Doi Chiang Doa and Bueng Boraphet

It only seems a short time ago since we were back in school after the Christmas break having seen some excellent birds throughout Thailand with Richard and Gaynor.  We had been especially impressed by the mountain of Chiang Dao and the nearby Malee Nature Lover's Resort.  The name does no justice to the place! Eunice and I decided to drive north this time and stop at Beuang Boraphet near Nakorn Sawan in search of duck.  It is the largest natural freshwater lake in Thailand.  We hired a boat for three hours, which cruised across the water and took us close to some excellent birds.

Purple Swamphen is a common bird here which tries to get at the fish inside the fishermen's nets.  Unfortunately, they can get in but not out.  Our boatman worked for the Parks Department and released as many as he could find as we cruised the lake.

I even got the chance to handle one myself.

We came across a big flock of Glossy Ibis which took to the air in an impressive show of iridescent plumage.

At last we caught up with both male and female Siberian Rubythoat

which showed really well eventually.

  Why is it that I seem to struggle to see Coot wherever I go?  At last, what a mega!

So on to Chiang Dao which took a total of nine hours driving to reach from BKK.

It was worth it with good views but bad photographs of both male and female Hume's Pheasant, Rufous-flanked Scimitar Babbler and a very obliging flock of Spot-winged Grosbeak to name but a few highlights.

Another day we pressed further north to Doi Ang Krang which is up against the Myanmar border.  Frank got shelled when he visited 15 years ago in a dispute between the Thais and Burmese but we had no such trouble, although I am told it still happens from time to time.

The main problem is the loss of habitat created by extensive burning of the forest for clearance.  The air was thick with smoke that stung the eyes and caught in the throat.  As evening drew on it reminded me of the 19century folk songs that describe the furnaces of Sheffield and liken it to hell.  We were told the reasons were twofold, to clear the undergrowth to encourage the lucrative growth of mushrooms and to create a firebreak.  Well they are certainly succeeding with the latter.

Despite the destruction, there are some areas of forest which remain untouched and we discovered good birds such as this Red-faced Liocichla and a very obvious Scaly Thrush which was being spooked by a Changeable Hawk Eagle hanging around in the trees nearby.

Back to Doi Chiang Dao for a second trip up the mountain.  You have to start very early, about 5.30, and drive up very rough tracks to the mountain.  This takes about an hour but you arrive just as the day is breaking and hear the forest come to life around you.  There is rarely anyone else about and the tranquility is almost religious.

Flycatchers put in a great showing with Rufous-throated Flycatcher and the male slaty-backed Flycatcher showing particularly well.

As always, I end up with some female flycatchers to identify at a later date.  Anyone any thoughts on the one below?  I think it could be Slaty Blue Flycatcher or Slaty-backed Flycatcher but any comments gratefully received.  It looked quite a bit smaller and darker than the Slaty-backed I've seen before.

Spot-winged Grosbeak was a surprise beside the Sub Station but when I read through the records it has been fairly regular here.

I put this one in for you Gaynor.  Just at the entrance of the Wat.

Flycatchers again.  Anyone any thoughts?  It looks like one of the Blue Flycatchers but I wondered if it is a Leucistic male?

We visited the Wat a number of times and this bird never showed until our last day.  We turned a corner and there it was, walking about the monks quarters as if it owned the place!

On the way back we stopped at Boraphet again and saw loads of Pied Kingfisher.

More Raptors

This time we managed to connect with the Raptor Festival near Petchaburi.  Despite there being loud music belting out 'Country Roads' and hits by, very appropriately, The Eagles, there were loads of birds of prey in the area.  Good views of Steepe Eagle, another Imperial Eagle,  dark phase Booted Eagle and a couple of surprises, two Black-headed Ibis over and a Watercock on a nearby flooded rice paddy.

The local teachers enjoying letting their hair down with some performances of Thai favourites.  Their students watched with obvious admiration and were later brought up to be presented to us to practise their English.  It's not all beer and sandwiches being a student you know.

Two Black-headed Ibis were drawn to the sound of Neil Young's After the Gold Rush and, not being able to believe their ears, came to have a closer look.

This Steepe Eagle gave some good views.

As did this dark phase Booted Eagle.  At one point it folded its wings back and plunged like a stone towards the ground causing the local bird population to scatter in panic.  Had me going as well!

This week's winner of the Hide and Seek prize is this Watercock.

Raptors near Petchaburi

This weekend we went to an area north of Petchaburi which has a fabulous concentration of raptors over the winter.  These include Pied and Eastern Marsh Harriers,  Black, Brahminy and Black Shouldered Kites and Greater Spotted, Steppe and Imperial Eagles.  It is a 1.5 hour drive from Bangna.  The views of the eagles were spectacular with at least five Greater Spotted, two Steppe and an Imperial Eagle showing really well.

 Black Kite (Black-Eared Kite)

 Greater Spotted Eagle

 Juvenile Imperial Eagle.  This bird flew so close to us and could be seen looking intently at us it circled.

 Steppe Eagle

 A view across the rice fields.  A month ago these fields were filled with rice and now the rice has been harvested and the stubble is being burned.  This tree was full of Black Kites first thing in the morning with at least twenty filling the branches.

Two Steppe Eagles showing their size variation 

Christmas 2011

Well we have had our second Christmas and New Year in Thailand and apart from missing a bit of snow, no regrets at all. This holiday Richard and Gaynor joined us for the three weeks and we travelled from the Gulf of Thailand to Keang Krachan, over to Cambodia then back and up north to Doi Inthanon and Doi Chiang Dao.  Some fantastic wildlife experiences of both animals and birds including two more close sightings of Leopard, Gaur and a mighty three metre King Cobra.  Below is a collection of some of the photographs.

The above is a Banded Langur which showed well at KK.

I caught up at last with the Black-faced Spoonbill at Leam Pak Bia.  What a great bird.

Yet another Leopard!  From the photographs it is clearly a different individual to the one we saw in early December.  This one has no white ear flashes.

We stopped at Mr Deang's on Doi Inthanon and this superb Asian Stubtail performed at the end of the feeding chute.  Not an easy bird to see in Thailand.

We were fantastically lucky to arrive at the summit of Doi Inthanon on New Years Day.  It was heaving with visitors and we had to abandon the car and walk the last kilometre to the top because of traffic! However, as a result, the Airforce opened the radar station to all comers and we were able to walk around the site and found this rare male Blue-fronted Redstart on the far side of the station.  Thanks to the Thai Airforce.

 Where the track finishes on the top of Doi Chiang Dao we found four Chestnut Buntings including this male.  There was also a female White-bellied Redstart.

 We went out to the sandspit at Leam Pak Bia and saw two Chinese Egrets. White-faced and Malasian Plovers also showed well.

 Chestnut-headed Bee Eaters were in evidence at many places on our trip but were no less spectacular for that.

 KK provided the only two Eye-browed Thrushes of the trip.  Great views though.

 Not often I can claim to have seen a flock of Spoon-billed Sandpiper but seven were together at Pak Thale.  Here are five of them for your enjoyment.

 The early morning trip to Doi Chiang Dao was well worth the effort with fantastic views over mist filled valleys and these Giant Nuthatch.

 On our last day Richard commented "Well just time to pull out a big one!"  Right on cue four Himalayan Griffon Vultures drifted over Malees (Doi Chiang Dao) heading north.  Now that is what I call timing.

 At the other end of our trip, almost the first bird we saw was a Greater Spotted Eagle

 Mr Deang's feeding station also turned up a very obliging Lesser Shortwing.  With White-browed Shortwing at the summit it made up for the no show on our previous visit.

 Mrs Gould must have been so proud to put her name to such fantastic birds.  This one fed on the blossoms at the top of Doi Chiang Dao looking stunning in the morning light.  The photograph doesn't do it justice.

 At KK we found a different track to explore.  At the entrance we found 30 Chestnut-tailed Starlings feeding on the blossom trees and amongst them was a Spot-winged Starling.

 Eunice took this fantastic photograph of a female Red-headed Trogon.

 Collared Babbler showed well at Km 28 KK.

 KK is so good for woodpeckers but this Common Flameback was particularly photogenic.

 We found three Orange-headed Thrushes at KK.  They were a real highlight.

 I don't know what this flycatcher is.  I suspect it is female Hill Blue but it had very little red on the breast.  Anyone any thoughts?

This Crested Serpent Eagle flew along the road in front of us for a while before settling in a tree and allowing us great views.

 Common Rosefinch at the top of Doi Chiang Dao at the sub station.

 I think this is a King Cobra.  It was big!  Anyone any thoughts?

 Female Slaty-backed Flycatcher.

 KK never lets us down as far as White-handed Gibbon are concerned and yet again we had great views of this wonderful mammal.

 Plumbeous Redstart.

And last but by no means least, male White-browed Shrike Babbler.  Its song was everywhere in the upper mountains.