Dates:
Weather:

Localities:

24 - 28 May 2019.
Hot. Variable cloud cover by day, with some seasonal rain at night. Temperatures ranged from 26°C to 45°C.
Wiang Kosai National Park, Doi Phu Kha National Park, Khun Nan National Park and Tat Luang Waterfall.

White-dot Oakblue

Green Cochoa

Laotian Ace

Red-spot Sawtooth

20 May. We left Chiang Mai early and drove two and half hours to Wiang Kosai by 09:15. We chose this park, within a reasonable driving time, as we'd had reasonable success here in the past. Amazingly, the temperature was already 36°C on our arrival. We started with an hour around the waterfall and the short trail up to the higher levels. Very little activity other than some small lycanids, including Large Fourline, and a Silver Royal. Despite today being a public holiday we had the waterfall to ourselves until 11:00, after which the crowds started to arrive, so we headed to the 800 metre Nature Trail that also produced very little, other than a White-dot Oakblue, a male Crimson Sunbird and a Banded Kingfisher heard. Brutally hot at 43°C when we left to drive to Pua, with afternoon temperatures up to 45°C en route.

21 May. Rain most of the night from 21:00, petering out around 07:30. Given that we'd checked the weather the day before, and all appeared dry for a week, where the hell did all that come from? The day was spent on Doi Phu Kha. Strangely, despite all the rain we'd had in Pua it appeared not to have rained in the mountains, which were even drier than the previous month, if that was possible. We checked the usual spots and spent several hours walking the ridge trail, but butterfly activity proved highly disappointing. Birds were better though, with Green Cochoa, Grey Peacock-Pheasant heard, Rusty-naped Pitta heard, Small Niltava and Indochinese Yuhina. Another overnight in Pua.

22 May. Some light overnight rain, which at least fell in the mountains too. At 1,400 metres we finally came across Gram Blue, a widespread, but scarce, species we'd been searching for for years. Back along the ridge trail for another couple of hours, with Rusty-naped Pitta, Silver Pheasant, Rufous-throated Partridge, Lesser Shortwing, Red-billed Scimitar Babbler and Collared Babbler. Mid afternoon we headed down the eastern side of the mountain to Bo Kluea and Sapan Waterfall. Having walked the easier part of the trail to the top of the falls we continued upslope for a further 500 metres, only to find the trail now blocked by a huge tree fall, forcing our return as the slope was too steep to circumnavigate the blockage. Biggest surprise here was a pair of Rufous-throated Fulvetta. Overnight in Bo Kluea.

23 May. Dry overnight. All day spent around around the headquarters area of Khun Nan, mainly on the Nature Trail and the viewpoint track. Today was actually the first time we'd ever been charged to enter the park, usually the staff being so surprised to have any visitors they forget to charge. Really hard work today with hardly a butterfly seen. Along the river we encountered Silver-breasted Broadbill, Common Green Magpie and Slaty-backed Forktail. Being so dead, late afternoon we cut our losses and went for coffee in Bo Kluea.