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Published: March 12th 2011
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Wildlife of Ayutthaya
Although I have yet to go out an truely bird or herp around the area I have seen plenty of creatures just walking around or biking to and from school. The birds here have been fantastic. Every day I seem to see a new species, but without a bird book I've been very limited in my identification of many of the species. Don't worry a book is on its way and I've been lucky enough to borrow a book from one of my fellow Peace Corps Volunteers.
Here is a quick list of the birds I have been able to ID:
Rock Pigeon
Red Collard Dove
Peaceful Pigeon
Black Drongo
Pied Fantail
White Vented Myna
Asian Openbill - these guys are all over the place at the moment but they'll be leaving the area eventually.
Little Cormorant
Javan Pond Heron - probably my personal favorite that I've seen thus far
Yellow Bittern
Little Egret
Cattle Egret
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Greater Coucal
Black-capped Kingfisher - another favorite, absolutely beautiful colors
Black-crowned Knight Heron (J)
Common Myna
White Breasted Waterhen
Black Winged Stilt
Barn Swallow
Scarlet Backed Flowerpecker - this little guy hangs out right
outside my bedroom and yet I can't seem to ever get a photo of him.
Unfortunately these are all I can ID and have photos of but there are certainly so more that I see almost on a daily basis. I have just a week left in Ayutthaya and hopefully in that time I'll get a little more identifaction done!
Besides for the birds there are quite a few reptiles roaming around. I have about 10 geckos that chill in my room eating the mosquitoes. And there have been a few lizards I see here in there, unfortunately I have just one photo of one of the species. I tend to see these guys while biking and the scurry away long before I can get a camera out. My personal favorite has been the monitor lizard. I have seen him twice thus far and they are really beautiful creatures. Here in Thailand they are looked upon as bad luck so when I ran over to one to take a photo the Thais thought I was rather odd, but it was worth the shot. I know there are snakes in the area after seeing so many dead on our way
to school and back but I have seen just one species alive and all I can tell you is it was brown and small. Hoping to find more snakes soon!!
Insects are all over the place here in Thailand. The most common, any guesses? Yes the mosquito. My legs, which are now covered in bites, are proof to this. But besides those lovely creatures there have been many butterflies in the area that are truely exquisite. I also had a pet caterpillar for a day named Gladys. WIthout a book I cannot identify her or any of the butterflies so if anyone can that would be greatly appreciated!!
Mammals have been limited to a squirrel, chained up elephants, two rats that ran through my house, and mangy dogs. I am sure there are more but I have yet to see them. People have seen monkeys by my future home so thats something new.
With one week left in Ayutthaya who knows if I will have a chance to see some more critters, but I'll be sure to update this if I do. Again if anyone can help in the identification of ANY of the photos that would be
awesome. Thanks for reading!
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