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9 - 12 June 2015
Hot and humid with some rain.
Mae Moei National Park, Mae Ngao National Park, Salawin National Park, Mae Tho National Park and Huay Bong.

We'd had no expectation of finding any accommodation near the park, as the couple of earlier visits had used the basic park accommodation. However, on arrival in Mae Salit, we checked a couple of places in the village and discovered that the New Mae Salit Guesthouse looked fine, as well as having a nearby restaurant - two logistical issues dealt with in one blow. Being western Thailand abutting the Burma mountains, we'd been expecting wet weather, but by mid afternoon it was still hot and dry, so we decided to head straight up the hill into the park and investigate parrotbill areas. The twenty odd kilometre access road into the park is pretty potholed so the journey up took best part of 45 minutes. As the road runs through the park, to several villages, many local people are cutting and collecting throughout the park. Much of the habitat adjacent to the road is further cleared and trashed, and on the face of it does not look that enticing for birding.

In typical fashion, just as we arrived the first few spots of rain started falling. However, not to be deterred and armed with umbrellas, we started walking the roadside anyway. Amazingly after only 20 minutes we heard Rufous-headed Parrotbill singing nearby, and were able to get some frustratingly brief glimpses of one bird. A single Pale-billed Parrotbill was far more obliging and perched perfectly in view. These birds disappeared as fast as they had arrived, so we continued to walk farther uphill checking other likely looking bamboo habitat for exploration tomorrow. Collared Babbler and Olive Bulbul were found as well as a very surprising Orange-bellied Flowerpecker, a bird known until recently in Thailand only from the south. On return to the vehicle a further Rufous-headed Parrotbill was calling from the valley bottom but way beyond view, although a pair of Pale-billed Parrotbill were found. With fading light we returned to Mae Salit, just in time for a couple of hours of torrential rain.

10 Jun. Further heavy overnight rain had stopped to reveal a cool and overcast morning. Back up the mountain to arrive, where we'd left off yesterday, by 06.45. We were surprised to encounter a group of bird photographers - mid week in the middle of nowhere; what's the chances of that? No parrotbills seemed present where they had been yesterday, though several White-throated Bulbul were found. We hung around the area for a further hour or so, but as nothing more came along we again continued our exploration up the mountain. Most of the morning till mid afternoon was spent in a series of slow walks birding the forest edge, and we mounted an impressive list, including Violet Cuckoo, Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, Large Hawk-Cuckoo heard, White-browed Piculet, Bamboo Woodpecker, Vernal Hanging Parrot, Silver-breasted Broadbill, Ashy Bulbul, Collared Babbler, Buff-breasted Babbler, Black-throated Laughingthrush, Indian White-eye, Rufous-browed Flycatcher and more Orange-bellied Flowerpecker.

Pale-billed Parrotbill

Rufous-headed Parrotbill

Bamboo Woodpecker

Orange-bellied Flowerpecker

Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher

We have to admit the guys at the barrier were a tad surprised when we drove in - so surprised they simply waved us in and forgot to charge us. This is another park with a local road passing through it, which in addition to clearance and farming is being used as a rubbish tip by passing locals heaving bag loads of rubbish over the side to disappear downslope. Parked the vehicle near the park accommodation and set off downhill, where we found a good, long trail branching off along right and probably originally intended as a firebreak. Habitat was mixed pine and deciduous forest at 1,100 metres and we had a reasonable bird list in a few hours including several Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher.