Doi Inthanon and Chang Mai, Thailand 2013, part 4

Back for lunch and a stroll around a village garden with some flowering cherry trees.

Brown Shrike

male Fire-breasted Flowerpecker

male Black-throated Sunbird

Pied Bushchat

Grey Wagtail

Long-tailed Shrike

 

On another side of the mountain and much higher again:  Mrs Gould's Sunbird

There were more cherry trees blossoming a little early in the season at a place called the Orchid Station. From here we could see the summit of Doi Inthanon and I estimate the elevation at something like 2200m. Several of these colorful male sunbirds were frequenting the trees.

Female sunbirds are mostly dull green and sometimes hard to identify as a first-time visiting birder

On the way down we saw the Streaked Spiderhunter, who's call we'd heard at various locations.

The very long bill and clear markings make this bird a spectacular sight.

White Wagtail

Doi Inthanon and Chang Mai, Thailand 2013, part 5

left Scaly-breasted Munia, right a Grey-breasted Prinia

 

And another Long-tailed Shrike 

The Grey-headed Canary Flycatcher was seen at the gardens of a residency belonging to the queen of Thailand. She only comes here once or twice a year and the public is allowed to enter the premises.

 After another night at Mr. Deang’s I was looking forward to spend the last day on the mountain by myself, checking the few places that I had got to know and taking my time with the camera and the 300mm 2.8.  To my horror there was a constant flow of cars heading for the summit, where some religious celebration attracted 1000s of worshippers. The drums and chanting could be heard for miles, which was actually not unpleasant, but I came for something else… and gave up visiting the stupas to look for the male Green-tailed Sunbird...

Again at Checkpoint 2, staring at the tops of the tall, tall trees:

 Bronzed Drongo

Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon

Golden-throated Barbet

And down at eye-level:

Small Niltava, male

Accompanied by a female Rufous-bellied Niltava

I felt disappointed about missing out on the high elevation birds, but if I hadn't stayed here I would have missed another Streaked Spiderhunter, visiting its favorite banana flower.

I stayed at checkpoint 2 most of the time, met some other birders (it was weekend) and halfway the afternoon I drove down, back to my guesthouse in Chang Mai.

Doi Inthanon and Chang Mai, Thailand 2013, part 6

I had one more night and day to see the temples, get a massage and try some of the Thai food I had been looking forward to, however Mr. Daeng’s very spicy curry was playing funny tricks with me…
So I rested in the garden, watching the locals flying in and out.

male Oriental Magpie Robin

female

male again

male Olive-backed Sunbird

Streak-eared Bulbul

Spotted Dove

When all became quiet again I headed for town, the old city, to get my fill on temples and the like.

Scenes around Chang Mai city

Wat Chedi Luang

There are so many temples in Chang Mai. I lost track in the old city and cannot say which one is which anymore. It was overwhelming. I’ll try better next time.

What a way to take your pet out for a walk, eh ride.

A hill-tribe woman carrying her baby while attending to her market stall of tribal crafts at the night market.