5.30 a.m. departure in a twin cab pick-up driven by 'Uncle'. We'd been warned that the road up the mountain was very rough and a 4 wheel drive was essential. Yes, the road was rough in parts but, nothing much compared with others we have driven e.g the one up to Eldorado in Colombia.
It was a very jolly, if rather cramped, 2 hour drive, J and D in good form despite their lack of sleep.They and Pam squashed into the back bench seat, I was in state beside the driver, knees against the dash and poor Neil was in the open truck with seats, icebox etc.
We couldn't see anything at all, still dark. At first light, Uncle pulled into a wider part of the road, at the foot of a slope. We all set off up the hill, me very reluctantly, my balance was poor this morning - I still have a middle ear virus infection which affects my balance. So, I stopped.....! They came dashing back down, Uncle had seen a Giant Nuthatch, a really good bird, which then flew to the very top of a dead tree near the vehicle. I had good views through Neil's scope and then tried some pretty ridiculous photography.
Jubilant, we set off again, negotiating a large herd of cows lying on the track, before reaching the camping ground. This was a small group of lodges situated in an open area surrounded by forest.
Breakfast consisted of two tiny and delicious local, finger bananas and a cheese sandwich.
A distant bare tree contained birds which turned out to be two Spot-winged Grosbeak and a Yellow-naped Woodpecker. All lovely birds. Here's the tree, find the birds !
The Bridges and Neil set off on a woodland walk, Pam and I settling our stools where we could see much of the site. And there we sat, stood, walked and chatted for over two hours, constantly scanning, Pam with her bins, me through my scope (for only the second time in my life, I left my bins in our rooms !), focusing on the Grosbeak Tree and the fruiting one behind the toilet block.
Neil came back with a dead Moon Moth sp. he'd found. Fantastic.
An unwanted entertainment was the arrival of four vehicles, full of young people, their speed enveloping us in a cloud of dust. Luggage and people were disembarked, the cars drove off, the youngsters loading up their rucksacks before setting off to climb the second highest mountain in Thailand.
We added Violet Cuckoo, another Yellow-naped Woodpecker, the total of Spot-winged Grosbeaks rose to 11, a Bronzed Drongo gleaming in the sun and a puzzle bird which Neil ID'd as a Flavescent Bulbul. The best birds for me were two Lesser Racket-tailed Drongos, squawking stridently as they flew in parallel formation, their long 'rackets' trailing stiffly behind.
When the wanderers returned, lunch happened - egg sandwich and a cuppa - Neil found a Blue Rock Thrush and a Japanese Whiteye was seen by Pam and I - at last. The others saw one before they left. They also had distant Mrs Hume's Pheasant, a bird never seen again. We were hoping for one on the drive in.
The return drive was interesting in that we actually saw where we'd been, culminating in a view over an extensive plain. We tried, unsuccessfully, for Forktail, seeing two Hoopoes, 2 Black Laughing-Thrush, Barn Swallow and a White-throated Kingfisher. Neil stopped at a supermarket and bought us an icecream or fizzy drink as per request. So welcome. As we dropped in altitude, a temperature when we'd all worn fleeces, changed to hot.
Much laughter. Uncle drove whilst eating an ice-cream which prompted Pam to mention that I disapproved of her eating whilst driving as she is very loudly dismissive of drivers who use their phone whilst driving. Wonderful timing.....Uncle's phone rang, he drove with an ice-cream in one hand and the phone in the other.
Back early enough to-night for an hour's rest before it was time to join Neil on a Swift watching session from a nearby balcony.
We saw 3 handsome Black-throated Laughing-thrush, no Tree-swifts, numerous Black-crested Bulbul and a Grey-crowned Warbler.
Straight to dinner, very nice as usual. A mild chicken curry, stir-fried veg, rice and glass noodles. Lovely Mango and Pineapple for afters.
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