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22 - 28 January 2013.
Clear and dry. Cold at altitude, with temperatures below freezing early morning.
Thaksin Maharat National Park, Doi Inthanon National Park, Doi Ang Khang, Doi Lang, Chiang Saen and Chiang Dao.

Barn Swallow H. r. tytleri x gutturalis

23 Jan. At first light into Mae Ping National Park, where the target was Grey-headed Parakeet. Amazingly the first bird we heard when alighting from the vehicle was several Grey-headed Parakeet. However, it took best part of half an hour to obtain decent views of any perched birds.

Blue Whistling Thrush M. c. eugenei

By 08:00 we were heading to Doi Inthanon where we arrived a couple of hours later. A short stop at Km 13 failed to produce any forktail, so we continued to Mr. Daeng's where an hour peering into the gully produced a Lesser Shortwing, but not the hoped for Dark-sided Thrush. Continued to the summit where we walked the boardwalk circuit a couple of times finding Dark-sided Thrush, Brambling, Eyebrowed Thrush and Grey-sided Thrush. Time was then spent along the road hoping for Yellow-belled Flowerpecker, but at 15:00 gave up and headed to Km 34, where the trail gave us Eastern Buzzard and Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher.

24 Jan. Up to the summit area early on to scan for Ashy Wood Pigeon, with about a dozen birds seen. The remainder of our time was spent searching in vain for Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker. Returned to Chiang Mai.

25 Jan. We left Chiang Mai at stupid o'clock to drive to Doi Lang. Slow going through the Chiang Dao region due to thick fog. Took the western road up Doi Lang to the now very popular photo-shoot area, which is now becoming a bit of a circus. No sooner had we arrived, and even before the hide was up we had a pair of Spot-breasted Laughingthrush almost running around at our feet. These birds have become appreciably tamer since the last visit. Even without the hide, Rusty-naped Pitta came in for a feed, and approached to within a couple of metres. Followed by Large Niltava and White-gorgeted Flycatcher. Likewise a minibus load of noisy people arrived, set out chairs and simply waited for the birds to appear, by which time we had left and started walking down the road seeking other birds of note. These included Pallas's Leaf Warbler, Sapphire Flycatcher, Mountain Bamboo Partridge and Chestnut-vented Nuthatch. We somehow managed to miss Giant Nuthatch and Spot-breasted Parrotbill, seen by others.

Took a slow drive and walk farther up the mountain seeking parrotbills without luck. Around lunchtime we visited the eastern side, looking for Fire-tailed Sunbird but again dipped. Worked our way back to the western side spending a couple of hours specifically looking for Spot-breasted Parrotbill and were eventually rewarded with two birds as well as a fly over Crested Bunting.

Brambling

Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush

Spot-breasted Laughingthrush and Rusty-naped Pitta

Black-breasted Thrush

Large Niltava

Rufous-bellied Niltava

Oriental Hobby

Later in the afternoon a small group of Long-tailed Broadbill found. Left around 16:00 to drive to Ang Khang. In the late afternoon here, Black-breasted Thrush, Large Niltava and White-tailed Robin seen.

26 Jan. Into the King's Project at first light, where a ground frost ensured some hungry customers. Within seconds of putting down meal worms we had at least four Black-breasted Thrush, a Japanese Thrush, 3 White-tailed Robin, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Hill Blue Flycatcher and a female Oriental Magpie-Robin. Shortly after 08:00 returned for breakfast, after which we headed to the Arunothai road. A few hours here were not particularly fruitful, so we headed to Km 21 where a longish walk produced several Pallas's Leaf Warbler, Bianchi's Warbler and Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher.

Some birding in the resort grounds produced Eyebrowed Thrush, Black-breasted Thrush, Crested Finchbill, Little Bunting and Large Niltava. Late afternoon again spent along the Arunothai road, starting at the Chinese Cemetery, with Sapphire Flycatcher, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush, White-browed Laughingthrush and Red-eyed Scimitar Babbler.

27 Jan. An unexpected delay to our start at 06:00 to clear the ice off the car windscreen - having been a tad cool last night. A straight drive to Chiang Saen, where the Golden Triangle was ticked off and we found our target - Grey-throated Martin - with minimal effort. A recent attempt by the martin to establish a colony in an excavated bank south of the Golden Triangle has not been successful due to a large mist net strung across the face of the colony, although no birds were found in the net. The net was removed and destroyed. A longish drive back to Chiang Mai.

28 Jan. Another early start; this time to Chiang Dao. Although foggy on the main highway, it was clear around the temple, so birding started at first light. During a couple of hours here we recorded the sought after Puple-naped Spiderhunter, as well as Thick-billed Green Pigeon, Orange-breasted Trogon heard, Oriental Pied Hornbill and Plain Flowerpecker. Breakfast at Malee's and then took the Muang Khong road where we spent another couple of hours around the checkpoint. The area was extremely birdy with many fruiting and flowering trees holding a large number of Black-headed Bulbul and Hair-crested Drongo as well as Chestnut-tailed Starling. Eventually we found Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo which called for long time before showing itself. Then up the road higher with a random stop half way where to our surprise a Collared Owlet perched allowing scope views. Higher up, a pair of Oriental Hobby were a great finish to the day. Drive back to Chiang Mai.