Overview
Date: |
10-14 October 2012. |
10 Oct. As the last visit to these areas had been in March, during the previous dry season, the main reason to spend a few days in Chiang Saen, Doi Lang and Thaton was to recheck accesses, logistics, states of roads and checkout accommodations for upcoming visitors this winter. Naturally it didn't hurt that the timing was also favourable for general birding and checking the arrival of winter migrants. It was also an opportunity to do some mapping work for locality write-ups; so potentially a busy trip.
Arrived Chiang Saen early afternoon and spent a few hours checking accommodations in town and along the road to the Golden Triangle. Despite the number of resorts and hotels in this area it has always been difficult to find something convenient, clean and reasonably priced. In passing the Rimkong Resort noticed also that access to the Mekong has been fenced off. Once the heat of the afternoon had faded somewhat proceeded to the northern shore of Chiang Saen Lake at Wat Phrathatsiwiangkam for a scan of the lake and surrounding edges and scrub. Very disappointed to find en route that the best hill top viewpoint of the lake has now been closed off and marked with very aggressive No Entry signs, complete with threats of police and court action - a continuing theme around Chiang Saen, where development, access and habitat quality continues to deteriorate.
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Little in the way of ducks other than small numbers of Indian Spot-billed Duck, and a general search in the area produced Striated Grassbird, Ruddy-breasted Crake, Lesser Coucal and the usual wintering Taiga Flycatcher and Dusky Warbler. A brief view was obtained of what looked suspiciously like a Mugimaki Flycatcher but it disappeared too quickly for confirmation. Around 17:00 visited the harrier roost at Wat Bamakno, where surprised to find a number of harriers circling already. By dusk a total of about 100 birds had arrived the majority of which were Pied Harrier. Overnight tried the Hong Pak motel opposite the hospital which although well priced at 500 Baht can not be recommended. |
11 Oct. Some overnight rain. Early morning around the Nong Bong Khai Non-hunting area offices and lake edge, with Burmese Shrike and Chestnut-tailed Starling of note. After, drove around the southern side of the lake mapping tracks and scanning the lake for any signs of wintering ducks, of which only Indian Spot-billed Duck present. Left in the afternoon to drive to Thaton. Once the weather had cooled, spent the last two hours of the day in the fields, very nearly coming badly stuck on a narrow muddy track that became impassible with no place to turn around. Rain started just after having extricated the vehicle - glad to have 4x4 or would still be there! No birds of particular note present.
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12 Oct. Worked several areas lower on Doi Lang and gradually ascended to the upper areas by midday. At the upper army camp deposited the regulation bunch of bananas then spent some time photographing the 20 odd Dark-backed Sibia which were already enjoying a bananafest along with the usual suspects of Scarlet-faced Liocichla and Silver-eared Laughingthrush. Just below the camp a loose flock held several Yellow-browed Tit and Black-eared Shrike-babbler. |
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Near the top, Crested Finchbill and Brown-breasted Bulbul were much in evidence, although the summit itself had few birds, so worked areas lower during the afternoon finding Long-tailed Broadbill, Martens's Warbler and Slaty-blue Flycatcher. By the large bridge late afternoon a Grey-headed Woodpecker and Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon. The condition of the road up Doi Lang has deteriorated considerably over this wet season. Many additional stretches, previously fine, are now heavily pot-holed and rutted. Still no problem to ascend with any decent high-clearance vehicle, but it's surprising that no maintenance has yet been carried out. Above the upper army camp some machete work was required to remove overhanging vegetation and a couple of the narrow stretches are now exactly the same width as the vehicle - so after this year?
13 Oct. An early morning investigation of tracks to the Mekok River in a fruitless search for Jerdon's Bush Chat. However this did turn up a Slaty-breasted Rail a species rarely seen in the north. A quick breakfast and then back up Doi Lang, moving quickly to the lower reaches of the evergreen forest. Almost the first bird found was Common Green Magpie, which despite its name is decidedly rare up here. This was followed with an immature Black-breasted Thrush - a good start to the day. Around 11:00 rain started, and continued till about 13:00, where with improving conditions went to the top in search of interesting migrants. However, little seen so worked the way down again with some good bird activity lower - Asian Stubtail, Pygmy Cupwing and Claudia's Warbler. Also Yellow-browed Tit very evident and in good numbers; a species sometimes not found here. Around 16:30 the rain started again, so took a slow drive down with a few uneventful stops en route, although a group of three Amur Falcon seen from the large bridge, as well as passing Himalayan Swiftlet and good numbers of Asian House Martin. 14 Oct. Some off-road driving and mapping around the Thaton fields had been planned, but overnight rain restricted access to only major tracks by vehicle. As most of the paddies were still a rice mono-culture little in the way of interesting birds with the exception of a Oriental Turtle Dove, presumably descended from Doi Lang. After a couple of hours ascended Doi Lang for a final session. On this occasion almost all the time was spent birding the more open woodland, secondary growth and trashed habitats of the middle section. |
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Having almost never concentrated on birding these areas it was interesting to see what turned up, including a couple of surprises in the shape of Asian Emerald Cuckoo and Pale Blue Flycatcher, having seen neither on Doi Lang previously. |
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Good numbers of warblers, Ashy Minivet and Long-tailed Minivet. The weather was poor with persistent and prolonged showers. Around 15:00 the rain started in earnest, so descended back to the lowlands through some pretty heavy torrents, and returned to Chiang Mai.
