BURMA (CUSTOM TOUR)

1 BirdQuest Tour Report: Burma 2013 www.birdquest-tours.com

White-throated Babbler, Bagan

BURMA (CUSTOM TOUR)

2 – 15 APRIL 2013

LEADER: DAVE FARROW

This Birdquest tour to Burma was the first part of a two country extravaganza that would continue on to Arunachal Pradesh in India, with a private group organised by Frank Gill following the itinerary of the standard Birdquest tour. It was a hugely enjoyable affair, and we saw all seven of the Burmese endemics – Hooded Treepie, Jerdon’s Minivet, White-throated Babbler, Burmese Bushlark, White-browed Nuthatch, Burmese Tit and Davison’s Bulbul (the ‘newest’ of the set). We also found six taxa that could be described as near-endemics - Collared Myna, Mount Victoria Babax, Striped and Brown-capped Laughingthrushes, Chin Hills Wren-babbler, and the recently split Buff-breasted Parrotbill. In addition we found a great array of special birds such as Laggar Falcon, White-eyed Buzzard, Rain Quail, White-tailed Stonechat and Striated


Babbler at Bagan. In the rich forest habitats that lie between the Irrawaddy and the Chin Hills we found White-rumped Pygmy Falcon, Blossom-headed and Grey-headed Parakeets, White-bellied and Great Slaty Woodpeckers, Himalayan Flameback and Neglected Nuthatch. On Mount Victoria we enjoyed Stripe-breasted Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker, Spot-winged Grosbeak, Grey-sided and Long-billed Thrushes, White-bellied Redstart, Black-bibbed Tit, Crested Finchbill, Broad-billed Warbler, Spot-breasted Parrotbill, Rusty-capped Fulvetta, Spot-breasted Scimitar-babbler, Spotted Wren-babbler, Assam Laughingthrushes, Crimson-faced Liocichla, Grey Sibia, Streak-throated and Rusty-fronted Barwings, Aberrant, Russet and Brown Bush-warblers and many gorgeous Fire-tailed Sunbirds. The last section of our tour was to the Shan State in the east of the country, where at Inle Lake we had great looks at Chinese Grass-babblers of a newly-discovered population , plus numerous Jerdon’s Bushchat and Collared Mynas, and in the mountain forests around Kalaw we found Pin-tailed Green-pigeon, Black-headed Greenfinch, Brown-breasted Bulbul, White-browed Laughingthrush, Martens’s Warbler, Spectacled Barwing, Dark-backed Sibia, Black-breasted Thrush, Ruddy Kingfisher and Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo, while the near-endemic Burmese Yuhina (which also occurs in Thailand) was only heard. We recorded 387 bird species, including 20 heard only. We began our tour in Yangon having completed our journeys from various points around the globe, and headed out for a first birding sortie, to the lakeside at Yangon University Boat Club. Here we found Coppersmith Barbets, Streak-eared Bulbul, Common Tailorbird, Plain Prinia, Little Cormorant, Chinese Pond Heron, Purple Heron and Plaintive Cuckoo. Further explorations were rather hampered by the Yangon traffic jams, so we returned to our hotel for the heat of the day, before venturing out once more, this time to the incomparable Shwedagon Pagoda that dominates the Yangon skyline with its golden tower. We enjoyed a pleasant walk around its peaceful courtyard, distracted by flocks of House Swift and a pair of Peregrines that called from perches high on the glittering spire.

Common Tailorbird, Yangon House Crow, Shwedagon pagoda

The next morning saw us eating our breakfast at Hlawga Park on the outskirts of Yangon city in the half-light of dawn. We started our birding with Racket-tailed Treepie, and a trio of White-crested Laughingthrushes quietly feeding in the leaf litter who allowed us a nice long look. On the bushy margins of this scrubby woodland we found Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker and Black-winged Cuckooshrike, plus Davison's Bulbul - the latest addition to the list of endemic species, who perched up on a number of occasions for us to view its dark plumage and pale eye. Further explorations around this park (with its hordes of introduced Hog Deer and Sambhar) produced Oriental Darter, many Openbill Storks, Cotton Pygmy Geese, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Lesser Whistling Duck, Wood Sandpiper, Two-barred Warblers, Ruby-cheeked Sunbirds, Oriental Honey-buzzard and Himalayan Buzzard, Banded Bay Cuckoo and Green-billed Malkoha. We then headed back into Yangon, and took a flight to Bagan – the plane taking a roundabout route that saw us pause in Heho and Mandalay before the plane finally landed at our destination. We chugged along to our hotel in an


old bus, rather surprised by the sheer profusion of pagodas everywhere in this dry landscape, looking very atmospheric in the setting sun. Our rather elegant hotel on the banks of the Irrawaddy provided a lovely al-fresco dinner, with Spotted Owlets appearing at dusk in the grand Acacia trees overhead.

The next day we ventured out to do our birding in the nearby dry open country dotted with red brick pagodas, but not before the White-throated Babbler, a dry zone endemic, had introduced himself at the breakfast table! We found the endemic Burmese Bushlarks to be plentiful, plus we saw Eurasian Collared Dove of the endemic local xanthocycla race, Yellow-eyed Babbler, Brown Prinia, Brown Shrike, Barred Buttonquail, and a trio of Rain Quail that scuttled through the crop ahead of us. Our target bird of Hooded Treepie proved rather harder to find, and in almost crippling heat we continued bashing around the acacia bushes, until we stumbled upon a noisy pair mobbing a Spotted Owlet in the courtyard of a large pagoda. We enjoyed a good look at this pale-eyed endemic with his spatulate tail, before they flew off across the hot plain. We retreated to the shade of our well-appointed hotel, where we could engage with the friendly White-throated Babblers that hopped around on the lawns, plus Dusky Warbler and Eurasian Hoopoes in the flowerbeds.

Spotted Owlet, Bagan White-tailed Stonechat, Bagan

Our afternoon was rather more sedate, and we took to the Irrawaddy in a small boat. Chugging downstream we scanned the shores as we went, finding Small Pratincoles, River and Red-wattled Lapwings, Little Ringed Plovers, Red-throated Pipit, Bluethroat, Baya Weaver, many Ruddy Shelducks gathered in the shallows, Indian Spot-billed Duck, and Great Cormorant. We landed in a place where the grass was tall, and found several White-tailed Stonechats, the males chasing the females around and fanning their distinctive tails that while appearing primarily blackish at rest, actually showed to be mostly white when displaying. Also here were numerous Sand Larks, and a pair of Striated Babblers performed very well in the tall grass, A Red Avadavat appeared as we trudged back to our boat, the temperatures of 39 degrees C making walking about rather taxing to say the least! As we motored back upstream were treated to a spectacular sunset over the western hills, a suitably scenic end to the day.

The next day we left early and crossed the Irrawaddy at dawn. Our first stop was in the fields and dry badlands where we found Eurasian Wryneck, Burmese Bushlarks, and a pair of Long-billed Pipit. We ate our breakfast at the roadside, and conversation turned to the Jerdon's Minivet that we needed to find. 'So what does it look like then?' 'Like a wagtail with short legs' 'You mean like that bird over there?' And sure enough there were two birds flying by, which landed in a nearby tree – Jerdon's Minivet! We had a good long look at this delightful endemic, the male being particularly impressive with his tangerine breast patch. We continued our birding in dry forest further up the road, finding White-bellied Woodpecker, Alexandrine, Grey-headed and Red-breasted Parakeets, White-browed Fantail, Small Minivet, Common Woodshrike and Purple Sunbird. We stopped again for lunch and found Greater and Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrushes, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Coppersmith Barbet, Shikra and Yellow-footed Green Pigeon. The initial cloud cover and light shower that we welcomed gave way once more to burning sunshine, so headed


up to a cooler elevation and our lodgings on Mount Victoria. A short foray before the end of the day was productive with an atypically showy Russet Bush Warbler, followed soon after by a Brown Bush Warbler that came to inspect us from very close range.

