Sean Agrodnia wrote me sometime back and asked me for 3 days to find Spoon-billed Sandpiper at Paktale together with his mom. He told me that his grandfather who now is 88 had told him the story of how he and 6 others found 2-3 Spoonies in Alaska back in the 80s.
So Sean really wanted to have seen the bird while grandpa still is around thus they came to Thailand for only 7 days before heading back to Maine in the US.

I arrived at their hotel at 5 am and Sean was there to greet me. Unfortunately both him and his mom had suffered severe food poisoning during the night and did not feel well enough to travel. I went home and at 10 am received an email asking if we could leave at noon.

The journey to Paktale went smooth and the introduction to this incredible shorebird site started up. We all had a scope and were able to go through the many species one by one. Many being new for Sean and most for his mom. Asian Dowitchers, Nordmann’s Greenshanks, Great Knots, Broad-billed Sandpipers, Lesser and Greater Sandplovers etc etc
But no Spoonie! Ha!

The night was spent in a good hotel nearby, iTara. Next morning we were back at Paktale before 7 and it didn’t take long this time to find our target! Elated and now more relaxed we stayed with the bird for 15 minutes before it flew off. We then proceeded to reinforce impressions from the day before and midday set out by boat to the sandspit of Lampakbia where we managed to find Malaysian Plovers and a couple of White-faced Plovers.

It had been a good day!

Next morning we decided to change to some forest birding so drove to Kaengkrachan National Park. Just about every bird we saw was new for both of them.Great, Pied and Rusty-cheeked Hornbills, Banded Broadbill, Orange-breasted Trogon, Sultan’s Tit and a slew of Bulbuls, Drongos and various Babblers.

After lunch we discussed the afternoon and decided to drive to Khok Kham closer to Bangkok. We arrived there around 4:30. I recently have visited the area so promptly set out to the area I had seen Spoonie. Sam Hambly, a birder residing in Bangkok, was also in the carpark and joined our efforts.

It did not take that long to find our bird. This time closer, better light and prolonged views.
Sean wanted to try out crawling on the mud to get some closer shots and so he did. Ha!

Drive back to Bangkok went ok but traffic was horrendous in the inner city.
Mom and son had their wishes fulfilled and will have tales to tell for a long time!