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10-28 March 2012.
Warm to hot. Some afternoon rain at Kaeng Krachan. Humid in southerly areas. Dry and heavily smoke-polluted in north.
Ratchaburi, Laem Phak Bia, Pak Thale, Khao Takhrao, Wat Khao Look, Huay Mai Teng, Pak Thale, Laem Phak Bia, Wat Khao Look Chang, Kaeng Krachan, Bueng Boraphet, Mae Ping National Park, Doi Inthanon National Park, Mae Taeng Irrigation Project, Doi Ang Khang, Doi Lang, Chiang Saen, Huay Hong Khrai and Huay Tueng Tao.

Small Pratincole - Huay Mai Teng

Chinese Egret - Laem Phak Bia

Black-faced Spoonbill - Pak Thale

Zitting Cisticola - Huay Mai Teng

Spotted Owlet - Wat Khao Look Chang

Dusky Langur - Kaeng Krachan

Ratchet-tailed Treepie - Kaeng Krachan

Yellow Orange Tip - Kaeng Krachan

Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush - Kaeng Krachan

11 Mar. Very early start with Gerry to arrive at Khao Takhrao around first light. First birds seen included 3 Black-headed Ibis flying in. A good collection of ducks on the lake with more than 1,000 Garganey and 80 Northern Pintail. A couple of unusual woodpeckers in the form of Eurasian Wryneck and Laced Woodpecker. With some heavier rain we met up Tom and headed to Wat Khao Look south of Phetchaburi. Not the greatest dry woodland here, but still good enough for Rufous Treepie and 20 odd Red-breasted Parakeet. Lunch at a local eatery and then on to Huay Mai Teng west of Ratchaburi. Here we tried several areas on both north and south sides of the lake and over the course of a few hours had a great collection of birds including Small Pratincole, Rain Quail, Little Buttonquail, Indian Nightjar and Savanna Nightjar. A late return to Ratchaburi, eating in town. Overnight as yesterday at the cheap and cheerful Mansion Hotel.

12 Mar. A congested drive to Suvarnabhumi Airport to meet Greg and Judy, taking almost three hours, then back down to Phetchaburi only to find accommodation heavily booked due to some event in town. Ended up at the new Palm View Hotel just off Highway 4. Nice place but quite close to heavy traffic noise. Late afternoon spent in the Nong Pla Lai region, but little in the way of eagles other than a single Greater Spotted Eagle. We drove the sand road at the back of the eagle area only to find all scrub and trees along the canal have been cleared, resulting in few birds in the area - a sad loss, and difficult to understand why they would have been removed. A single Eurasian Wryneck was notable, as was breeding Asian Golden Weaver. A couple of Bronze-winged Jacana and Freckle-breasted Woodpecker completed the day.

13 Mar. First thing, after coffee, to Pak Thale, stopping for a group of 60 Painted Stork containing a single Milky Stork just north of the oil storage depot. After, proceeded to the usual wader area and with luck on our side found a single Spoon-billed Sandpiper quite quickly. Other interesting birds in the area included 5 Red-necked Phalarope, 3 Far Eastern Curlew and a few Broad-billed Sandpiper. Returned to Laem Phak Bia for 10:00 and out to the sand spit with Khun Daeng. Despite extensive effort no White-faced Plover seen, but 3 Chinese Egret, and a single Spoon-billed Sandpiper were welcome. After a leisurely lunch in Chao Samran we returned to Pak Thale where we found a couple of Black-faced Spoonbill. A later visit to the King's Project was unsuccessful due to the area being closed for the next week by the police/military due to some upcoming event involving the royal family. Late afternoon spent in fields and water edge along the Phetchaburi road where we added Streaked Weaver, White-shouldered Starling and Chestnut Munia to the trip list.

14 Mar. A busy day which started at Laem Phak Bia looking for Nordmann's Greenshank without success; the only waders of note being 32 Pied Avocet. Proceeded to the lake near Wat Thakhrao where the usual 1,000 Garganey and a number of Northern Pintail were still present. By early afternoon we'd arrived at Huay Mai Teng which we first scanned from the northern shore seeing Pheasant-tailed Jacana and Oriental Skylark. Over the next few hours we circumnavigated the lake finding a dozen Rain Quail and Siberian Rubythroat. Returned to Phetchaburi area and near Nong Pla Lai had two Black-eared Kite, as well as a single Black Kite of the govinda form.

15 Mar. First up to Wat Khao Look Chang for some dry forest birding. A couple of hours here produced migrating Chinese Sparrowhawk, Oriental Honey Buzzard, Grey-faced Buzzard, Spotted Owlet, Red-breasted Parakeet, Rufous Treepie and Black-headed Woodpecker. On toward Kaeng Krachan, where checked in to the All Seasons Resort and after a late breakfast by the lake entered Kaeng Krachan National Park and spent the afternoon birding between the first and third river crossings, recording Orange-breasted Trogon, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Green-legged Partridge, Raffle's Malkoha and Common Green Magpie. Around 16:00 the skies darkened forebodingly and rain started to fall, so we drove out of the park noting a couple of fallen trees due to the winds. Some heavier rain within the park had ceased by the time we exited.

16 Mar. Most of the day spent at higher altitudes within Kaeng Krachan Park. Our first major stop was around the 27 km mark to look for Ratchet-tailed Treepie, but without luck, although three Long-tailed Broadbill were seen. A further stop around 29 km was successful in finding Ratchet-tailed Treepie as well a Rufous-browed Flycatcher. Most of the early afternoon spent from Km 37 back to Km 30 but little of note seen. A couple of late afternoon stops en route down were very profitable with four Yellow-vented Green Pigeon and a couple of Orange-headed Thrush. A very late return to the accommodation, driving out from the park after dark with a couple of Common Palm Civet and a Porcupine along the road.

