Went to farm number 2 to clear some more weeds. However very hot today so gave up after a couple of hours. However I saw the Kingfisher again that I saw last year and I thought had probably been killed by poachers
Also saw a Large Snakehead ( Fish) in the lake – at least a couple of feet long – The largest I have seen.
The Fish farming project is now progressing . We have just purchased 1,000 fry of “blah nin” ( A species of Tilapia) which was introduced
into Thailand 30 years ago from Japan and has since become Thailands most important cultured fish.
These are currently in a penned of enclosure by the house we are constructing on the lake. When the fish start to mature someone will have to stay overnight here to prevent poachers stealing the mature fish.
In addition we have also purchase some blah dtuk ( Catfish) which are in a separate enclosure.
Went out cutting down the weeds again. When I saw something move in the undergrowth. It was a green White-Lipped pit viper ( As I found out later after I looked it up in my book)
They are usually nocturnal , venemous and dangerous. Apparently their bite is rarely fatal but I wouldn’t like to risk it as the local hospital doesn’t have a stock of anti-venom.
Went to the large plantation today with Tim and Bao ( our labourer) . We cleared the weeds from around the tagu trees ( cadamba) and then fertilised and watered them. Also pruned the eucalyptus trees. We started early and finished by 12 to avoid the main heat of the day.
The lake now has a population of water birds ( approx 100). In thai they are called Nok bpet ( Duck Bird) – I don’t know excacly what species they are as we approached they took off en-mass.
This appears to be the Kingfisher I saw yesterday. It is a Blue-eared kingfisher – similar to the common kingfisher but the redish underparts are more intense.
This isn’t my photo – but the closest match I could find.