We were woken during the night by a howling gale that tore through the trees along the ridge, though luckily it had subsided by the time we made our way up the mountain track at dawn. Unfortunately however, a large tree blocked our path after a few kilometres, so we retreated to lower altitudes and birded along a trail through some productive scrubby secondary habitat. This was busy with Hume's Leaf Warblers, Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler, Black-throated Prinia, Indian Blue Robin, Silver-eared Mesia, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babblers, and the near-endemic Striped Laughingthrush sat up and posed for us. We also found Crested Finchbills, Flavescent Bulbuls, and a pair of Crimson-faced Liocichla. A Chin Hills Wren Babbler came in for a close look but wasn’t very co-operative, and Brown-backed Needletails cruised over the forest. We headed back up the mountain road, and finding the road had been cleared we headed to the top. Once we reached the highest forest zone, it wasn’t long before we made contact with the jewel of this mountain, the endemic White-browed Nuthatch, and we were able to enjoy lengthy views of this splendid fellow. As a road has now been carved through the dirt up to the very top, after lunch we drove up and took in the views around the summit, on the return finding a trio of gorgeous Fire-tailed Sunbirds, plus our first Grey Sibias and Little Pied Flycatcher. Lower down in pine-dominated forest we found some delightful (and endemic) Burmese Tits, Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Hume's and Bar-tailed Treecreepers, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker and a Himalayan Buzzard, and we ended this busy day with a walk through some of the lower evergreen forests and found Grey-sided Thrush, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Whiskered Yuhina, Red-tailed Minla and some Ashy Woodpigeons to wrap up a splendid days birding.

White-browed Nuthatch, Mt Victoria Jerdon’s Minivet

The following day we headed up to the higher elevations, and birded our way down a track through some wonderfully rich and mature forest. We started briskly with a showy pair of Broad-billed Warblers, Assam Laughingthrushes, Stripe-throated Yuhina, Bar-throated Minlas, Ashy-throated Warbler, and yet more Fire-tailed Sunbirds. A vocal Streak-throated Barwing came in to inspect us, the noise also drawing in a Rusty-fronted Barwing too, then a mournful song caught our attention – a Long-billed Thrush! It was singing from high in the canopy, and actually popped into view on a high mossy branch for a minute before retreating to the dense forest. We also found Blyth's Shrike Babbler, an inquisitive Aberrant Bush Warbler, and watched a Golden-throated Barbet trying to eat a mouse! It was a good day for nest-finding, and we found a Bar-tailed Treecreeper’s nest wedged in behind some bark, a Black-bibbed Tit’s nest in a bank, a Verditer’s nest in a bank, and a pair of Rufous-winged Fulvettas that were nest building in a patch of epiphytes high in a tree. In the midday we shifted to the cooler shady evergreen forest on the ridge, finding Chestnut-headed Tesia, the near-endemic Brown-capped Laughingthrush, Chestnut-crowned Warbler and Golden Babbler. On our return


to the hotel a random stop provided a Grey-bellied Tesia and a Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler, both appearing from the same thicket and both zipping about furtively at great speed and with great voice.

The next day we concentrated on the scrappy secondary habitat at the mid-levels on the mountain, and followed a long trail that provided good bird activity through the morning. At first we glimpsed a recalcitrant Chin Hills Wren Babbler, then had a very co-operative Spotted Wren Babbler that posed at length and allowed scope views as he pumped out his loud techno rhythms. We found more Striped Laughingthrushes, furtive Nepal Fulvettas, a very shy Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Rufous-bellied Niltava, and an atypically showy White-gorgeted Flycatcher. As the heat built up and the cicadas drowned out all sound, we retreated to our lodge for the lunchtime period before setting off again on trails through the rough habitat. We found a nest of a Black-throated Prinia with tiny eggs inside a roofed grassy dome, we saw Mrs Gould’s Sunbird, Blue-winged Minla, Blue-fronted Redstart, Red-billed Blue Magpie, and right at the end of the day we eventually found a vocal pair of Spot-breasted Parrotbills that showed superbly.

We headed out early and ascended the ridge once more, and once near the top we quickly found our target of Mount Victoria Babax, with three vocal birds showing well in a bamboo clearing. Also here were Maroon Orioles, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Grey-chinned Minivet, Aberrant and a showy Brown Bush Warbler. We pressed onwards to the cool north-facing forests where we had a better view of Brown-capped Laughingthrush, and a very feisty White-browed Shortwing came hopping around us. On our return we paused by a stream where we saw the Babaxes (or is it Babi) once more, then walked the road through bamboo thickets until we found a busy buzzing swarm of delightfully cute Buff-breasted Parrotbills, that entertained us for many minutes before returning to their dense thicket. We also found a quartet of Himalayan Cutia, Bay Woodpecker, Eye-browed Thrush, and a Blue-winged Laughingthrush that showed only briefly.

Ashy Woodpigeon, Mt Victoria Spot-breasted Parrotbill, Mt Victoria

Our last morning saw us trying a good trail through more scrappy habitat, and after some effort we managed to find a Stripe-breasted Woodpecker (albeit rather distant), a pair of Spot-breasted Scimitar Babblers that showed as best as they do, a showy Pygmy Wren Babbler, Nepal Fulvetta, Mountain Tailorbird, Grey Treepie, and a quartet of Spot-winged Grosbeaks. For our finale we returned to the evergreen forest on the ridge where we found Black-eared Shrike Babblers, Red-tailed Minla, Ashy Woodpigeon, Yellow-cheeked Tit, Mountain Bulbuls, and a trio of handsome Rusty-capped Fulvettas.

Having grown accustomed to the idiosyncrasies of our lodge (bees and all), the time had come to leave. We left pre-dawn, reaching the lowlands and some good dry forest (albeit rather burnt!) for the early morning period. We were initially halted by some Greater Necklaced Laughingthrushes, then a female Himalayan Flameback on a roadside tree heralded a wave of birds that included White-crested Laughingthrush, Greater Yellownape, Asian Barred Owlet, Black-hooded Oriole, Golden-fronted and Blue-winged Leafbirds, Brown-


cheeked Fulvetta, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, another Himalayan Flameback – this time a fine male, and an initially perplexing Eurasian Cuckoo, and all this before our (al-fresco) breakfast. We pushed on along the forested road, frequently stopping for various birds that included Red Jungle Fowl, Crested Serpent Eagle, more Asian Barred Owlets, Common Woodshrike, numerous Parakeets of four species, until we reached the dry dipterocarp forest with its rather bizarre little trees with huge leaves. In this habitat we found Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Neglected Nuthatch, and finally a female White-rumped Pygmy Falcon, flying in over the treetops and perching up to inspect us. Continuing eastwards towards the river, we saw another two Hooded Treepie, and a gorgeous white male Asian Paradise Flycatcher. A much-wanted White-eyed Buzzard appeared soaring over the highway, and once we had arrived in Bagan we made a visit to an ornate Pagoda, the Ananda Phaya before returning to our birding with a speculative visit to a pagoda where Laggar Falcon had recently bred. Although a no-show on our previous visit, this time we were in luck as three of these huge Falcons wheeled about over the bejewelled spire, perching on the top and facing into the hot wind. Hurrah! We retreated to our delightful hotel, and spent the last of the daylight enjoying the view across the Irrawaddy in the shade of the huge acacia trees.

