Wan Awk Pansa

Sooty-headed Bulbuls
Chiang Dao

Spent the morning birding around Wat Tham Pha Phlong Chiang Dao, the temple was much busier than usual due it being Wan Awk Pansa the final day of the buddist lent period, despite this there were plenty of birds around the temple car park and road. Fruiting trees just past the wildlife sanctuary held good numbers of bulbuls with Black-crested, Black-headed, Sooty-headed, Puff-throated, Stripe-throated, Red-whiskered and Grey-eyed all recorded. In the tall trees many Black-hooded and Black-naped Orioles were noted, along with several Violet Cuckoo, Greater-racket Tailed Drongo and party of 15 Large Woodshirkes. There were also many leaf warblers around especially Yellow-browed and Two-barred, but also at least five Blyth's Leaf. In Bamboo along the steps there was several Yellow-bellied Warblers, Brown-cheeked Fulvetta and a Purple-naped Sunbird. In a quiet corner of the car park a male Siberian Blue Robin showed briefly and a much more obliging Grey-backed Shrike was present. Other species recorded around the temple included several calling Scaly-breasted Partridge, Blue-eared Barbet, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Blue Rock Thrush, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Scarlet Minivet, Bar-winged Flycatcher Shrike, Grey Wagtail and many Streaked and Small Spiderhunters.

Nearly back at the resort a White-rumped Shama sang loudly and a pair of Blue-beared Bee-eater were showed well and the sky was full of Crested Treeswift and Striated Swallow.