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5 Feb - 2 Mar 2019.
Mostly dry. Temperatures ranged from 15°C to 40°C. Some rain around Krung Ching.
Krabi mangroves, Ao Phang-nga National Park, Phang-nga mangroves, Sri Phang-nga National Park, Kapong Bridge, Thai Mueang, Krung Ching, Chumphon, Kaeng Krachan National Park, Wat Khao Look Chang, Ayutthaya, Mae Wong National Park, Mae Ping National Park, Doi Inthanon National Park, Doi Lang, Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park and Phu Suan Sai National Park.

5 Feb. An early start with local boatman Khun Diao into the Krabi mangroves. The very low tide necessitated many of the kingfishers perching in more exposed areas, resulting in some excellent photo opportunities. A leisurely three hours gave us at least ten Brown-winged Kingfisher, Ruddy Kingfisher vocalising, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Chinese Egret, Ashy Tailorbird, Pacific Swallow, Rufous-bellied Swallow, a disappearing Buffy Fish Owl and Black-capped Kingfisher. A late hotel breakfast, a rarity for birders, then a two hour drive to Phang-nga where we birded several spots around town, finding Streak-breasted Woodpecker, Mangrove Pitta heard and Malayan Swamp Babbler. Late afternoon we tried the mangrove walkway near town, but some idiotic adolescents were letting off fire-crackers so bird activity non-existent. Rain showers early evening.

6 Feb. The morning spent at Bang Phat mangroves where, as they were rather productive, we ended up staying four hours. One of the highlights was Little Bronze Cuckoo, a sought after target, plus Brown-winged Kingfisher, Ashy Minivet, Mangrove Whistler and Copper-throated Sunbird. We then returned to the Phang-nga mangrove walkway, finding Olive-winged Bulbul, Sakhalin Leaf Warbler, Ashy Tailorbird and Crimson Sunbird.

Common Kingfisher

Streak-breasted Woodpecker

Little Bronze Cuckoo

Sakhalin Leaf Warbler

Following lunch, we returned to the Phang-nga mangrove walkway in an long effort to photograph Sakhalin Leaf Warbler, recording
Sumatran Gliding Lizard in the process. This time, heavy rain at dinner.

7 Feb. A return to Bang Phat for a shorter visit, during which we found Little Bronze Cuckoo again, Ruddy Kingfisher, Olive-winged Bulbul, Mangrove Pitta heard again and Mangrove Whistler. Left the area at 10:00, to drive to Thai Mueang where, contrary to a previous visit last week, we found the very desirable Spotted Wood Owl plus Vernal Hanging Parrot and Indochinese Roller.

Common Flameback

Spotted Wood Owl

Banded Woodpecker

Common Red Harlequin

Oriental Honey Buzzard

Banded Broadbill

9 Feb. Early morning at the view point again then the campsite, where a number of trees were still in fruit, but most time spent along the Waterfall Trail. During the day, quite a list of species amassed including Great Argus heard, Black Baza, Black-bellied Malkoha, Violet Cuckoo, Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, Scarlet-rumped Trogon, Banded Kingfisher heard, White-crowned Hornbill, Black Hornbill heard but not seen, Banded Woodpecker, Streak-breasted Woodpecker, Buff-necked Woodpecker, Green Broadbill, Banded Broadbill, Black-and-yellow Broadbill, Large Woodshrike, Great Iora, Swinhoe's Minivet, Scaly-breasted Bulbul, Grey-bellied Bulbul, Streaked Bulbul, Grey-headed Babbler, Moustached Babbler, Chestnut-winged Babbler, Chinese Blue Flycatcher, Greater Green Leafbird and Spectacled Spiderhunter.

10 Feb. Changing yesterday's approach we started with the entrance road, then quite some time spent around the fruiting trees in the campsite. This meant we walked the Waterfall Trail much later, which naturally resulted in far less productive, though we did obtain good views of Grey-headed Babbler. Other species recorded included White-crowned Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Olive-backed Woodpecker heard, Green Broadbill, Large Woodshrike, Rufous-winged Philentoma, Green Iora, Yellow-eared Spiderhunter and Spectacled Spiderhunter nicely feeding in the same tree for comparison. Late afternoon a Rufous-tailed Tailorbird gave us a runaround by remaining stubbornly invisible. Some night birding was frustrating with several Blyth's Frogmouth heard plus Brown Boobook.

11 Feb. A final full day at Krung Ching with, from 08:00 - 15:00 on the Waterfall Trail, then the remainder around the campsite. We finally managed reasonable views of Black Hornbill, though no photos. Also Besra, Banded Bay Cuckoo, Violet Cuckoo, Whiskered Treeswift, Banded Kingfisher, Grey-and-buff Woodpecker, Banded Woodpecker, Rufous-winged Philentoma, Rosy Minivet, Sultan Tit, Scaly-breasted Bulbul, Yellow-bellied Bulbul, Grey-headed Babbler, Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler and Malayan Black-capped Babbler.

12 Feb. Early morning at the viewpoint and along the entrance road, though we lost some time, sheltering in the abandoned checkpoint, due to rain. We left the area at 10:00 for the longish drive to Chumphon, with the late afternoon at the city stadium. Usually the stadium is a rather reliable spot for Vinous-breasted Myna, but we were again given a runaround, though eventually had some good views toward dusk.

