At the very start of the boardwalk I'd been tipped off about a particular berry-bearing small tree and within minutes this morning I'd scooped with both Eyebrowed Thrush and Grey-sided Thrush feeding side by side. A slow methodical anti-clockwise walk aroud the boardwalk gave me some of the same birds as yesterday (10+ Chestnut-sided White-eyes, Flavescent Bulbul and several Rufous-winged Fulvetta). The best was saved till last however because in the darkest section of the walk about 3/4 of the way around a marvellous male White-browed Shortwing showed followed quickly by one of the area specialities Pygmy Wren Babbler. I also managed to nail the other speciality here in the form of 2 Ashy-throated Warblers. Outside the marsh hollow along the side of the road walking towards the summit radar station a fantastic male Mrs Gould's Sunbird showed well in the trees and with the early morning sun catching the vegetation several Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrushes, Chestnut-tailed Minlas and a Yellow-bellied Fantail emerged. Grabbing a coffee at the small shop by the radar station we took it out onto the small balcony to drink. From the balcony a mega male Green-tailed Sunbird showed extremely well and was very welcome bearing in mind I'd only seen females up to that point. A glance downward from the balcony upon hearing a rusting and 2 skulking Rufous-throated Partidges were feeding. Then a single Dark-backed Sibia decided to fly in and perch right in front of me by the shop enrance door!
A look at the scrubby bushes at the far end of the carpark had me photographing an immature male Mrs Gould's Sunbird and also clocking c10 Common Rosefinches, including some nice bright males.
Chestnut-tailed Minla
Chestnut-tailed Minla
Mrs Gould's Sunbird
Green-tailed Sunbird
Rufous-throated Partridge
Dark-backed Sibia
Mrs Gould's Sunbird
Rufous-winged Fulvetta
Next we paid a quick visit to the Chedi again where Buff-throated Warbler was joined by a showy Yellow-browed Warbler, a couple of Dark-backed Sibias and a Grey Bushchat were seen and while Belinda was using the facilities a Mountain Hawk Eagle glided through.
Mountain Hawk Eagle
Yellow-browed Warbler
Dropping down from the summit area our next thought was to take the side road off just up from the 2nd checkpoint at km37.5 as this was signposted to some hot springs. These turned out to be bloody miles away so instead we visited the Mae Pan Waterfall. To reach this waterfall it's a bit of a drive followed by a 15 minute walk along a narrow path through the forest. What this means is that it's quiet and we were really glad we made the effort. The waterfall is amazing and so was the birding! On the walk 2 Black Bulbuls, 2 Mountain Bulbuls, Streaked Spiderhunter and 2 Spangled Drongos were seen and once at the water the hoped for birds appeared one after the other - White-capped Water Redstart and then 2 Plumbeous Water Redstarts - yay! On the walk back when nearly back to the car a small 'bird wave' went through. Alas most of the birds were really high in the canopy and impossible to id but birds that were loosely associated with it included a lovely White-bellied Yuhina and my first Black-throated Sunbird. The close by Huai Sai Luang Waterfall gave us another White-capped Water Redstart. On the way back up the road to rejoin the main Doi Inthanon road we stopped so I could scan some hirundines and these turned out to be c20 Asian House Martins.
White-capped Water Redstart
Plumbeous Water Redstart
Plumbeous Water Redstart
White-capped Water Redstart
Lunch called so it was back down to km31 (via a Large Niltava by the road at km32) to 'our' cafe where an Indian Roller sat high in a tree. Over lunch we decide to head further down to km13 for look at the very different forest at that elevation. And it has to be said we got it wrong because by now it was unbearably hot and a short walk by the bridge and river there yielded only 2 Golden-fronted Leafbirds, a Black-crested Bulbul and Grey Wagtail before we gave up.
After a brief siesta at our room (during which I sneaked out for a quick walk seeing 3 Chinese Water Herons, Black-crested Bulbul, Streak-eared Bulbul, 3+ Indian Rollers, Olive-backed Sunbird, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Cattle Egret and Green Bee-eater) we went in search of one of the specialities of the Inthanon Highland area - Blossom-headed Parakeet. Directed to a viewing platform by a 'sort of' warden I eventually saw one after several others he claimed but which were always behind a tree! 2 Lineated Barbets showed distantly and several Red-rumped Swallows were gathering to roost. The guy eventually decided to escort us (i.e. following him on his moped) to a spot where Blossom-headed Parakeets feed in tamarind trees and it was here we managed to see about 30 of these delightful birds as the light faded. Then we had to pose for a photograph and write a note for him to put in his scrapbook!
Blossom-headed Parakeets
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