Doi Lang again

Today we visited the Thaton side of Doi Lang, and as access has been restricted to 4-wheel drive vehicles only with minibuses not allowed we headed up in a local songthaew bus.  Our first stop produced a White-throated Fantail, Grey-chinned Minivet, Grey-eyed Bulbul, Collared Owlet, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, and a flyby Eye-browed Thrush, with a Red Junglefowl being seen on the road as well. Further up we had Grey-faced Buzzard and Oriental Turtle-Dove.

Then we spent some time up at the top where we spent some time taking photos of Dark-backed Sibias, Chestnut-crowned Warbler and eventually a group of confiding Scarlet-faced Liocichlas. There was also a calling Spotted Elachura that failed to appear, Rufous-gorgeted and White-gorgeted Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Fantail, Davison’s Warbler, Golden Babbler, Rufous-winged Fulvetta and Black-eared Shrike-Babbler.

Scarelt-faced Liocichla showed very well today.

Lunch was taken at the scenic viewpoint where it was very hot and birdless, although an Eastern Buzzard was nice and 5 Himalayan Griffons flying over were a write-in for the tour. So we returned to the barrier area and had further intimate liocihla views, as well as close Large Niltava, both races of Blue Whistling-Thrush, Silver-eared Laughingthrush, and spectacular views of a Chestnut-headed Tesia dancing along a branch on the slope below us.

Himalayan Griffons were a write-in...

By mid-afternoon we decided to head downhill and birded some lower elevation areas but it was still too hot although there were a few Chestnut-flanked White-eyes and a Two-barred Warbler.