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9 - 11 January 2013.
Clear and dry. Cold at altitude with ground frost.
Doi Inthanon National Park.

Chestnut-flanked White-eye

9 Jan. With Paul Carter, from Phuket, who had been working his way north, visiting various national parks en route. A general birding and mammaling trip with some exploration of new areas thrown in for good measure.

Rufous-winged Fulvetta

10 Jan. Up to Gaew Mae Pan Nature trail (now written Kew Mae Pan on the new signs) for first light. Many years since either of us had been on this trail, due to the imposition of a 200 Baht fee and a compulsory guide. However, as this is the only area of the park where one might reasonably expect to find Goral we decided to give it a go. We were fortunate in having guide Khun Pomsak, who proved to be very good, highly observant and actually interested in wildlife. Probably novel for him too in having some visitors actually looking at wildlife - most along this trail are interested in the views, talking and taking photos of themselves with victory signs. The first kilometre and a half uphill, was mostly a power-walk to the main viewpoint, where we then spent the best part of two hours scanning the cliffs and crags. Despite the good view, picking out stationary rock-coloured mammals is tricky, and it was Pomsak who first spotted a solitary Serrow. This was a surprise as we suspect Serrow are now rarely reported from Doi Inthanon. We then had prolonged views of a, somewhat distant, Goral standing on a small outcrop. Flushed with success we birded the remainder of the loop back finding Eyebrowed Thrush, Buff-barred Warbler, Buff-throated Warbler and a few flyover Common Rosefinch. Back to vehicle by 10:30, followed by a quick trip to the summit where we had Snowy-browed Flycatcher and Dark-sided Thrush. Back to Mr. Daeng's for lunch where within seconds a second Dark-sided Thrush found, followed by a Lesser Shortwing shortly after.

A distant Goral

Hill Prinia

Eurasian Woodcock

Myotis sp.

unidentified moth in cave

Most of the afternoon spent trying unsuccessfully to locate Brichinda Cave - an exercise in frustration. According to park literature it should be possible to walk cross-country from just inside the park entrance. Maybe in the past this was signed but no indication of this route now exists. Enquiring with staff on the gate we were informed that a guide was required, but not available. We then tried driving the off-road track just inside the gate, signed to a temple. Despite signs to the contrary several fires were raging on the dry forest slopes. No temple, but we did speak to a couple of farmers who were very helpful in pointing out the general direction of the cave and reckoned the best access was from outside the park and to contact a local resort. This we did, and arranged for a local guide the following morning via the Touch Star resort, who were quite helpful in arranging this. Fingers crossed that something would actually work.

The last hour spent on a previously unexplored road turning off left after Mr. Daeng's. This road climbs quite steeply and after about four kilometres we simply parked and tried a side track. Mixed habitat with some pines, but the area seemed to have potential. Due to the time of day not a lot seen, but Long-tailed Minivet and Martens's Warbler were noted.

After dark we spotlighted along the Karen village loop road starting from Km 23, but the forest here totally dead for both birds and mammals.

11 Jan. At first light we decided to give the area around Km 43, just above the view point, a go. Sun hits the trees here immediately at sunrise, and the area proved to be very rewarding with a large group of Speckled Wood Pigeon, Ashy Wood Pigeon, Slaty-backed Flycatcher and an immature Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker. Around 09:00 we drove to the summit and investigated the boardwalk. Dark-sided Thrush as yesterday, plus a few flyover Eyebrowed Thrush, Himalayan Shortwing and a very obliging Eurasian Woodcock. Left the park to arrive at the Touch Star, picked up our local guide, with whom we drove to the Parakeet Conservation Area to start walking up hill.