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Returning to Thailand for a holiday with some birding, I did an Internet search for birding guides in Thailand and found Tony's website. A few e-mails later and I had agreed to have a couple of days in the north and a couple of days in the south, at sites I hadn't got to four years previously.
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Tony, his driver, Bau and Doi Inthanon-based Somchat met us punctually at our hotel in Chiang Mai and we set off for Huai Hong Khrai. Arriving just before dawn, we began with a roosting male Green Peafowl - the first of perhaps as many as ten that we saw during the morning - and finished with beautiful Rosy and Swinhoe's minivets, before moving on to Doi Suthep. Here, bird waves kept us busy, to the tune of cicadas, with such delights as Yellow-cheeked Tit, White-browed and Speckled piculets, Blyth's Leaf and Grey-crowned warblers, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch and three more species of minivet: Long-tailed, Scarlet and Grey-chinned.
Forest birding is always hard work but the rewards can be rich and Tony's knowledge of bird calls made finding and identifying birds much easier than it would otherwise have been and this is the way in which your birding guide really earns his money in this environment. He also lived up to his "Eagle-eye" epithet and was extremely adept, not only at finding birds, but also getting them in the 'scope for gripping views.
Moving on the open habitats of Mae Hia the birding was much easier and we had great views of such delights as Grey-backed, Brown and Burmese shrikes, Lesser Coucal, Paddyfield Pipit and a small flock of one of my favourite Thai birds, Ashy Woodswallow.
After another early start the next day we made the pilgrimage to Doi Inthanon, which began with breakfast at dawn at the legendaty Mr Daeng's and an impressive mixed flock of Chestnut-flanked and Japanese white-eyes. Moving into the forest proper such exotic delights as singing Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Black-throated Parrotbill, singing White-browed Shrike-Babbler, Yellow-bellied Fantail, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Grey-cheeked Fulvetta, Chestnut-fronted Shrike-Babbler, Maroon Oriole, Mountain Tailorbird and (being a big fan of barbets, my favourite bird of the morning) Golden-throated Barbet.
Later, nearer the summit at Ang Ka, we had great views of the utterly spectacular Green-tailed Sunbird (of the endemic race angkanensis) and Chestnut-tailed Minla and it was great to be surrounded by a foraging flock of Rufous-winged Fulvettas. Rather harder to see were Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush and a male White-browed Shortwing.
Moving on to Huai Sai Lueang we had great views of three of the most enigmatic birds of fast-flowing upland streams, White-capped and Plumbeous water-redstarts and Slaty-backed Forktail and finished up with three male Silver Pheasants.
Four days later Tony and Bau met me at my hotel in Hua Hin, from where the focus would be on waders at Pak Thale and Lam Pak Bia. Among the many familiar Palearctic waders we had great views of Great Knot, Lesser and Greater sandplovers, Red-necked Stint, Pacific Golden Plover, Marsh and Terek sandpipers and, the ultimate must-see bird here, Spoon-billed Sandpiper.
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One of the striking things here is just how much more confiding the birds are than at home in the UK, with wonderful views of Ruff, Wood and Common sandpipers and some absolutely huge water monitors. A lone Long-billed Dowitcher was a surprise before we moved on with the other Mr Daeng in his boat to the small offshore sand spit, where we saw Pacific Reef Egret and another of the birds on my wish list, Malaysian Plover.
My last day with Tony was at the wonderful Kaeng Krachan National Park for more forest birding. Sadly, the very vocal White-handed Gibbons remained out of sight but we did have great views of several Dusky Langurs. Birding highlights included wonderful views of both Greater and Common flamebacks, Sultan Tit, Blue-winged Leafbird, Green-eared and Blue-eared barbets, Blue-bearded Bee-eater and spectacular, prolonged views of Orange-breasted Trogon.
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All in all, this was just what I had wanted: a chance to do some intense birding in a relaxed and enjoyable way and I thank Tony for his skill, knowledge and easy-going manner. His driver, Bau, was excellent at his job, as well as being very good company.
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