Dates:
Weather:

Localities:

03 - 10 Aug 2024.
Variable cloud cover. First half of trip with dry mornings, followed by rain later in the day. Second half unseasonably dry. Temperatures ranged from 22°C to 32°C.
Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thung Salaeng Luang National Park, Nam Nao National Park and Phu Wiang National Park.

Blue Begun

Indian Hog Deer

Long-tailed Lizard

Marbled Palmfly

Wishbone Flower

3 Aug. Took the afternoon flight from Chiang Mai to Khon Kaen. Having met with Andy, we drove the couple of hours to the Chulabhorm Dam area, arriving just prior to dusk. Quite a few moths were around the restaurant lights and Mountain Scops Owl was vocal in the early evening. A short night walk failed to produce anything of note.

4 Aug. Overnight rain continued into the morning, but eventually cleared by 08:00 when we set off for Phu Khieo. All day was spent along the long entrance road, with a good collection of butterflies found, including White Emperor and Blue Begum. Birds included Crested Honey Buzzard, Dusky Broadbill, Austen's Brown Hornbill, Banded Broadbill, Sultan Tit and Large Scimitar Babbler. Rain, starting early evening, curtailed our night activity, but did result in an even greater number of moths around the restaurant lights.

5 Aug. The rain petered out around 03:00, so we had second morning within Phu Khieo, encountering a small group of Assamese Macaque on the drive in. Mid morning we tried a leech infested track deeper within the sanctuary, finding Green Duke, but unfortunately too brief a view to photograph - so a major dip, as this was one of our main targets. We left the area at 14:00 to drive, through heavy rain, to Khao Kho where we took some accommodation at random, about 20 minutes from the park. Due to the low season in this area, we had the place to ourselves. An Eastern Barn Owl flew regularly though the garden property. A mostly dry evening.

6 Aug. Glorious weather till 15:00, followed by showers, with us spending the time along the track to Kaeng Wang Nam Yen. However, the track was not navigable all the way due to a dubious bridge and a flooded section. In the savanna, an Indian Hog Deer and a Black-backed Jackal were unexpected. Another total surprise were no less than three Long-tailed Lizard - finding one of these is usually a miracle. Birds recorded included Chinese Francolin, Barred Cuckoo-Dove, Barred Buttonquail, Black Baza, a singing Burmese Shrike, Great Slaty Woodpecker and a pair of Black-and-buff Woodpecker.

7 Aug. Pretty much a repeat of yesterday, though today we managed finally to connect with Marbled Palmfly, our main target. We left early afternoon to drive to Nam Nao, where we were practically the only guests staying in the park. A dry night, which probably accounted for the poor moth showing around the building lights.

8 Aug. Good weather all day, which we spent along the track to Phu Goom Khao, seeing more than 100 species of butterfly in a day - a record for Nam Nao. More than 150 Thick-billed Green Pigeon were encountered, plus Blue Pitta, Red-billed Blue Magpie and Large Scimitar Babbler.

9 Aug. Another morning along the Phu Goom Khao trail, but adding little to what we saw yesterday. We left at 13:00 to drive to Phu Wiang, where we'd managed to secure a room for the night. Due to its location, buried behind a mountain, there was no phone signal and power was restricted to solar. Eastern Butterfly Lizard was easily found around the campsite, and a late afternoon walk found the local Sphenomorphus skink which is currently undescribed. Brown Boobook was vocal around the campsite. Another dry night.

10 Aug. With only a half day available, we tried the two short trails at Tat Fa Waterfall, as well as the longer trail at the end of the entrance road. Highlight of the morning was Malayan Falcate Oakblue. By 13:00 we headed back to Khon Kaen for the flight to Chiang Mai.