Red-wattled Lapwing
The afternoon before we had had our first proper rain in several months. In Thailand, this first downpour of the year predictably leads to an eruption of termites in the evening with the swarms as thick and intense as I have ever seen. The toads, frogs, geckos, spiders and whip-scorpions all had more than their fill that night but the birds had to wait until first light in the morning when the grass and gravel below the outdoor lights had piles of termite bodies trying to wriggle their way into crevices.
During this avian feeding frenzy I counted 10 different species of birds breakfasting on termites that morning. They all had their own styles from the quick, efficient probing of the starlings to the busy arguing of the mynas and the dainty but very picky hoopoe who did not seem to want anything that still had wings attached. The white-throated kingfisher almost scooped up beakfuls of the insects whilst by far the most elegant was the red-wattled lapwing with its graceful steps and body dips interpersed by long pauses. Three days later the birds were still turning up in the morning to pick off the last of the feast.
You can see all the termite wings on the ground in these photos (the light brown stuff).
Red-wattled Lapwing
Red-wattled Lapwing
Asian Pied Starling
Indochinese Roller
Common Myna
Great Myna
White-throated Kingfisher
Streak-eared Bulbul
Hoopoe