17 Mar. After another early and enormous All Seasons breakfast entered the park and birded the approach road to Ban Krang campsite, recording Streak-breasted Woodpecker, Tickell's Brown Hornbill, a male Kalij Pheasant, and a Blue-winged Pitta (which would seem an early date). Half an hour around the Ban Krang camp site held very little, so the last couple of hours in the morning were spent along the river crossings section with a pair of roosting White-faced Scops Owl being the highlight. Left the park to spend the afternoon at the Song Nok Hide. Not as many species as of late, but luck was on our side with a pair of Green-legged Partridge almost immediately after arrival. Heavy rain interrupted all birding from 16:30 to 17:30, but after it ceased several Large Scimitar Babbler were found in the garden. Evening dinner on the lake as usual.

18 Mar. Early start and six hour drive to Nakhon Sawan. Lunch and a brief rest in the heat of the day before venturing out mid afternoon to the northern shore of the lake. A good variety of waterbirds included Ruddy Shelduck, Black-headed Ibis, Painted Stork and Glossy Ibis. Savanna Nightjar in a couple of places including calling birds in the late afternoon. Fewer waders than usual, but 1,000 Garganey and a couple of Northern Shoveler. Overnight at PA Place Hotel in town.

Green-legged Partridge - Kaeng Krachan

Orange-breasted Trogon - Kaeng Krachan

Stripe-breasted Woodpecker - Doi Lang

Large Hawk-Cuckoo - Doi Lang

Yellow Labyrinth - Doi Lang

Crested Finchbill - Doi Lang

22 Mar. Persevered with the swollen foot, which had not actually gotten any worse. Early up to the summit again, and this time walking along the road back toward the entrance. Several Ashy Wood Pigeon were scooting across in the early morning sun, along with good numbers of Eyebrowed Thrush feeding at a fruiting tree. Alas no Grey-sided Thrush found. In the next hour also picked out Yellow-browed Tit and Common Rosefinch. A short session on the broad walk did not produce the hoped for Eurasian Woodcock, so after a couple of stops lower down decided to check out and proceed to Mae Taeng Irrigation Project, where in the heat of the day the only notable species were Grey-headed Lapwing and Wire-tailed Swallow. We finally arrived at Doi Ang Khang around 17:00, when we headed to the camp ground at Km 19 where almost immediately Giant Nuthatch was found together with Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Common Rosefinch, Yellow-streaked Warbler and a distant calling Rusty-necked Scimitar Babbler. Overnight at Ban Luang Resort.

23 Mar. Early morning a Grey Nightjar calling from hillside opposite. At first light up at the Chinese Cemetery with 20 Little Bunting, several White-browed Laughingthrush, Yellow-eyed Babbler and a Red-eyed Scimitar Babbler. Several hours along the Arunothai road produced stunning males Ultramarine Flycatcher and Slaty-backed Flycatcher, as well as a couple of Spot-breasted Parrotbill. After lunch in town we hit the King's Project, but no birds of note present. We then drove to Thaton and, after a brief siesta, tried the paddies a couple of kilometres before town where we recorded a Rufous-winged Buzzard, Pin-tailed Snipe and four Yellow-breasted Bunting. Overnight at the Garden Home Resort.

24 Mar. Early morning an Eastern Barn Owl calling from behind the resort was the 400th species of the trip. Headed up Doi Lang with various stops en route. Managed to get stung by a forest bee for the fourth time this week. The day spent birding various stops as far as four kilometres beyond the upper checkpoint. Species included three White-bellied Redstart, White-tailed Robin, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Slaty-blue Flycatcher, Spot-winged Grosbeak, Oriental Dollarbird, Long-tailed Broadbill, a Rusty-naped Pitta (heard) and Pallas's Leaf Warbler. Overnight as yesterday.

25 Mar. Another full day on Doi Lang, with the smoke pollution very bad. Also managed to be stung by another bee, so really living on antihistamines now. Today did the reverse of yesterday and started at the top around 07:30 and worked our way down. Early morning on the top section gave us at least 20 Chestnut Bunting as well as Mountain Hawk-Eagle and Aberrant Bush Warbler. By 15:00 we had worked our way back to the top army camp seeing White-bellied Redstart, Black-throated Bushtit and Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker. Late afternoon at lower forest levels and just managed to squeeze Spectacled Barwing in at the eleventh hour.

26 Mar. Out into the fields at Thaton, starting near the river, where a single White Wagtail and a number of Oriental Pratincole were found. Not too hot this morning and the bird activity good till about 10:00, although many wintering birds departed. None the less we found Spotted Owlet, several Bluethroat, a single Wryneck, Citrine Wagtail and Thick-billed Warbler. After a late breakfast departed to Chiang Saen, arriving around 13:00. The first stop was the Mekong River with views of Laos as well as Grey-throated Martin, Small Pratincole and Temminck's Stint. An afternoon scan of the lake added Great Cormorant and Indian Spot-billed Duck, and an evening visit to the harrier roost was quite spectacular with at least 200 Pied Harrier and Eastern Marsh Harrier. Dinner on the Mekong in town.

27 Mar. Early morning along the Mekong south of town. Rather quite in general but we managed Black-faced Bunting, Ruddy Shelduck, Barred Buttonquail and Red Avadavat. After we returned to Chiang Saen and tried areas around to lake for Black-headed Bulbul, usually common in the area, but to no avail. In the heat of the day we drove back toward Chiang Mai with a quick stop along the Chae Son National Park entrance road with Puff-throated Bulbul and Vernal Hanging Parrot. With the final time available we visited Huay Hong Khrai, where in the quiet environs of the animal collection at least four Green Peafowl were seen. The final night spent in Chiang Mai city.