Birds of Northern Thailand - Part 3

On the 3rd day of my trip, as usual, we hit the road at 6 am and by 7am we have reached the first birding location. It was a Monday and most of the weekend birders had gone home. They were less people at the Mountain  Bamboo-Partridge location. This increased the chances that the targeted birds would come out from the bushes. We quickly set up the blinds and fitted the tripod, lens, camera and got ready for actions. The previous sighting was at 8 am, I was very nervous as the time ticking and got nearer. I would not want to go home without a single photo of the  Mountain  Bamboo-Partridge. Suddenly I heard a long burst of shutter from my fellow photographer who was hidden in a blind besides mine. I immediately check my viewfinder, bingo, the male and female came out from the bushes and fed on the food found at the road-side.

I was very delighted to get the photo lifer of the Mountain Bamboo-Partridge. I made my first try about 2 years at another location at Doi Lang but it was an unsuccessful attempt. It was a "dream come true" at this location. 

Thanks for reading.

Birds of Northern Thailand - Part 2

On the 2nd day of the trip we headed up Doi Lang. We left the hotel at 6.00 am and by 7.00 am we reached the first birding location.

The orange-light of the dawn at far side of the horizon:

We set-up blinds at our first birding location and waited anxiety for the Mountain Bamboo Partridge. 

Unfortunately the target did not show up and it was probably disturbed by the loud talking noise from another 2 blinds at our opposite location, Arrh......... !

The first species that appeared was the Olive-backed Pipit :

The next one was my first lifer of the day, Chestnut-bellied Rock-Thrush (Male and Female) :

Male Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush

After that we decided to come out from the blind and looked for birds along the road. Guide A heard a vibrating trill of "duiduiduiduidui", he quickly pointed towards a tree. It was a Chestnut-vented Nuthatch perched high up at a small branch. I managed to make few shots but the Nuthatch took off and flew away.

After 1/2 hour later, we hit the road and headed to the next location. This location was the highlight of the day. This was the location where birders had sighted species of White-browed Laughingthrush and Spot-breasted Laughingthrush.

My another lifer of the day, Spot-breasted Laughingthrush:

White-browed Laughingthrush:

White-bellied Redstart, a winter migrant from the Northern Hemisphere:

Siberian Rubythroat (Female) :

Later in the afternoon, at the same location, I managed to photographed the Spot-breasted Parrotbill :

The "Grand Finale" of the day, a very rare resident species, Cutia.

As the sun was going down on the far horizon, the evening sun casted an orange light on the mountain road. It created a very beautiful scenery. You can almost hear the gentle breeze as you see the light wavy movements of the greenery lining the road and it gave the area a very peaceful ambience. This is one of those most treasured and prized moment that comes along with bird photography. 

Birds of Northern Thailand - Part 1

 It has been about a year that I last updated this blog. Many apology to the followers that frequently visited this site. I was too indulged on my new leisure activities, street photography and mountain biking. Two weeks ago, I came across this movie about birds watching in HBO called "The Big Year". The movie gave me some good "flashback memory" of the my past bird activities. It reminded me of the fun and excitement of photographing each new lifers. So I decided to start blogging about my bird photography activities again.

Hmmr... what should I write ? Ok I shall start with my last January birding trip to Northern Thailand. It was an 4 days 3 nights trip Doi Ang Khang and Doi Lang. The main objective of the trip was to see some northern winter migrant birds that stop-overed at this area.

Day 1 - Doi Ang Khang :

I arrived at Chiang Mai airport at 8.00 am. My guide Mr Guide A greeted me at the arrival hall. We headed straight to Doi Ang Khang.

The beautiful scenery at Ban Long Resort, Doi Ang Khang

White-headed Bulbul at a fruiting tree at Ban Long Resort:

After that, we went inside the King Agriculture Project Farm to look for some migrant species of Thrush :

Unloaded the gears and equipments at the site

My 3 lifers of the day, the Scaly Thrush :

Scaly Thrush

Japanese Thrush :

Black-breasted Thrush :

Female Black-breasted Thrush

Male Black-breasted Thrush

White-tailed Robin :

Later in the afternoon, we leaved Doi Ang Khang and proceeded to the town of Fang.

Thanks for reading.