14 Feb. With the upper levels Kaeng Krachan now off limits due to the pseudo road repair/construction, a different approach to birding the area is required. So we started with a morning along the entrance road as far as the Ban Krang campsite, then late morning we tried the loop Nature Trail, by which time it was too warm for any real activity. The morning's haul included Golden-crested Myna, Common Hill Myna and Grey-sided Thrush. After lunch, and a pair of Brown Boobook in the grounds, we spent four hours at Nueng hide with Ferruginous Partridge the highlight, plus Bar-backed Partridge and Large Scimitar Babbler.

15 Feb. A repeat of yesterday, though less bird activity in general. Mid afternoon we visited Lung Sin hide, though this was also quiet, with no partridges, and only a brief view of Large Scimitar Babbler.

16 Feb. An early visit to the new Nui hide where, after an hour, a female Blue Pitta seen at close range gave excellent lengthy views. On dropping in to Song Nok hide to book an afternoon session we discovered a Large-tailed Nightjar had been staked out. Out again at 15:00 for a last hide session at Song Nok, with Orange-headed Thrush and Green-legged Partridge.

17 Feb. We left Kaeng Krachan at 07:30 to drop in to Khao Look Chang where we rather easily found our two targets - Spotted Owlet and Rufous Treepie. We then had a long drive to Ayutthaya where we spent a couple of hours in the heat searching for Alexandrine Parakeet without luck. However, just as we were leaving a group of five dropped in - talk about luck of the devil and the eleventh hour. Although our destination was Mae Wong, late afternoon, we broke the journey up with an overnight at roadside accommodation just north of Nakhon Sawan.

18 Feb. We left at 06:00, arriving Mae Wong by 08:00, where we drove straight to the top, given that all our targets should be found at higher elevations.

Ferruginous Partridge

Blue Pitta

Alexandrine Parakeet

Blue Whistling Thrush

Great Slaty Woodpecker

All in all a nice list including Rusty-naped Pitta heard, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Red-headed Trogon, Long-tailed Broadbill, Black-throated Laughingthrush, Rufous-browed Flycatcher, Rosy Minivet, Blyth's Paradise Flycatcher, Sulphur-breasted Warbler, Streaked Wren-Babbler, Collared Babbler, Striated Yuhina, White-tailed Robin, Slaty-backed Flycatcher and Blue Rock Thrush.

20 Feb. A final morning, finally obtaining short but reasonable views of Spot-necked Babbler. A five hour drive to Li, with temperatures hitting 40°C en route. Overnight in town.

21 Feb. The morning spent at Mae Ping. As usual at this time of year, the local pyromaniacs had been out in force and much of the forest was on fire, with mid-morning a tree down across the road requiring park staff to remove it which fortunately they did within an hour. A good morning's birding with us finding Rufous-winged Buzzard, Grey-headed Parakeet, Great Slaty Woodpecker, White-bellied Woodpecker heard, Radde's Warbler, Black-headed Woodpecker, Burmese Shrike, Hainan Blue Flycatcher, Rufous Treepie, Burmese Nuthatch and a single Ultramarine Flycatcher.

22 Feb. Given that we'd successfully located our two targets yesterday we spent the morning around the summit trying to obtain decent photographs, with reasonable success, of Blyth's Leaf Warbler and Ashy-throated Warbler. A six hour drive to Fang.

23 Feb, All day spent on the eastern side Doi Lang. For the first time in many trips here, we experienced some issues with biting flies. Maybe due to the extremely dry conditions? Opening hours on this side mean quite a hectic day, with poor roads and quite some distance to cover. Once again, at the upper checkpoint, we were only permitted to walk beyond. Still, a great selection of species, including the mega rare Long-tailed Thrush near the camp.

Ashy-throated Leaf Warbler

Himalayan Bluetail

List for the day also included Mountain Bamboo Partridge, Black Baza, Long-tailed Broadbill, Fire-capped Tit, Yellow-streaked Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Scarlet-faced Liocichla, Whiskered Yuhina, White-gorgeted Flycatcher and Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher.

Long-tailed Thrush

White-bellied Redstart

Much time was spent simply birding the road, which produced an excellent list throughout the day including Long-tailed Sibia, Mrs. Hume's Pheasant, Mountain Bamboo Partridge, Necklaced Woodpecker, Oriental Hobby, Long-tailed Minivet, Burmese Shrike, Slender-billed Oriole, Crested Finchbill, Brown-breasted Bulbul, Giant Nuthatch, Spot-breasted Parrotbill and Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush.

25 Feb, A further morning on the western side of Doi Lang. We reversed the strategy of yesterday, starting at the checkpoint end, where many Crested Finchbill were active, plus a couple of Scarlet Finch for some.

Cook's Swift

An approaching storm with thunderous black clouds pushed down large numbers of Cook's Swift which we estimated to be in excess of 5,000. It took a while, but we finally obtained good views of Nepal House Martin. Other species found during the long morning were Grey Peacock-Pheasant heard, Rusty-naped Pitta heard, Rufous-winged Buzzard, a very surprising White-headed Bulbul, Peregrine Falcon, Dusky Crag Martin, Asian House Martin, Buff-throated Warbler, Yellow-eyed Babbler, Asian Brown Flycatcher and Common Rosefinch. Afternoon drive to Na Haew.

The number of species visiting this bath is impressive, and we were fortunate to see both Short-tailed Parrotbill and Red-billed Scimitar Babbler.

1 Mar. Pretty much a repeat of yesterday, with little new added to the list. Staff at the entrance were kind enough to point out that yesterday's entrance ticket was still valid - highly contrary to usual park procedures where they like to charge by the day. Phu San Sai is always a pleasant, out of the way, site to visit.

Short-tailed Parrotbill and White-rumped Munia