Eurasian Cuckoo, Saw Asian Barred Owlet, Saw

The next day we left the dry zone behind us and flew eastwards to Heho in the Shan State, and drove the fairly short distance to Inle Lake. We needed to take a boat to reach our hotel, so we gingerly boarded two narrow ‘long-tail’ boats (plus another for our luggage!), powered by noisy truck engines bolted onto the rear. En route we paused along the shallow swampy margins where we found some nice breeding plumage Pheasant tailed Jacanas, Grey-headed Swamphens, Lesser Whistling Ducks and Chinese Spot-billed Ducks, however any wintering waterfowl had all departed northwards. We reached our hotel, set on an island amid the swamps and reedbeds, where Wire-tailed Swallows flew around the roofs, and numerous Indian Reed Warblers sang from the tops of the many bamboo canes that emerge from the surrounding ‘fields’. In the afternoon we headed to where the richest beds of reed and grass were, and soon found several dapper Jerdon's Bushchats singing from the taller stems. A harsh nasal call caught our attention, and after a lengthy wait (and some wobbling on rather buoyant mats of vegetation!) about we were able to have very close views of a pair of Chinese Grass-babbler, a very handsome bird that came in close to offer us some great looks. On some small fields nearby we found some Collared Mynas, before it was time to chug back across the water to our hotel with the setting sun lighting up a picturesque scene of waterside palms and the curious Inle leg rowers.

Before breakfast the next morning we spent a while scouting the fringes of our hotel 'island', finding some smart Chestnut-capped Babblers and a Thick-billed Warbler, then we hopped back into our long-tail boats and headed back across the lake to the best grassy habitat. We revisited the Chinese Grass-babbler and Jerdon's Bushchats, added a flock of Garganey and enjoyed the breeding plumage Pheasant-tailed Jacanas again, before heading back to terra firma and the next leg of our journey. We drove the short distance


westwards to the hill town of Kalaw, where in the pleasant garden of our charming old colonial hotel we found a pair of Black-headed Greenfinch. We then set about finding the speciality birds of the area, and explored a valley in pine-clad hills where we found Brown-breasted Bulbuls, White-browed Laughingthrush, Spectacled Barwing, both White-browed and Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babblers, Burmese Shrikes, a female Siberian Rubythroat, Slender-billed Oriole, Black-collared Starlings, and a roosting Collared Scops Owl besieged by Sooty-headed Bulbuls. As a finale, we tracked down a couple of shy Black-breasted Thrushes that were singing sweetly from hidden perches, eventually revealing themselves when they dropped onto open ground to feed.

White-browed Laughingthrush, Kalaw Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, Kalaw

Our last full day of birding in this delightful country was a full one indeed, and we spent the whole day in a rich patch of montane evergreen forest that surrounds the reservoir of Yay Ayekan. We passed through pinewoods and miniature vegetable gardens where we found White-browed Laughingthrushes and a Black-breasted Thrush sitting in the open. Striated Grassbirds lit up the valleys with their loud songs, and once we reached the forest edge we found Long-tailed Broadbills, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeons, Himalayan Black Bulbul, a lone Grey-headed Parrotbill and Spectacled Barwings. Further into the forest we found a White-crowned Forktail, a very responsive Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo, and a shy Spot-breasted Laughingthrush sang sweetly and invisibly from a densely vegetated slope. Also staying hidden were a Burmese Yuhina that was audible as it moved through the canopy with a mixed birdflock, Pale Blue Flycatcher, Lesser Shortwing and a vocal Black-tailed Crake hidden in the herbage, while a Slaty-bellied Tesia showed briefly. We saw a fine male Hill Blue Flycatcher, Puff-throated Babbler, the curious White-bellied Erpornis, migrant Eastern Crowned Warblers, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, Dark-backed Sibia, and had something of a surprise when we found two separate Ruddy Kingfishers, perched above a quiet jungle stream. It was a truly exciting day, yet the fat lady hadn’t yet sung, and as we headed back through the pine-fringed fields in the late afternoon, we chanced upon an Oriental Scops Owl sitting in a bush, after having been disturbed from its roost where it had been posing rather effectively as a pine trunk!

A last walk around the hedges of our hotel garden produced a Thick-billed Warbler, Plaintive Cuckoo, and the resident Black-headed Greenfinches, then it was time to head for Heho airport. Some roadside stops en-route gave us our best looks at Collared Myna, Vinous-breasted Myna, a Barred Buttonquail in the open, and some Wire-tailed Swallows around a bridge. We then flew back to Yangon, paused for some lunch then said goodbye to our wonderful hosts, jetting off to Bangkok for a one night stay before travelling on to our next birding adventure, thoroughly pleased with our visit to the lovely country of Burma, and the many great birds we had encountered.


Chinese Grass-babbler, Inle Lake

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED DURING THE TOUR

Species which were heard but not seen are indicated by the symbol (H).

Species which only recorded by the leader are indicated by the symbol (LO)

Species which were not personally recorded by the leaders are indicated by the symbol (NL)

Species marked with the diamond symbol (◊) are either endemic to the country or local region or considered ‘special’ birds for some other reason (e.g. it is only seen on one or two Birdquest tours; it is difficult to see across all or most of its range; the local form is endemic or restricted-range and may in future be treated as a full species).

Chinese Francolin Francolinus pintadeanus (H) Heard at Kalaw, also near to Mt Victoria. Rain Quail ◊ Coturnix coromandelica Three birds scuttled through a crop at Bagan, offering partial views. Hill Partridge (Common Hill P) Arborophila torqueola (H) Heard once on Mt Victoria. Mountain Bamboo-partridge ◊ Bambusicola fytchii (H) Heard once on Mt Victoria Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus Four seen at Hlawga, another two en route from Mt Victoria Kalij Pheasant Lophura leucomelanos (LO) A brief glimpse of one on Mt Victoria. Lesser Whistling-duck Dendrocygna javanica Good numbers at Inle, also seen at Hlawga Park. Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea Quite a few lingering migrants along the Irrawaddy at Bagan. Cotton Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus Eight seen at Hlawga Park. Indian Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha Plenty seen at Inle Lake, also at Hlawga Park and Bagan


