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9 - 13 Nov 2020.
Mostly dry with variable cloud cover. Temperatures ranged from 18°C to 33°C.
Sakunothayan Arboretum, Thung Salaeng Luang National Park, Nam Nao National Park and Mae Phun Waterfall.

9 Nov. The usual early start departing Chiang Mai to beat the rush hour, with a first stop at Wiang Kosai National Park, 45 kilometres past Lampang. For the third trip in a row we discovered the park closed. In August we'd been informed the park would be open on 1 October. Turning up three weeks ago, staff gladly informed us it would then be open 1 November. Then today we discovered it closed again, with the opening now planned for 1 December. It would be quite an understatement to say we were disappointed. With no other decent parks to investigate along the way, we headed to Sakunothayan Waterfall slightly before Thung Salaeng Luang. We'd visited this arboretum once previously and seen a few species of interest, so this seemed like a reasonable bet. Although the weather was fine and a good number of butterflies were about, we failed to find anything of special note. Late afternoon we drove the remaining two hours to Phetchabun. It was good to find our usual restaurant and watering spot still open during this time of Covid and business closures.

10 Nov. The whole day spent at Thung Salaeng Luang. For some odd reason, which we didn't hang around to ask why, we were waved in at the gate, so entered for free. The usual park fee here for foreigners is an eye-watering 500 Baht, and something we'd not normally entertain. It was just on this instance we were searching for specific targets requiring access to this area. A day of excellent weather, spent in the forest and grasslands. This produced a excellent list of both birds and butterflies, although we failed in finding our main targets. Although we managed to cover most of the route to the river, the track was blocked by seasonal mud about one kilometre from the rapids, so we didn't have an opportunity to look for puddling butterflies. During the day we found a great variety of species, including, Baby Lascar, Red-edge, Scarce Tawny Rajah, Slate Flash, Suffused Flash, Indigo Flash and Blue Begum. On the bird front the highlights were Dusky Broadbill, Indochinese Bush Lark, Asian Stubtaill, Barred Buttonquail and Orange-breasted Trogon, plus Great Slaty Woodpecker, Green-legged Partridge and Banded Kingfisher heard. Another night in Phetchabun.

11 Nov. A return to Thung Salaeng Luang, where unfortunately, staff at the gate didn't wave us through but did their usual Robin Hood. Disappointingly cloudy all day, with even a few spots of rain. This kept butterfly activity low and although we managed to add a number of species to the trip list, nothing of particular note. Late afternoon we drove to Lomsak for the first of a two night stay.

12 Nov. All day spent at Nam Nao. Still cloudy during the morning, with a few spots of rain. Also, being about 200 metres higher in elevation than Thung Salaeng Luang, temperatures were cooler and didn't rise above 18°C all day. Hence activity low, but some of the better species found included Common Blue Brilliant, Pale Bushblue, Mountain Columbine and Lurcher. Birds noted included Oriental Turtle Dove, Red-headed Trogon, Banded Kingfisher, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Common Green Magpie, Ashy Bulbul and Alstrom's Warbler.

13 Nov. A seven hour, return, drive to Chiang Mai. To break the journey, we investigated Mae Phun Waterfall, 20 kilometres northwest of Uttaradit; a site we'd never tried before. At only 160 metres altitude we'd not expected to find much, although it proved to have a fair selection of lowland species of butterfly.

Red-edge

Blue Begum

Dusky Broadbill

Copper Flash

Common Tiger