Chiang Mai Birding

Doi Intanon Birding

Many people claim the best time of year to go bird watching in Doi Intanon is between December and February. Largely because at this time you get to see migratory birds fleeing harsh winters as well as the resident species.

Weather is reliably cool with no rain, which means camping is a feasible alternative to staying in a park bungalow. Tents and blankets can be rented from park headquarters. They also have a detailed bird list with photos. Note: sleeping mats are NOT available at the park. However, foam bedrolls can be found in the army supply shops around the moat in Chiang Mai. Don't underestimate the importance of a bedroll, as a night on the hard (and often cold) ground can leave you feeling less than vibrant the next morning.

The second best time to come birding in Chiang Mai is between March - May. This is because resident species begin the calling/breeding process, which as any experienced bird watcher will know means they come out of hiding and thus are easier to see.

Around this time you can also expect to see the migratory birds on their return trip from warmer regions further south. Make sure you hit the Gew Mai Pan trail for the best birding in the park.

List of birds you may see .. birds in Chiang Mai

Top of page

 

More Chiang Mai Birding

The most obvious would be Doi Suthep, a two-hour hike from the city center will have you at the lower slopes and seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Plenty of birds around there.

It's an excellent place to come on a bicycle and explore for the day. Keep in mind the upper reaches are by far the more lush in terms of greenery/vegetation.

Lot Cave (Tham Lot)
Lot Cave is 9 km from the town of Soppong (a.k.a. Pangmapah) which lies about halfway between Pai and Mae Hong Song, both of which are popular tourist destinations in northwest Thailand. The cave itself is home to thousands of Pacific Swifts which emerge every morning and return at dusk.

Viewing the swifts as they come and go is very popular with tourists. The immediate area around the cave is a mixture of forest, rice fields, and bamboo forest which contains a good number of common Thai birds.

The best birding area is the forest which lies along both sides of the road back to Soppong. This road is forested for the first 5 km from Tham Lot village and contains many side roads and trails. This area is excellent for woodpeckers. In fact one birder recently saw 11 species of woodpecker in only a few days.

To get there you take a bus (from the Arcade bus station in Chiang Mai) to Pai and then from there on to Soppong. This takes 5-6 hours. From Soppong you take a motorcycle taxi the 9-10 km to Cave Lodge which offers some overnight accommodation.

Doi Chiang Dao
(Doi means mountain, in case you didn't know) The south side of Doi Chiang Dao also has some good birding. Birds found here are similar to those found at similar elevations on Doi Suthep or Doi Inthanon.

Chiang Dao has easy public access, pleasant accommodation, quiet atmosphere, and more importantly, beautiful scenery.

The best place to stay is Malee's Nature Lover's Bungalow. Not only does it provide excellent value but it also has extensive info on bird watching. Malee can help arrange transportation to the nearby pheasant and nuthatch sites, although you will need to obtain a permit from the local forestry office (don't worry, its easy). To get to Malee's by bus you will need to go to the Chang Puak (white elephant) bus station and get a bus to Fang. You will need to alight at the turn off to the Chiang Dao Caves (if you're coming from Chiang Mai then this turn off is at the far end of Chiang Dao town). Just tell the bus driver you're going to the Chiang Dao caves and he should get you off at the right turnoff (apparently this is where most foreigners get off).

From this turnoff take a motorcycle taxi (no more than 40 baht) to Malee's place, which is about 2 km beyond the Chiang Dao Caves. (The caves are about 6 km outside Chiang Dao town.)

Top of page

  Lots more about Chiang Mai birding at digdeep1962.blogspot.com

Doi Intanon Birds

Top of page