Dates:
Weather:
Localities:

13 - 16 Feb 2024.
Dry. Temperatures ranged from 18°C to 30°C.
Doi Luang National Park and Doi Tung.

Unfortunately, that luck did not materialise - it's not called scarce for nothing. Birds and moths were our other focus, with moths proving plentiful and varied. The weather was excellent throughout, with cool nights and warm, cloudless days.

13 Feb. We left Chiang Mai by 07:30. In order to break the journey and utilise the better part of the day searching for butterflies, we decided to try a new locality en route - selecting the Phu Kaeng Waterfall inside Doi Luang National Park. At an altitude of 500 - 600 metres the waterfall trail, passing through primary forest and much bamboo, proved quite productive, with Yellow Pasha the highlight. However, birding was exceptionally poor with only a handful of species found. We spent the night near Phan, south of Chiang Rai, with the find of the day being a craft beer bar-restaurant.

14 Feb. Completing the drive to Doi Tung took 90 minutes, where we started at the temple area, finding Common Flash. We next tried the 300 metre viewpoint trail, adding Mandarin Blue and Orange Caliph. A small troupe of Assamese Macaque were present just below the viewpoint, thought give fleeting views, and a Blue Rock Thrush was on guard at the temple entrance. The temple toilets proved a fortuitous stop, since someone evidently had left the lights on the previous evening and the stalls held a good collection of moths. The afternoon was spent at the Mae Fah Luang Arboretum, though not much of note found. The arboretum must be the only attraction in Thailand that gives a 50% discount to persons over 60 years of age - even foreigners - though that still does not prevent them from charging foreigners a higher price than Thais. Evening dinner at the Mae Fah Luang Garden restaurant, which seemed the only place available in the vicinity.

15 Feb. Full of expectation we started the day with a revisit to the temple toilets. Alas no moths, since someone had evidently done their job and turned them off the previous night. The day was pretty much a reverse of yesterday, with the arboretum in the morning and the temple viewpoint after lunch. A reasonable collection of butterflies, with Green-veined White and Popinjay being particularly plentiful. during the day. A second overnight locally.

16 Feb. Early morning, Russet Bush Warbler was singing below the accommodation. Another visit to the temple toilets where we discovered a single light has been left on, so at least some moths present. The remainder of the morning spent around Doi Chang Moob, just beyond the arboretum, where one can mingle with the military at the viewpoint and enjoy their coffee. Mountain Bamboo Partridge calling just below the camp. To finish, we spent an hour in the arboretum finding Daurian Redstart and Slaty-backed Flycatcher. A four hour return drive to Chiang Mai.

Indian Fritillary

Blue Rock Thrush

Sinna floralis

White Commodore