Garganey Anas querquedula A flock of 50 at Inle Lake. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Several at Hlawga Park, also at Inle Lake. Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans Thirty or more at Hlawga Park. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus A single then a flock of 13 seen at Inle Lake. Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis Several seen at Inle Lake. Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax Two seen in Yangon, another four at Inle Lake. Indian Pond-heron Ardeola grayii Numerous birds identified at Inle Lake. Chinese Pond-heron Ardeola bacchus Summer plumage birds seen at Yangon and Inle Lake. Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus Lots on the Irrawaddy at Bagan, also elsewhere in suitable habitat. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea A single in Yangon, then many seen at Inle Lake. Eastern Great Egret Ardea modesta Seen at Hlawga and Inle Lake. Intermediate Egret Mesophoyx intermedia A good number of these seen at Inle Lake. Little Egret Egretta garzetta Very common at Inle Lake, also seen elsewhere in suitable habitat. Little Cormorant Phalacrocorax niger Not uncommon at Inle Lake, also seen in Yangon and at Bagan. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo A few seen along the Irrawaddy at Bagan. Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster Five seen at Hlawga Park, plus a single near Heho. Osprey Pandion haliaetus Singles seen at Hlawga and Inle Lake. Oriental Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus Scattered sightings, at Hlawga, Mt Victoria, Kalaw etc. Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus Numerous birds seen at Inle Lake, odd singles seen elsewhere. Black Kite Milvus migrans A handful at Yangon were the only sighting. Crested Serpent-eagle Spilornis cheela Several were seen along the route to and from Mt Victoria, also at Kalaw. Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus One female-type identified at Inle Lake. Eastern Marsh-harrier Circus spilonotus One briefly along the Irrawaddy, a couple more at Inle Lake. Shikra Accipiter badius A handful seen in the forests en route to and from Mt Victoria Besra Accipiter virgatus (LO) A single fly-by on Mt Victoria. Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus Three singles seen on Mt Victoria. White-eyed Buzzard ◊ Butastur teesa Just one bird seen, soaring over the road near to Bagan. Himalayan Buzzard Buteo burmanicus A few singles seen at Mt Victoria, also at Hlawga Park. Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis Several sightings of this spectacular fellow on Mt Victoria. Changeable Hawk-eagle Nisaetus cirrhatus An immature bird on Mt Victoria was odd, also seen in the lowlands. White-rumped Pygmy-falcon ◊ (W-r Falcon) Polihierax insignis A good look at a female near Kazunma. Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus A single seen at Bagan.

Laggar Falcon, Bagan Laggar Falcon ◊ Falco jugger Cracking views of three of a family group at Bagan, perched on a pagoda of course! Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Two seen around the Shwedagon pagoda, another flew along the Irrawaddy.


White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus One seen at Kalaw. Black-tailed Crake ◊ Porzana bicolor (H) Very vocal at Kalaw, but we had to wait until Eaglenest to see this... Grey-headed Swamphen Porphyrio poliocephalus Several lurking in the swamps at Inle Lake.

Grey-headed Swamphen, Inle Lake Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus A few at Inle Lake, more at Hlawga Park. Barred Buttonquail Turnix suscitator One seen well at Bagan, another seen in the open on our way to Heho airport. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Seven birds seen at Inle Lake. River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii Two seen along the Irrawaddy at Bagan. Grey-headed Lapwing Vanellus cinereus (NL) Four seen at Inle Lake. Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus Three along the Irrawaddy at Bagan were the only ones seen. Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius Seen at Hlawga Park, then many along the Irrawaddy. Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva (LO) 70+ on the Irrawaddy on our second stay at Bagan, at some distance! Pheasant-tailed Jacana Hydrophasianus chirurgus A good number breeding plumaged birds at Inle Lake. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos A handful seen at Yangon, Bagan and Inle. Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia A single seen along the Irrawaddy at Bagan. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola A couple seen at Hlawga Park, also en route to Heho airport. Small Pratincole Glareola lactea A couple seen along the banks of the Irrawaddy at Bagan. Brown-headed Gull Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus A good number seen on the lake at Inle. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida A handful seen at Inle Lake. Rock Pigeon Columba livia Available. Ashy Woodpigeon Columba pulchricollis Some nice looks at rather confiding birds on Mt Victoria. Oriental Turtle-dove Streptopelia orientalis A few seen on Mt Victoria, a single at Kalaw. Eurasian Collared Dove ◊ Streptopelia decaocto Several of the xanthocycla race seen around Bagan. See note Red Collared-dove Streptopelia tranquebarica A small number seen around Hlawga and the Bagan area. Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis Common in the lowlands. Barred Cuckoo-dove Macropygia unchall A few seen on Mt Victoria. Thick-billed Green-pigeon Treron curvirostra A single at the roadside as we travelled from Mt Victoria. Yellow-footed Green-pigeon Treron phoenicopterus A tree full of these as we travelled from Mt Victoria. Pin-tailed Green-pigeon ◊ Treron apicauda Ten or so seen at Kalaw, mainly in flight. Wedge-tailed Green-pigeon Treron sphenura A single on Mt Victoria, two at Kalaw. Green Imperial-pigeon Ducula aenea Three seen on the way from Mt Victoria Mountain Imperial-pigeon Ducula badia A single bird seen in flight on Mt Victoria. Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria Small flocks seen in the forest en route to and from Mt Victoria. Grey-headed Parakeet ◊ Psittacula finschii Good looks at quite a few of these en route near Kazunma.


Blossom-headed Parakeet ◊ Psittacula roseata Five seen at Hlawga Park, another two near Kazunma. Red-breasted Parakeet Psittacula alexandri Found in small flocks with the above species. Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis A few seen at Inle, odd singles seen elsewhere. Green-billed Malkoha Rhopodytes tristis A scattering of sightings in various forests along the way. Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus A couple seen, many heard in the lowlands. Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii A single seen at Hlawga Park, a couple more heard elsewhere. Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus Three singles seen along our tour route. Large Hawk-cuckoo Hierococcyx sparverioides Heard often, a few seen on Mt Victoria Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo ◊ Hierococcyx nisicolor A good look at one at Kalaw. Himalayan Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus (H) One heard on Mt Victoria Eurasian Cuckoo Cuculus canorus Seen and heard both at Mt Victoria and also at Kalaw Mountain Scops-owl Otus spilocephalus (H) Heard distantly at Mt Victoria. Collared Scops-owl Otus lettia A superb look at a roosting bird at Dhein Taung, Kalaw. Oriental Scops-owl Otus sunia An excellent daytime encounter with a roosting bird at Kalaw.

Collared Scops Owl, Kalaw Oriental Scops Owl, Kalaw

Brown Wood-owl Strix leptogrammica (H) Heard distantly from our lodge on Mt Victoria. Collared Owlet Glaucidium brodiei A single presented itself briefly on Mt Victoria. Asian Barred Owlet Glaucidium cuculoides Four seen along the roadsides en route from Mt Victoria. Spotted Owlet Athene brama Several seen at Bagan, including some inside our hotel above the restaurant! Large-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus A couple of birds seen coming off the road as we left Mt Victoria. Crested Treeswift Hemiprocne coronata A fair number seen over the forests en route to Mt Victoria. Himalayan Swiftlet Aerodramus brevirostris A small number seen around Kalaw. Brown-backed Needletail Hirundapus giganteus A few seen over Mt Victoria, plus a couple more elsewhere. Asian Palm-swift Cypsiurus balasiensis Common in lowland areas. Cook’s Swift ◊ Apus cooki Good looks at low flying birds at Inle Lake, showing very narrow white rumps. See note House Swift Apus affinis Numerous at the Shwedagon pagoda, also a couple at Bagan. Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis Many seen on the journey to and from Mt Victoria. White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis Multiple sightings in lowland areas. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis A single, at Yay Ayekan reservoir. Ruddy Kingfisher ◊ Halcyon coromanda Nice views of two at Kalaw, a summer visitor here. Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis (NL) Three seen on the Irrawaddy. Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis athertoni A single bird seen by the Yay Ayekan reservoir. Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis Common in the dry zone at Bagan and westwards towards Mt Victoria. Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus Scattered sightings, at Bagan, Inle, and en route to Mt Victoria. Common Hoopoe Upupa epops A few scattered sightings along our route. Great Barbet Megalaima virens Multiple encounters at Mt Victoria, and always heard. Also heard at Kalaw. Lineated Barbet Megalaima lineata A few seen in the dry forests en route to and from Mt Victoria.


