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5 - 10 March 2013.
Variable. Cool at altitude. Hot in the lowlands. Some heavy rain.
Mae Wong National Park, Bueng Boraphet and Mae Wa National Park.

Rusty-naped Pitta (Matt Mulbey)

06 Mar. Early start into the park. Surprisingly the vehicle pass available at 06:00, so up to the pitta site for starters. A very successful start to the day with the Rusty-naped Pitta on view almost immediately. Also Streaked Wren-Babbler , Red-billed Scimitar Babbler and Grey Wagtail.

Streaked Wren-Babbler

Himalayan Jester

Popinjay

Brown-crowned Scimitar Babbler

disappearing Porcupine

Black-naped Oriole

07 Mar. Matt became the first victim of the vicious flies with a seriously inflamed hand this morning. Another early start, but this time had to get staff out of bed both at the park entrance and the office, to issue the vehicle pass. We started at the lower viewpoint four kilometres from the top, and took a walk along the road. A very productive morning with Olive Bulbul, Chestnut Bunting and several Spot-necked Babbler. Again heard, but failed to see, White-necked Laughingthrush. A longer stop in the forest near the pitta gully gave a fair selection of species including flyover Long-tailed Sibia and a fleeting glimpse of a likely Rufous-necked Hornbill. Up to the Chong Yen campsite, where no sooner had to started a late breakfast than a Rufous-necked Hornbill did a majestic flight over the valley below - a great morning just got better. Tried several areas around the campsite for White-necked Laughingthrush, but again only heard. Dozed around the campsite in the heat of the day. Later afternoon, while still hot, had a longer walk down the road with the first hour unproductive, but then we hit a purple patch with Brown-crowned Scimitar Babbler, Rosy Minivet, and a number of commoner species - nice finish to the day.

08 Mar. A final morning at Chong Yen, with a large Porcupine en route. The first new species for the list were Yellow-cheeked Tit and White-browed Piculet. We again chased around calling White-necked Laughingthrush but dipped. Hung around most of the morning at Chong Yen, with the same Rufous-necked Hornbill over at exactly the same time. Also eventually a pair of Burmese Yuhina. Left around 12:00 and headed to Nakhon Sawan. After 16:00, when not quite so hot, tried the northern side of Bueng Boraphet, with 22 Black-headed Ibis, Chestnut-tailed Starling, Red-necked Phalarope, and Savanna Nightjar.

09 Mar. To Bueng Boraphet Waterbird Park early. A three hour walk of the nature tail and loop back along the road produced several Thick-billed Warbler, Forest Wagtail, Baya Weaver, Siberian Rubythroat and Cinnamon Bittern. Along the top of the nature trail the Bueng Boraphet Research Group had out 200-300 of mist nets. Sadly these nets contained a dead Yellow-bellied Prinia and well as a dead Siberian Rubythroat at the ringing station - a steep price to pay for ringing a few birds we thought! Back to the accommodation, and a split, with the UK contingent moving on southward. Decided to stay another night to explore and expand Bueng Boraphet birding options. Started with a perusal of Google Earth and reckoned the southwestern part of the lake might deserve more attention. Set off in the afternoon heat of another sweltering Nakhon Sawan day. Took some dirt tracks down toward the southern shore and soon found some interesting looking fields, with some reasonably extensive areas of fallow land and scrub. Definitely worthy of further investigation tomorrow morning when cooler. Continued toward the lake and discovered a newly constructed seasonal road across the dam end of the lake leading straight across to the opposite, northern, bank. A scan of the area produced good numbers of Black-winged Stilt, Oriental Pratincole, Pied Kingfisher and some usual waterbirds. Crossed to lake and investigated the lake edge around Bueng Boraphet, but in the heat of the afternoon not too exciting. Late afternoon tried other areas of the northern shore with better results including a pair of Greater Painted-snipe and four Black-headed Ibis. Some heavy, unseasonal, rain in the early evening.

10 Mar. Returned to the field area found the previous day, but as expected access on the mud tracks not possible even with 4x4. So gave up that idea and headed back to the waterbird park.