A one day trip to Pak Thale and Laem Pak Bia to see what's there and check out places for photography.
The salt pans where much different from earlier this year and the old photo spots where gone.
A hot day at this place means the heat haze will destroy any picture unless the birds are very close. You have only a few hours in the morning with good light and clear air. Important to be here early at first light.

A few flocks of shorebirds around the parking space at Pak Thale but no Spoon-billed Sandpipers found.
Took a couple of pictures from the car which came out sharp but I don't like that angle so I laid down on a sleeping pad instead. Shot about 100 pictures from the pad but all came out blurred due to the heat haze, despite having the birds only 8 meters away. Lesson learned, after 10 o'clock go somewhere else...

We did a quick look at the beach a little north of the parking, which looks like an interesting area. It was high tide, some Common Sandpipers seen and a flock of 4 Whimbrels came flying and landed further away close to the beach (lat 13° 9'36.19"N long 100° 3'51.99"E). I'll be back here another day at low tide.

For the afternoon we rented a boat to the Leam Pak Bia sand spit (500 baht for 2 hours). 2 hours is a little short for a photo session. It was high tide and not too many birds around. I laid down again on a sleeping pad with a bean bag and waited. After 1 hour a flock of Sanderlings came followed by a few Malaysian Plovers. I got a couple of shots but no birds came very close.

During the boat trip we follow a small river through the mangroves out to sea. There are many kingfishers here and it's best to be ready with the camera and correct settings, you don't get a second chance.