Dates:
Weather:
Localities:

19 March - 3 April 2014.
Warm to very hot. Variable cloud. Some rain.
Laem Phak Bia, Pak Thale, Huay Mai Teng, Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve, Khao Yai National Park, Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park, Thaksin Maharat National Park, Mae Wong National Park, Mae Ping National Park, Doi Inthanon National Park, Doi Lang and Doi Ang Khang.

Javan Pond Heron

Black-winged Stilt

20 Mar. We started at the King's Project in Laem Phak Bia, seeing Bay-backed Shrike, White-shouldered Starling and more White-winged Tern as well as the usual Bengal Monitor Lizard loafing around the ponds. A Ruddy-breasted Crake would have been the second target, but disappeared too fast for all to see. It was interesting to note that many Javan Pond Heron were already almost moulted into breeding plumage whereas Chinese Pond Heron had only just started. Next, although not a specific target, we decided as a desirable species, to look for Spoon-billed Sandpiper at Pak Thale. It took best part of three hours scanning multiple times through the same groups of waders to eventually locate one. At rest, with the bill tucked in, separating Spoon-billed Sandpiper from Red-necked Stint is nigh-on impossible, so the bird must have been sleeping the first ten times we scanned past it. A final look at Laem Phak Bia saltpans gave us a good group of Nordmann's Greenshank, whereafter we headed to Ratchaburi. With temperatures around 40°C we gave the middle of the day a miss, venturing out to Huay Mai Teng later in the afternoon. Birding a couple of areas around the lake was very rewarding, with Rain Quail, Blossom-headed Parakeet, Asian Golden Weaver, Pacific Golden Plover, Oriental Pratincole, Small Pratincole, Savanna Nightjar and migrating Oriental Honey Buzzard.

Blue-and-white Flycatcher - race intermedia without black chest

23 Mar. Renewing our attack on pittas, we started at the pitta photoshoot behind the campsite, but again only a distant Blue Pitta heard. Early, around the campsite were Yellow-vented Flowerpecker and Swinhoe's Minivet. Gave up on the pitta around 10:00, after which we did the gulley trail, finding Common Green Magpie, Red-headed Trogon and Orange-breasted Trogon. After lunch tried Km 33 Nature Trail, but in the heat of the afternoon this was not productive. Late afternoon again at the campsite where a good number of migrants had descended, including Yellow-rumped Flycatcher and several Blue-and-white Flycatcher. On the way out of the park we scanned through the many Brown-backed Needletail feeding over the pond, finding two Silver-backed Needletail.

25 Mar. A five hour drive to Thaksin Maharat with further rain and much evidence of rain yesterday evening. At Thaksin Maharat we stayed only long enough for our target of Olive Bulbul, but also saw Grey Treepie and Ashy Bulbul. On to Mae Wong where we arrived too late to warrant a trip up the mountain, so birded the lower areas around the campsite. Very hot, dry and most of understorey well burnt off - Ruby-cheeked Sunbird, Red-billed Blue Magpie and Indian Cuckoo were the pick of the bunch.

26 Mar. An early drive up to Chong Yen with three pairs of Kalij Pheasant along the way. An hour in the hide there gave Rufous-throated Partridge and a female Grey Peacock-Pheasant with two chicks, while the Umphang trail had Long-tailed Sibia, Sulphur-breasted Warbler, Rufous-browed Flycatcher, Clicking Shrike-babbler and Small Niltava. Back down to Khun Nam Yen but no Blue Pitta in at photoshoot, it recently being very difficult there. The Umphang Trail was again productive, even in the in middle of the afternoon, with White-necked Laughingthrush, Small Niltava and Martens's Warbler. Back to Khun Nam Yen for another short session, but again no pitta. A late afternoon walk along the road gave us Long-tailed Sibia and Baikal Bush Warbler, but no Olive Bulbul. Despite being in the forest, the biting flies were exceptionally vicious. We stayed late, but no Leopard Cat visited the ranger's house. On the return drive to the HQ accommodation we had no fewer than seven Malayan Porcupine on the road.

Red-billed Blue Magpie

Indian White-eye

Eurasian Woodcock

28 Mar. To Doi Inthanon and straight to the summit where we spent several hours looking, without success, for Dark-sided Thrush and Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker, though the winter-resident Eurasian Woodcock was a nice bonus. The rest of the day then spent at Km 34, with White-headed Bulbul, Buff-throated Warbler, Himalayan Cuckoo, Common Rosefinch and White-tailed Robin.

29 Mar. All day on Doi Inthanon, starting in open areas of the Km 34 trail, finding Russet Bush Warbler and Buff-throated Warbler. We then hit the summit boardwalk seeking Dark-sided Thrush and Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker which again were elusive.

Hodgson's Frogmouth

Mrs. Hume's Pheasant

Green Cochoa

30 Mar. At sunrise along the Km 13 track, where we had Black Baza, Rufous-winged Buzzard, Collared Falconet, Black-headed Woodpecker and fleeting views of White-rumped Falcon. Drove to Fang with a snack stock-up at Chiang Mai. Fang paddies in the late afternoon held Pied Harrier, Greater Painted-snipe and Thick-billed Warbler.

31 Mar. All day on Doi Lang, starting pre-dawn with a drive up the western flank. The excessive fire damage of the last two weeks was sickening to see, with a fair number of large trees completely burnt down. Most slopes totally burnt, including all the photoshoot localities. The first bird we ran into was Mrs. Hume's Pheasant, with three males feeding along the roadside. With no vegetation cover, observing this species was much easier than usual. Continued up the mountain, spending some time in the second photoshoot area, finding Sapphire Flycatcher, Red-eyed Scimitar Babbler and White-browed Laughingthrush, but no Spot-breasted Parrotbill. Good fortune remained with us the whole day though, with a stream of target species encountered such as Giant Nuthatch, Scarlet-faced Liocichla, Brown-breasted Bulbul and Spot-breasted Parrotbill. On the return, late afternoon, we even found Hodgson's Frogmouth completely by accident, which must have been one of the highlights of the trip to date.

1 Apr. Having had such a successful day on Doi Lang, we opted to change the itinerary and spend the last couple of days at Doi Inthanon, which potentially could still produce several of the difficult target species. Left Fang early to bird at Doi Ang Khang in an attempt to find Spot-throated Babbler, with two birds heard but as usual not seen due to its highly skulking habits. A major stroke of luck though was running into a fruiting tree with two singing Green Cochoa that were a major target. A longish drive to Doi Inthanon, with the temperature touching 43°C. Unsurprisingly, a late afternoon session at Km 13 looking for White-rumped Falcon was unsuccessful.