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16 - 18 July 2013.
Mostly dry. Overcast and warm.
Bueng Boraphet and Mae Ping National Park.

Asian Golden Weaver

Great Myna

Jacobin Cuckoo

Checked into a hotel in town and around 16:00 went to search fields on the northern side of the lake. A wander through various scrub and lake edge produced the usual suspects such as Cinnamon Bittern, Purple Heron, Grey-headed Swamphen, Yellow Bittern, Striated Weaver and Asian Golden Weaver. Slightly more unusual were Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, Chestnut Munia, Chestnut-tailed Starling, and a small green bird with a longish tail hanging out with the weavers, that eventually proved to be a Budgerigar! What's with the feral birds today?

On the return walk to the vehicle came across four very large and very male Water Buffalo blocking the track. Not being able to bypass them - the track edges adjacent to ditches and thick scrub - resorted to shouting, and throwing rocks, which made not one iota of difference. This actually made things worse, and as they started to approach the only option seemed to be to climb a tree, and feeling pretty stupid by now. Eventually they passed under the tree and no sooner had they gone 20 metres past than a motorcycle with a couple of farmers came along. Evidently these buffalo had a reputation, as the farmers stopped as well, pulled out a fire cracker and threw it at the buffalo. This made no impression whatsoever and it took a further three firecrackers for them to nonchalantly wander off the track. Descended the tree and returned to the vehicle just in time as the rain started.

17 Jul. Return to the northern shores. This time the buffalo sighted and well entrenched in the wetland mimosa and a way off. The whole morning produced a flyover Jacobin Cuckoo, further Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, a Spot-billed Pelican and a few Red Avadavat. Late morning returned to the hotel, checked out and headed to the southern shore Waterbird Park, but very disappointing due to the time of year and time of day - almost birdless other than a lone Watercock. Left 13:00 to drive the five hours to Li.

Spotted Angle

18 Jul. On arrival early at Mae Ping, overcast and a very pleasant 23°C. Most of the morning birding Thung Kik road with the usual selection of woodpeckers including Black-headed Woodpecker, Greater Yellownape and White-bellied Woodpecker.

Common Red Pierrot

A few other species of note including Orange-breasted Trogon and Large Woodshrike. Moved on to Kor Luang Waterfall where disappointed to find the National Park office has been improving the area by clearing out forest understorey and felling trees to create ornamental fences which will rot away within a couple of years. A lot of clearance of bamboo. A walk to the falls produced nothing ornithological of note, but some interesting butterflies were present in the area. In the heat of the day drove back to Chiang Mai.

Tawny Coster