Thailand: Doi Lang (west)

Doi Lang is definitely one of my favourite places for birding in northern Thailand. It has superb forests, which give you your only shot of seeing Himalayan Cutia and Black-throated Bushtit and it is also the place where local Thai photographers set up numerous feeding stations. I know this isn't everybody's cup of tea but the views you get of usually hard-to-see skulking species is phenomenal. Over the years we've had Rusty-naped Pitta, Spot-breasted Laughingthrush, Spot-throated Babbler and others. So whether you've got a little point-and-shoot camera or a big SLR, you are going to bring home some vert tasty snaps. 

Oh and what i did like about this year's tour was the opportunity given to us by the local Thai photographers to join them at their Mrs Hume's Pheasant stake-out. They let us park our minibus behind their portable hides and wait for the pheasants to show. I can't tell you how thankful I am and they even let one of our group have use of a hide to get some really close photos...

A fine male Mrs Hume's Pheasant

Mountain Bamboo-Partridges joined in the fun

The Mountain Bamboo-Partridges even photobombed the pheasant..!!

So here's a few photos form the western or Fang side of Doi Inthanon to whet the appetite.

White-bellied Redstart (male)

White-bellied Redstart (female)

Slaty-blue Flycatcher (female)

Ultramarine Flycatcher

Siberian Rubythroat

Black-throated Bushtit

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher

Slaty-backed Flycatcher

Spot-breasted Parrotbill

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch