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30 Nov - 8 Dec 2014.
Dry throughout with variable cloud cover. Temperatures down to 6°C with slight ground frost.
Mae Hia Agriculture Research Station, Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Dao, Doi Ang Khang, Doi Lang, Chiang Saen and Huay Hong Khrai.

Fire-breasted Flowerpecker

Plain Flowerpecker

1 Dec. Unlike the usual freeze standing around at the summit at dawn, this morning was a relatively pleasant 6°C with little wind. We had several fly over Ashy Wood Pigeon - nice to see these again as last year they had been far less reliable. We concentrated on the summit boardwalk before the mob arrived, finding Dark-sided Thrush again, plus the usual Green-tailed Sunbird, Buff-barred Warbler, Rufous-winged Fulvetta and Ashy-throated Warbler, but not the hoped for Snowy-browed Flycatcher or Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker.

Tailed Judy

White-gorgeted Flycatcher

Himalayan Swiftlet

2 Dec. With only a further morning available for Doi Inthanon, and to add variety to our list, we opted for the dry forest at Km 13. As usual birds were thin on the ground, but the quality made up for the few species encountered. At least seven Collared Falconet, a single White-rumped Falcon, Black-headed Woodpecker heard and a stunning male Ultramarine Flycatcher. Following a drive to Chiang Dao, where we arrived mid afternoon, we birded the temple for a hour or so, but little in evidence, so we spent the last hour at the paddies east of town finding Citrine Wagtail, Chestnut-winged Starling, Greater Painted-snipe, Thick-billed Warbler. and a large number of Himalayan Swiftlet feeding low over the fields, giving some photo opportunities.

Lovebird sp.

Common Rosefinch

Cook's Swift

Davison's Warbler

The morning's haul included Eurasian Hoopoe, Striated Bulbul, Pygmy Cupwing, Spot-throated Babbler, Buff-barred Warbler, Pallas's Leaf Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Martens's Warbler, Red-eyed Scimitar Babbler, White-necked Laughingthrush, Scarlet-faced Liocichla, Spectacled Barwing, Swinhoe's White-eye, Small Niltava, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Daurian Redstart, Slaty-blue Flycatcher and Common Rosefinch. We then left for Fang, where in the late afternoon session exploring the paddies west of town we found two Eurasian Coot, Oriental Skylark, Bluethroat and Citrine Wagtail. An unfamiliar call, sounding distinctly parrot like was eventually traced to an escaped lovebird of cross-bred origins - quite a surprise.

5 Dec. A full day on the western side of Doi Lang. As access beyond the upper checkpoint was still not possible the day was structured into early morning on the lower ascent, mid day at upper levels and the rest of the afternoon somewhere in the middle. The day's haul was a good list including Mountain Bamboo Partridge, Mrs. Hume's Pheasant running across the road, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Necklaced Woodpecker, Greater Flameback, Black-throated Bushtit, Chestnut-capped Babbler, White-necked Laughingthrush, White-browed Laughingthrush, Spot-breasted Parrotbill, a good count of at least seven Giant Nuthatch, Hume's Treecreeper, White-gorgeted Flycatcher, Pale Blue Flycatcher, White-bellied Redstart, Slaty-blue Flycatcher, Sapphire Flycatcher, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush and 50 Common Rosefinch.

6 Dec. As the majority of the species remaining on the wish list were biased to the wetter, eastern, side of Doi Lang, we drove the long route around via Thaton and up the poor road on the eastern flank. Access through the upper Border Patrol Police checkpoint on this side had been variable of late, so we were not quite sure if we'd be successful in being able to drive to the top. Fortunately several other groups were already in the area, but the extremely drunk guard on the gate - probably this being a holiday weekend - initially tried to be difficult. However, having left passport we were able to proceed to the San Ju viewpoint. Windy and with fog only just lifting at 11:00, we failed to find either Fire-tailed Sunbird or Crested Finchbill. Descended again and spent most of the afternoon walking stretches of forest between the checkpoint and viewpoint. Another good day overall, with Bar-backed Partridge heard, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Crested Finchbill, Striated Bulbul, Black Bulbul, Asian House Martin, Slaty-bellied Tesia, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Black-throated Bushtit, Bianchi's Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Eyebrowed Wren-Babbler, Collared Babbler, Rufous-backed Sibia, Whiskered Yuhina, Hume's Treecreeper, Common Hill Myna, White-gorgeted Flycatcher and Small Niltava. Longish drive back to Fang.

Despite the heat, still one individual was found as well as an ocularis White Wagtail. A nearby pond held Pheasant-tailed Jacana and Chestnut-tailed Starling. In the heat of the afternoon we drove along the Mekong, scanning for Grey-throated Martin, with at least four found. The ever-increasing concreting and canalisation of the Mekong here has seriously diminished the number of martins, as breeding banks have disappeared. Scanning from the western side of Chiang Saen lake in the afternoon eventually located a number of ducks, including Ferruginous Duck and Garganey, but none of the recently found Great Crested Grebe, Horned Grebe or Black-necked Grebe. Evening at the harrier roost with at least 400 birds coming to roost.

8 Dec. Having met up with Andy the previous evening we decided to investigate the promising area around Tha Khao Pleuak where the small Mae Lua Lake is present. Navigating here, across numerous tracks and fields was interesting, but after an hour we arrived close enough to walk the remainder. The area held Eurasian Teal, Singing Bush Lark, Citrine Wagtail, Eastern Yellow Wagtail , Northern Pintail, Pied Harrier, Lesser Coucal, Burmese Shrike, Baikal Bush Warbler, House Sparrow and Ferruginous Duck. Left for Chiang Mai, dropping Andy at Chiang Rai airport and a late afternoon visit to Huay Hong Khrai where Green Peafowl successfully found. Despite the holiday weekend the area was rather quiet.

Pied Harrier

Citrine Wagtail