Overview
Dates: |
8 - 12 Mar 2021. |
With Steve Tibbett. Another trip eastward, to one of our favourite haunts for both birds and butterflies. Being within the warmest time of year temperatures were high, and conditions rather arid. Our chief targets were some dry season butterflies that, disappointingly, we failed to find, though a good selection of species in general was encountered.
8 Mar. An early departure from Chiang Mai, arriving at Wiang Kosai by 09:30, just as the day was heating up nicely.
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Although we'd been informed the park was open, based on our three previous trips when we'd similarly been assured it was open, but it had actually been closed for a variety of pseudo reasons, we were still half expecting to find it shut. However, we discovered the park open, spuced up and they'd actually maintained the Nature Trail - a rarity for a Thai park. Our first exploration was the short trail along the waterfall, where in a couple of hours we found Obtuse-winged Flat and Siamese Onyx of note. We then walked the Nature Trail, with Bamboo Woodpecker the only species of note. The dry forest was decidedly poor and a grand total of only six bird species were encountered the whole time. A four hour drive to Lomsak where we stayed overnight. At dinner we decided to be adventurous with the menu, but ending up regretting it, being totally unable to identify the food, guessing at something like entrails and feet of duck. 9 Mar. Into Nam Nao early in the day. A slow start due to the pleasant and cool early morning temperatures, but good numbers of both birds and butterflies encountered. Highlights bird-wise were Silver Pheasant, Violet Cuckoo, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Blue Pitta and Red-billed Blue Magpie. Notable butterflies included Scarce Tawny Rajah, Indian Yellow Sailor and Long-stick Sailor. A couple of heavy showers around 13:30, curtailed activity somewhat. Mid afternoon we departed to Phu Khieo for a two night stay. |
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10 Mar. All day in Phu Khieo which, despite the threateningly weather, was dry until mid afternoon, developing into heavy rain by 17:00. During the day we simply worked various spots along the entrance road, with a fair selection of bird species throughout the day, including Siamese Fireback, Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, Collared Owlet, Orange-breasted Trogon, Banded Kingfisher, Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Great Slaty Woodpecker, and Long-tailed Broadbill. Butterflies were plentiful at some of the damper gullies, with Yellow Rajah, Jewelled Nawab, White Emperor, Constable, Chocolate Royal and Blue Kaiser. |
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11 Mar. Although we'd originally planned to spend two full days at Phu Khieo, we decided Nam Nao would likely be more productive for our targets, so we set off early to arrive there by 09:00. Despite a whole morning and early afternoon there we still failed in locating any of our targets, so by mid afternoon we hit the road to drive as far as Phitsanulok for our last night. Although we'd stayed here several times in the past, we again failed to find any decent restaurant within five kilometres of the hotel.
12 Mar. A two hour drive to Si Satchanalai, where we were again, as on our last visit, in dread of bowling up and finding the park closed. To our surprise it was actually open, though the usual discussion of why we wanted to enter the park was had, with the staff warning us of "No water in the waterfalls".
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No problem we said, as we're here for birding and butterflies. Of course, the "no water" turned out to be a load of horse manure, as on arrival at the main waterfall of Tad Duan we found plenty of water in the falls. A couple of hours failed to provide much, so we headed to the Nature Trail. As previously, it was necessary to seek permission and sign two log books to use the trail, but at least we didn't need to have a guide tag along, having passed their test on whether we actually knew the birds of Thailand! A real struggle this park with beaurocracy. The Nature Trail actually proved reasonably interesting, with one of the butterflies of the trip - Purple-and-gold Flitter. |
Species List
| Wiang Kosai | Count | Phu Khieo | Count | ||
| Bamboo Woodpecker | 1 | Red Junglefowl | 6 | ||
| Black-naped Monarch | 1 | Siamese Fireback | 1 | ||
| Two-barred Warbler | 1 | Green-billed Malkoha | 1 | ||
| White-rumped Shama | 3 | Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo | 1 | ||
| Little Spiderhunter | 1 | Common Emerald Dove | 2 | ||
| Grey Wagtail | 1 | Thick-billed Green Pigeon | 20 | ||
| Collared Owlet | 2 | ||||
| Nam Nao | Count | Asian Barred Owlet | 1 | ||
| Green-legged Partridge | 4 | Orange-breasted Trogon | 2 | ||
| Red Junglefowl | 45 | Oriental Pied Hornbill | 6 | ||
| Silver Pheasant | 1 | Banded Kingfisher | 1 | ||
| Violet Cuckoo | 1 | Chestnut-headed Bee-eater | 2 | ||
| Banded Bay Cuckoo | 2 | Heart-spotted Woodpecker | 1 | ||
| Oriental Turtle Dove | 22 | Greater Yellownape | 1 | ||
| Common Emerald Dove | 6 | Greater Flameback | 1 | ||
| Thick-billed Green Pigeon | 5 | Bay Woodpecker | 1 | ||
| Mountain Imperial Pigeon | 1 | Great Slaty Woodpecker | 2 | ||
| Black Baza | 2 | Long-tailed Broadbill | 2 | ||
| Crested Serpent Eagle | 1 | Greater Racket-tailed Drongo | 3 | ||
| Red-headed Trogon | 1 | Eurasian Jay | 3 | ||
| Great Barbet | 2 | Red-billed Blue Magpie | 3 | ||
| Blue-throated Barbet | 6 | Striated Swallow | 3 | ||
| Coppersmith Barbet | 1 | Pale-legged Leaf Warbler | 2 | ||
| Grey-headed Woodpecker | 1 | Dark-necked Tailorbird | 4 | ||
| Bay Woodpecker | 1 | Pin-striped Tit-Babbler | 10 | ||
| Blue Pitta | 1 | Puff-throated Babbler | 3 | ||
| Ashy Woodswallow | 1 | Brown-cheeked Fulvetta | 3 | ||
| Large Cuckooshrike | 2 | White-rumped Shama | 3 | ||
| Black-winged Cuckooshrike | 3 | Taiga Flycatcher | 3 | ||
| Black-hooded Oriole | 2 | ||||
| Bronzed Drongo | 3 | Si Satchanalai | Count | ||
| Ashy Drongo | 2 | Bamboo Woodpecker | 1 | ||
| Red-billed Blue Magpie | 10 | White-browed Piculet | 1 | ||
| Large-billed Crow | 7 | White-browed Scimitar Babbler | 1 | ||
| Yellow-browed Warbler | 2 | Buff-breasted Babbler | 1 | ||
| Pale-legged Leaf Warbler | 2 | ||||
| Rufescent Prinia | 7 | ||||
| Dark-necked Tailorbird | 4 | ||||
| White-crested Laughingthrush | 16 | ||||
| White-rumped Shama | 3 |