As part of a short trip of a few days to Yangon, Myanmar, I have been doing some birding in and around the city. Having visited a few parks within the city itself, over the last few days, this morning I took a taxi ride an hour north to Hlawga National Park. This location is not quite as grand as it sounds, being a fragment of dry, scrubby woodland surrounding a large lake, being completely surrounded by farmland, roads and gradual development. However, it still plays host to a wide range of birds and is a good place for a morning of birding from Yangon before the day becomes too hot. I spent about 3.5 hours birding there and saw over 70 species including some interesting ones such as Pale-eyed (Davison’s) Bulbul, Tickell’s Leaf Warbler, Alexandrine Parakeet and Orange-breasted Green Pigeon.

Leaving my hotel in Yangon at 6am I met my driver and off we went. At this time of the morning the traffic was light and we were at my first birding stop, near the entry gate to Hlawga Park, at 7am. I did not actually enter at the gate but instead walked down a track on the other side of the road; a spot I had been to before in 2018.This area is a good one for finding Pale-eyed/Davidon’s Bulbul, treated as either a full species or a subspecies of Stripe-throated Bulbul. Either way this taxon is endemic to Myanmar. I got great views of this bird but beforehand I found Racket-tailed Treepie, a rare bird in Myanmar, as well as common species including Red-whiskered Bulbul, Puff-throated Babbler, Green Bee-eater, Ashy Woodswallow, Chestnut-capped Babbler and Red-vented Bulbul.

Another common bird here is Ayeyarwady Bulbul. Found only in Myanmar and small parts of Thailand this dull bird is really only notable for its restricted range, split from Streak-eared Bulbul because of its red eye!

My main aim, though, was to get some decent photographs of Pale-eyed/Davison’s Bulbul. On my previous visit they were very elusive, staying in the undergrowth at all times. This time I was able to see them out in the open for long periods of time.

Whether or not this is a full species it is easily seperable from Stripe-throated Bulbul, not just on eye colour but also on subtle differences in structure and behaviour. After this success it was time for a bit of breakfast at a nearby food stall.

My second stop was further down the road, where I followed another dirt track towards a small lake. This track passes through some open woodland and then grassy areas before reaching the lake. There were plenty of Black-naped Orioles and Red-vented Bulbuls feeding in fruiting trees along with a single Eyebrowed Thrush and an Orange-breasted Green Pigeon. Further along I had my attention drawn by various Phylloscopus warblers with a single Radde’s Warbler calling as well as several Yellow-streaked Warblers, these two being extremely similar and most easily seperated on call. Alongside them were a couple of Dusky Warblers in the undergrowth while in some trees a couple of Yellow-browed Warblers were joined by a Two-barred Warbler and at least 4 Tickell’s Leaf Warblers which were calling and even singing now and then.

After this a walk around the lake turned up Bronze-winged Jacana, Lesser Whistling Duck, Purple Heron and Lanceolated Warbler. In the undergrowth next to the lake I found 2 Eurasian Wrynecks and a pair of Yellow-eyed Babblers while a pair of Yellow-footed Green Pigeons flew in and landed in a small tree close to me.

With the heat increasing I decided to call it a day but on the way back I added Alexandrine Parakeet, Black-winged Cuckooshrike and Ring-necked Parakeet to my list. Leaving at 10.30am the traffic was much worse on the way back and we arrived at my hotel at midday.