Mae Wong National Park

During February 17th-19th we visited Mae Wong National Park, spending two full days and a morning in the park, where we saw some fantastic birds. The star bird for me was a male Rufous-necked Hornbill which flew past us at close range, whilst sitting out the heat of the day, Fred getting an excellent photo.

We spent a couple of hours at one of the waterholes one morning and an afternoon at a different feeding area, the rest of the time spent birding the road down from the Chong Yen campsite and the first part of the Umpang trail. Other excellent birds included a Grey-peacock Pheasant, 3 Rufous-throated Partridge, 2 Barred Cuckoo Dove, Little Cuckoo Dove, 3 Pintail Green Pigeon, Mountain Hawk Eagle, a pair of nest building Long-tailed Broadbill, 2 Yellow-cheeked Tit, Lesser Shortwing, 8 Sulphur-breasted Warbler, 4 Coral-billed Scimiter Babbler, 6 Spot-necked Babbler, 2 Streaked Wren Babbler, 20 White-necked Laughingthrush, 3 Black-throated Laughingthrush, 4 White-tailed Robin and 2 Rufous-bellied Niltava.

Commoner species recorded included Dollarbird, Golden-throated Barbet, White-browed Piculet, Bay Woodpecker, Large Hawk Cuckoo, 3 Large Cuckooshrike, 6 Rosy Minivet, Red-billed Blue Magpie, 4 Grey Treepie, Golden Babbler, 6 Silver-eared Laughingthrush, Stiated Yuhina, 6 Northern White-crowned Forktail and numerous Blue-whistling Thrush.

Now half way through Fred and Marian's trip, Mae Ping National Park next, trip list over 300 species and the 85 and 87 year olds as keen and enthusiastic as ever.