Checkpoint Cuckoos

Orange-headed Thrush

Yesterday morning I walked from Malee's to the checkpoint along the Muang Khong road, there were plenty of birds just before the checkpoint and just after. A noticeable feature of the morning was the large number of cuckoo's either seen or heard calling. Several Violet Cuckoo's flew between tall trees along the road, a couple of Plaintive Cuckoo's called near Malee's. At the checkpoint, a pair of stunning Emerald Cuckoo's showed well in a dead tree and nearby an obliging Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo showed well and was the first I have seen for sometime. Both Banded Bay and Drongo Cuckoo's were also singing at the checkpoint. Three Oriental Pied Hornbills flew high over the road as did three Pin-tailed Green Pigeons. Also along the road and around the checkpoint were a pair of Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Blue-winged and Golden-fronted Leafbirds, four Rosy Minivets, Black-winged Cuckooshrike, Siberian Stonechat, Rufescent Prinia, Ruby-cheeked and Purple Sunbird and at least 20 Olive-backed Pipits.

At the checkpoint I decided to follow the gully which leads out the back of the checkpoint, though overgrown in places, the birding was excellent. Best birds along here was a surprise Dark-sided Thrush and an Orange-headed Ground Thrush, two Scaly-breasted Partridge, a small group of Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush, three White-browed Piculet, four Lesser Yellownape, pair of White-crowned Forktail and an Asian Stubtail. Commoner species seen included Red Junglefowl, two Blue-bearded Bee-eater, three Emerald Ground Doves, Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, three Siberian Blue Robin, Buff-breasted and Rufous-fronted Babblers, Brown-cheeked Fluvetta and three Common Rosefinch in seeding bamboo.