Species List
| Chiang Saen | Count | Doi Lang | Count | ||
| Lesser Whistling Duck | 700 | Mountain Bamboo Partridge | 4 | ||
| Indian Spot-billed Duck | 70 | Crested Goshawk | 2 | ||
| Little Grebe | 30 | Shikra | 1 | ||
| Cinnamon Bittern | 1 | Amur Falcon | 4 | ||
| Chinese Pond Heron | 15 | Oriental Turtle Dove | 7 | ||
| Eastern Cattle Egret | 15 | Spotted Dove | 15 | ||
| Grey Heron | 1 | Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon | 2 | ||
| Purple Heron | 2 | Mountain Imperial Pigeon | 4 | ||
| Little Egret | 1 | Asian Emerald Cuckoo | 2 | ||
| Oriental Honey Buzzard | 2 | Banded Bay Cuckoo | 1 | ||
| Eastern Marsh Harrier | 20 | Himalayan Cuckoo | 1 | ||
| Pied Harrier | 80 | Collared Owlet | 2 | ||
| Shikra | 1 | Himalayan Swiftlet | 5 | ||
| White-breasted Waterhen | 4 | Cook's Swift | 80 | ||
| Grey-headed Swamphen | 4 | Blue-bearded Bee-eater | 5 | ||
| Common Snipe | 3 | Great Barbet | 6 | ||
| Whiskered Tern | 1 | Golden-throated Barbet | 7 | ||
| Spotted Dove | 20 | Blue-throated Barbet | 15 | ||
| Greater Coucal | 5 | Speckled Piculet | 1 | ||
| Lesser Coucal | 2 | Stripe-breasted Woodpecker | 4 | ||
| Green-billed Malkoha | 1 | Lesser Yellownape | 2 | ||
| White-throated Kingfisher | 2 | Grey-headed Woodpecker | 1 | ||
| Common Kingfisher | 2 | Bay Woodpecker | 5 | ||
| Lineated Barbet | 3 | Long-tailed Broadbill | 2 | ||
| Freckle-breasted Woodpecker | 1 | Oriental Cuckooshrike | 12 | ||
| Common Iora | 4 | Black-winged Cuckooshrike | 2 | ||
| Brown Shrike | 2 | Ashy Minivet | 10 | ||
| Burmese Shrike | 1 | Grey-chinned Minivet | 10 | ||
| Long-tailed Shrike | 2 | Long-tailed Minivet | 12 | ||
| Black Drongo | 20 | Short-billed Minivet | 3 | ||
| Racket-tailed Treepie | 4 | Scarlet Minivet | 10 | ||
| Sooty-headed Bulbul | 4 | Brown Shrike | 1 | ||
| Streak-eared Bulbul | 6 | Long-tailed Shrike | 2 | ||
| Barn Swallow | 20 | Grey-backed Shrike | 4 | ||
| Dusky Warbler | 20 | White-browed Shrike-babbler | 5 | ||
| Yellow-browed Warbler | 2 | Black-eared Shrike-Babbler | 4 | ||
| Oriental Reed Warbler | 1 | Slender-billed Oriole | 2 | ||
| Striated Grassbird | 2 | Maroon Oriole | 4 | ||
| Common Tailorbird | 2 | Ashy Drongo | 20 | ||
| Common Myna | 20 | Bronzed Drongo | 5 | ||
| Black-collared Starling | 10 | Hair-crested Drongo | 20 | ||
| Oriental Magpie-Robin | 5 | White-throated Fantail | 10 | ||
| Amur Stonechat | 3 | Common Green Magpie | 1 | ||
| Taiga Flycatcher | 3 | Grey Treepie | 50 | ||
| Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker | 2 | Yellow-bellied Fantail | 5 | ||
| Purple Sunbird | 1 | Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher | 15 | ||
| Ornate Sumbird | 2 | Yellow-cheeked Tit | 6 | ||
| Eurasian Tree Sparrow | 20 | Yellow-browed Tit | 10 | ||
| Baya Weaver | 4 | Crested Finchbill | 10 | ||
| White Wagtail | 10 | Striated Bulbul | 3 | ||
| Richard's Pipit | 1 | Black-crested Bulbul | 12 | ||
| Paddyfield Pipit | 2 | Brown-breasted Bulbul | 4 | ||
| Red-throated Pipit | 1000 | Sooty-headed Bulbul | 30 | ||
| Flavescent Bulbul | 15 | ||||
| Thaton | Count | Grey-eyed Bulbul | 4 | ||
| Cinnamon Bittern | 1 | Mountain Bulbul | 20 | ||
| Chinese Pond Heron | 10 | Ashy Bulbul | 6 | ||
