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29 Sep - 2 Oct 2020.
Dry with variable cloud cover. Temperatures ranged from 22°C to 32°C.
Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary and Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park.

29 Sep. We left Chiang Mai early, heading to Chiang Dao, where we started at the small hot spring. Areas of flowers, which had been attractive to butterflies last year, seemed to have been cleared, resulting in little to attract them. So not a great start. An hour in the area produced a smattering of the usual suspects plus a Scarce Tawny Rajah. The remainder of the morning, until mid afternoon, was spent around the checkpoint, with a good list of butterfly species. A later tally discovered we'd seen almost 100 species during the day, the most notable being Siamese Brush Ace. In adjacent trees, a single Yellow-vented Flowerpecker was active. Otherwise rather quiet for birds. After 15:00 we drove to Fang for a three night stay. A recurring theme of our visits to Fang is having to find new restaurants due to previous ones closing down. Tonight was no exception.

30 Sep. Due to some overnight rain, a cool start to the day, with heavy, low cloud. This resulted in a morning almost devoid of butterflies, but things fortunately improve by midday. We worked mid-elevations up to 1,600 metres finding, among others, Blue Peacock, Hill Jezebel, Popinjay, Restricted Purple Sapphire, Yellow Coster, and Indian Red Admiral. Birds included Grey-backed Shrike, Northern White-crowned Forktail, Spectacled Barwing and a migrant Dark-sided Flycatcher. Late afternoon we descended lower to 600 metres, trying forest edge near the hydro power project, but for some odd reason this proved even less productive than at altitude. With last night's restaurant choice closed this evening we again had to experiment with a new eating establishment.

1 Oct. Dry overnight, with brighter weather conditions all day, so bird and butterfly activity was much improved. We again concentrated on mid levels and were handsomely rewarded early in the day with a White Owl resting low down - those we'd seen yesterday, as is their wont, never stopped flying. Working higher we found Panther and Ananta Yellow Sailor. Birds included a small group of Mountain Bamboo Partridge. Late afternoon we made several stops while descending the mountain, finding Slate Flash.

Yellow Coster

Indian Red Admiral

White Owl

Ananta Yellow Sailor

2 Oct. With only a half day available we tried a forested trail at 1,200 metres, but no luck with anything different in the butterfly line, but did find the magnificent Cyrtotrachelus thompsoni weevil. A quick check higher, around midday, also found nothing new.

Cyrtotrachelus thompsoni