Golden-throated Barbet Megalaima franklinii Regularly seen on Mt Victoria. Blue-throated Barbet Megalaima asiatica One seen at Kalaw was our only sighting. Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala Seen in Yangon, also en route to and from Mt Victoria. Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla Two seen in open country on the west bank of the Irrawaddy. Speckled Piculet Picumnus innominatus Two seen at Kalaw, very cute. Rufous-bellied Woodpecker Hypopicus hyperythrus Rather common and noisy on Mt Victoria - lovely birds.

Ruddy Kingfisher, Kalaw Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Mt Victoria

Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Dendrocopos canicapillus Seen on two days of the trip. Stripe-breasted Woodpecker ◊ Dendrocopos atratus A single seen at great range on our last day on Mt Victoria Yellow-crowned Woodpecker Dendrocopos mahrattensis A male seen in the dry dipterocarp forest near Kazunma. White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis A male seen flying over the dry dipterocarp forest near Kazunma. Greater Yellownape Chrysophlegma flavinucha A single seen in the forests en route from Mt Victoria. Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus A couple of sightings in the forests en route to and from Mt Victoria. Himalayan Flameback ◊ Dinopium shorii Two seen in the lowland forest at our first stop on leaving Mt Victoria. Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidus A female seen en route to Mt Victoria. Bay Woodpecker Blythipicus pyrrhotis A couple of singles seen on Mt Victoria, always rather elusive... Great Slaty Woodpecker Mulleripicus pulverulentus Three seen at the roadside as we travelled to Mt Victoria. Long-tailed Broadbill Psarisomus dalhousiae Three birds seen at Kalaw, a real beauty. Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus Two on our return from Mt Victoria were the only ones. Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus A few seen in the dry forests between Mt Victoria and Bagan. Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus A few seen around Inle and Kalaw, plus a single at Bagan. Common Iora Aegithina tiphia Not uncommon around Yangon and in the dry zone around Bagan. Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei A few sightings, on Mt Victoria and in the forests en route to there. Black-winged Cuckooshrike Coracina melaschistos Two at Hlawga Park was the only sighting on the trip. Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus A flock seen in the dry forest en route to Mt Victoria. Jerdon’s Minivet ◊ Pericrocotus albifrons Two birds thrilled us in open country on the west bank of the Irrawaddy. Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris A single female was seen on Mt Victoria. Long-tailed Minivet Pericrocotus ethologus Seen daily on Mt Victoria, also around Kalaw. Short-billed Minivet Pericrocotus brevirostris Two on our first day at Mt Victoria were the only ones. Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus speciosus A few seen at Kalaw only. Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus Singles seen in various lowland sites. Burmese Shrike Lanius collurioides Several seen around Kalaw in open country. Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach Singles seen on Mt Victoria, a couple more in open country around Kalaw. White-bellied Erpornis (W-b Yuhina) Erpornis zantholeuca Two or more emerged from the forest at Kalaw. Blyth’s Shrike-babbler Pteruthius aeralatus Several good sightings on Mt Victoria, split off of White-browed S-b. Green Shrike-babbler Pteruthius xanthochlorus A couple of singles showed well on Mt Victoria. Black-eared Shrike-babbler Pteruthius melanotis Three seen on our last day on Mt Victoria. Slender-billed Oriole Oriolus tenuirostris A few of these pine specialists seen around Kalaw.


Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis Remarkably numerous at Hlawga Park. Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus A small number seen in dry forests between Mt Victoria and Bagan. Maroon Oriole Oriolus traillii A few of these delightful birds seen at Mt Victoria and Kalaw. Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus Common in open country. Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus A few seen in forest along our route Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus Two seen at Kalaw. Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus remifer Two vocal birds seen in mixed flocks at Kalaw. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus A single at Hlawga Park was the only sighting. Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus Scattered sightings along our route. White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis A few on Mt Victoria, a couple around Kalaw. White-browed Fantail Rhipidura aureola Two seen in the dry dipterocarp forest near Kazunma. Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea Singles seen en route to and from Mt Victoria, also at Kalaw Asian Paradise-flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi Three birds seen en-route from Mt Victoria to Bagan. Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius Two seen at Dhein Taung of the leucotis race. Yellow-billed Blue Magpie Urocissa flavirostris Two seen on our first day on Mt Victoria. Red-billed Blue Magpie Urocissa erythrorhyncha A handful seen, on Mt Victoria and in the lowlands en route Common Green Magpie Cissa chinensis (H) Heard at Kalaw Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda Several seen on the journey to ands from the Chin Hills. Grey Treepie Dendrocitta formosae Two shy birds on Mt Victoria and another at Kalaw. Hooded Treepie ◊ Crypsirina cucullata Much admired; two at Bagan after a hot search, another two in flight later. Racket-tailed Treepie Crypsirina temia A single seen at Hlawga Park. House Crow Corvus splendens Common around Yangon and Bagan, different to the typical in voice and appearance! Eastern Jungle Crow Corvus levaillantii A few scattered singles along our route.

Burmese Shrike, Kalaw Fire-tailed Sunbird, Mt Victoria

Yellow-bellied Fairy-flycatcher (Y-b Fantail) Chelidorhynx hypoxantha Rather common on Mt Victoria. See note. Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis A few seen on Mt Victoria and at Kalaw. Black-bibbed Tit ◊ Poecile hypermelaena Multiple encounters on Mt Victoria, plus a nest with 2 chicks in a rock wall. Japanese Tit Parus minor Several seen in the pines at Kalaw. Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus Common on Mt Victoria. Yellow-cheeked Tit Parus spilonotus A single on Mt Victoria, three at Kalaw showed better. Yellow-browed Tit Sylviparus modestus Not uncommon on Mt Victoria. Burmese Bushlark ◊ Mirafra microptera Common around Bagan, plus a few en route to Mt Victoria. Sand Lark ◊ Calandrella raytal A good number of these seen along the Irrawaddy at Bagan. Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula A single seen from the car as we drove to the summit of Mt Victoria Crested Finchbill ◊ Spizixos canifrons A common bird on Mt Victoria in the secondary growth, also at Kalaw. Striated Bulbul Pycnonotus striatus Not uncommon in the forest on Mt Victoria. Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus flaviventris Many at Hlawga park, also en route to and from Mt Victoria Davison’s Bulbul Pycnonotus [finlaysoni] davisoni At least two at Hlawga Park. See Note.