| Little Egret | 1 | Black Bulbul | 300 | ||
| Black-winged Kite | 1 | White-headed Bulbul | 3 | ||
| Slaty-breasted Rail | 1 | Barn Swallow | 10 | ||
| White-breasted Waterhen | 2 | Asian House Martin | 100 | ||
| Common Snipe | 3 | Eastern Red-rumped Swallow | 20 | ||
| Wood Sandpiper | 1 | Pygmy Cupwing | 1 | ||
| Rock Dove | 10 | Yellow-bellied Warbler | 4 | ||
| Oriental Turtle Dove | 1 | Mountain Tailorbird | 10 | ||
| Spotted Dove | 20 | Slaty-bellied Tesia | 3 | ||
| Greater Coucal | 5 | Asian Stubtail | 1 | ||
| Plaintive Cuckoo | 1 | Buff-throated Warbler | 1 | ||
| Eastern Barn Owl | 1 | Chinese Leaf Warbler | 1 | ||
| Collared Scops Owl | 1 | Yellow-browed Warbler | 30 | ||
| Asian Barred Owlet | 4 | Greenish Warbler | 3 | ||
| House Swift | 30 | Claudia's Leaf Warbler | 1 | ||
| Indochinese Roller | 3 | Davison's Leaf Warbler | 35 | ||
| White-throated Kingfisher | 5 | Martens's Warbler | 2 | ||
| Ashy Woodswallow | 4 | Chestnut-crowned Warbler | 3 | ||
| Brown Shrike | 4 | Hill Prinia | 5 | ||
| Long-tailed Shrike | 2 | White-browed Scimitar Babbler | 3 | ||
| Black Drongo | 15 | Grey-throated Babbler | 2 | ||
| Sooty-headed Bulbul | 10 | Rufous-fronted Babbler | 2 | ||
| Barn Swallow | 30 | Golden Babbler | 2 | ||
| Dusky Warbler | 10 | Rufous-winged Fulvetta | 10 | ||
| Zitting Cisticola | 5 | Yunnan Fulvetta | 40 | ||
| Yellow-bellied Prinia | 2 | Collared Babbler | 3 | ||
| Common Tailorbird | 3 | Puff-throated Babbler | 2 | ||
| Pin-striped Tit-Babbler | 2 | Buff-breasted Babbler | 3 | ||
| Great Myna | 40 | White-necked Laughingthrush | 10 | ||
| Common Myna | 50 | Silver-eared Laughingthrush | 4 | ||
| Black-collared Starling | 20 | Blue-winged Minla | 6 | ||
| Chestnut-tailed Starling | 30 | Scarlet-faced Liocichla | 2 | ||
| Oriental Magpie-Robin | 2 | Spectacled Barwing | 2 | ||
| White-rumped Shama | 1 | Rufous-backed Sibia | 3 | ||
| Amur Stonechat | 15 | Dark-backed Sibia | 25 | ||
| Pied Bush Chat | 4 | Indian White-eye | 4 | ||
| Eurasian Tree Sparrow | 50 | Velvet-fronted Nuthatch | 4 | ||
| Scaly-breasted Munia | 30 | Blue Whistling Thrush | 3 | ||
| White Wagtail | 5 | Black-breasted Thrush | 1 | ||
| Paddyfield Pipit | 5 | Lesser Shortwing | 1 | ||
| Red-throated Pipit | 20 | White-rumped Shama | 1 | ||
| Siberian Stonechat | 2 | ||||
| Pied Bush Chat | 3 | ||||
| Grey Bush Chat | 8 | ||||
| Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush | 1 | ||||
| Taiga Flycatcher | 10 | ||||
| Snowy-browed Flycatcher | 1 | ||||
| Little Pied Flycatcher | 8 | ||||
| Slaty-blue Flycatcher | 1 | ||||
| Verditer Flycatcher | 1 | ||||
| Pale Blue Flycatcher | 1 | ||||
| Hill Blue Flycatcher | 10 | ||||
| White-gorgeted Flycatcher | 1 | ||||
| Large Niltava | 3 | ||||
| Orange-bellied Leafbird | 30 | ||||
| Yellow-vented Flowerpecker | 1 | ||||
| Plain Flowerpecker | 10 | ||||
| Fire-breasted Flowerpecker | 2 | ||||
| Ruby-cheeked Sunbird | 1 | ||||
| Mrs. Gould's Sunbird | 50 | ||||
| Black-throated Sunbird | 8 | ||||
| Streaked Spiderhunter | 5 | ||||
| White-rumped Munia | 4 | ||||
| Scaly-breasted Munia | 2 | ||||
| Grey Wagtail | 10 | ||||
| Olive-backed Pipit | 10 | ||||
| Common Rosefinch | 1 |