Doi Inthanon: 20-22 Aug 2010 II

The best birding day of the trip was actually the second day when we went for a morning walk in the Km. 34.5 jeep track and a flock of uncommon Grey-breasted Parrotbills (Paradoxornis feae), a member of the babbler family, came passing by. The bird was formerly classified as a subspecies of Black-throated Parrotbill (Paradoxornis nipalensis) but now split according to Craig Robson's latest guide book. I've found this bird once near the summit and several times at Doi Lang and India. It's a tiny bird with bright orange plumage which can be spotted easily as they move rapidly in flocks through low vegetation. Too bad the birds were all too fast for me to get any decent shot and didn't come back though I've waited for almost half an hour.

Grey-breasted Parrotbills (Paradoxornis feae)

At the 2nd Checkpoint, several Yellow-cheeked Tits (Parus spilonotus) put on the show as usual. These birds, although being common and friendly to people, are always too cute to ignore. The one in the large photo is perching on a sign labeled "Doi Inthanon National Park"!

A panoramic view of the forest of Doi Inthanon National Park

Another uncommon bird that we found in the jeep track at Km. 34.5 was this secretive White-gorgeted Flycatcher (Ficedula monileger), which 2 individuals were found chasing each other and calling their alarm calls. The bird is especially easy to find here at Doi Inthanon than other places in Thailand. However, its plain brownish plumage and secretive behaviour make it not so easy to be spotted.

(Top) A juvenile male Black-throated Sunbird (Aethopyga saturata) (From left to right) 1-2. The same juvenile male Black-throated Sunbird 3. An adult Little Spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostra) 4. A juvenile Little Spiderhunter

Adult Grey-breasted Prinia (Prinia hodgsonii) in breeding plumage

At Mr. Daeng's restaurant, we enjoyed watching many little birds that come and go around the restaurant area. There's a flowering Chinese Hat near the parking lot and a family of Little Spiderhunters, Black-throated Sunbirds and Grey-breasted Prinias came visiting the tree all days. Mr. Daeng told us that sometimes the Streaked Spiderhunter and Hill Prinia also visit the tree, but we didn't see both species during the stay.

On the second evening, I had nothing to do so I went to the park's camp ground to wait for the rare Black-tailed Crake (Porzana bicolor) which breeds in a small grassy swamp and often comes out to the lawn nearby. Many years ago, there was a pair which was so tame that it could be guaranteed that you wouldn't miss them. Bad luck came when too many birders visited the birds and attracted local attention. Several months after the birds became famous, one of the birds was shot by a group of local teenagers and the other bird didn't come out to the lawn again. Birders were angry and the park finally announced the area as a protected area for this bird and park rangers were set to monitor the area. After years of not even a single sight, the bird finally came out again and it has found a new mate, but both of them were very shy. Mr. Daeng began to feed them continuously and they've gradually come out more often from time to time, but never as often and obliging as its first appearance. Some people came and saw them easily, while many waited all day and couldn't even see a single sign. I think I can be categorised into the first group though. I've succeeded in photographing the bird in July 2007, when the pair brought out their two fledglings to the lawn. This time I could also photograph the bird at close range and out in the open, though only 1 bird came out. The trick is to put out some food and make a crumpling sound of plastic bags and be patient. When they hear the sound of plastic bags, they know that there's food for them. However, not everyone succeeded even when using the tricks, these birds can even be more tricky!

The "Black-tailed" Family

If asking about my most impressive moments in wildlife career, I would say one of them is photographing this Black-tailed Crake(Porzana bicolor) family at Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai, Thailand, my hometown. The Black-tailed Crake is an endangered species, which can be found only in Himalayas regions, from Indian Subcontinent, to China, Myanmar, and northern Thailand. I can even remember the exact date! It was 7th July 2007(that's why I can, lol..) The same day that I finally managed to see one of my long-time wishlist species, the Brown Wood Owl, at the 2nd Checkpoint. Although, I was able to photograph only 3 species of birds that trip, but it was certainly memorable, since another one was a Mountain Bamboo Partridge, an (also) uncommon bird of northern Thailand.

An adult Black-tailed Crake drying its wings

I arrived at Doi Inthanon on 6th July and stayed overnight at Mr.Daeng's house. It was raining all night long and still continued in the early morning. I thought I wouldn't have any luck in birding for that whole day, but then I was thinking about this rare crake that usually shows up at the campground. Finally, I decided to give it a try. Even if the crake didn't come, it'd be okay cause I wanted to find a place to take a nap also. I sat there at the campground area, with my jackets covering my head, body, and camera(since I did not have a blind). I can't remember how long I'd been sitting there, but I'd slept for a few moment for sure. Then suddenly, the clouds had gone away and the sky became clear. The sun started to dry the grass up. Then I noticed some trembling grasses on the right side. Suddenly, an adult Black-tailed Crake showed up its head from the thick bush, and frightfully walked out to get some food I put on the ground, then quickly ran into cover. I waited for it again to feel more comfortable. After few minutes, it showed up again, but this time there were 2 of them. Both Black-tailed Crakes walked out from the grass slowly, then picked the food up and ran back to eat in the bush. After 4 or 5 times, they've become tamer and finally ate the food on the open ground. I had a happy time photographing them. Focusing only in the view finder, I was surprised to find out that there were actually other two of their chicks standing at the edge of the grass!

The Black-tailed Crake chicks

Parent bird brought food for the chick

The chick already had some resemblances of adult, chestnut upperparts, and reddish legs.

After seeing the chicks, I changed my attention. It was the first time for me to see this rare crake's chicks. To see the whole Black-tailed Crake family walking, feeding together at the same time would be the experience which I would never have twice. The birds came closer and closer, and finally, even as close as I couldn't get full body in one frame! Remind you again, my gear is only a 300 f/4 with a 1.4x teleconverter. Imagine how close it was! The birds stopped feeding when the sun was fully shone. They started to spread their wings and let sunlight dried them up, both the chicks and adults. The birds came and went to pick up foods until there was nothing left on the ground, then finally, they walked back into cover, and stopped coming out again. They had left me with a huge smile on my face. It was (again) worth waiting for! Thanks to my patience...no, thanks to the nap!

That's why they gave you the name!

Fluff it up!

What a rare moment.