Flavescent Bulbul Pycnonotus flavescens Often seen on Mt Victoria and also at Kalaw. Streak-eared Bulbul Pycnonotus blanfordi Common in the lowlands. Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus Common at Hlawga and in the Shan state. Brown-breasted Bulbul ◊ Pycnonotus xanthorrhous Quite a few seen around Kalaw. Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer Frequently encountered. Sooty-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus aurigaster Rather common around Kalaw. Ashy Bulbul Hemixos flavala A few seen at Kalaw were the only ones of the trip Mountain Bulbul Ixos mcclellandii A few seen on our last day at Mt Victoria and also at Kalaw. Himalayan Black Bulbul Hypsipetes leucocephalus In good number at Kalaw around the pines. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Regularly encountered except for on Mt Victoria. Common Sand Martin Riparia riparia In good number at Inle Lake. Grey-throated Sand-martin Riparia chinensis Many seen along the Irrawaddy at Bagan. Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii Found at Inle where they were living around our hotel. Asian House Martin Delichon dasypus Seen on two days at Mt Victoria. Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica Often encountered, at widely varying localities. Scaly-breasted Wren-babbler Pnoepyga albiventer A couple of views on Mt Victoria, next to a noisy Tesia! See note Pygmy Wren-babbler Pnoepyga pusilla A good look at two on our last morning on Mt Victoria Black-faced Warbler Abroscopus schisticeps Three seen on one day on Mt Victoria. Mountain Tailorbird Phyllergates cucullatus A couple of sightings on Mt Victoria Broad-billed Warbler ◊ Tickellia hodgsoni A great view of a responsive pair near the top of Mt Victoria. Brownish-flanked Bush-warbler Cettia fortipes One seen on Mt Victoria, others heard there. Aberrant Bush-warbler Cettia flavolivacea Several sightings of these demure fellows on Mt Victoria. Grey-bellied Tesia (Yellow-browed T) Tesia cyaniventer A couple of sightings of this loud skulker at Mt Victoria. Slaty-bellied Tesia Tesia olivea A single at Kalaw showed poorly. Chestnut-headed Tesia Tesia castaneocoronata Common on Mt Victoria, though getting good views needed work! Black-throated Bushtit Aegithalos concinnus Two on Mt Victoria was the only sighting. Burmese Bushtit ◊ Aegithalos sharpei Great looks at these attractive birds on Mt Victoria. Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus Several seen at Bagan, Inle and Kalaw. Yellow-streaked Warbler Phylloscopus armandii Common though hard to get a look at, at Bagan, Mt Vic & Kalaw Radde’s Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi A single bird seen well in the forest at Kalaw. Buff-barred Warbler (Orange-b Leaf W) Phylloscopus pulcher Abundant on Mt Victoria, the commonest Warbler. Ashy-throated Warbler Phylloscopus maculipennis Three seen at higher levels on Mt Victoria Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus Scattered sightings, on Mt Victoria and at Kalaw Hume’s Warbler Phylloscopus humei Fairly common on Mt Victoria, mainly in the mid elevation secondary forest Two-barred Warbler Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus Several seen at Hlawga Park. Eastern Crowned Warbler Phylloscopus coronatus Three seen at Kalaw. Blyth's Leaf-warbler Phylloscopus reguloides Not uncommon on Mt Victoria Davison’s Leaf-warbler ◊ Phylloscopus davisoni Grey-hooded Warbler Phylloscopus xanthoschistus Commonly encountered on Mt Victoria. Grey-crowned Warbler Seicercus tephrocephalus Rather common on Mt Victoria where they showed well. Whistler’s Warbler ◊ Seicercus whistleri One only seen, in the higher reaches of Mt Victoria. Martens’s Warbler ◊ Seicercus omeiensis Three seen at Kalaw where we had good looks at them. Chestnut-crowned Warbler Seicercus castaniceps One seen on Mt Victoria, others heard. Indian Reed-warbler ◊ Acrocephalus brunnescens Loud and obvious at Inle Lake. Blunt-winged Warbler ◊ Acrocephalus concinens A brief look at one of these at Inle Lake. See note Black-browed Reed Warbler Acrocephalus bistrigiceps A single seen poorly at Inle Lake. Thick-billed Warbler Acrocephalus aedon A couple at Inle Lake, more at Kalaw – even in the hotel garden. Striated Grassbird Megalurus palustris In good voice at Inle Lake, also seen at Kalaw. Brown Bush-warbler ◊ Bradypterus luteoventris Several birds seen on Mt Victoria. Russet Bush-warbler Bradypterus mandelli Many heard, a couple seen well on Mt Victoria. Rusty-rumped Warbler Locustella certhiola (H) A.K.A Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler, heard at Inle Lake. Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis Odd ones seen along our route. Plain Prinia Prinia inornata Some seen at Yangon and Bagan. Yellow-bellied Prinia Prinia flaviventris Not uncommon in the grass at Inle Lake.


Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii A few seen around Bagan and at lower altitudes on Mt Victoria. Hill Prinia Prinia superciliaris (H) Heard at Kalaw. Black-throated Prinia Prinia atrogularis A few seen at Mt Victoria, plus a nest with tiny eggs found there. Brown Prinia ◊ Prinia polychroa A few at Bagan, also seen at Mt Victoria and Kalaw. Dark-necked Tailorbird Orthotomus atrogularis Two at Hlawga Park were the only ones of the trip. Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius Seen around Yangon and also Mt Victoria Rusty-cheeked Scimitar-babbler Pomatorhinus erythrogenys Nice looks at two at Dhein Taung near Kalaw Spot-breasted Scimitar-babbler ◊ Pomatorhinus mcclellandi Eventually, three birds seen at Mt Victoria White-browed Scimitar-babbler Pomatorhinus schisticeps Several birds seen at Kalaw. Streak-breasted Scimitar-babbler Pomatorhinus ruficollis Seen daily at Mt Victoria Chin Hills Wren-babbler ◊ Spelaeornis oatesi Several seen, initially skulking but eventually right in the open Spotted Wren-babbler ◊ Elachura formosa A nice look at a vigorous songster on Mt Victoria. Chinese Grass-babbler ◊ Graminicola sinica A splendid encounter at Inle Lake. See note. Grey-throated Babbler Stachyris nigriceps A single seen at Kalaw, though rather skulky. Golden Babbler Stachyridopsis chrysaea Seen regularly on Mt Victoria, also at Kalaw. Chestnut-capped Babbler Timalia pileata Seen close to our Inle hotel, also at Dhein Taung. Rufous-winged Fulvetta Pseudominla castaneceps A small number seen on Mt Victoria. Rusty-capped Fulvetta ◊ Schoeniparus dubius At least three seen on our last afternoon on Mt Victoria. Brown-cheeked Fulvetta Alcippe poioicephala A flock of these dullards in dry forest en route from Mt Victoria. Grey-cheeked Fulvetta ◊ (Yunnan F) Alcippe yunnanensis A brief sighting of two at Kalaw. Nepal Fulvetta ◊ Alcippe nipalensis A handful seen poorly on Mt Victoria, strangely elusive. Puff-throated Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps Two at Kalaw showed well along the side of the track. See note. Spot-throated Babbler Pellorneum albiventre Some rare views of one at Mt Victoria, also heard at Kalaw. Striated Babbler ◊ Turdoides earlei A good look at two in the grass along the Irrawaddy.

Striated Babbler, Bagan Spectacled Barwing, Kalaw

White-throated Babbler ◊ Turdoides gularis Great views around Bagan, especially in the hotel garden. Mount Victoria Babax ◊ Babax [lanceolatus] woodi Splendid views of three or more on Mt Victoria. See note White-crested Laughingthrush Garrulax leucolophus Four seen well at Hlawga Park, feeding on the ground. Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush Garrulax monileger Three seen en route to Mt Victoria, another 2 on the return Greater Necklaced Laughingthrush Garrulax pectoralis Like the above, good views en route in dry forests White-browed Laughingthrush Pterorhinus sannio Some fine views of this fellow around Kalaw. Spot-breasted Laughingthrush ◊ Stactocichla merulina (H) Heard at Kalaw, always an arch-skulker. Brown-capped Laughingthrush ◊ Trochalopteron austeni Rather skulking, but three seen well at Mt Victoria Blue-winged Laughingthrush ◊ Trochalopteron squamatum A single was seen briefly at Mt Victoria, others heard Assam Laughingthrush ◊ Trochalopteron chrysopterum The default Laughingthrush on Mt Victoria. Silver-eared Laughingthrush Trochalopteron melanostigma (H) Heard at Kalaw. Striped Laughingthrush ◊ Strophocincla virgata Good encounters with several of these on Mt Victoria.


