Rusty-naped Pitta

I have been at Chiang Dao for the past week, but there has been no internet until today, despite being fixed three times in a week! though I have been busy helping out at Malee's for much of the week, I have still managed to get out do a fair bit of birding and have seen an excellent selection of birds and butterflies.

The Gully

I spent three mornings on the gully trail, at the nearby temple, where star bird was a Rusty-naped Pitta which crossed the stream on my third visit, after having heard it on both of the previous two mornings, this was the first I have seen at Chiang Dao for several years. Other interesting species seen along the gully included four Collared Babbler, two Asian Stubtail, Red-headed Trogon, Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo, pair of Northern White-crowned Forktail, Eye-browed Wren Babbler, two Siberian Blue Robin and three Purple-naped Sunbird.

Blue-throated Barbet

Blue-eared Barbet

General birding around the temple has also been good, with lots of Blue-eared and Blue-throated Barbets feeding in fruiting trees, along with a good selection bulbuls and Yellow-vented, Plain and Thick-billed Flowerpecker. Also seen around the temple were three Rosy Minivet, two Sultan Tit, Streaked Wren Babbler, White-browed Piculet, Rufous Woodpecker, three Striated Yuhina, Grey-backed Shrike, 2 Claudia's Leaf Warbler, Marten's Warbler, Great Iora, Black-throated Sunbird and many Asian Paradise Flycatchers.

Drongo Cuckoo

Cuckoo's are currently calling everywhere with at least 8 Drongo Cuckoo calling in the area, with a pair showing well near the temple gates, and Banded Bay, Plaintive, Asian Emerald and Violet Cuckoo all heard or seen.     

Grey-backed Shrike

Birds around or over the garden at Malee's include many display Shikra, several Crested Serpant Eagle, Crested Goshawk, Black Baza, Striated Swallows, White-rumped Shama, Crested Treeswift, two Brown Needletail, Emerald Ground Dove and Grey-crowned Warbler. Birds nesting in the garden include Common Tailorbird, two pairs of Red-whiskered Bulbul and a Striped Tit Babbler which has nested right alongside the main path and must get flushed off it nest at least fifty times a day, . 

Highlights of a trip up to DYK included three Hume's Pheasant, six Giant Nuthatch, 11 Spot-winged Grosbeak, two Silver-breasted Broadbill, four Burmese Shrike, two White-bellied Redstart, three Aberrant Bush Warbler, two Slender-billed Oriole, Dollarbird and a Black-tailed Crake head trilling around the pond.  

A Spot-bellied Eagle Owl has been calling and seen several nights near the wildlife HQ, with Asian-barred and Collared Owlet, Collared and Mountain Scops, Brown Boobok and Large-tailed Nightjar heard most nights.

The very approachable Silver Pheasant is still in residence at the temple