I have written a number of times about the photographic stakeouts at Doi Lang but my recent visit on 1st-3rd January resulted in a large number of excellent sightings worth mentioning here for others who may be planning to visit the mountain themselves.

The first thing to mention is that if one is heading up from the Fang side there is now a checkpoint where national park staff are charging visitors to enter. the tickets are valid at all entrances to Doi Pha Hom Pok national park and valid for 7 days.

Secondly, the meal worm ban is being completely ignored by photographers and, indeed, one of the signs has already disappeared from the border police checkpoint area. Certainly the use of meal worms is making birds accessible to an ever-increasing number of Thai people which I believe is a good thing in that it is creating a base of local people who are beginning to enjoy birds and will hopefully drive conservation in the future. Careful use of meal worms should obviously be observed, certainly people should make sure that any food put down for birds should be fresh and hygienic with no risk of making the birds sick. Regard to other birders should also be high on people’s list of priorities when using meal worms in this way too.

On my visit I did not need to use meal worms, just sitting near the stakeouts alerted birds to the possibility that food would be available. neither did I use a blind, often sitting around 8-10 feet away.

I used this opportunity to test out a new camera, nothing too special, just a Lumix FZ 200 with a 28x zoom.

Silver-eared Laughingthrush

Spectacled Barwing

Rufous-gorgetted FlycatcherSiberian Rubythroat

Chestnut-headed Tesia

Other birds I photographed on this visit included Scarlet-faced Liocichla, Himalayan Bluetail (male & female), Grey Bushchat, White-browed Laughingthrush, Grey-faced Buzzard, Crested Bunting, White-tailed Robin (female), Rufous-bellied Niltava (female), White-gorgetted Flycatcher & Large Niltava.

Others (with proper cameras) were photographing Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Ultramarine Flycatcher, Sapphire Flycatcher, Spot-breasted Parrotbill & Mountain BambooPartridge amongst others.