IS binos for many years & Kite are also a serious player so would have thought Swaro could crack it - mind you their melting body armour hardly inspires confidence in their R&D 😂

I am not religious but even I think these guys putting themselves on the line for their faith is pretty heroic.

A 1st winter male SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT caught on North Ronaldsay!!!

#RareBirdsUK
#BirdingScotland
#OrkneyBirding

Thai Official Resigns Over Allegations of Links to Scam Network

Thailand’s deputy finance minister, Vorapak Tanyawong, resigned over allegations that he and his wife were linked to a network of cybercrime hubs in Cambodia, part of a sprawling criminal enterprise that has stolen money from victims worldwide www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/w...

I read this and thought exactly the same, and then there’s all the pollutants coming off car tires and brake pads.

Oh and what exactly is an “enforcement officer”?! I know I’ve not lived in the UK for >20 years but is this the new name for a copper? The UK is so weird these days.

Pretty amazing for a national first to be found in a downtown city park, surrounded by high rises, in the middle of the day. Today those looking for it drew a blank but found a plethora of rarities & scarce migrants including Bkk’s first Common Cuckoo, male Sibe Thrush & Gray Nightjar!

Y’day was contacted by a local birder covering Bkk’s parks. He’d papped a Thrush and wanted my advice on ID. This was something special - quick check of books & editing his pic brought me to the conclusion it was Thailand’s first Pale Thrush - subsequently confirmed by others.

Nice one, Andy! Best wishes from Thailand (where that bunting should be🤣)

Who’d have thought…32 years after I sent “that” postcard to France.