Himalayan Cutia Cutia nipalensis A vocal flock of four seen on Mt Victoria on one day only. Blue-winged Minla (B-w Siva) Siva cyanouroptera Multiple sightings on Mt Victoria Bar-throated Minla (Chestnut-tailed M) Chrysominla strigula A fair few seen on Mt Victoria. Red-tailed Minla Minla ignotincta Several of these striking birds seen well on Mt Victoria Crimson-faced Liocichla ◊ Liocichla phoenicea Good views of a shy pair on our first day on Mt Victoria. Streak-throated Barwing ◊ Actinodura waldeni Three birds seen in the higher forest on Mt Victoria Rusty-fronted Barwing ◊ Actinodura egertoni Seen every day on Mt Victoria. Spectacled Barwing ◊ Actinodura ramsayi Two seen on each of our two days at Kalaw, showing well. Silver-eared Mesia Mesia argentauris In good numbers on Mt Victoria, also common at Kalaw. Grey Sibia ◊ Malacias gracilis Very common on Mt Victoria, providing a backdrop of their loud songs Dark-backed Sibia ◊ Malacias melanoleucus Just two seen at Kalaw. White-browed Fulvetta Fulvetta vinipectus Not uncommon in the higher elevation forest on Mt Victoria Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense Seen at Bagan and around Kalaw, also en route from Mt Victoria. Buff-breasted Parrotbill ◊ Suthora ripponi A swarm of 25 in the bamboo on Mt Victoria, so cute! See note. Grey-headed Parrotbill Psittiparus gularis A brief look at one in the forest at Kalaw Spot-breasted Parrotbill ◊ Paradoxornis guttaticollis Great views of these on Mt Victoria, also one at Dhein Taung. Whiskered Yuhina Yuhina flavicollis Several seen in the forest on Mt Victoria Burmese Yuhina ◊ Yuhina humilis (H) Frustratingly heard only at Kalaw. Stripe-throated Yuhina Yuhina gularis Several seen on two days in the higher elevation forest on Mt Victoria Oriental White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus Three at Kalaw were the only ones. Chestnut-vented Nuthatch Sitta nagaensis Not uncommon in the pine forest on Mt Victoria. Neglected Nuthatch ◊ (Burmese N) Sitta neglecta Three birds seen in the dry woods en route to Mt Victoria. White-browed Nuthatch ◊ Sitta victoriae Five or more birds see in the higher forests on Mt Victoria. Endemic! Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis Two seen in the dry forest en route from Mt Victoria. Bar-tailed Treecreeper Certhia himalayana Several sightings on Mt Victoria, a nest also found behind loose bark. Hume’s Treecreeper (Manipur T) Certhia manipurensis Not uncommon in the broad-leaved forest on Mt Victoria. White-vented Myna Acridotheres grandis In reasonable numbers around Inle and Kalaw. Jungle Myna Acridotheres fuscus Seen around Yangon and Bagan, with a large roost by our hotel at Bagan. Collared Myna ◊ Acridotheres albocinctus At least eight seen at Inle Lake, good views of four en route to Heho. Common Myna Acridotheres tristis Common in the lowlands, less so in the Shan State. Vinous-breasted Myna ◊ Acridotheres burmannicus Common in the dry zone around Bagan. Black-collared Starling Gracupia nigricollis Noisy birds seen well around Kalaw. Long-billed Thrush ◊ Zoothera monticola A singing bird was seen briefly near the top of Mt Victoria. Black-breasted Thrush ◊ Turdus dissimilis Three of these handsome birds seen around Kalaw, singing well. Grey-sided Thrush ◊ Turdus feae Common on Mt Victoria, though views were hard to come by as they were shy! Eyebrowed Thrush Turdus obscurus Just two picked out from the above at Mt Victoria. Lesser Shortwing Brachypteryx leucophrys (H) Three heard singing loudly at Kalaw, in the densest of thickets White-browed Shortwing Brachypteryx montana A stunning bird on Mt Victoria showed atypically well. Bluethroat Luscinia svecica Two seen on our Irrawaddy ‘pelagic’. Siberian Rubythroat Luscinia calliope A good look at a female in a hedge at Kalaw. Indian Blue Robin ◊ Luscinia brunnea Three sightings at Mt Victoria Himalayan Bluetail Tarsiger rufilatus A few seen on Mt Victoria, on three of our days there. Oriental Magpie-robin Copsychus saularis Scattered sightings of this primarily garden bird. White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus One seen at Hlawga Park. Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus A couple seen on our first day on Mt Victoria. Blue-fronted Redstart Phoenicurus frontalis A male seen high up on Mt Victoria. White-bellied Redstart ◊ Hodgsonius phaenicuroides Two seen on Mt Victoria, brief views of skulkers. White-tailed Robin ◊ Myiomela leucurum A single at Mt Victoria, another couple at Kalaw. Blue Whistling-thrush Myophonus caeruleus Singles seen on Mt Victoria and at Kalaw. White-crowned Forktail Enicurus leschenaulti Two along the stream at Kalaw showed nicely. Grey Bushchat Saxicola ferreus Common on Mt Victoria. Eastern Stonechat (Siberian S) Saxicola maurus Singles seen at Bagan and Kalaw. White-tailed Stonechat ◊ Saxicola leucura A great show by many displaying birds along the Irrawaddy at Bagan. Pied Bushchat Saxicola caprata Common along the Irrawaddy, also a few seen in the Shan state.


Jerdon’s Bushchat ◊ Saxicola jerdoni A speciality of Inle Lake, we saw quite a few, many singing.

White-tailed Stonechat, Bagan Jerdon’s Bushchat, Inle Lake

Chestnut-bellied Rock-thrush Monticola rufiventris Several seen up on Mt Victoria. Dark-sided Flycatcher Muscicapa sibirica A couple on Mt Victoria, a couple more at Kalaw. Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica Two at Hlawga Park. Slaty-backed Flycatcher Ficedula hodgsonii Several birds seen on Mt Victoria. Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher Muscicapa strophiata Frequently seen on Mt Victoria. Taiga Flycatcher (Red-throated F) Ficedula albicilla Seen at Hlawga Park, Kalaw, and one or two other places Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni A handful were seen on Mt Victoria. Snowy-browed Flycatcher Ficedula hyperythra (H) Heard on Mt Victoria. Slaty-blue Flycatcher Ficedula tricolor Several skulking in the undergrowth on Mt Victoria. Verditer Flycatcher Muscicapa thalassinus Seen commonly on Mt Victoria, with a nest found there. Also at Kalaw Pale Blue Flycatcher ◊ Cyornis concolor (H) Heard at Yay Ayekan reservoir, Kalaw. Hill Blue Flycatcher Cyornis banyumas A nice view of a singing male at Kalaw. Blue-throated Flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides (H) One heard in the dry forest en route to Mt Victoria. White-gorgeted Flycatcher Ficedula monileger One showed very well in the trash habitat on Mt Victoria. Rufous-bellied Niltava Niltava sundara Several on Mt Victoria, with some stunning males seen. Large Niltava Niltava grandis Heard on Mt Victoria, with a couple seen there on our last day. Pygmy Blue Flycatcher ◊ Muscicapella hodgsoni (H) Heard in the forest on Mt Victoria. Orange-bellied Leafbird Chloropsis hardwickii A single seen at Kalaw. Golden-fronted Leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons Some seen in the dry forest en route from Mt Victoria Blue-winged Leafbird Chloropsis cochinchinensis Two seen near Saw en route from Mt Victoria Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker ◊ Dicaeum melanoxanthum Four birds on two dates at Mt Victoria were nice. Plain Flowerpecker Dicaeum minullum Two at Hlawga Park was our only contact. Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectus A few seen in the forest on Mt Victoria. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker Dicaeum cruentatum Numerous at Hlawga, more seen near Mt Victoria. Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Chalcoparia singalensis Two in Hlawga Park. Olive-backed Sunbird Cinnyris jugularis Only seen around Yangon and Hlawga Park. Purple Sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus Several seen in the dry dipterocarp forest near Kazunma. Mrs Gould's Sunbird Aethopyga gouldiae Three seen on Mt Victoria, some stunning males. Green-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga nipalensis A few seen higher up on Mt Victoria. Black-throated Sunbird Aethopyga saturata A male at Kalaw showed well. Fire-tailed Sunbird Aethopyga ignicauda A highlight of Mt Victoria, we saw quite a few stunning males there. Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna A single seen briefly on Mt Victoria, unusually shy here! House Sparrow Passer domesticus Seen at Yangon, Bagan, and en route to Mt Victoria. Plain-backed Sparrow Passer flaveolus Common in the dry zone around Bagan, also between there and Mt Victoria Eurasian Tree-sparrow Passer montanus Common in Yangon, in smaller numbers elsewhere. Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus A small flock seen along the Irrawaddy at Bagan.


