We left Li at 5.15am and arrived at the Blossom-headed Parakeet conservation area just as it got light. We viewed the area from an observation tower and for half hour enjoyed the views and the birds in equal measure. The presumed owner arrived with is suitcase of a stereo player and blasted out the calls of the Parakeet.
Eventually a small group were seen bolting it over to the other side of the valley, but thankfully a smaller group landed in some trees close to us and showed nicely. With this in the bag we headed into the NP with one of our main targets today being a species of Forktail. First up were a series of waterfalls, and with the area being quiet from tourists, there were none to be seen, however some Plumbeous Redstarts and White-capped Water Redstarts were very nice to see, especially the latter. We moved higher up into the park stopping just after the second checkpoint at 37.5KM where a very narrow trail led into the forest.
Although this trail is short we spent a couple of hours on it as there were regular species flocks moving through, and the already annoying Slaty-bellied Tesias failed to show despite several singing away. Flycatchers stole the show for me here, with both White-gorgeted and Little Pied Flycatcher being seen. The species flocks consisted more so of Leaf Warblers then anything else, with Davison’s being the first to be identified, whilst Claudia’s was a retrospective second.
Next up was another Waterfall but still no Forktails here, but still some good birds with the highlight being a stunning Rufous-bellied Niltava. Again the Leaf Warblers featured causing her more id headaches, on top of the already dehydrated and hunger headaches. With it now being mid afternoon we concentrated our efforts around Vatcharitan Waterfall, but with so many tourists it was inevitable we would fail, and so the much quieter Sirithan Waterfall was chosen. Viewing here was difficult so I walked down onto the river edges and straight away flushed a Forktail. I got the attention of the others by my typically panicking actions and using the laser pointer as some sort of distress signal. Thankfully they joined me quickly with Ian acting more like Tarzan swinging down the slopes. The stunning Slaty-backed Forktail performed for a short time before disappearing. It wasn’t until much later that we saw the bird again, with it this time showing closer but never hanging around.
A big relief so now we can concentrate plenty of time in the forests with still plenty of targets left to find.
Highlights for the day are as follows:
Blossom-headed Parakeet (L) - 9
Pacific/Cook’s Swift - 4
Red-billed Blue Magpie - 8
Black-hooded Oriole - 2
Yellow-bellied Fantail (L) - 1
Long-tailed Minivet - 4
Golden-fronted Leafbird - 3
Blue Whistlng Thrush - 6
Eyebrowed Thrush - 30
White-tailed Robin - 2
Plumbeous Water Redstart - 7
White-capped Water Redstart (L) - 4
Slaty-backed Forktail (L) - 1
Pied Bushchat - 1
White-gorgeted Flycatcher (L) - 1
Little Pied Flycatcher (L) - 1
Rufous-bellied Niltava (L) - 1
Chestnut-tailed Starling - 20
Hume’s Treecreeper (L) - 1
Striated Swallow - 4
Slaty-bellied Tesia - 4h
Chinese Leaf Warbler (L) - 1
Pale-legged Leaf Warbler - 1
Two-Barred Warbler - 1
Claudia’s Leaf Warbler (L) - 20
Davison’s Leaf Warbler (L) - 2
Eastern Crowned Warbler - 2
Rufous-winged Fulvetta (L) - 10
Yunnan Fulvetta (L) - 3
Purple Sunbird - 2
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Davison's Leaf Warbler at Doi Inthanon
The first and easiest of the Leaf Warbler complex.
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| Little Pied Flycatcher at Doi Inthanon |
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| Rufous-winged Fulvetta at Doi Inthanon |
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Plumbeous Redstart at Doi Inthanon - courtesy of Ian's
flash allowing more light for me
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| Blue Whistling Thrush at Doi Inthanon |
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| Slaty-backed Forktail at Doi Inthanon |
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| the view from the Parakeet tower |
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| Doi Inthanon entrance |
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| Wachirathan Waterfall, Doi Inthanon |
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| Downstream from Sirithan Waterfall |
