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17 -21 Dec 2021.
Generally pleasant and dry. Variable cloud cover. Temperatures ranged from 12°C to 25°C.
Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, Doi Lang, Doi Ang Khang, Fang Paddies and Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park.

Indian Purple Emperor

White-spectacled Warbler

Black-headed Greenfinch

Purple Swift

Chestnut-eared Bunting

With, in parts, Andy Pierce and Matti Sakari. This trip was hatched due to two new bird species for Thailand, present for the last couple of weeks, in the northern mountains. An opportunity too good to miss.

17 Dec. As the three of us were arriving from different directions, with the initial plan to meet in Fang late afternoon, the opportunity was taken en route from Chiang Mai, to drop into Chiang Dao to check butterfly activity. A couple of hours were passed around the usual checkpoint from 12:00 - 14:30, finding a reasonable selection of species for the time of year. Pick of the bunch was Circe, Indian Purple Emperor and Chocolate Royal. A late change of plan rerouted the journey to Fang via Doi Ang Khang, where we met up for a short session searching unsuccessfully for our first target - Grey-capped Greenfinch. Drove to Fang for the first of four nights.

18 Dec. A day on Doi Lang in search of Thailand's bird of the moment - White-spectacled Warbler. It was highly ironic that, on our drive in, four Mrs. Hume's Pheasant were simply standing in the road at their usual spot, the very bird that had frustrated us no end two weeks previously. Sometimes life is just not fair. Due to the cool conditions bird activity remained low. Within the first hour we had a frustrating glimpse of White-spectacled Warbler, but then spent several hours grilling any Martens's Warbler or Grey-crowned Warbler we came across. Eventually however, the White-spectacled Warbler put in an appearance, and once found was relatively straightforward to keep tabs on. Definitely not the easiest of birds to photograph it must be said. Surprisingly for a warbler of the golden-spectacled complex it remained totally silent. The remainder of the day we partook of a series of walks racking up a nice collection including Grey-headed Parakeet, Black-throated Bushtit, Chinese Leaf Warbler, Spectacled Barwing, Sapphire Flycatcher, Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush and Himalayan Cutia.

19 Dec. With one target in the bag, we returned to Doi Ang Khang for a second attempt at Grey-capped Greenfinch. Although some other diehards had arrived by 07:00. we arrived by 08:00, and with the temperature barely around 12°C, joined them standing on the windswept hill top wondering why we were even considering this. Most unpleasant conditions. But then, after three and a half hours standing around, magically a group of 50 Black-headed Greenfinch dropped into one of the surrounding exposed trees. Even more amazingly the Grey-capped Greenfinch was actually with them. We were then treated to extended views in perfect light as the flock dawdled around, preening, in the tree. Suitably invigorated we spent a couple of hours checking roadside vegetation for butterflies, before descending late afternoon to Fang paddies. This proved rather interesting with three Grey-headed Swamphen, seemingly a new record for the area, Chestnut-eared Bunting, Peregrine Falcon, Bluethroat, Eurasian Teal, Ferruginous Duck and Garganey. A couple of better butterflies were Pygmy Scrub Hopper and Common Bush Hopper.

20 Dec. The day was dedicated to a purely experimental look at Doi Pha Hom Pok for butterflies. Initially we concentrated on areas above 1,400 metres, but by midday, finding almost nothing, we worked the flowering roadside edges down the mountain from 1,200 - 800 metres. This proved quite fruitful with some interesting skippers found: Purple Swift, Oblique-branded Dart and Overlapped Ace.

21 Dec. A decidedly lazy start, leaving Fang at 09:00 with a few hours en route to Chiang Mai, spent at Chiang Dao. Similar species to those seen four days ago. A late afternoon return to Chiang Mai.