Doi Lang Still!

Another day in the wonderful mountain forests of Doi Lang began in freezing conditions as the freaky weather continues. But driving up we had a couple of Mountain Bamboo-partridges cross the road in front of us, 3 more Grey-winged Blackbirds and several other commoner species on the road as well. We have been doing very well so far but even I didn’t expect to find a flock containing Collared Babbler, Red-billed Scimitar-babbler and Lesser Rufous-headed Parrotbill. At a bridge overlooking the forest we found a sleeping Slow Loris which was something of a surprise, along with Little Pied Flycatcher, a flock of Long-tailed Broadbills, Golden-throated Barbet, Blue-winged Leafbird and Grey Treepie. A little further on we also saw an Eastern Buzzard and an Oriental Turtle Dove.  

Chestnut Thrush

At the checkpoint a fine Chestnut Thrush was feeding on some fruit put out for it, along with a dozen Dark-backed Sibias, whilst Striated Bulbul, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Davison’s Leaf-warbler and several Himalayan Bluetails were in the area. We walked down to the tesia stake-out but it failed to appear, although many of the same birds were present as yesterday, including a superb male Himalayan Bluetail and Scarlet-faced Liocichla. 

Grey-winged Blackbird

Himalayan Bluetail - much darker than other birds we have seen...

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher

Blue Whistling-thrush

A Crimson-breasted Woodpecker was found nearby before we returned to the minibus for our picnic lunch, during which we once again had a good comparison when a flock of Cook’s and Fork-tailed Swifts flew over. In the afternoon things were much slower but were enlivened by a displaying Mountain Hawk-eagle, and we even had a flyby from the usually secretive Bay Woodpecker.

We ended the day with nice views of a Slaty-backed Forktail along the river, on the way back to the hotel.

Doi Lang Magic Pt 2

Continuing from the previous post about our first day on Doi Lang..

As well as these stake-outs, which are surrounded by mature forest, there was a flock moving around here with Chestnut-crowned Warbler, lots of Pallas’s Warblers, and both Golden and Rufous-fronted Babblers. The Spot-breasted Parrotbill was also seen a couple of times as well. A short walk along the road in lovely warm sunshine turned up an immature Sapphire Flycatcher, as well as a pair of Blue-bearded Bee-eaters.

Leaving here we drove along the road quite some distance, and had a quick look around the army check-point where lots of Crested Finchbill and Spectacled Barwings were feeding in a flowering tree. There was also a male White-bellied Redstart skulking at the side of the road, a cracking male Rufous-bellied Niltava, and as we drove away a pair of Yellow-throated Martens ran across in front of us.

Stopping at an open grassy area for our picnic lunch turned out to be an inspirational decision as amazingly a flock of 20+ Black-headed Greenfinches flew around and landed below us. This is a bird I have wanted to see for such a long time and to finally get great views through the scope as they fed on seed heads was amazing. A Buff-throated Warbler was also called in here, a flock of Cook’s and Fork-tailed Swifts flew over, and these good birds, plus breath-taking views down into Myanmar made this a very memorable lunch stop. So leaving here we continued driving and found a Collared Owlet, a flock of Whiskered Yuhinas, and our first Rufous-backed Sibia. A short while later we came upon a few cars parked along the road with several Thai photographers looking excited about something – and that something turned out to be a female Blue-fronted Redstart, another rare bird here.

Golden Bush-Robin

Upon reaching the viewpoint where there are a few more feeding stations we had cripplingly close views of a Golden Bush Robin – approx. 5^th for Thailand, and yet another Himalayan Bluetail.  Just 30 metres away was another stake-out where we saw Thailand’s 3^rd ever (Northern) Red-flanked Bluetail. Wow! 

Red-flanked Bluetail

The surrounding bushes were flowering and an incredible number of Mrs Gould’s Sunbirds were feeding on them. Normally very shy, they don’t usually allow a close approach but I think due to the very cold weather they were too intent on feeding than worrying about us. We also managed to pick out a few Fire-tailed Sunbirds, and this is the only place to see the species in Thailand. 

Mrs Gould's Sunbird

We also found our first Chinese Leaf-warbler and Orange-bellied Leafbirds here as well. What a day!

The last stake-out of the day was just a 10 minute drive away and we saw:

Chestnut-headed Tesia,

2 Scarlet-faced Liocichla

Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher

White-gorgeted Flycatcher

Male Himalayan Bluetail

2 Blue Whistling-thrushes

4 Silver-eared Laughingthrushes

2 Spectacled Barwings

What a collection of birds and once again, all at incredibly close range.