Red Avadavat Amandava amandava A single seen on the banks of the Irrawaddy. White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata Two seen at Kalaw. Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata Numerous around Bagan, odd birds elsewhere. Forest Wagtail Dendronanthus indicus Two at Hlawga were a nice find. Alaskan Wagtail Motacilla [tschutschensis] tschutschensis A couple along the Irrawaddy, another at Inle. Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola A fine male seen along the Irrawaddy at Bagan. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea A few seen around Inle and Kalaw Baikal Wagtail Motacilla [alba] baicalensis Four of this taxon seen along the banks of the Irrawaddy. Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus A single seen at Bagan. Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis A pair found in the ‘Irrawaddy badlands’ en route to Mt Victoria. Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni Common on Mt Victoria, also seen at Hlawga and Kalaw. Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus Several seen along the Irrawaddy banks. Yellow-breasted Greenfinch Chloris spinoides Three seen on Mt Victoria though never well. Black-headed Greenfinch ◊ Chloris ambigua A pair seemed to be living in the garden of our Kalaw hotel. Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus Just three seen, on Mt Victoria. Scarlet Finch ◊ Haematospiza sipahi A couple of males seen at Mt Victoria, a scarce bird here. Brown Bullfinch ◊ Pyrrhula nipalensis (H) A singing bird on Mt Victoria could not be located. Spot-winged Grosbeak ◊ Mycerobas melanozanthos Four seen feeding in cherry trees on Mt Victoria. Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla A few late staying winter visitors on Mt Victoria

MAMMALS Orange-bellied Himalayan Squirrel Dremomys lokriah The ground-loving fellow seen on Mt Victoria. Pallas’s Squirrel Callosciurus erythraeus The larger arboreal squirrel on Mt Victoria. Finlayson’s Squirrel (Variable S) Callosciurus finlaysoni A single at Hlawga Park. Irrawaddy Squirrel (Hoary-bellied Himalayan S) Callosciurus pygerythrus The squirrels at Bagan. Himalayan Striped Squirrel Tamiops mcclellandii The small ones on Mt Victoria. Indochinese Ground Squirrel Menetes berdmorei A couple at Kalaw. [Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis Scat found on Mt Victoria.] Yellow-throated Marten Martes flavigula A couple of sightings on Mt Victoria. Large-eared Roundleaf Bat (Andersen’s Leaf-nosed B) Hipposideros pomona Roosting in Ananda Phaya pagoda. Rhesus Macaque Macaca mulatta Numerous at Hlawga Park. Eurasian Wild Boar (introduced) Sus scrofa One at Hlawga Park. Indian Muntjac (Barking Deer) Muntiacus muntjak One at Hlawga Park. Sambar (introduced) Cervus unicolor Many at Hlawga Park. Hog Deer (introduced) Axis porcinus Many at Hlawga Park.


NOTES TO THE SYSTEMATIC LIST Eurasian Collared-dove Streptopelia decaocto The form seen on this tour, xanthocyla, has a range restricted to the central valleys of Burma and shows marked morphological differences. It may in the future be split off as a separate species. Cook’s Swift A. cooki This was previously lumped in Fork-tailed Swift A. pacificus that has now been split into four species. Yellow-bellied Fairy-flycatcher (Y-b Fantail) Chelidorhynx hypoxantha Recent DNA based work has shown that this species is not a fantail. According to these researchers, it should now be referred to as Yellow-bellied Fairy-flycatcher, and be placed in the Stenostiridae (Fairy-flycatchers and allies) with Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis. Davison’s Bulbul Pycnonotus [finlaysoni] davisoni The two Burmese races of Stripe-throated Bulbul P. finlaysoni have recently been found to occur sympatrically and davisoni will eventually be split as a distinct endemic species. Scaly-breasted Wren-babbler Pnoepyga albiventer Pygmy Wren-babbler Pnoepyga pusilla Recent DNA based taxonomic studies have clearly shown that Pnoepygas are not related at all to the babblers, and are best placed in their own family; Pnoepygidae, with the English name ‘Cupwing’ replacing the name Wren-babbler! Not sure if that will catch on... Blunt-winged Warbler ◊ Acrocephalus concinens On reflection, the bird I proposed as Blyth’s Reed Warbler at Inle Lake was most likely to have been this species. The habitat was more correct for this, and it was also seen there a month previously. Chinese Grass-babbler Graminicola sinica This is a recent split from Rufous-rumped Grass-babbler G. bengalensis, (which was formerly considered to be a warbler, under the common name Rufous-rumped Grassbird). DNA based taxonomic research has shown it to be a Babbler, and the form that we saw at Inle Lake (striata) is currently only known from this site, although a very recent find in Cambodia (trapped after being lured in with my recordings from Inle) will add fuel to the taxonomic debate. Puff-throated Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps The bird I proposed as Buff-breasted Babbler at Kalaw was mostly likely to be this species, after analysis of the recordings that I made. Mount Victoria Babax Babax [lanceolatus] woodi Although a popular split from Chinese Babax B. lanceolatus, further research would be desirable to prove its specific status beyond doubt. Buff-breasted Parrotbill Suthora ripponi Most authors lump this in Black-throated Parrotbill P. nipalensis, which has now split into five separate species. This taxon is endemic to Mizoram, India and W Myanmar.


REPTILES Tockay Gecko Gekko gecko Seen and heard around our rooms at our Bagan hotel. Southern House Gecko Hemidactylus frenatus Around the bathrooms at Kalaw. BUTTERFLIES (only those photographed) Chestnut Tiger Parantica sita At Yay Ayekan.. Common Sailer Neptis hylas At Yay Ayekan. French Duke Euthalia franciae At Yay Ayekan. Orange Oakleaf Kallima inachus At Yay Ayekan Staff Sergeant Athyma selenophora One on the track at Yay Ayekan. Common Yellow Swallowtail Papilio machaon On the top of Mt Victoria Panther Neurosigma siva On the track at Yay Ayekan.

Orange Oakleaf Chestnut Tiger

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