Following
an early morning flight to Chiang Mai we picked up the hire vehicle and drove
to Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest mountain. After dropping our luggage off at
the Inthanon Highland Resort located at the base of the mountain we made our
way towards this famous birding site, stopping to search for a Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker along the
way. A Black-naped Monarch, Racket-tailed Treepie and Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker showed
well, and a nearby flowering tree held a large flock of Chestnut-tailed
Starlings. On entering the National Park we drove ever upwards, but
unfortunately our progress was delayed when our vehicle was hit by a minibus.
With several hours delay promised we didn’t hang around and promptly flagged
down a passing truck which kindly took us several kilometres further up the
mountain to Mr Daeng’s restaurant – a famous birder’s location. Having seen Japanese Tit earlier, we were eager to
kick start out birding and settled down at his viewing area where after a short
wait both Lesser Shortwing and Asian Stubtail appeared below us. A
very close Little Spiderhunter and Black-throated Sunbird, Pallas’s Warbler, and a mixed flock of Chestnut-flanked and Japanese White-eyes were also much
appreciated. After lunch we hopped into a local bus which took us right up to
the summit and after buying some snacks in a shop were treated to point blank
views of Silver-eared
Laughingthrush and Bar-throated Minla. Then we explored the famous
Summit Boardwalk across the road where the first of three Dark-sided Thrushes to be found today was observed feeding in the
leaf-litter below the trail. It was pretty quiet along the boardwalk yet we
found the treasure at the end of the rainbow when a Purple Cochoa was spotted perched high up in a tall tree above the
trail. Leaving here totally elated we continued our good fortune with 6 Rufous-throated
Hill-partridges feeding quietly in the forest understorey. From the
nearby car park a burst of activity resulted in Flavescent Bulbul, Dark-backed
Sibias, extremely confiding Ashy-throated
and Buff-barred Leaf-warblers, as
well as a single Yellow-browed Tit.
Driving back down the mountain in our recently arrived vehicle we visited the
campground and after a short wait a Black-tailed Crake appeared at the
appointed time and gave astonishingly amazing views as it fed right out in the
open just a short distance away from us. A pair of Grey Bushchats and flock of Grey-cheeked
Fulvettas were also present here to round off a rather unexpectedly
adventurous day’s birding.
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| Black-tailed Crake |
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