Chestnut-headed Tesia

Scarlet-faced Liocichla

Spectacled Barwing

 We birded from the road then and had a flock of Chestnut-flanked White-eyes, a superb Black-eared Shrike-babbler, a skulking Pygmy Wren-babbler, and our first Bianchi’s Warbler.

Driving down the mountain we had an Eye-browed Thrush feeding in the leaf litter beside the road, plus Puff-throated Babbler, White-rumped Shama, several more bluetails (and a grand total of 15 seen today) and another Large Niltava. This was certainly a day none of us will ever forget and I’m certain a very unique experience to see so many rare, scarce and localised species so well. This is why I love Thailand!

Doi Lang Magic Pt 1

Doi Lang provides an experience like no other, due to a number of feeding stations set out by the local Thai birding community. So you get opportunities to see a number of very scarce, rare and skulking species that are almost impossible to see any other way over here – and it is a real privilege. So here I thought it would be good to set out exactly what we saw at each stake-out. It is about an hours drive to the top ridge where this veritable goldmine of feeding stations is located and here is the summary of what the ZOOTHERA group witnessed at each one. Please bear in mind nothing is guaranteed and you need a little patience but the views are exceptional and you can watch the birds from about 12 feet away…..

Sites 1 and 2 are very close together and bird move between them:

2 White-tailed Robins - females

4 White-browed Laughingthrushes

2 Hill Prinias

Female Slaty-backed Flycatcher

Female White-bellied Redstart

Siberian Rubythroat - female

1 Spot-breasted Parrotbill

2 Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-babblers

Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-babblers

Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-babbler

Silver-eared Laughingthrush

Spot-breasted Parrotbill

White-bellied Redstart - female

White-browed Laughingthrush

Site 3

Rufous-bellied Niltava

Rufous-bellied Niltava - female

Site 4

2 White-gorgeted Flycatchers

2 Himalayan Bluetails - females

Siberian Rubythroat - juvenile/female

3 Silver-eared Laughingthrushes

2 Large Niltavas 

Himalayan Bluetail

Siberian Rubythroat

White-gorgeted Flycatcher

TO BE CONTINUED…..

Doi Ang Khang to Thaton

After a bitterly cold night we had breakfast and then drove along the road through pine forest where we pulled the minibus onto the verge and sat and waited for a while. We were waiting for Hume’s Pheasant which suddenly appeared after around a 20 minute wait and was two males were seen feeding inside the forest not too far away from us. The views weren’t god at all but shortly after another male and a female appeared on the grassy verge downhill from us and proceeded to feed right out in the open. They weren’t that close but we enjoyed the opportunity to see them as our hopes weren’t that high to begin with. But unfortunately a car drove past us and disturbed the birds which didn’t reappear, so we hopped out of the minibus and had a look at a Rufous-gorgetted Flycatcher and Blyth’s Shrike-babbler that were calling from nearby. 

Yellow-cheeked Tit

Further up the hill we birded on a sunlit piece of hillside and found quite a lot of activity with a few Chestnut-vented Nuthatches, Japanese and Yellow-cheeked Tits, Grey-cheeked Fulvettas, a pair of Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-babblers, Mrs Gould’s Sunbird, Grey-backed Shrike, and a fine Golden-throated Barbet.

Leaving here we drove back to our lodge and enjoyed nice views of the Grey-winged Blackbird and Chestnut-bellied Rock-thrush again, but this time in much better light than yesterday and a few Olive-backed Pipits were also present. 

Olive-backed Pipit

We spent a while enjoying the other garden birds here, such as White-headed and Brown-breasted Bulbuls, White-capped Water-redstart, Maroon Oriole, Common Rosefinch and others. A short drive took us to another stake-out where we saw several White-tailed Robins, Black-breasted Thrush, stunning male Rufous-bellied Niltava, male Hill Blue Flycatcher, and a juvenile Siberian Blue Robin all feeding some 20 feet away. In the surrounding trees there was Blue-winged Minla and Yellow-bellied Warbler as well.

Rufous-bellied Niltava

Hill Blue Flycatcher

After lunch we drove up to the border post which overlooks Myanmar and found a pair of Daurian Redstarts and a female Slaty-backed Flycatcher, but not a lot else, so we set off down into the lowlands and headed to Thaton ricefields. It was unusually cool here and there was a lot of bird activity and as soon as we got there an immature Pied Harrier flew by and landed not too far away. A good start! I think the male Siberian Rubythroat that sat out in the open for ages takes some beating though. 

Siberian Rubythroat

We also had a Green Sandpiper, Long-tailed Shrike, Black-collared Starling, several Dusky Warblers and Chestnut-tailed Starling. Keeping our run of good luck going we found Thailand’s 2^nd ever Siberian Chiffchaff as well!