Introduction
Another trip to northern Thailand resulted in hiring a vehicle
in Chiang Mai and making our way north via Doi
Ang Kang to Thatorn. On the morning of the 5th February,
myself and Doug Judell made an early start, with breakfast
at the early morning market in Thatorn before driving towards
Fang Hot Springs in hope of seeing Spot-winged Grosbeak. However,
whilst driving on the by-pass around the town of Fang a rather
nice sunrise peeking through the mist captured our imagination
enough to make us stop. In truth the abundance of birds on
the surrounding rice paddies and stubble fields had more to
do with our decision to stop than our interest in landscapes.
Notes
With many of the rice fields that used to attract birders
to Thatorn having
made way to vegetable farming, it seemed that this area near
Fang had potential to fill that gap, and we weren't to be
disappointed. In just an hour, from 7 to 8 am we managed to
see twenty two species without walking more than one hundred
metres from our car. First to attract our attention was a
hunting Common Kestrel, a common enough bird if you are from
Europe but unusual enough in Thailand to be of interest, followed
by Red Turtle Dove, White-throated Kingfisher and a flock
of about thirty Eastern Cattle Egrets.
A small track into some grass caught our interest and despite
Doug's reluctance to use his legs I pursuaded him to join
me and the short walk into this habitat was to prove productive;
a pair of Zitting Cisticolas (Fan-tailed Warblers) were tricky
to see, but easily heard with Eastern Stonechat and Pied Bushchat
very easy to observe. In the distance, amongst some semi-burnt
undergrowth, we spoteed some movement that seemed like it
might prove interesting so off we went to investigate. Very
soon a Bluethroat showed itself; a bird which is a fairly
common bird in Thailand, but not one that I see that often,
and shortly after that, something else was moving around.
A few brief glimpses made us think that it looked like a Siberian
Rubythroat, again a fairly common bird but usually tricky
to get a good view of, but after the initial fleeting glipses
it obligingly came out into the open to confirm the identification
and display its colourful throat.
We watched this for about 15 minutes before deciding to get
to the Hot Springs before the temperature got too high, but
not before flushing a number of Green Sandpipers from some
muddy pools and finally tracking down an uncharacteristically
secretive Bright-headed Cisticola.
Both the Bluethroat and Siberian Rubythroat had made this
brief stop worth it in our opinions, and the large amount
of good habitat in the region would probably reward the vigilant
with some good records if watched regularly. Certainly for
those that fail to connect with the open-country birds that
they hope to see around Thatorn, this would appear like a
useful substitute. In truth, this short stop served to illustrate
how many good birdwatching areas remain undiscovered in Thailand.
Incidently, we did see the Spot-winged Grosbeaks at Fang Hot
Springs, which are very easily seen near the geyser, before
heading back to Chiang Mai to return the vehicle.
Chinese Pond Heron
Eastern Cattle Egret
Little Egret
Black-shouldered Kite
Common Kestrel
Red-wattled Lapwing
Green Sandpiper
Red Turtle Dove
Spotted Dove
White-throated Kingfisher
Common Kingfisher
Brown Shrike
Black Drongo
Sooty-headed Bulbul
Streak-eared Bulbul
If you are interested in arranging a bird
watching tour you can see some suggested itineraries here
- Birdwatching Trips
- and you can contact me at the above email address to discuss
the best options.
Central
Mongolia , 20th May-3rd June 2021 - Black-billed
Capercaillie, Oriental Plover, Henderson's Ground Jay, Azure
Tit, Pallas's Sandgrouse: Contact
me for details
Thailand
Raptor Migration, 26th Oct-5th Nov 2021 -
Black Baza, Grey-faced Buzzard, Pied Harrier, Lesser Fish
Eagle, Spoon-billed Sandpiper: Contact
me for details
Central
Mongolia , 20th May-3rd June 2021 - Black-billed
Capercaillie, Oriental Plover, Henderson's Ground Jay, Azure
Tit, Pallas's Sandgrouse: 
Thailand
Raptor Migration, 26th Oct-5th Nov 2021 -
Black Baza, Grey-faced Buzzard, Pied Harrier, Lesser Fish
Eagle, Spoon-billed Sandpiper: 
South
Korea, 5-17th January 2022 - Steller's Sea
Eagle, Relict Gull, Red-crowned Crane, White-naped Crane,
Baikal Teal, Solitary Snipe, Asian Rosy Finch: 
