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21-29 January 2012.
Cold at altitude to hot in lowlands. Dry and sunny. Minimum overnight temperatures at Doi Inthanon and Doi Lang about 6°C.
Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, Doi Ang Khang and Doi Lang.

Blyth's Leaf Warbler

Columbine

Banded Bay Cuckoo

Lesser Shortwing

Black-tailed Crake

Grey-backed Shrike

Pale-billed Parrotbill

Himalayan Bluetail

Whiskered Yuhina

Next up was the Km 37 jeep track where mid-afternoon activity was rather poor to absent with only Slaty-belled Tesia calling along the track. The last couple of hours of daylight were spent trying to avoid the crowds at the summit. The reported Blue-fronted Redstart at the summit was unsurprisingly not evident, so we concentrated mainly on the summit broad walk trail where we recorded Ashy Wood Pigeon, Pygmy Cupwing, Blyth's Leaf Warbler and Ashy-throated Warbler. Rather cold and windy at the summit, so at dusk we dropped down to the Km 34 track where after a lot of effort were rewarded with views of Mountain Scops Owl high in the canopy. Very ventriloquial. By the time we'd returned to the Inthanon Highland Resort the restaurant was closed, so ate at the Little Home Resort restaurant which was very passable.

22 Jan. Entered the park at the opening time of 06:00 and drove straight to the summit arriving at first at 06:45 to join the hoards viewing the sunrise. Again the hoped for redstart was absent, so headed to the summit broad walk. Dark-sided Thrush seen briefly, and in the next hour we saw Himalayan Shortwing and Eurasian Woodcock. After a quick coffee and a Green-tailed Sunbird we headed downhill a couple of kilometres and tried a short side track, seeing little. Next down to Km 37, but almost totally dead though did see Slaty-bellied Tesia. Spent a couple of hours at Km 34 finding Pallas's Leaf Warbler but nothing else notable. Seemed that the mountain was rather quiet bird wise. After another coffee at Khun Daeng's, again accompanied by no sighting of Dark-sided Thrush, we drove out of the park to the newly signed Blossom-headed Parakeet site. At the end of track we waited and eventually saw 11 Blossom-headed Parakeet - a nice finish to the day. Another interesting species included Banded Bay Cuckoo. The final hour in the grounds of Inthanon Highland Resort produced Burmese Shrike and Asian Barred Owlet.

23 Jan. A somewhat later start 06:45 up to Km 13 where we first scanned for Black-backed Forktail along the river, but had to walk upstream to secure views. We then walked the steep incline into the good looking dry forest and in an hour or so had a couple of Blossom-headed Parakeet and calling Black-headed Woodpecker. Then after moved up to the impressive Wachirathan Waterfall, and around a coffee had White-capped Water Redstart, Slaty-backed Forktail and Plumbeous Water Redstart. A final try at Khun Daeng's was rewarded with Dark-sided Thrush, on view almost immediately. Up to the summit and a couple of hours along the broad walk had Himalayan Bluetail, Eurasian Woodcock again and another Dark-sided Thrush. Late afternoon we wandered down to the main camp site where Black-tailed Crake was showing well due to photographers having baited the bird with meal worms. The last hour was spent at Km 34 where we had a frustrating experience with a group of Black-throated Parrotbill, heard but not willing to emerge from the dense bamboo.

24 Jan. A short return to Km 13 road. Drove up the first hill for about 1.5 kilometres, parked and walked. Cool and quiet for the first hour or so. A slow walk, with few birds, but some quality - an Ultramarine Flycatcher was followed with a couple of Black-headed Woodpecker seen briefly. Also a good flock of Eurasian Jay and Large Woodshrike. Quickly back to the Highland Resort, checked out and proceeded to Chiang Mai for stock up and snacks and onto Chiang Dao arriving around 13:30. Into the relaxing temple grounds for a couple of hours but little of note and rather cool. Back to Malee's for dinner, followed by a night birding session recording a couple of distant calling Blyth's Frogmouth and a Brown Boobook eventually nailed in grounds.

25 Jan. On the road at 05:30. An easy drive to the top as lower entrance barrier open and no one to ask for tickets. We started at the DYK camp site at top. First up was Bay Woodpecker then Spot-winged Grosbeak, Giant Nuthatch, Chestnut Bunting and Mountain Bamboo Partridge. The late morning was spent at several spots a few kilometres back toward the upper checkpoint, but no better views of the nuthatch were obtained. Late morning left for the drive to Doi Ang Khang, arriving 16:10. After check in to the Mae Phu Track with a night walk producing only calling Himalayan Wood Owl.

26 Jan. At first light along the Arunothai Road looking in vain for Mrs. Hume's Pheasant. However a couple of hours here did find Daurian Redstart, Ultramarine Flycatcher, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher and Sapphire Flycatcher - quite a haul. After went to Km 21 trail and searched in vain for Spot-throated Babbler. We did get poor views of Rusty-necked Scimitar Babbler though. In heat of day decided to do Mae Phu trail but not a lot seen except Rufous-bellied Niltava. Late afternoon along the Arunothai road for another attempt at the pheasant but equally unlucky. Drove a little further down the road and stayed till dark, hearing Hodgsons's Frogmouth. A final night bird attempt at the Chinese cemetery found nothing.

27 Jan. A rather unsuccessful morning where we tried to do everything and failed in all. First up a trip down the Arunothai road for Hume's Pheasant, but after an hour nothing. Then on to the camp site at Km 19.5, but no Spot-breasted Parrotbill either. Thereafter we proceeded to the Km 21 trail where a try for Spot-throated Babbler failed and no further views of Rusty-necked Scimitar Babbler either. Drove to Thaton, arriving around 12:30, then up Doi Lang with a good session at lower altitude lucked us Pale-billed Parrotbill and White-necked Laughingthrush. At the rice paddies no Jerdon's Bush Chat. Somewhat disappointing to see the development of a new campsite and some accommodation facilities on the mountain. This will inevitably lead to more visitors and the diminishing of the peaceful birding on Doi Lang.

28 Jan. A full day on Doi Lang. Our first stop about half-way up gave views of Chestnut-headed Tesia and White-necked Laughingthrush again. A couple of other stops, including a scan for Jerdon's Bush Chat were unproductive. Most of the day spent working various forest patches en route to the summit. Highlights of the day were Whiskered Yuhina and Red-headed Trogon, the later scarce on Doi Lang.

29 Jan. An early start to arrive at top for first light; (well about 15 minutes after. We hung around in the cold and windy conditions waiting for some sun to warm up some bird activity. A walk along the ridge edge flushed several Chestnut Bunting and a single Buff-barred Warbler. A drumming woodpecker was probably Necklaced Woodpecker. The hoped-for Spot-breasted Parrotbill seen by other birders yesterday could not be found in a couple of hours of trying, so we dropped down the mountain in search of feeding flocks.