Doi Inthanon National Park

February 21st-24th was spent birding at Doi Inthanon National Park, in the past I have stayed outside the park and driven in each day, a trip of 30-40 kilometers, this time i decided we would stay at Mr Deang's near the HQ, this was a great choice, the accommodation was fine and Mr Deang and his family were great and friendly hosts. The only downside was that our visit coincided with the weekend, which meant there was lots of traffic along the road in the mornings and the summit was very busy and noisy. Despite all this we managed to see some excellent birds.

Grey-cheeked Fulvetta
by Fred Rowe

Large Niltava
by Fred Rowe

Much of the time was spent birding around the second checkpoint and at a small feeding station nearby, where a Pygmy Wren Babbler showed ridiculously well, at times feeding out in the open at the side of the road down to a few feet. Also coming into worms and bananas was a male Small Niltava, female Rufous-bellied Niltava and several Grey-cheeked Fulvetta. Best birds in trees and scrub along the roadside were several calling Rufous-throated Partridge, 3 Ashy Woodpigeon, 3 Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, male Asian Emerald Cuckoo, 4 Maroon Oriole, Short-billed and Grey-chinned Minivet, several Eye-browed Thrush, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, 5 Little Pied Flycatcher, 2 Vivid Niltava, 3 Large Niltava, 2 Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, 3 Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Silver-eared Laughingthrush, 3 Silver-eared Mesia, Black-eared Shrike Babbler, 2 Spectacled Barwing, male Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker and several Black-throated and Gould's Sunbirds.

Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker
by Fred Rowe

Our initial visit to the summit and boardwalk coincided with several noisy groups of non birding tourist, but on a return on our final morning we had the place to ourselves, where there were 3 Rufous-throated Partridge, Eurasian Woodcock, 2 Yellow-bellied Fantail, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, 2 Dark-sided Thrush, Ashy-throated Warblers, 2 Pygmy Wren Babbler and several Green-tailed and Gould's Sunbirds.

Despite the Siriphum Waterfall being very busy, a Slaty-backed Forktail showed well and a Northern White-crowned Forktail was seen briefly. Back at Mr Deang's a White-browed Shortwing was seen several times feeding in the gully at the back of the restaurant, as well as a female Siberian Blue Robin and Blue-whistling Thrush.