thailand birdwatching tour
Thailand birdwatching tour introduction
As Thailand is in a tropical climate and the weather varies every season. In Southern Thailand, it can be hot and high humidity most of the year, possible rain during the day. A lightweight rain jacket is highly recommended to bring along. While the weather at Pak Thale and Lame Pakbia area can be very hot and sunny, hat and sunscreen lotion are best way to protect yourself.
In Northern Thailand climate from November – February, is dry and cool season. For high altitude mountain such as Doi Inthanon, Doi Angkhang, Doi Lang, (between 6.000 – 8,000 feet) early morning temperature can drop to 15-10 degree Celsius (50 Fahrenheit), a lightweight jacket will keep you comfortable.
We normally start early in the morning. Breakfast can be early at the hotel or breakfast box, for lunch can be picnic lunch someday at some site such as Doi Sunju, however, mostly freshly cooked at the local restaurant. Evening, enjoys local dinner at the resort where we stay or guide will take you to local restaurant nearby and summarizing the bird checklist & discuss about trip plan for the next day. Birdwatching activity will be at leisurely pace, walking along the road side or board walk trail in the National Park. Occasionally, involve a moderate incline or may have some steep sections, but overall is light and easy. Our vehicle will be nearby or in the range that can be reached by mobile phone.
Chiang Mai Birdwatching day trip
Day trip birdwatching tour around Chiang Mai
Doi Inthanon Bird watching Tour Day by Day Itinerary
- 5:30 am Pick up at the hotel lobby, we will leave from the hotel to meander up the winding roads leading to Doi Inthanon. We arrive at the foothill and start early birding, blossom-headed parakeet, Indochinese Bushlark, Burmese Shrike, Purple Sunbird, Golden fronted Leafebird, Rufous Treepie, Scarlet – backed Flowerpecker would be seen at this elevation.
- Then, we will drive up to the second checkpoint, birds that possible to be seen are; Rufouse-bellied Niltava, Small Niltava, White-gorgeted Flycather, White-browed Scimitar-Babbler, Yellow-checked Tit, Grey-checked Fulveta, Black-headed Sibia, Asian Emerald Cuckcoo, White – tailed Leaf Warbler, White-throated Fantail, Silver-eared Mesia, Spectacled Barwing, Stripe-breasted Woodpecker.
- Later, we will proceed up to the mountain summit to look for some of the mountain’s rarer birds such as Green – tailed Sunbird, Chestnut – tailed Minla, Pigmy Wren Babbler, Slaty – bellied Tesia, Ashy – throated Warbler, Snowy – browed Flycatcher, Rufous – throated Partridge.
- Lunch will be at local restaurant in the park or Lunch box.
- Afternoon we will explore water fall area, birds that possible to be seen: Plumbeous Redstart, White – capped Water Redstart, Slaty – backed Forktail, Black – backed Forktail, Blue Whistling Thrush, Silver – breasted Broadbill, Black – napped Monarch, Asian Paradise – Flycatcher and more…
- 17:00 will start drive back to Chiagmai
- More information
One day Chiang Mai University, Mae Hia Campus
The Mae Hia Agricultural Research Station & Faculty of Veterinary, another campus of Chiang Mai University. One of a famous site for bird watching in Chiang Mai, an area of open farmland, grassland, scrub and reservoir which good to see some open-country species such as, Grey – breasted Prinia, Plain Prinia, Red-Wattled Lapwing, Wire-tailed Swallow, Red Avadavat, White – Rumped Munia and some migratory birds such as Siberian Rubythroat, Eurasian Wryneck etc.
6:00 am, Meet and pick up from Payap University, then drive Chiang Mai University, Mae Hia Campus. Start birding around the reservoir, farming area. After lunch at the local restaurant, we continue searching for birds along the woodland the area near the foothill.
Late afternoon, return to hotel.
One day Doi Suthep Pui National Park Bird Watching
6:00 am, drive up to the back side of the mountain where we will spend morning time bird watching; enjoy the sound and smell of the Hill evergreen forest. We will walk along a narrow back road to the camp site. During the dry season, there will be some flowering tree at the coffee research station further up from the camp site. Some bird that could be seen; Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike, Scarlet Minivets, Golden-fronted and Orange-bellied Leafbirds, the Clicking Shrike-babbler. Streaked Spider hunter, Great Barbet, Green Cochoa, Long – tailed Broadbill etc.
Time for lunch.
The rest hour in the afternoon we will go to birding at the view point and further down to the lower elevation trail, different altitude will find different species of birds, such as Blue-eared Barbet, Silver Broadbill, Shikra, Striated Yuhina, Green Magpie, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, White-rumped Shama
16:30 pm will start driving down to the foot hill and return to hotel.
One day Doi Chiang Dao Bird watching
50:00 AM Leaving early from Chiang Mai, we will travel by four-wheel drive up to Wildlife Station Unit,
About 1 1/2 hr. drive, we will start bird watching when the trail is lighting up with morning sun, passing through few villages, small stream around village is good to see Slaty-backed Forktail, Scarlet Minivet, Mountain Bulbul, Blythe’s Paradise Flycatcher,Black-naped Monarch.
Then, arrive Den Ya Khud Wildlife Station Unite, the area which is more open evergreen forests and pines, home to a rich variety of montane birds and then along the road track. Birds possible to be seen; Gray-backed Shrike, Japanese Tit, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Giant Nuthatch, Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Banded Bay Cuckoo. Greater Yellownape Woodpecker, Black-winged Cuckooshrike.
Late afternoon drive down to City of Chiang Dao, check for more birds at Chiang Dao paddies, Red-wattled Lapwing, White-throated Kingfisher, Indochinese Bushlark, Paddyfield Pipit, few reports of Glossy Ibis and a recent report of the rare winter visitor Northern Lapwing.
16:30 Start driving back to Chiang Mai
Multi-day Birdwatching tour
Sample of multiday birdwatching tour in Northern Thailand
Sample of multi-day birdwatching tour around Thailand
