I wasn’t looking forward to another day like yesterday. It ended being the best day of the trip so far. After another 5.30 egg and toast breakfast, the drive up to Mae Wong NP camping site was punctuated by birding stops for the Bees to catch up with missed birds. J had missed Chestnut Bunting but got it to-day. Four Khalij Pheasants en route.
Reaching the campsite, Pam and I took up post at the same table as yesterday, me perched on a big log support, the most comfortable height option.
The threesome went off down a track, Pam and I wandered up the hill towards the loos and some warming sun. Blue Laughing Thrushes dashed into the forest behind the Ranger’s home at our approach,
a Striated Spiderhunter fed on a newly open banana flower. No photo yet but the plant is magnificent.
The ubiquitous Flavescent Bulbuls, usually in pairs, a constant presence. Mountain Bulbuls passed through as we viewed the valleys, forests and hills below.
At the gang’s approach, we returned to ‘our’ table for a welcome coffee and ‘cake’. The latter are biggish swiss roll type sweet stuff in orange, coffee, lime and vanilla flavour in air tight blown up packets. Very acceptable.
Neil handed the Bees a packet of seed, told them where to spread it and sent them off down thr track behind the loos to wait for Grey Peacock Pheasant to turn up. He, Pam and I then birded the campsite from the table. It was brilliant to have the birds of mystery identified for us. A passage of raptors included: Crested Goshawk, Black Eagle, Crested Serpent-eagle and Shikra. Diminutive Striped Yuhina led me a dance, flitting in the tree above, as did Plain Flowerpecker, and the delightful, menage a trois, Yellow-cheeked Tit.
A Blue Rockthrush appeared near the van and then gave photographic opportunities by hunting the gully and grass relatively near.
So many birds around to-day compared with yesterday.
Neil suddenly noticed a movement on the fencing towards the top of the hill. An orange-headed lizard ran towards us along the top rail, in its wide bodied waddling, paddling, legs style before halting for a while, basilisk eyes scanning the area before continuing. At this point the Bees came into sight, returning from their vigil, having seen the target as they were leaving. They were able to see the lizard before joining us for lunch of cheese and crisp sandwiches, yoghgurt, more cake, and water. Very welcome.
The lizard came as far as the bare - apart from epiphytes - tree before climbing said tree, ending up on a branch spur, its orange striped head and one knee showing. Lovely beast.
A large Birdswing sp, black and yellow butterfly, looked like a bird as it flew high above the trees, occasionally passing us at a lower level, never stopping.
Neil and the Bees went off down the Bulbul track for a short time before returning for an earlier return to the resort. Chestnut-capped Bee-eaters showed well on a roadside tree. I must learn the Thai for stop so that Choom doesn’t suddenly take off.......
Time for a leisurely shower to wash off the layers of sun block and Deet before leaving for supper in town. I smother myself in Deet but still manage to get bitten. Small black insects leave a half a centimetre deep red blister, mostly hands and fingers, where the deet gets rubbed off I suppose. Anthisan is running low - the bites are so itchy.
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